Save money every time someone at your company picks up the phone. Sometimes that means picking up the Yeshiva University in Los Angeles, slack at home so that the rabbi can do then the Lubavitch seminary in Safed, his job." Israel. And sometimes it means speaking Having reached a high level of to community groups or advising, financial and career success in Los with her husband, engaged couples on Angeles, she still felt spiritually lack- marriage or learning Torah with ing. So she took a leave of absence young women. and enrolled in Ehayt, Aish "I do whatever comes up, [such as] HaTorah's women's yeshiva in Jerusalem. She ended up staying in Jerusalem to study and work as a thera- pist specializing in domestic violence, child abuse, pornogra- phy and the HIV community. Rabbi Zelig Pliskin finally introduced her to her husband last November. When she heard he was divorced with seven children, she wasn't keen on meet- ing him. On their first date, "we couldn't • stand each other." But they gave each other a second chance, dated Yael Weil with Rachele and Benjy: Its all 'bout teamwork. for three months, then married. make phone calls to see how people Is she a rebbetzin? Definitely — are doing. I don't see it as an obliga- but not because she married a rabbi. tion. I feel as much involved as he "I've had years of training. I also does, which is my choice." have the life I had before to answer Mrs. Weil grew up in Memphis ■ -• questions for Detroit's large ba'ale and studied at Stern College and Bank teshuvah [returnees to Judaism] com- Street College in New York. A former munity. teacher, she now works full-time as an "I don't think it's something you at-home mother. become overnight because you marry a The Weils met on a Shabbaton, rabbi," Tolwin says. "It's a process." ❑ where they were both advisers for the is always been a life of team- upstate region of National Council of work for Yael and Steven Weil. Synagogue Youth. They married nine "When I married my hus- years ago and have five children band, he was getting his MBA," between the ages of 6 1/2 months and says the 29-year-old rebbetzin of 7 years. Young Israel-Oak Park. So she didn't She sees the role of rebbetzin as think she was marrying into the pub- private and public. "The role of any lic life of a rabbi. wife is to be a support to her hus- "The jobs we always had were band, encourage what he's doing, teamwork jobs," like when they were understand, be a sounding board," she hired together to be youth directors at says. a shul in Livingston, N.J.. But in the public eye, a rebbetzin "Technically, we're still working should be involved in the congrega- together. I don't answer halachic ques- tion as much'as she can, she adds. tions [but] I will refer them [to anoth- Sometimes, congregants hold the er rabbi] if they're not comfortable children of a rabbi to a higher stan- talking to him." dard, Weil says. "Mine are not old "When people first started calling enough yet. They shouldn't be held to me, that was strange," she says. But a higher standard — because they're now, Weil sees herself as a rebbetzin. Jews, because they're people, because "It means sharing in my husband's it's right, but not because they're work, so yes, I am a rebbetzin. rabbi's children." ❑ I • • Photo by Krista Husi • ValueLink Plus from Ameritech° combines all your 800 services and toll calling usage together into one tidy plan.* Inbound and outbound toll calls are billed at the same rate, so you can take advantage of volume discounts. You get one simple bill where your rate is guaranteed. So now the phone that helps generate profits can also cut costs. Heeeello! For Ameritech ValueLink Plus, call ULTRACOM eritech Authorized Distributor Gary Gal 25860 Lahser Road Southfield, Michigan 48034 PH: 248 350-2020 Excellence in Telecommunications CD 1996 Ameritech Ikg WHERE YOU ALWAYS FIND THE PERFECT GIFT. Holiday 6alc Up To 50% OFF Through December 24 Holiday Hours: M—TH 10am-8pm, F 10am-5pm, Su 12-5pm HARVARD ROW MALL 21750 West 11 Mile Road • Southfield, MI MIODEWIEMI Discover the Difference (248) 358-5540 12/5 1997 23