boss told me openly that I would
never advance as long as she was there,
because I'm a Jew."
In 1991, when Kogan's youngest
daughter went to college, Kogan went
to school.
"I only had a Russian education,
-end
) wanted an American one," she
says. "I was also bored and needed to
make a living."
She started at Oakland Community
College, to see if she could do it.
Kogan pulled off straight A's.
After graduating from the Universi-
ty of Michigan-Dearborn in 1995, she
enrolled in Project STaR (Service,
Training and Research in Jewish Corn-
unal Service) at the University of
ichigan School of Social Work. She
finished up there in June, with a mas-
ter's degree in social work.
Many of the new Americans are in,
or near, their 80s, Kogan notes.
"It's a very difficult decision to
make to leave home," she says. "Jews
have a history of sitting and waiting
— hoping things will get better. Well,
the longer they waited, the older they
7-
got."
Kogan wanted to work with the
new Americans once she finished
school. She started two committees,
one made up of new Americans, the
other comprised of American-born
residents.
"She did it to deal with the misun-
derstandings that the two groups may
'-a.ve," Teitel's Building Administrator
'Penny Feldman says. "Both groups are
finding out that it's a cultural differ-
ence between them."
Feldman believes the onegs serve to
unite the residents.
"We started with half a dozen peo-
ple there, and now it's close to 100,"
she says. "The residents love it, and it
makes Friday evenings special. It's very
filming."
"I don't have a lot of time to do
therapy with the residents," Kogan
says. "I thought the prayers would be
something to unite everyone."
Kogan sings the prayers in Hebrew
and then repeats them in English and
Russian.
Running the oneg is nothing new
for Kogan. During school at U-M
/-.dearborn, she began leading prayer ser-
vices at the Jimmy Prentis Morris JCC.
"Another reason I keep doing the
prayers is because it is very therapeu-
tic. They say they sleep better at
night," she explains.
"Spirituality helps them get better.
Prayer dissolves a lot of the anger they
have." ❑
There's so much happening
at Shaarey Zedek's Applebaum
Jewish Parenting Center
Music & Movement
Woodworking with Abba
Music class for moms and babies
3 months and older.
10 week class beginning on
Monday, January 12
or Friday, January 16.
Class for dads and 3-6 year old children.
3 week class beginning Sunday, January 11.
Mensch Making (S T E P )
For parents of pre-schoolers. Why children
misbehave and techniques to help solve
these problems. 8 week class beginning
Tuesday, January 13.
Infant Massage
An effective way to communicate
with your baby. For babies birth
through 7 months. 3 week class
beginning Monday, January 12.
Mensch Making (S T E P )
For parents of elementary age children.
New approaches with issues such as
homework, friendships, and independent
thinking. 8 week class beginning
Wednesday, January 14.
Kitchen Table
A chat group for moms and
babies. Birth through 15 months.
10 week class beginning
Wednesday, January 14.
Challah Days
Make and take a challah that you can
bake at home for a wonderful Shabbat
experience. 52.50 per pound of dough.
Pre-ordering and payment required by
January 12. Friday, January 16.
Baby Gym
Gym class for moms and babies
3-17 months. Classes will run on
Fridays, beginning January 16.
For More Information on
Parenting Center Programs,
Please contact Janet Pont
(248) 681-5353 Fax: (248) 681-4251
E Mail: jpc@shaareyzedek.org
SPERBER'S
"000H ,"
•
"AAAllill
"I Want More! Did ou tast
is is fantastic!" "What presentation!"
"The food is wonderful!" "
you trythe hors d'oeuvres?"
"Check out the sweet table. It's Gorgeous!" "I'll diet tomorrow!" "I'm stuffed!"
"The dinner is delicious, and the plate looks so pretty!"
Just a sample of conversation overheard at a recent affair catered by Sperber's. Kosher with a Flair.
SEE FOR YOURSELF WHAT JEWISH METRO DETROIT IS TALKING ABOUT!
tCa-
248-932-3766
I
F,th At•rat
,1 el Nt.: ,e,
I
248-788-0950
Ccrorec:KYK7-,
--
248-357-2910
a
B'nai Moshe
Under Supervision of the Council of Orthodox Rabbis
248-661-5151
1/2
1998
17