OMOI S Restaurant

FERNDALE'S FAVORITE SINCE 1961

Joseph Greenberg, president of
Young Israel of Oak Park, said the com-
mittee in charge of planning the expan-
sion of its building is putting emphasis
on the social hall/multi-function room.
Currently able to seat about 200
people, the room is mostly used now
for weekly kiddush, large meetings and
youth group events.
The committee is deciding whether
to make it large enough to accommo-
date weddings of about 600 or the
more moderate simcha of up to 350.
"We are faced with a lot of conflict-
ing realities, including demand, the
availability of hotels and other halls,"
Greenberg said. "Do we want some-
thing really big or do we stick with
something that we really use more for
our weekly or monthly needs? We have
to decide this issue."
The congregational leaders are cer-
tain of one thing: they want the space
to be used for a profit.
"We would like to see it as a money-
maker. That is definitely the thought,"
Greenberg said. "But I don't think we
will be able to retire."
Most area congregations have some
sort of social hall, be it a small area used
-for kiddush after services or .a massive
hall holding up to 1,000 for a sit-down
dinner. Primarily, however, the social
halls are for the use of the synagogue
Members for family simchas, such as
b'nai mitzvah or weddings. For these
events, most shuls assess no charge for
the use of the hall but require all food
to be prepared by the synagogue's or
temple's official caterer.
"Because of our adherence to
kashrut, we insist that no food be
brought into the building which is why
we insist that the caterer prepare all
food for events," said Leonard Baruch,
executive director of Congregation
Shaarey Zedek.
While some would see the booking
arrangement of a synagogue social hall
as a mere convenience for guests, several
congregational officials said this
arrangement is preferred by their mem-
bers for more religious reasons.
"It is a self-contained extension of
the simcha and is in keeping with the
spirit of the Jewish minchag (custom),"
said Alan Yost, executive director of
Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington
Hills. "It is only appropriate that the
party be an extension and continuation
of the ceremony."

Some said that having the party in
the social hall captured a spirit of the
simcha that a hotel, restaurant or hall
could not.
"The celebration is part of what the
simcha is all about," said Beth Shalom's
Barbara Cook. "It isn't just a party if it
is in the social hall; it is a Jewish party.
You can't get that feeling in a hotel or
restaurant."
Members also enjoy the privileges
that come with a few area synagogue
memberships, namely power bumping
status. At Congregation Shaarey Zedek
in Southfield for example, non-mem-
bers are allowed to book the two social
halls for simchas but their reservation is
not secured until six months before the
event.
Until that time, a member can
"bump" the non-member's reservation
and take the date.
Temple Israel in West Bloomfield
avoids the bump by not allowing non-
members to book an event until six
months before the date.
"There are certain rights members
have and this is one of them," said
David M. Tisdale, president of Temple
Israel.
Also, some congregations charge
non-members a rental fee. At Temple
Beth El in Bloomfield Township, non-
members are charged for maintenance
services and are required, like members,
to use the temple's caterer.
"We can make arrangements for
kosher catering but, otherwise, we
require that our caterer be used," said
Barbara Grant of Temple Beth El. "It
has never been a problem. Our caterer
is the most cooperative man you have
ever met."
Unlike most other synagogues and
temples, Beth El also rents its social hall
to secular organizations for weekday
symposiums. Groups of accountants,
educators and others find the location
of the temple to be central and easy to
find, Grant said.
None of the temples or synagogues
admitted ever having a problem with
double booking receptions or b'nai
mitzvot. In fact, Temple Israel said it
has helped out when other venues have
had to close due to power outages.
"We find that being in West
Bloomfield, you have to be prepared
for power outages," said Tisdale. "Just
for those occasions, we have power
generators."

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Monday to Thursday 11 am to 2 am
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Saturday 12 noon to 3:30 am
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AT 9 MILE

(248) 548-5005

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28857 Orchard Lake Road • (Bet. 12 & 13.Mi.) • Farmington Hills, M. 48334 • (248) 553-3250

_....._

3/20
1998

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