fag

Part of the planning committee for the Young Adult Shabbat Service: Rabbi Daniel
Nevins, Joe Feldman, Ellen Krivchenia, Beth Greenapple and Sharon Wise.

gle people looking for a soulmate,
work has leveled off at 28-33, he
but they didn't want the stigma of a
says.
singles group," says Sheri. It later
Sure, says Stuart, the network is a
merged with the local couples group,
place to scope. "Our track record is
Hatsair; and now encompasses ages
pretty good. That wasn't the mission
20-30.
of the group but good things hap-
Detroit is home to several active
pen; 14 couples have met [through
Jewish young adult groups, including the network]."
Federation's Young Adult
But it's really more for
Division, the Young Adult
people
to meet on common
Jason Ki ef; 25, of
Shabbat Service, Hillel of
ground.
West Blo omfield,
Metro Detroit, Teva, the
"People [might think]
uses the technique
Beshert Connection, Tern-
it's
the same people
that ea rued him
ple Israel's JEMS and the
involved;
it's not. We
the cha m pion title
Rekindling Shabbat Young
in last y ear's bil- keep getting new people,"
Adult Task Force. Karen
Stuart says. "On a national
liards league.
Safran, Network vice-presi-
scale, this is happening
dent, says the 200-member
around the country.
network is the group to join "if
There are 14 of these types of [B'nai
you want to make an impact imme-
B'rith] groups all around the coun-
diately. We're always looking for peo- try."
ple."
While the network is known as
"Some things are have-tos, some
Detroit's young adult Jewish sports-
are want-tos," says Sheri. "This is a
oriented group, you don't have to be
want-to." _ _
the next Michael Jordan to join.
When Stuart Novick thinks of the
Karen assures it's "non-threatening,
network, he sees it as "a very non-
not competitive." The softball is
threatening, comfortable place to
pick-up, basketball according to
meet with other young Jewish
skill, and the upcoming golf league
at Copper Creek is based on where
adults."
After living in Boston for five
you're at.
years, Stuart came home to Detroit
"There's a long history of B'nai
B'rith sporting activities," says Stu-
and was looking for a way to get
involved. That was about the time
art. Recently, B'nai B'rith hosted a
nationwide bowling tournament in
the network formed. He was part of
the initial Pickle Barrel Restaurant
Las Vegas.
And that, says Sheri, is proof that
meeting.
"B'nai B'rith is not just sweaty old
"My goal was to offer something
men anymore." ❑
in the community to young people
that I didn't think existed at that
point, which was a social, profes-
For upcoming B'nai 13'rith Leader-
sional, networking group where peo-
ship Network events, call (248)
ple could feel comfortable and meet
788-NEWS.
new people," says Stuart.
It's touted as 22-35, but the net-

I /1 0
998

BO

Just Say YASS

Young adults find new meaning in Shabbat.

DIANA KATHRYN WOLFE
Special to The Jewish News

R

abbi Daniel Nevins opened
the door to his home with a
heartfelt "Shabbat Shalom!"
Along with his wife, Lynn,
and their delightful three-year-old
daughter, Talya, the rabbi welcomed
dozens of young adults to his home last
month for an intimate Young Adult
Shabbat Service. Immediately, partici-
pants felt a spirit of genuineness fill the
room as friendly greetings of "Good
Shabbos" resounded. This would be a
meaningful night.
Young adults, not just singles, attend
these services, melding differences and
commonalties into a patchwork bound
at the edges by belief in God and love
for Judaism.
It was during an afternoon of basket-
ball that the concept for YASS first took
shape. The rabbi and Ethan Gilan
agreed on the appeal that would follow
a Shabbat service specifically designed
for young adults, ages 20 to 35. Hosted
by Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farming-
ton Hills, the service is open to all Jew-
ish young adults and sometimes moves
location, such as a scholar-in-residence
weekend last fall at Congregation B'nai
Moshe.
Initially, they envisioned a comfort-
able evening service, once a month, that
included singing and provided fresh per-
spectives on worship. Thirty percent of
participants are married couples; the rest
are single.
To Ellen Krivchenia, "the most

appealing part of YASS is the cama-
raderie." She and her husband trade off
staying home and watching their young
son so the other can attend YASS.
Over the last three years, YASSers
have seen the services take on a decided-
ly educational format.
Fast forward, and you'll find a YASS
planning committee comprised of the
rabbi, Ethan, Ellen, Adam Shaeffer, Joe
Feldman, Sharon Wise and Lynne
Meredith Cohn, who shared ideas and
compiled the YASS Siddur.

Campy Worship

The service was presented in two
parts. First, reflecting on the days of the
week, a participant shared news stories.
This night was a little different; we
played "YASS-pardy," a game of eight
questions, prepared and presented by
Gilan. Laughter echoed throughout the
room, as members won chocolate gelt
for correct answers.
The days of the week segued into
songs and a discussion of the parsha,
presented by Sara Voight. We talked
about God's commandment to build a
tabernacle. We looked at the strength it
took for people who had roamed the
desert for 40 years to accomplish such
an extraordinary task. We compared the
differences between giving skills or time- -\
because one is commanded to do so,
and giving skills and time at the
demand of a slave-master. The discus-
sion continued with an interpretation of
this "calling to give" in our daily lives.
Then the service got traditional. Sort
of. Prayers and rituals followed. Sharon