The rabbi sat back and acted merely
as a supervisor, playing as small a role as
possible, although helping to direct the
group gently through the reverence of
the service. The evening ended with
conversation and kiddish, provided by
Adat Shalom.
What the next few years will bring,
no one knows. But planners predict an
outreach program that will take YASS
on the road, as a model for other syna-
gogues to create their own young adult
services.
Joe Feldman's favorite part of the ser-
vice is near the end, the unity he feels
with the closing song, "O'se Shalom."
"Everyone knows that song and sings

together, no matter what their involve-
ment in the rest of the service," says the
YASS leader. "I like how it brings every-
one together."
But regardless of the future of YASS,
one thing is certain. Young men and
women have found a haimish place here
where they can participate, worship and
meet other young Jews on the same
spiritual plane. The Sabbath is often
described as a new bride; YASS could be
her groom.

❑

For information on YASS, call
(248) 851-5100.

Have We Had
Enough Of Mars
And Venus?

Making A
Connection

An Ann Arbor group
links singles from near and far.

New magazine falls short of the book's success.

dynamic features. But the layout is
IliE ost women have read
his book, and most men bland, with periodic spot color, basic
design and unexciting photos of smil-
have
ing couples. The
cow-
topics
sound inter-
ered from it in a cor-
esting,
but only
ner. Even my grand-
some
of
the writing
mother, married for
carries
it
off. Oh,
52 years this June,
and
the
"if
you're a
asked to borrow it.
Venus"
references
But while John
mean "if you're a
what makes
Gray's Men are from
me feel loved
woman"; Mars
Mars, Women are from by. Jour: Trasio!ta,
he
one
Er litY;
means
men.
Venus is holding
and Brooke
My
advice?
Shleids
SEX
steady on the best-
CRET Spend the $2.99
seller list and enhanc-
st know cover price toward
ing relationships from
a romantic dinner
N coast to coast, the
20 years
for two. Or rent a
magazine by the same 01 passion
movie, snuggle on
if name has yet to take
rrafriage iast Torw::r
the
couch and write
off.
PLUS: Win a romantic
island getaway
your
own article.
Released last
month, the preview
— Lynne Meredith Cohn
issue shows an embracing couple on
the cover, the woman clutching a bou-
quet of pink roses. On the 96 inside
pages, it promises sex secrets, what
makes celebrities feel loved and how
to make a marriage last forever. The
entire magazine focuses on the differ-
Say farewell to Seinfeld at, the first
ences between men and women, and
Scene party! Wednesday, May 6,
instructs readers on how to have suc-
at JD's Key Club in Pontiac. 8
cessful, satisfying relationships. It's a
p.m. $1 cover, $1 off chinks. For
little more touchy-feely than the book.
information, call (248) 354-6060,
It is structured like any other maga-
Ext. 307.
zine, with regular departments and

HAPPENINGS

/—;"

,

LONNY GOLDSMITH
Stall Writer

F

or the last two-and-a-half
years, Ann Arbor psycholo-
gist Dion Frischer has been
coordinating a non-profit
"introductory" service for singles.
In November, that program got
bigger.
Dion and Ann Arbor's Jewish Fami-
ly Service Director Anya Abramzon
created Connections, an organization
that hosts programs for singles. You
don't have to pay to connect with
Connections, said Dion, and so far
there have been quite a few inquiries
about the fledgling organization.
"We have 50 responses to question-
naires we've sent [out]," she said.
"We've had as many as 15 [people] at
an event." And they come from all
over — a post-Chanukah event drew
people from Flint, Toledo and the
Detroit suburbs.
The age range, said Dion, is 21 to
66, and all ages are welcome to attend
events.
Activities include rollerblading, bowl-
ing and a movie discussion group. There
is also a newsletter for singles that is put
together by Connections member San-
dra Maurer, a resident of Whitmore
Lake and the only member who would

agree to be interviewed about the group.
"Ann Arbor is starving for an outlet
for singles to meet," said Sandra. "If
you're not in college or involved
directly with a synagogue, it's hard for
Jewish singles in Ann Arbor to meet."
Ann Arborites do trek to the
Detroit 'burbs for young adult events,
and also seek out social opportunities
at Ann Arbor synagogues or the JCC,
she said. But until Connections, there
wasn't anything specifically for singles.
Connections is starting to plan
more activities, beginning with this
Sunday, April 12, when the group is
attending the play Life and Refusal, at
the Performance Network in Ann
Arbor. Next will be a spring picnic
and ongoing, monthly after-work
gatherings, said Dion. And down the
line, there may be volunteer commu-
nity service projects.
She hopes that the small distance
between Ann Arbor and Detroit will
connect Connections with other sin-
gles groups; in fact, the Connections
newsletter even lists some of their
upcoming events.

❑

4/10