Photo by Andrew Wil liamson
Detroiters in
Chicago
find
each other
at Jewish
young adult
gatherings.
Rabbi fay A lose_s-
Remembering Horne
ALLISON KAPLAN
Special to The Jewish News
A
fter graduating from the
University of Michigan and
spending a few years on the
East Coast, Rachel Tessler
Lopatin decided she wanted to be closer
to home in Detroit — but not at home.
Like many Detroit natives, Lopatin
headed to Chicago, where she met her
husband, Rabbi Asher Lopatin, who
leads the predominantly twentysome-
thing Anshe Sholom Orthodox congre-
gation. She now works as program
director for Anshe Emet, a Conservative
synagogue just a few blocks away.
When it came to getting involved in
Chicago's Jewish community Lopatin
had it easy, since it's her job to organize
events for twentysomethings. But you
don't have to work within the Jewish
sector to find that Chicago has an open
and-active Jewish community
"There are plenty of opportunities if
people want to take advantage,"
Lopatin said.
Probably the best place to start is
with Hillel's Graduate and Professional.
Division (GAP), (312) 357-4702. One
of GAP'S main services is working with
people new to the area, according to
director Karen Beth. Farkas-Cohen.
GAP is also a great resource for getting
in touch with other organizations, or
finding out about goings-on around
town.
GAP coordinates a monthly volun-
teer project — serving dinner at a
homeless shelter or helping with a syna-
gogue renovation project. The organiza-
tion also offers social events, such as
theater outings.
"Most of the people who come to
our events are in their mid-20s, new to
town. People are very open. There are
very few cliques," Farkas-Cohen said.
"People make their friends here.
Sometimes they come back [to GAP
events], or they move on."
Jewish Chicago HaMacom is an
emerging online resource, at
http://www.jewishchicago.com . Though
some features are still under construc-
tion on this website, you can find a list
of Jewish exhibits, performances and
speakers, plus chat rooms for singles.
The Heller Jewish Community
Center, 524 W. Melrose, is another
great place to get involved. While it's
too small for a full workout center, the
JCC does have an open gym, ideal for a
pickup game or to join the volleyball
league.
Ballroom dancing is one of the
JCC's more popular classes, and hun-
dreds of other educational programs
are available. (773) 871-6780.
The Sperms Museum at the Spertus
Institute of Jewish Studies, 618 S. -
Michigan Ave., has a great deal of
appeal among singles, said spokes-
woman Ellie Sandler. Exhibit openings
are known to be big social events —
the perfect way to meet someone,
without having to adnit***04y
you're there. For information on
upcoming openings, as well as classes
and other programs, call (312) 922-
9012.
If you're looking to meet people in
2 more religious -setting, call the
Chicago'Torah. Network, (773) 478-
0400:
the -network is - an
Orthodox-affiliated organization, co-
director Rabbi Doni Deutsch said a
majority of participants — single
professionals and young families, for
the most part — are not Orthodox;
many are not affiliated with a syna-
gogue at all. Chicago Torah Network
offers a wide range of classes that
tend to be social as well as educa-
tional, and occasionally hosts social
events as well.
Hadassah's national young adult
-
division, Vanguard, has an active
Chicago chapter, which hosts frequent
parties and outings for singles ages 22
to 39. (312) 444-2870.
For those who shy away from orga-
nized Jewish events, Chicago is leg-
endary for its unofficially Jewish par-
ties. No rabbis, no Torah readings, just
a couple of thousand eligible Jews in
their 20s and 30s.
"We just like to make sure people
have a good time," said 24-year-old
Jeremy'Stolberg, one of four partners
in Giant Events (312-748-4444),
which throws huge parties at Chicago
bars at least once a month. The
group's Christinas -Eve, New Year's Eve
and Fourth,, of jay parties are some of
the best-.a.ttencled.
"They'ie- iribre or
Jewish events
without being called Jewish," said
Stolberg, who, coincidentally, is dating
a Detroit woman he met at one of
Giant's recent parties.
Rabbi Jay Moses of Southfield said
he's met so many Detroit natives since
moving to Chicago to officiate at
Temple Sholom, he's thinking about
organizing a group for transplants.
"We could get together and drink
Vemors," the twentysomething rabbi
joked.
❑
7/24
1998
Detroit Jewish News
71