Coming Home

A Detroiter's Jewish journey
brings him home to teach.

exploring what was so backwards and
anti-social that it needed to be
Staff Writer
replaced by something else.
"17. my experience in the yeshiva for
avid Shapero grew up in a
many years, I found that I didn't
Reform family in Detroit
understand why it needed to be
that was involved in Jewish
changed at all."
communal activities but
Shapero went to Brandeis
did little religiously.
University
in Waltham, Mass., in
"Reform Judaism, when I was a
1971,
and
after
his junior year in
kid, stood primarily for social action
1973, he traveled to Israel to study.
and there was very minimal traditional
"I wasn't going to study in a yeshi-
Jewish focus," said Shapero, great-
va," he said. "But the univer-
grandson of Rabbi Leo
7 . ' siry was not meeting until the
M. Franklin, spiritual
end of the Yom Kippur War. -
leader at Temple Beth
Even after attending the
El from 1898 to 1941.
L'
Yeshivas
D'var Yerushalayim
Now, Shapero is an
full
time
until January 1974,
Orthodox rabbi who
and part time for the rest of
intends to use the
his stay in Israel, Shapero still
lessons of his own voy-
considered himself "a Reform
age of discovery to help
Jew
educating myself."
others understand the
After
returning to the
fundamentals of
United
States
and graduating
Judaism. He is well-
from
Brandeis,
he attended
placed to make the
the
Sh'or
Yoshuv
Rabbinical
effort because, in
College in Far Rockaway, N.Y.
Rabbi David Shapero,
September, he was
While a rabbinical student,
Ohr Somayach's new
named the day-to-day
he taught at the
executive director.
leader of Ohr
Yeshiva
of Far
Somayach, a world-
Rockaway
and
wide Jewish education
Yeshiva
Darchei
and outreach agency
Torah, also in Far
that organizes increas-
Rockaway. From
ingly popular Lunch
October 1978
and Learn sessions for
until July 1979,
metro Detroiters.
one
month after
In an interview this
he
graduated,
he
week, Shapero, 44,
was
a
lecturer
at
recalled that when he
the
rabbinical
col-
INTERNATIONAL
was growing up, being
lege. After that, he
a Reform Jew "meant
spent the next six
Rabbi Eric Krohner at a 1995
to be a good person,
years studying in •
Lunch and Learn.
be a responsible citi-
Brooklyn.
zen and be involved,
"Teaching
is
an
outgrowth
of
which are the prophetic ideals of
learning,"
he
said.
"I
was
primarily
Judaism but also universal ideals."
interested in studying for myself. I
Trips to Israel when he was 13 and
had to have the tools instead of
19 led him to want to become more
accepting what other people told me.
traditional. He was interested in
My initial commitment was com-
becoming a rabbi, which, at the time,
pletely academic."
meant within the Reform movement.
Leaving New York, Shapero went to
"I thought that to be a Reform
Los
Angeles to teach at Yeshiva
rabbi, I had to understand what
University
Los Angeles (YULA). He
Judaism had been and what needed to
also
was
the
associate rabbi at the
be reformed," he said. "I began
Pacific Jewish Center.
Shapero returned to Detroit with
Lonny Goldsmith may be reached by
his wife, Helene, and their three chil-
phone at (248) 354-6060, ext. 263, or by
dren for his new position as Detroit
e-mail at lgoldsmith@thejewislinews.com

LONNY GOLDSMITH

A

D

t Paramount Bank, we always look out for

your best interest. Our money market accounts offer

the highest returns in the area plus instant access to

your funds. Paramount Bank is your hometown bank

providing convenient extended hours and a wide range

of products and services to meet all your financial needs.

Visit today or call 1 800 421 BANK and discover the

-

-

-

bank where personal service is paramount.

CONSUMER ACCOUNTS ONLY

'Annual Percentage Yield for balances of S5,000 and above.

MAIN OFFICE

30850 Telegraph Road, Suite 250
Bingham Farms, MI 48025
(248) 646-3400 • FAX (248) 646-5187

BRANCH

1732 West Maple Road • Birmingham, MI 48009
(248) 723-4800 • FAX (248) 723-4848

OUR SOMAYACH

Your Hometown Bank

cr

LENDER

DWYER

AND SONS

COLLISION CENTER

Joel Goldhaber,

formerly with Maxie
Collision, Inc. is now
actively servicing all
previous customers
and new customers at

Dwyer and Sons
Collision Center

12/4

1998

16 Detroit Jewish News

■ Free Loaner available or ask about our Deductible
Savings Program
■ Free Estimates
■ All insurance companies accepted. We are a direct repair for
many insurance companies
■ Towing services available
■ All makes and models are welcome
■ Turning in a lease car? See me first for a free pre-inspection!!
■ Free pick-up and delivery service available

(248) 624-0400

3055 West Maple, Commerce Township, MI 48390

1/4 mile west of Haggerty (north side)

_J