PiCTuRe ThiS
A Doggie Dog World
S
tudents in the Rabbit Room at
Congregation Shaarey
Zedek Beth Hayeled in
Southfield know it's a ruff world out
there, which is why they couldn't
wait to donate their tzedakah to a
deserving organization.
The 4- and 5-year-olds collect
tzedakah each week before
Shabbat, explained teacher Stefani
Brand. Then the question becomes
where to give the money.
"The children used their math skills
and voted on options," Ms. Brand
says. "We decided to help chil-
dren, adults or animals; animals
won the vote. I suggested that we
donate to Leader Dogs for the
Blind.
Staff with Leader Dogs directed
Ms. Brand to Sherril Platt, who rais-
es puppies for the organization.
Earlier this month Ms. Platt, who
also is Jewish and lives in Oak
Park, brought a puppy to meet the
students. The grateful pup accepted
the donation, which will be for-
warded to Leader Dogs to help
train animals who give "eyes" to
those who are blind.
Ms. Brand is assisted in class by
Kathy Gaynor, Marcie Hyman and
June Anderson. Students are
Brendan Alpiner, Gabe Berman,
Bradley Bitker, Rachel Bornstein,
Brianna Bove, Tamar Brown, Jake
Eisenberg, Gabe Hessenthaler,
Abby Kovan, Jessica Leshman,
Gideon Levinson, Jessica Niskar,
Alexander Radner, Madison Spatter,
Meredith Starkman, Eli Suris, Darren
Weiss, Yael Weiss, Zachary Witus,
Shiro Wolf, Rachel Zemmol and
Adam Zureick. I—I
Stefani Brand
explains the
tzedakah of
giving to help
the Leader Dog
program.
Sherril Platt, who raises the puppies, explains
to the children about leader dogs.
Jessica Niskar
laughs while
playing with April.
Meredith
Starkman,
4, and
Abby
Kovan, 5,
pet April,
a future
leader
dog.
April rests after playing with the children.
1/22
1999
Detroit Jewish News
83