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DETROIT
JEW= NEWS

3/12

1999

36 Detroit Jewish News

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(248)354-5959

child feel special and by doing so, he
ceremony. I try to make it full of mean-
enriches their whole religious experi-
ing and enjoyable at the same time."
ence.''
Greenbaum seems to cherish his time
"We were really
spent enlightening Jews
excited about it," said
about their Judaism.
former tish participant
And clearly his most
Chavie Wexelberg-
important audience is the
Clouser, 13, "because
children.
it was something for
"I figure I spend 75 per-
us, for the kids."
cent of my time working
And it is
with children in some
Greenbaum's style of
way," the cantor said.
favoring participation
"They are the lifeline, the
over preaching that
next generation."
draws adults to the
And he lauds Beth
synagogue as well.
Shalom's board for having
"He's not a cantor
the foresight to add a new
who is there to per-
educational wing on to the
form," Garver said.
building this past year.
"His approach is that
"The school is the
it should be a shared
lifeblood for the syna-
experience. The congre- Cantor Greenb aum:
gogue and its future,"
gation participates; they A career ofsha ring.
Greenbaum said. To see
sing; it's all of us
the kids running around,
together davening.
I'm glad to be a part of it."
"And for those who haven't had
And he finds joy in working with the
much experience with the Torah,"
adults as well. "I'm just beaming because
Garver added, "he gives people confi-
so many of our people are participat-
dence. He makes them feel that's where
ing," he said. "We have an adult educa-
they belong, on the bimah. Being a part
tion program, a Sisterhood Shabbat. We
of services is where everyone should be.
were the first Conservative synagogue to
Rabbi David Nelson points to
give full rights to women. We have
Greenbaum's style, and a successful part-
young people who have become rabbis,
nership between rabbi and cantor, as a
including my son."
key factor in preserving Beth Shalom as
And it doesn't take much thought for
the only conservative synagogue in the
Greenbaum to understand from where
Oak Park area.
his exuberance for Jewish education
"A few years ago, everyone else was
came. He knew by age 13 he wanted to
shutting their doors," Nelson said. "But
follow in the footsteps of his cantor in
our place is teeming with life. Together,
Jacksonville, Fla.
we helped rebuild Beth Shalom."
"The cantor I grew up with as a boy
"We had our own perspective," the
was very involved in the congregation,
rabbi continued, "and our own under-
and I guess that was the kind I wanted
standing of what warmth in a congrega-
to be. I wanted it to be a life, not just a
tion means, what creating an intimate
vocation."
service means and how to create a feel-
That was the commitment
ing of closeness among congregants.
Greenbaum made when he brought his
And part of that closeness came in the
wife, Mona, and their two small chil-
love between the congregation of Beth
dren to Oak Park from a not-so-obser-
Shalom and Cantor Sam."
vant Conservative synagogue in
Far from the traditional cantor,
Portland, Ore., 25 years ago.
Greenbaum involves himself in all facets
His kids have since grown, and left
of Beth Shalom life. If not on the pulpit,
the nest. The oldest, Alexander, is a
he's busy teaching to bar and bat mitz-
Conservative rabbi in Georgia. Shim,
vah students, sharing insights into
the middle daughter, is an obstetrician-
Jewish music, officiating at weddings
gynecologist resident in Detroit. The
and funerals, and visiting hospitalized
youngest, Liana, spends much of her
patients.
post-college life on Israel-bound trips.
In his "free time," Greenbaum dou-
The Greenrooms say their commit-
bles as a moheL performing brit milah
ment to a life serving the congregants of
for families across the community. It
Beth Shalom is something that's heie to
allows him to share Judaism with those
stay.
who otherwise may have missed its rich-
"It's been 25 years of a good relation-
ness and fullness, he said.
ship," says Mona, "and we couldn't
"When I go into the home as a
think of anywhere else we would consid-
model," he said, "it's often the first time
er home." ❑
a Jewish family is exposed to a Jewish

Music Club
Dissolving

The 74-year-old Music Study Club of
Metropolitan Detroit, a cultural bench-
mark in the organized Jewish communi-
ty, is being dissolved.
The non-profit charitable trust,
licensed by the state, has promoted
music appreciation in monthly high-

Funds to be
disbursed here
and in Israel.

quality music programs, provided debut
opportunities for aspiring young talent
through annual artist concerts and fund-
ed hundreds of scholarships (including
26 awarded last May) to deserving stu-
dents.
The choral group performed at nurs-
ing, retirement and public centers. The
member newsletter Pizzicato publicized
musical events.
The Music for Israel program con-
tributed money for scholarships in musi-
cology at Hebrew University, music
therapy at Alyn, the Rubin Academy of
Music and Dance in Jerusalem, piano
performance at the Rubin Academy Tel
Aviv University and Matan. Instruments
were donated to the Israeli Chamber
Orchestra and a piano was given to
Rubin Academy Jerusalem, which bears
a plaque "Gift of Music Study Club." In
the 1950s, the Israeli Philharmonic
toured the United States in club-sup-
plied tuxedos.
Organized by 18 young women in
1924 as the Music Circle, its purpose
was the study and performance of
music. Membership grew and by 1935,
money was available to allow the
reopening of the music school at the
Jewish Community Center on
Woodward Avenue and the purchase of
a piano.
The name, Music Study Club of
Metropolitan Detroit, was adopted in
1970. The idea of scholarship assistance
took hold and the showcasing of bud-
ding artists launched many notable
careers. With musical prescience, poten-
tial artists were identified before they
achieved national and international
recognition. To note a few: Itzhak
Perlman, Pinchas Zukerman, Muriel

N