***********-
COLN
Mercury
TOYOTA
JPERSTAR
The Superstar
*-
*-
*- *
DEALER
:ISSION STATEMENT
e very customer in a way that makes
them want to come back and do
business with us again and again
with the least amount of cost in order
for us to make a profit.
Elyse Sklar learns blessings from her Torah
partner; Simcha Tzippy Cohen.
1
her courtroom. The women talk week-
ly about religion and current events,
with Gilbert finding that no matter
what the question, the answer is in
the book," she said, referring to the
Five Books of Moses.
Silverstein, a principal at the yeshi-
va's Sally Allan Alexander Beth Jacob
School for Girls in Oak Park, says the
time she spends with Partners in
Torah is separate from her work as an
administrator. "8eing a mentor in the
program is more of a personal thing,"
she said, adding that she found enjoy-
ment in "being able to share and
spread the ideas of :he Torah."
In a room filled with adults, a pair of
girls conspicuous in their youth sit in
animated discussion. They are Simcha
Tzippy Cohen, 14, and Elyse Sklar, 15.
Cohen of Southfield joined the
program about five months ago when
Sklar, of Farmington Hills, expressed
an interest in becoming a partner.
Sklar, who attends North Farmington
High School, said the girls spent sev-
eral session learning about blessings,
and more recently sharing stories
bout mitzvot and kindness. The girls
say they have become friends; Sklar
accompanied Cohen to her Beth Jacob
classes on Memorial Day, when the
public schools weren't in session.
Holding a stack of note cards,
Cohen's father, Rabbi Avraham
Cohen, approaches and comments
that his daughter prepared for the ses-
`-
:ion until 1 that morning b
/-
Cohen, director of special programs
for the Yeshiva, has coordinated Partners
in Torah locally for the past two years.
For someone interested in learning
Torah, Cohen chooses the individual
he feels can best become the student's
mentor. His challenge is to match
those with similar interests, profes-
.
'
sions, age or personality, with a hope
that friendships will ensue during the
weekly meetings and the partners will
grow with one another. Mentors in
the program are "blessed with knowl-
edge they are ready to share," he said.
Cohen calls the program "non-
intrusive, with no pressure, no push-
ing." Following no specific curriculum,
discussions involve only what the part-
ners find of interest. He adds, "We are
here to share our greatest treasure, the
Torah, with those who have not yet
had the good fortune to learn from it."
Through the program, Cohen says
he hopes participants will find the
answers to "questions that they had
forever, but didn't know whom to ask."
The 5-year-old Partners in Torah is
a nationwide program locally spon-
sored by the Yeshiva. There is no
charge to participants.
"A great source of recruitment is
the people already in the program who
recommend it to their friends because
they enjoy it," Cohen said.:-
Following the session, refreshments
are served and an after-study basket-
ball game, which .Cohen calls "a perk"
of the program, goes on in the gym..
But back in the cafeteria, while the
game goes on, Cohen's wife, Golda, is
taking advantage of the flexibility the
program offers. Because she needed to be
home "to get the baby in bed,"- she and
her partner started and ended tonight's
session ahalf-hour late. Now they're
interactingfor half a session in a room
that is. suddenly distinctly quiet. Li
For information on Partners in
Torah, call Rabbi Avraham
Cohere ._at-Yeshiva'Beth Yehudah,
(248Y557-6753.
.
*
"If my people are better I have a
priceless advantage over my
competition."
9
CALL 14300--MEL-FARR
* 24 Hour Information Center'
eaaom &mad,
WHERE PROFESSIONAL SERVICE MAKES THE DIFFERENCE!
•
•
•
•
Innovative designs
Impeccable installation
Incomparable service
17 years of experience
248.855.8747
Call today for vow free in-home consultation
•
•:&, `•
\ 6,
add
Formerly of The Closet Company, Inc.
fro m
Stationery,
Invitations/ Gifts and
Fine Greeting Cards
The Boardwalk
West Bloomfield
(248) 8 -2240
e-mail: greetfrom@aol.com
TO 25% OFF
Book Invitations k,-)
Huge
Selection
Website: www.greetingsfrom.invitations.com
■14
.41
11146 ■
"",,C ),V\
7/2
1999
Detroit Jewish News
15