Synagogues .

Sharing
The
Spirit

VOR1,71"iVrtnr.R ,. -

Two synagogues host
one anothers. members.

SHELLI DORFMAN
Editorial Assistant

T

Sierra, 3, and Cheyenne Stone, 5, show of their artwork.

he unfamiliar air
and decor of new
surroundings
became a welcome
atmosphere to guests attend-
ing a synagogue new to them.
In fact, on separate
evenings, groups from two
West Bloomfield synagogues
invited neighboring congrega-
tions to join them in a special
family program. Held July 26
at Congregation Shaarey
Zedek B'nai Israel and Aug. 4
at Congregation Shir Shalom,
each synagogue took its turn
Lily Firestone helps her daughter Eliza, 3, with her art project,
hosting the Share the Spirit
while 7-year-old Leah looks on.
family event.
Janet Pont elicits the help of 6-year-old twins Brooke and Danielle
Janet Pont, director of the
Isaacs.
SZ Eugene and Marcia
Applebaum Jewish Parenting
Center, said the program
studied the Shabbat-related art pro-
community oriented."
Both evenings at the synagogues
came about from Shaarey Zedek dis-
jects.
His mother, Jodie, sharing the
Shir
Shalom
members
Brooke
and
involved singing and family activi-
cussions of wanting "to be neighbor-
evening with his father Barry and
Danielle
Isaacs,
both
6,
of
ties,
including
children's
games,
pro-
ly" with Shir Shalom, which she
brother Nolan, 1, said they sought
Farmington Hills, attended both
jects, and a puppet show. In each
described as " our nearest syna-
out the program because of its family
parts of the program with their par-
case, the visiting rabbi led adult dis-
gogue.
orientation and connection of the
ents, Diane and Craig Isaacs.
cussions.
The first-time program was insti-
two synagogues where they have
Describing
the
B'nai
Israel
por-
With Shir Shalom being a Reform
tuted following meetings with Pont
involvement.
tion,
the
girls,
seated
on
either
side
of
synagogue and Shaarey Zedek a
and Rabbi Leonardo Bitran of
Pont said she looks forward to
their
mother,
announced
in
unison,
Conservative one, Pont noted: "Some
Shaarey Zedek and Rabbi Michael
more
meetings between the two syna-
"We
made
Shabbat-o-meters,"
refer-
practices and beliefs are different, but
Moskowitz and education director
gogues, hoping congregants and their
ring
to
a
project
they'd
created.
there
was
so
much
ground
for
work-
Mindy Nathan of Shir Shalom. Pont
leaders will share and learn more
Blake Rogow, 2, of West,
ing together." Attending the program
said that without a nursery school of
about each other. In agreement,
Bloomfield is a Shir Shalom member
with his family, Rabbi Moskowitz
their own, many Shir Shalom families
Rabbi Bitran called the program a
who
goes
to
summer
camp
at
Shaarey
agreed, calling it a chance for congre-
have children attending the SZ Beth
successful
"corporate world venture
Zedek.
Participating
at
the
Aug.
4
gants "to learn with a different rabbi,
Hayeled program, bringing about "a
in
the
spiritual
world." ❑
Shir
Shalom-hosted
program,
he
sharing the teaching in a way that is
special connection" between the two.

8/20
1999

60 Detroit Jewish News