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Imm ■ Avali
INEWPAWAN ■
26640 GREENFIELD RD.
OAK PARK, MI 48237
(248) 543-1622
1-800-736-5033
34
it's the way Burg approaches his mission
of keeping alive a flame of Jewish
intellectual excitement.
"I enjoy working with teenagers
because they are still forming their
opinions, their identities," Burg says. "I
hope I can help them through that
difficult period. I think the community
underestimates teens when it comes to
their ability to learn. There is the
mistaken belief that youth groups have
to be social only. We have to have
something that gets them to use their
brains. With kids and education, if you
treat them seriously they will respond
in kind and treat you seriously."
The Wednesday night topics are as
serious as they come. Abortion,
sexuality, Shabbat, dating and marriage
are all studied from the viewpoint of
Torah. "I want these kids to have a
better understanding of Judaism and
religion," the Orthodox rabbi says. "I
don't look at them as Reform,
Conservative and Orthodox teens. They
are just Jewish kids with a lot of
questions."
Tali Zechory, a junior at Groves Hi
School, raves about the rabbi. "He is an
excellent teacher," she says. "He takes a
genuine interest in us. Everyone's
opinions are welcome no matter how
controversial. It sparks discussion. The
goal is to get as many opinions out there
and open people's minds."
Burg is driven to educate as many
Jewish teens as he can because the
vacuum in their knowledge distresses
him.
"I can meet a Christian kid who
knows his Bible backwards and
forwards. Jewish kids don't and it's scary.
Because if there's no knowledge then
what will inspire them to remain Jewish?
I'm not concerned about continuity.
Jewish continuity is a ridiculous term.
Jews will survive. I'm concerned about
who will continue. If kids have no clue
as to why be Jewish I don't see what will
keep them.
Giving kids a clue also has translated
into an "open door policy" on Shabbat.
Friday night dinners and Saturday
afternoon lunches with anywhere from
a handful to 20 teens at the table are
commonplace at the Burg household.
A few kids sometimes stay overnight
either with the couple or with another
family in the community. It means
more work for Rachel, who works part
time and cares for their 2-year-old son,
eh, but she doesn't shy from the extra
responsibility.
"If the kids didn't come here," she
says, "they would have no Shabbos
experience. I guess that's what motivates
me. It is a wonderful feeling. We have
gotten quite close with some of the kids
and their parents. We want the parents
to know that we are not so different
from them. We make an effort to be as
open as possible. There is this concept
of achdut, of oneness. That's what I
))
concentrate on.
Sherry Kraft, a recent graduate from
Groves High School, has spent Friday
nights with the Burgs and loves the
experience. "My family doesn't celebrate
Shabbos together. In my environment
the weekend is the time to catch up and
do what you didn't have time for during
the week. It's usually not very relaxing.
But when I celebrate Shabbos the right
way it's really nice."
Burg recognizes the restorative
power of disengaging from the harried
world for 24 hours.
"Kids today are so busy," he says.
"They have their activities, their jobs.
They should have a time when they are
not working or studying. When they
can have exposure to something else.
It's not matter of converting them or
preaching but simply enabling them to
enjoy a different dimension."
So the Burgs keep their house open,
the discussions going, the cookies and
brownies warm and plentiful. And the
kids keep coming and coming.
■
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