Spirituality

T

Temple Kol Ami fetes Rabbi Roman's
25th year with a day of joy and study.

DAVID SACHS
Editorial AssiStant

Roman will receive an honorary doctor of
divinity degree from Hebrew Union College-
Jewish Intitute of Religion in Cincinnati in
usic and service to Judaism
recognition of his 25th anniversary in the
have long been part of the
rabbinate. To honor this achievement, which
Roman family tradition.
includes 14 years at Kol Ami, the 450-family
Temple Kol Ami Rabbi
temple is presenting an all-day Shabbaton
Norman Roman's uncle was a renowned can
(Shabbat celebration with prayer and study)
torial soloist at the two largest Reform con-
on Saturday, Jana 29. The event is open to
gregations in Cleveland. Rabbi Roman's
the entire community.
father was choir director of a smaller temple
Rabbi Roman, 51, requested the tribute
there.-
be in the format of a daylong learning expe-
So, it seems fitting that young Rabbi
rience. "Doing some kind of community
Roman arrived to be associate to Rabbi
study day, instead of a testimonial, having it
Dannel Schwartz at Temple Beth El in
in honor of Jewish study and in honor of the
Bloomfield Township in 1982 with a guitar
role of the rabbi as teacher, is what I want-
in hand and sporting a folk singer's beard.
ed," he said.
He quickly earned the nickname, "The
"This is something for the whole commu-,
Singing Rabbi." -
nity. I'm really thrilled that the congregation
A very informal and personable speaker from
accepted my wish."
the pulpit, Rabbi Roman's gift of song only
Two out-of-town rabbis will join six
added more warmth to his gregarious persona.
Detroit area rabbis at the Shabbaton.
Four years later, when Kol Ami's Rabbi
Rabbi Roman loves teaching. On Sunday,
Ernst Conrad retired, Rabbi Roman joined
Jan. 30, he wraps up an adult education sem-
the West Bloomfield temple and became a
inar on "Finding God." On Tuesday, Feb. 1,
driving force in its edu-
he will lead a class in the
cational program.
NIRIM program for
a
"I love it here," he
Jewish educators.
said last week. "It's very
And Rabbi Roman
reminiscent of the con-
„
takes a very active role in
gregation where I grew
his temple's school.
up, Brith Emeth in
Besides teaching music
The community is invited to
Cleveland. It's a roll-up-
classes, he frequently visits
a Shabbaton to mark
your-shirtsleeves-and-
individual classes to share
everyone-participates
his knowledge and love of
Norman Roman's quarter
kind of community."
Judaism.
Rabbi Roman sings a prayer for peace for the Martin Luther King Jr.
century in the rabbinate.
In March, Rabbi
Kol-Ami president
holiday at West Bloomfield High School

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