Living Well

The Scene

Detroit's successful singles mission to Israel is adding some double wrinkles.

CARI WALDMAN
Special to the Jewish News

E

ighty young adults, both
couples and singles, ages
35 and under, gathered
Jan. 25 to hear about this
summer's Israel Adventure 2000
The July 2-12 trip is sponsored
locally by the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit and national-
ly by the United Jewish
Communities.
The energy was high at
the local' meeting as trip lead-
ers spoke about last year's
adventures, paralleling the
experience to summer camp
for grown-ups.
"We have changed the
landscape of the trip this
year, bringing it to new
heights," said 33-year-old
Scott Kaufman, trip co-chair.
"This year we are adding two
new elements to the existing
and successful singles bus: a
couples bus and a veterans
bus." Kaufman will experi- .
ence the Israel mission for
the fifth time this summer.
"Many young married
couples have no interest in an Clockwise from above left: Listening to the presentation are Todd Gesund of Novi, Brad Urdan of West Bloomfield, Marty Beluin of
older persons' mission and
Bloomfield Hills and Brian Satovsky of West Bloomfield. Lee Trepeck of HuntingtonWoods talks about his Israel experiences. Amy Lash of
feel left out in the atmos-
Royal Oak signs in.
phere of a singles' mission.
We are filling a much-needed
people from new cities, and seeing
the trip, saying how wonderful it was,
ping with certain day and night time
niche and this trip is an effective vehi-
the sights are my top priorities,"
but we did not want to be the only
social spots. On the other hand, the
cle to getting people involved," said
Satovsky said.
couple," said Lantor. "We are going
couples will maintain their indepen-
Kaufman.
Brad Urdan, 29, of West
now, before we start a family."
dence by traveling on a separate bus.
Recently married trip leaders for
Bloomfield,
said he is looking forward
Amy
Lash,
28,
and
Craig
Lash,
30,
Detroit is the first city to add the
the couples bus, Robin and Lee
to
spending
quality
time with people
of
Royal
Oak
have
been
married
one
couples element to the UJC singles
Trepeck, translate their vision of the
in
a
city
he
has
never
experienced.
year.
"We
were
looking
for
a
young,
mission. "This year's couples bus
couples adventure into summer camp
Michelle Levin, 27, of West
active,
organized
mission
to
go
on
could
serve
as
a
cornerstone
of
a
refo-
lingo: "The bus is your cabin; the
Bloomfield is hoping to go on the
with our peers, to experience Israel
cused effort to provide programming
tour guide is your counselor; your sig-
mission to see her roots.
for the first time," said Amy.
that caters to young couples," said
nificant other is your bunk mate; and
Best friends Michelle Faxon, 23, of
Brian Satovsky, 29, of West
Trepeck.
the country is the camp grounds."
West
Bloomfield, and Jill Rosenfield,
Bloomfield, is single and wants to
Jennifer Lantor, 27, and Todd
"Couples," said Lee Trepack, "will
23,
of
Farmington Hills, are excited
revisit
Israel
while
he
is
young.
"I
Kroll, 31, of Birmingham, who will
maximize the best benefits of both
to
experience
Israel together and meet
spent
the
summer
of
1988
in
Israel,
be married in a few weeks, are thrilled
worlds."
new,
young
Jewish
people from
but
I
am
ready
to
revisit.
Bonding
that a couples bus has been added.
In one sense, the couples will gain
Detroit.
with
the
good
friends
I
will
be
travel-
"We
wanted
to
go
last
year
when
from the energy, size and infrastruc-
"It is a real testament to our Jewish
ing with, making relationships with
many of our friends returned from
ture of the singles mission, overlap-

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