Spirituality

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Ann Arbor
partnerships allow
teens to brighten lives
of seniors and
new Americans.

•

GARY WETTENSTEIN

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PERSONALIZED SERVICE
IN YOUR HOME, OFFICE
OR IN OUR SHOWROOM

yearly homeless shelter.
"We're trying to really combine fun with volunteer
activities," said Anya Abramzon, Jewish Family Services'
Ann Arbor residents Nina Lavi, foreground, and Maya Lavi at the
director.
"Laundry and Bowling" mitzvah event.
Students choose whether to participate in the pro-
ject as a mitzvah or for high school credit. They corn-
SHIRT REVITAL BILIK
plete a questionnaire asking which group they would feel
Special to the Jewish News
most comfortable working with and what work would chal-
lenge them most.
hen Rebecca Young heard late last year about .
"The match is taken very seriously," Axelrod said. "We're all
Mitzvah Match, a volunteer-service project
going to great lengths to design a program that's tailored to the
forming to help Jews in her community, she
specific details of the high school students involved."
knew she wanted to get involved.
Temple Beth Emeth Cantor Annie Rose says it's the teens,
"I thought it was a really great way to help someone who
not the recipients, who are most rewarded from Mitzvah
could use it," said Rebecca, a freshman at Huron Hills High
Match. "The teens' lives are very enriched through these rela-
School in Ann Arbor.
tionships," she said.
Rebecca is among the first group of students to participate
Rebecca's participation has resulted in her making
in Mitzvah Match, a program started through the combined
friends with two sisters, whose family arrived from
efforts of Temple Beth Israel (Conservative), Temple Beth
Russia two years ago.
Emeth (Reform) and Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw
"I go and hang out with them," she said. "They show me
County, all of Ann Arbor.
pictures of where they're from. It's a great chance for them to
"The idea is to team people up in the community with
share."
other people who need a friendly visitor," explained Robin.
Sasha Krylov, 12, the older sister, is a student at Clague
Axelrod, program director at Temple Beth Israel.
Middle School in Ann Arbor. She said she's enjoyed having
Mitzvah Match, which drew 40 students to its debut ses-
Rebecca as a mentor.
sion on Sept. 1, pairs Ann Arbor teens with seniors or families
"I like the program," Sasha said. "Rebeccais now my
newly arrived in the United States for weekly meetings and
friend. I like her, like a person who can teach me things." ❑
activities. Events have included "Laundry and Bowling," where
students laundered the bedding for use at Temple Beth Israel's

lOgr

BY APPOINTMENT

271 MERRILL
BIRMINGHAM • 48009

(248) 646-0535

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cross-generational friendships.

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Volunteer assistance pays off in new,

jar (Women

INTERNATIONAL
NEWS PLUS

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Shin Revital Bilik of Commerce is a sophomore in the
Residential College program at the University of Michigan. The
political science major grew up in Israel.

••

372 Oullette Avenue • Windsor, Canada

For more information about Mitzvah Match, call Anya
Abramzon of Jewish Family Services ofWashtenau County:
(73 4) 971-3280.

