The

We

Learn

Wide-Ranging Effort

William Davidson

alism, said Dr. Lynda Giles, Alliance
for Jewish Education co-chair.
Dr. Giles,'Appelman and then-
Federation President Robert Naftaly
met with congregations three years
ago, formed the Alliance more than a
year ago, then developed first a group
of 40, then work groups of 80 to
explore different programs with syna-
gogues.
"This whole process has made
where we're at now so much easier,"
Dr. Giles said. "We're looking to cre-
ate a model that everyone will want to
emulate."
Aronson sees the potential for a
national model. "We're partnering
with two major institutions, the
Jewish Theological Seminary with its
William Davidson Graduate School of
Jewish Education, and the Synagogue
2000 program," he said. "Both have
wide applicability to communities
around the country. We are piloting
them in an environment in which the
synagogues and federation enjoy a
strong, positive relationship."
He believes that a locally sponsored
and funded partnership with the syna-
gogues can be more effective than a
national program. "We know what the
specific needs are, and we can identify
partners. The key is the people," he
said. "If everybody is pulling together
and is committed, then it will happen.
If it's just a matter of press releases and
conventions, those things don't work."

What makes Detroit's initiative so
different from others is the com-
prehensive scope of the program
and how well the synagogues, rab-
bis, educators and Federation offi-
cials have worked together, said
Doreen Hermelin, who chairs the
Center's advisory committee. Co-
chairs are Allan Schwartz and
Kathleen Wilson-Fink.
"We've been working very hard at
creating an important link between
congregations and the Federation,"
Doreen Hermelin said. "The leaders
are people who understand the
importance of congregations and
Federation working together to pro-
vide an inspired community."
Added Naftaly, "Pieces of this are
being done in other places, but I
don't think anybody's doing as
comprehensive a program as we're
doing, and I don't think anybody
has as much cooperation as we have
had." Naftaly co-chairs Federation's
Alliance for Jewish Education.
"In the future, we hope to touch
all the various phases of Jewish edu-
cation, and the Alliance, which has
met for a year, has come up with a plan
to deal with each and every segment of
the population," said Penny
Blumenstein, Federation president. "We
needed to focus on one or two projects
to begin in order to be able to do it in
the best way possible, and as the funds
grow, so will the projects grow."
Rabbi Irwin Groner of
Congregation Shaarev Zedek, where
the Davidsons and Hermelins are
members, has been enthusiastic about
the project from the outset. "It's
important for us to recognize that this
is a broad vision," he said. "The goal
will be implemented by the support of
vibrant congregations, and the Center
will support the congregations that are
striving for excellence in formal and
informal education."
Rabbi Groner said his congrega-
tion's educational staff will discuss
enhancing the preschool program,
then "will reach out to motivate par-
ents to greater Jewish knowledge and
commitment."
William Davidson, chairman of
Guardian Industries in Auburn Hills,
said he has had a lifelong desire for
excellence in Jewish education, and
sees his contribution to synagogues as
nothing new. The Hermelin-Davidson
Center for Congregation Excellence
will "help broaden the scope of the
ability to reach more students by
going into the synagogues." ❑

Teaching
Our Teachers

Project would
give early childhood
educators in
congregations
free training in
Judaic Studies.

DLA_NA LIEBERMAN
Staff` Triter

F

rieda Robins is not normally
a salesperson.
The Tel Aviv native usually can
be found studying for a doctorate
in education at the Jewish
Theological Seminary in New
York City, and directing the uni-
versity's early childhood pilot pro-
ject.
But last week, Robins spent
three days making the rounds in
Oakland County, outlining the
Judaic Enrichment Project for
Early Childhood Educators to our
area's congregational nursery and
preschool programs.
A two-year series of courses and
activities, the program seeks to
improve the level of Jewish knowl-
edge among those who teach the
very youngest members of our
community.
The program is currently
awaiting endorsement from the
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit Board of Governors. It
already has the enthusiastic
approval of Dr. Lynda Giles, co-
chair of Federation's Alliance for
Jewish Education.
"You all have always known
how important our preschools
have been to us," Dr. Giles told
several dozen early childhood
teachers last week at Congregation
Shaarey Zedek's B'nai Israel
Center. This is a wonderful
opportunity to work together with
the whole community looking at
us. We feel the synergy will move
throughout the whole system."
The Judaic Enrichment Project
is being offered free to early
childhood teachers at local con-
gregational schools, with Robins
TEACHERS on page 20

THE
BATTLE
FOR
JERUSALEM

You are invited

to meet and hear

MORTON
KLEIN

National President, Zionist
Organization of America,
named by the National Jewish
Weekly, The FORWARD, as
"one of the top five Jewish
leaders in the U.S. today."

SUNDAY,
APRIL 2
2:30 P.M.

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(East of Southfield Road)

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