Th.

a fr
u s al sa m At Its Most Basic

WILL To SURVIVE

BROOKDALE

THE HERITAGE

Michigan's Premier
Luxury Retirement Community

The Heritage offers everything

you want and need, now and in

the future. Whether you're ready

to simplify your life, pursue your

interest or you , require assis-

tance daily, The Heritage is with

you every step of the way.

We put you first... your privacy,

your dignity, your choices. We

provide the services you need-

meals, housekeeping, around

the clock staffing assistance

with personal care needs, and

more-to help you continue to

live your life as you please.

Exceptional
Senior Living

For more information or to
schedule a personal tour
please call:

248-208-9393

25800 ELEVEN MILE ROAD
SOUTHFIELD, MI 48034

V't

4/7

2000

14

DNO300

The Heritage of Southfield provides equal housing opportunites to persons 62 years of age or older.

r4t .11 .:1:7?

from page 12

The Town Hall meeting may not
have yielded the help the congregation
had hoped for, but it did score a new
member — which, after all, is the onl
hope for Beth Isaac's survival.
"There are no roots left in the shul,
not one of our children are members
of Beth Isaac," said Jones, the original
Sunday school teacher. "They either
don't practice, or are members else-
where. That's 10 of the kids we had in
Sunday school who are gone, and
that's only between the four of us."
There are children who belong to
Beth Isaac, but their religious school-
ing needs force their parents to carry
dual memberships.
Barbara and Dario Merlos of New
Boston, members of Beth Isaac for
15 years, also belong to Temple Beth
Emeth in Ann Arbor so their chil-
dren Brian, 9, and Allison, 7, can
receive instruction to become
bar/bat mitzvah.
Last year, Beth Isaac performed one
bar mitzvah and one wedding ceremo-
ny. While no other life-cycle events ar
planned yet for this year, the congre-
gation still gets together for religious
holidays.
During last year's Chanuka gather-
ing, the downstairs social hall was
packed with members, their children
and grandchildren. The congregation's
biggest fund-raiser was a grab bag.
Gifts were wrapped at home, then
auctioned to the crowd.
Many heavy glass bowls were
bought, and the families soon found
that the nicer the wrapping, the
cheaper the gift.
A simple event with lots of laughs
and a crowd filled with children is jus
what the founders envisioned when
they started meeting nearly 50 years
ago. But people have become more
mobile.
"Before World War II, people tend-
ed to settle near their families. A lot
has changed since then," Davis said.
Beth Isaac doesn't need money and
it doesn't need pity. Its members only
need to find a way to continue the
love they have for the congregation
they built, and to ensure its future for
another generation.
"Realistically, we're looking into
how long can we survive," Pick said.
"We can gussy it up for you, but that'
the way it is. We don't knew where to
draw from. If the shul lasts five [more
years, we'd all be surprised."
Shabbat is now over. The members
have gone home. In the sanctuary, the
charred star stands as a reminder of
the past. Now the concern is who will
carry that history into the future? ❑