Co MUllitY

Mazel Toy!

Shaarey Zedek's 1940
consecration class

A 1940 consecration class gathers for 60 years of memories.

The women will be attending a reunion of their
1940 consecration class.
Of course, most of them never studied in Shaarey
n Friday night, June 2, more than 20
Zedek's towering Bell Road and 11 Mile building —
their education took place at Shaarey Zedek' s historic
women, together with their families, will
Detroit location at Chicago and Lawton.
meet at Southfield's Congregation Shaarey
, In 1940, these women, then 14 to 16 years old,
Zedek for an unusual Shabbat dinner.
learned about their heritage and how to lead a
Saturday morning during Shabbat services, the
Jewish life. Now, 60 years later, the consecration
women, who were last together as a group 60 years
ago, will be called to the Torah jointly in a com-
class of 1940 is reuniting to celebrate their continu-
memorative aliya.
ing commitment to Judaism.
The reunion is the culmination of the hard
work and dedication of Elaine Krohn
Medwed, Fay Sidder, Shirley Shevin and
Marva Maxwell. The four were classmates at
Shaarey Zedek in 1940 and kept in touch over
the years.
The original idea for the reunion came
from Medwed. She had heard about a 50-year
consecration class reunion, but didn't act when
her own 50th anniversary came up. Ten years
later, at the 60-year mark, she decided to
make her reunion a reality
Medwed enlisted the help of her former
classmates, who were all thrilled by the idea.
As they went through their address books,
they were able to locate almost all of their
class. Of the 54 women in the class, 12 have
passed away and others could not travel to
Detroit for the celebration. Two could not be
Reunion planners Dolores Farber, Elaine Krohn Medwed
located. But at least 20 will be here for the cel-
and Fay Sidder
ebration.
Today, many young Jewish women have a

LISA BARSON

Special to the Jewish News

0

bat mitzvah to commemorate their obligation to
observe the commandments. But in 1940, "no one
had ever heard of a bat mitzvah," explains Medwed.
"The consecration ceremony was held at
[Conservative] synagogues for young women instead."
Now known as a confirmation ceremony, the conse-
cration served as a way for women to affirm their faith.
During the ceremony, all of the women dressed in
white and each had a part. Fay Sidder remembers,
"Everyone wanted to look good in the white dresses, so
we either were sunburned or suntanned."
"It was a very emotional thing for me to take part
in the ceremony," says Medwed. "The idea of con-
firming to live Jewishly was very meaningful. The
girls took streetcars and buses to get to shut It was a
very important time in our lives."
Sidder recalls how much Judaism has changed
since the consecration. "We were taught Hebrew just
so we could say a few words. It wasn't a good Hebrew
education. We never thought we would ever become
part of a minyan, or recite prayers from the bima."
The women studied under Rabbi Abraham
Hershman and the new young rabbi, Morris Adler.
After the ceremony, it was customary for families
to go from house to house and congratulate the
young women who had been consecrated, but one
mother decided it was more practical to have all of
the girls in one place. Sidder remarked that "some
people remember this taking place at the synagogue,
others say it was at a hotel."
The planners are amazed at how much time has
gone by. After 60 years, Sidder remarks, "we all still feel
like we are 16." ❑

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