Spirituality

"Anyone who runs away from honor
— the honor pursues them."
— Pirkei Avot
(Ethics of the Fathers)

ARLENE LEHMANN
Special to the Jewish News

ro

rofiling Hyman and Sonia
Blumenstein is a challenge
because this modest couple
would rather not talk about
themselves.
The West Bloomfield couple would
not reveal how long they've been wed
or provide the number of their grand-
children and great-grandchildren from
their five married children and spous-
es. "All you really need to know," the
Blumensteins say, "is that we are
thankful for our blessings and the
privilege of being able to help others."
And help they have — in many,
albeit quiet, ways.
The Blumensteins have been select-
ed to receive the Kesser Shem Tov
(Hebrew for "Crown of the Good
Name") Award from the Sara Tugman
Bais Chabad Torah Center at a 6 p.m.
dinner reception Tuesday, Sept. 19, at
the Jewish Community Center in
West Bloomfield. The Blumensteins,
founders and supporters of the 26-
year-old West Bloomfield congrega-
tion, are being honored for their ser-
vice and dedication to the community.
"Sonia and Hyman are true exam-
ples of Torah values and what growing
Jewishly is all about," said Rabbi
Elimelech Silberberg, director and
spiritual leader of Bais Chabad. "They
are a breath of fresh air in a spiritually
static society, and have been able to
transmit this yearning for godliness to
their children."
"I always tell everyone how blessed
I am to have the most wonderful par-
ents: two by birth and two by mar-
riage," said Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit President Penny
Blumenstein, a daughter-in-law of the
Blumensteins.
The Blumensteins' children include
Dr. Gordon and Hanna Reta
Fishman, Harold and Penny
Blumenstein, Ronald and Fran Rogers,
Gerald and Eileen Borsand and
Frederic and Leah Ruby. Ron Rogers
built the original Torah Center in
1982; both he and Fred Ruby are past
presidents.

Their Spiritual Home

The Torah Center is housed in a mod-
est, brown brick building that's just a

`Breath Of
Fresh Air'

A giving couple earns Torah Center's Crown

of the Good Name Award.

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Sonia and Hyman Blumenstein, honorees at the Sara Tugman
Bais Chabad Torah Center dinner on Sept. 19, say they are
motivated by the "privilege of being able to help others."

short walk from the busy shopping
centers flanking Orchard Lake and
Maple roads in West Bloomfield. More
than 130 families are members of the
Torah Center, which is also the spiritu-
al home for many other unaffiliated or
otherwise affiliated Jews who partake
of its classes, programs and activities.
Daily morning and evening prayer
services are held at the Torah Center.
On site are a mikva (ritual bath) and a
Judaic book and audiotape library. The
Torah Center offers a melava malka (a
repast get-together at the end of
Shabbat), Jewish speakers and the well-
attended Purim seuda (festive meal).
Year round, people gather in small
groups to study an array of Judaic sub-
jects, from the weekly Torah portion
to Talmud. The Blumensteins first
began their association with the Torah
Center while attending a class on
Jewish mysticism.
"Did you know their name 'Blum'
means flower in Yiddish?" asks Marge
Burstyn, a longtime family friend.
"They are like flowers, offering so
much in subtle, positive ways."
"The Blumensteins personify quiet
dignity," said Martin Goodman, for- _
mer Torah Center president. "They
emanate a rare warmth, and delight in
seeing every new face. They whole-
heartedly celebrate everyone's Yiddish
nachas [joy] as if it is their own.
"They are living examples of Torah
values, and it is an honor and privilege
to know them."

Noted Speaker

In honor of the Blumensteins, Rabbi
Manis Friedman, a chasidic philoso-
pher, author and lecturer, will give a
talk entitled, "They Saw the Invisible
and Accomplished the Impossible."
The rabbi's latest book, Doesn't Anyone
Blush Anymore, explores issues of mod-
esty with gentle wit and wisdom.
"Like the Blumensteins, that which
is true and holy doesn't like the spot-
light," Rabbi Friedman said.
Adds Penny Blumenstein: "Their
example of giving, whatever their own
circumstances; of sharing with their
extended family, have been an inspira-
tion to me.
"These values have influenced me
in raising my family and in my work
in the community." ❑

or information about the dinner
honoring the Blumensteins, call
(248) 855-6170 or e-mail
BCTC770@aoLcom