Voices in Jewish Education

Lasting A
Lifetime

ill

Families, a department of the Agency
or many American Jews,
for Jewish Education of Metropolitan
the bar or bat mitzvah sig-
Detroit. Two communitywide, hands-
nals the end, not the con-
on events, "Apples & Honey and Lots,
tinuation, of Jewish learn-
Lots More," and the "Great Purim
ing. The certificate from the rabbi,
Parcel Project," were launched by the
kiddush cup from the sisterhood and
JEFF program and the Jewish News in
prayerbook from the men's club
1986 and 1987. In collaboration with
become parting gifts rather than
JEFF, the Jewish News
inducements to continue
studying. Despite the
published IiChayim, a
intentions, expanding
monthly family education
one's Jewish knowledge
section, for seven years.
typically takes a back seat
The weekly AppleTree
section of the Jewish News
to other, secular pursuits.
And that's where it
traces its roots to the
stays, for a lifetime, in
L'Chayim section.
most cases.
For the past 10 years,
the Jewish News has host-
Detroit's Jewish commu-
nity leadership has recog-
ed at its offices a weekly
nized that education is at
lunch-and-learn series
the core of our survival as a
with educators from Aish
people. Resources, human
HaTorah. For a number
and economic, have been
AR THUR M.
of years, a second weekly
H ORWITZ
focused on enhancing the
lunch and learn, present-
educational experiences of
Presiden t and Publisher ed by Machon
our children. A new facility
L'Torah/The Jewish
for Yeshivat Akiva, the
Learning Network of
Michigan, was also hosted by the
birth of the Jewish Academy of
Jewish News. These were attended by
Metropolitan Detroit, the creation of
staff members and community repre-
impressive endowments for scholarships,
sentatives. We have been co-sponsors
a strengthening of synagogue-run
of the communitywide SAJE
schools and a community-wide effort to
(Seminars for Adult Jewish
reach preschool children and their fami-
Enrichment) program; the Explore!
lies are some of the most recent — and
impressive — efforts.
adult education listings, compiled by
the Agency for Jewish Education; the
However, the effort will be diluted
Jewish Community Center of
if the focus doesn't go beyond our
Metropolitan Detroit's Book Fair, and
children. We must become a commu-
the list goes on.
nity of lifelong learners.
At the Jewish News, we are an
Our commitment to Jewish educa-
tion is not skin deep!
important component in the lifetime
We hope you find Voices II infor-
learning equation. While not a substi-
mative and useful. By continuing to
tute for the classroom or the text-
elevate the status of Jewish education,
book, we utilize our news columns to
and educators, the Jewish News hopes
inform and educate, hopefully whet-
you will carve out an expanded place
ting the appetite for more learning.
in your own busy lives for ongoing
We devote a full-time reporter to
learning about your people, your her-
write every week about educational
itage and your community.
issues. Our "The Way We Learn"
icon, introduced in last year's Voices
section, spotlights the breadth and
B'shalom,
depth of our coverage and commen-
tary. And our sponsorship and sup-
port of initiatives in Jewish education
has been extensive.
The Jewish News has played, and
continues to play, an important role in
the success of Jewish Experiences For

Learning
Together

"Do not say, 'When I have the time, then I
will study' because you may never have the
time."
— Hillel

L

day, congregational and supplementary
schools, summer camps as well as adult
education programs.
It's also a community where Jews of
all streams can sit down in the same
classroom to learn and not feel out of
place. That's because the bonds that we
share as Jews tend to override any differ-
ences in how we practice
our Judaism.
We fervently hope that
this supplement to the
Jewish News provides a
benchmark for Detroit Jews
to learn more about who
we are as a people.

earning Jewishly shouldn't end
at bar or bat mitzvah. It's some-
thing we should do lifelong to
help us grow as
Jews and sustain our conti-
''1-
=-
nuity — our passage of
traditions, ideals and ritu-
als from one generation to
the next.
Critics point to Jewish
study as, variously, a suc-
cession of holidays, a
response to antisemitism, a
remembrance of the
Shoah, a listing of ancient
laws and rituals that
amounts to no more than
superstition, or a vague
ROBERT A. SKLAR
injunction to "do good"
Editor
that differs only slightly
from the Christian ethic.
To begin to put lifelong Jewish lear n-
ing in perspective, Voices In Jewish
Education resonates with the
voices of Detroit Jewry, not just report _
ed stories. In this second annual special
report, we've asked "voices" of different
ages and levels of observance to
thoughtfully answer the question:
"What will it take to make Jewish learn
ing exciting, meaningful and ongoing
for all ages?" The responses are insight-
ful and uplifting.
As always, we invite your response b y
writing (27676 Franklin Road,
Southfield, MI 48034), faxing (248-
354-6069) or e-mailing
(rsklar@diejewislinews.com ). ir4ore
coverage of trends in Jewish education
can be found on JN Online
(www.detroitjewishnews.c.om )
We live in a close-knit
Jewish community, in many
ways a national model. It's a
community rich with choices of

Shabbat Shalom!

is

_o

C

At right: Top, Teacher Faye
Ullmann and graduate Sarah.
Hoberman at the Samantha Erin
Rosen Nursery School at
Congregation Beth Ahm.

Below, Leonard Wanetik of West
Bloomfield studies at Eilu v' Eilu.

9/15
2000

37

