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Temple Israel
hosts program
on tolerance,
other issues, to
raise more
thoughtful
teens.
134
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IN
Goal Of Inclusion
The author of four books, it was Rabbi
Kamin's second, Raising A Thoughtful
Teenager: A Book of Answers and Values
for Parents (Dutton, 1996), that
brought him to the attention of the
rabbi will speak
Kulanu Committee. Kulanu is the
to families on sexuality
Hebrew word for "inclusion."
Chaired by Michelle and Steve
and AIDS.
Passon, the committee was established
"to deal with issues of diversity and to
make sure all are welcome and includ-
ed," says Alan Ellias, director of programming for the
synagogue. This included, he says, "making sure inclu-
sive language was used in our by-laws, bringing to our
board and getting approval of a resolution to officially
allow for commitment ceremonies to be performed,
and including gay and lesbian individuals in all life-
cycle events held at temple."
Ellias says Rabbi Kamin's book includes several
chapters dealing with diversity and "one specifically on
gay and lesbian issues." The committee members
brought in the rabbi, he says, because they liked the
book "and we had heard that Rabbi Kamin had a
dynamic personality."
Rabbi Kamin is interim rabbi at Agudath B'nai
Rabbi Kamin
Israel Congregation in Lorain, Ohio. For 15 years,
until early this year, he was rabbi at Temple-Tifereth
Israel in Cleveland. While there, he introduced new
programs including outreach, Torah study groups, fam-
ily retreats and adult-education series. A native Israeli,
he instituted and led family pilgrimages to Israel.
Rabbi Bennett
For his synagogue's youth, Rabbi Kamin also intro-
duced Jewish camping, linking the temple with
UAHC camps in Indiana and New York. After
revamping the synagogue's religious school curriculum,
enrollment during his tenure increased from 340 stu-
dents to nearly 900. He also launched a temple youth
group that made an impact in the Northeast Lakes
Federation of Temple Youth.
Rabbi Kamin is a faculty member at the Melton
School of the Jewish Community Center of Akron,
Ohio, and an instructor of Jewish communal studies at
the Case Western Reserve University Hillel Foundation
about Homosexuality through Outreach
SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN
in Cleveland.
(ECHO.)
Staff Writer
Ordained at the Reform Hebrew Union College-
His talk will be followed by a panel discussion
Jewish
Institute of Religion in Cincinnati in 1978,
on improving communication with children and
nlike many programs about teens that
lia l focus
Rabbi
Kamin
is involved in continuing studies on the
youth about gays and lesbians; those with devel-
on only the teens themselves,
dynamics of family relationships in the biblical text.
opmental,
physical
and
psychiatric
challenges;
Temple Israel's Kulanu Committee has
Professional educators attending the "Valuing
and individuals of economic difference.
decided to target parents, too, as the
Diversity"
program will be eligible to receive 13-
The panel, moderated by Rabbi Joshua
best way to reinforce youth-oriented issues.
24
NIRIM
credits. ❑
Bennett of Temple Israel, will include Dr. Gary
The committee has brought in Rabbi Ben
Faber, deputy superintendent of West Bloomfield
Kamin, a rabbi and author from Cleveland, to do
Schools; Beth Greenapple, Jewish educator and
three programs next week on sexuality and AIDS.
member of MJAC's ECHO advisory committee;
"My talks will have to do with the special chal-
and Carol Kaczander, Jewish Federation of
` Valiiing Diversity From a Jewish Perspective:
lenge of not only being a teenager in an age of
Metropolitan Detroit campaign associate and
Thonghtful Parents Raising Thoughtful Kids" will
such diversity and information on sexuality, but
staffer for the Agency Executive's Task Force for
be held 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14, at Temple Israel.
also of raising those teenagers," Rabbi Kamin
Special Needs.
It is open to the community at no charge. A
says. "Our own challenges of the era of the '60s
Additionally, Rabbi Kamin will address the
Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Ben Kamin will take
have rolled over to our children."
synagogue's confirmation class students on Nov.
piace m the Discovery Room at the West
Rabbi Kamin will be the keynote speaker at
13
and
lead
a
Lunch
and
Learn
program
at
noon
Bloomfield JCC at noon that day. The cost is $5.
"Valuing Diversity From a Jewish Perspective:
Tuesday,
Nov.
14,
at
the
West
Bloomfield
Jewish
FOI" information on either event, call Alan Ellias at
7
Thoughtful Parents Raising Thoughtful Kids,"
Community Center. The Lunch and Learn is a
Temple Israel, at (248) 661-8545. RSVP for
p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14, at Temple Israel. The pro-
joint project of Temple Israel and the JCC, and
Lunch_ and Learn to Liz Walter, (248) 661-5700.
gram is co-sponsored by Michigan Jewish AIDS
co-sponsored by MJAC's ECHO program.
Coalition's (MJAC's) Educating our Community
NZ IN
'M
re al al
`Iralain
Diversity'
11/10
2000
70
101.
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