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Workmen's Circle offers secular option for Jews with a love of learning,
commitment to social justice.

school, studying, memorizing, practicing. He also did
community service, working in the St. Leo's Church
soup kitchen in Detroit every Wednesday morning for
several weeks.
t is the morning of Aaron Egan's bar mitzvah. A
The bar mitzvah follows a familiar pattern. After the
Jewish boy is about to take part in an ancient
ddish
Above
right:
Yi
ceremonial events, the introductions and the greetings,
Jewish tradition, taking his first steps into man-
teacher Alva D workin
it is Aaron's turn. Rather than reading from the Torah
hood.
works with
and demonstrating his Hebrew, Aaron gives a presenta-
But there is something different about this bar mitz-
a Level II class
tion on Jewish food — what Jews in various parts of
vah. It is not taking place in a synagogue, but in a meet-
the world eat, what holiday foods are popular and what
ing room at the First Congregational Church in Detroit's
symbolism
is
attached to various dishes.
Cultural Center. There is no rabbi, no cantor, no Torah reading, no
He even delivered a chicken soup recipe in Yiddish. When the
prayer.
service is over it's party time, like any bar or bat mitzvah.
This is a secular bar mitzvah sponsored by the Workmen's
In many ways, Aaron's celebration captures the essence of today's
Circle/Arbeter Ring.
Workmen's
Circle — a secular, cultural Jewish community with a
Aaron has worked hard to reach this point — attending Sunday

GEORGE DILA
Special to the Jewish News

I

Above left: Karen
Rosenstein is
education director for
Workmen's Circle.

fik
2/2
2001

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