say, their daughters love the parties, "but they also attend different services" at congregations around town. Best of all, "they have made some really nice friends," Mark says. Marla describes Elizabeth as "very sweet and very shy. She loves nature and animals and has two turtles that she inherited from a cousin who went off to college. We are just so thrilled to have them." Elizabeth also cares for the family dog, Chip, a golden retriever that, Mark points out, provides him with the only opportunity for male bond- ing in the house. Life At Beth El Today: Mark is trea- surer of the temple and has been on the board of trustees for six years. He has been the congregation's secretary and on the Beth El execu- tive committee. Additionally, he is active in the Jewish community at large, serving on the board of the Jewish Community Center and the Alliance for Jewish Education. Mark describes Rabbi Daniel Syme of Beth El as "a great spiritual leader and a great rabbi. He has brought in a team, and the people around him are very warm, heimish, friendly." He describes Stephen Dubov as "the hardest-working can- tor in America." Mark notes, "Our membership, which is at its highest ever, continues to grow. We have many young fami- lies, and they often bring their fami- lies who join, too. One example: Marla's brother and sister-in-law, who became Beth El members soon after Rabbi Syme's appointment. Additionally, Mark's two older broth- ers and sister continue to be affiliated with Beth El, and Marla's parents often come for services. Mark says he especially loves Shabbat at the temple. "Services are beautiful, very spiritual, warm and friendly,. It's seldom on a typical Saturday morning that you'll see a dry eye." They like the fact that Rabbi Syme has made it a point to welcome chil- dren of all ages. Each Shabbat, he invites them to help themselves to a treat from his bag of chocolates, while the service ends with all the children coming to the bimah — "and there must be at least 100 of them," Mark notes — to hold hands and sing songs. "That's one thing I really like about Beth El," Marla says. "There's always an opportunity to participate. You never feel like you're just a number." How to enjoy cleaning and cooking for Passover this year Hopes for the Future: Marla made her first trip to Israel with her family in 1972; Mark went on a National Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY) trip in 1978. The Canvassers are considering their own family mission to Israel this summer with Rabbi David Castiglione of Beth El. Marla hopes her children "will be as happy as I am. I want them to be healthy, independent, doing some- thing with their lives that they love, making a difference in the world. Our dream is that they keep their Jewish heritage and be happy." Mark adds: "I've known Marla half my life. I hope that our kids meet a partner just like the person I met." He notes that his wife has worked professionally since the couple mar- ried, and he believes this serves as a model for his girls to be "self-suffi- cient and independent. They'll be able to do things on their own terms and with the right values. "We also want them to appreciate, as do Marla and I, the value of good health." Listen to a FREE Jewish Community Classic Audio Book! When you order a new or gift subscription* to the Detroit Jewish News you can choose from one of these audio books FREE! '0013IKS.,PC,Aff ::04.se***440Yoi t4*04, ' `tsp.; • 144 it • - •••• MILTON STEINBERG RIVEN LEAF Ara i,iet e tx ■ Ksk v.w.i sa t gor. LIA.1 Only Yesterday: Several months ago, Mark went back to visit the building in Detroit, designed by Albert Kahn, that housed Beth El when he was a little boy. Some of it was new, some familiar. "It's a church now, very well main- tained," he says. "But a lot of the original features still exist. I was sur- prised because the building was sold almost 30 years ago." The visit brought back memories. "I remember when I was young, looking up at the chandelier, count- ing all the light bulbs during ser- vices, and the four murals on the ceiling, and the stained-glass win- dows, which were moved to the new building." He thought of Rabbi Hertz, "a gen- tle man who loved what he did. He had a great voice; no one recited Chad Gadya at Passover the way he did. "When he became sick, after his stroke, he could no longer chant. It was like an artist losing his ability to paint." Read by Bess Myerson and Adam Grupper •4 cassettes, approx. 6 hours Cif:YAGT ca nkfi. ....„ . , r rAVallff wail' .Nolleb2 I hero fr., krant tz`":t,',..t.,'"trkt Read by Audie Award Winne( George Guidall tflisiattOtuM ••• A...W:3;14,4311 • •9 cassettes, approx. 9 hours r Send me a 52-week subscription Send a 52-week gift subscription for the low price of $48. ($65 out of state) Send the Me Gift recipient Please bill me FREE audio book to (choose one) Miss America, 1945 or Miss America, 1945 or Payment Enclosed Card No. Exp. Date As a Driven Leaf As a Driven Leaf Visa MasterCard Signature (Required) Your Name Your Address Your City State Zip Phone Gift Card Message: Send the Gift Subscription to: Just Around The Corner: The Canvassers love holidays and are looking forward to Passover. "It will be at least 20 people at the seder — and that's immediate family," Marla says. "The more the merrier." "We always want our family together on the holidays," Mark says. ❑ Name Address City State Zip Phone I Mail to: Detroit Jewish News, I P.O. Box 2267, Southfield, MI 48037 2267 GREAT JEWISH BOOKS ON AUDIO CAPE - Phone: (248) 354-6620 1 1 Fax: (248) 354-1210 jorish Conternpvrary Cla,sio, Inc. Allow 2-3 weeks delivery of The Detroit Jewish News L DETROIT JEWISH NEW DABO1 *Offer good for paid new or gift subscriptions only. 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