Cover Story

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special.

Join us as we celebrate
the Jewish Academy of
Metropolitan Detroit's
first year.

Special Guest Speaker

Bruce J. Powell, Ph.D.

An instrumental force in founding
college preparatory high schools.

1,Aav 15, 2001
7:30 p ,, s us

Tues a

Marion and David Handleman Hall,
D. Dan and Betty Kahn Building of the
Jewish Community Center on the
Eugene and Marcia Applebaum
Jewish Community Campus
West Bloomfield

Dessert Reception
following our guest speaker and
honorary awards presentation.

Valet Parking

5/4
2001

16

For information call (248) 592-5263

tion. Christein, a Catholic, heads up
the Jewish Community Archives at
Federation. "It's a really great job and I
work with a lot of wonderful people,"
she said. "I am happy here."
For others, being a part of the daily
operations of an active community
brings to them an irreplaceable sense of
belonging, like being a part of a family.
Hazel Shackelford, an administrative
assistant with the Alliance for Jewish
Education of Metropolitan Detroit,
can attest to that. Shackelford, who
worships at Turner Chapel CME in
Mount Clemens, first came to work
for Federation in 1971 as a secretary.

The graphics specialist has worked for
the communications department at
Federation for two decades. She drives
two hours a day to commute between
the Bloomfield Township offices and
her home in Windsor.
Many come in with little knowledge
of the Jewish community and faith.
These workers often spend time in
formal training to learn about the reli-
gion and the cultural traditions. Jewish
Apartments and Services and Jewish
Home and Aging Services run regular
workshops called "The Art of Jewish
Caregiving." They include basic infor-
mation about Yiddish, the holidays

Nancy Kister
of Jewish
Home
and Aging
Services with
Fleischman
Residence
resident
Alice Gilman
of West
Bloomfield.

She said she feels a sense of respect for
her opinions and an unmatched feel-
ing of collegiality with the workers
and the volunteers. In fact, the high
point of her career came shortly after
turning down a job offer from an
automaker.
She became a participant in Detroit
Jewry's first Miracle Mission to Israel
in 1993. "[Mission Co-Chair] David
Hermelin danced down the aisle of
our airplane. We stayed up until two
in the morning in [Mission Co-Chair]
Jane Sherman's hotel room. We didn't
get much sleep, but it was a great
experience," Shackelford said. "I know
I am a respected member of the staff,
that my opinion counts. I know I am
a part of this community."

Going The Extra Mile

But make no mistake: some gentile
workers make clear sacrifices to hold
their jobs.
Marsha Goldsmith Kamin, executive
director of Jewish Apartments and
Services, says it is not unusual for
non-Jewish personal care workers to
spend extra time or pay greater atten-
tion to caring for their charges.
"They tell me, 'They are a part of
God's people, too,"' she said. "It is
heartwarming."
Others overcome obstacles of distance.
Take Lorna Carlone, for example.

and discussion about traditions.
At the Jewish Community Center of
Metropolitan Detroit, Rabbi Hal
Greenwald familiarizes non-Jewish
staff with Judaism and offers study ses-
sions to all.
Other communal workers, like
Carlone, give up their lunch hour to
learn Hebrew.
"Oftentimes, these workers are very
involved in their own religion. They
are decent, caring individuals who
have a deep respect for religion and
tradition and are very careful not to
violate Jewish tradition," Goldsmith
Kamin said.
Still more take on physically
demanding tasks, like Robert Riley.
Riley, building manager for
Congregation B'nai Moshe, says it is
not unusual to put in 16 to 19 hours
in a day. Riley, who sets up and breaks
down for Kiddush on Saturdays, rou-
tinely brings his daughter with him;
the little girl is regularly called up to
the bimah (dias) during services to
join the other children.
"It is just a big, old family here," Riley
said, adding that his wife, Rhonda, used
to work for the congregation.

Defending The Faith

And non-Jewish workers' dedication to
the Jewish community doesn't seem to
stop when they leave their desks at