Dina Schtull-Leber, head of the Judaic staff at Tamarack Camps.
Subjects ranged from the Jewish view of angels to life cycles and
holidays.
"She is so knowledgeable," says Beth El teacher Jan Emmer of
Farmington Hills. "She doesn't lecture. It's more like a conversa-
tion.
"We'd better be getting something out of it, to be there at 7:30
in the morning," adds co-worker Maxine Harwin of West
Bloomfield.
The unit on angels was highly informative to Beth El teacher
Joan Halpern of Bloomfield Hills. "None of us were sure how
angels work in Jewish tradition," she says. "We learned there are
angels throughout the Bible. There's a hierarchy of angels and
God sends angels out to do various things."
Halpern says they definitely will be able to use the things they
learned in their own classrooms. "If nothing else, we'll be more
confident when we answer questions."
Preschool teachers at both locations of Congregation Shaarey
Zedek Beth Hayeled studied women and the Bible, first with
Naomi Glogower of Ann Arbor and then with Isaacs.
"It was a great experience for me, as an older woman," says
Sherry Hobson of West Bloomfield, who also teaches in the syna-
gogue's program for school-aged children.
When she first learned the Bible stories, it was from a child's
viewpoint, she explains. Thanks to the JEEEP class, she can appre-
ciate their spiritual and historical meanings and subtleties.
"Now, when I see the story of Sarah giving birth to Yitzchak at
the age of 90, I understand why she named him Yitzchak,"
Hobson says. "When I was growing up, I thought it was because
people would laugh at her. Now I understand it was a bitter
mirth, her laughing because God made her wait all those years."
Society Presents
Simons Award
JeffKress, Jewish Theological Seminary senior
research associate, and Harlene Appelman, director
of Federation's Alliance for Jewish Education, take
a moment's break at the Museum of Jewish
Heritage.
20th-Century Reflections
On JEEEP's New York trip, teachers visited two sites that
emphasize more recent Jewish history — the Museum of
Jewish Heritage and the Ellis Island Immigration
Museum.
The museum's second floor is a memorial to the
Holocaust.
"Our docent, Bronya, was a survivor," said Helayne
Shaw of Farmington Hills, early education program coor-
dinator at Shaarey Zedek Beth Hayeled. "She told us
how she skipped lines to get past the gas chambers, how
she was a smuggler. We saw pictures of her neighbors in
the camps."
Temple Israel teachers Debbie Klein of Farmington
Hills and Paula Mellin of West Bloomfield were moved
when they saw "what the German Jews had and what
they had to give up."
"We were amazed at the games German children were
given — 'how many Jews can you kill?"' Klein said. "And
the kids' books were written in such an anti-Semitic
way.
The museum is noted for its audio-visual exhibits, not
only those involving the Holocaust, but also others on
Yiddish theater, Jews and their professions, synagogue
life and many others.
At Ellis Island, teachers were amazed to learn that, of
the 12 million people to enter the United States through
the processing center, 97.5 percent eventually made it
through.
"I think the trip helped us reflect on our Jewish her-
Listening to tour guide Thorin Tritter at Ellis Island are Janet
itage more," said Mellin, "and to reflect on the past
Pont of Southfield, director of the Shaarey Zedek Marcia and
and how important the future of Judaism is."
Eugene Applebaum Family and Life Center, and Rena
Weintraub of Farmington Hills, director of Shaarey Zedek Beth
Hayeled nursery school.
❑
5/18
2001
40
The Jewish Historical Society of
Michigan will honor Sidney M.
Bolkosky with the 2001 Leonard N.
Simons History Award at the annual
luncheon Sunday, June 24, at Temple
Beth El.
The Oak Park
resident is a profes-
sor of history at the
University of
Michigan-
Dearborn, where he
is the William E.
Stirton professor of
social science. A
writer and lecturer,
he has been hon-
ored for his work
Sidney
on local history and
Bolkosky
the Holocaust. He
wrote the book
Harmony and
Dissonance, Voices of Jewish Identity in
Detroit, 1914-1967.
There is a charge of $25 for the
luncheon. For reservations, call Rob
Kaplow, (248) 827-1868, or Jim
Grey, (248) 540-9070.
Fame Games
Seek Volunteers
Volunteers are sought for the 15th
annual West Bloomfield Community
Fame Games on Sunday, Sept. 9. The
Fame Games provide children and
adults with special needs an opportu-
nity to showcase their athletic ability.
The games will be held on the
grounds of the Jewish Community
Center in West Bloomfield. The day
will include opening ceremonies,
track and field events, aquatic
events, barbecue lunch, closing cere-
mony and a gala evening dessert
reception.
The Fame Games are sponsored
by the Jewish Community Center of
Metropolitan Detroit, the Michigan
Jewish Sports Foundation, West
Bloomfield Parks and Recreation and
West Bloomfield Schools
Community Education with support
from the Northwest Child Rescue
Women.
Volunteers are needed from 8:30
a.m. - 3 p.m. Orientations will be
held Sept. 4 and 5. Pre-registration is
required.
For information or to register to
volunteer, call Nancie Furgang, (248)
661-7737.