Spirituality
Golf Outings
18 Holes on one of
Oakland County's premier venues
-
Gracious Banquet
Facilities
to fit the funds available. "Harry
Gunsberg and Rabbi Lehrman together
provided the inspiration and enthusiasm
to build a sanctuary for 800," said for-
mer president Norbert Reinstein of Oak
Park.
The move from Oak Park to West
Bloomfield in the early 1990s was also
• bar & bat mitzvahs
• showers
• all special occasions
Cantor Earl Ben-is and Rabbi Elliot
Pachter are spiritual leaders
influenced by the shufs past.
Personal Menu Consultations
for your Special Event
BRFNTWOOD
Golf & Country Club
2450 Have wood • White Lake • 684-2662
Call Debi Lang - Special Events Coordinator
Under New Ownership - Farrell & Ann Moore,
Adrienne Moore, Bonnie Kerner, Barrie Moore
Events &
Entertainment, Inc.
Nou , offering
Complete film
and video services
specializing in:
Events and Entertainment, Inc.
24 1 56 HAGGERTY ROAD
FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48335
Weddings,
Bar/Bat Mitzvahs,
Family Reunions
Outings.
-866-MY EVENT
www.evermandeniertainment.com
\\THERE PROFESSIONAL SERVICE .LAKES THE DIFFERENCE!
eau* Few,
Leading the industry with over 20 years experience!
ADMIRAL, OPTICAL-
known for its prices& service
$99 FRAME
iN
5/ 18
2001
58
Naomi Frenkel
4th generation
& Progressive no-line
bifocal. SCR&UV
*offer
expires
May 31, 2001
difficult. The Oak Park building had
been sold to the Jewish Federation for
S2 million, but the new building would
cost S4 million. During Michael
Grand's presidency, the congregation
held services for two years in the Jewish
Community Center in West Bloomfield
during the fund-raising and building
process. The experience, said outgoing
president Len Wanetik of West
Bloomfield, was "a crucible that trans-
formed us."
"We were down to 175 members,
and we didn't have a rabbi," he said.
"Other shuls in similar circumstances
have disappeared, but we did more than
survive. We now have more than 500
members, so three-fifths of our mem-
bership has joined since the move."
Changing With The Times
ewtom eeimea, Toz.
248.855.8747
Call today for your free
in-home consultation
Lan)/ Gunsberg and his mother, Renee
Friedman Gunsberg, are members of
ffnai Moshe foundingfizmilies. Larry
will become shut president in June.
$ 59 FRAME
& Single Vision
PLASTIC LENSES*
IVESTWIND LAKE VILLAGE SHOPS • 248-960-2380
Haggerty Rd. & Pontiac Trail • W. Bloomfield
A time traveler would be struck by the
changes at B'nai Moshe in 90 years.
The grandeur of the sanctuary has been
replaced by a smaller space with a feel-
ing of intimacy. Clergy now wear busi-
ness suits during services instead of full-
length black robes and high hats. Where
women once sat in the balcony and
took little part in ritual activities, they
now count for a minyan and read from
the Torah.
Where the building entrance once
stood atop steep steps, B'nai Moshe's
current home is completely handicap-
accessible. Religious school classes are
held on Saturday, rather than Sunday
Summer Friday night services feature
musical instruments (before sundown).
In the words of Rabbi Elliot Pachter,
"This is not your father's B'nai Moshe."
And yet it is.
The term members most consistently
use to describe B'nai Moshe is heimish
— warm and friendly. All the things
that make a house a home haven't
changed, said president Wanetik.
"There's a consistency across the genera-
tions about the quality of the experience
and the nature of the shul. We have vol-
unteers doing many of the activities,
like reading the Torah and preparing the
kiddush. There's a down-to-earth men-
tality, here that may be partially due to
the fact that many of our members are
Holocaust survivors. The soul of the
shul has not changed."
Departed clergy continue to make an
impact. "We made the transformation
from Cantor (Louis) Klein, who served
us for so many years, to Cantor (Earl)
Berris. But we're still singing many
Cantor Klein tunes. His spirit is still
very much with us," said Rabbi Pachter.
The most constant factor at B'nai
Moshe could well be Shalom Ralph.
The sexton has been with B'nai Moshe
for 52 years. Last September, the con-
gregation dedicated an alcove in the
synagogue lobby in his honor.
"I'm an antique," he quipped.
"When I was sick last year, a member
sent me a card wishing me a speedy
recovery because she said the shul wasn't
the same without me." ❑
Congregation B'nai Moshe will cel-
ebrate its 90th anniversary with a
gala dinner May 23. The event,
"Some Enchanted Evening," will
honor the synagogue's past presi-
dents and feature a musical presen-
tation written for the occasion by
Nancy Gurwin. Dinner reserva-
tions must be made by noon
Monday, May 21. Contact the syn-
agogue office at (248) 788-0600.