Insight Remember When • • Building Community Ann Arbor Orthodox Minyan celebrates double-chili anniversary. SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN Staff Writer ithout an Orthodox presence on campus, I wouldn't be at the University of Michigan," says Bryan Schon of Oak Park, a regular participant of the Ann Arbor Orthodox Minyan (AAOM). Begun in 1965 in the home of U-M Hebrew Professor Joseph Reif and his wife Sorah, the minyan is celebrating its 36th anniversary, having grown into a program that has provided Orthodox services and gatherings for some 500 students through the years. An Oct. 26-28 reunion will be held at the Mandell L. Berman Center in Ann Arbor, which houses U-M Hillel, whose own Orthodox minyan holds combined services with the AAOM. "It's a chance for old-timers to see how their little minyan has grown and matured," says Nehama Glogower, reunion chairperson. "And it's also a chance for the young freshmen, just starting out, to see that they are part of a grand tradition." The weekend will include Friday night and Saturday serv- ices and meals; an oneg Shabbat; a performance by Hillel's a cappella choir, Kol Hakavod; and a Sunday brunch. Minyan Beginnings The minyan moved into the Hillel build- ing in 1966, joining members of Hillel's Orthodox minyan led by Hillel rabbis. "Hillel rabbis have often played leader- ship roles in the minyan even when they have not been Orthodox rabbis," Glogower says. After 20 years of meeting informally, Rabbi Glogower the AAOM took its name in 1988. Dr. Zvi Gitelman, U-M political sci- ence professor and director of U-M's Jean and Samuel Frankel Center for Judaic Studies in Ann Arbor, and his wife Marlene Gitelman, retired Hebrew Day School of Ann Arbor principal, also were among the early members and still play a critical role in running the minyan. "The minyan formally has two compo- Dr. Gitelman nents," Zvi Gitelman says of the nearly 50 students of the Hillel minyan and the 30 families from the AAOM. "The Hillel Orthodox Minyan is the official student group; the AAOM is everyone else. Anyone who attends our services will not be able to distinguish between the two — and we love it that way," he says. An important goal of the minyan is for students to be able to share Shabbat or holiday meals with families, says Glogower, whose husband, Rabbi Rod Glogower, has From the pages of the Jewish News for this week 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 years ago. 1991 The Berkley High School football squad boasted of three Jewish play- ers: Ryan Fried, Jamie Wittenberg and Matt Brennan. Israel's president Chaim Herzog paid a visit to Czechoslovakia, the first Israeli head of state to do so. 1981 Congregation Beth Shalom planned a special dinner and service to honor Rabbi David Nelson on his 10th anniversary at the synagogue. Detroiter Michael Zacks was named executive director of the Fresh Air Society. Pioneer Women officially changed its name to Na'amat, the Women's Labor Zionist Organization. University of Michigan alumni Jill Herman and Ami Goldfein, both of New York, celebrate Purim 2000 at the Ann Arbor Orthodox Minyan. directed the minyan since 1988. Schon, a U-M senior, says, "Often Rabbi Glogower will come over to me on Saturday after services and say, Are you covered? Do you have a place to go for a Shabbat meal?'" Although Schon is signed up to eat kosher meals at U-M Hillel, on occasion he has accepted the rabbi's offer. "It's nice to eat in someone's home on Shabbat," he says. Dr. Avi Soclof also felt welcomed by members of the min- yan when he began to attend services there in 1988, after moving to Ann Arbor from New York to begin a two-year fellowship in the allergy division at U-M Health System. "I really felt a sense of belonging," says Dr. Soclof, imme- diate past president of the minyan. "Our children were growing up in a pluralistic environ- ment," he says of Adam, 16; Arielle, 13; and Mikey, 10, with wife Mindy. "I felt secure they would look upon the observant students in our minyan as role models of how to maintain one's religious beliefs in addition to pursuing careers of higher education." Dr. Susan Blitz, AAOM president, and U-M Hillel Orthodox Minyan student co-leaders Dena Stein of Pittsburgh and Nathan Gonik of Southfield work closely with Rabbi Glogower in planning programs and maintain- ing daily operations. "The two groups depend on each other, grow together and celebrate together," says Michael Brooks, U-M Hillel executive director. "No doubt the students enrich the families in town, but the families are also wonderful role models for the students — and in many cases, they establish lifelong friendships." COMMUNITY on page 28 1971 The first astronomical observatory in Israel was opened in a town south of Tel Aviv. Eve Silberman of Huntington Woods, an English major at Wayne State University, won an honorable mention for a short story submitted in a contest to Seventeen magazine. 1951 The Bank Leumi le-Israel opened an office in Los Angeles. Rabbi Hayim Donin of Congregation B'nai David was reelected regional vice president of Yeshiva University Rabbinic Alumni to represent Michigan. Detroiter Mark Shook, an Eagle Scout, was selected to represent the Detroit area scouts at the Israel Jamboree to be held in Jerusalem. 1951 For the first time since the State of Israel was established, an American donor was allowed to send a wash- ing machine to a relative in Israel without obtaining an import license. Detroiter Wayne T. Bensman was awarded a doctor of optometry degree from the Chicago College of Optometry. —Compiled by Sy Manello, editorial assistant 10/19 2001 27