Say Yes To Learning
SAJE plans its fourth year of wide-ranging Jewish education.
BARBARA LEWIS
Special to the Jewish News
I
r was an idea that involved a cer-
tain degree of chutzpah, that
uniquely Jewish quality that
combines courage and sass.
Jewish Community Center of
Metropolitan Detroit leaders wanted to
see if they could plan an adult educa-
tion program that would truly be com-
munity-wide, involving instructors from
every denomination and attracting stu-
dents from the entire spectrum of
Jewish practice.
They could and they did. SAJE —
Seminars in Adult Jewish Enrichment
— now in its fourth year, is the largest
and most diverse Jewish educational
forum in metropolitan Detroit, and
possibly the largest program of its kind
in the country More than 600 persons
enrolled last year. Organizers hope to
attract at least 700 this year.
"The program does what it sets out to
do, and it does it very successfully," said
Doris Blechman of Bloomfield Hills,
who co-chairs the program with Susie
Citrin of Birmingham. Every member
of the Michigan Board of Rabbis is
invited to teach, as are community edu-
cators and Jewish agency staff. All
donate their services.
"SAJE's strength is that it brings
together those from all denominations
— or no denomination — on the neu-
tral 'turf' of the Jewish Community
Center and it gives people an opportu-
nity to study with rabbis and others
who they might not otherwise have
contact with," said Sharon Hart, Jewish
Community Center president and one
of the founders of the program.
More than 40 courses will be offered
during the four-week program that
begins Jan. 15. Tuesday and Thursday
and Rabbi Sherwin Wine of the
Birmingham Temple; and The Siddur:
The Philosophy of Prayer with Rabbi
Jack Goldman of the Metropolitan
Kashruth Council.
What's New?
There are courses on family issues,
including grandparenting with Harlene
For the first time, SAJE is offering a
Appelman of the Federation's Alliance
breakfast study session, on Wednesdays
of Jewish Education; Issues in Jewish
at the West Bloomfield JCC. There are
Family Life with Dr. Mark Smiley and
also two lunch and learn sessions at the
Aviva Silverman of Hillel Day School;
Oak Park JCC: one on viewing the
single parenting with Linda Orbach-
Arab-Israeli conflict through the eyes of
Shear of the Single Jewish Parents
the Torah, led by Rabbi Yigal Tsaidi of
Network and Sandy Hyman of Jewish
Yeshivat Akiva, and the other on mod-
Family Service; and Inspired Jewish
em Hebrew poetry in translation, with
Parenting: Raising Great Kids with
Rabbi Joseph Klein of Temple Emanu-
Rabbi Scott Bolton of Hillel Day
El.
School.
New courses, offered in response to
Classes on Jewish culture include
previous participants' suggestions,
Conversations About Jewish Arts With
include Jewish Genealogy with Pam
Jewish Artists, where Sylvia Nelson of
Gordon of the Jewish Genealogy
the Janice Charach Epstein Gallery will
Society of Detroit and Heidi Christein
moderate conversations with four area
of the Leonard N. Simons Jewish
artists; Melodies of the Past and Present
Community Archives, and two courses
presented by the Cantors Council of
on Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism, one
Metropolitan Detroit; and a discussion
with Rabbi Charles Popky of
of Jewish film and theatre with Dr.
Congregation Beth Ahm and the other
David Magidson of the JCC's Lenore
with Rabbi Elimelech Silberberg of Bais
Marwil Jewish Film Festival and Evelyn
Chabad of West Bloomfield.
Orbach of the Jewish Ensemble
One course, The Power of Jewish
Theatre.
Ritual with Rabbi Joseph Krakoff and
Several courses highlight unusual
Rabbi Jonathan Berkun of
aspects of Jewish religion and culture.
Congregation Shaarey Zedek, is co-
Do you know why Yom Kippur is never
sponsored by the Federation's Young
on Sunday? Find out in Jewish Trivia
Adult Division and aimed at young
with Allan Gale of the Jewish
adults.
Community Council.
Other courses include one on Jewish
"I collect little tidbits like that.
prayer and practice through the study of
People like trivia, and I think it can help
the Psalms with Rabbi Lee Buckman,
stimulate Jewish learning," said Gale,
head of the Jewish Academy of
who edits the Jewish News' trivia column
Metropolitan Detroit; Judaism 101
under the pen name "Goldfein."
with Rabbi Marla Hornsten of Temple
Ever wonder why the Ten
Israel; a study of the Book of Esther
Commandments are not part of any
with community educator Ruth
Jewish prayer service? Or why the
Bergman; The Philosophy of Secular
Shemona Esrei, the Jewish prayer whose
Humanism with Rabbi Tamara Kolton
evening classes are held at the West
Bloomfield JCC; Wednesday classes are
at the JCC in Oak Park.
very name indicates it has 18 blessings,
actually has 19 blessings? Find out at a
class called Give Me a Break! That Can't
Be True! taught by Rabbi Paul Yedwab
and Rabbi Joshua Bennett of Temple
Israel. Some aspects of the Jewish reli-
gion take even educated Jews by sur-
prise, said Rabbi Yedwab. The class will
explain some of those surprising facts as
well as the origin of some well-known
Jewish superstitions.
Sharona Shapiro of the American
Jewish Committee will examine the
relationship between Judaism and Islam.
Rabbi Alon Tolwin of Aish HaTorah
will look at connections between
Judaism and Buddhism.
SAJE's kickoff event features Rabbi
Eddie Feinstein of Valley Beth Shalom
in Encino, Calif, speaking on 'A Brief
History of Chutzpah: Our Ability to
Say 'Yes' to Life" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday,
Jan. 10, at the West Bloomfield JCC.
Admission is free, but tickets should be
reserved by calling (248) 432-5577.
Anyone who registers for two or
more SAJE classes before or at the kick-
off event will receive a gift book.
Registration is $20 for one class, $36 for
unlimited classes, and free for Jewish
educators or communal workers.
Participants can register by mail, fax,
phone or online at www.jccdetorg. See
the SAJE brochure for more informa-
tion.
SAJE is sponsored by the Jewish
Community Center, Jewish Federation,
Detroit Jewish News, Federation's
Alliance for Jewish Education and
Agency for Jewish Education and sup-
ported by an endowment from Cis
Maisel Kellman. The kickoff event is
sponsored by the Anti-Defamation
League, Jewish Family Service and
Federation's Community Outreach and
Education Department. ❑