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hen a woman in France,
a man in Germany and a
couple in Oak Park are
all learning the same
telephone-generated Torah lesson, they
are probably taking advantage of a
Chabad-based project that
connects technological
advancement with Jewish
learning.
By dialing a local phone
number, learners are hooked
up with Torah Superphone,
which provides everything
from recorded weekly Torah
portions and Shabbat candle-
lighting times to information
Rabbi
on upcoming holidays and
yahrtzeit dates (anniversary of a
Jew's death).
"There's something for everyone and
it's continuously changing," says Raizel
Sara Pershin of Oak Park, who oversees
and find-raises for the Detroit branch
of the New York-based Chabad-
Lubavitch Chassidus-on-the-Line proj-
ect. "It is for those who learn some-
where else — and for those who don't."
There is even a Yiddish option. And
for kids, there are stories that ask a ques-
tion — and then, in the spirit of learn-
ing — offer an answer.
"It's great for those who may be
intimidated by attending a class. They
can learn in the privacy and convenience
of their own homes," Pershin says of the
sessions recorded by educational and
spiritual leaders.
"We're seeing a cross-section of
callers," says Rabbi Elimelech Silberberg
of Sara Tugman Bais Chabad Torah
Center in West Bloomfield, who insti-
tuted the program in the Detroit area.
"We have calls from beginners, people
with greater knowledge of Torah, high
schoolers and younger children who call
to hear stories and songs."
Pershin is attracted to the 24-hour
accessibility of the automated system. "I
like to learn, but I have a bunch of little
kids and can't always get out of the
house," she says. "So I wait until 10
p.m. and put on my headphones and
dial."
Lessons can be rewound,
fast-forwarded or paused
from a touch-tone phone for
more effective learning.
When Rabbi Silberberg
enlisted Pershin's help to
manage the project, she dis-
covered Rabbi Herschel and
Rochel Zaklos of Oak Park
had already inquired about
Silberberg activating it in memory of
their son, Yosef Yitzchok.
Torah Center members
Marty and Dale Goodman
of West Bloomfield became co-sponsors,
in memory of Marty Goodman's moth-
er Sara Tugman.
Webmaster Bernie Nadel of Oak Park
implements computer updates to the
system, which takes up to 80 calls per
day. Daily changes are made to Tanya
(Chabad Chassidus text) sessions and
Torah portions are updated weekly.
"Judaism is very generic," Pershin
says. "What we learn is the same for
everyone. We are one people, with one
Torah. We study it in France, in
Germany, in our own shul in our own
town — and sometimes from our tele-
phone."
— Shelli Liebman Dor an,
staff writer
To reach the Torah Superphone,
call (248) 557-8545. To make a
contribution toward upkeep of
the project, call Rabbi Elimelech
Silberberg at (248) 855-6170.
Mgls 'clut
Snow © 2002
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"These are people who are here for a
purpose. They could be working, but
they delayed a year of $85,000 salaries
to come and study at the yeshivah."
— Rabbi Daniel Goldfarb, director of
Jerusalem's Conservative Yeshiva, designed
to build learned lay leaders who will con-
tinue in the Conservative movement in
North America,
as quoted by JTA.
"Heeb is a lot about my pride and love
of being Jewish and wanting to create
something that would express that and
resonate with my peers."
— Jennifer Blyer, the Detroit-educated
editor of Heeb, billed as an irreverent new
monthly national magazine for young
adult Jews and non-Jews,
as quoted by JTA.
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) Recession Fears
Amid a recession and several high-profile
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) Arafat Successors?
Yasser Arafat, who used to be described as
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) 'New Jew Review'
A rocking party in Manhattan launches
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Yiddish Limericks
A wayward son's got his folks vexed.
He has them convinced he's been
hexed.
He stopped making broches,*
And now, ahf tsu loches,**
One umglick*** has followed the next.
— Martha Jo Fleischmann
blessings
in spite of everything
*** misfortune
* *
2/15
2002
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