For a limited time, save up to $3600 on selected one-bedroom retirement living apartments. Call today! This offer won't last Tong! We're creating extraordinary communities where people choose to be. Teens Learning Together Partners in Torah creates lasting spiritual link, inspires specialfiiendship. • THE FOUNTAINS AT FRANKLIN *Certain conditions and restrictions apply. Retirement Living • Assisted Living • Alzheimer's Care 28301 (248) 353-2810 Franklin Road • Southfield, MI 48034 WWW. th e fo un t ains.com The Farmington Hills Inn welcomes Our many new residents from Elan Village The Farmington Hills Inn Licensed Home for the Aged, since 1980 30350 W. 12 Mile Rd. Farmington Hills, MI 48334 (248) 851-9640 www.seniorsRus.org Elyse Sklar and Simcha Tzippy Cohen are "Torah Partners" who share a passion for Judaism. ELYSE SKLAR AND SIMCHA TZIPPY COHEN Special to the Jewish News T his is the story of us — two 18-year-old girls, two different backgrounds and one single passion: Judaism. We met each other 3 1 /2 years ago at a Shabbat retreat in Southfield, through a mutual friend. Right away, we clicked and felt at ease with each other. Since then, we've been learning together on Tuesday nights, at the same time forging a very spe- cial friendship. Elyse's Perspective Buy direct 40% off 248-358-7655 9/20 Order to your exact specifications 2002 American Express • Visa • Master Card 90 KnollStudia Judaism is what you make it. It can be the center of your universe or the part of you that you never know. When I began Partners In Torah . on Tuesday nights at Yeshiva Beth Yehudah in Southfield, I had no idea what I was investing my time in, but I knew Simcha Tzippy and I had a When spiritual level, there's always a point of mutu- al understanding. She showed me the great powers of Judaism and inspired me to get to know myself in a different way. As Judaism and Torah reldte to all aspects of life, I didn't hesitate to ask questions. Despite our different backgrounds, we had a lot in common; clearly, spending an hour a week together just wasn't enough. So Simcha Tzippy invited me to attend various functions in the Orthodox commu- nity. For example, I experienced Shabbat and Sukkot with her family, and she enjoyed meals together on various occasions with my family. We had bebome great friends. I began to realize that if you let HaShem enter your life, HaShem will allow opportunity to enter yours. I'm sure Simcha Tzippy would agree that we've accomplished a lot building our friendship and learning together. I'm lucky to have been taught by her. She has an amazing intellect combined with passion, dedication and perseverance. It seems the more you understand, the greater your questions are. But ques-