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Mazel
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Mentoring Magic

Beth El Sisterhood supports IFS' mentoring program with fund-raiser.

Clockwise from left:

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elitta Gary Plasko of Southfield
visited a cider mill last year
with Shony Reuven, 12,
of West Bloomfield.

Sharon Million of White Lake
has mentored Jordan
Levinson, 7, of Farmington
Hills for three years.

Leslye Golding and her hus-
band, Rick, of Birmingham
threw Elizabeth Stocker, 7, of
Royal Oak her first-ever
birthday party.

Mentor Allan Droz of
Farmington Hills at a bowl-
ing party with Eli Hunt, 7,
of Oak Park.

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eslye Golding has been a
mentor for 7-year-old
Elizabeth Stocker for the
past three years.
Before becoming a mentor, Golding
was looking for a way to make a dif-
ference in a child's life. She learned
about CONNECT (Creating New
Experiences Together), the mentor
program through Jewish Family
Service.
"Elizabeth has gained a greater sense
of security," Golding said. "Through
our relationship, she has expanded her
circle of friends to include our extend-
ed family and friends. We have
exposed her to a variety of experiences
— bar and bat mitzvahs, fairs, art
fairs, art classes — that she may not
have experienced otherwise.
"We hope she feels that she can
count on my husband, Rick, and I if
she is scared or needs to talk to us
about a problem. She has called Rick
every year to take her to a daddy-
daughter dance that her school spon-
sors. She would have no one else to go
with if it were not for Rick."

CONNECT links caring adult men-
tors with Jewish children in need of
attention and guidance on a one-to-
one basis. To support this program,
Temple Beth El's sisterhood social
action committee sponsored a bowling
party for the mentors and kids on Jan.
19, 2003.
"The Temple Beth El sisterhood was
the first congregation group to spon-
sor an event like this for our pro-
gram," said Michelle Greenstein, pro-
gram director of JFS volunteer servic-
es.
"When they contacted me, I
thought it would be a perfect match,
and they just loved the idea. The
women I worked with were very sup-
portive and they were so excited about
helping us."
Co-chairs of the Beth El social
action committee are Denny Brown of
West Bloomfield and Renee Jablonski
of Birmingham. Event chairperson
was Barbara Edelman of West
Bloomfield. The sisterhood has offered

MENTORING MAGIC on page 38

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1/31
2003

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