1,116 VIFUUII For Openers Teens And Tunes S ometimes all those years of music lessons pay off. For first cousins Alan Posner, 16, of West Bloomfield and Justin Wedes, 17, of Huntington Woods, the payoff is corn- ing early. Combining a love of music with a DON desire to earn some spending money, COHEN they formed Just `Cuz last winter and Special to the the gigs keep rolling in, including mile- Jewish News stone birthday parties, restaurants and coffeehouses. With the encouragement and sup- port of their parents — Ken and Gail Posner and Ken Wedes and Sandy Posner-Wedes — they say they are having a great time. "I love it," says Posner, who plays saxophone. We get paid for doing something we do anyway." Wedes, whose keyboard rounds out the duo, agrees: "We've been having a blast." The two started playing together at holiday gatherings. "Our families would always get together on Jewish holi- days, and Justin and I would take songs we knew and start playing them together," Posner says. "My aunt is a cantor in Iowa, and she'd sing and we'd all get into it." Posner started playing sax in fourth grade and stuck with it because his talent made him stand out. "It wasn't until ninth grade that I really began to appreciate music," he admits. "I am constantly surrounded by music at my high school," says Posner, who attends Bloomfield Hills Andover High School. Not only is he the band's drum major, but next year four of his seven classes will involve music, including choir. His band director, Robert Ambrose, has been a major influence, not only challenging him musically but also leading him to consider a career as a band director. For Wedes, who has been playing piano for eight years, hat do the only broth- ers in the U.S. Congress — Michigan's Sen. Carl Levin and Rep. Sander Levin — have in com- mon that the only brothers serving in Israel's parliament — the Knesset — do not? — Goldfein uoqej Jo nquiam E st 'ill-ea c.ia-ipoiq sill !iaq Alan Posner, 16, of West Bloomfield and Justin Wedes, 17, of Huntington Woods are Just ruz. music vies with math and philosophy as his major interests at Berkley High School. Having left the school choir and band behind him, he finds other ways to grow musically. Wedes plays with the Kids Klezmer Band organized by Cantor Stephen Dubov of Congregation Chaye Olam -in - West Bloomfield and is president of the group. A few years ago, he toured Europe with the Blue Lake International Jazz Ensemble, a program of the fine arts camp near Muskegon. "Whenever I try something new, I attack it," says Wedes, describing his commitment to music, running and swimming as well as his academic interests. "I want to expand our repertoire and enjoy adding in blues and jazz riffs when I play." Last week at Mocha's Coffee Bar and Cafe on Haggerty Road in West Bloomfield, their most regular venue, the place was packed, the tip jar was overflowing and the sounds of jazz, klezmer and "standards" filled the air. And just like the new cafe, Just `Cuz was fresh, comfortable and enjoyable. E Catch Just `Cuz at the Avenue Gallery in Birmingham on July 17, or in West Bloomfield at Mocha's on July 25 and E.G. Nicks on Maple Road on July 26. Call (248) 855-1616 for schedule and booking information. -maw FITT E sT uloTEA ptum Jaquiaul lassaux "SlEJDOUIDC1 — kixecl cures aTp Jo ipoq a..TE suTnaq aTIZ :JaAtiSUV Quotables "Over the years, comic book charac- ters have thrown back their hoods and cowls to reveal a Jewish face. That this colorful, often sensational, storytelling medium has a Jewish connection is an open secret. Jews have been creative forces in the field since 1938 with the first appearance of the now famous "S," fueling imaginations and provid- ing role models for generations of boys and, yes, even girls." — Leah Finkelshteyn in her arts stag, "Thwak! To Our Enemies," in the sum- mer issue of Hadassah magazine. Yiddish Limericks I've put my priorities right. Whenever my hair looks a fright, I say on the spot, "Gefizirlach* it's not. As deigehs** go, ain klainikeit."* — Martha Jo Fleischmann * seriously consequential Shabbat Candlelighting ** worries *** (idiomatic) big deal! "When I light the candles, immediately it's time to sit back, relax and enjoy my family together. I silently pray for my husband, my son and stepson, that we should be healthy and happy." — Miriam Gunz Schwartz,- Oak Park, mother and volunteer Sponsored by Lubavitch Women's Organization. To submit a candlelighting message or to receive complimentary candlesticks and information on Shabbat candlelighting, call Miriam Amzalak of Oak Park at (248) 967-5056 or e-mail• manzzalakuno.com 1 Candlelighting Friday, June 13, 8:52 p.m. Shabbat Ends Saturday, June 14, 10:06 p.m. Candlelighting Friday, June 20, 8:55 p.m. Shabbat Ends Saturday, June 21, 10:08 p.m. Yiddish-isms geshmat Converted from one faith to another, generally a Jew who is converted to a Christian faith, rather than a gentile who converts to Judaism; a marked change in belief or conduct. Source: From The New Joys of Yiddish by Leo Calvin Rosten, edited by Lawrence Bush, copyright 2001, by the Rosten Family LLC. Used by per- mission of the Rosten Family LLC. \ \ 6/13 2003