COVER STORY
Feeding The Soul
Ann Arbor offers traditional and non-traditional religious options.
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W.ST.,17,M
Ann Arbor Jewish Cultural Society
Jewish Community Center Building
2935 Birch Hollow Drive
734-975-9872
wvvvv.jcsannarbor.org
Julie Gales, madrikha
Secular Humanist
Membership: 90 families
The Jewish Cultural Society was founded
to broaden the scope of Jewish learning by
emphasizing Jewish history and culture
rather than religious practice. JCS offers
education for children and adults, holiday
and life-cycle observances, a youth group
and a welcoming community for individu-
als from many backgrounds and families
of many sorts.
Ann Arbor Orthodox Minyan (AAOM)
U-M Hillel Building
1429 Hill St.
(734) 994-5822
Rabbi Rod Glogower
Orthodox
Membership: 18 families
The AAOM is a close-knit yet welcoming
community, maintaining both strong ties to
the university and strong links to the corn-
munity at large. In addition to religious serv-
ices, a variety of formal and informal learn-
ing opportunities are offered during the
school year, including a Tuesday evening
class, "Topics in Rabbinic Literature,"
Shabbatonim, a Shavuot picnic and other
holiday celebrations.
Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Havurah
Jewish Community Center Building
2935 Birch Hollow Drive
P.O. Box 7451
734-913-9705
wwwaarecon.org
Rachel Foran, director of communication
Reconstructionist
Membership: 60 families
Membership in the Havurah requires a corn-
mitrnent to building a participatory, inclu-
sive Jewish community committed to sup-
porting efforts to integrate Jewish principles
and practice into daily lives. Principles
include tikkun olam (repairing the world),
Jewish education and integrity and innova-
tion within the tradition.
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2003
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Congregation Chabad
715 Hill St.
(734) 995-3276
www.chabad@jewmich.com
Clockwise from left:
Rabbi Aharon and Esther Goldstein
Orthodox
Membership: 70-80 individuals
Congregation Chabad is a family-oriented
synagogue with a membership of diverse
backgrounds. Services are conducted in con-
formance with traditional Jewish law and
practice, and a mikvah is located on the
premises. The congregation offers adult edu-
cation and a Judaic library, and is an active
participant in the life of the Jewish commu-
nity.
Beth Israel Congregation
2000 Washtenaw Ave.
734-665-9897
vvvvvv.bethisrael-aa.org
Rabbi Robert Dobrusin
Conservative
Membership: 485 households
Beth Israel reflects the contemporary view of
the synagogue as a place of prayer and study
as well as a community and family center. It
is a proudly egalitarian and participatory
congregation, combining traditional Jewish
ritual and contemporary influences in line
with the philosophy of Conservative
Judaism. The congregation has a religious
school for K-8, high school, family educa-
tion and holiday programs, United
Synagogue Youth groups, a Winter Jewish
Music Festival and adult programming,
including the Jewish Journey annual lecture
series.
Temple Beth Emeth
2309 Packard Road
Temple Beth .'meth's
convertible sanctumy
doubles as a church.
Rabbi Levy
Rabbi Glogower
Rabbi Goldstein
Rabbi Dobrusin
Right: The ark at
Beth Israel
Congregation
734-665-4744
wwwtemplebethemeth.org
Rabbi Robert D. Levy
Chazzan Annie Rose
Reform
Membership: 600 families
Temple Beth Emeth (TBE) is a vibrant
Reform congregation committed to creating
a spirit of a warm, caring community for its
members. TBE's membership represents the
diversity of the community it serves as it cele-
brates the richness of ritual within a Reform
context. TBE has a religious school for K-8,
an Ann Arbor Reform Temple Youth
(AARTY) group, social action committee,
family education and holiday programs, sis-
terhood, brotherhood, Caring Community,
Twenties and Thirties programs and four sep-
arate choirs accommodating third-graders
through adults. TBE shares its building with
St. Clare of Assisi Episcopal Church.
Pardes Hannah
Beth Israel Annex
2010 Washtenaw Ave.
(734) 213-8374
Rabbi Elliot Ginsburg
Jewish Renewal
Membership: 30 families
Pardes-Hannah's spiritual community pro-
vides an intimate setting to enter deeply into
prayer through chanting, kabbalistic medita-
tion and openhearted "wrestling" with
Torah. All Jews who are on a spiritual path,
whether beginners or masters, are welcome
to join in opening their hearts and fanning
the embers of the spirit. Shabbat services are
held the second and fourth Saturday of every
month. Inquire for hill listing of services and
activities.