COVER STORY Feeding The Soul Ann Arbor offers traditional and non-traditional religious options. • 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. wt.? 6/27 2003 36 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.