Hip Hop JEw from page 80
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Prime Steaks, Chops & Seafood
.Due: to"
cc
r.
Ras ben exten e unti l
September 30th, 2003
Lelli's of Auburn Hills
welcomes you and your guests
to order from our
Rollback Menu.
Where
Food is
King!
The prices have been reduced
on over 30 of our
most popular dishes
Our Famous Filet Mignon...Regularly $34.75
Rollback Price $23 . 0 Ofor all six courses
DON'T FORGET TO ASK FOR YOUR PLATINUM CARD! IT ALLOWS YOU
TO CONTINUE ORDERING FROM THE ROLLBACK MENU UNTIL 12/7/03.
Call us now for details and reservations!
248.373.4440
885 N. Opdyke, Auburn Hills •
(112 Mile North of Silverdome)
we tookforward to Serving You
(Saturdays Excluded. Not Valid With Any Other Promotions or Coupons)
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§ •
He was once quoted in Vibe
magazine about their union, say-
ing, "After the first kiss, I knew
she was the one." A little over a
month after their first date, the
excited new lovebirds made plans
to move in together.
Berrin, left, with fellow 3rd Bass members
Both had dated interracially
Prime Minister Pete Nice and DJ Richie Rich
before and said they endured no
what was available in the Jewish corn-
great conflict as a result of their mar-
munity. According to Chantel, they were
riage.
the recipients of "only vague suggestions
"His mom and family did try to test
and rude remarks."
me," says Chantel, "but [his mom] was
"When I first learned that we were
mostly concerned that Michael was not
relocating,
I called the JCC here and
ready for such a commitment. Now our
asked
if
they
could provide information
joke is, if we ever get a divorce, I would
[about] where we should be looking to
get his family in the settlement."
live, because I had never been to
Caring for three elementary-age chil-
Michigan," she says. "The lady on the
dren, two girls and a boy, is a challenge
phone responded, 'Maybe you should
the couple face one day at a time.
call a realtor.'
Chantel converted to Judaism when
"Then, I said, am planning on con-
they decided to have children. "My hus-
sulting
with a realtor, but since my fami-
band did not pressure me," she says.
ly is Jewish, and you are a Jewish com-
"We could not have a religious wedding
munity center, I came to you first,"' she
because I was not Jewish, and he mar-
recalls.
ried me anyway. Marriage is a big deal
The encounter was an extreme disap-
[in Judaism], so I decided upon [the
pointment
to the Berrins, in comparison
conversion] for myself," she explains.
with
the
JCC
in Atlanta, which they
The Berrin family portrait may con-
viewed as being "very warm and wel-
tain faces of diverse shades, but they
always check the "other" or "multicultur- coming" when vacationing in town to
visit close family friends.
al" box when asked to denote race.
The Berrins said they want their three
"It's not fair for a child to have to
children
to attend a Hebrew school, but
choose in claiming one parent or the
in
the
11
months they have been here, it
other, when [a child is] a combination of
has
been
a
slow process acclimating to
both," says Chantel. "When people ask
their new surroundings.
what race my kids are, I say, 'human,"
"We want flexibility. So far, the
says Michael, who says he is happy to be
schools
here we have looked into have
part of a city that is growing to acknowl-
[some
sort
of requirement for] Saturday
edge that you can no longer categorize
attendance,
but we are not trying to
people.
overwhelm
our
children," says Michael.
However, Chantel, recognizing the
With his active work schedule, he
desire of many Jews to live among other
treasures the recreational time they have
Jews, says "there is nothing wrong with
to enjoy each other, playing baseball —
that. It's important to preserve your her-
a family favorite — and exploring
itage, and the Jewish population is really
Detroit's parks and museums. "My wife
not as big as that of other cultures."
The family resides in a northwest sub- suggested we go home for the holidays,"
urb (they do not wish to divulge its loca- he says. "It's actually quite funny. As
contemporary as my family is — being
tion), where they are surprised at the
active in hip-hop and in an interracial
small representation of Jews.
marriage -- we happen to be very tradi-
"We made the mistake of moving out
tional when it comes to Judaism..
here," says Chantel, "because out of 60
"We like the three-day Hebrew school
kids in three classes last school year,
with
the big brick synagogue and an old
there was not another Jewish child in
wise
rabbi,"
he says.
our kids' classes."
His wife agrees. "Yes, I think it will
The concerned mother expressed dis-
be good for us and the kids to get
appointment that her children's school
grounded and relax again in our old
does not close for the High Holy Days,
synagogue because," she says, "so far,
for which she will keep them home.
we
have not really found our religious
The couple also spoke disapprovingly
home
here."
of the Jewish Community Center in
West Bloomfield, which they thought
would be a helpful resource and guide to
Hear Michael Berrin (MC Serch)
5:30-10 a.m. Mondays-Fridays
on
WJLB-FM 98.
KenNath Marie Watkins is a West
Bloomfield-based freelance writer.
❑