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HOME FOR
THE HOLIDAYS
Ann Arbor residents 'adopt' students for High Holiday meals.
KAREN SCHWARTZ
Special to the Jewish News
Ann Arbor
Igir ith Rosh Hashanah begin-
ning at sundown tonight,
many college students are
looking forward to head-
ing home for the holiday — but not
necessarily to their own homes. A num-
ber of Ann Arbor families open their
homes to students who will not be leav-
ing campus.
Jennifer Lewis and her husband, Marc
Bernstein, have been welcoming stu-
dents to their home for everything from
Shabbat to Rosh Hashanah for 11 years,
bringing four to six new people to the
table at a time. Lewis said she tries to
bring together students, families and
neighbors, making mealtime an oppor-
tunity for everyone to mix.
She added that her family enjoys
spending time with their guests and that
many have become close friends.
Last weekend, for example, Simon
and Amy Feiglin and son Drew, who
live in Cleveland, came to dinner.
Feiglin, who graduated from the
University of Michigan in 1994, was a
familiar sight at the table where he had
eaten many meals as a student.
"We stayed in touch and now we go
to each other's simchahs, going to wed-
dings and bar mitzvahs — and now
we're getting to the point where our kids
are becoming friends, which is kind of
neat to see," Lewis said.
Feiglin said he remembers how having
a family to share holiday meals with
made going to college a little friendlier,
and added that when he looks back at
his college experience, he recalls this as
an important part of it.
"I think it sort of expands the colle-
giate environment, especially when you
first get to school," he said.
"It's a little overwhelming;
you're on your own. It's nice
to sort of have a home away
from home."
"Mostly it was just lots of
late-night discussions. They're
very friendly people, and just
discussing things from sports
to what's going on in the
world to what's going on in
school. It was never an hour
— I was always there for four
or five hours meeting new
people and eating," Feiglin
said. "We now go to Ann
Arbor four or five times a
year and always stay with
Marc and Jenny. We consider
them very dear friends and
it's because we got to know
them over the Shabbat and
yontif(holiday) dinner table."
Mitzvot And Mingling
Taking students in is a strong Jennifer and Marc Bernstein of Ann Arbor hosted Danny Aghion, a U-M student from Boston.
tradition for the Ann Arbor
customs while learning about theirs.
we'll send out invitations to whomever
Orthodox Minyan, which operates at
Woll, who took 10 friends home with
we think might need a spot," she said.
the U-M Hillel. A number of the stu-
her for Sukkot, said this time she and
Even when she was a freshman first
dents attend the Orthodox Minyan with getting to know people, she said, there
her sister, also a U-M student, will each
members of the greater Ann Arbor
bring home one or two friends.
were always people inviting her for
Jewish community and receive invita-
"I love hosting people; I love sharing
Shabbat and holidays through e-mail
tions because of their interactions at
holidays with people," Woll said. "It's a
and at services.
minyan.
huge mitzvah to share holidays with
"There are groups of students so you
But it seems invitations always are
those who are far from their immediate
never feel alone and it's not weird to be
available for students from all types of
family and its an awesome thing to have
at a table with adults you don't know
Jewish backgrounds looking for a place
such a wide variety of people."
You get a chance to get to know the.
to spend a Shabbat or holiday meal, said
Students interested in being matched
actual people in the community as
Rachel Roth, 20.
up
with a family for Rosh Hashanah can
opposed to just the students. I've met
Roth, a U-M junior from Brookline,
contact Hillel, which also will be offer-
some great families, people I keep going
Mass., has enjoyed attending meals
back to; it's just who you've established a ing High Holiday meals for students,
throughout the community and hosting
with an $8.75 charge for dinners and $6
personal relationship with. It's been real-
meals at the house where she lives with
for lunches. A Yom Kippur pre-fast meal
ly nice," she said.
five other girls.
and a break-the-fast will be offered for
For Samantha Woll, 20, from West
"We'll hold a joint meal where every-
$7 each. RSVP: (734) 769-0500. ❑
Bloomfield, Rosh Hashanah is a chance
one brings something if they can, and
to invite friends for dinner and share her
9/26
2003
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