This Week

Nights fell peacefully but ended prematurely at
the Kaplan family home in West Bloomfield,
when Steve and Lisa Kaplan's teenage daughter's
late-night returns would consistently wake them
in the neighborin- g bedroom. This coupled with a
dining room table that would no longer support
both dinners for 4 and Lisa's home office equipment
led the,Kaplans to Gittleman, with a cry for more
.space and privacy.

JEWISH

After customizing four distinct plans for the
Kaplan's selection, Gittleman allowed the couple
to modify the winning plan to their liking. "They
were really flexible," praised Lisa Kaplan, whose
3-bedroom ranch would soon include an
office—converted from hers and Steve's former
bedroom—and a new master suite added to the
rear of the house, strategically buffered by the
office to prevent sound from leaking.

The Kaplans commend both Gittleman's
administrative staff and the crew for an unwavering
show of respect and courtesy while rearranging the
walls of their bedroom come office. Even their family
of gerbils went undisturbed.

Today, the Kaplans are thrilled with what is, essentially, a new home for them. Everyone sleeps soundly, and the
neighbors marvel at Gittleman's flawless matching of 30-year old brick. "I don't know how they did it!" said Lisa.

They may not share their secrets...but they'll shape your dreams.

That, the Kaplans can tell you. OR Just ask the Kaplans.

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EDUCATION from page 29

accepting the actual diversity of
Jewish practice and belief, and then
appealing to individuals for who
they are, not for whom we wish
them to become. If they personally
identify as secular,
cultural, humanis-
tic or 'just
Jewish,' we need
to find ways to
excite them to
explore their cul-
ture and heritage
on their own
terms."
Rabbi Chalom
called the Posen
Foundation's sup-
port of program-
ming specifically
for "cultural Jews"
"a great step in
this direction."
The Fund for
Our Jewish
Future must also
work in this
Rabbi Chalom
direction to be as
effective as possible, he said.
The organized movement of
Secular Humanistic Judaism was ini-
tiated by and for Jews interested in
cultural Jewish identity, he said.
"We are excited that the national
Jewish scene is beginning to see what
an important role we can play in
Jewish survival."

Looking Ahead

It's unclear whether other major fun-
ders who might want to contribute
to Steinhardt's proposed fund would
agree to Posen's conditions.
"Right now, 50 percent of the
funds that have come in have been
from Posen, so I don't think it's
unreasonable for him to make
demands," said Mark. Charendoff,
president of the Jewish Funders
Network, which advises Jewish fami-
ly foundations and other philanthro-
pists outside the federation system.
But, he added, "If the other $80
million comes in large chunks from
philanthropists, I'm not sure how
they're going to react to him setting
criteria on how their money is going
to be spent."

Posen says big donors often give to
causes that are more religious than
they are; so, he says, they might well
support a more secular orientation.
"Most of the people who are in
that league are in
fact secular but
give their money
to the religious
because they feel
guilty about not
being religious,"
Posen said. Yet
"they give their
money to" causes
that "no longer
answer the needs
of the majority of
the population."
Jonathan
Woocher, presi-
dent of the Jewish
Education Service
of North America,
which promotes
Jewish education
in schools and syn-
agogues, said the
question of why many Jews don't
belong to Jewish institutions is com-
plicated.
"If what they're saying is there's a
segment of the Jewish population
that does not feel itself entirely com-
fortable within the synagogue, that's
true," he said. "If they're saying
there are Jews who self-define as sec-
ular, that's true too.
"The question is, what is it they're
looking for, and why is it that cur-
rent options don't work for them?"
Charendoff said he doesn't think
many people would support a pro-
posal to create services aimed solely
at cultural Jews.
But he agreed with Posen that
more could be done for many Jews
who are not well served by existing
institutions.
"If what he is saying is we need
richer offerings for American Jews,
especially young Jews and those that
don't demand a denominational
commitment as an entry fee, I think
he's 100 percent right," Charendoff
said. ❑

JN Staff Writer Diana Lieberman

contributed to this story.