PORT) FILE
TOM 'LEIS;;
Teaching Togetherness
R
City: West Bloomfield
Kudos: Guide To History
Why did you become a docent at the Detroit
Historical Museum?
"In 1999, I saw an article in the Detroit News
advertising for docents to beef up the staff in
anticipation of Detroit's 300th birthday:
"It was like a
thunderbolt going
off in my head.
"My passion has
always been histo-
ry — especially
Detroit history.
Growing up in the
Seven Mile-
Schaefer area, I
read as much as I
could about
Detroit history."
Why Detroit
history?
"When relatives
would come to
visit from out of town, I would take them around
the city, show them interesting and historic sites.
They were always so surprised to see Detroit was
more than the murder capital of the country that
they'd always heard of.
"Whenever Lonnie [Fleischer's wife, Yolanda]
and I would go on vacation, she always knew
where to find me — at the local museum, signing
up for a guided tour."
What's new at the- museum?
"About six months ago, we opened 'Guts,
Games and Glory,' a huge gallery devoted to
Detroit sports, 1900 to the present, amateur, pro-
fessional and Olympic.
"The 'Streets of Detroit' exhibit, on the lower
floor, now has a three-screen movie. Each section .
lights up as the action moves from one screen to
another.
"Fathers will frequently ask me, 'Are the trains
still there?' Of course, the [Alfred R.] Glancy
Lionel train set is still there, and there are new
bells and whistles."
— Diana Lieberman, staff writer
REPORT A DOER,,.
Knowa Doer — someone of any age doing interest-
ing, meaningful things in their life outside of their
job? Share suggestions with Keri Guten Cohen, story
development editor, at (248) 351-5144 or e-mail:
kcohen@thejewishnews.com
1/23
2004
10
7
he children of teachers
have to watch how
they behave, especially
when they attend the
same school where their parent
works.
So imagine how Becca Leider
felt when she entered West
D IANA
Bloomfield High School as a
LIEBERMAN freshman last fall. In addition to
having a father who's an assistant
Staff Writer
principal at the school, the nice
lady who makes chicken soup and
reads books with the special edu-
cation students is her grandmother.
"I was a little worried about having them both
here," Becca says. "But I don't see them much."
The Leiders never planned for West Bloomfield
High School to become the family business.
Dad, Rob Leider of West Bloomfield, has spent
20 years at the school. During that time, he's
directed more than 80 plays and other dramatic
productions, coordinated 18 consecutive high
school yearbooks and supervised a multi-million
dollar building expansion. He's now assistant prin-
cipal for student relations — the man ultimately
responsible for discipline at the 2,000-student school.
His wife, Helene, is a homemaker and free-lance
computer consultant. The couple's younger daugh-
ter, Joanie, attends West Bloomfield's Orchard
Lake Middle School.
Grandma, Eileen Leider of Oak Park, came to
the high school last February after a brief stint as a
lady of leisure. "I was retired for four months," she
recalls. "I couldn't take it."
A founding member of Congregation Beth
Shalom, Eileen Leider first volunteered in the high
school office, but that's not what she wanted to do.
Pretty soon, she moved over to a 13-student special
education classroom, where, two or three times a
week, she assists teacher Arlene Gunsberg and two
para-professionals.
So far, her granddaughter's favorite classes at
West Bloomfield High are leadership, Spanish and
science. At Temple Israel, where Becca attends
Hebrew high school, she's been co-chair of a ski
trip and of a weekend teen retreat with Rabbi
Joshua Bennett.
"There's a lot of togetherness at this school;" says
Rob Leider, "but I think we're the most together
family here."
.VMONItatag
Three generations: Eileen, Becca and Rob Leider at West Bloomfield High School.
Shabbat Candlelighting
"When I light Shabbos candles, I feel I can ask for everything I need for both my family and the
world."
— Tova Shkedi, nurse-in-training, Oak Park
Candlelighting
Friday, Jan. 23, 5:16 p.m.
Candlelighting
Friday, Jan. 30, 5:25 p.m.
Shabbat Ends
Saturday, Jan. 24, 6:21 p.m.
Shabbat Ends
Saturday, Jan. 31, 6:29 p.m.
To submit a candle/fighting message, call Miriam Amzalak of the Lubaviteh Womens Organization at (248) 548-6771 or e-mail: manizalakuno.com