Plaid For Passover
DOER
LARISAR
B
City: Farmington Hills
Kudos: Flair For Art
An artist who creates everything from jewelry to Judaica
to bath soap to wedding gowns, Larisa Rubel gave up a
career as a high school chemistry teacher and laboratory
technologist to pursue her true _passion — art.
How did you come to create Congregation Shaarey
Zedek Southfield's
bayn gavrah — the
covering placed
atop an open Torah
while it's not being
read?
"The sisterhood
was looking for
someone to make
the covering, so I
volunteered to
design and embroi-
der it with the .
theme of the 12
Tribes. I made it in
the shape of trian-
gles, like the out-
Larisa Rubel, in the sanctuary at side of the syna-
Shaarey Zedek, displays the
gogue. "
Torah covering she created.
How did you become involved in Judaic art?
"Fourteen years ago, I came here from the former
Soviet Union — from Uzbekistan. Making Jewish art
gives me the opportunity to learn more about my
religion that I couldn't learn there."
HoW do you stay involved in new areas of art?
"When I see things I like, I make my own versions
of them. I made my daughter Marina's prom dress
last year. Two years ago, I made a special kippah for
my son Roman's bar mitzvah, and when I couldn't
find a matching tie, I just made one. I also apply my
knowledge in science to make candles and bath and
body products."
Where can your artwork be viewed?
"At craft shows — the next one is at Temple Israel
on Sunday, April 25 — or on my Web site:
jevvelrybylarisa.com
— Shelli Liebman Dorfman, staff writer
REPORT A DOER...
Know a 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
4/ 9
2004
10
hen 15-year-
old Elliot
Weingarten of
Bloomfield
Hills packed his bags for a
school trip to Scotland this
week, he included some
curious items: a trombone, a
cold-pack, cheese and lots of
SHELLI
cans of tuna.
LIEBMAN
Traveling on Passover,
DORFMAN
Elliot
and six classmates
Staff Writer
from Andover High School's
marching band and orches-
tra found where there's a
will, there's a way to assure being well-fed
with kosher-for-Passover food while on their
trip.
"It just involved a little bit of planning,"
said Elliot's mom, Joyce Weingarten, who
made the arrangements for the kids' meals.
While other parents offered their help,
Weingarten was confident she could take
Joyce Weingarten makes sure . son Elliot and fellow band-
care of things by calling the right people —
members are prepared for Passover on their trip to Scotland.
starting with a Scottish rabbi — Rabbi
David Rose of Edinburgh.
Director Robert Ambrose and Orchestra Director
"He didn't know what to do first for the kids,"
Dave Reed.
she said. "He immediately offered to feed them
"Every four years, we go someplace great with
himself everyday.
the kids," Ambrose said. "Twice we played in
Deciding that would be logistically difficult, she
London's New Year's Day Parade."
instead took his referral of a kosher caterer and
This trip — which includes 95 students from
ordered 21 frozen, kosher-for-Passover dinners.
both the Andover marching band and orchestra —
Making the situation more interesting, Weingarten
will include participation in a parade and concert
said, "In addition to keeping kosher, a couple of
performances, with the symphony band premiering
the kids are vegetarian — and one is a vegetarian
a piece commissioned for them.
who just eats fish."
"It was very important to us that every student
Arrangements have been made with the hotel for
could be comfortable and have their dietary needs
refrigeration and warming of the meals.
met and still go on the trip with us," Ambrose said.
"For breakfasts and lunches, the rabbi offered to
When the trip was planned a year ago, the
shop for groceries for the kids," Weingarten said.
school's staff was certain it didn't overlap with the
While the students decided instead to pack food
days of the seders, but didn't realize when the kids
for the two daily meals, they will at least take the
left. for Scotland on Thursday, April 8, it would
rabbi up on his offer for them to join him at
still be Passover. "They have been bound and
Friday night Shabbat dinner.
determined that no one stays back because they
"He told me there are only about 750-1,000
can't eat," Weingarten said. "This isn't going to be
Jews in Edinburgh and was very happy to have
easy for the kids, but it will be fun."
them at his home," Weingarten said.
And if Weingarten ever makes it to Scotland, she
Once the kids' flight took off, Weingarten's mis-
already has one plan set. "I'm going to take up
sion ended and charge of the kids — and their
Rabbi Rose's offer," she said. "I'm going to have a
meals — was taken over by Andover's Band
Scottish Shabbat dinner at his home." Fl
"
Shabbat Candlelighting
"When I light the Shabbos candles, I feel free from the tyranny of the telephone."
— Chaya Sora Silberberg, West Bloomfield, rebbetzin, Sara Tugman Bais Chabad Torah Center
Candlelighting
Friday, April 9, 7:50 p.m.
Candlelighting
Friday, April 16, 7:58 p.m. -
Shabbat Ends
Saturday, April 10, 8:53 p.m.
Shabbat Ends
Saturday, April 17, 9:02 p.m.
TO submit a candlelighting message, call Miriam Anzzalak of the Lubavitch Women's Organization at (248) 548-6771 or e-mail: inanzzalakuno.com