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House Tour 2004
Adat Shalom's newest rabbi returns to her roots.
SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN
Staff Writer
She brings with her vast experience
ranging from counseling and leading
meditation services to teaching b'nai
fter interviewing rabbinic
mitzvah students and pastoral care.
candidates from around the
During rabbinical school, she co-led
nation, Adat Shalom Syna-
young adult learning programs at Camp
gogue discovered a perfect
Ramah in Ojai, Calif., and was co-direc-
match, welcoming back one of their
tor of the Advanced Jewish Studies
own. Rabbi Rachel Lawson Shere, who
Center at Milken Community High
will begin her position on July 1, has had School in L.A. and a rabbinic intern at
ties to the synagogue as far
LA's Temple Beth Am.
back as she can remember.
At Adat Shalom, she will
In fact, her earliest
be a pulpit rabbi, helping
Jewish memories include
"develop alternative and
finding the afikomen during
family services so that we
a model seder and playing
can reach out ever more
Alice in 'Alice in
effectively to all our mem-
Chanukah-land" at Adat
bers," Rabbi Nevins said.
Shalom's religious school.
"Under her guidance,"
Rabbi Shere is a gradu-
said Wolfe, "we look for-
ate of Andover High
ward to enhancing our pro-
School in Bloomfield
gramming for teenagers,
Township and the. Universi-
young adults and young
ty of Michigan in Ann
families."
Arbor. On May 17, she was Rabbi Shere
Rabbi Shere is married to
ordained at the Ziegler
native Detroiter Danny
School of Rabbinic Studies at the
Shere, whom she met as a teen. He is a
University of Judaism in Los Angeles
screenwriter, who will continue his work
with a master's degree in rabbinic studies. from Detroit while teaching screenwrit-
At the ceremony, she was awarded the
ing at U-M. A singer-songwriter who
annual David Aaronson Award for
recorded a CD, he sings and plays guitar
Excellence in Rabbinic Studies, for out-
in a Jewish band.
standing work in Talmud. Her parents,
"I learn Torah from my husband by
Larry Lawson and Gale Lawson, and in-
the thoughtful and passionate way he
laws Margaret and Joel Shere, all of West
engages the world," Rabbi Shere said.
Bloomfield, were for the simchah.
They have an 18-month-old son, Eitan.
Rabbi Shere will join the Adat
"I credit my family, friends and study
Shalom rabbinical team of Daniel
partners in Detroit, Jerusalem and Los
Nevins and Herbert Yoskowitz.
Angeles with deepening my bonds to
"Rabbi Shere brings a sharp mind, a
Torah, God and Israel," said the rabbi.
sensitive soul and contagious enthusiasm
Recalling her late grandmother
for all things Jewish," Rabbi Nevins said.
Mayme Lawson, who passed away on
"We are very excited," said President
Rabbi Shere's first day of rabbinical
Larry Wolfe "She's an extremely bright,
school in 1997, the rabbi said, "Nana
dynamic and committed individual."
has been my muse. Her songs play on in
Although the new rabbi officially
my heart and her love lives on in my
begins this summer, she will be leading a
soul." The rabbi's grandfather Victor
study session for Adat Shalom's annual
Lawson and her other grandmother
Tikkun Leil Shavuot program at 8 p.m.
Edith Pam both live in West Bloomfield.
Tuesday, May 25. Rabbi Shere will teach
Rabbi Shere looks forward to raising
commentary about the "Revelation at
Eitan in the synagogue where she
Mount Sinai" with Rabbi Nevins dis-
became a bat mitzvah and got married
cussing "Revelation and Jewish Law"
and where her parents are members.
On Friday, June 11, Rabbi Shere will
"The years I spent within the walls of
rim a Carlebach Kabbalat Shabbat serv-
Adat Shalom instilled in me a profound
ice, having developed a weekly egalitari-
love for all things Jewish," she said. "I am
an Carlebach service in Los Angeles.
excited about the opportunity to give
Rabbi Shere said one goal will be
back to the community that shaped and
"connecting Jews to each other, to the
nurtured me through childhood and
deepest parts of themselves and to God."
adolescence." ❑ •
Please join us for an exciting day
on our
11 th Annual
House Tour
Wednesday, June 2, 2004
10:00
a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Advanced sale ticket-$25.00
Ticket price at door- $30.00
Call Julie Stern for tickets 248.626.4288
or tickets available at Temple Israel (248) 661-5700
848130
.ftmgzemaiwat
Keter Torah Synagogue
First Annual Dinner
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Jewish Community Center in West Bloomfield
6:00 p.m. • Reception • 7:00 p.m. • Dinner
Honoring
David,
Isaac &
Albert
Ben-Ezra
Featuring
I-
I
YOEL SHARABI
"The ultimate in Jewish Entertainment"
Honorary Co-Chairs
Event Co-chairs
Shelley and Joel Tauber
Suzi Benaderet
Pamela David
Marcia Harris
Tribute Journal Chair
Katie Marcus
For more information or tribute journal opportunities,
call the Synagogue office at 248-681-3665
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5/21
2004
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