pre_sents... Welcome Home! 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 N\VMaikkIMAMVMM,1%%1UM: ,.. ii I 5/21 2004 103