DOER

PROFIL

ADELES TALL - R

City: Southfield
Kudos: Volunteer Tutor Is Perfect

After 40 years as a Detroit Public Schools elementary
teacher, Adele Stager retired and found herself working
with adults. She is the citizenship volunteer liaison for-
Jewis h Family Service of Metropolitan Detroit (JFS) in
Southfield, tutoring New Americans readying to take cit-
izenship exams.

How did you end up
working with students
over 60 instead of under
10?
"I learned about the
tutoring program from
Rachel Yoskowitz [director
of JFS citizenship and
immigration]. Some stu-
dents need intensive tutor-
ing when it gets close to
the time for their citizen-
ship tests. I either assign tutors for them or do the
tutoring myself."

It Says So Much

When I use a word," Humpty
Dumpty said in a rather scornful
tone, "it means just what I choose it
- to mean — neither more nor less."
(Lewis Carroll)

EE

umpty may have had
something there, but if
we think about it (and I
SY
seem to have a penchant
MANELLO
for doing just that) we would find
Editorial
that perfectly ordinary words can
Assistant
convey several meanings, depend-
ing on how we employ them. Let
us consider just two: hand and tip.
If" desired your help, I might ask you to lend a
hand and would be resentful of your lazy attitude

What do your sessions involve?
"Lessons include extensive practice in history and
conversational English. We review what will be on
the test — things like who is their mayor and their
governor."

jb

After retiring, why didn't you take a break and relax?
"In addition to teaching — and raising three
daughters — I've always been a volunteer. I was sis-
terhood president at [the former Congregation] Beth
Achim for four years and, later, was on the board at
Adat Shalom [Synagogue], where I also help with the
rabbis' adult education programs."

How do you bring your background as a docent for
the "Old Jewish Detroit" bus tour and two-time
president of the Jewish Historical Society of
Michigan to your students?
"I have taken New Americans on the tours and
have given lectures on the history of Detroit to
[Congregation] Beth Shalom's Circle of Friends [a
club for New Americans]."

How have your students done on their citizenship
tests?
"I have a perfect record. They've all passed." ❑

— 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

6/25

2004

10

— I'm not the strong-arm type. That is not to say
that those who are more determined in their
demands need to be underhanded.
When playing cards, it would be nice to be dealt
a winning hand. If, however, you lose too much,
you may go in search of a handout. Failing in this,
you may find yourself living from hand to mouth.
This latter situation is not anything like having
folks eating out of your hand, which means you
are really in control. With such a strong personali-
ty, a person might soon find himself with his
hands full because he would want to keep his
hands in and refuse to wash his hands of any project.
This could prove problematical for he would find
himself besieged by demands on every hand.
Things then could get out of hand. Not getting
involved, on the other hand, might give the
impression of one being high-handed.
Whatever your ploy, never tip your
hand.
This leads us nicely to our sec-
ond word; tip. (Oh, the joys of a
clever segue!) Discovering all the
recent problems with big busi-
ness of late, we realize that we
have witnessed just the tip of
the iceberg. Too many in
charge were delighted to get,
but not share, a tip of the
day and so profited unfairly
and caused the rest of us
to suffer financially. A tip
of the hat to those who
remained on the
straight and narrow.
If you were a practi-
cal joker, you may be
tempted to go out and
tip a cow, but I think
you'd probably have to
be tipsy to try. Take a
tip from me; don't try.
If you want to give a tip, save it for the good serv-
ice when you eat out and reward the waitperson.
Above all, remember that it's a long way to
Tipperary! ❑

if you deemed not to lift a hand.
To acknowledge your success with something, I
would have to hand it to you, which is not to be
confused with the demand that you hand it over

Shabbat Candlelighting

"Shabbos candles are ammunition in instilling Jewish pride. As the Alter Rebbe says, a little light
dispels a lot of darkness. In these difficult spiritual and physical times for Jewish people, more light
brings more blessing."
— Gershon Beck, computer contractor, Oak Park

Candlelighting
Friday, June 25, 8:56 p.m.

Candlelighting
Friday, July 2, 8:55 p.m.

Shabbat Ends
Saturday, June 26, 10:08 p.m.

Shabbat Ends
Saturday, July 3, 10:06 p:rn.

..1i) submit a eandlelighting message, call IVIiriam Amzalak of the Lubavitch Women's Organization at (248) 548-6771 or e-nial• miriamamzalak@juno.com