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His Choice

French boy becomes bar mitzvah at Temple Israel.

HARRY KIRSBAUM
StaffWriter

A

lifelong resident of Paris, 13-year-old Sam
Roche always felt he had to wear his Judaism
inside.
France isn't the sort of place you could sport a Star
of David pendant in plain view, said Sam, who wears
one under his shirt. "In public schools, you can't; and
in the street, it's not really safe — especially at night."
Sam, however, traveled from Paris to West
Bloomfield to take the bimah at Temple Israel last
Shabbat morning, Aug. 14, to honor his grandpar-
ents as well as his heritage.
"I'm thrilled," said Sam's mom, Julie Wayne. "It's
something my son wanted so badly, and he's done it
all by himself."
Sam's mom grew up in Detroit and was confirmed
at Temple Israel. Sam began spending summers with
his grandparents, Maureen and Dr. Leonard Wayne,
in Southfield since he was 5 years old — summers
that included some Shabbat services at the temple.
"This is where his Jewish identity has always been

July- 25
Ken and Beth (Jeross) Redfern of
Lincolnshire, Ill., are thrilled to
announce the birth of their son, Jack
Adin (Yacov Tzvi). Welcoming Jack
home is big sister Elana Siporah, 3.
Proud grandparents are Barry and
Donna Jeross of Farmington Hills,
Harvey and Pam Redfern of Buffalo,
Grove, Ill., and Harriet Jacobs and John
Domice of Skokie, Ill. Also sharing in
their happiness are great-grandparents
Leah Adelson of Oak Park and Aubrey
and Ruth Jacobs of Lincolnwood, Ill.
Jack is named in loving memory of his
great-grandfathers Jack Adelson and Jack
Redfern.

.

July 14
Bonnie (Sherr) and Todd Flood of
Huntington Woods are proud to
announce the birth of their twins: son,

We welcome baby pictures!

centered," said Julie. "I am not
go home and learn what you
affiliated with any synagogue
tell them so they can learn
in Paris; when he's here, he
more the next time, and he
always goes to synagogue with
did."
his grandparents."
Sam returned to Paris with
Dr. Wayne said Sam was
his Torah portion and other
very casual about the Shabbat
blessings on cassette tapes. "It
Sam Roche: Winters in Paris, summers in
services. "We didn't think it
wasn't hard to learn," Sam said.
Southfield.
made that big of an impression
"I studied with my tapes every
on him," Dr. Wayne said.
day for 30 minutes."
When he expressed interest in being a bar mitzvah
Sam also e-mailed progress reports to Gutman,
two years ago, Julie and her parents were surprised
then came back in the spring for a couple of weeks to
and very proud.
study. He returned this summer, as he always has
Julie tried to arrange a ceremony in France, but
since he was a little boy, but this time working with
said, "I realized that if there was any place appropri-
Barbara and Rabbi Robert Scott of Temple Israel.
ate, it would be here."
About 90 people, including two school friends
Meetings were held, and Temple Israel agreed to a
from Paris, witnessed a timeless ceremony on a
very unusual bar mitzvah study program that began
Saturday morning. When he goes home to Paris, he
last year when he was in town for a month.
will return as a man.
Sam didn't know a letter of Hebrew, said his
Sam is the son of Julie Wayne and Andre Roche
teacher, Barbara Gutman, of Farmington Hills.
and the stepson of Marc Ji i i 1 lard His grandparents
"He was the ideal student," said Gutman, a tutor
are Maureen and Dr. Leonard Wayne and Dr. Lise
for 15 years. "You always hope your kids are going to
Roche.

❑

Jack Alexander and daughter Emily
Nicole. Welcoming them home is big
brother Justin. Sharing in their joy and
happiness are grandparents Linda and
Ron Sherr of West Bloomfield and Betty
and Jon Amy of Indiana. Jack is named
in loving memory of his maternal great-
grandfather Jack Friedman; his middle
name is after cousin Alan Sachs. Emily is
named for her maternal great-grand-
mother Edith Friedman.

July 2
LeAnn and Michael Hertzberg welcome
with much love the birth of their son,
Dylan Hayden (Chaim Eliahu). Sharing
in their joy are proud
grandparents James
Foster of Cass City
and Rosalyn and
Mark Hertzberg of
West Bloomfield.
Delighted great-
grandparents are

Virginia Greenlee and Rose and Joseph
Hertzberg. Dylan is named in loving
memory of his paternal great-great-uncle
Harry Rosenberg, paternal great-grand-
mother Phyllis Hertzberg and maternal
grandmother Elgene Foster.

June 18
Aly (Schwartz) and David Jaffe of West
Bloomfield announce with much love
the birth of their son, Ethan Paul.
Welcoming Ethan
home is big sister
Anna, 3. Sharing in
their joy are excited
grandparents Brenda
and Ira Jaffe, Gail and
Ed Weintraub and
Sandy and Stan
Schwartz of
Cleveland. Proud great-grandparents are
Emily and Bob Schwartz, and Hy and
Betty Weintraub, all of Cleveland. Ethan
is named in loving memory of his mater-

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Sandy Raitt and Rob Cheifetz joyfully
announce the birth of their son, Ezra
Raitt Cheifetz (Natan Ezra). Welcoming
F.zra home are thrilled big sisters Arielle,

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the hands of a pediatrician.

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May 12

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June 3
Rachel (Hertzberg) and Chris Hulen of
Miami, Fla., joyfully announce the birth
of their daughter, Phoebe Alexis (Chaya
Haviva). Excited first-time grandparents
are Rosalyn and Mark Hertzberg of West
Bloomfield and Belinda and Charles
Hulen of Bradenton, Fla. Also sharing in
their joy are first-time great-grandparents
Rose and Joseph Hertzberg and Albert
Powers. Phoebe is named in loving mem-
ory of her maternal and paternal great-
grandmothers Phyllis Hertzberg and
Arlene Hulen and maternal great-great-
uncle Harry Rosenberg.

Craig Singer M.D.

CANTOR SAMUEL

8/20
2004

nal great-grandfather Paul Borock and
his paternal great-grandfather Ben Jaffe.

875670

Benjamin Aaron Glick

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