Learning
With Dad
Three area congregations take turns hosting each other's
fathers end sons.
SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN
Staff Writer
T
o Ethan Gross of West Bloomfield, going
out on Saturday night means getting
dressed, gathering some important mate-
rials — and spending time with his 5-
year-old son, Simcha Mendel.
So they grab Simcha Mendel's homework and
join other boys learning one-on-one with their dads.
They are participating in a program — open to
the entire community — held on a rotation basis
between the three Orthodox synagogues in West
Bloomfield: Sara Tugman Bais Chabad Torah
Center, Keter Torah Synagogue and Ohel Moed
Shomrey Emunah.
"It is actually a twist on the worldwide Avot
Ubanim program," said the Torah Center's Rabbi
Elimelech Silberberg, who attends the program with
his son Kopel, 11. "We named our own program,
Veshinantam Levanechah, from the words from the
Shema that mean, 'You shall teach your children.'
"Locally, there are chapters at Yeshiva Beth
Yehudah [in Southfield] and Young Israel of
Southfield; but what is different about our program
is that we decided to do it as a round robin, with
each of the three synagogues taking turns hosting
it."
After Torah Center member Rabbi Assi Tzobel of
West Bloomfield came to Rabbi Silberberg with the
suggestion of holding the program
there, the rabbi invited the other
two congregations to join in. On
Nov. 13, the Torah Center hosted
the first of the programs, which run
for about an hour, beginning 45
minutes after the end of Shabbat.
As Detroit representatives of
Kollel Torah MiTzion, a religious
Zionist organization that brings
Israeli couples to other countries to
conduct Jewish programming,
Rabbi Tzobel and his wife, Sharon,
are always looking for new ways to
teach.
"As a Kollel, part of our goal is to
bring the Torah to the people we
meet," Rabbi Tzobel said.
Ethan Gross of West Bloomfield listens to his son Simcha Mendel, 5,
practice his Hebrew reading.
It's Fun, Too
When Rabbi Tzobel became the organizer of the
program — working with rabbis from the three par-
ticipating synagogues — he immediately added a
lighter component.
A professional magician, he even entertained the
group after learning a couple of weeks ago and
makes sure each program ends on a sweet note, with
a make-your-own ice cream cone station.
"Sometimes, the older boys and their fathers go
out and do other
activities together after
the learning," said
Rabbi Eli Jundef of
Ohel Moed, who
recently accompanied
his son Yehudah
Avrohom, 10, while
he bowled.
Earlier this month,
the entire group was
invited to stay to
watch an episode of
Agent Emes, a Jewish-
based action-adven-
ture video series.
The young partici-
pants of the program
also can win prizes
based on attendance.
Rabbi Michael Cohen of Keter Torah Synagogue excitedly learns with his son
"We want to keep the
Yaakov, 4.
kids entertained and make sure they have enough
fun projects to keep things spiced up so they keep
coming back," Rabbi Silberberg said.
And, according to Ethan Gross, it's working. "I
know I look forward to being there; but, better than
that, my son looks forward to it," he said. As the
youngest of Gross's three children, Simcha Mendel
has watched his brother and sister be involved in
programs unique for them. "He knows this is his
own special time," Gross said.
Rabbi Tzobel said, "With so many fathers work-
ing all day and then coming home to do more work,
this is a time for them to do something meaningful
with their sons."
Rabbi Jundef said his son also is excited about his
one-on-one time with his father. "We talk about it
in advance and he really looks forward to it, and I
enjoy the private learning time with just him."
"Everyone who comes to the program does some-
thing different," said Rabbi Michael Cohen of Keter
LEARNING WITH DAD on page 52
The next Veshinantam Levanechah fathers and
sons learning program meets at 6:45 p.m.,
Saturday, Jan. 1, at Sara Tugman Bais Chabad
Torah Center. For information on the pro-
gram, call Rabbi Assi Tzobel at (248) 770-
2491.
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2004
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