Metro

The Birmingham Temple

in cooperation with the

International Institute for Secular
Humanistic Judaism

presents
the renowned curator of the Shrine of
the Book in Jerusalem

Generation
To Generation

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Ann Arbor Day School second-graders greet seniors.

Ann Arbor
ello, my name is Shayla.
What's your name? Did you
like our play? What was
your favorite part? What do you
think is the most beautiful thing in
the world? It was nice to meet you.
Come visit our classroom someday.
Have a nice day!"
So went the conversation practiced
by Hebrew Day School of Ann
Arbor second-grade students before
their scheduled afternoon with sen-
iors at the Jewish Community
Center of Washtenaw County. The
students performed a skit based on
Louis Armstrong's song What a
Wonderful World for the seniors.
Teacher Aron Kaufman wrote the
script. Following the play, each
child engaged in conversation with
the seniors about their ideas of a
wonderful world.
"I taught them in advance how
to carry on a conversation," said
Kaufman. "I took the role of a sen-
ior, and each child practiced mak-
ing eye contact with me and
responding sporitaneously to my
comments. For example, I would
say, 'I think the most beautiful
thing in the world is a child. My
new granddaughter was born two
weeks ago.' If they were at a loss for
words, I coached them to respond,
`Mazel tov! What is her name?'
"During one practice conversa-
tion, my student wanted to end the
conversation but didn't know how.
With the help of her classmates, we
came up with some nice options
such as, 'It was nice talking to
you.'"
"At first, I was so nervous," said
second-grader Seth Stancroff, "but
it was so much fun. They were so
friendly!"
"They know more than us," said
second-grader Caroline Wechsler,
"and they have many things to
share."
"The children seemed to feel
comfortable talking to us," said
senior Sylvia Krohn.
"It was a good experience for both

who will present a seminar on

The Dead Sea Scrolls:
The Mystery Explained

Dr. Roitman is a renowned Jewish historian who was
born in Argentina and who came to live in Israel over
twenty years ago. For the past decade Dr. Roitman
has been the director of the museum that houses the
most famous and oldest documents from the Jewish
past.

January 28-30, 2005

Members: $40 one session; $90 all four sessions
Non-members: $40 one session; $100 all four sessions
Group Rates; 25% discount for groups of eight or more

1. Friday, January 28, 8:00 PM - "The Shrine of the Book as a
Secular Temple in Modern Israel"
2. Saturday, January 29, 10:00 AM - "The Discovery of the Dead Sea
Scrolls: Myth and Reality"
3. Saturday, January 29, 1:30 PM - "The Dead Sea Scrolls in
Historical Context"
4. Sunday, January 30, 9:30 AM - "The Significance of the Dead Sea
Scrolls for Judaism and Christianity"

1/ 7
2005

20

The Birmingham Temple 28611 West 12 Mile Road
Farmington Hills, MI 48334 (248) 477-1410
Email: info@birminghamtemple.org
Website: www.birminghamtemple.org

MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS EARLY!!

923940

the young and the old," said Betty
Hammond.
Kaufman plans on continuing the
intergenerational conversation, next
time over lunch.
"I want my students to appreciate
these seniors as important members
of our community," he said. ❑

— Dina Shtull-Leber, head of school

Second-grader Yonatan Hodish converses
with senior Sol Saginaw.

Second-grader Shayla Zorn talks with
senior Emily Milner.