The Colors

Members of a new women's group don
specially chosen attire at a model seder.

SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN

Sta Writer

S

ome of the participants at this year's Congregation
Beth Shalom Women's Seder found themselves sit-
ting next to eye-catching guests dressed in purple
outfits and red hats.
The vividly clothed guests at the April 27 event —
which honored the seder's founder, Alicia Nelson of
Southfield — are members of a brand new chapter of the Red Hat Society, a
group of fun-loving women over 50 who wear purple attire and red hats.
According to the chapter's founder, Bobbie Lewis of Oak Park, the wild garb
is a precursor to the way members hope to be when they become outrageously
behaved old ladies.
Lewis founded the chapter — the Red Hot Yiddishe Mamas — after
finding that established local chapters were either not accepting new mem-
bers or often held activities on Shabbat and Jewish holidays.
"I sent an e-mail to everyone in my address book, and I now have about
20 members, including some folks I never met," said Lewis, who in Red
Hat lingo is referred to as "the queen."
The group is not Beth Shalom-based, but includes a few synagogue
members. "It's not a Jewish group, per se," Lewis said. "But we will not
have any activities on Saturday or Jewish holidays and will not plan any-

thing with food where there won't be the
option of vegetarian fare."
Lewis loved combining the "coming out" of the Red
Hot Yiddishe Mamas with the honoring of Nelson, who she
refers to as a "Red Hat sister who is one in a million."
Since the Red Hot Yiddishe Mamas are just getting started, only a
few of the members came to the seder dressed in their colorful garb.
But, Lewis said, "Those who did got quite a bit of attention."0

For information on the Red Hot Yiddishe Mamas, access the Red Hat
Society Web site at: www.redhatsociety.com . There is no charge for
membership. 0

Above: Rhonda Pliskow o
Huntington Woods, Gayle Gordon of
Royal Oak and Alicia Nelson of
Southfield at the Beth Shalom
Women's Seder

Far Left: Bobbie Lewis of Oak Park,
showing off her red and purple duds,
attends the seder with Fern Katz of
Southfield and Vicki Alexandra of
Detroit, in the front row, and
Jeannie Kramer of Oak Park, in the
back row.

Left: Annette Pines-Perez of Berkley

5/19

2005

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