I Maze!, Toy!

For information on submitting an announcement, see "Submission Guidelines" on the right side
of the home page of JNOnline.com or call (248) 351-5147.

It's Never Too Late

Businessman celebrates bar mitzvah for his 55th birthday.

LEONARD POGER

II

Copy Editor

enneth Bonin recently gave himself a spe-
cial birthday gift — a bar mitzvah.
Relatives, friends and business contacts
were so intrigued, they insisted on attending the
June 4 Shabbat service at the Sara Tugman Bais
Chabad Torah Center in West Bloomfield.
"I even received three fountain pens," he com-
mented, alluding to the traditional gift given to a
new bar mitzvah celebrant several generations ago.
"My family went crazy," he said, in expressing
their pride in his accomplishment.
When he began his bar mitzvah preparations last
December, Bonin admitted: "I was scared at first."
But he became fluent in learning his haftorah for
the Shabbat service, attended by more than 200 per-
sons.
Bonin, a West Bloomfield resident, dropped out of
Hebrew school when he was 10 years old.
He stopped observing Jewish traditions, but that
began to change 16 years ago when a Lubavitch rep-

July 8
Jodi (Mickel) and Lee Dorkin of
West Bloomfield are thrilled to wel-
come with tons of
hugs and kisses their
little prince, Alec
Samuel (Anshel
Schmuel). Proud
grandparents are Iris
and Harold Mickel of
Farmington Hills,
Dorkin
Sherri Tropin of
Matawan, N.J., and
Ron and Ruth Dorkin of Old Bridge,
N.J. Alec is named in honor and in
loving memory of his paternal great-
grandfather Anshel Scarbec and
maternal grandfather Samuel
Halberstam.

JN

7/28

2005

48

July 5
Alisa (Bloom) and
Kyle Chapple of
Fenton are proud to
announce the arrival
of their second child,
Jacob Aaron
(Ephraim Aron). Big
brother Benjamin, 21
months, lovingly wel-
comes him home.
Sharing in their joy
and happiness are bubbie Joan Bloom
of West Bloomfield, grandmother

resentative came to his downtown
God's Torah. "I've been on his journey most
Detroit business, Industrial Bag and
of my life," Bonin told his audience.
Specialties Co., asking for a donation.
"I found strength in the Army, freedom at
Bonin not only gave a donation, he
Woodstock, solace in the woods. I thought
became involved in Bais Chabad,
drugs had the answers and Far Eastern reli-
attending services and enjoying its
gions would get me there.. . . What I've
membership. He began putting on
found here in Judaism, the last place I ever
tefillin regularly.
looked, is truth, wisdom and understand-
His bar mitzvah speech was based on
ing."
Kenneth Bonin:
The Little Prince, a book about a young- recerived three
Bonin said he was a hippy in 1976 when he
ster who went out into the world looking fountain pens
traveled to Israel and lived there for six months.
for knowledge and truth. Bonin said the
While in Israel, "someone asked me to attend
story paralleled his journey as a young
a Shabbos service," he said. "At the time, I
adult.
knew nothing about Shabbos. But I wound up
"I made a journey from the Army to Woodstock
going and eventually enrolled in a yeshivah."
[site of the 1969 rock concert that became a cultural
After his first contacts with the Bais Chabad
symbol of the hippy generation] and Israel," he said. Torah Center, he said there was little pressure to
"I found truth and knowledge in the Torah" as a
enhance his religious involvement. Rabbi Silberberg
member of the Bais Chad Torah Center and with
told him only that "you should be happy."
the help of Rabbi Elimelech Silberberg.
Rabbi Silberberg said Bonin is his first bar mitzvah
In his bar mitzvah speech, Bonin referred to that
celebrant of a non-traditional age.
morning's Torah reading. The Jews traveled 40 years
"But everyone is welcome [to do the same] who
in the desert toward their ultimate goal of receiving
can put in the effort."

and grandfather Diane and Charles
Chapple of Fenton. He also is the
grandchild of the late Marvin Bloom.
Proud great-grandmothers are Ruth
Messinger of West Bloomfield,
Arlene Clymer of Flint and Mary
Kastner of Fenton. Jacob is named in
loving memory of his maternal great-
grandmother Frieda Bloom.

June 23
Leslie (Finsilver) and Dr. Scott
Hirsch of Solon, Ohio, welcome with
love the birth of their daughter,
Remy Mya. Sharing in their excite-
ment are proud grandparents Fran
and Bruce Finsilver of West
Bloomfield and Sharon and Dr. Fred
Hirsh of Aurora, Ohio. Also shairng
in the joy are great-grandparents
Devora Finsilver, Helene Leib and
Herman Braunstein. Remy also is the
great-grandchild of the late Rose
Dwoskin, the late Howard Finsilver,
the late Dora and Alex Hirsh. Remy
is named in loving memory of her
paternal great-grandfather Robert
Dwoskin and maternal great-grandfa-
ther Meyer Leib.

June 23
Mary Kay (Bertke) and Eric Weiss of
West Bloomfield are excited to
announce and welcome with love the

birth of their son,
Cooper Brett.
Welcoming Cooper
home with lots of
hugs and kisses is big
brother Ryne, 4.
Sharing in the excite-
Weiss
ment is proud grand-
father Emery Weiss of
West Bloomfield. Cooper also is the
grandson of the late Elaine Weiss.
Delighted great-grandparents are
Libby and Bernard Sneider of West
Bloomfield. Cooper is named in lov-
ing memory of his maternal grand-
parents Barbara and John Bertke and
paternal great-grandmother Roslyn
Weiss.

June 22
Amanda (Gurwin)
and Seth Tompkins of
West Bloomfield are
thrilled to announce
the birth of their son,
Jacob Aaron
Tompkins, welcomed
Tompkins
with great joy and
love by big brother
Joshua. Loving grandparents are Jill
and Howard Gurwin of Bloomfield
Hills and Carolyn and A. Stuart
Tompkins of Farmington Hills.
Great-grandparents are Cheryl and

Harold Blumeno of Farmington
Hills, Martin Gurwin of West
Bloomfield, Lottie Koltonow of Boca
Raton, Fla., and Ruby Tompkins of
Farmington. He also is the great-
grandchild of the late Charlotte
Gurwin, the late Harry Koltonow
and the late Abe Tompkins. Jacob is
honored to be named in. Hebrew for
his paternal great-grandfather Harry
Koltonow and his maternal great-
grandfather Alan Forman.

June 14
With great pride and joy, Dana
(Yovis) and Josh Krut of Hollywood,
Fla., are delighted to announce the
birth of their daughter, Leah
Miriam. Welcoming Leah home was
her big brother Benny. Leah is the
granddaughter of Faye and Michael
Krut of Farmington Hills and Arlene
and Dr. Leonard Yovis of West
Bloomfield. Leah Miriam is named in
loving memory of her maternal great-
grandmother Lenore Zaretine and
her paternal great-grandfather Morris
Krut.

June 13
Rachel (Feldstein) and Gary Axelrod
of Chicago are thrilled to announce
the birth of their son, Adam Jonah
(Yacob Svi Chaim). Sharing in their