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Creating Community
Single parent family eaYnp brings support and friendship.
SJPN Family Camps are a highlight.
Separate
spring weekends are held for
Special to the Jewish News
single mothers and fathers as well as on
Mother's Day at the Butzel Conference
on Gothelf had recently moved
Center, which is part of Tamarack
to the Detroit area when he
Camps in Ortonville. During the sum-
suddenly found himself in the
mer,
a five-day coed camp session takes
midst of a divorce. Other than his soon-
place.
to-be ex-wife and their two daughters, --
This year, nine families enjoyed a vari-
Talia, 7, and Freya, 11, he had no local
ety of activities that included arts and
network of family or friends.
crafts, nature walks, swimming, boating,
A fortuitous phone call to the Jewish
water-skiing, horseback riding and
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit led
campfires. Counselors were provided for
Gothelf, who now lives in Huntington
the kids so parents could enjoy some
Woods, to the Single Jewish Parents
adult-only
programs such as an
Network, where he found support,
"Initiatives" bonding program, drum-
friendship and a sense of community for
ming lessons by Israeli
musician Bishara Naddaf
and a presentation on
stress management.
"There isn't a whole lot
available for single people
who have kids," said Lon
Zaback of Farmington
Hills, attending SJPN
Family Camp for the first
time with his two sons,
Kyle, 7, and Ian, 10. "I
like the Jewish compo-
nent; the more of that I
can give my kids, the bet-
ter."
Gail Greenberg, Alliance
senior staff associate, said,
"Some of these children
can end up feeling 'sub-
standard' when their par-
ents divorce. One of our
goals is to give the kids a
Jewish experience and help
them feel comfortable
even though they are
coming from divided
Ian Zaback, 10, and his father, Lon, of Farmington
homes."
Hills hit the miniature golf course.
Debra Rosenberg,
Alliance
director
of outreach program-
himself and his daughters.
ming, added, "It's always been our phi-
When a divorce changes the family
losophy that a retreat-like atmosphere
structure, the priority for many single
helps bring people together and forms a
parents is not finding a new spouse but
building a support system for themselves sense of community.'
Drs. Brian and Michael Gendelman
and their children. They want to feel
of
West Bloomfield are a perfect exam-
connected to the Jewish community
ple.
When the two brothers arrived at
even though they no longer have a tradi-
Single Dad's camp last year, they knew
tional two-parent family.
The Single Jewish Parents Network, or only each other. They met Ron Gothelf
and also Amir Eyal of Royal Oak, and
SJPN, under the auspices of Federation's
the four men have since established
Alliance for Jewish Education, fills that
close, ongoing friendships.
need with programming designed for
"I like the camaraderie, the family
single parents and their children.
RONELLE GRIER
R
feeling and the Jewish
teachings," said Dr.
Brian Gendelman,
whose two sons, Jack,
8, and Stephen, 10,
attended camp while
their father participat-
ed in between fulfill-
ing his duties as
Tamarack Camps' on-
site doctor.
SJPN sponsors sev-
eral other events
throughout the year,
including Shabbat
Linda Brand and Josh Solomon, 7, ofNovi work on a T-shirt.
dinners, activities at
the Jewish
good for them to meet other children
Community Center, in-line skating and
who
are in similar situations," said
special services and holiday events in
Fisher, who joined Temple Shir Shalom
conjunction with local synagogues and
after becoming involved with SJPN.
temples. This fall, a symposium on
While the original programming was
empowerment will be held at Temple
geared toward single mothers, it soon
Shir Shalom in West Bloomfield.
became apparent that the many single
The Graham and Sally Orley
fathers like Gothelf needed support, too.
Foundation provides funding for the
"The women still outnumber the
camps, while other SPJN programming
men,
but more and more dads are
is funded through the Alliance, a grant
becoming involved," said Rosenberg,
from the Jewish Women's Foundation
who estimates approximately 500 par-
and private donations.
ents are on the SJPN mailing list.
"My kids look forward to this all
year," said Lee Greenwald of West
`They Love It'
Bloomfield, who was attending her third
"So many single Jewish parents need
family camp with sons Josh, 6, and Sam,
help re-entering the community after a
9. "It's their favorite part of the sum-
divorce, for themselves and their chil-
mer."
dren," said Marilyn Hertzberg of
"I love this camp," Sam said. "My
Bloomfield Hills, SJPN chairperson.
favorite activity was swimming in the
`,`Once they come to one of our events,
lake."
we've got them. They love it."
The Butzel Center location allowed
Hertzberg began holding programs for
the
group to take advantage of some of
single Jewish mothers close to 20 years
Tamarack
Camps' many facilities and
ago, when she worked for Jewish Family
resources, such as the beach, swimming
Service as coordinator of special projects.
pool, water-skiing and tubing as well as
SJPN still works closely with JFS, which
the high-ropes course. On the last night
refers many single parents and provides
of camp, following a family talent show,
staffing for special programs.
"Finances are always an issue for single SJPN participants planted 35 trees in
the Tamarack Tree Farm.
parents," said Hertzberg. "We refer peo-
Linda Brand of Novi, and her 7-year-
ple who need help with housing, tuition,
High Holiday tickets and other concerns old son, Joshua Solomon, enjoyed their
week at camp.
to the many community resources that
"Josh had a wonderful time; and we
are available. We also encourage and
knew several people from other SJPN
facilitate synagogue affiliation.
activities," said Brand, who also attended
This was the third SJPN camping
Mother's Day weekend. "It's nice for me,
experience for Yona Fisher of Northville
too, I don't have to cook, and it feels
and her three children, Gwen, 8, Claire,
good to turn off the cell phone and just
10, and Drew, 13.
get away from it all." E
"They do a great job of getting the
kids involved with Judaism, and it's
"
8/11
2005
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