Spotlight

munity. Some people who were not
members came as possible new con-
gregants to evaluate the synagogue.
"We love to hear singing," Myrna
Robinson of West Bloomfield said.
"But we also wanted to get the flavor
of the congregation and the rabbi.
We were very impressed, especially
their focus on children's education."
"Kol Ami is a very heimish [home-
like, friendly] temple," said Roz
Goldfarb, at the event with Manny
Franklin, both of West Bloomfield.
"And the rabbi is great."
The education director, Andee
Liberman, and trustee Andrew
Gelsey, both of West Bloomfield,
organized the event. "We wanted to
do something special for our mem-
bers and open our doors to the corn-
munity," Gelsey said.
"We're the little guy between the
giants Temple Israel and Shir Shalom
[both Reform congregations in West
Bloomfield]," said Nena Chudnof,
co-president with her husband, Mel,
of West Bloomfield.
"We want to let people know we're
here." ❑

ewish Grammy Award winner
Doug Coder entertained 250
music lovers
with a delightful per-
formance at Temple
Kol Ami in West
Bloomfield.
The California-
based Coder has a
few Metro Detroit
relatives and is good
friends with Kol
RONIT
Ami's rabbi, Norman
PINTO
Roman. The singer,
Columnist
songwriter and musi-
cian fused traditional
Jewish melodies with the rhythm of
popular music.
After Coder's renditions of "Under
the Sukkah" — sung to the tune of
the Drifters' "Under the Boardwalk"
— and "Afikomen Round the
Mountain When She Comes, Oy
Vey!", Cantorial Soloist Susan
Greener and Rabbi Roman joined in
the last few songs before the refresh-
ments and CD signings.
The free Aug. - 21 concert was one
of the West Bloomfield synagogue's
largest social events open to the com-

j

Up With Song

Kol Ami hosts singing star Doug Cotler.

Melissa Strome, 6, ofWest Bloomfield and
Arielle Lipman, 7, of Farmington Hills

Caryn Bittker ofWest Bloomfield with
daughters Hattie and Shoshana, 5

Roz Goldfarb and Manny Franklin,
both of West Bloomfield

Rabbi Norman Roman

Cantorial Soloist
Susan Greener

Myrna and Sid Konikow
of Farmington Hills hold
grandchildren Benny
Shaesky, 3, ofWest
Bloomfield and Jordyn
Krauss, 2, of Berkley.

9/ 8
2005

19