u, nagogues eman first thing Moishe and Helene Last did when they decided to add onto their home of the past 16 years was to interview builders they thought could do the job. First one, then another, and then—Scott Gittleman. "We chose him because of his great organizational skills," said Moishe, a retired school teacher and an instructor of guitar who has written books on the subject. He now kindly refers to the builder as a great kid," and Helene confirms that Gittleman "was absolutely phenomenal." What the Lasts wanted—and what they got—was a room that exposed a gorgeous 1 1/2 acre backyard that had never before been part of their daily vista. From the beginning, the Gittleman team helped the couple develop their ideas of how the new room should be and how it should look. Helene, said Moishe, "was the director of ideas" and Scott helped refine them. "Collectively, we thought everything through, as a trio," he said. Gittleman experts were often on the job to help resolve issues and offer suggestions on materials or color selection. Amazingly, said Moishe, the entire team was terrific. Helene, who was braced for a tumultuous remodel, was pleasantly surprised. "It was, I truly can say, a delightful experience." Gittleman completed a reconfiguration of the Last's dining room and the addition of what the couple now refers to as their "special" room with windows all around and a soaring cathedral ceiling above. It has become, said Moishe, their haven, a respite of sorts, from all other things that happen in their house during the course of a day. Even their dog ChaChi knows the room is "special." "We absolutely love it," raved Moishe and Helene. So next time you want to add a "special room" to the home you love, turn to the team that can help you build your best idea and rely on Gittleman. T he JUST ASK THE LASTS. 28580 ORCHARD LAKE RD., SUITE 102 FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48334 248.538.5400 CUSTOM RENOVATIONS Temple Benjamin 502 North Brown Street, Mt. Pleasant 48858, (989) 422-3015 or (989) 773- 5086. Rabbi: Dorit Edut. Services: Friday 8 p.m. each week. Shabbat services 10 a.m. monthly. Congregation Beth El 311 S. Park, Traverse City 49684, (231) 946-1913. Rabbi: Albert Lewis. Rabbi emer- itus: Jonathan V. h . Cantorial soloist: Hannah Dietz. Shabbat services 8 p.m. bi- weekly. 2525 Mark Ave., Windsor, (519) 969-2422. Rabbi: Jeffrey Ableser. Cantor: Marci Shulman. Services: 5:45 p.m. the first and last Friday of the month; 8 p.m. intermedi- ate Fridays. CONSTRUCTION inc www.gittleman.net Bet Chaverim P.O. Box 871262 Canton, 48187-6262; (734) 480-8880. Rabbi: Peter Gluck. Cantorial soloist: Robin Liberatore. Services the third Friday of every month. High Holiday services; religious school. Congregation Beth El GITTLEMAN %•"•°I Reform 929130 Temple Beth El 7400 Telegraph, Bloomfield Township, 48301, (248) 851-1100. Rabbis: Daniel B. Syme, David Scott Castiglione. Cantorial soloist: Rachel Gottlieb. Services: Friday 6 p.m., 7:30 p.m. Saturday 10:30 a.m. Sunday 9:30. Tuesday, Oct. 25, Yizkor and dedication of memorial plaques; 7 p.m. Simchat Torah and consecration. Temple Beth El (Flint) 5150 Calkins, Flint, 48532, (810) 720- 9494. Rabbi: Karen Companez. Cantorial soloist: Aleksander Chernyak. Services: First Friday of the month call for details; all other Fridays 8 p.m. Temple Beth El (Midland) 967-4020. Rabbi: Joseph P. Klein. Cantor emeritus: Norman Rose. Shlichei Tzibor: Steve Klaper and Judy Lewis. Services: Friday 8 p.m. Saturday 10:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 24, consecration and erev Simchat Torah service 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25, Simchat Torah 10:30 a.m. Temple Israel 5725 Walnut Lake, West Bloomfield, 48323, (248) 661-5700. Rabbis: Harold S. Loss, Paul M. Yedwab, Joshua L. Bennett, Marla Hornsten, Jennifer A. Tisdale. Cantor: Michael Smolash. Cantorial soloist: Neil Michaels. Services: Friday 7:30 p.m., 8 p.m. Saturday 10:30 a.m. Minyan Monday- Thursday 7:30 a.m.; Sunday 9 a.m. Friday early service baby naming of Jadyn Alexa Kaufman, daughter of Sabrina and Brian Kaufman; Jolie Sloan Rosenzweig, daughter of Jaclyn and Neil Rosenzweig. Temple Kol Ami 5085 Walnut Lake, West Bloomfield, 48323, (248) 661-0040. Rabbi: Norman T. Roman. Rabbi emeritus: Ernst J. Conrad. Cantorial soloist: Susan Greener. Services: Friday 6 p.m. Saturday 10:30 a.m. Simchat Torah: Monday, Oct. 24, 7:30 p.m. (consecration); Tuesday, Oct. 25, 10:30 a.m. (Shemini Atzeret and Yizkor). Congregation Shaarey Zedek 1924 Coolidge, East Lansing 48823, (517) 351-3570. Rabbi Emeritus: Morton Hoffman. Rabbi: Richard Baroff. Services: Friday 8 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. Temple Shir Shalom 3999 Walnut Lake, West Bloomfield, 48323, (248) 737-8700. Rabbis: Dannel Schwartz, Michael L. Moskowitz. Cantorial soloist: Penny Steyer. Services: Friday 8 p.m. Saturday 11 a.m. U M Reform Chavurah - 1429 Hill St., Ann Arbor 48104, (734) 769- 0500. Friday evening services; check Web site for times: www.umhillel.org . 2505 Bay City Road, Midland, 48642. Lay service twice monthly. Contact Stuart Bergstein, (989) 835-4822. Temple Beth Emeth 2309 Packard, Ann Arbor, 48104, (734) 665-4744. Rabbi: Robert D. Levy. Chazzan: Ann Zibelman Rose. Services: Friday 8 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. Family service once a month at 7:30 p.m. replaces 8 p.m. Friday service; call for specific dates. Reform/Renewal Congregation Shir Tikvah 3900 Northfield Parkway, Troy, 48084, (248) 649-4418. Rabbis: Arnie Sleutelberg, Aaron Starr. Services: Friday 7 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. Friday Shabbat/Sukkot service at Rabbi Arnie's home in Royal Oak. Simchat Torah: Tuesday, Oct. 25, 6 p.m. Beth Isaac Synagogue 2730 Edsel Dr., Trenton, 48183, (734) 675- 0355. Services: Friday 7:30 p.m. Congregational leaders conduct services throughout the year. Temple Beth Israel 801 W. Michigan Ave., Jackson 49202, (517) 784 3862. Rabbi: Jonathan V. Plaut. Rabbi emeritus: Alan Ponn. Cantorial soloist: Clara Silver. President: Dr. Cathy Glick. Services: Friday 8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. the first Saturday of the month. - Renewal Pardes Hannah 2010 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor, 48104, (734) 213-8374. Rabbi: Elliot Ginsburg. Affiliation: Alliance for Jewish Renewal. Services: Friday night, monthly. Shabbat morning the second and fourth Saturday each month. Services are lead by the rabbi and other leaders in the group. Congregation Chaye Olam 4875 W. Maple Road, Bloomfield Twp. 48301-2805, (248) 851-7485. Spiritual leader: Cantor Stephen L. Dubov. Services: Friday 7:30 p.m. Saturday 10:30 a.m. Temple Emanu El - 14450 W. 10 Mile, Oak Park, 48237, (248) 76 Secular Humanistic The Birmingham Temple 28611 W. 12 Mile, Farmington Hills, 48334, (248) 477-1410. Rabbi: Tamara October 20 2005