Writ1777-1
avid. and Deborah Morrison loved the
"good bones" of their 1926 Tudor home,
so when they needed more room they chose
to stay where they were—and call Gittleman
Construction Company.
"I felt they could honor the spirit of an old
house," said Deborah.
"It was a challenging job because of the age
of the house," added David, "and the
standards of reproduction we wanted."
And what they wanted is what Gittleman
delivered—on time, without hassle and in
perfect harmony with the home's intrinsic
character. Quarter sawn oak mission-style
cabinetry that makes the kitchen a "show
stopper," said David. A new family room and
mud room enjoyed daily by the couple and their four daughters. New exterior finishes that match the
original. And, a master suite that both Deborah and David deem their favorite.
"I do like that room," said Deborah. "It's almost like being in a bird house, very pretty with lots
of windows."
The challenges of updating early 20th century construction were taken in stride and resolved perfectly
by Gittleman, David said, resulting in an 80-year-old home that lives like it was built yesterday.
So next time your near-historic home needs a nurturing renovation, rely on Gittleman to preserve its
character and prepare it for a future filled with family memories.
D
need not set aside fruit.
In the early 1900s, the Jewish National
Fund, then buying and developing land in
Palestine for Jewish settlement, seized
upon Tu b'Shevat for its marketing poten-
tial. Because the JNF improved land by
planting trees, it promoted Tu b'Shevat as
the ideal time to donate money for the
acquisition of land and the planting of
trees on the rocky soil of the ancient
Jewish homeland. It worked, and to this
day in many communities across the
diaspora, Tu b'Shevat is also JNF day.
reducing erosion and landslides. Trees
breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe
out oxygen; without trees, life would dis-
appear.
In Parshat Shoftim (Deuteronomy
20:19), the Torah teaches that when the
army of Israel makes war and besieges a
city, it may not cut down fruit trees so as
to use the wood for weapons (non-fruit-
bearing trees may be felled). Our quarrel
is not with the trees, "for is the tree of the
field.a man that comes before you in a
siege?"
• Teach Your Children Well: Tu
b'Shevat is an excellent opportunity to
learn about the tremendous economic
and environmental values of trees. A
renewable resource, trees provide us with
food, fuel, fiber, paper, housewares, build-
ing materials, chemicals and many other
useful products.
Trees planted in urban areas greatly
reduce summer heat that builds up in
concrete-covered neighborhoods, while
trees put in the right spots around your
house can keep air-conditioning bills to a
minimum. Trees planted in windbreaks
help farmers conserve their crops and
topsoil, and those that grow along rivers,
stream and hillsides keep soil in place,
On The Web:
www.kld.org.il/k1d/IddIVIain_eng.aspx
This is the home page of the interna-
tional Keren Kayemet L'Yisrael, also
known as the Jewish National Fund.
This introduction will lead you to every-
thing you want to know about Israel's
forests, JNF offices worldwide
and Jewish education about the envi-
ronment.
www.coejl.org:
The Coalition on the Environment
and Jewish Life has a great column "15
Everyday Conservation Actions" and
other useful information about Tu
b'Shevat and the environment.
❑
JUST ASK THE MORRISON'S.
GITTLEMAN
CONSTRUCTION inc
28580 ORCHARD LAKE RD., SUITE 102
FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48334
. 248.538.5400
www.gittleman.net
1054240
CUSTOM
RENOVATIONS
LEASE PULL—AHEAD IS BACK!
For Leases Exp. Now Thru 12/31/06**
of West Bloomfield, are founding
This is just one fact from the
members of the Michigan chapter of
Michigan chapter of COEJL, the
Interfaith Power and Light (MiIPL),
Coalition on Environment and Jewish
which now has more than 100 mem-
Life, in a guide that teaches learning
ber congregations in
about the environment
Michigan.
in a Jewish setting. The
When a congregation
guide features activities,
joins
MiIPL, it receives
arts and crafts and
a
great
deal more than
games. It focuses on
the
usual
nod and a
"how living things are
newsletter.
The $100
connected, the order of
membership
includes
God's creation and the
an energy audit (which
importance of not wast-
almost always results in
ing," says COEJL mem-
significant financial
ber Betsy Winkelman.
savings), along with an
Genesis says that "man
analysis of the facility's
is here to take care of
Betsy Winkelman is
air, heating and ventila-
the earth," Winkelman
cofounder of MilPL,
tion system; Any member
says. But how often do
which helps congrega-
a MiIPL congregation
we really think about
tions
tions learn how to bet-
may receive a discount •
how water is used or
ter use energy.
on equipment that is
reused, or just wasted?
ehergy-star (reviewed by the
COEJL also works with Interfaith
Environmental Protection Agency for
Power and Light, a national group
energy efficiency) rated.
focusing on religion and the environ-
Congregations with MiIPL affiliation
ment. Through this partnership,
include Adat Shalom, B'nai Moshe,
COEJL encourages synagogues and
Beth Israel in Ann Arbor, Shir Tikvah
temples to consider ways in which
and Temple Emanu-El.
they can improve their use of energy
For more information on MilPL, go
and make use of alternative energy
to
www.MilPL.org .
sources. Winkieman and Ed Kohl, both
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