To Life!

SPIRITUALITY

A Brand
New Week

Tots make Monday mornings fun
— with friends, family and music.

Elyssa Biederman, 2, and her brother Ethan, 4, of Franklin are engrossed in the Havdalah celebration.

Shelli Liebman Dorfman

Staff Writer

fter participat-
ing in a program
to welcome the
Shabbat on Fridays, taking
part in a Havdalah ceremony
on Monday mornings is the
obvious next step for nursery
and kindergarten students at
Adat Shalom Synagogue in
Farmington Hills.
"We decided that it was a per-
fect complement to our Friday
Kabbalat Shabbat service that

brings a wonderful beginning to
the children's Shabbat celebra-
tion:' said the school's director,
Jordana Weiss.
"In examining our Friday
program, we felt that something
was missing — and we realized
it was the conclusion of Shabbat.
"Some families do not do
Havdalah in their homes, or the
children are in bed by the time
it is time to celebrate Havdalah.
So we thought that by having
a Monday morning Havdalah
service, it would be a wonderful
way to introduce them to this

Dan Shere plays the guitar while Rabbi Rachel Shere
gets the kids clapping along.

important ritual, and it is such
a sweet way to start the new
week!"
The program is led by Rabbi
Rachel Shere, accompanied on
guitar by her husband, Dan, the
synagogue's music director.
Weiss said the kids and staff
have come to look forward to
starting their week with the
program. "Since children often
rely on routines, they know that
their week at school begins with
Havdalah and it is very comfort-
ing:to them. The service is very
concrete for the children, as they

Ilan Weiss, 3 1/2, and his mom, Jordana Weiss,
enjoy the music.

see the grape juice and the lit
Havdalah candle, get to smell
the sweet spices and hold their
hands in the light during one of
the brachot (blessings):'
She said everyone's favorite
part seems to be Dan Shere's
direction of a less traditional
version of "Eliyahu Hanavi,"
where the kids get to yell out
Eliyahu's name at the end of
the tune. "Then they move into
the last song, "Shavuah Tov";
and everyone gives hugs to the
person next to them:' Weiss
said. "The whole service is very

uplifting and brings you back
to the true meaning of starting
a sweet new week together sur-
rounded by friends, love and
tradition."
Parents of the kids also are
invited to join in, Weiss said.
"Many have commented that
they very purposely choose to
walk in the building on Monday
mornings rather than use our
carpool drop off service, just so
they have a chance to see the
Havdalah service. It has defi-
nitely become one of our most .
popular attractions."

Arianna Zusel, 2 1/2, of West Bloomfield moves to the
beat of the song.

November 30 2006 43