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A Rabbinic Honor

This Week

W

hen Congregation Shomrey Emunah mem-
Binyan Olam award will be presented to Rabbi Zev
ber Max Berlin learned that Rabbi Shaiall
Handler.
Zachariash would receive a prestigious honor,
Established in 1974 as the first center of its type in
he jumped at the chance to volunteer as chairman of the
the United States, the Oak Park-based Kollel began as a
Harav Menachem and Rochel Goldberg Kollel Institute
learning hub and later expanded into a large Orthodox
of Greater Detroit dinner where the award would be pre-
synagogue as well.
sented.
A supporter of the center of advanced talmudic
"Rabbi Zachariash has been a big part of my life and my
study, outreach and adult education, Berlin referred to
family's life," said Berlin of Southfield. "He was my father's
the Kollel as "Detroit's central place for learning Torah,
rabbi and is now my rabbi. His influence in my life has
Rabbi Zachariash
where everyone can come and learn and feel they are
been immeasurable."
part of a community."
In a letter sent to the community, he said, "For four
The 32nd anniversary dinner of the Kollel Institute
decades, Rabbi Zachariash has been a true communal leader.
of Greater Detroit will be held 6 p.m. Monday, March 12, at the
Whenever the greater Detroit Jewish community has confronted a
Southfield Hotel, 17017 W. Nine Mile, Southfield. For information
major issue, he has been at the forefront to help resolve it:'
on the dinner or for dinner reservations, call Rabbi Reuven Green at
Rabbi Zachariash, spiritual leader of Shomrey Emunah in
(248) 968-1891. Cost is $100/person; $180/couple.
Southfield, will receive the Avodas Hakodesh (Community Service)
- Shelli Leibman Dorfman, senior writer
award at the Kollel's 32nd anniversary dinner on March 12. The

Exodus From Ordinary
Rather than the annual women's seder, look for "Illuminations:
Exodus from the Ordinary," a March 7 program at Adat Shalom
Synagogue in Farmington Hills that will feature a speaker, samplings
of kosher-for-Passover food, recipes and glorious seder table settings
provided by area synagogue sisterhoods.
Keynote speaker for the 6:30 p.m. event will be Rivy Poupko
Kletenik, a popular lecturer and writer who is currently head of the
Seattle Hebrew Academy.
Event co-chairs are Hadas Bernard and Norma Dorman; associate
chairs are Leah Ann Kleinfeldt and Marjorie Krasnick.
Cost is $36 per person, with reservations due by March 2. They
can be made online at www.jewishdetroitorg/passover or by calling
(248) 203-1460.

- Keri Guten Cohen, story development editor

Dangers of Drinking
The Orthodox Union urges parents to alert their kids to the dangers
of drinking anytime, but especially during Purim festivities begin-
ning Saturday night, March 3. While aimed at the Orthodox commu-
nity, the message resonates for all Jews.
"Celebrating the miracle of Purim is a most enjoyable time for our
community. It is a time to celebrate our deliverance from the danger
of extinction as a people said OU Executive Vice President Rabbi
Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb.
"Unfortunately, however, the Orthodox community has expe-
rienced tragedy as a result of accidents related to excessive
drinking. Excessive drinking poses serious health risks for the ine-
briated as well as those around them. Purim simchah is appropriate
but the kind of reckless drinking that takes place in many circles is
not in the spirit of yahadut (unity).
The alert is part of the OU's Safe Schools, Safe Shuls, Safe Homes
initiative, which urges parents to monitor the activities of their
children over Purim so the holiday experience is positive, one of
orate, siinchah, sasson and v'ykar — light, gladness, rejoicing and
splendor.
"In today's climate, where youngsters have increased access to all
types of excesses, having too many drinks on Purim leads to future
problems:' Rabbi Weinreb said. "Many teens who have fallen away
from a stable life situation point to a drink at a Kiddush Club, a
drink on Purim or a smoke at a Purim party as the starting point for
their addiction."

-Robert A. Sklar, editor

The Jewish 'Two Hours'
The success of the radio show, the Jewish Hour, is proven in its new
extended format, broadening from one hour to two.
The show, which returned to the air this past October, after a
yearlong hiatus, will now be on from 3-5 p.m.
each Friday on WPON-AM 1460 and live on the
Internet at wpon.com .
"We will now be featuring a call-in seg-
ment, something we did not have time for
in the one-hour show:' said Chassidic Rabbi
Herschel Finman, the host of the multifaceted,
music/news/talk show. Listeners may call Rabbi
Finman, who teaches adult education programs
Rabbi Finman
and seminars, to ask questions about Judaism.
"We will also have the opportunity for more
and various forms of Jewish music as I am no longer limited to three
songs:' he said of Jewish tunes whose variety range from Theodore
Bikel and Avraham Freed music to Old World Klezmer and New Age
funk-Jewish style.
The weekly variety show also relays Israeli news from sources the
rabbi says are typically unavailable in the U.S.
Each Friday, a topical interview, relating to the Jewish commu-
nity or a political theme affecting local Jews is chosen. Shows also
include entertainment news and words of wisdom culled from the
week's Torah portion or related to the Jewish calendar or a Chassidic
story.
On March 2, Rabbi Finman will interview Jason "Yehoshua"
Dedrick, the first Orthodox Jew elected to the New Hampshire state
legislature, who, at 23, is also
the youngest member. He
also will speak with Frank
London of the Klezmatics,
who recently won a Grammy
for best contemporary world
record for Wonder Wheel,
a performance of Woody
Guthrie lyrics set to klezmer
and eclectic music.
Klezmatics: Frank London, Matt

Darriau, Lisa Gutkin, Lorin
Sklamberg and Paul Morrissett

-Shelli Liebman Dorfman,

To ask Rabbi Finman a question on the air, call
(248) 557-1460 during the show.

senior writer

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Results from last
week's poll:

Will you hear the Megillat
Esther this Purim?

Yes 70%
No 30%

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Do you view the Iranian
president as a modern-day
Haman?
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