From left to right: 1. Mackenzie, 5, of Clawson, practices his kick with the help of Jacob Bice. 2. Jacob demonstrates his stance. 3. Jane, 5, of Clawson meditates during Kids Kicking
Cancer class. 4. Cooper, 8, Jane and Mackenzie practice their punches.
Gary Bice make the weekly commute to Pontiac
Eden continues her commitment and enjoying her
with Jacob so he can teach.
Jewish heritage.
"I heard about the Kids Kicking Cancer program
"When I joined the group two years ago, I didn't
from a friend and through Temple Beth El and was
know much about knitting," says Eden, daughter
of Nancy and Jeff Adler of Farmington Hills. "The
very impressed," says Wendy. "Jacob was getting
his black belt and one of those requirements was
ladies taught me a lot and I even learned to cro-
he had to teach others.
chet. We just finished crocheting hats for people
"Even as a kid, Jacob always enjoyed mentoring — who lost hair while undergoing chemotherapy."
like teaching other kids to play chess — so working
"I've been very busy this year': says Eden,
with this program seemed like a perfect fit for him. "because I'm now in the eighth grade at Hillel [Day
Besides, volunteer service is part of our family life-
School]. But I get to the group at least twice a
style, so we don't think of driving him as anything
month because I know they enjoy having me with
extra, especially since he enjoys it so much."
them and I love listening to their stories."
For his first few classes, Jacob just observed
One of the goals of Marlee Goldman's bat mitz-
how Richard Plowden, chief martial arts instructor
vah project is to involve friends and family in the
for Kids Kicking Cancer, handled the class.
act of giving and sharing.
"Jacob had to get used to the slower pace and
Marlee, daughter of Arnie and Judy Goldman of
the notion that he wasn't to look for any technical
Farmington Hills, had already made fleece blan-
skills, but to encourage and interact with the chil-
kets for children at Mott Children's Hospital in Ann
dren," says Plowden. "Jacob had a short learning
Arbor but she wanted to do more.
curve and then felt comfortable enough to help
"When I heard about the rockets flying over the
teach the class."
heads of the children at Adat Shalom's sister syn-
"We spend a lot of time on meditation and
agogue in Israel, I wanted to do something': says
sometimes their breathing exercises," says Jacob.
Marlee. "I thought if I raised some money, the girls
"This is something that is very worthwhile for me."
in that congregation would have a better chance
to enjoy some of the same opportunities we have
Young And Old
here."
If it's Sunday morning, there's a very good chance
When Rabbi Tsvi Landau of Kehillat HaKerem
you'll find 14-year-old Eden Adler participating
synagogue in Karmiel, Israel, visited Adat Shalom,
in the knitting group at Fleischman Residence for
Marlee had a photo taken of her and the rabbi.
seniors in West Bloomfield. Although the weekly
Then she had a company create a 99-piece puzzle
visits originated from her bat mitzvah project,
from that photo. Those who donate will have their
name signed on the back of a puzzle piece. When
all the pieces are signed, the puzzle will be put
back together, framed and donated to Kehillat
HaKerem.
"My goal is to raise money and have people
from the United States feel a part of this special
project and at the same time have the members
of the Israeli synagogue feel connected to us;'
says Marlee, whose bat mitzvah theme is "Marlee
Makes a Difference."
Continuitv
Spencer Freedman, son of Stephanie and Gary
Freedman of Bloomfield Hills, is participating in
the Intergenerational Photography Project facili-
tated by ElderLink of the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit.
"There's a garden at the Teitel Apartments in Oak
Park that was built in memory of my grandmother,
Gerry Lester," explains Spencer. "I wanted to spend
some time with the people in that building so we
could get to know each other and have some fun.
"I'll have a camera, we'll take pictures of each
other, maybe some in the garden, and other kids
will be taking photos of their elderly friends. Some
of the photos will be shown at an exhibit when the
project ends. That will be fun to see."
Bar/bat mitzvahs are an important occasion for
family celebration.Tzedakah projects make the spe-
cial day even more meaningful and inspiring.
celebrate'
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