Preserving History from page 21

While Caryn
works full time as a legal
secretary at Sommers Schwartz in
Southfield, she said some evenings
and most Sundays have been set aside
for work on the book.
"At times it became almost all-con-
suming," Dick said. "It is so addictive,
especially the genealogy part" Now
retired from work as a telecommuni-
cations programmer, he still devotes a
few hours a day to family research.
Caryn estimates the cost of the
book to be $800 or $900, but that's
largely because of what she calls
the "embellishments," as she is on a
constant lookout for charms, stamps,
buttons and handmade papers — and
small touches like a tiny magnifying
glass on the inside cover that helps
in reading the fine print of many
documents and family trees.
The book is filled with cop-
ies and color reproductions of
documents; but Dick said,"The
originals, with their raised
seals, are all locked away in a
safe."
The couple say they've visited every
local scrapbook store from St. Clair

Where To Begin

Shores to Commerce Township as well
as online sites, but their favorite place
to shop is Stampeddlers in Northville.
"When I'm not sure how to display
something, I've taken the entire book
into the store and they help with sug-
gestions," Dick said.
While the Jaegers hope their scrap-
book inspires others to research and
chronicle their own family histories,
Dick said, "We did this for ourselves
as a history of our family, to be left to
our children in California (David, 36,
and Steven, 32) and grandchildren
(Abygale, almost 8, and Elijah, 2) and
to pass it forward to them.
"But it is also much more than that
because of the family I found and
the changes finding that family have
meant to me." :1_1

Scrapbooking combines well with genealogy and is a perfect way to
get your whole family involved in learning more about their own his-
tory. Even children can help.
Reserve some family time for the project, make assignments each
week, then share the new knowledge as you work on pages the fol-
lowing week. In the end, you'll have a family treasure.
• Start by talking with relatives about their memories and family
ancestors. Record their stories, get correct spellings of names.
• Look through storage areas for records, photos or letters.
• Be patient, and don't give up. Make it fun.
• Use the Internet. Try the Jewish Genealogical Society of Michigan
(www.jgsmi.org ) and www.cyndilist.com , a genealogy Web site list.
Talk to someone with experience. Dick Jaeger welcomes questions at
richard@jaegerjournal.com .

22

April 19 2007

On the set of the play are classmates, Korey Bronson, 18, and Hallie Platt,
17, both of Southfield; Rivka Spitzer, 18, of West Bloomfield; Vicki Beneson,
17, of Southfield; Ben Jacobovitz, 17, of Oak Park; and Shmuel Chaim Bass,
19, of Oak Park.

Grandma Mia!

Akiva's Italian-American dinner-theater
event strikes universal themes about family.

Shelli Liebman Dorfman
Senior Writer

A

s the senior high school
class of Yeshivat Akiva
in Southfield gets ready
for graduation — and maybe leav-
ing home — the group has been
exploring issues of family ties while
rehearsing the play Over the River and
Through the Woods.
Directed by Akiva teacher Judy
Kessler, a pair of performances will be
held at the school.
At a 6 p.m., Thursday, April 26, din-
ner theater, "the culinary talents of
Akiva's principal Mrs. [Terri] Gianetti
will be showcased with a full-course
kosher Italian meal with dessert:'
said the play's assistant director, Dena
Cohen, 17, of Oak Park.
A special showing will also take
place for senior citizens at 1 p.m.,
Wednesday, April 25, at no charge. A
portion of the profits from the eve-
ning production will be donated to
area nursing facilities.
"The play focuses on family, friends
and food that transcends ethnic and
religious boundaries;' Cohen said.
"Although the two sets of grandpar-
ents are Italian immigrants, they
seem vividly familiar in their attitude
toward their unmarried 29-year-old
grandson. Their goal throughout the
play is to keep him within their kindly

grasp, even if it means fixing him up
with a nice, Irish girl"
Vicki Beneson, 17, of Southfield,
plays the role of an Italian immigrant
grandmother.
"Tengo famiglia, 'I support a family,
is the backbone of the play:' she said.
"The two sets of grandparents not
only support their family with lots of
food, but with warm hearts and open
hands.
"Although they often drive their
grandson crazy, love is at the root of
all they do. While the play is about an
Italian family, it relates to all groups
of people and all types of families. It
depicts the common struggle amongst
loved ones to keep them close but
to be able to let them go for better
opportunities." __I

To purchase tickets to Over the
River and Through the Woods

at Yeshivat Akiva, call Rivka
Spitzer at (248) 514-1149 or
Dena Cohen at (248) 968-
2575. There is no charge for
senior citizens to attend the 1
p.m., Wednesday, April 25 per-
formance. Cost for the 6 p.m.,
Thursday, April 26, dinner the-
ater showing is $15/adults and
$10/children, with $1 additional
for theater tickets. Theater tick-
ets alone are $5.

