Metro
N a3H L
•
Int).
munit)e
Attracting newcomers means paying attention
to jobs, housing and family.
Shelli Liebman Dorfman
Senior Writer
hile many of Monica
Fischman's peers plan to
move out of the Detroit area,
the 26-year-old is ready to unpack boxes
in a home she and her husband Ari pur-
chased this week in Southfield, not far
from where she grew up.
Back home after seven years in New
York and New Jersey, Monica is part of a
group spreading the word about life in the
community where she and Ari, 28, have
chosen to live and raise their daughter.
Central to that community is Young
Israel of Southfield, a modern Orthodox
synagogue with a young rabbi and a con-
gregation that is methodically working to
draw others to its caring circle.
In a general Jewish community that
is steadily losing young adults to more
dynamic, economically healthy cities,
according to the latest Detroit
demographic study, an outreach
project designed to attract
young families is noteworthy.
The first phase of the YIS
plan will be its Young Family
Shabbaton on June 1-3. From
the start of Shabbat through
Sunday, congregants will wel-
come former Detroiters and
newcomers to sample the good
things their community has to
offer in terms of housing, work,
friendships and a synagogue
family. To put real substance behind their
goal, real estate agents will prepare area
listings; travel subsidies will be available
for airfare to Detroit; families will be
hosted in YIS members' homes to get a
firsthand feel for the housing stock; job
networking will be available; and inter-
est-free loans from YIS fundraising are
an option to help with home purchases.
The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit has a major task force study-
ing how to bring young adults back to
Detroit, and members are hoping to
learn from the YIS
but I found my job in the
experience.
products department at
The Fischmans
Comerica Bank in Auburn
came up with the idea
Hills on monster.com , and
of the Shabbaton after
Ari is working in financial
selling their home in
services at New York Life
New Jersey and mov-
in Southfield," she said.
ing to the YIS com-
Already the positive
munity. For the last
differences between New
10 months, they have
York and Southfield are
been living with her
noticeable."Ari now has
parents in Southfield,
two extra hours in his days
near YIS.
Ari and Monica Fischman with
because he works so close
Though Monica
daughter, Erica
to home, compared to the
went off to Stern
long commute he had before
College for Women in New York, she knew we moved here," Monica said. That means
she would return. She met her Brooklyn-
more time with 14-month-old Erica, who
raised husband while they were students; was born in New Jersey. For Monica's
mother, the move meant no more flights
he was studying at Queens College. "I
always told him I planned to come back
every other week to see her granddaugh-
home," she said.
ter.
"I know there are people in other cities
The Fischmans' social life also is differ-
ent. "In New Jersey, young couples were
who don't think they can find jobs here,
around on Shabbos, but during the week
you never saw them; no one had time,"
she said.
But the YIS community — in the
heart of Southfield, near Lahser Road
between 11 and 12 Mile roads — is
the opposite, she said, with neighbors
always around.
YIS member Dr. Howard Korman
agrees, describing the community as
"well-established, nurturing and wel-
coming:" He discovered these qualities
during a family crisis a few years ago
Above: Young members Estee
Brown, 7, Aviva Levi, 6, and
Yehudah Wrotslaysky, 6, all of
Southfield
Right: Adina Morris of
Southfield enjoys a Young
Family Social Committee
event with children Ezra, 3,
Meira, 2, and Dovid, 5.
Mayl f 2007
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