Staff photos by Angie Bean

To Life!

AROUND TOWN

r. Ruth

Famous therapist talks about sexuality.

C

an you see me over
there?" asked Dr.
Ruth Westheimer,
pointing to the back of the
room, as the famous 4-foot,
7-inch psychosexual thera-
pist stepped up to a podium
at Congregation Shaarey
Zedek Southfield. She may
be short in stature, but Dr.
Ruth is a giant in the field of
human sexuality.
More than 700 women
gathered to hear her speak at Women's
World 2007, the biggest fundraiser of the
year for the congregation's sisterhood, an
event that also included a luncheon, silent
auction, door prizes and boutique shop-
ping with 40 different vendors.
"For us Jews, sex has never been a sin,"
Dr. Ruth told the crowd in her distinctive
German accent. "In the Jewish tradi-
tion, during the marriage ceremony, the
husband is to promise three things: that
he will provide food, shelter and sexual
gratification:'
Dr. Ruth led an hourlong discussion in
the frank, open and energetic style she's
known for, mixing humor with her wis-
dom on various sexual subjects. No topic
was off limits, including the controversial
issues of abortion and homosexuality.
"When two homosexual people walk
into my office with a relationship prob-
lem, I treat them with the same respect
that I would treat anybody else:' Dr. Ruth
said. "Respect is not debatable." She also
spent time debunking sexual myths and
spreading the message she's passionate
about — promoting safe sex and healthy
sexual attitudes.

Stacey Simmons of Bloomfield Hills and
Mindy Eisenberg of Franklin

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May 24 • 2007

"I am very upset these days
about our young teenagers
walking around half naked," Dr.
Ruth said. "I need parents to say,
As long as you live in my house,
I need you to dress properly:"
"She was fabulous — she had
everyone engaged the entire
time;' said sisterhood president
Ronna Ross of Bloomfield
Hills.
"She's very personable," added
Jeri Fishman of Southfield, an
event co-chair along with Suzi Terebelo,
also of Southfield. "She walked around,
she greeted everyone, she's taken pictures
— everyone wants to take her home. She's
everyone's bubbe."
Afterwards, Dr. Ruth answered ques-
tions and signed copies of some of her
books, including Sex for Dummies. She
also sent the crowd home with some
"homework assignments," suggestions to
spice up their relationships and continue
the open dialogue she started.
"Everyone needs to be sexually literate,"
Dr. Ruth said. "It leads to Shalom Bayit
— peace in the home."
Spotted in the May 8 Women's
World crowd were: Janice Stoneman
of Bloomfield Hills; Ruth Barack
and Ari Terebelo, both of Southfield;
Ruthe Goldstein, Laynie Langnas,
Becca Millman, Ruth Blackman and
Karen Katz, all of West Bloomfield;
Shirley Cetner of Birmingham; Mindy
Eisenberg of Franklin; and Edith
Butrimovitz of Oak Park.

Women's World
Gets New Name

Thanks to a generous contribution
made by Michelle, Linden, Sanford
and Arielle Nelson of Bloomfield
Hills and Julie Nelson Klein and
her husband, Jan Klein of West
Bloomfield, the annual Women's
World event has been named in
memory of Lois Linden Nelson. "My
mother always loved Women's World.
It was a very special happening in
our household," said her daughter,
Julie Nelson Klein. "She was an
amazing woman and her memory
will live on through this event."

Tracy Cohen and Josi Ryke, both of
Huntington Woods, and Melissa Litvin of
Berkley

Kathy Tobin of Orchard Lake is flanked
by Marianne Sacks and Marla Rosman,
both of West Bloomfield.

Dottie Wagner of West Bloomfield and
Sheri Wagner of Birmingham

Dee Fishman, Jennifer and Deena
Weisberg, all of West Bloomfield