Metro Kosher PORK Group aids parents of newly observant offspring. Shell Liebman Dorfman Senior Writer p Dr. David Kirsch is Hebrew Free Loan's Major Gift chairman and a man who has helped raise nearly $2 million in the past four years to assist Jewish families in metro Detroit get a loan when they needed it most. "With today's economy — our friends, family and neighbors are losing their jobs and homes, and it motivates me to make a difference for them. There has never been a more pressing time and I'm thrilled to be able to help raise the money they need right now," Dr. Kirsch says. "If Hebrew Free Loan helps one strug- gling family get to a better place today, I know I'll sleep better tonight." Hebrew Free Loari provides interest- free kens for living expenses, rent and rnany other financial nocda: tition assistance, mechcai ew, training, small business start-up costs, and much more. it you or someone you know needs help, pfease crick or call_ www.hfldetroit.org 248/23.8184 HEBREW FREE*LOAN hfldetroit.org We Provide Loans. We Promise Dignity. A26 January 17 2008 arents whose children have become more religiously observant than the rest of the family understandably may have questions or even be apprehensive. Two moms whose sons are now Orthodox are facilitating a new local group — Parents of Newly Religious Kids (PORK) — for those who wish to share their family experiences. "When a friend or member of your family has intensified their reli- gious observance, powerful feelings, doubts, conflicts and concerns may surface among family members and friends:' said Debbie Silverman of West Bloomfield. She founded the chapter of PORK along with Ruth Beitner, also of West A Silver Celebration Congregation Shir Tikvah in Troy will host a silver celebration party to celebrate its founding 25 years ago. The event is slated for Saturday, Feb. 9, at Congregation Shir Tikvah, 3900 Northfield Parkway in Troy. The dinner will be at 6:30 p.m.; dessert and enter- tainment are set for 8:30 p.m.. For those who want appetizers and dinner, tickets at $54 for members; $65 for non-members. For those who want only dessert and entertainment, tickets are $25 for members and $36 for non-members. Dressy attire is suggested for the evening. Complimentary valet parking will be available. For reservations by Jan. 25, mail a check for A Silver Celebration to Congregation Shir Tikvah, 3900 Northfield Parkway, Troy, MI 48084. Congregants Rich and Pam Spitzer of Troy will present a special candlelight- ing and slide show to commemorate the congregation's 25-year history. Congregant Rick May of Southfield will lead his band in dinner and dance music during the party. Detroit Together Men's Chorus, led by choir director Brian Landrow, will perform. Miriam Finerman of Rochester Hills is the chairperson. Other commit- tee members are Naomi Choinard, Cary Levy, Joan Littman, Pam Spitzer and Rich Spitzer of Troy, Elwin Greenwald Bloomfield. "Our mission for the group is to connect with other parents to under- stand the new lifestyles that our newly religious children are undergoing. At the support group, we have discussed their lifestyle changes, sibling issues, celebrating holidays with family and friends, and how we can fit into their new world." In an related event, Rabbi Avraham Jacobovitz will answer questions after a 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27, program at the Jewish Community Center in Oak Park. The program, which costs $18, is open to the community and is geared toward parents of newly religious kids as well as parents of college students who are involved in the Jewish Resource Center of Machon L'Torah in Ann Arbor. The program is titled "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner: Creative Approaches to Nurish the Family Unit." The event is sponsored by the Oak Park-based Machon and its Jewish Awareness America program, both headed by For reservations for the 4 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 27, "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner: Creative Approaches to Nurish the Family Unit" program at the Jewish Community Center in Oak Park for parents of newly religious chil- dren or of college students in the Jewish Resource Center, call Machon L'Torah at (248) 967-0888. The charge is $18. For information on Parents of Newly Religious Kids (PORK), call Ruth Beitner at (248) 851-6114 or Debbie Silverman at (248) 788-7682. of Royal Oak, Eileen Isenberg of Birmingham, Heidi Press of Oak Park, Arlene Shaw of Hazel Park, Harriet Silverman of Southfield, Marcia Singer of Rochester Hills, Joan Slyker of Rapid City and Susan Tauber of West Bloomfield. Eco Torah Wisdom Canfei Nesharim ("The Wings of Eagles") has a wealth of resources on its Web site to help Jews celebrate Tu b'Shevat on Jan. 22. Included are articles about Torah and the environment, Tu b'Shevat seder haggadot and the chance to plant a tree in Canfei Nesharim's vir- tual forest. Canfei Nesharim is dedicated to building a better world for subsequent generations by learning and acting on the wisdom of the Jewish tradition to protect the environment via Torah-based resources. The goal is to empower the Jewish community to take actions that will make a difference in addressing the envi- ronmental challenges faced today. Are members of the community planning an event? Are Jewish environ- mentalists looking for Torah resources or teachings for an op-ed piece? Canfei Nesharim has resources that can help. To learn more about environmental Torah, log on to: www.canfeinesharim.org. Festival Of Trees On Tuesday, Jan. 22, Jews will celebrate Tu b'Shevat, the traditional festival of the trees. To celebrate, Rabbi Simcha Tolwin's Jewish outreach organization, Aish HaTorah, has invited Noah Greenberg from the artist colony of Safed in north- ern Israel to spend the weekend of Jan. 18 in Huntington Woods to present his art. Aish of Huntington Woods is sponsor- ing the program as part of their efforts to educate Jews about the meaning and relevance of Jewish tradition. Greenberg and David Moss devoted 18 years to the design and adornment of The Tree of Life Shtender. The result is a unique work of Judaic art and craftsmanship. Based on the prayer and study lectern of Jewish tradition, it is an elegant piece of furniture that conceals a treasure chest of every ritual object needed for Jewish religious observance throughout the year. Greenberg has presented his creation in cities across the globe. Detroit's Jewish Federation is a proud owner of one lectern, which will be on loan to Aish Huntington Woods for the weekend. Friday-night family dinner will be Jan. 18 at 6 p.m. The Tree of Life Workshop for Teens will be Saturday evening at 5:45 p.m. For information, call (248) 327-3579.