feature
get involved
By Seth Samuels
Jewish youth groups have a blast!
drooling over
dream car
ASMA CLS Shark 2," said JJ Bittker,
16, a junior at Birmingham Groves High
School. "Or, I guess the good old Ferrari
360 Modena is good, too."
"My dream car is either an Aston Mar-
tin, so I could be like James Bond, or a
Delorean because I love Back to the Fu-
ture!" said Kale Davidoff, a senior at West
Bloomfield High School.
Others, such as Jessica Polk, a fresh-
man at the Frankel Jewish Academy (FJA)
in West Bloomfield, prefer a 2005 Jeep
Liberty, which has a different body style
for 2008.
Whether it's a sports car or an off-road
T2T Staff Writer Seth Samuels tries out a flashy Ferrari 360 Modena
hauler, these different vehicles provide
owned by a Franklin car collector.
unique offerings to the driving experience.
Yet, as Sarah Spitzer, a junior at Yeshivat
ost cities have some pinnacle icon that em-
Akiva in Southfield, puts it, "something
bodies the culture and character of that that works and won't crash" make for two essentials
place. In Detroit, that means the automo- when searching for any car.
bile industry. With that distinction comes the honor of
"My dream car would be a 2008 blue PT Cruiser,"
hosting the North American International Auto Show says Adina Applebaum, a FJA sophomore. "I love PT
each January.
Cruisers because of the vintage style of the car. Though
Every year, my dad and I journey downtown to Cobo it's modern in terms of technology, the design is some-
Center and brave our way through the swarming crowds, thing that reminds me of the 1940s."
excited about the many innovative, flashy exhibits the
Cars can be a lifelong passion, and some aficionados
car companies have to offer. The auto show also gives are able to live the ultimate dream and have a collection
us a peek into the future of driving technology and the of cars that represent each passion in one garage.
companies themselves, especially through the concept
cars we always drool over.
The Mazda Taiki concept incorporates flowing lines,
a wide stance and rear wheels that aren't part of the
main body. The Taiki offers both a sleek body and an
interesting proposal to the future of sports cars.
Another car of the future is the Suzuki X-Head con-
cept. Resembling a Tonka-like truck, the X-Head an-
swers the call for an alternative truck when the super-
duty pickups just aren't enough.
Aside from the concept cars, the show also features
many new cars that have been confirmed for produc-
tion and, within months, will begin to hit showrooms.
These include the highly anticipated Nissan GT-R, be-
coming known as the everyday person's super car; the
BMW X6, which is potentially starting a new segment
entitled "Sports Activity Coupe" because of its sleek de-
sign mated to a powerful engine; and the Pontiac G8,
which many estimate will be the savior for American
sedans. These are among the cars many teens dream of
owning one day.
"I'd have to say my favorite car is Reggie Bush's
Rosh Hodesh: ft's a Girl Thing! is a national program bring-
ing together Jewish girls to celebrate, learn and grow. it
draws on the traditions of Rosh Hodesh, the monthly cel-
ebration of the new moon to promote empowerment and
enrich Jewish Identity. Monthly meetings include creative
arts and expression, food and friendship, a celebration
of Jewish rituals, and learning about "fabulous females"
from Jewish tradition. The program is open to girls ages
12-13 at Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills
and their friends. in this photo, Jenna Silverstein, liana
Woronoff, Halley Rozenberg, Ashley Flxler, Ted! Dorman,
Allie Llchterman, Danielle Schostak and Noga Barpal
design a ritual cloth.
Congregation Beth Shalom students Phillip Ring, 12, and
Katya Tltova, 12, both of Oak Park, and Jennifer Alpert,
1.2, of Huntington Woods knit scarves for South Oakland
Suzuki X Head concept car at the Tokyo Motor Show 2007
-
"I just love it," one Franklin car collector said. "It's a
County Shelter clients in time for the Oak Park syna-
gogue's January week to shelter the homeless.
fun thing to do."
So far, his garage is filled with a Ferrari 360 Modena
and a Mercedes Benz 5550.
But, whether that collection is all trucks or imports
from Europe, being able to have one of the life-sized
version of the toys we used to collect is, for me, a realiza-
tion of those dreams spurred from many years in Cobo
Center.
Seth Samuels, 17, is a Junior at Birmingham Groves High
School.
:heck out JNt2t.com!
his week you'll fin&,
Photos from BBYO regional convention talent show!
, Request for anecdotes and book reviews from
teen readers for our February issue on reading
A survey for you to take about teens and recreational
reading for an upcoming stor
Adam Davidson, 15, of Bloomfield Hills gets in charac-
ter before going onstage with his chapter at the BBYO
Regional Convention annual talent show on Dec. 27 at
Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield. The popular
event was standing room only. Davidson is a member of
Tzavah AZA.
teen2teen January • 2008 B3