Metro

ON THE COVER

Teaching assistant Natasha Shamayeva of Oak Park works with students at Temple Emanu-El's Gan Shalom preschool at the JCC in Oak Park.

Suburbs from page A13

the couple settled in Berkley. Scott, who
owns two small family dental supply busi-
nesses, the Dentist's Choice and Sunshine
Medical in Livonia. Beth is an elementary
school-special education teacher who
most recently worked for the Warren
Consolidated School District. Eventually,
they moved from Berkley to Farmington
Hills, where Scott grew up, to get more
square-footage for their money and ame-
nities like an attached garage and master-
bathroom.
"That's what was important to me at the
time Scott says.
But, their daughter was already enrolled
and thriving in the pre-school program
at Temple Emanu-El in Oak Park, so they
agreed to keep her there. They say that
connection is what drew them back east of
Telegraph Road.
"I feel it's very nurturing environment;
I like the staff and the other families who
bring their children to Temple Emanu-El,"
said Beth, who is originally from Long
Island, N.Y. "We've heard a lot of great
things about Burton and we just like the
warmth of the community. I like that there
are sidewalks and a lot of community
functions," she added. "And, many of our
friends are already there."

Preschool Boom
The influx of young Jewish families has

A14

February 7 • 2008

Al

helped create a pre-school boom and
increased membership for synagogues like
Beth Shalom, which has seen a significant
increase in younger families attending
services and events.
"We recently held a new members'
Shabbat program and welcomed 28 fami-
lies who joined within the last year;' said
the synagogue's executive director, Steven
Weiss of West Bloomfield. "Eighty percent
of them are young families in their 20s
and 30s and they all live in nearby com-
munities."
Weiss says in the last month alone, three
more new families joined Beth Shalom; all
were young couples with children.
"There's a major, major generational
shift evolving;' Weiss said.
"There are older people who are moving
or passing away and simultaneously we're
getting this younger generation. People
tend to forget there's a vibrant, active,
thriving Jewish community in this area?'
Beth Shalom's Gan Shalom (Garden of
Peace) preschool had only six children
enrolled two years ago; now 22 children
ages 2-4 participate in the full-day pro-
gram where children learn both Hebrew
and English.
Eileen Brand is director of the early
childhood community for nearby Temple
Emanu-El. She says Emanu-El's popular
infant-toddler program at the Jewish

Community Center in Oak Park is cur-
rently full.
Congregation Shir Tikvah in Troy does
not have a preschool; but a representative
says that over the last two years, 56 new
members have joined from the various
communities along Woodward Avenue.
"We're a Reform-Renewal synagogue
explained Shir Tilkvah's administrator,
JoAnne Levy of Troy. "Part of the member-
ship increase is because of our location;
part of it is because of who we are

Finding A Niche
Dr. Nathan White, 36, and his wife Elysa
Koppelman, 37, say they've found their
niche in Royal Oak, where they've lived
for the last five years. White is an obstetri-
cian-gynecologist with St. John Hospital
and has offices in St. Clair Shores and
Macomb Township.
Elysa is a philosophy professor at
Oakland University in Rochester Hills. The
couple, who have a son Austin, 15 months,
knows better than anyone that where you
live can have an important impact on your
life.
"I grew up in Southfield where my par-
ents, Marlene and Larry White, still live
Nathan said. "Elysa, an Ohio native, has
some cousins who are my parents' next-
door neighbors and that's how we met!"
The couple cites several reasons why

they love living in Royal Oak, from the
central location to the highways (1-696
and 1-75), which makes it easy for them
to get to and from work, to the city/neigh-
borhood feeling they get living in the com-
munity.
"There are a myriad of eateries with
cuisine ranging from typical bar fare to
exotic Spanish, Thai or Japanese food:'
said White, listing some of his favorite
dessert places: Astoria Bakery, Gayle's
Chocolates and Stucci's Ice Cream.
"We almost never take a car any time
we go out. I can ride my bike to go get
haircuts. The bank is within walking dis-
tance to our home. Our son has a great
time playing at the numerous area parks.
When our friends come to visit from New
York City or Los Angeles, they're always
impressed by how much there is to do."
Real estate agent Jane Solomon says
there's no question that those little luxu-
ries play a role in where young Jewish
families are settling.
"Any of these places, whether it's
Berkley, Ferndale or Royal Oak, have
downtown areas you can walk to, with
libraries, shops and restaurants. That
makes it more fun," Solomon says. "I also
think the younger generation is feeling
much more comfortable mingling and
moving in among non-Jewish people. It's a
new comfort level!' ❑