This section is sponsored by

•Congregation Shaarey Zedek of Oakland County
• Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit

Staff photos by Angle Bun

Left: Bosmat Dovas of Huntington Woods and students, Aaron Berlin, 9, of Huntington Woods, Henri Gross, 10, of Huntington Woods, Josh Goldfaden, 10, of Southfield, and

David Traines, 10, of Oak Park. Right: Madeline Alpert, 10, of Huntington Woods follows the seder service.

Passover Connection

Beth Shalom fourth-graders share a model seder with Israeli students.

Bosmat Dovas
Special to the Jewish News

A

lmost every American Jew has par-
ticipated in a model seder, but only
a few have experienced a model
seder celebrated in two countries.
On Sunday, April 6, two fourth-grade
classes — one from Congregation Beth
Shalom in Oak Park, the other from Gilad
School in Nazareth Ilit, Israel — celebrated
a model seder with their parents, teachers
and guests via video-conferencing from
my home in Huntington Woods. The seder
began at 10 a.m. Detroit time; in Israel, it was
5 p.m., or seven hours later.
The students led the seder from both sides
of the world, taking turns reading in Hebrew
and English from the Haggadah that was
written and edited by educators from both
schools for this special occasion.
During the seder, the children introduced
themselves to each other and waved to the
camera. The mayor's assistant, who attended
the Israeli seder, which drew 80 participants,
commented that "it was a unique and excit-
ing event that brought new meaning to the

seder."
The connection between the schools is
part of Federation's Partnership 2000 School
to School program for directors of educa-
tion from Michigan and principals from the
Central Galilee.
The School to School program, staffed
here by Sarah Mountain, partners supple-
mentary schools in the community with
elementary schools in the Central Galilee.
Currently, seven Detroit schools and seven
Israeli schools participate. The partnered
education directors in Detroit and Israel have
been working since March 2006 to develop
shared curriculum pieces that were then
implemented throughout this past school
year.
Handmade mezzuzot shipped across the
world and shared video clips online have
been just a few of the ways that students in
Detroit and Israel have connected with one
another. Working with Uri Reuveni, princi-
pal of the Gilad School, we planned various
activities for the fourth-grade classes.
During the year, the students engaged in
activities that included mailing each other
personal information and pictures, Rosh

Hashanah cards, fruit baskets for Tu b'Shevat
and mishloach manot for Purim. Both
classes enjoy the connection and expressed
interest throughout the year.
Beth Shalom student Madeline Alpert of
Huntington Woods said,"By communicating
with children from Israel, we can improve
our Hebrew and they can improve their
English."
Mackenzie Newman and Rachel Miller
from the same class said they are more
aware of Israeli culture and history through
the connections made.
This type of connection is very important
to me as an Israeli and as director of educa-
tion at Congregation Beth Shalom. After
moving to Michigan after my military ser-
vice, I dedicated my career to inspiring stu-
dents and parents to love and support Israel
and Judaism. The feedback I received and
the excitement of the parents and students
from this event has been most rewarding.
The joint seder exceeded all expectations
and was a great end for a productive year. We
will continue with new and exciting events
between both schools, and maybe, one day,
students from the two classes will meet face

to face.
Before the seder began, I asked the
students and their parents why Israel is
important to them? Ryan Schlidcrout of
Huntington Woods said,"When we are learn-
ing with children from Israel it makes us
learn about each other and how the things
we celebrate are similar or different."
Aaron Berlin added that learning about
Israel makes him remember his ancestors
and that God freed us from bondage. Aaron's
father, Howard, who lived in Israel for a year
and a half, thinks about Israel every day and
feels connections like this help bring two
countries closer to the heart and soul.
The connection between the two com-
munities was certainly felt at the conclusion
of the seder. Parents beamed with pride as
their children rose from their seats to sing
"Hatikvah" together, and there was not a dry
eye on either side of world. ❑

Bosmat Dovas is director of education at
Congregation Beth Shalom. Sarah Mountain, who

staffs Federation's School to School program,
contributed to this report.

April 17 • 2008

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