Big Apple Shir Shalom teens experience Jewish New York. '4661;:' Ur - 0 _ _t o r" • Sophomore Mia Gordon joins in the hora at Sammy's Roumanian Restaurant during Shir Shalom's high school trip to New York City. Stephanie Steinberg T2T Staff Writer S hmaltz, corned beef and Jewish music — all were elements of the Shir Shalom Temple Youth's trip to New York City April 10-13. Once a year, Shir Shalom of West Bloomfield sends its temple youth (SSTY) on a trip to one of four cities. By the time they are seniors, they have had the chance to expe- rience all four. This year, 23 SSTY teens, who also are involved in Shir Shalom's Monday night school, journeyed on a 10-hour bus ride to the Big Apple. After a sleepless night on the bus, the group arrived at 6 a.m. Friday ready to go. The weekend included a scavenger hunt in Chinatown and Little Italy, shopping time in Soho, watching the Broadway musi- cal Young Frankenstein (featuring Will & Grace star Megan Mullally) and eating lunch at famous Katz's Deli, where pho- tographs of celebrities eating corned beef sandwiches bigger than their faces lined the walls. Of course, it wouldn't be a Shir Shalom trip without some Jewish educa- tion. Participants visited the Tenement Museum, where they learned about Jewish immigrants who held jobs in the garment industry and the harsh working condi- tions they experienced. The group also attended Friday night services at B'nai Jeshurun, a Conservative Shir Shalom Temple Youth Jordan Hoffman, a high school senior, orders from the counter at Katz's Deli, a popular spot on the Lower East Side. synagogue known for its lively services taurant sing along to Frank Sinatra tunes that include singing, bongos and dancing. and upbeat songs like "Sweet Caroline," as Leah Firestone, 16, of Birmingham Groves well as dance the hora around the entire High in Beverly Hills, joined the congre- restaurant. gants in dancing around the sanctuary. Eventually, this unforgettable weekend "I thought it was really cool how every- came to end. Matt Gorman, 18, a senior at one let us dance with them and that they Stevenson High School in Livonia, enjoyed were really accepting:' she said. his last SSTY trip. However, nothing could compare to the "It was fun being with the seniors who dining experience at Sammy's Roumanian have gone on temple trips with each other Steakhouse on the Lower East Side. After since freshmen year," he cramming into the tiny Jewish restaurant, said. "It was nice doing everyone tested their taste buds as wait- everything together for resses presented dish after dish of meat the last time." ❑ selections like veal, liver and more. To add to the eccentricity of the meal, pianist Stephanie Steinberg, Dani-Luv belted out traditional songs on 18, is a senior at North his keyboard and made the whole res- Farmington High School. Mission: Possible 'Million Can Campaign' seeks redeemables to aid Friendship Circle. Blake Orman T2T Staff Writer W elcome to Friendship Circle's Mission Possible: The Million Can Campaign. By collecting 1 million redeemable bottles and cans, Friendship Circle can raise $100,000. One million cans seems like a big number, but with the help of the community, the West Bloomfield-based Friendship Circle will be able to accomplish its goal. The task is simple. Some 5,000 Mission: Possible bags have been sent out to homes across the area to be filled with redeem- able cans and bottles. When full, the cans and bottles can be taken to a store to be redeemed or given to the Friendship Circle. The redemption receipts will help Friendship Circle reach its goal. This campaign is not just about col- lecting cans and raising money, but about spreading the word about Friendship Circle and the beauty of kids with special needs. The main mission of this project is "to spread our message and change society's view on kids with special needs:' says Bassie Shemtov, Friendship Circle's Lifetown director. The real goal is to light up the world with 1 million acts of kindness. Friendship Circle would like help to reach this goal one can at a time Several members of the Friendship Circle Teen Board have been working on this ongoing project and making it possible. They will be helping to collect cans and recycling boxes. They include Daniel Chudnow, Mark Fischgrund, Max Klar, Josh Schostak, Noah Zucker, Justin Cykiert, Austin Friedman, Andrew Luckoff, Sam Shreeman, Lee Feldman, Adam Goldman, Matt Luckoff, Brian Pesis and Devin Weiss. EI Blake Orman, 16, is a sophomore at Frankel Jewish Academy In West Bloomfield and president of Friendship Circle's Boys Division. Watch for teen 2 teen in next week's Jewish News JN May 8 • 2008 A47