a four questions

Rabbi Steven Rubenstein chats with Platinum.

1

He's the spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Ahm in West
Bloomfield; but at home, RABBI STEVEN RUBENSTEIN is

simply "Daddy." The 37-year-old West Bloomfield resident

and his wife, Robin, relish their roles as parents to Ari, 7

and Tali, 4. "I'm pretty sentimental when it comes to my

children, and I'm already looking longingly at these early

years of their lives," Rubenstein says. "They're growing

up so fast!" The children, who were adopted (Tali from

Guatemala and Ari from the Chicago area), are clearly the

couple's pride and joy. Rubenstein grew up in Queens,

N.Y., graduating from the State University of New York

in Binghamton and the rabbinical school of the Jewish

Theological Seminary. He joined Beth Ahm in August 2005

after serving as associate rabbi of Congregation Beth

Shalom in Kansas City, Mo., and as a faculty member of the Florence

Melton Adult Mini-School. As he celebrates Father's Day this year,

Rabbi Rubenstein says he looks forward to the future. "I've heard from

parents of teenagers and 'kids' in their 20s that while each stage is

different, each stage is special and wonderful," he says. "It may be

natural to think back to when our kids were young and how nice it

was, but I try to focus on today and remind myself there is more good

stuff yet to come." Here, we ask Rabbi Rubenstein our version of the
Four Questions. — Robin Schwartz

WHAT BOOK, CD OR
OTHER MEDIA ARE
YOU LONGING TO
SHARE WITH OTHERS?
I recommended the book The
World To Come by Dara Horn
this year for our Beth Ahm
Book Club. The imagery in the
book has stayed with me long
after I read it [twice]. While
the framework of the story is
about a stolen Chagall painting,
it addresses critical issues about
our lives: How am I connected
to the past? To what degree do I have the ability to
shape my life? How can I create meaning in my life?

2

IF YOU COULD HAVE BRUNCH WITH
ONE BIBLICAL OR HISTORICAL
JEWISH FIGURE, WHO WOULD IT BE?
Wow! That's a hard one. I guess it depends on what
they're serving! I'd like to have brunch with Ezra
[the high priest whose knowledge of the Torah is

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE JEWISH

FOOD?

3 Anything my wife makes. She's the best cook!

4

WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE
SURPRISED TO KNOW ABOUT YOU?
When I was 7 or 8 years old, I was on a
plane from New York to Miami that was hijacked to
Cuba. No one was hurt, but it was a pretty memo-
rable trip! What I remember most was walking off
the plane in the dark on a foggy night and getting
onto a bus which took us to the terminal. We were
there for eight hours — food and drink compliments
of Eastern Airlines (of blessed memory) and many
people lined up to buy cigars. a

INTRODUCING the XEO Laser at Skin Deep Medi-Spa

MAKE A SPLASH

THIS

considered to have been equal with Moses]. He lived
at an exciting time, as the Babylonian exiles were
returning, Jerusalem was being rebuilt and there was
a strong sense of hope about the future. Plus, Ezra
was instrumental in shaping the way we understand
the role of Torah in the life of the Jewish commu-
nity

What can it do for you???
• fade brown spots
• HAIR REMOVAL FOR ALL
SKINTYPES/DARKER SKINS
• rosacea and vein
treatment
• soften wrinkles

SUMMER

New XEO does it all
better, faster, fresher.

PLUS New .
THERMAGE
CELLULITE TIPS
ARE HERE!!

WITH THE HELP OF DR. MICHAEL W. GRAY.

Be dimple-free for summer!

Scarless Breast Enlargement • Scarless Breast Reduction
FDA Approved Silicone Implants Now Available
Smartlipo (Laser Liao) • External Ultrasonic Liposuction
Tummy, Thigh, Breast and Face Lifts, Eye Lifts, Arm Tucks, Ear Pinning
Cellulite Reduction • Laser Resurfacing • Skin Care • BOTOXT Cosmetic
Microlift • Collagen • Restylane • Radiesse • Alloderm • JUVEDERMTM
Perlane Filler • Prolite • FraxelTM • Thermage • And More.

10% Off!'

Both Package Treatments
at Skin Deep Medi-S

(Not valid with any other offer.
expires June 1, 2008.
Must present coupon at time of service

Now Offering Massage!
New XEO Laser Hair Removal and Pearl Laser Treatments

Win

fillailill W. OM, D.O.

1111(111111. w. (1111V, D.O.

Michigan Cosmetic Surgery Center

Michigan Cosmetic Surgery Center

6635 DALY ROAD • WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI 48322

248.538.3333

www.ANEWYOU.com

6635 DALY ROAD • WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI 48322

Dr. Michael W. Gray, D.O.

248.538.3333

1382650

B 3 0 • JUNE 2008 • ji\T

platinum

1382700

www.ANEWYOU.com

Dr. Micha•l W. Gray, D.O.