4 to watch
W
hile most students compete
"Most of the Akiva staff and my friends Now, "Tanach is something I am really
Goldmeier views her teachers as an-
in sporting tournaments, and family were at my house when I ar- passionate about," she said. "[It] is a me- other source of growth.
debate competitions or for rived home from the airport to celebrate dium through which I can connect many
"The Judaic studies staff at Akiva has
a part in the school play, Elizabeth Gold- with Dovi [Nadel, another Akiva student areas of my life, and I, therefore, feel very really molded me into a self-aware per-
meier, 18, of Yeshivat Akiva in Southfield who placed first in the 6-8 division] and connected to studying the Bible and un- son, has grounded me in my beliefs [and
participated this year in a different kind me. The next day we had a big party in earthing the secrets it holds."
has given me an] insatiable love of learn-
of competition.
school, and throughout the year, students
The competition has given Goldmeier ing of both secular and Judaic studies."
Goldmeier competed in the Interna- and staff have been supportive — offering the background knowledge to delve deep-
Rabbi Pinchas Amior, Goldmeier's
tional Chidon HaTanach or Hebrew Bible to help us study and encouraging us."
er and make connections with other liter- Chidon teacher, has been a particularly
competition. The competition tests stu-
International contestants have to study ary works.
important influence. "I have truly learned
dents' knowledge of assigned biblical hundreds of chapters of Tanach to prepare
"When I see biblical symbolism in The so much from his passion for life and
texts from major stories like the splitting for the contest in Israel. Then, a qualify- Little Prince or can find a quote from the learning," she said.
of the Yam Suf (Red Sea) to small details ing test determines who participates in Bible that encapsulates ideas I write about
While Chidon is Goldmeier's main
like where Abraham gave a particular
in a poetry paper, focus and is what she is best known for,
sacrifice.
I feel a sense of she was also involved in Student Coun-
In the United States, contestants ad-
completeness," cil, Federation's Diller Teen Fellowship
vance to the national level if they score
she said.
and Bnei Akiva (a Zionist youth organiza-
high enough on regional tests. At the na-
In addition to tion).
Connecting with Tanach
tional competition in New York City, the
fulfilling
Gold-
Next year, Goldmeier plans on study-
takes her to international
top scorers for each age group — grades
meier's
passion ing at Nishmat, a center for advanced
competition.
6-8 and grades 9-11 — are crowned the
for literature and Jewish studies for women in Israel.
national winners and compete the next
Tanach, preparing
"My ultimate plan is to make aliyah,
year in Israel against representatives from the final international contest. The top 16 for the competition gave her an introspec- but I hope to remain strongly connected
countries around the world.
scorers qualify, regardless of their coun- tive opportunity. "I discovered a lot about with the Detroit community," she said. "At
Goldmeier was one of these winners. try. This contest, in which Goldmeier won myself — my limits, my capabilities, my this point, I want to study secondary edu-
She said the moment she found out was eighth place, is televised in Israel on Yom passions."
cation. Having had such a positive experi-
surreal. "I had worked so hard, and my Ha'Atzmaut, Israel Independence Day.
Goldmeier is the daughter of Dr. Phil ence with my teachers at Akiva, I hope to
score was the last to be announced, so it
The televised contest consists of four and Laurie Goldmeier of Southfield and
provide the same inspira-
was so exciting," she said.
rounds. The last round contains a ques- sister to Molly and Ilana. She cites her
tion [as] my teachers."
The community's response to her suc- tion asked by Israel's prime minister.
family as one of her greatest influences
David Lehmann, 18, will study
cess proved she was not just representing
Goldmeier said she initially partici- in defining her as a person and notes her
in Israel next fall. Stephanie
herself, but also the Jewish community of pated in the contest because the option parent's commitment to community and
Steinberg, 18, T2T intern,
Detroit.
was available and it sounded interesting. appreciation for Jewish education.
contributed to this story.
Elizabeth
Goldmeier
C
ombine Judaism with music,
then mix it all up with a mo-
tivated teenager and you get
WJEW. The year-old radio station, broad-
casted over the Web from Temple Israel
of West Bloomfield, has earned quite the
reputation with several hundred listeners
— and growing — among Detroit's Jewish
community.
Corey Berkowitz is the teen behind the
station.
The idea for WJEW began in Temple
Israel's Hebrew high school program,
commonly referred to as Monday Night
School (MNS).
"I always liked the radio over TV for
some reason; it's so local and so intimate
and really allows you to communicate
with people better than anything else,"
Berkowitz said. "Cantor [Michael] Smo-
lash and I had talked about my interest in
radio, and one Monday night we began
brainstorming ways to send out a radio
signal from Temple. We decided that the
B2 teen2teen July • 2008
Internet would be the best way to broad-
cast because this way we don't have to
worry about finding a signal that everyone
can reach."
Berkowitz and Cantor Smolash
launched WJEW at the beginning of 2007.
ally enjoying it because I got to do some-
"Hearing my dad on the radio, and see-
thing I loved when I went," Berkowitz said. ing his accomplishments made me believe
"I have made connections with the rabbis that it was really possible. He has been an
and Cantor Smolash by discussing WJEW inspiration to me," Berkowitz said.
and everything we would play on it."
In his free time, Berkowitz enjoys do-
Berkowitz has always loved music. ing "normal teen things," like playing ten-
From the rock-and- nis and hanging out with his friends. Dur-
roll skills of The Kill- ing the summer months, Berkowitz got
ers, to the talented the chance to test his deejay skills when
rapping styles of he interned for radio station 97.1 FM.
artists like T.I. and
"It was awesome!" he said. "Radio is
WJEW founder is born
JayZ,
he
listens
to
a
really
tough business, and you have to
to broadcast.
any genre of music watch what you say. Every decision I made
that can put him in a on the station had to be very thought out.
good mood.
Otherwise, I would get in trouble with my
Anyone with access to a computer can
Berkowitz, 18, is the son of Gary and superiors. Before my internship, I never
sing along to Jewish artists such as Balkan B.J. Berkowitz and younger brother to thought of the responsibility that you have
Beat Box and Mall Tovu. The radio sta- Robyn, 22, and Michael, 28, all of West when you are broadcasting to hundreds
tion is available 24 hours a day and con- Bloomfield. From a young age, Berkow- of people. Radio is something I could see
tains "shoutouts" from other teen groups itz watched as his father Gary established myself having a career in. WJEW is just
from Temple Israel, like the Teen T'fillah himself in the world of radio — first as a the beginning."
Team.
radio personality, then as a radio pro-
In September 2007, Berkowitz started
"I went from being a kid who went to gram director, and today as a broadcast his own teen party business with friend
MNS because my parents made me, to re- consultant.
Jeff Fenkell. Together, the two entrepre-
Corey Berkowitz
JNt2t.com