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"LEAP to LA" participants Karen Alpiner, Rachel Radner, Audrey Bloomberg,
Sharee Pliskow, Amalia Poris, Lisa Soble Siegmann and Rabbi Josh Bennett.
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ourteen local youth profes-
sionals who participated in
the two-year LEAP (Leading,
Educating and Programming) pro-
gram culminated their experience
with a trip to Los Angeles.
"LEAP to LA" was held June 1-4 and
the youth advisers, directors, profes-
sional Jewish educators, teachers and a
rabbi spent time learning and discov-
ering how "to do" Jewish. That means
wherever you go, whatever you do in a
youth program, you can do it through
a Jewish lens.
One of the most important parts
of the trip was the day at Disneyland.
What's Jewish about Disney? It turns
out — everything. Rabbi Josh Bennett
of Temple Israel in West Bloomfield,
chair for "LEAP to LA:' planned the
day in detail. Prior to the trip, partici-
pants received an MP3 to download to
their iPods. They were given specific
instructions not to listen to the tracks
prior to the trip.
One example was a voice, sound-
ing like one might think of as God,
reading the beginning of the Torah. In
a booming voice, they heard, "In the
beginning ..."
After a few questions, participants
went on the jungle ride. After the ride,
Track 2 pondered questions about our
responsibility to take care of the world
through a conversation between Adam
and Eve.
That type of experience framed the
day so that at every ride had a Jewish
framework. How is this ride Jewish?
What Jewish values come to play here?
What rituals would you discuss there.
The inspiring conversations led
the group to the point of the trip:
Wherever you go, there is a Jewish
conversation and experience to be had.
"It was a journey through the lives
of Jewish teens sharing the Jewish
values of kindness, responsibil-
ity and respect at a special place
where dreams can come true said
Alita Cyrlin of Hillel Day School of
Metropolitan Detroit in Farmington
Hills.
"Having the opportunity to spend
four days in LA with other youth
educators and advisors was a unique
experience said B'nai B'rith Youth
Organization's Audrey Bloomberg.
"We had the opportunity to learn
from professionals and educators from
the LA Jewish community and chal-
lenge ourselves to think in new ways.
Those of us who participated on the
trip are energized and ready to imple-
ment new ideas and continue the rela-
tionships created through the entire
LEAP program.
"The Detroit Jewish community is
privileged to have youth professionals
who are committed to creating Jewish
experiences for our youth:"
The trip was led Bennett and Karen
Alpiner, Youth Professional Council
chair. Lisa Soble Siegmann staffed the
trip through the Jewish Federation
of Metropolitan Detroit's Alliance for
Jewish Education.
The trip was possible through the
generosity of the Stephen H. Schulman
Millennium Fund.
❑