I Spirituality

Keeping Shabbat

Providence Hospital has items on hand for observant patients and families.

Shelli Liebman Dorfman

Senior Writer

W

hen George Gelberman's
mother-in-law was taken
to Providence Hospital in
Southfield on Rosh Hashanah four years ago,
in addition to her family's great concern over
her health, they also were in need of assis-
tance of their own.
"My wife Estelle and her sister were
pretty much stuck in the hospital for Rosh
Hashanah — and the next day, which was
Shabbos," said Gelberman of Southfield.
The Shabbat-observant family hit obsta-
cles when they realized, among other things,
the hospital's drinking fountains were elec-
tric and all but two of the bathrooms have
lights and water that go on automatically.
Gelberman has since overseen the
donation of a special cabinet kept at the
hospital and filled with necessary items
that includes bottled water and a list of
Shabbat-usable restrooms. At the same
time, he was able to honor the memory
of Sandy Singal, who spent much time at
Providence and died in April 2007.
The project was created along with
Gelberman's wife and Sunny and Meyer
Segal of Oak Park, all close friends of

Sandy Singal and her husband Larry of
Oak Park.
Gelberman began the project by
speaking with hospital chaplain Rabbi
Hershel Klainberg, who is ritual director
of Shalom Providence, a program that
includes visits by clergy and provides
prayer books and Shabbat and holiday
items to patients.
"Rabbi Klainberg introduced me to the
pastoral office at Providence Gelberman
said. "When I explained my idea and the
need for it, they were very receptive. When
I mentioned that I wanted to do this in the
memory of Sandy Singal, every face in the
room broke into a knowing smile. They all
new her by name
Others helped out also. "I contacted a
friend, Mark Eisenberg, who owns Office
Furniture Services in Oak Park, and
picked out a very nice piece of furniture
Gelberman said. "Mark delivered it with
me in the pouring rain and then said,'It's
yours, no charge.'"
The cabinet, now filled and ready for
use, is located in the foyer of the hospital's
chapel and is equipped with a lock box
donated by Barney Slobin of Northwest
Locksmiths in Southfield.
The cabinet's contents include prayer

books for Shabbat and holidays, psalms
and resources for answers to difficult life-
and-death situations. Foods, such as grape
juice, matzah and snack items, are also
stored in the cabinet as is information on
local cab companies, with whom the com-
munity has an arrangement, so that pay-
ment is not taken on Shabbat or holidays.
A plaque on the cabinet shows that it
was placed there in memory of Sandy
Singal.
Gelberman fundraised for start-up
materials for the cabinet, with donations
collected through Young Israel of Oak
Park, where the Singals have been long-
time members.
Gelberman is currently working toward
displays and informative materials to
make patients, families and hospital staff
aware of the cabinet.
"The idea is that when someone is
brought in during an emergency on a
holiday or Shabbat, the ill person is cared
for; but those who staying with them
are left in very difficult circumstances','
Gelberman said.
The cabinet aims to remedy that prob-
lem, alleviating one concern for patients'
family members. ❑

George Gelberman takes a siddur from the
Sandy Singal memorial cabinet.

Donations to the Sandy Singal
Memorial Fund, to cover the cost of
perpetuating the cabinet's stock,
may be sent to: Sandy Singal Fund,
Young Israel of Oak Park,15140 W.
10 Mile Road., Oak Park, MI 48237.

ATID Begins Classes

Conservative high school program for Jewish teens offers innovative courses.

0

n Sept. 8, 250 teens between
grades 8-12 attended the inau-
gural dinner and classes of
ATID, the Metro Detroit Conservative
movement's new Hebrew high school pro-
gram.
The mission of ATID is to provide
Jewish education for post-b'nai mitzvah
teens in a stimulating environment fos-
tering an appreciation
of lifelong Jewish living
and learning.
Local Conservative
rabbis and educa-
tors will teach the
high school students
in a core curriculum
that corresponds the-
Amy
matically to the five
Appelman
books of the Torah.
ATID, Hebrew for "future:' will meet
Monday evenings at Hillel Day School

B6

September 11 ' 2008

AI

of Metropolitan Detroit in Farmington
Hills.
Participating congregations are
Adat Shalom Synagogue, Congregation
Shaarey Zedek, Congregation B'nai
Moshe and Congregation Beth Ahm.
The consolidation of these syna-
gogue-based high schools creates a larg-
er enrollment of students and additional
programs.
It also has benefited Beth Ahm,
which did not have a high school pro-
gram.
"As of last week, Beth Ahm has 12
kids enrolled in ATID; our goal was 10
students," said Amy Appelman, direc-
tor of education at the West Bloomfield
congregation.
The 1 lth-grade curriculum comes
from the David Project Center for Jewish
Leadership and will be taught by local
educators Linda Baruch.

The curriculum enables students and
educators to understand the complexi-
ties of the Arab-Israeli conflict in ways
that promote critical thinking, inquiry,
discussion, historical accuracy, moral
decision-making and activism.
Faculty will include such local Jewish
educators as Rabbi Jonathan Berger of
Hillel Day School, Rabbi Leiby Burnham
of Partners in Torah and P.J. Cherrin
of the Jewish Community Relations
Council.
Local congregational rabbis, cantors
and educational directors also make up
the faculty.
ATID also is partnering with Una
Dworkin Tutors to offer an ACT Prep
elective class for students. Three educa-
tors in English, math and science will
coach ATID students for the college
entrance exam.
Students also will choose electives,

including "Jewish
Medical Ethics:'
"Jewish Guitar Here
"Cool Jewish Music
for Your iPod," "Jewish
Eyes on the News:'
"Conversational
Hebrew" and
Rabbi Miller
"Exploring the Jewish
Web 2.0." Others cen-
ter on drama, art and
music.
Rabbi Eric Yanoff of Shaarey Zedek in
Oakland County will teach a class titled
"Everything You Didn't Learn in Hebrew
School." A yoga class that pairs Rabbi
Aaron Bergman of Adat Shalom with
Shawn Broida from Center for Yoga also
will be offered.
For information, contact Rabbi
Jason Miller, atid.hs@gmail.com or
(248) 539-5783. ❑