'World

in With The New!

Kol Ami dedicates its environmentally friendly religious school wing.

Paul Gross

Special to the Jewish News

T

emple Kol Ami's new religious
school construction was like a
baseball game going into extra
innings, except that the West Bloomfield
synagogue only had a limited number of
extra innings it could play.
The building project hummed along all
winter, spring and summer; but, with the
High Holidays looming, a long-delayed
electrical panel did not arrive until Sept. 5.
Electricians rushed to install the panel and
switch over power to the new building, and
only then could the series of inspections
begin to grant the occupancy permit.
Congregants gathered on Sunday, Sept.
21, to formally celebrate and dedicate the
first on-site religious school facility in Kol
Ami's 42-year history.
Rabbi Norman T. Roman found spe-
cial significance in the project's eventual
timing. "It is indeed ironic that the delay
brought completion of the construction
so close to Rosh Hashanah. As our com-
munity prepares to welcome the new year,
Temple Kol Ami starts a sweet new chapter
of its own."
Founding Rabbi Emeritus Ernst Conrad
spoke about Kol Ami's origin as the very
first synagogue in West Bloomfield and
beamed with pride over how much has
been accomplished since then. Other
speakers included building campaign
co-chairs Dr. Melvin Chudnof and Sallyjo
Levine, both of West Bloomfield; Dr.
JoAnn Andrees, superintendent of West
Bloomfield Schools; Rabbi Judah Isaacs,
director of Federation's Alliance for
Jewish Education; and Howard Neistein,
chief administrative officer for the Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit.
Following the speeches, congregant Cis
Maisel Kellman carried a Torah from the
ark in the main sanctuary to an ark in the
religious school. The Torah's new home
was Kol Ami's first ark, built by members
of the congregation during the temple's
early years.
From its inception, the Kol Ami build-
ing committee focused strongly on mak-
ing this as environmentally responsible a
project as possible. Under architect Dan
Redstone of Redstone Architects, Bob
Washer of MICCO Construction and Jim
Newman of Newman Consulting Group,

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September 25 • 2008

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Cis Maisel Kellman of Southfield and Rabbi Norman Roman pose in front of the ark in the new religious school wing.

the design and construction earned cer-
tification points for its "green" aspects,
including recycling as much construction
debris as possible, increasing the build-
ing's energy and water efficiency, using
low-emitting paint, adhesives, sealants
and carpeting and using as many materi-
als as possible from companies located
less than 500 miles away.
Andee Liberman, Kol Ami educational
director, worked with the committee to
make her new classrooms among the most
technologically advanced in the area, with
wireless Internet, laptop and desktop com-
puters, and 42-inch large screen monitors
for computers and satellite television.
"Jewish education DOES matter, and our
new facility shows just that;' Liberman
said.
"When a congregation pulls together,
there's nothing they can't accomplish;'
added building campaign co-chair Sallyjo
Levine.
Parents and children alike were excited
to see the new educational wing for the
first time.
Sandy Jessop of West Bloomfield com-

mented that Kol Ami's children were like
significant increase in new member-
nomads over the years, learning in at least ship inquiries since details of the project
four different educational locations over
became public;' she said.
the past 10 years. "We've waited for years
Religious school students Jenna
to have our own school, and it was well
Himelhaus, 9, of Farmington Hills and
worth the wait. Our children now have an
Melissa Strome, 9, of West Bloomfield
educational community to call home."
summed it up perfectly: "Our new dassroom
"It's a great feeling knowing that our
is perfect!" 0
children, Melissa and Jacob, will now
receive their Jewish educa-
tion in the same place they
come to celebrate Shabbat,"
said Karee Strome of West
Bloomfield.
Chris Bocker of
Farmington Hills agreed.
"It's nice to finally have
our children come home
to learn;" he said.
Kol Ami Membership
committee chair Cynthia
Katz says that publicity
about the new, environ-
mentally friendly religious
school has resonated
"Our new classroom is perfect!" say Jenna Himelhaus,
within the community
9, of Farmington Hills and Melissa Strome, 9, of West
"We have received a

Bloomfield.