WOMEN'S
EUROPEAN & AMERICAN
DESIGNER
Put Torahs To Use
I just wanted to thank you for the won-
derful coverage of Congregation Shir
Tikvah's bimah consecration and gala
Kiddushin on Dec. 6 ("Torah Alive!"
Jan. 1, page A25). It was a very special
evening in our congregation's history,
and we very much appreciate your
sharing our simchahs with the entire
Detroit community.
In addition, your Editor's Letter in
the same edition ("A Holy Gift',' page
A5) was perfect. During an evening that
included mountaintop moments during
the consecration of our new bimah and
the wedding of our congregation to our
new Sefer Torah, the true highlight of the
evening was actually a third event.
When Cantor Jalda Rebling of Ohel
HaChidush in Berlin, Germany, walked
out of our sanctuary to begin her jour-
ney home with tears in her eyes and
our donated Torah scroll in her hands,
there was not a dry eye in the house.
We truly learned once again that you
get much more from giving.
My wish for 2009 is that more con-
gregations will give themselves the
opportunity to feel this good, by doing
something so right. Sharing one of your
extra Sefer Torahs would be a fabulous
mitzvah, particularly during these try-
ing times. We launched a worldwide
search thanks to the Internet and found
a perfect home for our scroll. Hopefully,
some of you out there will do the same
and will then share your stories to help
keep the spirit of giving alive.
"A Sefer Torah not being utilized is a
sad Torah scroll!" That was a line from
the winning application. How perfect,
how true. What a wonderful opportuni-
ty for our community to find new ways
to show their generous spirit.
Michael Silverstein
Torah Alive! co-chair
Congregation Shir Tikvah
Troy
New Energy
I was pleased to read Senior Staff
Writer Shelli Dorfman's balanced
account of developments at the Isaac
Agree Downtown Synagogue ("More
Than A Building," Jan. 1, page A16). Her
article provided an accurate assessment
of the current situation.
The synagogue's Chanukah party was
enjoyed by the many who attended, and
the triennial election of officers and
board members, punctuated by a con-
siderable amount of lively debate, was
successfully completed with a number
of the young people elected to office
and membership on the board. Since
they will now be assuming leadership
roles in the congregation, I hope their
exuberance and energy will help bring a
genuine revitalization of the synagogue.
Only time will tell if new aspirations and
directions can mesh comfortably with
older goals and commitments.
Thank you again for providing the
greater Jewish community with infor-
mation about Detroit's sole remaining
Conservative synagogue and its continu-
ing struggle to survive.
The officers and board of directors
believe firmly in the synagogue's mis-
sion: to maintain a traditional Jewish
presence in the city; and to offer, free of
charge or obligation, its well-attended
High Holiday services to the entire
Jewish community of Metro Detroit.
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T HE
Dr. Martin Herman
Detroit
Uplifting Rally
Like 1,500 others, I participated in
last week's Israel solidarity rally gra-
ciously hosted by Congregation Shaarey
Zedek in Southfield (page Al2). I'd
like to enthusiastically commend the
Jewish Community Relations Council
of Metropolitan Detroit, in particular
Robert Cohen, Allan Gale, Don Cohen
and dozens of deeply committed lay
people.
The positive, pro-active tone of the
gathering, its sheer size (I arrived 30
minutes early and had to park on the
grass), and the audience's sense of
purpose were uplifting, and very much
appreciated by our entire community,
both Jewish and much of the general
as well. Kol Hakavod for a job very well
done.
Les Goldstein
West Bloomfield
T E NDER
271 WEST MAPLE
DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM
248.258.0212
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January 15 8 2009
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