Spirituality
Women's World
Shaarey Zedek event adds "green"
to the return of its Boutique Show.
Visiting Sofer
Checks Mezuzot
S
isterhood of Congregation
Shaarey Zedek of Oakland
County will host its 2009
Lois Linden Nelson Woman's World
from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, May 6
— and has proudly added a "touch of
green" to its annual event.
Affordable and cherished Judaic
gifts and time-honored Boutique
Dee Dee Myers
Show favorites, including chic apparel
Denise Kalt, both of Franklin.
and jewelry offerings — will be
In 1993, at 31, Myers was the first
back (in time for Mother's Day)
— refreshed, renewed and reinvented. woman to hold the job of press sec-
retary. She went on to co-host CNBC's
And new eco-friendly "green" goods,
show Equal Time and serve as con-
such as purses made from recycled
sultant and contributor on NBC's
juice boxes, will be featured as well as
acclaimed The
unusual energy-,
West Wing. She is a
space- and weight-
political commen-
efficient Israeli
tator on MSNBC
expandable poly-
and a contributor
ethylene vases.
to Vanity Fair and
Attendees to
writes and lectures
the sisterhood's
on women's issues.
premier fundraiser
Her book con-
also will enjoy
siders the ques-
the Beth Hayeled
tion: What would
Nursery School's
happen if women
Green Gallery of
ruled the world?
artwork illustrating
Myers contends
the theme "What
that everything
would a Healthy
would change,
Earth Look Like?"
and politics would
In support of the
most definitely
economic down-
not be "as usual."
turn, the group
Myers will be sign-
has invited many
Environmentally f riendly Israel vase ing her book after
Michigan-based
the luncheon.
retailers to the
Also new this year, the first
Boutique Show. Some of the local ven-
"Woman of Valor" award will be
dors include Lori Karbal and Art Loft
given to Leypsa Groner, Shaarey
of Birmingham, and the The Annex
Zedek's "rebbitzen in chief," who
of Royal Oak. The sisterhood hopes
is celebrating 50 years in Detroit
to provide exposure opportunities for
this spring. She is wife and lifetime
these businesses that have been hit
supporter to Rabbi Emeritus Irwin
hard with a decrease in foot traffic
Groner.
because of the economy.
This year's raffle prizes include
"Buying local for this event is good
a flat-screen TV, packages at the
for the economy and our environ-
Townsend Hotel in Birmingham and
ment," said Boutique Show chairper-
the Ritz-Carlton in Dearborn, tickets
son Karyn Sokol of Birmingham.
to entertainment and sporting events,
The show is open to the public free
a beautiful piece of jewelry from
of charge.
Tapper's Diamonds & Fine Jewelry
"We also are thrilled to announce
designed by David Yurman and four
our keynote speaker will be Dee Dee
tickets to the Jonas Brothers concert.
Myers, former White House press sec-
Luncheon tickets begin at $54. For
retary for President Clinton, and New
York Times best-selling author of Why tickets and event information, call
(248) 357-5544 ext. 48 or go to www.
Women Should Rule the World," said
event co-chairs Karen Couf Cohen and shaareyzedek.org .
erusalem-based sofer
(scribe) Oren Benyamin
Benoff, son-in-law of West
Bloomfield residents Michael and
Nancy Kaplan, will visit Metro Detroit
with his wife, Amy, and 8-month-old
son, Amarya Ratzon, the first week in
May. While in town, he will be avail-
able to check mezuzot.
If your mezuzot need checking,
you may meet with him at the Kaplan
home on Sunday, May 3, between 8:30
a.m. and noon or between 3:30-6 p.m.
The charge is $7 per mezuzah.
Pre-arranged appointment times
are encouraged, but walk-ins will be
accommodated.
Benoff will be available to visit local
venues where multiple mezuzot need
to be checked, such as synagogues and
day schools. To make an appointment
or for information, contact Nancy
Kaplan, (248) 737-1931 or
nancyellen879@att.net.
Halachah (Jewish law) provides
that mezuzot should be checked twice
every seven years. Over time, even
mezuzot that were written according
to the letter and spirit of the law can
fade or become scratched, causing let-
ters to lose their essential form. This
renders mezuzot pasul (unfit for use).
Also, according to Halachah, the
scribe who inspects one's mezuzot
should not sell mezuzot as replace-
ments for those which are pasul, in
order to avoid any appearance of con-
flict of interest.
Benoff will will refer to a trustwor-
thy local scribe who can supply new
ones, if needed.
He will be available to take orders
for commissioned scribal projects,
such as Megillat Esther, Song of Songs,
pitom haketoret, sifrei Torah and other
items.
For instructions for carefully
removing mezuzot from a doorpost
for checking, e-mail davidafruma@
gmail.com .
Beth Shalom Guest
Congregation Beth Shalom in Oak
Park will mark the Jewish Theological
Seminary of America Shabbat by host-
ing Josh Foster on April 25.
Foster, a first-year rabbinical stu-
dent at the JTS in New York and origi-
nally from Metro Detroit, will deliver
a d'var Torah on Shabbat. A lunch
and learn on Jewish education will
follow services. The religious school's
Shabbat Shelanu service will take
place with Lisa Soble Siegmann.
Cost is adults: $12; children: $7;
children 3 and younger, no charge.
Separate activities will be planned for
children during the talk. Respond by
April 21: (248) 547-7970.
j
April 23 2009
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