Metro
Banding Together
Teen musicians to rock out at fundraiser to benefit orphaned kids.
Keri Guten Cohen
Story Development Editor
T
emple Israel in West Bloomfield
is blessed with a wealth of
talented teens whose musical
abilities are showcased in several venues,
most notably Teen T'fillah Team, a singing
group, and Yom Sheini, a rock band.
The groups often perform during ser-
vices, adding spirit as well as spirituality.
Some of the teens in the large Yom
Sheini band decided their music should
be used to make a difference. A fundraiser
was envisioned, with proceeds to benefit
those suffering in Darfur. Then tragedy
struck closer to home: Two of their own in
the Temple Israel family were left without
parents.
When Rob Fischer of West Bloomfield
died suddenly March 6, the night of the
fourth yahrzeit for this wife, Nancy, his
children, Evan Fischer, 13, and his sister,
Emily, 10, were essentially orphaned.
With great foresight, Rob had asked his
close friends and neighbors, Christopher
and Susie Tarnas, if they would be legal
guardians for his children and raise them
Jewishly. The Tarnases are not Jewish.
Evan and Emily have been embraced
with loving arms into the Tarnas family,
including Dylan, 11, and Skyler, 14. The
Jewish community has responded gener-
ously, including plans to build an addition
to the Tarnas home to give Emily and Evan
their own bedrooms.
Now Yom Sheini has a new way to make
a difference. Their fundraiser will benefit
the Fischer/Tarnas family through Temple
Israel's new Yaldeinu (Our Children) Fund
to help children who have been orphaned
in the Metro Detroit Jewish community.
Under the leadership of band member
Jesse Yedwab, 15, of Commerce Township,
the teens reached out with great success
to other Jewish youth groups and other
Jewish teens to create the ultimate teen
concert.
Banding Together — 7:30 p.m. Sunday,
May 24, at Temple Israel — will feature
Jewish teen rock bands from the Frankel
Jewish Academy in West Bloomfield,
Tamarack Camps, B'nai B'rith Youth
Organization, Kidz Klez Band of Michigan,
ATID: Alliance of Teens in Detroit (the
Conservative high school program) and
Temple Israel's Yom Sheini and Teen
Al2
May 21 * 2009
Rachael Malerman, 18, of West Bloomfield rehearses with fellow Yom Sheini band member Jesse Yedwab, 15, of Commerce.
T'fillah Team. Acoustic sets by individuals
and small groups will be going on concur-
rently in the Children's Library.
"At every meeting we'd had about
Banding Together, new kids want to be
involved," said Zach Chutz, Temple Israel
youth group adviser. "They want to help.
There's a Facebook group with 250 kids on
it. It's been awesome!'
Teens have been out in the community
selling Banding Together bracelets for $5
each, doing publicity and selling tickets.
"These are great kids who have taken a
lot of time out of their lives to help other
people — it's a great thing," said Julie
Hantman, adult co-chair of the event and
mother of Yom Sheini drummer, Harry
Hantman. "Teens tend to be all about
themselves; these kids are not. They are
really are caring, concerned and want to
help out."
Rabbi Paul Yedwab echoed the senti-
ments.
"I've been doing this a long time he
said. "I've been through thousands of pro-
grams and planning; I don't think I've ever
swelled with pride like I have with this
group of teens. It started with this little
band and kids wanting to do something
more, then blossomed into this incredible
fundraisier.
"And just as we were thinking of using
the proceeds for someone else, within
days we found out about this tragedy. It's
a terrible coincidence. Many don't know
the family they are working so hard for,
but they know it is right and the Jewish
thing to do. I am unbelievably proud of
these kids and the BBYO kids, the people
from Tamarack, from ATID — everyone
coming together. They are really energized,
and they are taking this unbelievably seri-
ously."
Banding on page A13
How To Go:
Banding Together, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, May 24, at Temple Israel, 5725 Walnut
Lake, West Bloomfield. Minimum cost: $20, adults; $10 teens.
Bands playing in Korman Hall, in order of appearance: Kids Klez Band of
Michigan, Frankel Jewish Academy band, ATID band, Tessa and the Pac Rats,
the Corner Seats, the Jam Society, Temple Israel's Yom Sheini and Teen T'fillah
Team.
Acoustic acts playing in the Children's Library, in order of appearance:
Matt Rosner, Jess Simon and friends, Jesse Yedwab and Harry Hantman, Dan
Hacker, Grace Jessop, Scott Kirschner, Josh Leider and Jake Metzger, Alex
Rosner, Zack and Ben Chutz, Danny Lipsky and friends, Tamarack group.
The event is co-sponsored by the Youth Federation of Temple Israel, BBYO,
the Frankel Jewish Academy, ATID: Alliance of Teens in Detroit, Tamarack
Camps, Kidz Klez and the Detroit Jewish News.
To make a donation to the Yaldeinu Fund, make checks payable to Temple
Israel with the words Yaldeinu Fund on the memo line. Mail to Yaldeinu Fund,
ao Temple Israel, 5725 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48323.
Contributions are tax-deductible.