cover: High Holiday dilemma
Maccabi
continued from TT1
by David Kaplovitz, guest writer
background, Matt attends services and is not allowed to hang out with his
friends once services or holiday dinners are over.
"While I sometimes wish I could be with my friends during the week-
end, I feel that the High Holidays are a time to be with just my family,"
Matt said. "Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are a great time to repent
for any wrong decisions I have made while being with my friends."
Aaron Klisman, 17, a senior at North Farmington High School, believes
he has found a balance that works for his desire to be
both spiritual and secular. By agreement with his par-
ents, Aaron attends all of the traditional aspects of the
holiday, including both family dinners and services.
"Once services and the meals are over, I'm allowed
to go out and be with my friends," Aaron said. "I'm
able to feel the great importance of the holiday, but
can still go out afterwards if I want to."
Aaron Klisman
fir;
spil.-- t;;.al meaning
While many teens struggle to find that perfect balance to celebrating the
holiday while sticking to the usual weekend routine, it is important to
remember that the whole idea of the High Holidays is to take the typical
fun time with friends and raise the bar. This could mean participating
in something different, memorable or separate from the usual weekend
activities.
"In Judaism, we have a word for different, memorable and set apart
— it's kadosh — holy," said Rabbi Eric Yanoff of Congregation Shaarey
Zedek of Oakland County. "Your time with friends, in a Jewish context,
of being creative to make the holiday experience yours — this is a way of
making the holiday kadosh. It's not a way to 'get around' the weekend
scheduling; it's making your Judaism relevant and meaningful for you,
in your generation."
All of us have made mistakes. This could include social, academic or
personal baggage that teens may need to unload. The High Holidays are
a time to do this.
"Now is the time to start
fresh — not just with promises,
but plans for success, not lin-
gering emotional drains, but a
Just because teens want to hang out with
truly clear path ahead of you,"
their friends on the weekend doesn't mean
Yanoff said. "The holiday sea-
the holidays cannot be fun and enjoyable for
son affords the ideal mix of
all! Here's a tip to keep the "holy" in holiday
the personal reflection and
while having fun.
interpersonal relationships to
• Invite your friends over for dessert after
your holiday meal. That way you're still rec-
start right."
ognizing the importance of the holiday by not
During these upcoming
going
out (seeing a movie, shopping around,
High Holidays, try to take
etc.)
while
having fun with your friends
some time off from your typi-
— and eating yummy food!
cal weekend with friends and
recognize the holiness of the
weekend. This gives teens time to recognize their mistakes and let them
start fresh the following weekend with friends.
Instead of looking at the High Holiday weekend as a loss, look at it as
a gain — a time to be with family, eat delicious food and gain forgiveness
from God. Next time you find yourself struggling between spirituality
and fun, remember that no matter how tough the choice, gaining a fresh
start to a new year is worth a few days of your time.
Shanah tovah!
Detroit teens add friends and learn about the arts.
ive days — five days of utter ex-
citement. This is what awaited
the 18 members of the 2009 JCC
Maccabi Artsfest Detroit delegation.
Not to brag, but according to certain
artists and our delegation head Dalia
Keen, Detroit had one of the largest
delegations at Artsfest this year.
On Aug. 9, the 18 of us — along with
about 240 Jewish teen artists from all over
North America, Venezuela and Israel —
headed to Orange County, Calif., for five
days of professional classes with known
Jewish artists from all over the world.
Koby Berman, 15, of Farmington Hills
For five days, we listened and learned
lets loose on the guitar.
from the artists about what makes the arts
what they are. We also prepared musical
numbers, art, photos and more for our final performance.
During our visit, we were welcomed like honored guests into the homes
of hundreds of Jewish families in Orange County. After five days of extreme
workshops, fabulous social experiences and marvelous accommodations, we
all showed our accomplishments by totally taking OC's Chapman Univer-
sity by storm and having a fabulous performing arts concert, art and photo
exhibition — and later an amazing rock concert.
All at Artsfest had an amazing time and a meaningful experience. Arts-
fest was an event that strengthened social bonds between Jewish teens who
shared a common love of the arts. The Detroit delegation made a great im-
pact at Artsfest and helped spread the social network that Artsfest was trying
to create.
"It was lots of fun and a great experience," said Ryan Simpson of Roches-
ter. "I was able to meet and make friends with many Jewish teens."
David Kaplovitz, 14, of Bloomfield Hills was a member of the 2009 JCC Maccabi Artsfest
Detroit delegation.
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TT4 teen2teen September 10 • 2009
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