To Do!

Big Bang!

See JET's The Big Bang, through Jan.
3, at the West Bloomfield JCC. A musical
comedy about two hopeful writers
seeking to produce a Broadway musical
about the history of the world. 7:30 p.m.
Comedic numbers portray Adam
and Eve, Attila the Hun, Julius
Caesar and Columbus, among others.
Performances Wednesday and Thursday,
5 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
$28-$36; discounts for seniors and
students. Two special New Year's Eve
packages at 6 and 9 p.m.. Tickets: (248)
788-2900.

Check It Out!

ARTS & CULTURE

HELPING OUT

The Detroit Historical Museum at
5401 Woodward is offering free admis-
sion and extended hours Saturday,
Dec. 26, through Sunday, Jan. 3 (the
museum is closed Jan. 1). Parking in
the museum's lot is $4. (313) 833-
1805 or www.detroithistorical.org .

Serve dinner at the Hope Hospitality
& Warming Center in Pontiac, a
mitzvah opportunity offered through
Congregation Beth Ahm's TOSAT Tikkun
Olam / Social Action Team. Choose one
or more nights: Saturday-Monday, Dec.
26-28. Meals co-hosted by Temple Kol
Ami and Adat Shalom Synagogue. To
volunteer: Barbara Schechter Cohen,
(248) 481-9753, imbasha@aol.com .

CINEMA & STAGE

See the world premiere stage adap-
tation of The Hebrew Hammer by
Jonathan Kesselman, adapted and
directed by Frannie Shepherd-Bates,
through Dec. 26, at Planet Ant
Theatre, 2357 Caniff, Hamtramck. $15;
$10 Fridays for students and age 60
and over. (313) 365-4948.

See The Last Five Years, directed by
Frannie Shepherd-Bates with musical
direction by Michael Fiedler, weekends
of Jan. 1-23, at the Furniture Factory,
4126 Third, Detroit 48201. Presented
by Magenta Giraffe Theatre, the play
portrays the life, love and demise of
a relationship between actress Cathy
and writer Jamie. Opening night, 8 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 1, is pay-what-you-can.
Tickets/schedule: (313) 408-7269, www.
magentagiraffe.org .

EVENT HOTLINE

B`nai B'rith Great Lakes Region
launches its 35th basketball season
Sunday, Jan. 17, at Walled Lake
Central High School. Join as an indi-
vidual or a team: Marty Melton, (248)
921-1539.

HEALTH/SUPPORT

Jewish Gay Network Family and
Friends, a free discussion-support
group, will meet 7 p.m. Tuesday,
Jan. 4, in the library at the West
Bloomfield JCC. For information, call
(248) 432-5661 or email jlewis@
jccdet.org .

CHADD (Children & Adults with ADD)
will meet 7-9 p.m. Monday, Jan. 4, at
Way Elementary School, 765 W. Long
Lake Road, in Bloomfield Township.
Mary Jo Schuster, counselor and
adviser for Project Bold Program for
LD/ADD students, will conduct a panel
of college students. Adult support
group will be led by AD/HD coach
Laura Rolands. Free for members;
$5 for others. (248) 988-6716, www.
chadd.net/527.

Donate blood at Temple Israel
Brotherhood's Blood Drive 9 a.m.-3
p.m. Monday, Dec. 28, at the West
Bloomfield temple. You must be a
healthy adult, at least 17 years old
and at least 110 pounds. RSVP: Dr. Ira
"Mike" Mickelson, (248) 819-1235.

Receive initial training to be a
Holocaust Memorial Center docent
noon-2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 10, on the
Zekelman Family Campus, 28123
Orchard Lake Road, Farmington Hills.
Register now with Selma Silverman:
(248) 553-2400, ext. 12.

Interact with senior residents while
working in the Jewish Senior Life (JSL)
building's stores, cafes and gift shops in
Oak Park and West Bloomfield. Become
a friendly visitor, help at activities, field
trips or games. Contact: Michal Ram
(248) 592-1104, mram@jslmi.org .

HOLIDAYS / SHABBAT

Experience Shabbat Light on Friday,
Jan. 8, at Temple Beth El. The brief,
informal 6 p.m. service offers an
opportunity for reflection and sharing.
Dr. Jill Syme will speak. Dinner at 7
costs $20 for adults; $15 for children.
Mail checks to Temple Beth El, 7400
Telegraph, Bloomfield Hills 48301.
Information: Barbara Grant, (248) 851-
1100, ext. 3149.

. .L_

Actors Greg Trzaskoma and Brian Thibault

Judaism"; Jan.12: "Between Cross and
Crescent"; and Jan.19: "The Challenge
of Modernity." RSVPs appreciated:
Nancy Kaplan, (248) 737-1931 or
nancyellen879@att.net .

JEWISH LEARNING

"Shanghai: A Haven for Jews during
the Holocaust" — Friday, Dec. 25, at 8
p.m., come to Congregation Beth Ahm
in West Bloomfield to hear local author
Berl Falbaum recount his experiences in
the Chinese city when it was a refuge
for Jews during the Shoah. Sponsored
by Beth Ahm and its Tikkun Olam-Social
Action Team (TOSAT). For information,
call Judy Vine (248) 961-4623 or e-mail
panyavino@comcast.net .

"Abraham Joshua Heschel
Remembered" DVD Series continues
at Congregation Beth Ahm in West
Bloomfield, 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec.
30, honoring the theologian and social
activist. Video lecture by Prof. Howard
Lupovitch on Heschel and his great-
grandfather, the Opatower Rebbe. On
Jan. 6, Heschel's final TV interview
from 1972. Or see all three parts 10:15
a.m. Sunday, Jan. 3. Free, walk in.
Information: Nancy Kaplan (248) 737-
1931 or nancyellen879@att.net .

Filmmaker and storyteller Harvey
Ovshinsky will lead a six-session
screenwriters support group, "How
to Complete Your First Movie Script in
Six Months," beginning Jan. 4 at Ann
Arbor JCC or Jan. 25 at Birmingham
Community House. There is a fee.
RSVP: for Ann Arbor, call (734) 971-
0990; for Birmingham, call (248) 644-
5832. Information: (734) 996-8011.

SENIORS

Learn the "48 Steps to Wisdom," a lec-
ture series developed by the late Rabbi
Noah Weinberg of Aish HaTorah. Two
opportunities are available:
• Keter Torah Synagogue, 5480
Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield:
Speakers include Rabbi Alon Tolwin and
Rabbi Tzvi Hochstadt of Aish HaTorah 7
p.m. Mondays. Additional co-sponsors
include Fed Ed and Jewish Renaissance
Project. No charge to attend. Free
refreshments. (248) 565-2757, www.
ketertorah.us.
• Detroit Jewish News, 29200
Northwestern Hwy., Southfield: Rabbi
Tolwin leads lunch-and-learn sessions
noon Thursdays. Kosher lunch: $8.
RSVP: (248) 948-9908, ext.1.

Congregation Beth Ahm in West
Bloomfield will host Prof. Howard
Lupovitch for a three-part lecture
series based on his neew book on the
history of the Jewish people, 7:30-9
p.m. Tuesdays, Jan. 5, 12, and 19. All
are invited. $40 for the series or $15
per lecture. Jan. 5: "The Beginnings of

Enjoy Bingo with Noemi 1 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 29, at the Oak Park
JCC. $1 per card. Sponsored by the
Active Life. (248) 967-4030.

Join the Judaica Arts & Crafts class
taught by Rifcah Krolikowski 9:30-
11:30 a.m. Thursdays at the Oak Park
JCC. Paper collages, jewelry, mosaics
and more. Supplies included in the fee.
Barbara Bloom Senior Adult Fund sup-
ports the program. (248) 967-4030.

The Active Life will hold a New Year's
Eve Dance at West Bloomfield JCC
4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31, with
one-man band Jim Lauri. $5. RSVP to
Noemi by Dec. 28 at (248) 967-4030.

Calendar on page 36

EVERYTHING'S
RELATIVE
by Jordan B. Gorfinkel •

wwwjewishcartoon.com

bra5 the ttigbt before -tua5, ixiCjen aft tbrougb tbe
bOt15e5, not a creature bia5
•

LEARNING

Explore the Kabbalah with Rabbi
Elimelech Silberberg at his ongoing
classes based on classical and con-
temporary esoteric texts 10:30 a.m.
Sundays and 8:30 p.m. Thursdays,
at Bais Chabad Torah Center, 5595 W.
Maple, West Bloomfield. Details: (248)
855-6170 or bctc770@aol.com .

©2005 BY GORFTEXT PRO DUCTIONS I NC. ALL RIG HTS RESERVED.

Michael Daitch of Coat of Many Colors
Handweavers will be doing a Judaic
weaving demonstration at the Detroit
Institute of Arts noon-4 p.m. Sunday,
Jan. 3, in the Prentis Court.

BECCAnBETH

BERNIE

YAEL

LOUIS

ZAYDS

BUBS

The
Altruist

The
Idealist

The
Perplexed

The
Rebel

The
Traditionalist

The
Bubbe

The
Realist

...except for tbe Yelui51) people at Hy multiplex...

December 24 • 2009

35