Metro

AROUND TOWS

Goo

Shaarey Zedek hosts casino night fundraiser to help families in need.

Anna and Yale Levin, Jay and Andrea Levin and Steve and Jennifer Tepper, all of
Farmington Hills

A

night of wheeling and dealing, including casino games and a Texas
Hold'em tournament, proved to be a winning proposition for members
and supporters of Congregation Shaarey Zedek of Oakland County.
More than 150 people gathered at the synagogue's B'nai
Israel Center in West Bloomfield Dec. 12 for an evening of
gaming, including a silent auction, raffles, cocktails and
hors d'oeuvres, to raise money for education and youth
scholarships and assistance for member families in crisis.
Participants played for the chance to win cash and other
prizes.
"This began almost a year ago:' said Lori Blumenstein-
Bott, the synagogue's executive director. "We've had a lot more
requests for support and assistance at a variety of levels:'
Like countless other congregations and organizations
across Metro Detroit, Michigan's struggling economy is tak-

Leslie Katz of West Bloomfield, Kimie
Wayburn of Novi and Rachel Wool of
Farmington Hills

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January 14 • 2010

Jennifer and Brian Hermelin of Bingham
Farms

Brooke Weingarden of West Bloomfield, Nina Rosenblum of Ferndale, Lauren
DeGrazia of Birmingham and Julie Levin of Royal Oak

ing its toll on Shaarey Zedek members. The synagogue's leaders say they're working
with families on a case-by-case basis to help them stay connected religiously and
provide a Jewish education for their children.
"We're seeing every kind of circumstance you might imagine; organizations cut-
ting back, people being laid off and businesses effected by the economy:' explained
Blumentstein-Bott. "It's a temporary situation and we're riding things out with our
members. We want to be there in both the good times and more trying times."
The casino night was part of a two-day Chanukah Blowout extravaganza. The fol-
lowing day, people gathered at the synagogue's Southfield location for a "family day:'
complete with games, contests, face painting, yoga, wine tasting, salsa dancing, a
fashion show, battle of the bands and a giant pyrotechnic menorah lighting.
Spotted in the casino night crowd were: event co-chairs Leslie and Mitchell
Katz of West Bloomfield; Brooke and Matt Weingarden, Ilana Glazier and Lowell
Schmeltz, all of West Bloomfield; Lauren Topor of Farmington Hills; and Matt
Cohn of Huntington Woods.

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Megan Rappaport and Aubrey Topper,
both of Farmington Hills

Mitch Katz of West Bloomfield and
Adam Freedman of Farmington Hills

