Metro Shaarey Zedek Leadership Speaks In a Feb. 21 statement prepared for the Jewish News, Congregation Shaarey Zedek rabbis and lay leaders wrote: "At this critical juncture in the his- tory of the Detroit Jewish community – with demographic and economic challenges that force us to re-examine every "assumed" practice and insti- tution – we must be willing to take fundamental steps toward cooperation and collaboration. "Federation has already championed this cause. Examples include shared purchasing conversations (like) the recently merged agencies that form Jewish Senior Life. Opportunity from page 9 and public schools. CSZ will provide scholarships and financial aid to mem- bers needing help with tuition payments. "Hillel will have two-tier tuition: a members' tuition to families affiliated with any synagogue or temple and a non-affiliated tuition?' Freedman said. "We want to encourage synagogue or temple membership and this is one way that we can help:' New Partnerships In addition to CSZ, Freedman said Hillel welcomes other synagogues to also partner with them in Jewish educational programming. In response to concerns of a possible collaboration between Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills and the Hillel program, a letter was sent to con- gregants assuring that the preschool is not closing. "Adat Shalom looks forward to con- tinuing our historically strong relation- ship with Hillel," said its rabbi, Aaron Bergman. "We will, though, be continu- ing to offer a synagogue-based pre- school to serve our members and others in the Jewish community. We believe it is an irreplaceable part of who we are However, the administration at Congregation Beth Ahm in West Bloomfield is very much interested in col- laborating with the new Hillel preschool. The synagogue, which closed their nursery program at the end of the 2006 school year, had already been actively working to find ways to include pre- school-aged children in its program- ming when the Hillel announcement 10 February 25 • 2010 "But Shaarey Zedek is now the first congregation to see the importance of this. This is an ongoing conversation; the product of a difficult realization that Jewish Detroit will thrive only if we seek partnerships and maximize our resources while maintaining the beauty and importance of our individ- ual identities. Bold action is necessary to come together, to pool our resourc- es, to break down our old territorial- ism; a territorialism which itself was a luxury when resources were plentiful enough to duplicate them at varying levels of quality and efficiency. We can be stronger by working together, trust- ing one another and optimizing one another's strengths. "Hillel is a premier educational insti- tution in this community, a "specialist" in the delivery of Jewish educational experiences to our youth. Shaarey Zedek is a premier intergenerational institution that prides itself on con- nections to clergy, to community, to lifecycle events, communal involve- ment and inspiring Jewish living. There is much potential for this collabora- tion to strengthen both organizations, together. Change is scary. But change is what is necessary to revitalize our community, with new models of coop- eration and excellence, for the next generation." came. "We are in the process of expand- Freedman said national research indi- ing and initiating programs for our cates Jewish day schools with preschools nursery kids and we see Hillel as an are better equipped to keep those students. extension of that process?' said Beth Ahm President Chuck Kessler. Kids In The Synagogue This year, the school will reopen its In an effort to assure Beth Hayeled fam- summer camp, which closed in 2007. ilies of continuing a strong connection Beth Ahm's preschool programs — Tot with the synagogue, CSZ Rabbis Joseph Shabbat, Shabbat Club and Kinder H. Krakoff, Eric Yanoff and Aaron Starr Keshet — will gather parents, grandpar- reached out in a Feb. 11 letter. ents and toddlers for synagogue-based "We promise that in addition to a great activities. The hope is for the next step early childhood center at Hillel, we will to be enrollment of the 20 nursery continue to offer at our shul dynamic, school-aged members of Beth Ahm in meaningful, exciting early childhood the Hillel program. educational and spiritual experiences "We are supportive of Hillel and are while developing new opportunities to seeking funds to help subsidize tuition strengthen relationships among children, for those who would attend the new pre- parents and between young families and school?' Kessler said. "For us to go ahead us as rabbis?' they wrote. with this project, we would have to be The rabbis say they will go where assured that our members can be involved their kids are and are committed to with the school and that Rabbi [Steven] being a strong presence in the Hillel Rubenstein can be physically involved preschool for CSZ students as well as there. We know it would benefit us to have those who are unaffiliated. a place to send our nursery students. And They plan to be a part of in-school we want to be able to offer that?' programming like Friday Shabbat expe- Hillel's Freedman said, "We will work riences and Monday-morning Havdalah closely with Shaarey Zedek to help their moments. They also intend to bridge families feel welcome and at home. We classroom learning with synagogue- will also offer the same opportunities to based extensions of school program- any other synagogue or temple that would ming, with activities like Tot Shabbat want to collaborate?' services. Freedman said the establishment of A steering committee — that will the preschool came about, in part, fol- include Hillel administrators, CSZ mem- lowing Hillel's recent re-accreditation bers and representatives of any other review, when the Independent Schools synagogues who collaborate with the Association of the Central States team Hillel program — will work to develop suggested Hillel investigate opening a connections between preschool and preschool. Hillel administration also synagogue programming. considered the new venture following "We welcome the Shaarey Zedek fam- Federation's suggestion that day schools ily warmly and their professional staff collaborate with other constituencies. will have full access to their students Rabbi Joseph Rabbi Eric H. Krakoff Yanoff CSZ's Brian Hillel's Steve Hermelin Freedman and families," Freedman said. CSZ parents looking to strengthen the bond between young families and the synagogue will work with the synagogue's rabbis and Jewish fam- ily educator Megan Rappaport on the Young Family Outreach Committee, now in formation. Rappaport will continue in her role of planning Jewish family education expe- riences that will include preschool-aged children. Camp Keshet, for preschoolers, will operate at both the synagogue's Southfield and West Bloomfield loca- tions this summer. Parent-toddler pro- gramming will be expanded in response to the needs and interests of young families. "In Hillel, we have found a true ally; and hopefully, this model of col- laboration is the beginning of more opportunities for us to work with other institutions, synagogues and agencies to improve the Jewish lives of our mem- bers," wrote Hermelin in his letter to CSZ members. "In affiliating with Hillel, we continue to be sure that the aca- demic training and commitment to car- ing for each child's emotional well-being will be second to none?' E Open house receptions to learn about the Hillel Early Childhood Center and tour the facility will take place at 10 a.m., Sunday, March 7, and at 7 p.m., Thursday, March 11, at Hillel Day School, 32200 Middlebelt, Farmington Hills. (248) 851-3220. Registration forms will be available on March 7.