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AROUND tIWN

Happy Hour

P hoto by Brett Mounta in

Woodward Avenue Shul offers new "hot spot" for Jewish singles and couples.

Ilanit Atias of Farmington Hills and Josh Amir of Huntington Woods

I

Aaron and Rachel Schwartz with Jennifer Wein and Ben Mayer, all of Oak Park

nstead of going out to area bars on a weeknight to mix and mingle, dozens of Jewish
singles, couples and young professionals ages 22-40 have found an unexpectedly hip
new hangout: shul.
The Woodward Avenue Shul in Royal Oak is now offering a once-a-month "Happy
Hour" complete with complimentary sushi, appetizers, cocktails and live music. The
event, organized by an independent host committee, has
attracted as many as 100 people in recent months. Jan. 6 was
the first outing of 2011; an anonymous donor is sponsoring
the get-togethers for the rest of the year.
"It's for any young, Jewish person to come and network and
meet potential soul mates:' said Rabbi Chanoch Hadar of
Huntington Woods. "It's very laid back. There's a pool table and
ping pong table; it's like a cafe."
Musician Avy Schreiber of Oak Park played piano at this
month's happy hour. He describes the event as a "good mix of
people" and says it has a "lounge-y feel" without music that
drowns out the conversation.
"It's comfortable, non-competitive and although many peo-

Rabbi Chanoch Hadar of Huntington Woods, Aaron Scheinfield
of Birmingham and Ilanit Atias of Farmington Hills

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January 13 ^ 2011

ple are looking to meet opposite-sex singles, there's no pressure Schreiber explained.
"There aren't that many places for young Jews to meet where everyone is Jewish, it's
not clique-y, one doesn't have to shout over the music and there are kosher food and
drinks."
The Woodward Avenue Shul opened 21/2 years ago on the main thoroughfare. It
offers Orthodox prayer services and a variety of classes and programs for individuals
and families regardless of background or level of observance. The rabbi describes it
as a "Jewish outpost center." There's no official membership list; but the shul has an
e-mail list of about 500 people from Royal Oak, Huntington Woods and surrounding
communities who participate in the various activities.
Spotted in the Happy Hour crowd were: Abigail Eichenhorn of Huntington Woods;
Josh Goldberg of West Bloomfield; Ted Rodgers of Royal Oak; Matt Diskin of
Ferndale and Diana Ibragimova of Farmington Hills.

The next Happy Hour will take place at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 3, at the
Woodward Avenue Shul, 25595 Woodward Ave. in Royal Oak. For more
information go to: woodwardshul.org .

Ari Layno-Moses of Bloomfield Hills and
Alysa Kornfeld and Oak Park

Yelena Pliskina of Farmington Hills with Chad Weiner and
Ileene LaBell, both of Huntington Woods

