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Happy 100!

!Th ► i Moshe gala weekend celebrates milestones in the congregational family.

Photos by Jorg e Lemu s/Lemus Photog rap hy

T

his year marks the 100th anni-
versary of Congregation B'nai
Moshe, which was started in
1911 with about 25 Hungarian families.
The celebration culminated in a gala
weekend May 20-22. A highlight was
a dinner dance in the West Bloomfield
synagogue social hall.
Co-chairs Pearlena Bodzin of
Southfield and Carol Pollack of West
Bloomfield planned a weekend that
also included honoring five congre-
gants — Renee Gunsberg, Joel Ungar,
Gabriel Pachter, Jenna Sperling and
Hannah Fine — who represent what
the congregation is about..

Honorees Gabriel Pachter, Jenna Sperling, Renee Gunsberg, Hannah Fine and Joel Ungar

Honoree Gabriel Pachter and his father, Rabbi Active congregants Joel and Ruth Shayne with daughter-in-law
Elliot Pachter
Ashley and son Ben Shayne

B'nai Moshe's next president Dan
Sperling hugs his daughter Jenna, who
was an honoree.

100th anniversary co-chairs Carol Pollack and
Pearlena Bodzin flank congregant Ann Wanetik.

Bible Contest

Akiva students study hard to compete nationally.

M

azel tov to Akiva Hebrew Day School's
Chidon HaTanach participants Elad
Jerusalem, Jason Jubas, Cobi Nadel and
Jake Weil, who worked very hard and qualified
to participate in the National Chidon Hatanach
Contest (National Bible Contest) in New York
City, under the direction of Libat Aviv, Hebrew
Language Department chair.
The Chidon has been in existence for more
than 40 years. The students met weekly for
intensive study of Exodus (Shemot), Samuel II
(Shmuel II), Jonah (Yonah) and Esther. The test
questions require higher-level thinking skills

connecting people, places and events from the
different texts. More than 200 students come
yearly to compete. The first-place winners go
to Israel next year on Yom HaAtzmaut (Israel
Independence Day).
Akiva has been participating in the Chidon
for more than five years. Congratulations to Cobi
Nadel, eighth-grader from Southfield, who placed
third in the competition and Elad Jerusalem,
eighth-grader from Oak Park, who placed sixth.
In 2007, Akiva graduates Elizabeth Goldmeier
and Dovi Nadel represented North America in
the International Chidon Contest in Israel. LI

Eighth-graders Jake Weil of Southfield and Elad Jerusalem of
Oak Park, Chidon teacher Libat Aviv, eighth-grader Cobi Nadel of
Southfield and sixth-grader Jason Jubas of Southfield

Chai Center

Gary Peters, Todd Mendel honored for commitment to Israel.

C

ongressman Gary Peters (D-Mich)
received a "Friend of Israel Award" on
Sunday, May 15, from the Birmingham-
Bloomfield Chai Center at its third annual
dinner at the Auburn Hills Marriott Pontiac at
Centerpoint.
Attorney Todd Mendel of Birmingham received
the "Jewish Leadership Award" at the dinner.
Both men were honored for their commit-
ment to Israel, the Jewish people and community

16

Peters' award was presented by David Victor,
chairman of AIPAC's national board of directors.
Mendel's award was presented by his daughter
Sophie, a junior at Seaholm High School. About
150 people attended the event hosted by Alan
Zekelman.
At the dinner, plans were unveiled for the
"Birmingham Shul," designed by architect Iry
Tobocman, to be located off Quarton Road near
Woodward Avenue in Birmingham. I

Ita Leah and Rabbi Boruch

Cohen of the Birmingham

Bloomfield Chai Center with

honorees U.S. Rep. Gary Peters

and Todd Mendel

