Meet And Mingle

Three groups join together for a

summer barbecue in the park.

S

eventy-five Jewish singles and couples came
together July 17 for a barbeque at Drake Sports
Park in West Bloomfield. The annual picnic
of the B'nai B'rith Bloch Israel chapter included a special
invite to two new groups: the Jewish Events Network and
the new Jewish Mingles, an online meetup group.
Steven Zimberg of Huntington Woods and Adam
Gottlieb of West Bloomfield, founders of the two guest
groups, hope to plan future events together in their
efforts to create a more fun-filled social life for Jewish
singles and couples in their 40s and 50s. They say it's
been a labor of love coordinating the events.
To join or sponsor an event, go to Jewish Mingles
at Meetup.com/Jewish-Mingles and Jewish Events
Network at Meetup.com/JAC-Detroit.

Just Checking In

Steve Zimberg, Jewish Mingles; John Rofel, Bloch

Lisa Soffa of Oak Park, Michelle Failer of West

Israel B'nai B'rith; and Adam Gottlieb, Jewish Events
Network

Bloomfield and Leslye Berkal of Berkley

Shaarey Zedek leaders visit congregation's campers at Tamarack.

0

n a sunny, beautiful afternoon
earlier in July, Congregation
Shaarey Zedek's Rabbis Joseph
Krakoff and Aaron Starr as well as educa-
tor Megan Topper headed to Tamarack
Camps in Ortonville to visit the children
of their congregation.
They were welcomed by director Lee
Trepeck, who guided them to the cheder
ochel (dining room), where they spent
meaningful time talking with the chil-
dren during lunch. They heard all about
the special highlights of their summer at
camp.
"We truly value this opportunity to visit
the children while they are away during
the summer, and appreciate the collabora-
tive relationship with Camp Tamarack:'
Topper said. "It was so exciting to see so
many familiar faces among the sea of chil-
dren enjoying their lunches." I I

Campers Ryan Findling, 10, of Huntington Woods

Rabbi Aaron Starr and Jacob

and Ari Feldberg, 9, of Birmingham with Megan
Topper

Rabbi Joseph Krakoff and Adam

Rosberg, 11, of West Bloomfield

Gordon, 10, of Farmington Hills

'Shirley's Soiree '

Jewish War Veterans combine volunteer work with a birthday bash.

E

ach summer for the past five years, mem-
bers of the Jewish War Veterans and its
Ladies Auxiliary as well as a Southfield
veterans group hold a party in honor of long-
time member Shirley Schlussel's birthday at the
Michigan Veterans Foundation downtown. The
facility houses homeless veterans.
The volunteers bring personal items, such
as soap, toothbrushes, dental floss, toothpaste,
razors, socks and T-shirts. They also go back to
serve Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.
"There is no place I'd rather be on my birth-
day," Schlussel said.
This summer, the volunteers served 156
chicken dinners to the vets. The following day,
they gathered to celebrate Schlussel's birthday at
a restaurant in Madison Heights. 1 I

Jewish War Veterans and friends, clockwise from left: Herman Sherline,

Shirley Schlussel loves sharing her birth-

Shirley Schlussel, Leo Tsanganos (restaurant owner), Betty Sherline, Dr. Ralph
Sachs, Franz Blase, Al Lewis and Felix Seldon

day aiding homeless veterans — and also

with her Jewish War Veteran friends.

July 28 2011

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