Back To School

Shaarey Zedek's annual school

opening includes 9-11 ceremony.

C

hildren from the Congregation Shaarey Zedek
Religious School were greeted with warm smiles and
big hugs from their rabbis and cantors on Sept. 11 as
they began a new school year.
Nearly 200 children from grades PreK-7 and their parents
entered the Southfield synagogue through a cascading rainbow
of balloons, yet this was a different opening day from previous
years.
"Starting religious school on the 10th anniversary of 9-11
was a blessing and a challenge," said Rabbi Aaron Starr, direc-
tor of education and youth. "On one hand, it tempered some
of the normal joy and excitement of our opening day. On the
other hand, it offered a powerful opportunity for us to come
together as a community, commemorate this sad day as a fam-
ily, and begin educating our children on day one about the
importance of Tikkun Olam, striving to make this world a bet-
ter place'
Students and parents gathered in the sanctuary, where they
recited the Pledge of Allegiance and Rabbi Joseph Krakoff led
them in a prayer for the United States. Starr lit three candles,
one each for New York, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania.
Cantor Meir Finkelstein chanted the memorial prayer that led
into Od Yavo Shalom, an Israeli song about peace. Starr con-
cluded the ceremony with the sounding of a shofar — a call to
action.
"In remembering the tragedy of Sept. 11," Starr said, "we are

Rabbi Aaron Starr blows the shofar in
commemoration of the 10th anniversary
of the 9-11 tragedy.

Andrea Wolf with her daughters Jordyn, Lindsey and Barri,
and Dalia Michaelson, all of Huntington Woods

called to action and to community. And this is what religious
school is about for us: learning that leads to action and the
value of a strong synagogue community."
Students and parents then learned to sing a new version of
Pitchu Li, a biblical quotation referring to "Shaarey Zedek —
Gates of Righteousness," set to music by Finkelstein in honor of
the congregation's 150th anniversary.
The day ended with a community barbecue, including an
interactive performance by circus entertainers. II

Paul Schwarzbaum of West Bloomfield
and his daughter, Dalia

Smooth

Transition

Kol Ami's popular

Camp Shabbat bridges

summer and the holidays.

A

group of more than 50 con-
gregants gathered Sept. 10 for
worship and fun at Temple Kol
Ami's 5th Annual Camp Shabbat. After a
summer of vacation and camp, everyone
(adults included) was encouraged to wear
their favorite camp T-shirt for this festive
"welcome back" Shabbat.
Rabbi Norm Roman, Cantorial Soloist
Tiffany Green and members of Kol Ami
Temple Youth (KATY) led the song-filled
service, where everyone also was encour-
aged to give a "shout-out" to their camp.
Following the service, everyone enjoyed
a camp-style dinner of hot dogs, s'mores
and more. Kol Ami strives to create inno-
vative ways to engage children in Jewish
life, and Camp Shabbat has proven to be
a very popular event that brings its youth
into the synagogue for worship and fun in
a casual, comfortable setting — a perfect
way to end summer and enter the holiday
season.

❑

Michael and Julie Flashner and Nena Chudnof, all of West Bloomfield, and Kol
Ami membership chair Cynthia Katz of Bloomfield Township prepare s'mores.

Max Gorman and Madeline Urban, both of
West Bloomfield, are ready to chomp down
some more s'mores!

Erin Vinsky, Evan Flashner, Allie Canner and Claire Taigman, all of West
Bloomfield

Rabbi Norman Roman and Cantorial Soloist
Tiffany Green

September 22 • 2011

19