metro Join Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit The Maimonides Society of Southeastern Michigan eventive Medicine yolgtegrative inediciewejght maa s exercis et Masa crohn chronic disease healt ting hIPA'.\1101(11ST loodvessure diabete managernui blood d nic disease vegetabl Are We Eating Ourselves to Death? Preventive Medicine & Nutrition featuring Dr. David Katz Leader in integrative medicine and patient-centered care December 15, 2011 • 7 p.m. Birmingham Community House 380 Bates St. • Birmingham, Michigan RSVP by December 8 - wwwjewishdetroitorg/maimonides For more information contact Jeff Lazor, 248.205.2535 or jlazor@jfmd.org Valet parking will be available You will have an opportunity to make a gift to the Jewish Community through Federation's 2012 Annual Campaign. Dr. Les & Dr. Tracey Grosinger Dr. Dan & Cheryl Guyer Dr. Renee Horowitz & Dr. Robert Handelsman Dr. Joel & Karen Kahn Dr. Irvin & Dr. Barbara Kappy Dr. Richard & Betsy Keidan Dr. Robert & Carolyn Kelman Dr. Ronald & Cheryl Kerwin Dr. William & Ellen Kestenberg Dr. Howard Korman & Michal Galazan-Korman Dr. Richard & Sally Krugel Dr. Mark & Estelle Kwartowitz Dr. Kenneth & Kimberly Levin Dr. Jay & Risa Levinson Dr. Steven & Edie Arbit Dr. Eliezer & Pnina Bass Dr. Howard & Jamie Blank Dr. Marc & Michele Borovoy Dr. Warren & Lisa Brandes Dr. Lawrence Dell & Suzanne Daitch Dell Dr. Jeffrey & Debbie Devries Dr. Michael & Norma Dorman Dr. Alan & Joan Feldman Dr. Robert & Dr. Amy Folberg Dr. Jeffrey & Miriam Forman Dr. Conrad & Dr. Lynda Giles Dr. Judie Goodman & Kurt Vilders-Goodman Dr. Richard Stoler & Loren Gordon Dr. Shlomo & Rhonda Mandel Dr. Richard Mark Dr. John & Judith Marx Dr. Steven & Dr. Judith Rapp Dr. Ronald & Cheryl Rasansky Dr. Brian &Victoria Roth Dr. Bruce & Mindy Ruben Dr. Bernard & Donna Rubin Dr. Marc & Meryl Sakwa Dr. Steven & Barbara Shumer Dr. David & Maya Sternberg Dr. Geoffrey & Valerie Trivax Dr. Justin & Jodi Trivax Dr. Richard & Leah Trosch Dr. Sanford & Carol Vieder Dr. Michael & Lori Wayne Dr. Marc & Joanne Weisman Thank you to our corporate partner FIFTH THIRD BANK lj Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit 10 December 8 2011 Mai mon ides Society cf,5'enitheai:eri; JN JFMD 2012 Annual Campaign StepForward Perfect Fit from page 8 sponsored teen missions to Israel. "We encourage parents not to tell their kids they can quit after their bar or bat mitzvahs," Yedwab said. Yedwab is working, along with his Temple Israel colleagues, on a database using iPads to sort and generate infor- mation based on the teens' individual interests. Temple Israel hosts its own 30-piece rock band, Yom Sheini, co-founded by Yedwab's son, Jesse. Yedwab is especially proud of the group's help in creating "Banding Together',' a series of fundraising concerts that benefits various local causes. The first Banding Together, held in May 2009, raised more than $55,000 for local orphaned Jewish children. Another program took place in March 2011 to benefit "Summer in the City," a grassroots organization that uses teen volunteers to improve Detroit neigh- borhoods. "It was amazing — and the kids were unbelievable, writing their own musie,'Yedwab said. Plugging A Gap The popular Shabbat Unplugged, which consists of high-energy, music- driven, soul-filled services led by Yedwab and other clergy, congregants and occasional guests, began as an outreach to younger congregants, but now draws large and enthusiastic crowds of all ages. Yedwab said the Shabbat Unplugged idea arose when the clergy took a hard look at the temple's services and found them wanting. Shabbat Unplugged is but one significant change to infuse more energy, spirituality and medita- tion. "We asked ourselves, 'If we weren't paid to daven [pray] on Friday night, would we still be here?' Our answer was no," Yedwab said. "So we made some changes. We believe that worship can, and should, be energizing, uplift- ing, engaging and fun." A new CD featuring music and prayers from Shabbat Unplugged, a gift to the community from congre- gants Lisa and Scott Stern, was given to everyone who attended Yedstock or the Friday night services honoring the Yedwabs. The CD features a mixture of origi- nal and traditional songs and litanies, many of them composed by Yedwab and Scott Stern, who also sings and plays on the recording. Yedwab jok- ingly describes their collaboration as a "Lennon-McCartney partnership." "He's such a dynamic individual and rabbi: Cantor Smolash said about Yedwab. "Plus, it's nice to work with someone who's so musical, too:' Yedwab's interest in Judaism and in Jewish youth extends beyond Temple Israel to a national level. For example, he serves as co-chair of a Union for Reform Judaism clergy/lay task force dedicated to the revitalization of the Reform youth movement, NFTY (North American Federation of Temple Youth). He's editor of the Rabbinic Vision Initiative's newsletter and past presi- dent of the Michigan Board of Rabbis. Yedwab's father, who was active in a number of social and humanitarian causes, said that he did not assume his son would become a rabbi, but he knew that justice would play a part in whatever career path he chose. "Paul always believed in justice',' said the senior Yedwab. "Amazingly, he wanted to bring justice to everything in his life and the world around him. I knew that somewhere along the way, he would end up doing something to make the world better." Echoes Of Support "The beauty of Paul Yedwab is that he touches people who have nothing to do with the temple,' said Shari Ferber Kaufman of Orchard Lake, who attended Yedstock. "His boundaries reach beyond Temple Israel to the entire community" Temple Israel President Stan Finsilver agrees. "We get more new members because of what our clergy does for them when they're not mem- bers',' he said, adding that Yedwab brings caring and depth to everything he does. "When people say Temple Israel is like a camp, that's him:' "Paul has a great feel for creating a high quality of Jewish life; he thinks big and is a game changer:' said Scott Kaufman, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. "He is a pas- sionate supporter of our community, the State of Israel and the Jewish peo- ple; we are blessed to have him." Larry Brown of West Bloomfield, a Temple Israel member since 1953, remembers when Yedwab walked through the doors for the first time. "As a rabbi and as a person, he's phenomenal:' Brown said. "He's with you through the good times and the bad. What you see is what you get." Serving as a rabbi at a large congrega- tion in the Midwest was not part of his original game plan, but Yedwab is happy about the choice he made 25 years ago. "No matter what people say about Detroit, this is the only city I could see myself spending a lifetime in," he said. "The Jewish community here is so strong and cohesive." f 1 Related story on Yedstock: page 12. Copies of the Shabbat Unplugged CD are available at no charge through the Temple Israel office. Call (248) 661-5700.