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Special Party
Akiva preschoolers celebrate with their grandparents from near and far.
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Left: (clockwise) Daphna and Joel Feldman of West Bloomfield and Robin Bodek-Rosenbaum of Teaneck, N.J., celebrate Akiva's
Grandparents Day with grandchildren Ami, 2, and Nava Feldman, 5, of Huntington Woods. Middle: Ilene and Kenny Keller of New
York share a snack with their grandson, "Lightning McQueen," also known as Nachi Ney, 4, of Southfield. Right: Elaine and
Harvey Sabbota of Southfield enjoy the program with their grandson Micah Adler, 6, of Southfield.
P ho tos by Re becca P izzo
n March 9, Shushan Purim,
grandparents, aunts, uncles
and special friends of the
Early Childhood Center (ECC) at Akiva
Hebrew Day School in Southfield were
honored at a breakfast. Students and
faculty of the ECC all came in costume;
many superheroes were seen. Guests
were treated to a bagel breakfast, a
Purim sing-a-long with music specialist
Galina Feldman, a video presentation
of all the students dressed in their
Purim finery, and a project to create
hamantashen necklaces, invented by
a loving grandma of one of the ECC
children. ❑
'Beauty And The Beast'
Hillel musical marks retirement of director Lash.
Rick Sherline, a music festival chair,
with performer Noa and Mark Lit, JCC
executive director
ik
The cast during a musical number
D
isney's classic fairytale Beauty
and The Beast played to sold-
out audiences at Hillel Day
School in Farmington Hills on March
15 and 18. More than 70 students in
grades 5-8 worked together to produce
the musical. Nearly 60 young actors and
a 10-student production crew worked
under the direction of Robin Beth Lash,
Hillen music teacher.
Traditionally, eighth-graders receive
the lead roles in Hillers spring musicals.
Eden Lichterman played Belle beauti-
fully; Michael Gould mastered the Beast,
and Yoni Weiss embodied the role of the
antagonist Gaston. Sarah Fradkin, Claire
Schlussel, Sam Kole and Jaynie Karp gave
enchanting portrayals of Lumiere, Mrs.
Potts, Cogsworth and Chip, respectively.
These performances were bittersweet
as Beauty and The Beast was the last
musical that Lash will produce and
direct. She worked with student direc-
tor Rikki Bergman this year. Lash will
continue to teach music at Hillel, but
decided after 24 years this would be her
last production.
"I have witnessed, for so many years,
the effect that being in a musical has
had on individual children," she said.
20
April 5 . 2012
Patron Night
Blooms honored at JCC
music fest with a concert
Sarah and Harold Gottlieb with Carol
Weintraub Fogel, center
by Noa and Mira Awad.
p
Eden Lichterman sings as Belle.
"Their confidence soars as they dis-
cover hidden talents. They begin to
understand what it means to be part
of an ensemble. I am grateful to have
had the artistic freedom to create last-
ing memories and grow professionally.
I know I am leaving this program in
capable hands."
Also providing invaluable assistance
were Miriam Gould, choreographer,
Lezlie Mostyn, scenery director, and
Butch Friedman, set director. El
atron Night at the Detroit Jewish
Community Center Stephen
Gottlieb Music Festival on
March 17 featured a culturally diverse
program by Israeli superstar Noa and
her special guest Mira Awad, an Arab
Israeli singer, actress and songwriter.
Before their performance, Douglas
and Barbara Bloom of Birmingham
were honored for their continuous
support to the JCC and the Jewish
community. He is current president of
the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit. Those who take their children
to the mitzvah factory at the JCC in
preparation for Passover are partaking
of a program generously funded by the
Blooms.
After the show, patrons enjoyed
drinks and desserts in Handleman
Hall, and were able to visit with the
performers. E
Noa, Joyce Lit of Commerce, Linda Levy
of Farmington Hills and Israeli guitarist
Gil Dor