metro >> on the cover

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amarack Camps
.t.totek ANNIVERSARY

Relive, Renew & Reconnect!

Big Future In Store

Growing Orthodox shul is moving to
a shopping center site in Southfield.

Shelli Liebman Dorfman I Contributing Writer

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Tamarack Camps
Havdalah Alumni Reunion

Saturday, September t 5th
Camp Maas
Begins at 9 p.m.

Celebrate Tamarack. Camps' 1 10th Anniversary
like a true camper. Relive your memories
for a night! Bring your old bunkmates, nev,
bunkmates, counselors and friends. There will
be s'mores, euchre, bug juice, campfires, a
Havdalah service and more.

Song session featuring Scott Stern, Cantor
Bradley Hyman and other former song leaders

Optional sleepover xvith :ontinental breakfast

Reserve early, space is limited!

Must be 21 & older to attend

$36 per person or $50 per person with sieepover
Register ww‘v<tantarAciwartips romihaVdalah

Recomlec t

\kith C

Visit wkvw,tarnarackcarrips.cclifi Or COiltaCt US a
CarlipS.COM or 248,647,110
111111111@tiLI

14

August 16 = 2012

JN

"We began looking at property and
consulting with the city over a year
ago:' said Ephraim (Neil) Singal of
Southfield, an Ahavas Olam member
and project consultant for the new
building.
"We found
that many young,
Orthodox families
— including our
members — are liv-
ing in the 10 Mile-
Greenfield area of
Southfield; however,
there are few syna-
Nell Singal
gogues in the city.
It is not uncommon
that many of our congregants walk
over a mile to our current location:"
Ahavas Olam plans to purchase the
entire building and use all the space
not leased to other businesses, which
they expect will give them about
10,000 square feet for their current
needs. Much of the mall has been
vacant for several years. There are
multiple retail businesses on the east
side of the building that plan to remain
after the purchase; they would then
lease their space from Ahavas Olam.
"The building is perfect for us in
terms of size, parking and location;
however, there was much discussion
as it is currently zoned for commercial
and retail use and not religious use,"
Singal said.
During a June 11 Southfield City
Council meeting, members and other
elected city officials voiced support
for the synagogue. Councilman Myron
Frasier recognized that as the tax-
exempt congregation grows, members
will seek homes in the adjacent neigh-
borhoods.
Council President Pro Tem Sidney
Lantz cited that the taxes new families
will pay will double or triple what is
being lost when the property comes
off the tax roll, helping to stabilize the
area.
At a public hearing on July 30, the
Southfield City Council unanimously
voted to allow Ahavas Olam to use the
property for religious services, educa-
tion classes and other programming.

Much Needed Space
"Owning this property will be a major
piece of the puzzle for us," Singal said.
"We are in definite need of more

space. We are currently occupying
1,500 square feet and many weeks it's
difficult to get a seat on Shabbos with
nearly 100 seats in the men's section.
"The growth of young families in
the area is tremendous," he said. "We
could see an immediate increase of 50
percent participation once we have the
room."
Because of space constraints, cur-
rent programming is limited, with
much of it including only the center's
men. "The goal is not just to move
into a large beautiful building for the
sake of moving
into a new build-
ing," said Ahavas
Olam President
Gabi Grossbard of
Southfield. "Our
goal is to have the
space to provide
Gabi
spiritual growth
Grossbard
programming for
the entire family,
with women's, children's and family
programs."
Said Singal, "All of this helps fulfill
the mission of being a Torah center."
Their hope is to move into the new
space by mid-2013, with a five-year
goal to take over the entire building,
which will house a sanctuary, social
hall and classrooms. Exterior modifi-
cations will include a formal entrance
and metallic panels covering the win-
dows to match the color of the brick.
"There are other synagogues, yeshi-
vas and kollels in the city:' Singal said
of the organization's unique mission.
"However, the Ahavas Olam Torah
Center was created with a focus on
working families, to assist them with
spiritual growth"
Under the leadership of founding
Rabbi Simcha Klein ("Rav Simcha"),
they hold regular religious services,
shiurim (religious topic discourse) and
individual learning sessions, as well as
programs open to the public held most
evenings — sometimes drawing sev-
eral hundred participants.
"We are here, not for children or for
adults who dedicate their entire days
to Torah study, but for the working
professional adults and their families,"
Grossbard said. "All of our programs,
lectures and study sessions are sched-
uled around the working man, on
weekends, early mornings, late nights
and holidays."

