JEWISH SEN OR LIFE Marc Rothenberg; 4, Tal Barak, 4ndi LT- 'Rothenberg; - Dudik Avirbach and Ben of Me ropolitan Detroit - Rothenberg, community 1„,. for their pport of older adults and wishesyou a happy, healthy and sweet New Year, 5773 Tamarack staffers enjoy time spent with a Michigan family. Nancy Siegel Heinrich President Rochelle Upfal Shelli Liebman Dorfman Carol Rosenberg hief Executive Officer Contributing Writer Director, JSL Foundation y Officers Sr Board of Directors A. Alfred Taubman Jewish Community Campus 1540• West Ten Mile Road Oak Pk, Ml 48237 Eugene & Marcia Appleb Jewish Community C 6710 West M West Bloomfield, JEWISH SENIOR LIFE Programs Residences • Services 248.661.1836 • www.jslmi.org 1777340 SHOLEM ALEICHEM INSTITUTE , invite you to join them at their 411.011 . HOLIDAY A.,. to be held at C. ARD LAKE MIDDLE SCNO 6000 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield ROSH HASHANA: MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 1 2011(9:30 AM - 12 NOON KOL NIDRE: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2012 (8 PM - 10:00 PM) Featuring an Assembly of Readings and Music YOM KIPPUR: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012 (9:30 AM - 12 NOON) As Always No Ticket Required m.ripiq r tries welcome. Call Institute Office (248) 423-4406 52 September 13 2012 ear-round Andi and Marc Rothenberg have two kids: Kari, 24, and Ben, 22. But come summer, the West Bloomfield family expands with a trio of Tamarack Camps staffers Andi refers to as "my boys." They've been inviting friends who've worked with Ben at the Ortonville camp into their home since 2008. For two years, Tom Sinclair of Manchester, England, along with Israelis Dudik Avirbach and Tal Barak, have spent time at the house before and after camp and on days off. "Sometimes we come home and they're here, even when Ben isn't," Andi said. "We want to give them whatever they need; drive them around, go to dinner ... We do everything for them as we would do for our own children. And it is very sad when we take them back; it feels like we are taking one of our kids," she said. "The boys" say the rapport goes far beyond a place to sleep. "The relationship I have with the Rothenbergs is precious:' said Avirbach, 25, a Technion Israel Institute of Technology student, who lives in Adi, outside Haifa. "They are my family in Michigan, and I love them very much. They treat me so well; I feel so very welcome at their house. Andi's always taking my laundry — and doing it with pleasure. We always talk to them, sitting in the living room and sharing about my summer and life:" Ben said, "We do regular things. We have barbecues, go to the movies or the mall, hang out with friends. We all spent Father's Day together." For the past three years, Sinclair, 21, has worked in the camp's water ski area. "The Rothenbergs always invited me 'round and made me feel welcome he said. Avirbach, who staffed a Tamarack Western Trip this summer, learned about Tamarack when he was a camp- er in 2002, among the first group of Israeli kids sent from the partnership region, he said, of the Israeli Camper Program, a partnership of Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, Tamarack Camps and the Detroit Partnership 2GETHER Region of the Central Galilee in Israel. Now that camp has ended, the guys have been exploring Michigan and other parts of the country. Sinclair spent last week in Chicago and New York. "Every year after camp I always stay for a little bit:' Avirbach said. "Last year, Tal and I did a coast-to-coast trip for a month, which was amaz- ing. This year I stayed a little bit at the Rothenbergs and then helped Ben move to East Lansing (he is a senior at Michigan State University) and stayed there for the weekend." The boys would like to host their American "family" in their homes, too. Ben hopes to spend time visiting and touring Israel following graduation. "The Rothenbergs have become like a family to me Sinclair said. "We have a lot of fun together, and I would love them to come and stay with me in England as a way to return the favor." In the meantime, they all stay con- nected online. "We talk on Facebook or video chat all the time said Ben, who spent six summers working at camp and was a Tamarack camper for seven years before that. "You spend so much time with them during the summer and become very close." When Ben participated on Taglit- Birthright Israel in May 2011, both Barak, 24, and Avirbach made sure they saw him. Last summer, Sinclair visited Kari, who lives in Chicago, after camp ended. "There will definitely be a void at the Rothenberg home when they all go back," Andi said. "We will truly miss each one. They are more than visitors when they are here. They became part of our family." ❑