metro

•
Event co-chair

Karen Borenstein

and event founder

•Elyse Foltyn, both of

Birmingham, at the

Feb. 13 patron event

at Neiman Marcus

Temple Beth El to display creative tablescapes to celebrate the holiday.

Ronelle Grier

Contributing Writer

T

hose who want to add a creative
twist to the traditional Seder table
will find a wealth of ideas at the
fourth annual "Passover Tables" event at
Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Hills on
March 13 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
The program will feature approximately
20 Passover tablescapes created by profes-
sional interior designers as well as mem-
bers of the community, including several
mother-daughter and other family "teams."
Each table will have its own unique
theme and accompanying decor while
incorporating traditional Passover items
such as the Seder plate and Elijah's cup.
Guests will enjoy cocktails and small plates
catered by Zack Sklar of Cutting Edge
Cuisine while they glean decorating ideas
from the various table designs, which
range from whimsical to traditionally
elegant.
Elyse Foltyn, chair of the Temple Beth

El Education Committee, founded the
event four years ago, as a way to support
the synagogue's religious school. Fellow
synagogue member Fair Radom was her
co-chair.
Foltyn said she got the idea after attend-
ing an exhibit of Seder plates at a Jewish
museum in San Francisco and decided to
bring an expanded version of the concept
to Metro Detroit. Participants and guests
enjoyed the first program so much that it
became an annual event.
Karen Borenstein of Birmingham is
chair of this year's Passover Tables, with Jill
Syme and Carol Ziecik, both of Bloomfield
Hills, serving as honorary chairs.
"This event is about beauty and tradi-
tion:' said Borenstein, who was one of
the table designers during the past three
events. "It is about incorporating your
most heartfelt decorative or family pieces
into a tablescape that reflects your own
special history or makes a bold state-
ment ... The tables will provide guests a
venue to gather table-setting ideas and

Tessa Goldberg, Farmington; Anne Weiner, Bloomfield
Hills; Rabbi Keren Alpert, Grosse Pointe Farms

14 March 7 • 2013

to see dramatic artistic interpretations of
Passover:'
Patrons of the program attended a pre-
lude event on Feb. 13 at Neiman Marcus in
Troy, where design experts demonstrated
ways to add new twists to the traditional
Passover table using color, innovative
floral arrangements, and eclectic combina-
tions of dinnerware and serving pieces.
Attendees were shown how to use their
existing dishes, table linens and other
items in new and unexpected ways, such
as mixing and matching china patterns
within the same place setting or placing
flowers in a serving bowl. Bold colors were
used liberally on the sample tablescapes,
as were candles in a variety of shapes and
sizes.
Nicole Lester of Bloomfield Hills, who
attended the patron prelude program, is
looking forward to designing a Passover
table for the first time. She and her
sister-in-law, Stephanie Freeman, also of
Bloomfield Hills, will be working together
on their design, which incorporates a chil-

Arlene Keller, Bloomfield Hills; Heidi Kreindler,
Birmingham; Nella Waitzman, Franklin

dren's theme.
"It will be colorful and fun:' said Lester.
Neiman Marcus has assisted with the
program since it began four years ago,
lending an extensive array of merchandise
as well as design expertise to help make
the program successful. On the day of the
prelude event, the retailer also donated a
portion of the proceeds from purchases
made by Temple Beth El members to the
synagogue's religious school.
"Neiman Marcus has been wonderfully
receptive to us from the beginning; said
Foltyn. "They are a wonderful corporate
partner and community supporter."
Lil Erdeljan of Bloomfield Hills, who
hosted the first prelude event at her home
four years ago, is looking forward to the
March 13 program.
"It's a fun, creative evening that helps
support the education of our Jewish chil-
dren; she said.
For tickets and information, call (248)
865-0617 and press 2.

❑

Seder Table on page 16

Treger Strasberg, Birmingham; Nicole Lester,
Bloomfield Hills; Liz Modell, Bloomfield Hills