metro >> around town

What A Palooza!

Temple Israel throws high-spirited adult Purim party, complete with spiel.

he frivolity of Purim commanded
the spotlight at Temple Israel's sec-
ond annual adult party celebrating
the holiday on Feb. 23.
During Purim Palooza, 600 partygoers,
some in costume, chose between wine tast-
ing, cooking, salsa dancing and fortune tell-
ing before gathering for the Megillah read-
ing and the clergy-in-costume spiel.
Cantor Michael Smolash, joined in song
by Cantorial Soloist Neil Michaels, wrote
the script for the lighthearted, irreverent
musical-telling of the Purim story.
Rabbis Harold Loss and Paul Yedwab
played the cranky old men in the balcony
on The Muppet Show. Rabbi Joshua Bennett
played Captain Mordechai. Rabbi Jennifer
Kaluzny played Queen Esther and also was
puppeteer for Miss Piggy. Rabbi Jennifer
Lader played Queen Vashti. Rabbi Marla
Hornsten narrated.
Rabbi Arianna Gordon, the West
Bloomfield synagogue's education direc-
tor, coordinated the festivities. Dancing
to DJ music provided by Joe Cornell
Entertainment in Southfield followed.
The pre-event video was featured on
Maariv online (see "Move Like Graggers
Remix" on youtube.com). "Maariv had
a fun story about how Progressive Jews
[Reform Jews] celebrate Purim in America
with our male and female rabbis, our can-
tors and others" Smolash said. "It is so cool
that a Metro Detroit synagogue can impact
Judaism globally in this way"

❑

- Robert Sklar, contributing editor

Karina Royzenblat and Sergey Maryanovsky,
both of Birmingham, and dance instructor
"Mambo Marci" Iwrey of Novi and Terrence
Lester of Southfield share a salsa lesson.

Rabbi Harold Loss and Rabbi Paul
Yedwab act as the cranky old men in
the balcony on The Muppet Show.

Cantor Michael Smolash and Cantorial Soloist Neil Michaels, foreground,
lead the clergy cast in song. Behind them are Rabbis Joshua Bennett,
Jennifer Kaluzny, Arianna Gordon, Harold Loss and Paul Yedwab.

Dr. Jen Green and Julie August, both of Orchard
Lake, and Wendy Yedwab of Commerce share a
laugh.

Rabbi Arianna Gordon

'Purim At The Ballpark'

Fun At Jewish Senior Life!

Friendship Circle hosts a "baseball" Purim.

Families, volunteers, seniors celebrate Purim.

M

ore than 150 children and
their parents partied during
a specially themed "Purim at
the Ballpark" celebration at Friendship
Circle in West Bloomfield on Feb 24.
Children with special needs and their
families celebrated Purim in a comfort-

able, inclusive environment. They came
dressed up in baseball uniforms and
related attire and participated in several
baseball-themed activities.
They also listened to the Megillah and
baked hamentashen.

❑

Meer Residents Shirley Liner and

Celia Roth

U

Costumed participants Arica Cykiert,

Chloe Grossbard of Southfield gets a

Volunteer Amy Gonte and

Nettie Stein, Fleischman resident, with

Alex Sherman and Josh Greenblatt

hug from the Detroit Tigers Mascot

Fleischman resident Nathan

her daughter and son-in-law, Rochelle and

pose while waiting to hear the Megillah.

PAWS.

Ludman

Jerry Gach

26

March 7 • 2013