DETROIT JEWISH NEWS theJEWISHNEWS.com Arthur M. Horwitz Beth Shalom and Ameinu Host Israeli Educator Congregation Beth Shalom's Circle of Friends is hosting Israeli educator Nir Braudo, currently the World Zionist Organization's director of Diaspora Activities for North America, at an adult learning seminar 10:30 a.m.- noon Sunday, April 28, at the Oak Park synagogue. Bagels and coffee will be available at the free program pertain- ing to the holiday of Lag b'Omer. Prior to WZO, Braudo taught Jewish text through the lens of tikkun olam at BINA, the Center for Jewish Identity and Hebrew Culture, in Tel Aviv- Nir Braudo Jaffa. He is acclaimed for his ability to reach young Jewish adults at a critical time in their lives. Braudo showed Army-age Israelis how Judaism encourages development of a social conscience by teaching Jewish ethics and leading students in service projects to help the local com- munity. Hosted by Ameinu Detroit, Braudo will also appear at an Ameinu gather- ing Friday, April 26, and lead a "Jewish in the Real World" seminar for young adults, 7-9 p.m. April 27, at Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue in Detroit. For more information, contact Esther Allweiss Ingber at (248) 967- 3170 or EstherIngber@gmail.com . Publisher / Executive Editor ahorwitz@renmedia.us Jackie Headapohl Managing Editor jheadapohl©renmedia.us Keri Guten Cohen Story Development Editor kcohen@renmedia.us Gail Zimmerman Arts Editor gzimmerman@renmedia.us Deborah Schultz Corporate Creative Director dschultz@renmedia.us EDITORIAL Senior Copy Editor David Sachs dsachs©renmedia.us Editorial Assistant Sy Manello smanello@renmedia.us Senior Columnist Danny Raskin dannyraskinisbcglobal.net Contributing Editor Robert Sklar rsklar®renmedia.us Contributing Writers Suzanne Chessler Annabel Cohen Don Cohen Shelli Liebman Dorfman sdorfman©thejewishnews.com Ronelle Grier Esther Allweiss Ingber Harry Kirsbaum Lynne Konstantin Rabbi Jason Miller Allan Nahajewski Robin Schwartz Steve Stein sports®thejewishnews.com RED um) Managing Editor Jackie Headapohl jheadapohl®renmedia.us Contributing Editors Gail Zimmerman gzimmerman@renmedia.us Keri Guten Cohen kcohen©renmedia.us Printed In Michigan Curious Talmudic Tales Reveal Mysteries of Life Judaism is full of deeply resonant and transformative wisdom. Some of its most profound ideas about life, the universe, the soul and our relationship with God, however, are encrypted in an unusual place — within peculiar and nonsensical Talmudic tales. The Sara and Morris Tugman Bais Chabad Torah Center in West Bloomfield, in partnership with Jewish Federation of Metro Detroit's Alliance for Jewish Education, will present "Curious Tales of the Talmud: Finding Yourself in the Legends of Our Sages:' a six-session course that begins dur- ing the week of April 21. The course is part of the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI) curriculum. Rabbi Shneur Silberberg of Bais Chabad will conduct the six-course ses- sions, offered twice weekly, Sundays (beginning Apr. 21), 11 a.m. at Bais Chabad Torah Rabbi Shneur Silberberg 6 April 11 • 2013 JN DETROIT JEWISH NEWS frontlines theJEWISHNEWS.com Center and Thursdays (beginning Apr. 25 ), 7 p.m. at the Max M. Fisher Federation Building in Bloomfield Township. Participants will encounter legends of gargantuan sea monsters, impos- sible feats, anthropomorphisms and riddles that challenge the foundations of the Jewish faith. In deciphering the meaning behind these strange epi- sodes, students will discover secrets containing profound insights into the meaning of life. "We'll explore the mystical dimension of the Talmud called the Aggadah," said Rabbi Zalman Abraham of JLI's headquarters in Brooklyn. "This is a chance for the public to unravel layers of personal meaning from texts not usually avail- able to non-scholars:' "Curious Tales of the Talmud" is designed to appeal to people at all levels of Jewish knowledge, including those without any prior experience or background in Jewish learning. Attendees need not be affiliated with a particular synagogue, temple or other house of worship. Interested students may call Rabbi Silberberg at (248) 207-5513 or visit www.baischabad.com/jli for registration and other course-related F. Kevin Browett Chief Operating Officer kbrowett@renmedia.us Keith Farber Sales Director kfarber®renmedia.us Account Executives Ann G. Abrams Jan Haskell Melissa Litvin Ilene Lubin Heidi Martin Rick Nessel Senior Sales Assistant Brigitte Lute BUSINESS OFFICES Customer Service Asst. Jan Shain Billing Coordinator Pamela Turner Collections Analyst Hazel Bender Production By FARAGO & ASSOCIATES Manager Scott Drzewiecki Designers Amy Pollard Pam Sherevan Michelle Sheridan Susan Walker PUBLISHED BY: DOWN-I-OWN SYNAGOGUE RENAISSANCE et1VIEDIA Chairman Michael H. Steinhardt information. Downtown Synagogue Meets Fundraising Goal The Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue (TADS) in Detroit has met its online "Make It History" fundraising goal of $60,000, which will be added to more than $60,000 in offline fundraising to provide for critical capital improve- ments to make the building safer, more functional and inviting. This will include improvements to the exterior of the building (such as a mural), adding a fire escape and bike rack as well as updates to the kitchen and bathroom. Additionally, funds will go toward consulting with area architectural and building firms to create a complete plan for upper floors and the overall facility. LADS members worked hard to get word out about the online fundraiser, drawing an anonymous $5,000 chal- lenge for gifts of $500 or more. With the goal achieved, LADS invited donors and friends to celebrate Tuesday at Cafe D'Mongo Speakeasy, next door to the synagogue. President Arthur M. Horwitz ahorwitz@renmedia.us Chief Operating Officer F. Kevin Browett kbrowett@renmedia.us Controller Craig R. 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