metro
Sheri Langwald at
The World of Travel
Everyone from page 8
DEAL OF THE MONT
Book any
6 night
or longer
cruise
to the
Caribbean
or
Bermuda
-,po■
Hudsi Rosenberg, 16, Oak Park; Zach Herschfus, 15, Southfield; Chanie
Shevin, Oak Park; and Bayla Hochheiser, Oak Park, assistant director of
Yachad Detroit
SAILING JULY 1 - SEPTEMBER 30, 2013 AND RECEIVE
Dinner for 2 in a Specialty Restaurant
A Complimentary Spa Treatment
An Onboard Value Coupon Book
Applies to new bookings only reserved and deposited by May 16, 2013
po The World of Travel
860 West Long Lake Road Suite 100
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302
4cial
248-203-0022
sheri@askouragents.com
1834070
U
No
A J E
te •
eWi%
presents
4, at
'
DAISM
a distinguished speakers series
RABBI SIMON
JACOBSON
Rabbi Simon Jacobson is author of
the best-selling "Toward a Meaningful
Life" and one of Newsweek's
Top 50 Rabbis in America.
"The Future of the Jewish People: A Frank
Discussion on Jewish Relevance to Our Lives"
He also is head of the Meaningful
Life Center, a New York-based
MONDAY, MAY 6, 2013
7:3o P.M.
organization that works to bridge
the secular and the spiritual.
The Berman Center for the PerformingArts
Join us for the final
lecture in this series:
Jewish Community Center • West Bloomfield
With a steep decline in Jewish affiliation
and 50% intermarriage, everyone is
searching for the solution to Jewish
continuity. A disparity exists between
Jewish tradition and personal relevance.
This lecture will address the single, most
important challenge of our times:
Can Judaism be personally relevant,
spiritually passionate and fashionable?
MAY 20
Rabbi Shai Held
"What Are Human Beings For?
What the Bible Really Means
When it Tells Us We Are Created
in the Image of God"
CENTER MEMBERS
$9/lecture per person
NON - MEMBERS
$11/lectu re per person
For more information
Co-sponsored by Institute for Retired Professionals (IRP),
or to register,
The Shul and Walking Home
visit theberman.org or call
The Berman box office at
Following the lecture, please join us for a dessert reception,
248.661.1900.
book sale and signingwith Rabbi Jacobson.
All tickets will be held at will-call.
IMGD, CE
JR :03i3
THECENTER
The Jewish rederTtl'o71
OF METROPOLITAN DETROIT
SAJE is endowed by a generous gift from Cis Maisel Kellman
Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit
D. Dan & Betty Kahn Building
Eugene & Marcia Applebaum Jewish Community Campus
6600 W. Maple Road • West Bloomfield, MI 48322
www.jccdet.org
10
May 2 • 2013
men to approve new legislation that
will help enhance the lives of the spe-
cial needs population:' Zach said.
The high school board works
together to plan events with the hope
of expanding the Detroit chapter.
"It makes me, and individuals with
special needs, feel part of our commu-
nity:' Alyssa said.
The board works to recruit vol-
unteers as well as plan and publicize
programs and events. A Facebook
page notifies participants of upcoming
activities.
Being part of Yachad "teaches all
kinds of kids in our community how to
associate with a large range of people
and how to be open-minded to new
situations:' Yardena said. "The volun-
teering process is a mutual relation-
ship on both sides, teaching patience,
friendship and commitment"
Noah said, "I feel as if we make a
humungous impact on the lives of our
participants, and they make a huge
impact on our lives, too. We strive
to include each and every one and
become friends with them:'
The largely volunteer-driven group
attracts about 10-15 high school- and
college-age volunteers on a regular
basis.
"Our programs are very interactive,
and watching everyone ask or answer
questions is amazing," Hochheiser said.
"They are truly learning something.
Their faces light up when they walk
into the room. When we get together
we are all the same. We don't look at
differences; we look at similarities:'
Being Involved
"Right at the start, someone asked,
`Would Danny like to go to an NCSY
Shabbaton?"' Linda Friedman said. "He
was so excited to go. He went to Oak
Park and stayed at someone's home
and went to programming in one of
the synagogues. When I picked him
up, everyone was singing and danc-
ing, and the warmth and Judaism and
acceptance just embraced him.
"Tears came to my eyes; he was so
happy.
"Danny got a sweatshirt at the
Shabbaton that he calls his Yachad
sweatshirt. When he goes to Yachad
programs, he puts it on:'
Yachad is involved with the
Orthodox Union's NCSY group in other
programming as well.
Holiday activities, attendance at
community events and monthly out-
ings, like a scavenger hunt at a local
mall, also take place. Tickets donated
by a member of the Sara Tugman
Bais Chabad Torah Center in West
Bloomfield, where Gross is a past
president, allowed the Yachad group
to attend a Detroit Pistons basketball
game together on buses provided by
another member.
Each Thursday evening, Parsha and
Pizza is held as a combination dinner-
study program at Jerusalem Pizza in
West Bloomfield.
Founded by Gross, it includes both
pizza and a study session of the week's
Torah portion.
"We print out sheets and go around
the table and those who can read stand
up and participate Gross said. "I'll tell
the story about the parshah (weekly
Torah portion), and we'll have a dis-
cussion and make a project related to
what we learned:'
About 10-12 participants attend
each week with the same amount of
peer volunteers. Lazar, Hochheiser and
some of the volunteers typically drive
members coming from Oak Park and
Southfield, but some parents and sib-
lings stay for the program.
"This amazing program has broken
down the boundaries, so that the spe-
cial needs population can participate
in religious and social activities, and
expand their network of friends:' Zach