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