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Harriet Remer of West Bloomfield practices her newly acquired computer
skills under the watchful eye of Zach Jirik, 18, of West Bloomfield.

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ech Connect

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Adat Shalom teens help seniors
learn computer skills.

•

Judy Marx

I Special to the Jewish News

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36 May 16 • 2013

IN

dat Shalom Synagogue in
Farmington Hills is pioneering
an inventive program — Tech
Connect — that taps into the collective
wisdom of its young "techies" and offers
a new service to adult members of the
congregation who can benefit from their
computer expertise.
Earlier this spring, synagogue members
were asked: Is your computer fighting
you? Do the two of you have issues?
The response was a resounding yes.
Jodi Gross, associate director of educa-
tion and youth, set a goal of 10 adults to
be partnered with 10 savvy young volun-
teers, using laptops from the synagogue's
computer lab. It was a tight squeeze, but
12 learners were matched with instructors
from grades 5-11.
Together, the computer partners
attended two workshops last month where
they received a wealth of information on
email and Internet basics, connecting
online to their out-of-town families, using
Facebook, shopping online, searching for
information via the Internet and more.
Rabbi Jason Miller, president of Access
Computer Technology, set the tone for the
program at the first workshop on April 14.
"I spend quite a bit of time helping
synagogues and Jewish nonprofits around
the country navigate the digital age, so
ifs wonderful to see a local congregation
like Adat Shalom pioneer a program like
Tech Connect:' Miller explained. "More
than simply a technology program, it
brings together two generations that are
miles apart in terms of tech comfort level.
Watching the teens help the seniors is a
prime example of midor l'dor — from gen-
eration to generation':
Sixteen-year-old Daniel Chandross
served as Tech Connect's youth leader,
preparing a study guide and glossary, then
demonstrating his tech wizardry as facili-
tator of the second workshop.

A

Many of the young instructors have
worked out a schedule of home visits so
the learners can receive additional person-
al instruction on their own computers.
Ben Fisher, 14, says, "I have enjoyed
using my strengths to help others, while
learning at the same time
Harriet Gelfond of West Bloomfield
says Fisher is "extremely helpful and a
very good teacher."
Ruby Kushner of Farmington Hills was
thrilled to receive computer training from
14-year-old Margo Dickstein. "Margo
is kind, patient and knowledgeable
Kushner said.
Sy Lusky of West Bloomfield discovered
that he has "a lot to learn, but I'm begin-
ning to gain confidence and not be afraid
of my computer anymore
A Tech Connect committee member
said: "All of us have heard if you have a
problem with your computer, just ask a
kid. So we did. And doggone if it didn't
work! These young people are extraordi-
narily skillful — and darn nice to perform
a mitzvah like this."
Gross observed, "The teen volunteers
were amazing. They knew how to respect-
fully help adults who have limited knowl-
edge or ease using technology. I am not
sure who benefited more, the adults or the
teens.
"Thanks to our student volunteers, their
adult partners are connecting with long-
lost friends via Facebook, Skyping with
out-of-town relatives, using more apps on
their smartphones, downloading photos
of grandkids and much more:'
Tech Connect is an adjunct activity of
Adat Shalom's new Tikkun Adat program.
Supported by the Harold Dubin Memorial
Tikkun Adat Fund, the multifaceted,
volunteer-driven initiative aims to con-
nect synagogue members who can lend a
hand to those who would appreciate some
hands-on assistance. ❑

Judy Marx is communications director for
Adat Shalom Synagogue.

