metro

Shir Shalom from page 10

look like a meglllah," he said. "The
pattern of the walkway forms the
leaves of an olive branch:'

Everyone Is Welcome

"I had three things I wanted when
the temple was created:' Schwartz
said. "I wanted a congregation
that was post-denominational,
that could identify as Reform, but
with as many elements of other
Jewish denominations as possible.
I wanted everything that happened
to be the result of everyone doing
what they could to make it hap-
pen; for everybody to benefit from
the relationship. And I wanted the
rabbi to be the moving force of the
congregation rather than just an
employee:'
Rabbis Daniel Schwartz,
A major component of the plan
Dannel Schwartz and
was to be a place where every indi-
Michael Moskowitz
vidual is made to feel welcome,
accepted and comfortable.
"As much as a synagogue should
He helped create alternative, experiential
be a center for all Jews, everyone should
educational programs, mostly with youth.
feel at home at any place of worship:'
"First we moved our seventh- and
Schwartz said. Shir Shalom's logo incorpo-
eighth-graders out of the Sunday school
rates symbols of several religions.
into a curriculum that includes an infor-
Yartzheit tablets for people of all faiths
mal camp-style retreat program, along
are placed outside the building. "That is
with social action projects:' Moskowitz
so everyone can see them:' Schwartz said.
said. "We've sorted food at Yad Ezra and
"The highest point of the Jerusalem stone
made a meal with our caterer [Zack Sklar
that decorates the exterior is the interfaith
of Cutting Edge Cuisine], and then took
garden with a purpose of teaching that the
it to Ronald McDonald House in Detroit,
true essence of a temple is to be a house of along with students' families.
prayer for all peoples.
"When Rabbi Daniel Schwartz came
"Those who are not of the Jewish faith
on board in 2007, we started to do it with
who belong to the congregation are not
third-, fourth- and fifth-graders also:'
asked to convert but to accept the Jewish
High schoolers meet with Daniel
people as their people he said. "Most
Schwartz and Moskowitz on Mondays.
often the intent of interfaith couples was
"Each week, we discuss a topic relating
the need for a Jewish education to insure a
to living as a Jew in a non-Jewish world:'
Jewish future for their children:'
Moskowitz said.
He has led a bus on the Teen Mission to
Education For All
Israel, including Shir Shalom youth, every
Education was part of Shir Shalom from
other year since 1996. He also helps staff
Day One.
URJ Goldman Union Camp Institute in
Zionsville, Ind., each summer, with Shir
"We had pre-K through grade 12 classes
right away:' Schwartz said. Once a week,
Shalom kids attending.
With Daniel Schwartz now joining him
the congregation rented vacant space
in various office buildings for religious
in the education programming, Moskowitz
said, "I am now also more involved in
school classes, moving as the office space
was rented out. "And while the kids were
leadership and development as well as
visioning for the future:'
in school, parent workshops were held in
the restaurant next door, which was closed
Having worked extensively with youth,
on Sunday mornings," he said.
Daniel Schwartz also oversees the temple's
The synagogue now has a preschool,
chapter of the North American Federation
run by Early Childhood Learning Director
of Temple Youth (NFTY).
Marsha Mitnick. The religious school, with
Hebrew and Judaic education for students
Engaging, Musical Services
in pre-K through high school, is overseen
Dannel Schwartz created innovative and
by Principal Cheryl Blau. B'nai mitzvah
spiritual services that continue today.
tutoring and adult continuing education
"My great colleagues and I work as a team
programming are offered, and the rabbis
and continue Dannel's guided meditation at
organize a weekly Shabbat study group
every single service," Moskowitz said. "And
and an online learning resource.
we do it to the music of Penny Steyer. I love
A Shir Shalom rabbi since his ordina-
doing it; it helps my own worship.
tion in 1995, Michael Moskowitz said,
"We have also tried a yoga service with
"Education always has been my priority:"
breathing exercises and, when there's

12

May 16 • 2013

nothing on the calendar, we'll go outside
and find different ways to reach people
during the service."
"Shir Shalom means 'Song of Peace:"
Moskowitz said. "And
that's very much a part
of who we are in our
worship. We want con-
gregants to feel engaged
and also feel comfort-
able. Many non-Jews
walk through our door
and should also feel
Cantor Penny
comfortable.
Steyer
"When the clergy is on
the bimah and Penny is
singing, we are doing what we love as well
as being spiritually connected with the
congregation through prayer, learning and
music, which are highlights of the service."
A producer, arranger, voice teacher and
choral conductor, Steyer came to the tem-
ple in 1990, where she created an all-vol-
unteer music program with Shir Shalom's
Shabbat Choir, High Holy Day Choir and
Youth Choirs as well as multiple instru-
mental ensembles, including the Shir
Klezmer Band, the All Stars Jazz Ensemble
and the Shabbat Guitar Group.

Shir Shalom's board of directors is led by
Lloyd Doigan. A member of the congrega-
tion for 17 years, involvement was seren-
dipitous for his family. "We moved here
from Connecticut, and Shir Shalom was
the only place we could get a bar mitzvah
date for our son," Doigan said. "But my
wife and I were drawn in by the rabbis,
their accessibility, optimism and how they
push the joy of Judaism. And we were
enamored with Penny's voice.
"Our children were all involved in the
temple religious school, and my wife was
in the sisterhood. We walked into a great
thing. We had the opportunity to go back

to Connecticut after three
years, but one reason we stayed
was because of temple."
Involved in the community,
Shir Shalom hosts the annual
Walk for Israel, based at the
synagogue and led by Executive
Director Andre Douville.
Looking ahead, Moskowitz
said, "I want to bring camp
more and more to all things we
create:'
Looking way ahead, he said,
"I would love to have a camp of
our own and have adult retreats
to connect the community of
adults and bring the joy kids
get at camp to them. Since
2009, we've been having board
of directors retreats every year.
In addition to practical leader-
ship, we are studying together
and learning what is meaning-
ful to us."
In a synagogue where tikkun
olam (repairing the world) is paramount,
he said, "I want the future of the congrega-
tion to include more volunteering using
social action and to grow the projects we
have now
"I want to see the joy that is inherent in
Judaism to be what we always celebrate
and bring into our lives. That is what our
prayer should be. And that is what our
programs should promote — that we are
a faith that gives us hope and joy, even in
the most difficult of times:'
Like others from the synagogue's found-
ing families, the Lynns spent the past
25 years involved at Shir Shalom. Both
Dr. Norman and Dee Dee Lynn sat on
the board, their children attended reli-
gious school and their membership now
includes four generations, along with their
son-in-law and his family.
"At the start, we didn't know where the
planning would take us:' Norman Lynn
said. "It took hard work by a lot of people
for us to grow to the level where we are
now. Thank God, it was a great success:'
Inside the temple is a constant reminder
of where the congregation began. Hanging
on the wall of the office suite are rows of
framed copies of those IN ads that ran in
the early days of the synagogue that still is
what it started out to be.
It remains, as its official temple descrip-
tion describes: "A house of study, a house
of prayer and a house of meeting designed
for people who wish to share a warmth of
heart and spirit:'

❑

For information on Temple Shir
Shalom or on the Saturday, May
18, fundraising comedy event, call
(248) 737-8700. Cost is $75, includ-
ing comedy show ticket, appetizers,
cocktails and dessert. Doors open at
6:30 p.m.; show at 8 p.m.

