Bergman Porretta Eye Center EXCEPTIONAL EYECARE WITH A CLEAR FOCUS later. She moved to pre-Israel Palestine and devoted the rest of her life assisting wave after wave of immigrants as a social worker at absorption centers. Stephanie — whose Hebrew name is Klara Shifra — is named for her great-aunt. From her very first breath in the delivery room of Sinai Hospital on June 11, 1991, Stephanie's personal path has been shaped and influenced by our Detroit Jewish community. She was named at Beth Abraham Hillel Moses, where she also attended preschool. She pressed apples and assembled Purim parcels through the innovative Jewish Experiences for Families program. She welcomed Shabbat, as a child and most recently as a counselor, at Fresh Air Society's Family Camps in Ortonville. She developed a slightly Sephardic Hebrew accent thanks to her wonderful teachers and Jewish education at Hillel Day School. She was a regular visitor and friend to the men at the Epstein home operated by JARC and loved when they came to our home for Sukkot and Chanukah for food and fun. Her summers were filled with adventure at Tamarack Camps, transitioning from happy camper to Western U.S. and Alaska hiker to even happier counselor. Her bat mitzvah was celebrated at Shaarey Zedek-B'nai Israel Center and again on Masada in Israel. She expanded her formal Jewish education, and love for Israel, as a student at the Frankel Jewish Academy. Her leadership skills were shaped by Michigan Region BBYO, where she was the founding president of Emunah BBG and later regional president. And, of course, her views of the Jewish community and world were shaped by her weekly readership of the Jewish News! Four years at the University of Michigan brought her through the doors of the Berman Hillel facility, leading Carlebach-style Kabbalat Shabbat services. It was during her junior-year semester at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem that she decided she would return as a citizen of Israel via the Garin Tzabar-Lone Soldier program. During her final year at the University of Michigan, she and her friend, Ariella Yedwab, served as recruiters for an array of college and post-college programs available via Masa Israel Journey, a joint project of the government of Israel and the Jewish Agency for Israel. Twenty-three students or recent graduates of the University of Michigan are heading to Israel as a result of their efforts. While we are filled with pride and admiration for our daughter, whose commitment to Israel is strong enough to separate from family and friends, we recognize that her path and story attest to the important role our Detroit Jewish community played in bringing us to this happy occasion. These days, we see other communities continuing to fragment around us. What continues to make Detroit's Jewish community strong and resil- NAVE A HAPPY! ient is that the sum of its parts remains greater than any indi- vidual, agency or school. Best wishes from the Horwitz family, in Detroit and now Israel, for a healthy, fulfilling and safe New Year. May DRYBONES.COM we always appre- \ / ciate the impor- tance of family and community in our individual journeys. RONALD H. BERGMAN, M.D. ANTHONY C PORRETTA, M.D. ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE ARRIVAL OF STEPHEN M. TAIT, M.D., PhD. • • • • ACCEPTING MOST FORMS OF INSURANCE 0 ow 4 e&A, 4111g _ 0 POLITICALCARTOONS.COM WELCOMING A NEW JEWISH YEAR! TO SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT CALL 29990 Northwestern Hwy — Farmington Hills, MI 48334 www.bergmanporretta.com Todah Rabah to the community for coming out to support Our older adults at our W.J. & Lillian Kemler Walk of Ages WE c9 YOU! Auxiliary for Jewish Senior Life Wishes All of You ).7 A //,I tk • Cataract S. Eye Lid Plastic Surgery • Medical Treatment of Macular Degeneration • Contact Lens Fitting (248) 538-6463 Dry Bones WEARING FUNNY HATS. Comprehensive Eye Exams Glaucoma S. Diabetic Eye Exams LASIK Exams Full Service Optical A Happy and Healthy New Year L'shanah tovah, JEWISH SENIOR LIFE SHANA TOVA AUXILIARY over 88 years of caring 18 603 . U August 29 • 2013 83