LET US CREATE celebrate YOUR EVENT . . . a guide to simchahs Personal Touch ONE BITS Al A TIME Custom benchers for any celebration. Ronelle Grier R I Contributing Writer eciting the grace after meals, or or explanations of the prayers and practices, such as the bencher Lewis created for the wedding of Aaron Konvisser and Hailing "Diana" Huang. While the bride had converted to Judaism, most of her family members were not familiar with Birkat HaMazon, is a time-honored Jewish custom, especially at cel- ebrations such as wed- dings and b'nai mitzvah. Prayer booklets known as benchers, from the Yiddish word "to bless," Joe Lewis have become common accessories at these events, helping Jewish wedding customs, so Lewis included explanations of the chup- guests to follow the service and serving as a keepsake of the occa- pah (wedding canopy) and other 4010 SC H ., lt000 CliAAi rtipIt S( I CATERING sion. Joe Lewis, Oak Park resident and lifelong scholar of Jewish tradition, is known for creating customized benchers through his home-based company, the Singlish Publication Society. 734.546.8277 simplyscrumptiouscatering.com info@simplyscrumptiouscatering.com "certified Kosher available under the supervision of Kosher Michigan A KOSHER MICHIGAN KOSNE0. CERTIFICATION AGENCY Lewis, who started his business 25 years ago, said he began mak- ing his own benchers to accom- Hold your next simcha at Beth Shalom! Tteeant ) 41^ modate family members who were uncomfortable with the traditional books because they did not read Hebrew. "Sometimes you have people coming to a Jewish experience, and they feel out of place because they d un 0 0 11 don't know what to do," Lewis said. "We show them what to expect and what to do." His prayer books feature a three- column format with Hebrew, stan- dard transliteration, and an English translation written by Lewis. "The translations make the prayers sing-able, so everyone can follow along," he said. Some books include footnotes `Nth 5hatom is the One! Our beautiful social hall can seat up to 350 comfortably. Adjacent patio suitable for chuppah or cocktail hour Reasonable rental fees Friendly, flexible staff 14601 Lincoln Road • Oak Park, Michigan 48237 Grace After Meals • couple's ketubah. "It was a perfect way to blend the two cultures in a book that everyone could understand," said the groom's mother, Zieva Konvisser of West Bloomfield, "and the way he translates things is really so beautiful." Marcia Tilchin, the cantor at Congregation B'nai Israel in Tustin, Calif., had no time to spare when she contacted Lewis one month before her daughter Sheindl's bat Psalm 126 11717 Grace After Meals • 1itn711777 Sing Psalm 126 on Shabbat, festivals and other festive occasions All kosher caterers welcome Call (248) 547-7970 to arrange a visit! 33 traditions. "You want to welcome your guests, and you don't want to leave them scratching their heads and feeling out of place," Lewis said. The bencher for the Konvisser- Huang wedding included childhood photos of the bride and groom, words of devotion written by the couple, and greetings from both sets of parents, translated into English and Chinese. The cover artwork, designed by an artist in San Diego, was also used on the i. 41 In mourning though they sow their seed, Hazorim bedima In happiness they'll reap their yield. berina yiktzoru. To sow the seed, bowed with grief Haloch yelech uvacho The plowman plods his weary way; no'se meshech hazara, His heart will surely feel relief bo yavo verina Bringing in the sheaves on harvest day. no'se alumotay. "Then will-be-filled with joy our mouth, and our tongue with joy." shade Added sometimes I 5efk thr Prayer I ing ti 71 Scripture 1- 1 t77.177 Torah Portions of a bencher page showing the Hebrew, English and transliteration. 1904000 C 4 4 celebrate! I March 2014