metro
Annual Dinner
Historical Journey
Young Israel Oak Park to honor Cohens;
hear Stephen Henderson.
Scholar to teach entire
Jewish history in one hour.
Bryan Gottlieb
Special to the Jewish News
y
oung Israel of Oak Park, Metro Detroit's
largest Modern Orthodox synagogue, will
honor congregants Steven and Sharon
Cohen at this year's annual award dinner on June 1.
The dinner will feature a keynote address by
Detroit Free Press Editorial Page Editor Stephen
Henderson, a longtime friend of Steve Cohen's.
Henderson was a recipient of this
year's Pulitzer Prize for commen-
tary writing.
The Cohens are both attorneys
and active members of Detroit's
observant community. Their four
adult children, Devora, Rachel
(and husband Yehuda Spindler),
Stephen
Dena
and Mayer all live in New
Henderson
York. Mayer is a senior at Yeshiva
University
When asked whether their kids would be flying
home to attend the dinner, Cohen, well known for
his quick wit, says, "Of course, they each have a
THG."This translates to "Papa has gelt."
Humor aside, Cohen says that when he and
Sharon were asked to be this year's honorees, he felt
both humbled and honored to be part of the syna-
gogue's largest fundraising and outreach event
"We didn't feel worthy, but we are eager to do what
we can for the shut; Cohen says. "Because this event
is so crucial for the [synagogue's] bottom line, we
wanted to make sure there were multiple draws:'
The multiple draws in this case include a keynote
speech by Henderson, who has known Cohen since
he was a beat reporter. In fact, as the story goes, it
was a tip by a then-young Cohen about malfeasance
at Detroit Public Schools that helped propel the
future Pulitzer Prize-winner's career.
"Stephen is such a
thoughtful, intelligent
man who compels an
audience Cohen says. "I
wanted to try and make
sure this year's dinner
will be a huge success,
and I know that Stephen
is a draw:'
Steven and Sharon
Michael Cohen, Young
Cohen
Israel of Oak Park's rabbi,
says, "Steve and Sharon embody the traditions and
vision of Young Israel. They have brought up won-
derful children and play an important role in both
the Jewish and larger communities:'
❑
The Young Israel of Oak Park annual dinner will be held at
5 p.m. Sunday, June 1, at Y.I.O.P., 15140 West 10 Mile Road,
Oak Park. For tickets, call (248)967-3655.
T
he Jewish Community
Center of Metropolitan
Detroit's SAJE (Seminars
for Adult Jewish Enrichment)
will host scholar and teacher
David Solomon for two lectures,
"The Whole of Jewish History in
One Hour" and "The Last 1,000
Years of Jewish Philosophy:' on
Thursday, June
19, at the
JCC in West
Bloomfield.
Solomon
is scholar-
in-residence
at Neshama
David Solomon Life, a Sydney,
Australia-based
organization dedicated to per-
sonal and spiritual development.
Solomon, who teaches Jewish
history, philosophy and Kabbalah
(Jewish mysticism), also is prepar-
ing the first-ever translation of
Tikunei HaZohar, a central kab-
balistic text that is more than 500
years old.
At 10 a.m. on June 19, Solomon
A iiiiiiii
will discuss "The Last 1,000
Years of Jewish Philosophy" at
a brunch and learn. Solomon's
lecture will bring to life Jewish
history's greatest thinkers, includ-
ing Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Moses
Mendelsohn and Martin Buber,
whose ideas have shaped not only
Jewish thought but also the entire
world.
At 7:30 p.m. that same day,
Solomon will lead an engag-
ing presentation, complete with
360-degree charts that span an
entire room, on "The Whole of
Jewish History in One Hour:' In
his talk, Solomon literally maps
out Jewish history, providing a
framework that is accessible to
all and covering in one continu-
ous narrative everything from the
origins of the Jewish people to the
present day.
Preregistration for this event is
required by Monday, June 16, to
(248) 432-5692. Cost is $15 for the
brunch and learn, $10 for evening
lecture only and $20 for both pre-
sentations.
❑
275 S. OLD WOODWARD
DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM
www.MichiganRealEstateCoach.com
20 May 22 • 2014