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Mom-entum!

80 local Jewish moms learn more about Judaism and themselves in Israel.

Barbara Lewis

I

Contributing Writer

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Tolwin and her husband, Rabbi Simcha
Tolwin, Aish executive director, began
recruiting participants last summer by word
of mouth. The only requirements are that
the women have children under 18 living
at home and agree to continue their Jewish
learning after the mission by attending a
number of JWRP-approved programs.
The moms' missions are heavily subsi-
dized by the JWRP, the Israeli government
and Aish. Participants pay only for airfare
(some used frequent flyer miles) and a $36
registration fee. Leaders and participants
liken it to the popular Birthright program
aimed at young adults.
The Dec. 8-17 mission included tours
across the country, from Safed to Masada, as
well as lectures, discussion groups and other
educational activities about Israel, Jewish val-
ues, relationships and parenting. The Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit arranged
for the women to spend an afternoon in
Federation's Partnership2Gether region, the
Central Galilee.
"The lectures were outstanding and inspir-
ing," said Ellen Starr, 47, of Farmington
Hills, a social worker who has 19-year-old
boy-and-girl twins and a 15-year-old son. "I
can use what I learned about parenting skills
even though my children are older; she said.
Jennifer Fishkind, 44, of Bloomfield Hills,
who has three sons ages 15, 14 and 10,
enjoyed the opportunity to get away from
everyday responsibilities and do some intro-
spection.

Detroiters take a break at the Dead Sea.

Diverse Backgrounds
Participants came from Reform,
Conservative and Orthodox steams of
Judaism.
"One of the great surprises was seeing
how similar we all are Fishkind said. "We
connected in a real way and saw that we had
more in common than not as women and
moms. It was an incredible gift."
Jennifer Arkin Camens, 42, of West
Bloomfield, agreed.
"You had 80 women from Michigan and
there was no drama, no bickering. We were
all genuinely glad to be there she said. "I
came back wanting to be a better woman,
a better mom. I want to learn more about
Judaism with my children:'
Aviva Gelberman, 40, of Southfield, who
is Orthodox, said she found new ways of
looking at Jewish practices and why she does
what she does.

8 January 8 • 2015

Ellen Starr and Jennifer Ostroff atop the
Aish building overlooking the Western
Wall in Jerusalem

Detroit moms take a grotip
shot in Safed.

Even though she's a program leader who
has been through it before — this is her third
moms' mission — Gelberman said the lec-
tures and classes made her realize the impact
women can have on generations to come.
Camens, an attorney and a member of
Temple Israel, said a highlight of the trip
was dancing at the Western Wall on Erev
Shabbat.
"We were 400 women, and all these other
people — soldiers, children, grandmas —
came and joined us because we were having
the time of our lives:' said Camens, who has
two daughters, ages 9 and 7.
Ellen Starr and Debbie Pearlman, 43, of
Huntington Woods, a member of Temple
Emanu-El, were moved by their visit to an
Israeli army base.
"The soldiers defend Israel so we in
America can have a Jewish state," said

Detroit moms get ready for Shabbat with a challah-baking session.

Pearlman, who has three children, ages 14,
11 and 6. "I want my kids to have an appre-
ciation for people who do that and be grate-
ful that we have this Jewish state:'
Starr said she was struck by the realization
that the soldiers she met were the same age
as her twins, Shira and Zach. "They were
overwhelmed that we were thanking them
for what they're doing:' she said.

Bringing It Home

Pearlman said the mission made her want
to be "a better mom, a better person, a bet-
ter Jew and to teach my kids to love Israel:'
She had purchased a pair of Shabbat can-
dlesticks in Jerusalem. On the Friday after
she returned, she lit Shabbat candles with
her family for the first time.
"My heart was so full, being able to bring
this home for my kids," she said.

About 4,500 women have participated in
Momentum trips since 2009.
Surveys conducted one year after par-
ticipants return show that 83 percent say
being Jewish is more important to them; 43
percent say they have become more involved
in their local Jewish communities; 96 percent
say they are encouraging their family and
friends to visit Israel and 89 percent have
increased their level of Jewish study.
Tolwin said the next Detroit Momentum
mission will be in October, with a smaller
group. She said JWRP also plans to bring
a small group of dads on a similar trip in
November.
For information, call Aish at (248) 327-
3579. To apply, go to www.jwrp.org/apply
and select "Detroit" from the drop-down
menu, or contact Lisa Knoll at lisak@aish.
com.

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