Adat Shalom, Congregation Beth Shalom
in Oak Park, B'nai Israel Synagogue in West
Bloomfield, Congregation Shir Tikvah in
Troy, and Temples Israel, Kol Ami and Shir
Shalom, all in West Bloomfield.
"Our event committee thought it might be
interesting to invite clergy from one of our
organization's partner congregations to com-
pete this year, and I suggested Rachel, who
had recently joined our board and is a long-
time steward of our mission:' Hertz said.
"Our Dancing with the Detroit Stars signa-
ture event is a ridiculously fun evening that
generates upwards of $150,000 annually to
support the critical emergency shelter, sup-
portive services and long-term housing solu-
tions for displaced individuals and families in
our community:' Hertz said.
Local celebrities and community leaders
can train at Arthur Murray dance studios (in
Royal Oak, Bloomfield Hills and Northville)
and compete for the annual trophy during a
show produced by Gail & Rice.
Shere and Keeler will rival Cornell Batie,
COO of the Detroit Jazz Fest; Dana Montante;
Jeff Gunsberg, principal of Title Connect
LLC; and Joelle Aoun, M.D., and their profes-
sional dance partners.
"This star-studded evening is an absolute
blast, filled with entertainment, a fabulous
silent auction and delicious food and drinks;
said Megan Holt, SOS director of develop-

ment, who oversees the function in partner-
ship with co-chairs Jennie and Bill Cook and
Motown recording artist KEM, along with a
planning committee.
Arthur Murray provides 20 complimen-
tary lessons to each competitor whose profes-
sional partners are instructors at the studios.

'LIKE A PRAYER'
"I am always looking for ways to learn and
grow:' Shere said.
"Despite years of yoga, I am still very
uncoordinated. I was once kicked out of
a step-aerobics class when the instructor
singled me out and said my inability to move
in the same direction as everyone else posed
an imminent danger to myself and others in
the group',' she said.
Shere admits that much like the back-
ground scenes filmed during the Dancing
with the Stars TV show, her lessons also
included some drama.
"Over the course of training, there were
more than a few times I got frustrated and
told Brandon I just couldn't do it:' she said.
"He has a wonderful way, however, of cheer-
ing me on and reminding me that it doesn't
have to be perfect to be great. One day, when
I was being particularly hard on myself and
broke down in tears, he said, 'Don't worry.
This too shall pass: He didn't know it, but for
the past 20 years I have worn a ring engraved

with that very phrase in Hebrew: gam zeh
ya'avor. When he said those words, I knew it
was as a sign that I couldn't give up:'
Shere has also tapped into another motiva-
tional source.
"My grandmother, [the late] Mayme
Lawson, passed away in 1997 on the day I
began my rabbinical studies in California:'
she said. "She loved to play piano, sing and
dance, and she had no qualms about per-
forming in front of large groups. I am natu-
rally pretty shy and always feel her love and
encouragement each time I push myself to
try something outside my comfort zone. She
and my papa, [the late] Victor Lawson used
to dance in charity shows all the time.
`As I have been preparing, I fmd myself
looking at their dance pictures for inspira-
tion:'
And Shere keeps focused on the reason she
will be dancing.
"Whenever I get nervous about the com-
petition, I remind myself that no matter
how well — or poorly — I dance on Nov. 14,
SOS will still raise a significant amount of
money to support their critical mission. And
that, not perfect dance moves, is what this is
all about. After all, SOS' mission of 'ending
homelessness by mobilizing interfaith and
community resources' sounds an awful lot
`Like a Prayer: Maybe better:' *

Inspiration: There's late grandparents,

Victor and Mayme Lawson, performing in a

charity show in Detroit in 1951.

details

To volunteer, donate or buy tickets for
the 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, Dancing

with the Detroit Stars fundraiser at the
Townsend Hotel in Birmingham, email
contact@oaklandshelter.org, visit www.
southoaklandshelter.org or call (248) 809-
3773. Cost: $200/person. Sponsorship
packages areavailable.
Celebrity judges are Oakland University
basketball coach Greg Kampe; attor-
ney Jeffrey Abood; entertainment lawyer
Howard Hertz of Hertz Schram PC; 105.9
Kiss FM morning show host Coco; and
Arthur Murray dance pro Jeremiah
Childers.

St. John Providence and Dr. Joseph Salama
are proud to welcome Dr. Michael W. Laker
to Providence Birmingham Orthopedics.

Dr. Laker is a board certified, fellowship trained
orthopedic surgeon trained in Orthopedic
Surgery and Adult Reconstructive Surgery.

His specialty includes treatment of arthritic
conditions of the hip and knee, including
primary and complex revision joint replacement
procedures.

MICHAEL LAKER, MD
Orthopedic Surgery

For an appointment with Dr. Laker or Dr. Joseph Salama,
please call 248-865-4238.

ft

Welcome to an entire network
of one-on-one care.

30055 Northwestern Hwy
Suite L3o
Farmington Hills, MI 48334

26850 Providence Parkway
Suite 42o
Novi, MI 48374

SPJDOCTORS.ORG 866-501-DOCS (3627)

November

nr" r 23