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Chanukah Wonderland

Bais Chabad’s annual event draws families
to holiday activities.

O

rchard Mall in West Bloomfield
was transformed into a
Chanukah Wonderland for the
fifth year.
Organized by the Sara and Morris
Tugman Bais Chabad Torah Center, the
four-day event offered holiday excite-
ment and education to all ages.
Participants learned how to make
olive oil, baked doughnuts and latkes,
jumped in a giant Dreidel moon bounce
and created Chanukah-themed crafts.
In all, nearly 2,000 people enjoyed the
activities.
Highlights included a Thursday eve-
ning Car Menorah parade and concert,
A Home Depot menorah-making work-
shop on Sunday and a custom-made
menorah that doubled as a charity box.
The “COIN-orah,” created by Dr. Aaron

» n e ws

Lupovitch of West Bloomfield, collected
coins to benefit local charities such as
Yad Ezra, Friends of the Israel Defense
Forces, JARC and Jewish Family Service.
“One of the beautiful elements of the
Wonderland is that the entire commu-
nity pulls together to make it happen,”
said Rabbi Shneur Silberberg, outreach
director at Bais Chabad. “The partners,
sponsors and nearly 100 volunteers who
gave their time, energy and financial
support to bring Chanukah ‘light’ to the
community are a beautiful testament to
the goodness that makes our community
special.”
Partners included Orchard Mall,
Kroger, Sav-on Drugs, Tapper’s
Diamonds & Fine Jewelry and many pri-
vate donors.

Rabbi Shneur Silberberg of Bais Chabad in
West Bloomfield shows children how to make
olive oil.

Preschool students from Akiva
Hebrew Day School in Southfield
make Chanukah T-shirts.

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Volunteers Lisa Weinshanker, Adam Ben-Moche and Ryan Ishbia help children
make their own latkes.

yo u c a n u se

TURN THE TABLES

TIKKUN OLAMATHON

Repair the World, devoted exclusively to
engaging young Jewish adults as volun-
teers, has launched a special national cam-
paign, Act for Racial Justice, on Martin
Luther King Jr. weekend, that offers the
opportunity to host a Turn The Tables
Shabbat Dinner on Jan. 15. Resources will
help facilitate substantive questions and
dialogue, followed by volunteer opportuni-
ties throughout the weekend addressing
racial injustice.
In addition to hosting a meal, all are
invited to join Repair the World in Detroit
for a Turn the Tables Shabbat Dinner at 6
p.m. Jan. 15 at the Workshop, 2701 Bagley
Ave., Detroit. For information about local
Repair the World volunteer opportunities
and community events, email detroit@
werepair.org or call (313) 338-8236.

Temple Shir Shalom’s annual day of social
action, Tikkun Olam-a-thon, will take place
on Sunday, Jan. 17. Participants will meet at
Shir Shalom at 9:30 a.m. and, after a short
assembly, will divide into volunteer project
groups.
Projects include preparing snack packs
for Gleaners Community Food Bank, build-
ing kitty forts for the Michigan Humane
Society, meal preparation and delivery with
the Ronald McDonald House of Detroit,
choir performances at senior living facilities
and more. Many will take place at the tem-
ple, while others, such as assisting at Oasis
Soup Kitchen, will be off-site. Shir Shalom’s
madrichim in grades 7-8 will lead a volun-
teer project with Repair The World.
The volunteer day is open to the public.

Repair the World also is facilitating a
series of online conversations in which
Jewish leaders will interview Civil Rights
activists of today. Follow these interviews
on Repair the World’s website, Facebook,
Instagram and Twitter pages with hashtag
#AmplifyVoices.

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Participants need to register at www.shirsh-
alom.org by Jan. 14, but many projects have
limited capacity and will fill up before then.
For more details, contact Sarah Allyn at
(248) 406-4255 or email sarah@shirshalom.
org.

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MINDFULNESS REDUCTION

Dr. Ruth Lerman and Rabbi Aaron
Bergman will team up once again this
winter as Adat Shalom hosts Shalem,
a mindfulness-based, stress-reduction
program. Participants will learn medita-
tion and mindful practices of yoga, eat-
ing and communication to reduce stress.

20 January 7 • 2016

This non-denominational pro-
gram will meet from 6-8:30 p.m. on
Wednesdays, Jan. 27 through March 16.
In addition, an all-day retreat is includ-
ed on Sunday, March 6.
Cost for the program is $350, which
includes 29 hours of instruction, four

meditation/yoga recordings and hand-
outs.
A complimentary required introduc-
tory class will be offered at 6 p.m. Jan.
13. Additional information is available
at www.shalemstressreduction.com and
at www.adatshalom.org/flyers.

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