Tasteful & Timeless metro » continued from page 24 Beautiful, maintenance-free apartment homes are available now at Fox Run. The Brighton Large one bedroom Living Area 12’3” x 17’9” Linen Bedroom 12’4” x 13’0” Walk-In Closet DW Bath Kitchen 8’7” x 8’1” W/D The McKinley Extra large two bedroom New design Bedroom 11’11” x 20’11” Living/Dining Area 14’0” x 22’8” Bedroom 11’5” x 13’6” Walk-In Closet Walk-In Closet Closet Linen DW Closet Bath Bath Kitchen 7’4” x 5’10” Pantry Laundry W D Call 1-800-917-8169 for your free brochure or to schedule a personal tour. FROM THE HEART From the day he began at Kol Ami, Roman has placed high importance on tikkun olam, interfaith dialogue and social justice. “For me, Reform Judaism has always been about how the Jew affects the wider world,” said Emily Eichenhorn, who, with her husband, Josh, has raised two sons, Eddie, 12, and Miles, 17, at TKA. “TKA has a unique version of tikkun olam as it is emphasized on a regular basis from the Hebrew school and dur- ing religious services.” Roman agreed. “Most of our social activism work goes under the radar,” he said, referring to his work with organiza- tions such as Mazon and Yad Ezra, as well as the deliberate decision to include a full shower in the building’s renova- tion for when the congregation houses homeless families one week a year from the South Oakland Shelter. “We don’t do these things to grab attention. We do these things because it is the right thing to do.” Roman’s influence is also evident in his congregant’s connection with Israel. TKA member Suzanne Zwiren, 60, had never been to Israel when last year she approached Roman about going. “He told me, ‘I have no trips planned at the moment, but let’s see if we can get some people interested and we can plan Rabbi Rick Jacobs, head of the Union for Reform Judaism, with Rabbi Roman. Jacobs spoke as part of Kol Ami’s 50th anniversary celebration. one together,’” said Zwiren of Bloomfield Hills. Last December, Zwiren, Roman and 23 others from TKA, including her husband, Mark Zwiren, 63, spent two weeks touring Israel. Recalling the trip, Zwiren said she “still gets chills.” “I felt such pride touring Israel through Rabbi Roman’s eyes and felt so embraced by the Israelis we met,” she said. “And to think it was all because one congregant asked the rabbi a question about the possibility of planning a trip to Israel.” Each Yom Kippur, Roman’s con- gregants looked forward to Roman’s “Hineini” sermons. Each year he high- lights an individual who made a differ- ence in Detroit, in Israel or in the world. It was an annual rite eagerly anticipated by congregants. In Roman’s final Yom Kippur sermon, the “person” of honor was Temple Kol Ami itself. In his rabbi emeritus status, Roman will serve as a guide to the new rabbi, Brent Gutmann, who starts in June after serving a congregation in New Zealand. Roman looks forward most to flexibility in his schedule, teaching and catching up with family and friends. “I also have a few books in the works,” he said. “And, yes, one of them includes a compilation of my Hineni sermons.” * KOL AMI CELEBRATES In celebration of 50 years as a congregation and the retirement of Rabbi Norman Roman, Temple Kol Ami honors the rabbi and his wife, Lynne, at its Gala Jubilee cel- ebration, “Celebrating the Past — Building the Future, ” at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 21, at Kol Ami in West Bloomfield. The congregation will pay tribute to Roman’s 30 years of distinguished service and commemorate TKA’s 50 years of achievements. The evening includes cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, dinner and dessert as well as the music of Peri Smilow, internationally acclaimed singer, composer, educator and activist. For details, call Nena Chudnof, (248) 701-6344 or Jody Schottenfels, (248) 855-3380. 11330693 Novi | 1-800-917-8169 | EricksonLiving.com 26 April 28 • 2016 to leave for a wide range of reasons,” Roman said. “With this system, people in their 70s could still make contribu- tions to the temple. Some have remained on as active members while taking advantages of programs at other syna- gogues in the community.” Evidence to the success of this new dues model in retaining members could be seen at a recent service attended by about 110 people to welcome Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union of Reform Judaism. “Jacobs asked by a show of hands who in the sanctuary has served as a board member. Nearly 80 percent of the room raised their hand,” Roman said. “For me, success is not about the size of an endowment fund I will leave behind, but the number of quality people I have influenced in their life decisions.” Paul Gross R ETIR EMENT LI V ING 2061700