metro »

MITZVAH
2016
DAY

The tradition continues.
Sunday
December 25

Together we will celebrate the
strength of our community.

L

Select and participate in a volunteer
service project at one of many
locations in metropolitan Detroit.

A H AN D
D
!
EN

Registration:
November 18 - December 18
mitzvahdaydetroit2016.eventbrite.com

Questions?
Call the Mitzvah Day Hotline:
248-642-2656 or
email: nlevine@jfmd.org

Mitzvah Day Co-chairs:
Micki Grossman
Milt Neuman
Illana Stern

16 December 8 • 2016

Feiga Bowick and Hadassah
Werner run the library.

Love Of Books

New library at Bais Chabad
of Oak Park attracts all ages.

Rochel Burstyn | Contributing Writer

A

s the weather gets cooler, par-
ents are increasingly looking for
ways to entertain their children
indoors. One new option is the Machon
Devorah library, which opens twice
weekly out of Bais Chabad of North Oak
Park, 15401 W. 10 Mile Road.
Music plays softly and bookshelves are
packed with more than 1,000 of the new-
est in Jewish literature, including books
for all ages and preferences. Beyond
books, the library also boasts the latest
in educational games and toys, which are
set up strategically around the room.
Volunteer Brachi Werner, 13, reads to
the kids and plays with them as mothers
get a chance to shmooze and enjoy that
their kids are occupied and happy. In
every corner, kids are reading, sprawled
cozily on bean bag chairs.
“This is great,” an Oak Park mother
enthused. “I used to go to the Oak Park
JCC all the time; my kids would play in
the toddler gym and I’d get to socialize.
I was so upset when they closed. Now I
bring my kids here.”
The Machon Devorah library opened
its doors in May 2016, spearheaded by
Hadassah Werner, wife of Rabbi Shea
Werner of Bais Chabad of North Oak
Park. She started the library in memory
of her grandmother, Dora (Devorah)
Bergstein, a lifelong book lover who even
enjoyed reading during her final days
in hospice, and who always encouraged
children to read.
“I wanted to perpetuate my grand-
mother’s memory by helping others do
what she loved most — reading and
learning,” Werner said. “I saw there was
a need for a nice local Jewish library;
new books can be expensive for big
families.”

The library was launched with the
help of seed money donated in honor of
Bergstein and has expanded with book
donations from community members.
Any books unfit to lend are placed in a
basket and are free for the taking.
Run by Werner and Feiga Bowick
of Oak Park, with the help of Bowick’s
computer-adept daughter, Devorah, 11,
the books are entered into a computer-
ized system, then color-coded before
being shelved and checked out by library
patrons.
“People love it; the reaction has been
tremendous,” Werner said. “Each week,
we see all ages from great-grandmothers
to little babies. More than 100 families
are members already, with more joining
each week.”
Part of the library’s appeal is that the
nominal membership fee of $36 per
year entitles families to the free Jewish
monthly programs they provide, such
as the hands-on demonstration by sofer
(scribe) Rabbi Levi Kagan and the make-
your-own-sukkah activity held shortly
before Sukkot. A Chanukah program is
slated for Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. at the library,
where Home Depot representatives will
be helping kids construct their own
menorahs.
The library is open Sundays from 1:30
to 3:30 and Monday evenings from 6-7
p.m. Werner has dreams of expanding
and being open for longer periods of
time.
“The greatest of projects, whether a
library or business, starts out as a small
dream,” she said.

*

For details, call (248) 895-8103 or email
Machondevorah@gmail.com.