they weren’t really gone, and that their essence gave me a sense of comfort on a certain level,” he said. “I was positive after that day that there is a spiritual world. It was almost an embarrassment that it had taken me so long to realize that I was overthinking things and not embracing the traditional things around me.” Back in Michigan, a friend invited Hertz to a Partners in Torah Learning Night, an experience he initially found baffling. “That lesson was on why it is not OK to eat a bat. I said, ‘I don’t even want to eat a bat, how is this help- ful to my spiritual development?’ I didn’t understand the entire world- view of my entire heritage.” He then met Rabbi Chanoch Hadar of the Woodward Avenue Shul. “He has more of an interest in mysticism. He invited me to Tanya class, and the book had a big effect on me. I started developing my own desire to do mitzvahs,” Hertz said. As his spiritual quest contin- ued, Hertz went through a painful divorce. He surprised himself, he said, by embracing the Orthodox life. “At the time I reinvented myself, I never really imagined I could become someone who puts all these barriers around my life. It’s still hard,” he said. “Keeping kosher, there are only three or four places I can take people for a lunch meeting, and I am off the map on Shabbat. When you have lived your life as a secular person, that is a big life change.” Hertz met his wife, Katharina, while she herself was delving deep- er into Judaism. Her faith helped reaffirm his own path. “She took the lead in saying, ‘Yeah, we can do this stuff.’ Seeing her take to it so naturally made me feel inspired and we fed off of each other,” Hertz said. “By the time we got married [in 2015], it was very clear how were going to live our lives.” They live in Huntington Woods, are active members of the Woodward Avenue Shul and are regulars at Chabad of Greater Detroit events. They use their Orthodox names of Yehudah and Batyah in their private lives. Batyah is also a social worker; the couple finds solace from their sometimes-painful work in art, singing and playing music. “I don’t think she and I would be able to cope with it in a healthy way without our faith, observance and community,” Hertz said. “Shabbat is the cure-all — the ultimate recharger. Since I have been shomer Shabbat [Shabbat-observant], I am far more capable of emotionally coping. To help people, I need to be healthy, capable and sharp, not sit- ting in the corner weeping.” Hertz considers himself still very much on a journey and wel- comes talking with those struggling with their faith. “Anyone looking for a way to connect back, like I was seven or eight years ago, can come for a Shabbat dinner any- time,” he said. “Reach out to me on Facebook.” (Facebook.com/ yehudahleyb.) PITCHING IN Several local synagogues, includ- ing Beth Shalom, Temple Israel and Shir Tikvah, have partnered with SOS to shelter homeless clients for a week. “I love the way congregants from all ages come together to help make sure our guests from SOS feel comfortable and welcome,” said Rabbi Rachel Shere of Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills, which hosts each year. “Ryan cares deeply about the people SOS serves and the greater societal prob- lems that lead Rabbi Rachel to poverty and Shere homelessness in the first place. He does an outstanding job connecting with people and bringing diverse populations together in the service of good.” Sallyjo Levine of West Bloomfield helped coordinate SOS at Congregation Kol Ami for several years and pitched the idea to Shir Shalom when she joined last year. Everyone embraced the experience, she said. “We had 220 people, including 3-year-olds, teenagers and everyone in between, helping our 29 or 30 guests — everything from baking, schlepping, organizing and doing,” Levine said. “It’s an incredible experience. It’s really important to reach out to the community. Yes, we are Jews, but we take care of every- body.” Though his faith brings comfort, looking life’s sorrows squarely in the eye day after day can take a toll, Hertz admitted. “I get angry at God, maybe more often than not. I think it’s inhu- mane not to be angry when the world has so much pain,” he said. “I also recognize,” he added, “that I don’t have the playbook.” • Ruth Tobin 10-10-2010 Harold Tobin 5-2-2016 Not a day goes by that we don't think about you! We cherish all our wonderful memories. Your loving children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. National Council of Jewish Women, Greater Detroit Section Presents “What Am I Doing Here?” An entertaining look at aging, directed by author Judi Schram based on her book “Lights Out In the Attic” Purchase a mess to honor age a cast mem $18 per m ber! essage for the Playbook Thursday, June 8th 7:30 p.m. Temple Shir Shalom 3999 Walnut Lake Rd. West Bloomfield rom: Choose f g! Break a le ! orn A star is b reat! You’ll be g se! n the hou Bring dow Cast: Joan Brode, Heléne Cherrin, Susan Gertner, Terry Hollander, Susie Jacob, Marilyn Kohen, Robin Lash, Mollene Levin, Marian Littman, Susan Marwil, Sandi Matz, Janet Moses, Barbara Rosenthal, Sharon Schmidt, Sue Simon, Ellie Slovis, Diane Urquhart, and Dottie Wagner. Proceeds support National Council of Jewish Women, Greater Detroit Section’s community services, benefiting women, children, and families in need, for over 125 years. For tickets and to order a message, please visit www.NCJWGDS.org or call (248) 355-3300 ext. 0 Tickets: $36 General Admission, $75 Priority Seating. Order message by 5/24 2179910 jn May 18 • 2017 15