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My First Sukkot
I
25th Annual Celebration
Jewish Senior Life’s Eight Over Eighty
recognizes eight distinguished leaders
in our community, all over the age of 80,
who have demonstrated a lifetime
of dedication to the Jewish value of
Tikkun Olam - Repairing the World.
FOR NOMINATION FORMS
www.jslmi.org/events/eight-over-eighty
or contact
Beth Tryon at 248-592-5026 TTY #711
Btryon@jslmi.org
Nominations will be accepted
through January 7, 2018
SAVE THE DATE
25th Annual Eight Over Eighty Event
Sunday, April 29, 2018
11:30am at Adat Shalom Synagogue
FOR SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION
PLEASE VISIT
www.jslmi.org/events/eight-over-eighty
8
November 2 • 2017
jn
f Judaism were a talk radio pro-
ing and squatting. It felt good. I was a
gram, these past High Holidays
part of something. I was doing what I
and Sukkot were me phoning in
believed in.
to finally comment on the show. “Hey
That night, after Kol Nidre services,
guys, I’m Caitlyn, first-time caller,
I got it. I got why Judaism clicked
long-time listener …”
for me, why it had always
“Hey, Caitlyn! Welcome to
appealed to me so much.
the show!” Judaism replied.
“Judaism is about practice
I was raised in a house-
more than just belief !” I texted
hold that was at once quite
my enthusiastically Jewish
Catholic and quite secu-
friend Haley.
lar, jumping through the
I had struggled until then
Catholic sacrament hoops
with my secular leanings and
of communion, confession,
a perceived conflict between
Caitlyn Brennan
confirmation, etc., but never
them and my lifelong attrac-
believing. For whatever rea-
tion to Judaism. How would I
son, since I was very young,
reconcile the two? Why did no
it was always Judaism and
one else, even my rabbi, seem
Jewishness to which I felt connected.
concerned about this?
This year (Gregorian, not lunar), after
“I can’t just believe in something
much serious contemplation and
I don’t actually believe in,” I’d say. “I
consulting with more than a few Jews
consider myself secular but I love
of authority (i.e. a couple rabbis, my
so much about Judaism beyond just
most enthusiastic Jewish friends and
the God part. The social justice, the
some Israelis for good measure), I
community, the progressivism, the
decided to begin my conversion pro-
tradition …” And everyone would nod
cess.
their heads as if to say, “Right, yep.
I began the process in August, work- That’s OK. That’s it. That’s good!”
ing with Rabbi Arianna Gordon of
Last month, I got to see what my
Temple Israel, but I had begun delving handiwork helped create: A sukkah
deeper into the local Jewish commu-
of (Molson) Ice and (Pepsi) Fire —
nity in Detroit months earlier. It was
an attempt at an eco-friendly nod
at an event for Pesach at the Detroit
to Game of Thrones — standing tall
Institute of Arts that I first met Rabbi
and proud in the heart of Downtown
Dan Horwitz, whose organization, The Detroit in front of the Skillman
Well, was hosting the event. I imme-
Branch of the Detroit Public Library.
diately liked what Rabbi Dan and The
I dwelled in the sukkah with Rabbi
Well were doing, helping to foster
Dan and his teammates Matt and
inclusive Jewish community across
Avery, sharing coffee with whoever
demographics.
happened to stop by, sometimes
Before I knew it, I was discussing
answering questions about what
converting over coffee with Rabbi Dan exactly the sukkah was and what
and within weeks I decided to take the it represented, other times simply
plunge. As I eventually began the for-
enjoying a morning cuppa with new
mal process, the High Holidays were
acquaintances, snapping selfies with
quickly approaching. My first Rosh
a plush toy lulav and etrog. I shared
Hashanah was lovely, celebrated with
a lovely Shabbat dinner as well as a
the Jewish family that I nanny for. The “Lunch and Learn” in the sukkah I
following Friday morning, before Yom
helped to build.
Kippur began, I saw a Facebook post
On Yom Kippur, mid-fast, my
from Rabbi Dan asking if anyone was
mother called me, near tears. She had
around that could come help with a
seen the video Rabbi Dan posted the
project. I commented immediately,
day before. “All your life you’ve wanted
happening to be in the area at the
this, to be part of something bigger,
time. “It’s messy. And involves opening a community, to do good. I think you
a lot of cans of soda,” he messaged me. finally found it with Judaism and I’m
And so I spent the better part of
just so happy,” she told me, crying.
the morning and afternoon popping
And she’s right. While I didn’t need
open hundreds — literally hundreds
Judaism to theoretically understand
and hundreds — of cans of donated,
the importance of community and
expired Pepsi Fire (I didn’t know it
intention, it has undeniably helped
was a thing either), which would then
me find and understand the practical
be emptied, rinsed and constructed
importance of those things and so
into the walls of The Well’s sukkah
much more.
in Downtown Detroit. We listened
As my first Sukkot came to an end, I
to music, chatted and methodically
could happily say, “I get it.” Judaism is
opened nearly 1,000 soda cans.
about practice. I’m so happy I finally
Rabbi Dan posted a video of us
decided to phone in. •
using Facebook Live. After we fin-
Caitlyn Brennan is a young professional residing
ished, my hands ached and my ham-
in Birmingham.
strings burned from all the can-open-