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At Keter Torah Synagogue’s annual Chanukah party, Rabbi Sasson
Natan welcomed guests, and led prayers and songs while the
chanukiah’s lights glowed.
Soon, 17 memorial candles were lighted during the Sephardi-Mizrahi
remembrance ceremony. Each dinner table’s candle identified a Middle
Eastern or North African nation that expelled Jews after Nov. 29, 1947.
By the 1970s, more than 850,000 became refugees.
This year’s Festival of Lights honoree was Moroccan native Laurette
Levadi, who has remained active in the Sephardic community since the
1960s. Rabbi Sasson recognized her as the “grandmother of our com-
munity” and honored her with a chanukiah and plaque.
The raffle of many dozens of gifts, busy silent auction and games for
all ages followed the delicious Sephardic dinner and desserts. •
Rabbi Sasson
Natan’s presen-
tation described
the countries
from which
Sephardi and
Mizrahi Jews had
been expelled.
Robert Keslacy, Honoree Laurette Levadi and DeDe
Domstein of West Bloomfield; Laurette’s sister Cecile Blate
of Atlanta, Ga.; and Laurette’s daughter Kim Benezra of
West Bloomfield
Avi Afraimov, 3, of West Bloomfield lov-
ingly held his preferred raffle gift.
Steve Fedder of West Bloomfield, Hilda Castro of Oak
Park and Genie Fedder of West Bloomfield
Andree Nordan of West Bloomfield and Rimona
Lieberman of Bloomfield Hills secured the
enticing Chanukah auction gifts.
28
January 11 • 2018
jn
This chanukiah with inscribed
plaque was presented to
honoree Laurette Levadi during
the Chanukah party
Young children and teens surrounded Rabbi
Sasson on Keter Torah’s bimah, with encased
Sephardic Torah scrolls displayed for their
education.
places
On Sunday, Dec. 17, The Shul Chabad Lubavitch in West Bloomfield host-
ed a Chanukah story, music, and arts and crafts event at Somerset Mall. •
Bob Tarnow poses with his granddaughter, Avrami Stein of West Bloomfield, and the Dreidel Men
at Somerset Mall.
Chana and Mushka Eliefja of West Bloomfield,
Emily Klein of Farmington Hills and Shaina
Stein of West Bloomfield join other children in
a Chanukah song circle.
A father helps his son become a human
dreidel.
Mussie Shemtov
of West
Bloomfield
assists two
boys in making
a LEGO dreidel.
Enjoying
the arts and
crafts