LAFAYETTE 148 NEW YORK FALL TRUNK SHOW
at SALLY’S DESIGN BOUTIQUE
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in
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THURSDAY, JUNE 14, FRIDAY, JUNE 15 AND SATURDAY, JUNE 16
continued from page 18
More than 750,000 viewers have watched at least one ELI
Talk, Rubenstein said. The website also has a discussion
guide making ELI Talks an excellent alternative for small
congregations and organizations that can’t afford to bring in
a live scholar-in-residence, she said. Through ELI Talks, they
can arrange a live link and follow a lecture viewing with a
virtual lesson or Q&A session.
ELI Fellows come from all over the United States as well
as from Australia and Israel. They range in age from 19 to 70
and represent the Jewish spectrum from Orthodox to secu-
lar. They include rabbis, Jewish educators and other profes-
sionals, community leaders and just plain folks who have an
interest in Jewish engagement.
LOCAL LECTURERS
Inside Orchard Mall at Orchard Lake & Maple, West Bloomfield, 48322
248-626-0886
20
June 7 • 2018
jn
Taylor-Abt, 50, of Oak Park is the education director for
Yachad, the religious school sponsored by Temple Emanu-
El (Reform) and Congregation Beth Shalom (Conservative).
She’s also a student at the non-denominational Jewish
Spiritual Leadership Institution, an online rabbinical and
cantorial school based in New York City, and expects to be
ordained as a rabbi in January.
Taylor-Abt grew up in an Orthodox community in London,
England, and moved to Israel at age 14. She has taught in
a variety of settings in Israel, England and in Boise, Idaho,
where she worked before coming to Michigan in 2016.
Last year she published a book, Lessons in Jewish Learning,
available on Amazon.
“I am awed by being chosen as an ELI
Fellow,” said Taylor-Abt, who also won
Details the prestigious Klein-Grinspoon Award
for Excellence in Jewish Education in
ELI Talks will present its
April.
current cohort on Monday,
Without being too specific, she says
June 18, and Tuesday,
her ELI Talk will be about God and how
June 19, at 6:30 p.m. and
she developed her understanding of
Wednesday, June 20, at
God. Rubenstein said it’s an unusual
12:30 p.m. at Repair the
topic; only a handful of ELI videos deal
World, 2701 Bagley in
with the subject of God.
Detroit. Horwitz’s talk will
“I feel I have a message and I really
be recorded on June 18 and
want to share it,” Taylor-Abt said.
Taylor-Abt’s on June 19. The
Horwitz, 34, of Huntington Woods is
evening sessions start with
the founding director of The Well, an
a cocktail reception and the
inclusive Jewish community-building,
noon session with lunch.
educational and outreach initiative.
Tickets are $18 and are
He grew up in Detroit, attending
available through Eventbrite
Congregation B’nai Israel and graduat-
(www.eventbrite.com);
ing from Hillel Day School and West
search for ELI in Detroit.
Bloomfield High School.
Space is limited.
The rabbi said he’s been a fan of ELI
Talks since the program started. “I have
enjoyed many of the ideas shared in
their videos, even using some as source
materials for learning events,” he said. “It’s a great opportu-
nity to grow my skills as a presenter.”
His talk will be on the 21st-century version of the beit
midrash (house of study).
Horwitz said the coaching has been intense. “It has
brought enhanced awareness to my strengths and weak-
nesses, both in content and in presentation, and given me
strategies for growth.”
Taylor-Abt said ELI’s coaches helped her develop both the
content and style of her talk. “When we started, I thought
my talk was done, but now it’s completely different,” she said.
“I am a relatively confident speaker, but I got tips on how to
stand, breathe and understand the audience.” •