January 24 • 2019 61
jn

The Detroit Hikers group, including a generation of younger hikers

PHOTOS AND TEXT BY STEVEN TAPPER

For 17 years, Dr. Ricky Stoler has organized and led the Detroit Hikers to experi-
ence the beauty of our national parks. In 2018, we went to central Oregon, where 
we traversed the trails and climbed to the top of vistas like Watchmen’
s Peak.
We share in an adventure, bringing friends, family and photography enthusiasts 
together to challenge ourselves and travel to places most might never go without 
this opportunity. 
Wherever we travel, the values and traditions of our community and faith 
come, too. Each day, as we return to the hotel, we form a minyan and recite 
Maariv and Kaddish, remembering family, friends and those no longer with us.
Now, younger hikers have joined our ranks. With an appreciation and gratitude 
for what has come before them, they hike together and build their own relation-
ships, with the goal of keeping the Detroit Hikers tradition moving forward.

Pausing for a photo

Dr. Bruce Ruben leads one of the daily min-

yans held in the evening at the hotel. 

Dr. Ricky Stoler, organizer and founder of the 

group

On the trail in Bend, Ore.
Crater Lake

community | faces&places

On Oct. 21, more than 40 kids gathered at Temple Shir Shalom in West 
Bloomfield for Jewish Family Service’
s first Great Challah Bake. The event was 
part of JFS’
 Because We Care monthly mitzvah program that provides service 
opportunities to b’
nai mitzvah students. 
There were plenty of sticky hands as the kids prepared and braided dough. 
They also created “Shabbat in a Box” kits containing Shabbat candles and challah 
cover for 30 homebound older adults served by Jewish Family Service. ■

Aiden Shoresh, Brodie Glickfield and Olivia Feldman with their handmade challah covers

Audra Bergman designs her challah cover.
Noah Mostyn gets his braided challah ready 

for the oven.

Zoe Illyasov with her braided challah
Ruby Goldstein shows off her Shabbat box.