14 April 4 • 2019
jn
I
n the spirit of the photoblog sensa-
tion Humans of New York, youth
professionals at Temple Israel, Shir
Shalom and Temple Beth El teamed
up with the Jewish Federation to create
Jews of Metro Detroit — a website pro-
pelled by and written about ambitious
and community-oriented teens who
call Detroit home.
The project, launched this year and
funded by a grant from the Schulman
Millennium Fund, gives selected teens
the opportunity to hone their inter-
viewing, videography and photography
skills as they interview their peers
about their pursuits, challenges, and
connections to the local and global
Jewish community.
Currently, there are 14 mostly young
Jews highlighted with more added each
week. The next profile just might be
someone you know if you nominate
him or her on the website
jewsofmetrodetroit.com.
On the website’
s staff is Temple
Israel’
s Youth Director Zach
Goldberger. A transplant from Raleigh,
N.C., he said he is enjoying getting to
know and appreciate the deep-rooted
connectedness of Detroit’
s Jewish com-
munity. A graduate of North Carolina
State, where the Jewish student body
is under 1 percent, Goldberger said he
still managed to make a Jewish com-
munity there for himself with Hillel on
campus and hopes to impart the lesson
to teens that no matter where the next
chapter in life takes them, Judaism can
always be a part of it.
Goldberger said there is one year
of funding for the project with the
opportunity to reapply for a second
year. The stories range from kids deep-
ly connected to Judaism through their
involvement in their temples to teens
who have struggled and are coping
with mental health issues.
“There is a plethora of stories out
there,
” Goldberger said. “Our students
are great at telling their stories and con-
necting with their peers to encourage
them to share, and we know they will
keep the stories coming.
”
Already profiled include Youth
Federation of Temple Israel (YFTI)
seniors Mac Bauer and Maddy Iwrey.
Iwrey will be attending Oakland
University in hopes of becoming a
clinical psychologist. She said she has
gained leadership and Jewish commu-
nal skills from the youth group.
“Not only have I learned about what
it means to be a leader, but also how
to create something from a different
standpoint and show people what
it’
s like to build something from the
ground up,
” said Iwrey, who added that
her involvement with the website has
helped her develop her listening and
interviewing skills — skills she will
need in her intended profession. “YFTI
is a place where you can find who you
really want to be,
” she said.
Bauer needed some coaxing from
his mom to stick with Monday night
school and youth group at first and
is now YFTI president. He will be
studying business at Miami University
of Ohio. Outside of presiding over
YFTI, Bauer is a basketball enthusiast
and likes to coach and teach younger
children, including those at Friendship
Circle, the ins and outs of the court.
Their complete stories and those
of more of Detroit’
s stand-out Jewish
youth can be found on the site. ■
STACY GITTLEMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Photoblog highlights stand-out teens in the community.
Humans of Metro Detroit
Maddy Iwrey
JET Season
Delayed
T
he stage lights will go on for
the new season of the Jewish
Ensemble Theatre (JET) a
bit later than originally announced.
Construction on the new location
— 1124 E. West Maple in Walled
Lake, just east of Pontiac Trail — is
taking more time than anticipated.
Originally scheduled to open in
late April, “our grand opening has
been delayed until June 10,” says
Christopher Bremer, executive
director, who’
s been taking care of
administrative responsibilities out
of nearby rental space with the help
of two interns.
“To celebrate the new theater and
the new season scheduling, June to
early November, the grand open-
ing will feature a dinner catered by
Annabel Cohen before a perfor-
mance of the first play, The Odd
Couple, which continues through
July 14.
“Brochures are being mailed this
week with revised scheduling details
for the season, which includes Ain’
t
Misbehavin’
(Aug. 2-25), On Golden
Pond (Sept. 6-28) and Cabaret (Oct.
10-Nov. 3).”
Building crews are working their
way up, currently finishing electri-
cal and plumbing upgrades beneath
the floor. Furnishings and fixtures
are being ordered to accommodate
different seating arrangements for
audiences — all facing the stage,
divided according to three sides of
the stage or occupying space in the
stage setting.
“Our goal is to have more flexibil-
ity and creativity,” explains Bremer,
who said he’
s looking forward to the
placement of the electronic marquee
to light up the outside. “We still
have the same phone number and
website: (248) 788-2900 and
jettheatre.org.” ■
jews d
in
the
SUZANNE CHESSLER
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Mac Bauer and
Rabbi Jen Lader