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