pandemic, as we have created a 
community-wide website to bet-
ter communicate about resourc-
es and upcoming programming 
and educational opportunities.
”
After Purim, the website, 
which is hosted by the Jewish 
Federation of Metropolitan 
Detroit, will remain as a 
resource for the synagogues 
to continue collaborating on 
efforts to serve the Jewish com-
munity. Beth Ahm Executive 
Director David Goodman said 
the website will be a central 
place to learn about and register 
for events, classes and other 
activities.

FOR ALL AGES
Though there will be none of 
the usual in-person revelry of 
carnivals, costume parades or 
gragger-filled Megillah readings, 
leaders in the Conservative 
Jewish community say that 
online programming will cater 
to a variety of age levels, from 

family-friendly and traditional 
readings to discussions for teens 
and young adults about the 
Feast of Lots. 
Hazzan Daniel Gross of Adat 
Shalom in Farmington Hills 
said he and Ari Reis, director 
of youth and family learning at 
Shaarey Zedek, worked to plan 
the family musical Megillah 
party that is geared for families 
with young children but will be 
“entertaining for all ages.
”
“We created an original shpiel 
based on Cinderella to time 
with the premiere of the new 
Cinderella movie,
” Gross said. 
“Clergy and staff from all the 

congregations will perform to 
some original musical num-
bers.
”
Rabbi Steven Rubenstein of 
Beth Ahm in West Bloomfield 
said in typical years, Purim 
celebrations happen outside the 
home — in a synagogue or out 
in the community. But unfor-
tunately, for the health of the 
population, celebrations must be 
confined to one’s home. 
“Purim is a tough holiday 
to do on your own from a dis-
tance,
” Rubenstein said. “But I 
think that our plans this year 
will give everyone an opportu-
nity to feel a real celebration this 

Purim even though we will be 
online.
”
Rabbi Aaron Starr of Shaarey 
Zedek said just as there is no 
mention of God in the Megillah 
and that instead God’s pres-
ence was conveyed through 
the actions of the heroes of the 
story, Mordechai and Esther, 
we can see parallels in how the 
coronavirus story has unfolded 
in the last year. 
“This Purim, while we cele-
brate from a distance, we give 
thanks to today’s heroes: the 
scientists who developed the 
COVID-19 vaccine and espe-
cially the health care profession-
als who have protected us, cared 
for us and who will deliver to us 
the vaccine,
” Starr said.
“We seek to follow their lead 
and their wisdom. In this way, 
by honoring today’s heroes and 
yesterday’s heroes, by caring 
for others and for ourselves, we 
fulfill our role as God’s partners 
in the sacred covenant.” 

 FEBRUARY 11 • 2021 | 25

“WE CREATED AN ORIGINAL SHPIEL 
BASED ON CINDERELLA TO TIME 
WITH THE PREMIERE OF THE NEW 

CINDERELLA MOVIE.”

— HAZZAN DANIEL GROSS

Supported through the generosity of The Jewish Fund and the D. Dan and Betty Kahn Family Foundation.

 
 
 
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