26 | JANUARY 6 • 2022 

faces&places

On Sunday, Dec. 12, children 
in JEMS (Jewish Education 
Matters) at The Shul in West 
Bloomfield explored the impor-
tance of the mitzvah of mezu-
zah. A mezuzah race around 
The Shul and a visit by Rabbi 
Levi Kagan, a skilled scribe 
from Oak Park, brought the 
lesson to life. 
Parents joined the children 
for the hands-on demo, which 
focused on the intricacies of 

writing with a quill on parch-
ment, and the love and care 
that goes into each letter on 
every scroll. The demo ended 
with an energized Q&A session 
about how long it takes to write 
a mezuzah and what goes into 
writing an entire Torah scroll. 
The highlight was the oppor-
tunity to actually write with ink 
on authentic parchment, using 
goose feather quills. What a 
special experience! 

Rabbi Levi Kagan of Oak Park demonstrates various parchments and 
styles of writing.

Zachary and Jordan Horowitz of West Bloomfield were excited to write their Hebrew 
names with ink and a goose feather quill on parchment.

Natalie and Nathan Yagudaev of West Bloomfield try their hand at 
writing like a scribe.

Daniel Ilsar and his dad, Itmar, of West Bloomfield 
proudly display their parchment.

Rabbi Kagan assists Mia Rubinstein of West Bloomfield in using a 
feather quill and ink to write on parchment. 

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE SHUL

Mezuzah Race 
at The Shul

