P

artners Detroit Jewish Young
Professionals
hosted a DIY
Havdalah experience, a
night filled with spices,
candles and action.
The organization had a
sold-out event on Feb.
26 at its Platform 18
space in Royal Oak.
Erin Stiebel, an edu-
cator with the organi-
zation, says its mission
is to create a space
where Jewish young
adults at any level can
come and learn.
“We try to be a
source of education for
anybody who is interested in learning
— where people can come together
with any questions wherever they are
at their level of Judaism. I think that
oftentimes tradition can feel antiquat-
ed, and when you have a chance to
bring it to life and realize how easily
accessible it is, it’s extremely power-
ful.”
Attendees received their own little
Havdalah kit with candles, spices and
a card with the Havdalah service on it
to take home.

Meredith Kay, a board member
with Partners Detroit
Jewish Young and
Professionals, came
up with the idea for
the event. “I truly just
wanted an evening
where people could
get together and cre-
ate, eat, drink, light
candles, sing and expe-
rience the magical ser-
vice of Havdalah. The
feeling of togetherness,
this is exactly what was
felt at the event,” Kay
said.
Attendee Rachel
Devries says even
though she’s had many other mean-
ingful Havdalah services, she’s never
experienced anything like this.
“I have never had the opportunity
to make my very own Havdalah kit!
Partners Detroit young adult program-
ming is innovative and welcoming. I
especially love the very cool space they
have created right in downtown Royal
Oak to host their events,” she said.
To see all the events Partners Detroit
Jewish Young Professionals has coming
up, head to partnersdetroit.org.

TOP: Scott Wasserman, Rachel Devries, Abby
Wolfson and Matt Yaari. MIDDLE: Anna Frankel,
Michael Krivichkin, Rachel Lanis and Matthew
Hamil. BOTTOM: Abby Rubin, Alya Al-Azem and
Jordyn Gudeman.

Partners Detroit Jewish Young Professionals
hosts DIY Havdalah event.

Spice! Candles! Action!

RACHEL SWEET ASSOCIATE EDITOR

38 | MARCH 24 • 2022

NEXT DOR
VOICE OF THE NEW
JEWISH GENERATION

TOP: Group photo during service.
ABOVE: Havdalah kit made by
Shelby Miller.

COURTESY OF PARTNERS DETROIT