APRIL 28 • 2022 | 35

FRIENDSEDER COMMUNITY BRUNCH – APRIL 10: 
The Well partnered with Zingerman’s to host a Friendseder Community Brunch Experience. Tessie Ives-Wilson, the event coordina-
tor at Zingerman’s deli, says they were thrilled with the outcome of the event. “The Friendseder was a great format for us to engage 
guests who have been customers at Zingerman’s for many years who aren’t Jewish and introduce them to the story and traditions 
behind the dishes that are staples in Passover celebrations. Creating partnerships with the community around us and sharing stories 
through food are part of the guiding principles of Zingerman’s and this event gave us a way to do both of those in a unique way. I’m 
already dreaming about next year’s menu and looking forward to more collaboration with Rabbi Jeff and The Well.”

LEFT: Tessie Ives-Wilson and Rabbi Jeff Stombaugh led participants through the meal with a combination 
of culinary storytelling and Jewish learning. RIGHT: The full house at Zingerman’s Delicatessen raises a 
glass to a successful and delicious Friendseder brunch. 

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE WELL

CHABAD OF GREATER DOWNTOWN DETROIT – 
APRIL 10: 
Chabad of Greater Downtown Detroit had an intimate setting 
for a pre-Pesach gathering with the help of professional wood-
worker Marissa Ray. At the Wood & Wine Workshop, 25 young 
adults created their own seder plate design. Participants sampled 
a selection of kosher wines, tasted toffee matzah and received a 
package of shmura matzah to use for the seder. Shmura matzah 
and other seder supplies were provided to 100 individuals 
around the city of Detroit as well. 

Sam Caruso, Ivan Meisner, Danielle and Sophia Perczyk, Jeff and Sam 
Brown, and Menucha Bluth-Rosenberg wood-burn their seder plates.

NEXTGEN DETROIT INTERFAITH COUPLES EVENT – 
WHAT’S YOUR STORY? PASSING DOWN MORE THAN 
PASSOVER – APRIL 12
NEXTGen Detroit’s Interfaith Couples Committee held their first 
Passover event with the goal to form a community of interfaith 
couples where both parties feel supported and welcomed in the 
Jewish community. Blair Thoenes, NEXTGen Board member and 
Interfaith Couples Committee head, said for Passover they wanted 
to do something fun while exploring the importance of sharing 
family stories. “We decided it would be perfect to do a Passover 
event where we made chocolate-covered matzah treats. The event 
also included a program facilitated by Rabbi Jen Lader of Temple 
Israel, who shared the importance of discovering what their stories 
are and the ways to celebrate and honor holidays, life events, and 
how to preserve and share those things for the next generation.
”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHABAD OF GREATER DOWNTOWN DETROIT

Nicole Kovenich, Blair Thoenes, 
and TJ McKenzie are pouring and 
covering the matzah with chocolate.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NEXTGEN DETROIT

