MAY 26 • 2022 | 23

mentally conscious and to be 
part of an effort of like-mind-
ed faith organizations,
” Odza 
said. “Having EV chargers at 
Temple B’nai Israel makes it 
easy and convenient for me to 
recharge my car. 
“I hope that someday soon 
we will all take for granted 
that chargers are nearly 
everywhere we travel. For 
now, I’m happy to know that 
our congregation is out front 
in encouraging sustainable 
practices.
”
Bertman likes to pass along 
temple experiences to other 
groups and presents a slide 
show he has developed.
“I’m a founding member 
of a group in Kalamazoo that 
we call Hope for Creation, 
an affiliation of faith 
communities in the region 
trying to get people to act on 
climate change,
” Bertman said. 
“We organize actions 
and activities so, during 
the pandemic, we created a 
monthly series for congre-
gational green teams, bring-
ing in teams from faith 
communities to share what 
they’re doing and how they’re 
doing it to learn from each 
other. 
“I thought it was time for us 
to bring it up a notch in terms 
of what we’re doing to live our 
Jewish values in terms of our 
responsibilities for stewarding 
the natural world.
”
Since Bertman has begun 

speaking about the Temple 
B’nai Israel charging station 
before neighboring faith 
centers and welcoming 
opportunities to speak before 
any groups near and far, 
two other congregations 
have installed their own. 
Kalamazoo’s Congregation 
of Moses, another Jewish 
worship center, has one in the 
works. 
Carolyn Kennedy, a 
Congregation of Moses board 
member, explained the project 
will take a while.
“We learned about the 
processes through Steve’s 
presentation,
” said Kennedy, 
who is not ready to give 
a completion date. “It’s a 
slow process because of the 
infrastructure involved.
” 
Rabbi Schicker, who has 
solar panels on her home 
and anticipates buying an 
electric vehicle, reports that 
the award money will help 
shine additional light on 
environmental practices.
“
At least some of the 
money is going directly 
toward replacing light fixtures 
to more energy-efficient 
options,
” the rabbi said. 
“It’s another expression of 
our values and the way that 
we interpret Torah to be 
cognizant of our impact on 
our planet. It excites me and 
makes me very proud that 
my community wants to be 
invested in this way.
” 

Steven Bertman charges his 
car as Rabbi Simone Schicker 
learns about the process.

B’NAI ISRAEL
T

he Young Israel of 
Southfield Sisterhood 
(YISS) is hosting its first 
Shavuot bake sale next week. 
The holiday begins Saturday, 
June 4, to commemorate the 
receiving of the Torah at Mount 
Sinai. Shirli Gotlib, co-presi-
dent of YISS, says the goal is to 
bring everyone back together 
in person and lift their spirits 
while enjoying traditional baked 
goods.
“During COVID, everyone 
was experimenting in the kitch-
en with new recipes,
” Gotlib 
said. “We thought it would be 
a good way to share delicious 
creations with everyone and 
create new connections in the 
community.
”
Throughout the beginning 
of the pandemic, Gotlib says 
the shul did most things vir-
tually and now that things are 
slowly going back to normal, 
the sisterhood hopes to have 
more in-person events like the 
Shavuot Bake Sale. Before the 

pandemic, Gotlib says they 
used to do events like Mystery 
Shabbos to help connect fam-
ilies. 
“On Shabbos, families would 
come to shul, and we would give 
them a map of where they’re 
going for Shabbos dinner,
” 
Gotlib explained. “Members 
would be able to connect with 
other families who maybe don’t 
know each other so well and 
would have a Shabbos meal 
together.
” 
Those interested in baking 
for the sale can sign up online 
to bake multiple desserts. The 
bake sale begins Thursday, June 
2, at 7 p.m. at 22455 Chatsford 
Circuit St. in Southfield. Flowers 
will also be available for sale 
from fellow shul member Naomi 
Gardin of SilverBelle Bouquet. 
 All proceeds from the event 
will benefit the YISS. 

For more about the Shavuot Bake 

Sale and to sign up, go tofacebook.

com/youngisrael.southfield.

Bringing the 
community together 
through baked goods.

YISS
Shavuot
Bake Sale

RACHEL SWEET ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Floral arrangement from 
Silverbelle Bouquet 

This photo 
is from last 
year during a 
YISS virtual 
event where 
Naomi Elberg 
showed how 
to make 
cheesecake.

Expect goodies 
like these at the 
YISS Shavuot 
Bake Sale.

