26 | AUGUST 18 • 2022

O

rganizations like
the Jewish Relief
Network Ukraine
(JRNU) are working to pro-
vide support to more than
30,000 people throughout
Ukraine, despite the worsen-
ing conditions.
The New York-based non-
profit organization is working
closely with more than 150
Chabad rabbis across Ukraine
to provide humanitarian aid
in the regions under active
attacks.
“The Chabad rabbi at the
helm of the organization,
Shlomi Peles, has 30 years of
experience and knows precise-
ly how to address the needs
of the people efciently and

effectively,” the organization
states.
“Rabbi Peles has dedicated
his life to helping and caring
for the people of Ukraine,
from Holocaust survivors to
young children in orphan-
ages and everyone in
between.”
Working with the network
of Chabad rabbis in Ukraine
and around the world, JRNU
ensures Ukrainian Jews
receive food, medicine, hous-
ing, programs for children and
more.
JRNU has two hotlines
located in Israel that field
more than 100 new requests
daily regarding grocery store
certificates, hot meals, med-

ical treatment, emergency
transportation and evacuation
assistance.
The needs of the Ukrainian
people are critical. JRNU
remains focused on saving
lives by providing nearly
40,000 hot meals, 30,000
food parcels and 20,000 food
certificates. Its medical pro-
gram is providing assistance
to more than 6,500 people in
need of urgent care and it fills
more than 4,000 prescriptions

monthly.
While JRNU continues to
work to provide the needs of
the people in Ukraine, it is
planning for the winter season
that comes early and is severe.
The nonprofit says it expects
an increased need for fuel for
warmth, coats and additional
medical care for the inevitable
illnesses.

To learn more about JRNU and how

you can help, go to JRNU.org.

OUR COMMUNITY

S

ome of them started
studying at Adas Shalom
Religious School in
1955, according to an article in
the Jewish News archives. Others
joined the group when it was
time to prepare for confirmation
in 1965.
Regardless of how long they’
d
been together at the synagogue
on Curtis at Stoepel in Detroit,
the bonds forged back then
were sweet and strong enough
to bring seven together — and

one by Zoom — for a reunion
luncheon Aug. 4 in Bloomfield
Township.
Andi Kahn Wolfe was one
of those confirmands, and she
hosted the luncheon for her
old friends and classmates at
her home, filled with Jewish art
from around the world. The
group was organized by Doris
Rubenstein, now of Minneapolis.
Discussion at the lunch
ranged from favorite teachers
like Rhoda Thatch and Rabbi

Jacob Segal, to subjects of study
like the 8 Steps on the Ladder of
Charity.
Laughs abounded when mem-
ories arose regarding the con-
firmation ceremony itself. Doris
Rubenstein and Cookie Farber
Markowitz had unknowingly
competed for the same solo song
as part of the ceremony’s cantata,
“Torah, America and Human
Rights” written by Rabbi Segal.

Others were glad that they didn’t
get a solo! Still, the group sang
parts of those songs and recalled
the beautiful music in the pro-
cessional and recessional.
The group had one other
reunion over the years. Only a
few are still members of Adat
Shalom, but all who attended
are engaged in synagogue life,
a legacy of their confirmation
experience.

Members of the Adat Shalom Confirmation Class of 1965 surround
a photograph of the actual ceremony. From left: Ronna Katzman,
Andi Kahn Wolfe, Sarita Lash Bagdade, Sharon Moss Lebovic, Doris
Rubenstein, Barbara Levine Wool and Cookie Farber Markowitz. Not
pictured: Ava Goldberg.

Former religious school students
gather to reminisce.

Adat Shalom 1965
Confi
rmands Hold
a Joyful Reunion

DORIS RUBENSTEIN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

Jewish Relief
Network Ukraine

RACHEL SWEET ASSOCIATE EDITOR