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