T
hirty-five young adults gathered at Jam Handy in
Detroit on Friday, Aug. 12, for a Tu b’
Av Shabbat
experience with The Well. Tu b’
Av is often referred to
as Jewish Valentine’s Day, and Rabbi Jeff Stombaugh integrated
themes of love and wholeness into the Shabbat service.
Together with musicians Keith Schonberger and Noah
Rozenberg, Rabbi Stombaugh led participants through a
musical Shabbat service that included songs like Elton John’s
“Your Song” and The Lumineers’ “Hey Ho” in addition to
traditional Kabbalat Shabbat prayers.
Prior to settling in for services, participants engaged in
intention-setting stations. Using hydro-degradable paper,
participants considered what they wanted to let go of from the
week. After writing it down, they dropped their slips of paper
into a bowl of water and watched them dissolve in front of
them.
Participants also considered what they wanted to hold on to
from the previous week and take with them into Shabbat and
received a miniature notebook and pen with which to journal.
Once intentions for Shabbat were set, the group enjoyed
services, followed by an outdoor dinner catered by La Palma, a
local Mediterranean restaurant in Detroit.
Tu b’Av
Shabbat:
A Night of Love
and Wholeness
NEXT DOR
36 | SEPTEMBER 15 • 2022
PHOTOS AND STORY PROVIDED BY THE WELL
Participants Carly Eisen, Drew Stern, Jen Stern and Noah Rozenberg
enjoy a drink together before services begin.
Stephanie Belsky, Hannah Berger and Rachel Wasserman are all smiles
for Shabbat.
Together in the round, participants welcome Shabbat with music and
prayer.
Participants raise a glass for
Kiddush before enjoying Shabbat
dinner from La Palma. L’chaim!
VOICE OF A
NEW GENERATION