22 | OCTOBER 27 • 2022 

OUR COMMUNITY

A

dat Shalom 
Synagogue is cel-
ebrating two of its 
most important figures. 
The synagogue is having 
a b’nai mitzvah celebration 
on Nov. 6, recognizing Rabbi 
Aaron Bergman and Hazzan 
Daniel Gross’ 13 years at Adat 
Shalom. 
The special evening will fea-
ture a rare stand-
up comedy rou-
tine by Bergman 
and a concert 
with Gross and 
The Cliff Monear 
Trio. Everyone is 
invited to a des-
sert afterglow.
Generally, Adat 
Shalom does at 
least one big con-
cert fundraiser 
per year with the 
goal of providing 
a quality Jewish 
cultural entertainment oppor-
tunity. 
During the height of the 
pandemic, Adat Shalom kept 
doing cultural activities on 

Zoom, but it was impos-
sible to do a big concert. 
Now that it’s possible, 
Gross wanted to do some-
thing that would entice 
people to come to the 
building. “It’s really an eve-
ning of celebration,” he said. 
Bergman has been with 
Adat Shalom one year longer 
than Gross, but because of 
COVID, there was never a 
good opportunity to celebrate 
his bar mitzvah 
year. Bergman 
was approached 
by Gross about 
doing a stand-up 
routine.
“He’s so witty, 
so funny. His 
humor is so 
unique,” Gross 
said. “I thought 
it would be awe-
some, and he was up for it.” 
“This was really nice of 
Hazzan Gross to include me 
— I’m going to be the open-
ing act, sort of the warm-up,” 
said Bergman, who has done 
stand-up a few times.

“I think it’s great to have 
a rabbi and cantor who get 
along as well as we do. We’re 
both very grateful to be at 
Adat Shalom.” 
Bergman added, “This is 
celebrating the synagogue in 
general — a 
nice evening of 
being able to 
do something 
social together 
because we 
haven’t been 
able to for a 
long time.” 
A few differ-
ent sponsorship 
opportunities 
are available for the concert. 
For two of the donor levels, a 
pre-concert dinner is offered 
at the synagogue.
Temple Israel Cantor Neil 
Michaels will also be perform-
ing some songs with Gross. 

“It’s going to be happy, fun 
songs,” Gross said. “I want it 
to be a feel-good evening that 
people enjoy and connect to.” 
Bergman actually helped 
hire Hazon Gross all those 
years ago.
“To celebrate it with him, I 
think it’s incredibly symbolic 
and fitting of our relationship,” 
Gross said. “From my first 
phone call with him, I could 
tell there was something dif-
ferent about him. There were 
lots of synagogue openings, 
lots of places that were inter-
ested in me, and Adat Shalom 
just stuck out as a special 
place for many reasons, but, 
ultimately, Rabbi Bergman 
had the most to do with that. 
It’s going to be a wonderful 
evening.” 

For tickets, visit adatshalom.org/ 

concert or call (248) 851-5100.

Clergy marks 13 years 
serving synagogue.

Adat Shalom 
Celebrates 
Rabbi 
Bergman and 
Hazzan Gross 

DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

Rabbi Aaron 
Bergman

Hazzan 
Daniel Gross

“IT’S GOING 
TO BE A 
WONDERFUL 

EVENING.”

— HAZZAN DANIEL GROSS

