JANUARY 19 • 2023 | 29

T

emple Shir Shalom’s
Tea, Talk & Torah
is returning in 2023
with its first class on Jan.
25.
The monthly sessions
at the West Bloomfield
temple invite all to gather
for an afternoon tea,
light treats,
schmooze and
a brief study of
the day’s text.
Shir Shalom’s
Rabbi Daniel
Schwartz and
Rabbi Michael
Moskowitz take
turns teaching the classes.
The class started off
meeting over the summer
of 2021 at the end of
dealing with some of the
COVID challenges.
“It just started off as
an experiment, giving
people an opportunity
to be outdoors together
— we studied a little bit,
schmoozed a little bit,
had iced tea and hot tea,
depending on what people
were interested in, and
then a little bit of a nosh
as well,” Schwartz said.
“People really enjoyed it,
so we’ve continued to have
them once a month.”
In the classes, it’s usually
three different texts that
are studied. The first
text is always the Torah
portion of the week. The
second text is something of

interest, something that’s
going on in the world that’s
connected to Judaism,
or something of interest
somebody may have
mentioned that the rabbis
were interested in sharing
with others. The third text
is always from Pirkei Avot.
Schwartz says the
program has been a hit,
even with non-members.
“The majority of people
who are coming are
Shir Shalom members,
but some non-members
have come and checked
it out, and we’ve gained
a couple members from
this class as well — people
who enjoyed the study,
enjoyed the community
and wanted to be a part of
the community and part
of other programs, too,”
Schwartz said.
Overall, Schwartz
hopes the classes provide
an opportunity to build
community.
“It’s the opportunity to

make smaller communities
within a larger community
and then to be able to
walk away with a little bit
of knowledge about how
Judaism and Jewish texts
speak to our lives today —
and what meaning we can
bring into them and raise
our spiritual awareness
based on some of these
texts.”
No matter what, the tea
and nosh are always tasty.
“We always bring it in
from different bakeries,
so people enjoy trying
different bakeries from
around town,” Schwartz
said. “It’s a wonderful
group. If people are
interested in checking it
out, we’d love to have them
join us for it.”

Each session stands alone. Join

for one or all. RSVP required at

shirshalom.org. No charge for

members; $10 for non-members. To

register, visit www.shirshalom.org/

event/tea-talk-torah.

Rabbi
Daniel
Schwartz

Temple Shir Shalom program is a fun way to learn.
Tea, Talk & Torah

BY DANNY SCHWARTZ

More Chanukah
Art Winners

The results of our online
voting for Chanukah art are
in and winners are: 6 and
under: Rossi Joseph; Ages
7-9: Ariella Yeshurun; and
ages 10-12: Alec Pulliam.
Congratulations!