MAY 18 • 2023 | 85

faces&places

I

n welcoming congregants and the broader community 
to celebrate Lag b’Omer with the Woodward Avenue 
Shul, Rabbi Mendel Polter said, “We are proud of who 
we are and what we do, and we have nothing to be ashamed 
or scared of.” He went on to quote Psalms (118:6), “The Lord 
is with me, I do not fear! What can man do to me?”
On Lag b’Omer, Mary Kay Davis Park in Huntington 
Woods was full of joy and celebration. The weather was 
perfect. Dovid Scheiner worked magic on the grill while the 
older kids helped make clouds of cotton candy for everyone 
to enjoy. Kim Stevens painted children’s faces, and a team was 
on hand to create keepsake photos to remember the event. 
On top of all that, there was a giant bounce house and tons of 
fun lawn games.
Notable community leaders attended the event and shared 
words of solidarity and commitment to eradicate hate from 
our communities. Speakers included Oakland County 
Executive David Coulter, Royal Oak Mayor Michael Fournier 
and Madison Heights Mayor Roslyn Grafstein. Moving 
remarks and support were also shared by staff of U.S. Reps. 
Haley Stevens and Elissa Slotkin, and U.S. Sen. Gary Peters. 
“I wanted to be here with you in person to express 
with you my commitment that we are not going to let 
antisemitism and hate win in Oakland County,
” Coulter 
said. “It is incumbent upon all leaders and people of good 
conscience not to be silent.
”
Zach Rich, attending on behalf of U.S. Rep. Stevens, called 
out the words of former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, “It is 
better to light a candle than curse the darkness.
”
Polter, in sum, reminded all of the perseverance of Jews 
and God’s unwavering presence, “From the beginning of our 
peoplehood, we have had struggles and challenges, but God 
has always been there for us, and we exist today as proof.
” 

STORY AND PHOTOS BY 
YEVGENIYA GAZMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Woodward Ave. 
Shul Celebrates 
Lag b’Omer 

Larry Rood 
and DeShean 
McClinton 
nosh on the 
great food.

Grillmaster 
Dovid 
Scheiner

Rabbi Mendel 
Polter shares 
his Jewish 
pride.

Doug Shore and 
Eliezer Wodowski 
enjoy the event.

Kim Stevens 
paints faces.

Oakland County 
Executive David 
Coulter addresses 
the crowd.

