20 | JUNE 22 • 2023
T
he Girl Scouts of
Southeast Michigan
Religious Relationship
Committee joined with Temple
Israel in West Bloomfield to
create a “My
Promise, My
Faith” program
for Girl Scouts to
learn more about
the Jewish faith.
It was exciting
for me to share
my religious
home, Temple
Israel, with the Girl Scouts and
their mothers.
Registration began at 10:30,
where every Girl Scout and
their mother and temple vol-
unteers were given a T-shirt
by Linda Schlesinger-Wagner,
owner of Skinny Tees.
At 11 a.m., Rabbi Jennifer
Kaluzny invited everyone into
the main sanctuary, where
she opened the Ark and
taught everyone the history of
Torah scrolls. Rabbi Kaluzny
explained the difference
between a synagogue and a
temple, religious practices, why
she became a rabbi and the
role of women in Judaism.
I lit the Shabbat candles and
explained the important role
Jewish women are given to
bring light to our world.
The Girl Scouts then toured
the temple, with stops in the
temple’s Children’s Library
and mikvah, where the girls
learned about ritual immersion
to achieve purity.
Then everyone enjoyed
lunch in Kormal Hall, hosted
by Sandra Seligman, where
Rabbi Kaluzny said the bless-
ing over bread. During lunch,
Aliza Plotkin led a discussion
of how Girls Scout Laws mirror
Jewish values. Everyone wrote
their personal commitment to
make the world a better place
on a paper heart to take home
as reminder to implement their
promise.
Everyone then moved to the
Korman Atrium where Rabbi
Kaluzny taught us how to braid
challah. She explained that we
only braid bread on Shabbat.
Each of the three braids has a
special meaning. As woman we
are asked to braid justice, truth
and peace together.
Everyone brought their
OUR COMMUNITY
A Girl Scout Shabbat
Girls learn about Judaism at Temple Israel.
Brenda
Naomi
Rosenberg
Special to the
Jewish News
Brenda Rosenberg
lit the Shabbat
candles and
explained the
important role
Jewish woman
are given to bring
light to our world.
Brenda Rosenberg, Girl
Scout Emma Beech
and Suzanne Bante,
her troop leader.
The Girl Scouts painted
rocks to take home with
the message “stop hate.”
The Girl Scouts learn about the
mikvah during a tour of the temple.
Girl Scouts
braided bread
and learned
about challah.
The Girl Scouts earned this patch.