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.

