56 | SEPTEMBER 14 • 2023
in the broader community
and takes pride in its
volunteer efforts, including
buying and delivering gifts to
children in Southwest Detroit
on Christmas Day with area
nonprofit Jimmy’s Kids.
“That’s always a very spiritual
moment for all of us,” he says.
Mechelle Bernard has been
at B’nai Israel for about a
decade and on B’nai Israel’s
board for the past five years.
“It’s a great community,” she
says. “It’s a wonderful group. I
really enjoy being there. It’s a
warm and friendly and loving
group.”
Like many congregations,
they’re seeing aging members
moving to be with children
and grandchildren, so it’s
even more important to
take the time to recognize
milestones such as 90 years of
B’nai Israel, Bernard says.
Especially with COVID
sending everything online
for the past couple years,
people are eager to connect
and celebrate. “Shabbat lunch,
we sit down, we have lunch
together,” she says. “I feel like
I’m sitting with 40 brothers
and sisters who know just the
spot to nudge me.”
When she arrives at the
synagogue, she always heads
to the kitchen to see how
she can help. “I always put
out the creamer and see if
we need more napkins and
plates,” she says. “Everyone
is appreciated, everyone is
needed and cared for, and
we do what we can to be
supportive and loving toward
each other.”
As for the community’s
future, she says she hopes to
see the synagogue continue
to grow with more people in
the wider Jewish community.
They’ve in the past held
minyans with B’nai Moshe
and participated in area
Chanukah celebrations.
“I’m hoping we can get
more young families and
people in their middle age
to come. There’s so much
fascinating learning and
teaching going on at our
synagogue,” she explains.
“It’s an amazing wealth of
knowledge, experience, ideas,
stories, life events — the
people that are there are just
fascinating to me. I just find
it so amazing.”
continued from page 54
Front: Ed and Andie, sister and brother-in-law of Cheryl Parker, Lou
Granitz, Roxanne and Brian Newhouse, Laurie Kimmel and Mitch
Parker. Back: Carl Dibble and Robert Kimmel.
OUR COMMUNITY
YOU DON'T HAVE TO
FACE A CRISIS ALONE.
GET THE RIGHT HELP FAST
www.feinbergcare.com
248.538.5425
There is a small window of opportunity to get the right
help for someone in crisis. We know what to do and
have the team in place to act quickly.
No matter how complex the situation is,
since 1996, our team of Professional
Interventionists, Behavioral Health, Case
and Clinical Managers, Physicians, Nurse
Case Managers, Family Coaches, Recovery,
Life and Health Coaches, and Vocational
Consultants has been helping families heal.
Pam Feinberg-Rivkin, RN
CHAIR PERSON OF THE BOARD
Steve Feldman
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
ADDICTION & MENTAL HEALTH
INTERVENTION & RECOVERY
COMPLEX MEDICAL &
INJURY CASE MANAGEMENT
SENIOR SERVICES
WELCOME HOME TO B'NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE!
We are an egalitarian, participatory, Conservative congregation "where
everyone knows your Hebrew name."
We would love to have you join us for your High Holidays services!
Rosh Hashanah: September 15 - September 17
Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur: September 24 - September 25
Call (248) 432-2729 or email info@bnaiisraelwb.org for ticket information.
5085 Walnut Lake Road
West Bloomfield, MI 48323