28 | MAY 30 • 2024
J
N

OUR COMMUNITY

T

hree years ago,
Lamplighters Preschool
opened its doors in
Royal Oak, offering a fresh and
innovative approach to early
childhood education for Jewish
families throughout Detroit.
As the only Reggio Emilia-
inspired Jewish preschool in
the city, Lamplighters — a
department of the Royal
Oak Chabad headed by
Rabbi Moishie and Mushky
Glitsenstein — has quickly
become a beacon of progressive
Jewish education, emphasizing
creativity, community and cul-

tural pride.
At Lamplighters, children are
encouraged to express them-
selves through art, play and
hands-on activities, fostering
academic skills and a deep
connection to their Jewish
heritage.
“We believe every child is
capable and full of potential,”
says Mushky Glitsenstein, the
school’s director and founder.
“Our approach respects and
harnesses the natural curiosity
of children, guiding them to
explore their Jewish identity in
meaningful and personal ways.”

Lamplighters is not just
about teaching Jewish cus-
toms and traditions; it’s about
making them meaningful and
relevant to the children’s lives.
“Our goal is to give the kids
a positive association with
Judaism,” Glitsenstein says.
The Glitsensteins cred-
it the school’s success to its
great staff. The dedicated
teachers grant the students a
well-rounded education, as

well as skills to deal with con-
flict and emotional regulation.
One of the highlights of
the school year is the annual
art auction, a vibrant event
where families and friends
gather to admire and purchase
artwork created by the
children themselves. “The
art auction is a wonderful
culmination of our year,” she
says. “It’s not only a chance
to showcase the children’s
hard work and creativity but
also an opportunity to bring
our community together and
support the school.”
Proceeds from the auction
benefit Lamplighters’
educational programs and
maintain their commitment
to providing an exceptional
learning experience.

Lamplighters Art Auction will be held

on Sunday, June 2, 10:30 a.m. at The

Norwood, 6531 Woodward Ave. Detroit.

For more information, visit www.lamp-

lighterspreschool.com/artauction.

Lamplighters
Preschool to
Exhibit Engaging
Art Experience

JN STAFF

SHANNON LEIGH

Lamplighters Preschool students

E

ight-year-old Olivia
and 5-year-old Quinn
from Dearborn
are motivating the local
community to find cures by
participating in the Crohn’s
& Colitis Foundation’s
Southfield Take Steps.
This year’s event takes
place on Saturday, June 8,
at 10 a.m. at the Southfield
Civic Center Complex.
Olivia and Quinn
are living with Crohn’s
disease, which combined

with ulcerative colitis,
are painful, debilitating
digestive diseases affecting
millions of American adults
and children. Olivia was
diagnosed with Crohn’s
disease at age 3 and this
past September her younger
sister Quinn was also
diagnosed with Crohn’s.
“We want to thank
the Crohn’s and Colitis
Foundation of Michigan
and Camp Oasis staff for
making living with a lifelong

illness the best as possible
for our kids and appreciate
their honoring our children.
We can’t wait to walk and
support others at the Take
Steps walk in June,” said
their mom, Robyn.
This year, David Paull,
a Jewish member of the
board of the Crohn’s and
Colitis Foundation, will
be an “Honored Hero.” He
has spent the past 20 years
dedicated to finding cures
and helping people with the

disorder.
Take Steps is the Crohn’s
& Colitis Foundations
largest nationwide event
dedicated to finding cures
and raising awareness for
digestive diseases. It is a
day that combines high
energy and fun with access
to valuable information and
education.
For more information
on how to get involved
with Take Steps, visit www.
cctakesteps.org.

Crohn’s Disease Patients
and Family Take Steps for
Cures on Saturday, June 8

David Paull