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

