More than 200 young adults came together to celebrate Lag b’Omer, the 33rd day of the Counting of the Omer from Passover to Shavuot. The event was held on Sunday, April 28, at the Friendship Circle in West Bloomfield.

The Lag b’Omer event, a partnership between Federation’s NEXTGen Detroit and Partners in Torah, included a premium barbecue with NEXTGen volunteers grilling on site, drinks, Torah on Tap sessions given by Rabbi Leiby Burnham of Partners in Torah, and a bonfire with s’mores at the end of the night.

The event was chaired by Jared Goldman of Royal Oak and Joshua Goldberg of West Bloomfield, in partnership with Rabbi Burnham and with Rabbi Yisrael Pinson of the Friendship Circle.

“I think it’s a big deal that we’ve taken a holiday that’s unknown by most Jewish young adults and brought it back into awareness as a positive and cool thing; it’s about more than just a barbecue,” Goldberg says.

Last year, the event was created to educate NEXTGen’ers about this little-known holiday in a fun way, and no one could have foreseen that it would become one of the most popular NEXTGen events of the year. When Goldberg and Goldman were planning out their goals for the year, there was no question as to whether or not to repeat this event.

“This is such a great program because not only does it bring young people from our community together, but it also informs them about the religion and their traditions in a fun, exciting way,” Goldman says.

Burnham, NEXTGen executive board member and director of outreach for Partners in Torah, says, “I was simply amazed by the tremendous turnout! So many people came and so many people were interested in learning about Lag b’Omer! Between the awesome people, the ridiculous sausage and the Torah on Tap spin, the Lag b’Omer Blowout is starting to become a real Jewish Detroit icon!”

One event attendee of Southfield, Ariella Shaffren, agrees. Originally from New Jersey, she moved to Detroit a little over a year ago with her husband Dani and 2-year-old son Kobi. “‘It was an inspirational night where I learned more about Lag b’Omer, made new friends and ate great food,” says Shaffren.

She says her family moved to Detroit to join a warm Jewish community where they can really make a difference and have been welcomed with open arms. “Our first year in Detroit has exceeded our expectations; the warmth, close community and the ability to become part of a family here have really made our transition easy and comfortable.”

This event represents the tremendous growth of Federation’s NEXTGen Detroit, now a year old. While many in attendance had not celebrated this holiday before, hundreds came out to join together to celebrate young Jewish Detroit as a whole.

For more information about NEXTGen Detroit, or to learn about upcoming events, visit the NEXTGen website at www.nextgen.jewishdetroit.org. 

Roasting marshmallows was one of the fun events at the Lag b’Omer party at the Friendship Circle in West Bloomfield.

Joshua Goldberg of West Bloomfield and Jared Goldman of Royal Oak

Jaimee Wine of Orchard Lake

Jared Goldman of Royal Oak and Rabbi Leiby Burnham of Oak Park

Alyssa McMillan of West Bloomfield, Beth Kramer of Farmington Hills, David Lerner of Southfield and Marla White of Oak Park

Temple marks 25 years with a look back, a look ahead — and a party.

Rabbi Dannel Schwartz carries a Torah during a march to the new Shir Shalom building in 1995.

The sentiment of a 25-year-old Jewish News ad still rings true today for its creator. It read, “Thank You, Jewish Detroit. Thank You For The Miracle Of Temple Shir Shalom.”

In 1988, on a full page, the words ran as an announcement of the phenomenal growth of the new congregation from 30 families, who met in a converted office building on Maple Road in West Bloomfield, to 487 families just two months later.

Today, the memory reverberates with members celebrating the silver anniversary of Shir Shalom with a Saturday, May 18, fundraiser at the synagogue. A Night of Comedy and Cocktails will feature Brett Kline, Mike Green and Mike Young.

Membership now has reached 950 families and synagogue leadership includes three rabbis: Dannel Schwartz, Michael Moskowitz and Daniel Schwartz, along with Cantor Penny Steyer.

The “miracle” ad and five others that included innovative and clever text with biblical illustrations, were the creation of Shir Shalom’s founder, Rabbi Dannel Schwartz.

“It was to show those who said we wouldn’t make it from our first meeting in the early summer of 1988 to the High Holidays,” said Schwartz, who formed Shir Shalom after leaving a position at Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Township. “By the High Holidays, we had nearly 500 member families.”

To invite unmarrieds to join the temple, ads included one with a sketch of Noah’s ark and the lines, “You don’t have to come in pairs. Singles are welcome at Shir Shalom.”

Another, aimed toward the intermarried, used the words, “Ruth intermarried, too. At Shir Shalom, we would have made her part of our family.”

“That one ran after I did a needs-assessment and found nobody was servicing intermarried couples,” Schwartz said. “Some rabbis were officiating at intermarriage ceremonies, but no congregation was doing programming for intermarrieds.

“The ad ran in the Jewish News near the back of the paper. The ultra Orthodox community went berserk and the paper got letters. And those letters ran on page five or six, and let more people know about the temple — at no charge to us. So I wrote a letter back, and it ran, too. Free advertising. Next came an article describing how the ‘ousted rabbi’ responded to intermarried critics. And that was a game changer.”

He said not only did interfaith couples come, but so did their siblings and their parents. “Their families’ concerns had never been met either, and they saw we were dealing with their children and grandchildren positively,” Schwartz said. “It changed the face of how mainline congregations dealt with intermarrieds in Detroit.”

With minimal funds, the ads included illustrations taken from old Bible storybooks. “I used books that were out of print, so they were out of copyright,” he said. “Ours were the first full-page synagogue ads that ran. The Jewish News was our guardian angel. Without it, there would have been no way to spread the word — and there would be no Shir Shalom.”

Something New
Shir Shalom’s 30 founding families had been members at Beth El. When Schwartz left at the end of 1987, they came with him, hoping he would start a new synagogue.

Rabbis Dannel Schwartz and Michael Moskowitz inside the almost-complete Shir Shalom building in 1995.

“The first meetings were at our house and the homes of a few others,” recalled Dr. Norman Lynn of West Bloomfield. He and his wife, Dee Dee, were among the first six families to join together.

“We did a lot of legwork early on, had meeting after meeting and spent a lot of evenings making phone calls,” he said. “We told Beth El members, ‘We are considering starting a new congregation with Dannel, the rabbi you know and love, to lead us.’ We said we were not knocking Beth El, but rather that we wanted to be with Dannel.

“We told those who agreed to put their money where their mouth was. And they did. We put that money in escrow, and when we reached the right amount, we went forward with a steering committee and the project took on a life of its own.”

After leaving Beth El, Schwartz had been accepted to Yale Law School. “I thought I wanted to get out of the rabbinate, but I took a pass and decided to give it a year,” he said. “I told them I would work for free until we got our sea legs, but their job was to get 100 new families by the first High Holidays. By then, we had almost five times that amount and outgrew the building we were renovating and had to rent space in West Bloomfield High School for services.”

The congregation’s first home was in 11,000 square feet of rented office space. “We didn’t have to put up any money because the first six months’ rent was free,” Schwartz said. “And the landlord fixed up the inside. We were doing just fine. Except that we outgrew the building the day we moved in.”

During that first year, the congregation started to plan where they would move when they had the funds. By the second year, they had grown by another 200 families. A year later, they purchased land and then fundraised for the down payment on a building.

In 1993, Schwartz spearheaded the design and construction of the current West Bloomfield home of Shir Shalom and the 950 families who affiliate there.

Through the work of Neumann-Smith Architecture in Southfield, the building was created. “Kenny Neumann was a brilliant designer and Joel Smith made the details sing within the building,” Schwartz said.

The outside of the building was fashioned from Schwartz’s idea for it to look like a Torah Scroll unfurling from right to left. “I wanted it to look like a Torah, but we only had enough funds to make it look like a megillah,” he said. “The pattern of the walkway forms the leaves of an olive branch.”

Everyone Is Welcome
“I had three things I wanted when the temple was created,” Schwartz said. “I wanted a congregation that was post-denominational, that could identify as Reform, but with as many elements of other Jewish denominations as possible. I wanted everything that happened to be the result of everyone doing what they could to make it happen; for everybody to benefit from the relationship. And I wanted the rabbi to be the moving force of the congregation rather than just an employee.”

A major component of the plan was to be a place where every individual is made to feel welcome, accepted and comfortable.

“As much as a synagogue should be a center for all Jews, everyone should feel at home at any place of worship,” Schwartz said. Shir Shalom’s logo incorporates symbols of several religions.

Yartzheit tablets for people of all faiths are placed outside the building. “That is so everyone can see them,” Schwartz said. “The highest point of the Jerusalem stone that decorates the exterior is the interfaith garden with a purpose of teaching that the true essence of a temple is to be a house of prayer for all peoples.

Rabbis Daniel Schwartz, Dannel Schwartz and Michael Moskowitz

“Those who are not of the Jewish faith who belong to the congregation are not asked to convert but to accept the Jewish people as their people,” he said. “Most often the intent of interfaith couples was the need for a Jewish education to insure a Jewish future for their children.”

Education For All
Education was part of Shir Shalom from Day One.

“We had pre-K through grade 12 classes right away,” Schwartz said. Once a week, the congregation rented vacant space in various office buildings for religious school classes, moving as the office space was rented out. “And while the kids were in school, parent workshops were held in the restaurant next door, which was closed on Sunday mornings,” he said.

The synagogue now has a preschool, run by Early Childhood Learning Director Marsha Mitnick. The religious school, with Hebrew and Judaic education for students in pre-K through high school, is overseen by Principal Cheryl Blau. B’nai mitzvah tutoring and adult continuing education programming are offered, and the rabbis organize a weekly Shabbat study group and an online learning resource.

A Shir Shalom rabbi since his ordination in 1995, Michael Moskowitz said, “Education always has been my priority.”

He helped create alternative, experiential educational programs, mostly with youth.

“First we moved our seventh- and eighth-graders out of the Sunday school into a curriculum that includes an informal camp-style retreat program, along with social action projects,” Moskowitz said. “We’ve sorted food at Yad Ezra and made a meal with our caterer [Zack Sklar of Cutting Edge Cuisine], and then took it to Ronald McDonald House in Detroit, along with students’ families.

“When Rabbi Daniel Schwartz came on board in 2007, we started to do it with third-, fourth- and fifth-graders also.”

High schoolers meet with Daniel Schwartz and Moskowitz on Mondays.

“Each week, we discuss a topic relating to living as a Jew in a non-Jewish world,” Moskowitz said.

He has led a bus on the Teen Mission to Israel, including Shir Shalom youth, every other year since 1996. He also helps staff URJ Goldman Union Camp Institute in Zionsville, Ind., each summer, with Shir Shalom kids attending.

With Daniel Schwartz now joining him in the education programming, Moskowitz said, “I am now also more involved in leadership and development as well as visioning for the future.”

Having worked extensively with youth, Daniel Schwartz also oversees the temple’s chapter of the North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY).

Engaging, Musical Services
Dannel Schwartz created innovative and spiritual services that continue today.

“My great colleagues and I work as a team and continue Dannel’s guided meditation at every single service,” Moskowitz said. “And we do it to the music of Penny Steyer. I love doing it; it helps my own worship.

“We have also tried a yoga service with breathing exercises and, when there’s nothing on the calendar, we’ll go outside and find different ways to reach people during the service.”

“Shir Shalom means ‘Song of Peace,’” Moskowitz said. “And that’s very much a part of who we are in our worship. We want congregants to feel engaged and also feel comfortable. Many non-Jews walk through our door and should also feel comfortable.

“When the clergy is on the bimah and Penny is singing, we are doing what we love as well as being spiritually connected with the congregation through prayer, learning and music, which are highlights of the service.”

A producer, arranger, voice teacher and choral conductor, Steyer came to the temple in 1990, where she created an all-volunteer music program with Shir Shalom’s Shabbat Choir, High Holy Day Choir and Youth Choirs as well as multiple instrumental ensembles, including the Shir Klezmer Band, the All Stars Jazz Ensemble and the Shabbat Guitar Group.

25 Years Later
Shir Shalom’s board of directors is led by Lloyd Doigan. A member of the congregation for 17 years, involvement was serendipitous for his family. “We moved here from Connecticut, and Shir Shalom was the only place we could get a bar mitzvah date for our son,” Doigan said. “But my wife and I were drawn in by the rabbis, their accessibility, optimism and how they push the joy of Judaism. And we were enamored with Penny’s voice.

“Our children were all involved in the temple religious school, and my wife was in the sisterhood. We walked into a great thing. We had the opportunity to go back to Connecticut after three years, but one reason we stayed was because of temple.”

Involved in the community, Shir Shalom hosts the annual Walk for Israel, based at the synagogue and led by Executive Director Andre Douville.

Looking ahead, Moskowitz said, “I want to bring camp more and more to all things we create.”

Looking way ahead, he said, “I would love to have a camp of our own and have adult retreats to connect the community of adults and bring the joy kids get at camp to them. Since 2009, we’ve been having board of directors retreats every year. In addition to practical leadership, we are studying together and learning what is meaningful to us.”

In a synagogue where tikkun olam (repairing the world) is paramount, he said, “I want the future of the congregation to include more volunteering using social action and to grow the projects we have now.

“I want to see the joy that is inherent in Judaism to be what we always celebrate and bring into our lives. That is what our prayer should be. And that is what our programs should promote — that we are a faith that gives us hope and joy, even in the most difficult of times.”

Like others from the synagogue’s founding families, the Lynns spent the past 25 years involved at Shir Shalom. Both Dr. Norman and Dee Dee Lynn sat on the board, their children attended religious school and their membership now includes four generations, along with their son-in-law and his family.

“At the start, we didn’t know where the planning would take us,” Norman Lynn said. “It took hard work by a lot of people for us to grow to the level where we are now. Thank God, it was a great success.”

Inside the temple is a constant reminder of where the congregation began. Hanging on the wall of the office suite are rows of framed copies of those JN ads that ran in the early days of the synagogue that still is what it started out to be.

It remains, as its official temple description describes: “A house of study, a house of prayer and a house of meeting designed for people who wish to share a warmth of heart and spirit.” 

For information on Temple Shir Shalom or on the Saturday, May 18, fundraising comedy event, call (248) 737-8700. Cost is $75, including comedy show ticket, appetizers, cocktails and dessert. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; show at 8 p.m.

 By Shelli Liebman Dorfman | Contributing Writer

By Kelli Saperstein

I recently  had the opportunity to travel to China with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee young professionals group Entwine. JDC, or the “Joint,” is the world’s leading Jewish humanitarian assistance organization. Detroit’s own Penny Blumenstein is the current president. Entwine encompasses young Jewish leaders, influencers and advocates who seek to make a meaningful impact on global Jewish needs and international humanitarian issues.

While JDC may be known best for caring for the aging population in the former Soviet Union or coordinating Operation Moses, the largest covert evacuation of Ethiopian Jews to Israel, it impacts millions of lives in more than 70 countries.

The need in China can be summarized as follows: thousands of transient young professional Jews living in Communist China where Judaism is not a recognized religion. These individuals are spending a formative period of their lives in an area where it is difficult for them to gain exposure to Jewish community and Jewish identity.

JDC, along with Limmud, an international organization based in the UK working to foster Jewish community and identity, hosted Destination Shanghai, a conference geared to bringing together young Jews all throughout East Asia. Enwtine’s role was to help facilitate networking, education and community building during this conference.

As part of Destination Shanghai, we were able to tour the city and learn about China’s relationship with the Jews. There are two synagogues in Shanghai. Ohel Moshe Synagogue is a government-run museum dedicated to the Jewish refugees of the Hongkou ghetto. Between 1937 and 1941, Shanghai received more than 25,000 Jewish refugees from Eastern Europe. This number of Jewish refugees was equal to the total taken in by Australia, New Zealand, Canada, India and South Africa.

Ohel Rachel Synagogue, the other synagogue, is only open to the public on a limited number of days each year (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Yom HaShoah) because it is a government building and not a traditional working synagogue.

It was interesting to be in Shanghai for Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Memorial Day. In addition, to our 200 Destination Shanghai participants, there were hundreds of people who joined the service at Ohel Rachel Synagogue for Yom HaShoah. There is a lot of philo-Semitism in China, a huge positive opinion of being Jewish. Even with philo-Semitism, it is difficult to understand that you cannot openly practice your religion in your local synagogue but three times a year.

This is what makes JDC’s work so important. The Jews living in China don’t need subsidized medicines as did the Jews in the former Soviet Union, or to be evacuated from slavery and forced baptism as the Jews in Ethiopia. JDC recognizes that the Jews living in China need an opportunity for a vibrant Jewish life and to be able to connect with others who have similar interests.

What  does the mean for Detroit? Part of the Federation’s budget is allocated to JDC as an overseas partner. During the economic and financial crisis of 2007-2009, the Federations of many other cities significantly reduced or eliminated their allocation to JDC. The Detroit Federation maintained its allocation to JDC during this most difficult time. This is because Detroit knows that, as Jews, we are part of a global Jewish community with a responsibility to care for others.

So now when I’m preparing for the Shabbat dinner I host monthly at my home in West Bloomfield, I can ask Rachel in Shanghai about that kugel recipe she gave me. Or I can brainstorm about recruitment for TribeFest, Federation’s national conference, with Jonathan in London who is on the Limmud executive board.

Our world is really becoming smaller, and we should find strength in being a part of a global Jewish community.  

Readers respond to contest with heartfelt words about their marvelous mothers.

Elizabeth Lieder surrounded by her son Josh, 22, and daughters, Rachel, 20, and Carly, 17.

Among the more than 80 entries in our Mother’s Day essay contest, nearly all mentioned love: unconditional and complete. Most talked of lessons learned and moms who gave more than 100 percent to their children. Some talked of heartache endured and overcome. Perhaps too many attested to wonderful cleaning skills.

Yet among these common sentiments, some clear winners emerged — like the first-place-winning entry turned in by Rachel Leider of Farmington Hills. Simple, direct and full of admiration for a mother who helped her kids understand and come to terms with real life.

1rst Place Rachel Leider
Rachel’s mother is Elizabeth Leider of Farmington Hills. A court reporter by profession, Elizabeth likes to read, cook and go on walks. They are a close family, and that extends to Elizabeth’s parents, Cookie and Victor Koblin of West Bloomfield, her two sisters and their families.

Additionally, Elizabeth keeps active in the Jewish community by volunteering and attending various events and fundraisers.

“My mother is the most wonderful woman I know. Not only is she an exceptional mother, but she is a phenomenal female role model, caring friend and active community member. Everything she teaches me and my siblings, she embodies herself. She always tells us to be caring, honest, kind, tolerant, independent and ambitious, and we see her exemplify these characteristics every single day.

“Never does she criticize our decisions, grades, interests or friends. Every conflict becomes a conversation. There is never a need for yelling and fighting. She just wants to understand and do whatever she can to help us achieve happiness.

“As a family, we have dealt with a lot: divorce, depression, death and money struggles. Through it all, my mom has been honest and real. She shares her emotions and encourages us to talk about ours.

“Don’t get me wrong, she is a superhero of a mom, but part of that means that she never gave us a false understanding of the world. She let us understand what life is really like, while also showing us that optimism is essential in facing this crazy world.

“As she currently fights breast cancer, I am more blown away by my mom than I have ever been before. She has made it her mission to learn everything she can, stay positive, live her life to the fullest and continue to be the extraordinary mom that she is.”

2nd Place Jonah Weinbaum
Jonah is a sixth-grade student at Hillel Day School in Farmington Hills. Along with other sixth- and fifth-grade language arts students of Lauren Sterling and Margery Jablin, he entered the contest. Here’s what he had to say about his mom, Lisa of Bloomfield Hills.

The Weinbaums: Anna, Jonah, Adam and Robbie with their parents, Marc and Lisa.

“What makes a good mother? A good mother loves you no matter what you do, listens to all you have to say and cares about what you believe. She can turn you from sad to happy in an instant. So is there a best mother? Is there a mother that does everything right? That knows what you want and when you want it? That understands you and listens to what you say? There’s only one answer, my mother.

She’s someone who can change who you are. My mother is a dietitian; she changes peoples’ lives every day. She has these amazing qualities that people can’t seem to get out of their head.

She’s sweet; she can turn the worst day into a lesson to learn from. I can tell her anything, and she’ll respect me no less than she did before. We listen to each other. She tells stories of when she lived in Israel, and we sit there and try to imagine what it was like. It’s almost as if in her brain she has a big book labeled ‘all the things my children like — Vol. 1 out of 1,000.’”

3rd Place Janis Sattler Fried
A Holocaust survivor, Katherine Rosenbaum Sattler, is a mother who always approaches life in a hopeful, upbeat manner. Here’s what her daughter, Janis Sattler Fried of West Bloomfield, says about her:

Katherine Rosenbaum Sattler with her daughter Janis Sattler Fried

“My mother, born in Czechoslovakia, had what would now be considered an upscale life. That is, of course, until the Holocaust. My mother is an insightful person with Hungarian instincts. She is a woman who never finds salt in an experience but always frames it, verbally, in a hopeful and positively reassuring manner.

“My mother’s work in Ravensbruck [a women’s concentration camp in Germany] was to take off buttons, hems and bottoms of shoes in order to find money, coins, jewelry, etc. for the Germans. She found all of those, but also her own father’s coat, which verified that when he had gone to the ‘right’ after their three days’ journey to the camps in a cattle car, he had been gassed and burned. She did not tell her sister and mother.

“She did tell them, as they walked the death march, that they would be free in May, in time for their birthdays. She was right, they were freed; it was then that she burdened them with the sadness of her father’s death.

“She did her sister’s and mother’s ‘work’ in the camps when they were too weak. She begged an officer for a charred potato when her sister was very ill. She went off to find a farmer to get a chicken and vegetables to make chicken soup when they were liberated and housed in a school. Alone, after placing her mother and sister in a hospital, she went to Prague to find her brother. She got up at 5 a.m., took a train and walked to all of the Red Cross facilities, until she heard his voice and was able to reunite her family.

“She married an American, the only one in her family who did. He moved her from Los Angeles to Detroit. She raised a family with no family support that so many of us are grateful to have had. She saw little of her mother, sister, brother and two cousins who had survived and resided now in Los Angeles.

“When I divorced, she was by my side. When, as a single mother, my daughter went through two nine-hour surgeries with a difficult recovery, she went with me. She left her life in Michigan for 15 days in July of 2002 and again from November to December 2002. First to go to California, and then to New York, where we were all alone. She gave my daughter a kiss and put her hand on her face, and said simply, ‘See you in a while. It will all be OK.’ My daughter, who had voiced the worry that during the second surgery she would flatline on the table, made it like a trouper.

“My mother is older now, but still drives, plays mahj, pan and bridge. She bakes and, although widowed, still smiles and takes any bitter story and makes you feel safe after her responses. Even when she was sick this winter, she said reassuringly, ‘I’ll get better.’

“Every time there are events, she bakes and brings over her famous (ask her friends) Hungarian strudel, cheesecake or lemon cake. My friends adore her and the Holocaust Memorial Center asks for her to be a speaker.

“My mother is my strength when life is hard and unfair. When my children are in need, she comes to my aide. My daughter is in pain, always, and the emergency visits were almost monthly at one point. Who was there with me? My mother. She is a mother, a friend and a positive speaker, all in one!”

Kathy Sattler of West Bloomfield epitomizes the essence of Mother’s Day, says Dr. Charles Silow, director of the Program for Holocaust Survivors and Families, a service of Jewish Senior Life of Metropolitan Detroit.

 “What’s amazing about her history is that she was with her mother and sister from the ghetto, to Auschwitz, a death march, Ravensbruck and Neustadt concentration camps,” he said. “Kathy made it her mission to keep her mother alive throughout. What a Mother’s Day story!”

In an interview for Silow’s program, Portraits of Honor, Sattler was asked: What do you think helped you to survive the Holocaust?

“If I was by myself I would not have survived,” she answered. “But I had to make sure my mom and my sister survived. I did everything in my power to keep them alive. It was very hard.”

Honorable Mentions

Lisa Gooel of West Bloomfield was heralded by her four daughters who wrote this tribute to their special mom:

The Gooels of West Bloomfield: (back) Jenna, 21, and Michelle, 19; (front) Lauren, 25, Bruce, Lisa and Stephanie, 24.

“Our mother is Lisa Gooel. She’s a one-of-a-kind, altruistic soul who proves time and time again that her family is her world.

“Growing up she taught us important things, most of which we learned by her example: right from wrong, to always believe in ourselves, to do our best, to like the kind of person we are … instilling within us values mothers so often do. But our mother is no ordinary mother, which is why we are no ordinary daughters, no ordinary family.

“We grew up thinking hiding and then seeking for Chanukah presents, 5:30 a.m. “Happy Birthday” choruses, taking half of our Halloween candy to the children’s hospital and sleeping six to a hotel room were how all traditional, Jewish-American families partook in family time or in celebrating holidays. But we eventually learned they were not traditionally American nor Jewish— but rather traditionally Mom’s ideas.

“Deeply rooted within every idea she’s ever had and every tradition she’s ever started, is love. And through the lens in which she sees things (which we’ve learned to see through as well) is a world that warmly welcomes that love.

“Our mom extends every bit of her loving, nurturing, spontaneous, creative self to create and keep a close-knit family, and her four daughters, wonderful hubby and pooch Rye-Rye know it and love her for it.

“Mom, you are the greatest woman in this world and in our hearts, and we love you dearly.

 “Happy Mother’s Day!”— Lauren, Stephanie, Jenna and Michelle

Hillel Day School sixth-grader Maya Wolock of Beverly Hills honored her mom, Miriam:

Maya Wolock and her mom, Miriam

“When I look into my mom’s eyes all I see is a heart so big it has to be folded 1,000 times.

She is the most inspirational, colorful, stylish flower in the vase of humanity. She does so much for me; I wish I could return the favor. She never ever throws fits of anger.

“She is so sweet sugar looks at her in awe. She is as funny as a clown, but without scaring little kids. She cooks like an angel, but the angels use her recipes. She looks like a model, but the models use her products. I love my mom, and there is no one who can beat her.”

Mike Beck of Dearborn admires how his mother, Lee Beck of West Bloomfield, rebounded with strength, bravery and adaptation after her husband died in 2000.

“I would have to say that I have always been close with my mother. OK, maybe borderline ‘mama’s boy.’ She has always done the classics. She made the meals. She cleaned the house. She worked. She took care of us when we were sick, and did the majority of the discipline.

Mike Beck with his mother, Lee Beck

“As we both got older, our relationship changed. We have become great friends. But it wasn’t until my father died that I realized just how strong and courageous my mother is.

“In February of 2000, my father, Jack Beck, was robbed and shot. Seven days later, he died. The entire time I remember thinking, ‘How is she gonna handle this?’ He paid the bills. He was the social one in their relationship. She didn’t even drive on the expressway. He handled most of the ‘big stuff.’

“After the funeral, I noticed she was managing to hold it together. We talked and she said, ‘I am not gonna let myself go.’ A month past and she told me to hand her the checkbook and let her handle the bills herself.

“In the next two years, both my brother and I got married. There she was going table to table thanking the guests and being a great host. That was never her role. My dad used to handle that. But she showed a lot of courage and stood strong by herself.

“Mom began to volunteer her time to a couple charity organizations. She remains very social and even opened herself up to dating again.

“Over the last few years, she has had a nerve issue with her back that at times becomes quite painful. But she marches on and continues to be brave every time life throws her a curve.

“If you had asked me to describe my mom 15 years ago, adjectives like strong, courageous or brave probably wouldn’t have come up. Today, they are the first words I think of.

I love you, Mom! Happy Mother’s Day!”

Risa VanDerAue of Farmington Hills and her sister Rabbi Jennifer Kaluzny of Temple Israel in West Bloomfield write of the strength, compassion and support from their mother, Yolanda Tisdale of West Bloomfield.

“Our mother, Yolanda, is so much more than she appears. As mothers ourselves, we now marvel at how our mom managed to pick us up every day from school, make dinner five nights a week get us to all our activities and make the warmest, most welcoming Jewish home you could imagine. All that time, while leading with her heart and keeping her arms wide open, she hid a strength that amazes us every day. Unfortunately, life would force her to rely upon it over and over.

Yolanda Tisdale with her daughters, Risa VanDerAue and Rabbi Jennifer Kaluzny, and granddaughters Alli VanDerAue and Bayla Kaluzny.

“Risa was in a coma, and our mom smoothed her sheets, sung quietly to her and still had the energy to be a mother to me. Our mom hid her cancer from us until I was ordained. She didn’t want to take away from my achievement. When my sister and I both mourned the loss of our daughters, her granddaughters, she held us up, literally and figuratively, and somehow puts her grief to good use, showing us how to be strong in the face of the unthinkable.

“Somehow, our mom has enough strength to carry our entire family. We pray, in the future, she doesn’t have to rely on it quite as much.”

Sara Seid of Franklin, a Hillel sixth-grader, wrote about her mom, Michelle Seid, and the influence she has had on her.

“My mother has always inspired me. She has influenced me, too. My mother is the only person I can trust aside from my father!

“My mom is a registered nurse for labor and delivery, which made me think about my future. When I was little, I just wanted to help people just like she did. I go to my mom for absolutely everything. From math homework to school issues, my mom is the one.

The Seid family

“When I see her, I see a happy, fun-loving, kind and caring person. My mom makes time for her kids and husband. My mother (at least I’m pretty sure) is Super Mom, doing chores and cooking and watching out for us. I don’t know how I could ever make it up to her.

“She has taught me so much about life and how to live it. She has given me the finer things in life and all the love in the world. I am so proud and happy to call her my mother. She is not just a mother but a friend and companion. Because there is nothing like knowing that your mom is there for you with all of her love.”

Logan Morof of Beverly Hills is a fifth-grader at Hillel. In addition to his mom’s awesome spaghetti, Logan loves that his mom, Nicole Morof, is best at being a friend.

“When I think of mom, enjoyment comes to my mind. My mom always says that it’s the little things in life that count and that’s really the truth. It’s the things like playing tennis or watching movies that make the best memories. That’s where moms come in.

“Your mom can be the best cook or the best at her job, but mine is the best at being a friend. She is my tennis buddy, my movie go-to gal and, of course, my loving mom.

Nicole, puppy Kobie and Logan Morof

“She makes dinner a delight, and the best food she makes is spaghetti. The greatest spaghetti is always my mom’s; it’s a treat to have!

“When she drives me around in the car, we have the best, most fun chats about what’s going on in our lives. We talk about friends; we talk about scary events, fun ones, too, and we talk about everything under the sun.

“My mom always sets high standards for me and for her. We always achieve our goals or try our hardest to get to them. We always have a good time, and that’s why I love my mom.”

Eitan Shere of West Bloomfield is fifth-grader at Hillel. He wrote with humor about the virtues of his well-known mom, Rabbi Rachel Shere of Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills.

“My mother is really a great woman. Now, I know, you’ve probably heard of the famous Rabbi Rachel Shere. That’s great and all, but I love her for a mother, not a rabbi.

“She takes good care of me and my two brothers and my dog, Simcha. Whether it’s baking, storytelling, playing or helping with homework, my mom is ALWAYS on the job. I don’t care if she grows old and is in a nursing home and I’m a famous gazillionaire, I will still go to help her out every day of every week of every month.

Rachel, Eitan, Avi, Dan and Esra Shere

“She takes us on amazing trips, like to New York, California and Israel. Her heart is big, her kindness is unlimited and, overall, she is a great rabbi. Now, I know that I said I love her for a mother, not a rabbi, but learning the insights of the Torah with her is the most fun thing!

“But here’s a shout out to all you mothers out there, who worked hard to raise your kids to be the wonderful people they are, and I want to end this passage with one word: Thanks.” ■

By Keri Cohen, Story Development Editor

(Editor’s note: As Detroit’s Jewish community readies to celebrate Israel’s 65th anniversary at the Walk for Israel on May 5, this story looks back at how Detroit Jews honored Israel’s founding in 1948.)

The rally at Detroit’s Central High School on May 17, 1948, to celebrate Israel’s independence

In November 1947, the United Nations General Assembly voted to partition Palestine into two lands, one for Arabs and one for Jews. Detroit’s Jewish community followed the news avidly.

Jane Sherman of Franklin recalls her late father, philanthropist and businessman Max Fisher, at home in the Lee Plaza Hotel in Detroit, huddling over the radio to hear news of Palestine.

Benno Levi of Oak Park, then a student at Wayne State and recently demobilized from the Pacific Theater, recalls that “the whole community was glued to the radio.”

Rita Bigman, who now lives in Ra’anana, Israel, uses about the same words. That description appears in nearly every account of Detroit Jews of that period.

A peaceful partition seemed impossible. Arabs and Jews scrambled to get weapons for the coming conflict. The U.S. government responded cautiously, even discouragingly. In December 1947, Secretary of State Gen. George Marshall announced that the U.S. had embargoed arms for all combatants in Palestine; but the Jews in Palestine needed arms from the United States, and the Arabs had many other suppliers.

On May 15, 1948, David Ben-Gurion announced the formation of a new, independent state to be called Israel. The next day, armies from five Arab states invaded, vowing to destroy the new Jewish State. In the vivid words of Hassan al-Banna, founder of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood: “If the Jewish state becomes a fact, and this is realized by the Arab peoples, they will drive the Jews who live in their midst into the sea … Even if we are beaten now in Palestine, we will never submit. We will never accept the Jewish state” (New York Times, Aug. 2, 1948).

The Detroit Jewish community responded on May 17 with a rally at the massive Central High School athletic field. According to contemporary estimates, 22,000 attended. The rally represented a hard-won unity of nearly all Jewish organizations.

Lila Corwin Berman, history professor at Temple University in Philadelphia, has a forthcoming book on the Jews of Detroit. She notes that by 1948, Detroit Jews were largely united by fervent support for the new state. “In earlier decades, when German and Central European Jews controlled more of the Jewish wealth in the city, this had not been the case,” she says.

Philip Slomovitz, when he established the Jewish News in 1942, was already a fervent champion of Zionism; his pages and his editorials reflected that view.

But that was not true with all. Rabbi Leo Franklin of Temple Beth El, for example, recognized as one of the leading rabbis in America, had been a founding member of the American Council for Judaism, an obsessively anti-Zionist group. But, after 42 years, Franklin had retired. His longtime associate rabbi, Leon Fram, an outspoken Zionist, left to serve as rabbi at Temple Israel. Beth El’s new leader, Rabbi Benedict Glazer, was also a Zionist. By 1948, though, opposition to Zionism among Detroit’s Jews had crumbled.

In June 1948, Franklin resigned from the American Council for Judaism.

A.M. Hershman, the long-serving rabbi of Congregation Shaarey Zedek, one of the first Conservative synagogues in America, was also a leader in the religious Zionist organization, Mizrahi, and the congregation had long ago urged all its members to join the Zionists of America. It was, according to local historian Sidney Bolkosky, the first major congregation in the Midwest to endorse Zionism. When Hershman retired in 1946, the congregation chose Rabbi Morris Adler, another staunch champion of Zionist causes.

Forceful Zionist rabbis led the Detroit Orthodox community, including Rabbis Joshua Sperka and Irving Stollman, who became head of an international religious Zionist group, the World Mizrahi Organization. Led by Rabbi Max Wohlgelernter of Beth Tikva Emanuel, all of Detroit’s Orthodox congregations had sent telegrams to President Truman urging him to recognize the new Jewish State.

Perhaps news of the destruction of European Jewry had convinced many of the most skeptical Jews that we needed a Jewish State. Bolkosky writes in his book, Harmony and Dissonance: Voices of Jewish Identity in Detroit 1914-1967, that “some of those who opposed it became neutral, and some of them turned to its support. Those who had been indifferent became Israel’s champions.”

All synagogue rabbis — Reform, Conservative and Orthodox — appeared on the dais at the Central High School rally, along with leaders of every significant secular Jewish organization. Bolkosky recalls that the program included speeches by these leaders, musical presentations by bands and cantors, the sounding of the shofar and performances by members of youth groups.

Adele Silver, who now lives in Southfield, was a young teen at the time; she danced as part of the presentation by the Zionist group, Habonim. Another teen, Shlomo Sperka of Oak Park, sat in the bleachers and took photographs. The leadership of Yeshiva Beth Yehudah arranged to send an entire busload of students, remembers Irwin Cohen of Oak Park, who was then 11 years old.

The rally on May 17 had the character of a celebration, but also served as a political statement. The U.S. government’s position toward this new state remained ambivalent at the highest levels. President Truman had issued his letter recognizing the new state against the vehement opposition of his own secretary of state and of many in the State Department. It looked unclear how much support the new state would get from a divided U.S. government.

Excited, But Fearful
Rallies like Detroit’s served to impress political leaders with the fervent opinions of tens of thousands of voters who favored the Jewish State. There would be many more mass rallies in the coming years, including celebrations of Israel’s Independence Day at the State Fairgrounds, which gave the community the opportunity to make its voice heard in support of Israel.

Choosing a name for the state came as one of the last-minute decisions. When the Jewish News covered the United Nations vote on the partition plan, it headlined the article “Judea Revived.” Truman, in his letter recognizing the new state, did not yet know what to call it. He himself crossed out the typewritten words, “Jewish state” and wrote in “State of Israel.”

The Jewish community was excited, but also worried.

“It was a crowning moment in Jewish history, and we were all excited, but we were afraid,” Benno Levi recalls. “We were excited that Jews were in a position to fight back, but we understood that the Arab armies had many more soldiers and much better equipment. The Israelis used whatever they had, but it was Piper Cubs against military aircraft, and mortars instead of artillery shells.”

Detroiters mark the first anniversary of Israel’s independence on May 15, 1949, at the State Fair Coliseum.

The Israelis desperately needed arms, but had limited options for obtaining them, especially with the U.S. embargo on arms for all combatants in Palestine.

So friends of the Jewish State arranged to bring armaments from wherever they could get them. People in the U.S. bought military surplus weaponry as “souvenirs,” and then found ways to ship the weapons to Israel. “Operation Jewish Trojan Horse” became a means to ensure these weapons found their way to Israel.

A WSU law student named Rudolph “Rudy” Newman had served in the American Air Force during World War II. His Jan. 25, 2002, obituary stated: “He had been approached by Rabbi Irwin Gordon of Hillel House at Wayne to fly supplies to pre-state Palestine. Newman found his sense of adventure and love of flying was greater than his commitment to law.

“He flew circuitous routes at odd hours to pick up arms from Czechoslovakia and deliver them to Jewish communities throughout Israel, avoiding the British blockade.

“Newman was one of 200 men in 1948 who served the Air Services of the Haganah Central Command under David Ben-Gurion; this later became Israel’s first air force. Newman also flew as a pilot on one of El Al’s first flights.”

He was the husband of philanthropist and businesswoman Ann Newman of Bloomfield Hills.

The late Ezekiel Leikin had been a passionate Zionist when he was a student at City College in New York in the 1930s; so he left college and moved to Israel. When World War II broke out, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, and served at an American base in Cairo. Like Newman, Leikin found ways to get arms to the Jewish fighters.

“Jewish gangsters also helped establish Israel after the war,” according to historian and author Robert Rockaway, a former Detroiter and professor emeritus of history at Tel Aviv University. He is author of But He Was Good to His Mother: The Lives and Crimes of Jewish Gangsters.

A Haganah emissary named Reuven Dafne met with Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel in 1945 to seek funds and guns to help liberate Palestine from British rule. “Siegel replied, ‘I’m with you.’” Siegel’s help came in the form of suitcases filled with $5 and $10 bills — $50,000 in all.

For all the underground efforts to arm the Jews, the situation in May 1948 looked so far from hopeful that Levi now asks himself why he did not feel depressed. At the time, he felt “it would be a miracle if we survived, but at least we could fight.” He suspects he did not really anticipate that the new state would survive.

Other people shared the pessimistic assessment. When he was discharged from the U.S. Army, Leikin wanted to stay to witness the birth of Israel, but his wife objected. She and her family had left Lithuania in the 1930s with nothing but their suitcases, rather than stay in the path of the Nazis, and she was fearful that she would have to leave Israel with nothing if the Arab invasion succeeded.

Reluctantly, Leikin returned to America with his wife and young son in 1947. He became a ZOA leader, moving to Detroit to direct the ZOA office here in 1956.

Everything about Israel excited Jews in Detroit. Shlomo Sperka, then a teenager, collected the stamps on letters from Israel addressed to his father, Rabbi Joshua Sperka. The letters mostly asked for funds for Yeshivot in Israel.

Benno Levi also collected Israeli stamps. He notes with amusement that he has a few stamps issued by “Hebrew Post.” The stamps had to get printed before the country declared independence, and even the people who printed the stamps did not know what to call the country.

Now, 65 years later, the Detroit Jewish community again prepares to celebrate Israel, not with a huge rally, but with a communitywide Walk for Israel to be held May 5 starting at Temple Shir Shalom in West Bloomfield.

Today, Detroit still includes a strong Zionist contingent that identifies passionately with Israel. And there are others with a more guarded assessment of the government in our ancestral homeland.

Still, looking back to the newborn state 65 years ago, coming just after the destruction of the largest Jewish communities in the world, the symbol of Israel as a Jewish homeland resonates strongly and proudly.

Join Walk For Israel
This year’s Walk for Israel opens for the general public at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, May 5, at Temple Shir Shalom in West Bloomfield. At 11 a.m., Steven Pomerantz, former assistant director of the FBI, will speak. A free kosher lunch from Jerusalem Pizza begins at noon, with the walk beginning at 1 p.m. The event also includes music, dancing and a raffle for a roundtrip ticket to Israel on El Al. New this year is a Run for Israel that starts at 8 a.m. For more details, go to www.WalkFor Israel.org.

 By Louis Finkelman | Special to the Jewish News

Yachad Detroit brings more Jewish inclusion for individuals with special needs.

Yachad volunteer Alyssa Adler, 15, of Southfield with Danny Friedman, 25, of West Bloomfield at Yachad Detroit’s weekly Parsha and Pizza program (Photos by Jerry Zolynsky)

When asked about the organization Yachad, Danny Friedman, 25, who has Down syndrome, opened his journal, drew a picture of a boy and wrote the word “happy.”

“That tells it all,” said his mom, Linda Friedman of West Bloomfield. “Being part of this group makes him very happy. He looks forward to participating, and thinking about it makes him smile.”

Danny is a member of the newly formed Yachad Detroit, an Oak Park-based group dedicated to addressing the needs of individuals with disabilities and including them in the Jewish community.

The group’s tagline — Because Everyone Belongs — resonates in their programming, activities, educational components and with the relationships forged between members and Yachad volunteers.

“Yachad is so special because it represents friendship on the truest level,” said Jeff Lazar, Yachad Detroit director. The group works with 20 individuals ages 8-39, with a wide range of abilities.

“Detroit had an active Yachad chapter about 20 years ago, but then it fizzled out,” Lazar said. “We decided to reopen it in September 2012.”

The chapter was recreated after the director of Cleveland Yachad met Aish youth group staff member Bayla Hochheiser of Oak Park at an NCSY youth group convention. Needing some assistance, it was suggested she contact Lazar, who had been involved in Detroit’s original Yachad group.

Lazar and Hochheiser, now Yachad Detroit’s assistant director, held a parent gathering last July.

“The meeting was a place to talk about our needs for our children, and I shared my main concern,” Friedman said. “When my kids were in Jewish day schools, we always heard that the school will teach them about Judaism but that we have to follow through at home. Now we’re at the opposite point. Danny has Judaism at home, but we were looking for a place for him to follow through in the community.”

Danny became a bar mitzvah at Congregation B’nai Moshe and graduated from the Frankel Jewish Academy, both in West Bloomfield.

“But, after high school, there was little for him to be included in Jewishly,” his mother said.

“A lot of the families who attended that meeting were already involved with other Jewish agencies,” said Ethan Gross of West Bloomfield, whose son Jacob, 16, participates in Yachad programs. “But many of them lived in Southfield and Oak Park and said there were few activities on their side of town.

“The missing piece for those who are observant is a good inclusion program that does religious study and has kosher events but also is open to everybody, whether they are observant or not.”

Lazar said, “Yachad gives participants a link to camaraderie they’re not getting anywhere else.”

New Friends
“Yachad volunteers are genuine,” Friedman said. “They are part of Yachad because they want to be there.”

Sara Unger, 17, of Oak Park shows off the project she made to go along with the Torah study.

The first Yachad Detroit volunteer was Zach Herschfus, 15, of Southfield, who has been involved with Friendship Circle and individuals with special needs for several years. Zach’s mom, Fern, was active in a New York chapter of Yachad while in high school and became involved in the original Detroit chapter in the early 1990s.

A student at Akiva Hebrew Day School in Southfield, Zach invited his school friends, 15-year-old twins, Alyssa and Noah Adler of Southfield, and Yardena Schwarcz, 16, of Oak Park, to join Lazar and him at a Yachad leadership seminar in Connecticut last fall.

“After an inspiring weekend of leadership training, networking and brainstorming, we returned to Detroit energized,” said Zach, president of Yachad Detroit’s high school board, with Alyssa, Noah and Yardena serving as board members. Next year, the board will include a Yachad member as well.

“We are in discussion with Akiva to build programming, volunteering and sensitivity training as well as chesed (lovingkindness) projects that involve the whole school,” Lazar said. “We hope this will also inspire other schools to participate. In addition, we are looking for partnerships with other agencies and synagogues.”

Yardena said, “I immediately fell in love with the program and the people involved. I enjoyed the concept of Yachad so much that I applied to go on a Yachad summer program in Israel” that brings high school students together with Yachad members.

In January, several individuals involved with Yachad Detroit trained and participated on Team Yachad in the ING Miami Half-Marathon to raise funds and awareness for individuals with special needs. They were Hochheiser, Zach and Yachad volunteers Elana Greenbaum, 17, of Southfield and Isaac Wolfe, 15, of West Bloomfield.

Noah and Zach recently attended a Yachad high school leadership Shabbaton in New Jersey focusing on advocacy training and lobbying.

“From there we traveled to Washington, D.C., along with Yachad members from across the country, to lobby our congressmen to approve new legislation that will help enhance the lives of the special needs population,” Zach said.

The high school board works together to plan events with the hope of expanding the Detroit chapter.

“It makes me, and individuals with special needs, feel part of our community,” Alyssa said.

The board works to recruit volunteers as well as plan and publicize programs and events. A Facebook page notifies participants of upcoming activities.

Being part of Yachad “teaches all kinds of kids in our community how to associate with a large range of people and how to be open-minded to new situations,” Yardena said. “The volunteering process is a mutual relationship on both sides, teaching patience, friendship and commitment.”

Noah said, “I feel as if we make a humungous impact on the lives of our participants, and they make a huge impact on our lives, too. We strive to include each and every one and become friends with them.”

The largely volunteer-driven group attracts about 10-15 high school- and college-age volunteers on a regular basis.

“Our programs are very interactive, and watching everyone ask or answer questions is amazing,” Hochheiser said. “They are truly learning something. Their faces light up when they walk into the room. When we get together we are all the same. We don’t look at differences; we look at similarities.”

Being Involved
“Right at the start, someone asked, ‘Would Danny like to go to an NCSY Shabbaton?’” Linda Friedman said. “He was so excited to go. He went to Oak Park and stayed at someone’s home and went to programming in one of the synagogues. When I picked him up, everyone was singing and dancing, and the warmth and Judaism and acceptance just embraced him.

“Tears came to my eyes; he was so happy.

“Danny got a sweatshirt at the Shabbaton that he calls his Yachad sweatshirt. When he goes to Yachad programs, he puts it on.”

Yachad is involved with the Orthodox Union’s NCSY group in other programming as well.

Holiday activities, attendance at community events and monthly outings, like a scavenger hunt at a local mall, also take place. Tickets donated by a member of the Sara Tugman Bais Chabad Torah Center in West Bloomfield, where Gross is a past president, allowed the Yachad group to attend a Detroit Pistons basketball game together on buses provided by another member.

Each Thursday evening, Parsha and Pizza is held as a combination dinner-study program at Jerusalem Pizza in West Bloomfield.

Founded by Gross, it includes both pizza and a study session of the week’s Torah portion.

Hudsi Rosenberg, 16, Oak Park; Zach Herschfus, 15, Southfield; Chanie Shevin, Oak Park; and Bayla Hochheiser, Oak Park, assistant director of Yachad Detroit

“We print out sheets and go around the table and those who can read stand up and participate,” Gross said. “I’ll tell the story about the parshah (weekly Torah portion), and we’ll have a discussion and make a project related to what we learned.”

About 10-12 participants attend each week with the same amount of peer volunteers. Lazar, Hochheiser and some of the volunteers typically drive members coming from Oak Park and Southfield, but some parents and siblings stay for the program.

“This amazing program has broken down the boundaries, so that the special needs population can participate in religious and social activities, and expand their network of friends,” Zach said. “Not only does Yachad have an impact on the special needs population, but it also has given people, who perhaps once felt uncomfortable around this population, the chance to get to know and appreciate their strengths and accept their differences.”

He said he has learned important lessons from his new friends at Yachad. “They don’t judge, they don’t hate, they are loyal and, unlike the average young adult, the simplest things make them happy,” Zach said.

“On a recent Yachad Shabbaton, our planned Saturday night activity was to go bowling. After a half-hour bus ride, we find out the bowling alley overbooked and could not accommodate our group. I was disappointed, but I was pleasantly surprised by the reaction of my special needs friends. They were not disappointed; rather they were so happy just having fun being together on the bus.”

Other Agencies Weigh In
“We are not here to compete with other programs, like Friendship Circle and JARC,” Lazar said. “In fact, we would like to talk to Rick Loewenstein [CEO of the Farmington Hills-based JARC] and start inviting their clients into our programs.”

One of the nation’s largest providers of community-based Jewish residential services, JARC offers support, relationships and engagement with the community for individuals with disabilities.

“I agree with Jeff Lazar,” Loewenstein said. “The more quality programs for young adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities in our community the better.

“There is an unmet need in the Orthodox community for this type of programming,” he said. “JARC’s School Inclusion program is, however, deeply engaged in the Orthodox community, specifically in the Jewish day schools. Having said that, I think Yachad Detroit will provide an unmet need, and we look forward to working with them to promote full inclusion for young adults with disabilities.”

Some Yachad members have been involved in Friendship Circle, which pairs teen volunteers with individuals with special needs and provides programs and support for their families.

“We realize that the need is great and is growing,” said Rabbi Levi Shemtov, executive director of Friendship Circle in West Bloomfield. “Any organization that provides programming for children with special needs and their families plays a very important role in our community.”

Yachad Detroit is one of 14 U.S. chapters of the New York-based Yachad: the National Jewish Council for Disabilities, an agency of the Orthodox Union. Chapters also exist in Toronto and Jerusalem.

“The hope is for Yachad Detroit to gradually include more of the programming of the national group,” Lazar said.

Without a base, Yachad Detroit meetings and programs take place in the homes of staff and volunteers as well as synagogues and outside venues.

Program costs include a minimal charge per activity as well as a $50 membership fee, with scholarships available. Fundraising projects also take care of some expenses. Sponsors are being sought for Parsha and Pizza, for example, because parents and staff members often cover the additional costs.

Internationally, Yachad serves 5,000 individuals in programs including summer experiences and individualized vocational development schools.

Sensitivity training workshops are offered for junior and senior high school students, along with social skills training and job training and placement for Yachad participants, and social and support programs for family members.

Yachad’s Our Way for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing similarly serves the Jewish population with hearing issues.

“Our son, Jacob, has been going to sleep-away camp in Pennsylvania through Yachad for the past six years,” Ethan Gross said. “He went to Camp Nesher, an NCSY camp that has Yachad staff come in for part of the summer. The Yachad kids are integrated into the program with other campers who do the same activities. Jacob is very outgoing and friendly and is fairly athletic and likes to participate.”

The connection between Yachad members and volunteers is priceless.

“Most importantly, I have learned how much a smile can mean to someone,” Yardena said. “Some participants of Yachad have a hard time speaking and communicating. However, I know that I am doing something right when I am working with them and see a huge smile on their face.”

To Linda Friedman, “Yachad is a mitzvah, a dream come true; like a family. Danny talks about Yachad as ‘my Jewish group.’

“He talks about ‘my Jewish friends.’ Danny likes to belong.” 

For information on Yachad Detroit, to make a donation, sponsor or partially sponsor Parsha and Pizza or to order tribute cards, email Jeff Lazar at DetroitYachad@ou.org.

 By Shelli Liebman Dorfman | Contributing Writer

West Bloomfield Jewish business owner and photographer Jaime Levey sports eight tattoos, and she wants to make tattooing more acceptable in the Jewish community.

Jaime Levey

As co-owner of Chroma Tattoo, Levey is in the perfect position to do just that. Chroma opened at the corner of Northwestern Highway and 14 Mile Road more than a year ago, and the business has received a warm welcome in the community, from both Jewish and non-Jewish residents alike.

Levey graduated from Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara, Calif., with a degree in professional photography; a field in which she worked for several years before being laid off. At the same time, her partner, Tom Salwoski, an artist with 18 years of experience in tattooing, was looking for a new job. Together, they teamed up to open Chroma.

Chroma is the only tattoo studio in West Bloomfield and has attracted people from as far away as Traverse City. “We started from scratch,” Levey said. “It began as a business proposal on paper and we built it into the studio you see now. We are very proud to see what has become of our hard work, and the community of West Bloomfield has made us feel very much at home.”

Levey and Salwoski, both of Milford, wanted Chroma to be different from most other tattoo studios. The business has a spa-like atmosphere, and all tattoos are custom drawn by the artists working there. Levey manages the business aspect of the studio, while Salwoski and several other artists provide the tattoo services.

“Each tattoo that we do is unique,” Levey said. “For us, it’s all about the art. Our artists love to work with clients; they’re very helpful and go to great lengths to design just the right tattoo for our customers.”

Since opening Chroma, Levey has found that many people in the Jewish community are curious about tattoos and much more accepting than they have been in the past.

“Many religions believe that the body is sacred, yet have traditionally accepted tattooing,” Levey said. “Today, tattoos are so common; they’re much more welcomed than they used to be. It’s important that we make our own choices.”

Laura Solomon of West Bloomfield already had nine tattoos when an acquaintance referred her to Chroma. Solomon got her 10th tattoo done at Chroma and raves about her experience.

“The studio is so beautifully decorated and immaculately clean,” she said. “The staff is very professional and informative.”

An example of a Jewish-themed tattoo

By contrast, Carol Feldman, also of West Bloomfield, had no intention of ever getting a tattoo when curiosity brought her to Chroma shortly after the studio opened. However, Feldman, who attends Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills, walked out with a tattoo honoring her college-age daughters.

“It is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been,” Feldman said. “Tom and Jaime are lovely people. Chroma is the only place I trust; I recommend it to everyone.”

Levey and Salwoski have an open-door policy at Chroma and often answer questions from curious members of the Jewish community. Not all of them end up getting tattoos, but Levey and Salwoski say they enjoy the dialogue.

“Most people that we talk with are just interested in why we tattoo; they rarely ever tell us not do to it,” Levey said. “Most of the comments we receive are positive.”

Looking to the future, Levey and Salwoski hope to continue their success. “We want to keep growing and potentially expand,” Levey said. “We plan to stay in West Bloomfield as long as we can.”

In addition to running Chroma, Levey continues to work as a freelance photographer, specializing in product and commercial photography. More information about her work is available at jmlproductionsinc.com.

For those curious about tattooing, the Chroma website offers photographs, a virtual tour, frequently asked questions and much more information.

“We always say that Chroma is not your typical tattoo shop,” Levey said. “You have to just come in to see why.” 

By Shannon Mackie, Special to the Jewish News

Detroit-area family keeps Watertown relatives calm and informed during search for suspect.

A view from Linda Echt’s window of a SWAT team next door to check the house.

The Echt family will never discount the power of social media again.

From 12:37 a.m. Friday, April 19, and throughout that day, the telephone, Facebook and other forms of media acted as a lifeline connecting Linda Echt in the Boston suburb of Watertown to her family and friends as police shot and killed one of the two Boston Marathon bombing suspects and searched for the other — all in her neighborhood.

It started around 11 p.m. Thursday, April 18, when Linda, who rarely posts on Facebook, posted about the MIT officer who had been killed. Her nephew, Chris Robarge, in another part of Boston, responded to her Facebook post that he was listening to his police scanner and told her about the trouble at the Watertown 7 Eleven.

“At 12:44 or so, I turned the news off as I was terribly agitated and had the feeling something really terrible was about to happen, in addition to what had just occurred,” Linda told the JN. “I quickly went upstairs and woke up my partner, Jill, and told her about the killing at MIT. Before I could even finish telling her we heard rapid and extremely loud successive gunfire. It was so loud it sounded like it was at the bottom of our street.

“I told Jill to get down on the floor and I, too, hit the floor. I have no idea why my cell phone was in my hand — ask any of my family members, I never have it on me and when I do it isn’t charged — but it was, and I immediately turned it on and it was that same Facebook feed.”

Facebook post, Linda, 12:46: “I just heard many gun shots near me.”

Facebook post, Linda, 12:47: “Still hearing many gun shots and explosions! At 12:48 by some miracle my nephew responded:

Facebook post, Chris, 12:48: “Reports of shots fired in Watertown. They just referenced Dexter Ave. Lock your doors, stay inside, and be careful!

“Dexter is a few short blocks from our house,” Linda said. “The gun shots and explosions sounded like they were coming closer to us. Our house shook with each explosion.”

Robin Echt Axelrod in Ann Arbor was sleeping soundly when her terrified sister called.

“Linda has always been the most even-keeled person, very calm in the face of an emergency,” Axelrod said. “When she called around 1:30 a.m., her voice was uncharacteristically nervous, rattled. She had no cell and no TV. She said this might be her last phone call and she wanted family to know what’s going on. I told her we’re going to stay on the phone until it’s over.”

Robin didn’t let go of that phone until nearly 5 a.m.

She learned that Linda, her partner, Jill Ferraresso, and their son Noah, 12, and daughter Eva, 2, had not gone to watch the Boston Marathon, but now were part of the tragic drama anyway, holed up on the floor in a hallway with no windows in their Watertown home.

Linda told Robin she had heard grenade explosions and gunfire as well as the helicopters flying so low over their homes searching for suspects. She also said her nephew was feeding her information from his police scanner, but she was only getting delayed messages because she didn’t want to use her cell phone. Chris had warned her not to use the cell for fear of accidental detonation of any IEDs (improvised explosive devices) in the area. Robin became the conduit for information both ways as she juggled between her cell phone, iPad, Facebook connection and TV news.

“It was odd, watching TV, seeing my sister’s familiar neighborhood, communicating with Chris [Jill's nephew], who I’d never met, relaying what’s going on to my sister — bringing it full circle,” Robin said.

Team Effort
Facebook post, Robin, 1:48 a.m.: “Watching CNN, seeing the situation in Watertown unfold in front of my sister’s house. Stay tuned. Scared out of our minds.”

From TV, Facebook, Chris’ police scanner and Linda’s reports, the Echt family knew more than most about what was happening in their neighborhood, often just blocks away.

Facebook post, Chris, 1:49 a.m.: “They are still working the area extensively and missing a suspect. Stay put, stay calm. Sending love, and I promise to keep you updated for as long as it takes.”

Noah, Eva, Linda Echt and Jill Ferraresso

A little later in the morning, Linda’s other sisters, Liz Echt of Bethesda, Md., and Karen Echt of Chicago enter the Facebook conversations, mostly thanking Chris for his info and staying abreast of developments. Their mother, Rita, in East Lansing, where the siblings all grew up, also joins in as well other family and friends. Brother Andrew Echt of Birmingham, an executive with the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, was on a Federation mission in Cuba and unable to communicate.

Facebook post, Chris, 5:47 a.m.: “FBI is about to start actively working a track within the perimeter grid, along with existing resources.”

“We were on complete lockdown, with constant helicopters flying overhead, and SWAT, armored vehicles and police everywhere,” Linda said to the JN.“The media was all at the bottom of our street, and we were trapped in our homes feeling both incredibly well protected and vulnerable at the same time.”

Facebook post, Linda, 6:57 a.m.: “Thank you Chris and my sibs for staying up with us all night.”

An especially poignant moment in the ordeal came when Noah, who is on the autistic spectrum, was prepared by Linda and Jill for the arrival of a SWAT team to check their home to make sure it was safe. Upon seeing them in full gear at the door, he forgot who they were and asked if they were there to shoot them.

Soon after suspect No. 2 was captured on a nearby street later on Friday, the residents of Watertown were told it was safe to leave their homes.

“About 20 minutes later, we heard helicopters louder than ever, could literally feel them over our homes circling extremely low at nearly roof level over a large circled area about what appeared to be a mile or so away,” Linda said. “We then again hear explosions and gunfire, further away this time. We turned on the news and became aware that the suspect had been found on Franklin Street, across from where our daughter goes to daycare.

“After quite a while, [the suspect] was put in an ambulance that rode right past our street, and then folks fled into the streets to see each other, celebrate the fact that we could leave our homes and see each other. People gathered quickly, and the media was everywhere. Police cars, FBI, all kinds of vehicles came through the crowd to cheering and clapping.

“There was a sense of relief and elation that very quickly changed to shock and almost bewilderment,” Linda said. “We were all just kind of wandering and circling each other in the street.”

Robin saw her sister in the crowd on Mount Auburn Street on TV news and was elated.

‘Like A Battle Zone’
Facebook post, Robin, 7:48 a.m.: “It’s been a very long, terrifying night for all. Linda, Jill, Noah and Eva are so brave.”

Linda is the principal of a private school. At around 6:30 a.m. Friday, she pulled herself together and sent an email to her school community, followed by others every five hours or so. She knew Monday at school would be a tough day, but she had prepared her staff and had communicated with parents and students.

“There are a whole slew of us just walking around like zombies, going through the motions of life because that’s what we have to do,” Linda said. “Jill described [the ordeal] as a battle zone. I felt like I was in perpetual danger.

“My body is literally sore and I feel immensely agitated. It is difficult to concentrate and we are worried about our children,” she said. “I am totally in the place where I have to hold myself together — for my job and family — and I almost never have to feel that way.

“We are so grateful to our nephew and my siblings and my mother for staying calm and talking us through every moment. I can barely remember a whole minute that went by without one or many of them on the phone with us.”

Linda says Jill posts on Facebook all the time and that she and her whole family make fun of it. Not anymore.

“It will be a long time before I bash social media again,” she said. “And, she says, she’ll never be caught without a charged cell phone again.”

Linda may not yet be able to express what she took away from this harrowing experience, but Robin can.

“We all learned — when my dad died suddenly at age 53 — that life is fragile and how close family needs to be, and to live each moment to its fullest, she said. “We’ve had reminders along the way, and this was one of those intense reminders, to hug those you love, tell them you love them and be there for them in whatever way they need. This moment reconfirmed what we already knew, that we are there for each other.”

In a gesture of family she didn’t recognize at the time, Linda says that sometime on Friday she put on her father’s mezuzah. She hasn’t taken it off yet, and maybe never will.

By Keri Guten Cohen| Story Development Editor

Helpful therapies vary, but diagnosis is key.

When Brenda Mann started teaching kindergarten in West Bloomfield more than 20 years ago, she noticed that a distinct group of children had trouble following simple directions and adapting to the daily routines, while the majority of kids seemed to adjust quickly and easily.

“There were a lot of self-control issues, and most of these kids came from lovely families; many had siblings who did not have these problems,” she said.

Mann started doing her own research and realized many of these students fit the description of a condition called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD.

ADHD is a common condition that affects the “executive functions” of the brain, which include organization, time management, focus,and the ability to prioritize tasks and activities.

Children with the disorder are often seen as disobedient, disruptive, restless and forgetful. While the ADHD child is usually at least as smart or smarter than his peers, his grades are often lower because he is unable to focus in class and often forgets to turn in homework or study for a test.

A 2011 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found 5.2 million, or 8.4 percent of children ages 3-17 in the U.S., had been diagnosed with ADHD — 12 percent of all boys and 4.7 percent of all girls.

Because the condition carries over into adulthood, men and women with ADHD are frequently late, harried and disorganized. Those who may be labeled absent-minded, ditzy or scatterbrained may actually have ADHD that has gone undiagnosed since childhood.

Brenda Mann

Mann eventually left the teaching field to become a parent educator, coach, consultant and advocate for children and families struggling with ADHD and its ramifications. Through her practice, Academic and Behavior Consultants in Sylvan Lake, Mann helps parents develop strategies and navigate through the maze of issues involved in raising a child with ADHD.

The Missing H
While ADHD is the commonly used term, many children are missing the “H” factor: They have the attention problems but not the hyperactivity component. For this reason, the number of children, especially girls, who have ADHD may actually be higher than the CDC study showed because girls often lack the hyperactivity component, which makes the condition harder to diagnose.

Mann said those kids who are not hyperactive often fall under the radar at school because they do not misbehave or disrupt the classroom.

“These kids are the hardest to treat because they often slip through the cracks,” Mann said. “They may be considered lazy, but they’re not singled out because they’re causing trouble in the classroom.”

Mann and other experts agree it is essential to get an accurate diagnosis before an effective treatment plan can be developed. However, this is often easier said than done.

“It’s not something you can take a blood test for,” Mann said. “There are a lot of disorders with self-regulation issues that look like ADHD, such as Asperger’s Syndrome, anxiety and depression.

“Anxiety and depression can look like defiance,” said Mann, adding that other disorders, such as bipolar and even Tourette’s syndrome, can be present along with ADHD. Behavior problems or inattentiveness also can be caused by conditions such as allergies or lack of sleep. “I always advise parents to see a trained psychiatrist to rule out other things.”

Medication Options
While there are varying opinions about medicating children with ADHD, most health care professionals agree that a thorough medical evaluation should be done before any medicine is prescribed.

Karate training has helped Jakeb Bradburn with his ADHD, says his mother, Cristene Hall.

ADHD medications can fall into two basic categories: stimulants, such as Ritalin and Adderall, and non-stimulants, such as Stattera.

Dr. Randy Dean, a Bloomfield Hills-based psychiatrist, said she evaluates children based on a variety of factors, which include medical history along with observations of parents, teachers, tutors and caregivers.

“It is a clinical diagnosis based on a constellation of symptoms that pervade most areas of life and have been present since early childhood,” she said.

When it is determined that medication is warranted and the parents are in agreement, Dean said she prescribes it as part of a multi-modal treatment plan that includes other components such as therapy, coaching, tutoring and behavioral plans.

Melissa A., a Birmingham parent who asked to remain anonymous, tried a variety of prescription drugs to help her 10-year-old son, Max (not his real name), who was diagnosed with ADHD and anxiety five years ago. She also tried over-the-counter supplements and special diets, but the results were inconsistent and hard to track.

“There is no magic pill,” she said. “There is a lot of stress, heartache and a constant learning process.”

After determining the stimulant drugs were more effective, it took a process of trial and error to find the right dosage. Because Max could not swallow pills at the time, his mother would crush the tablets and sprinkle them on yogurt. Max got the best results from a low dose of Adderall XR, a time-release stimulant medication, combined with the anti-depressant Zoloft to address his anxiety. He also sees a therapist and an academic tutor.

“As a parent, you have a huge responsibility to make everything work,” she said.

Parents’ Role
Because parents play such a critical part in creating and managing the child’s home life, Mann believes parent education should be the first priority for families dealing with ADHD.

“If parents change the environment properly, the child will be more successful,” she said, adding that new routines and strategies should be research-based. “The best behavior plans, at home and in school, are consistent, positive and repetitive.”

Because there is a hereditary component to ADHD, many parents have the condition themselves, making it difficult to stay organized and maintain consistency at home. Keeping accurate records about medication, school progress and behavior plans also is a challenge.

In addition to providing individual coaching, Mann offers “Parenting Boot Camp” classes that educate parents about the disorder and provide strategies to improve behavior and foster teamwork and communication between home and school.

School Strategies
Mann encourages parents to be proactive when it comes to dealing with their children’s school.

“The [educational] system is not well versed in ADHD,” she said. “Don’t wait to hear from the school; communicate with them first. Send a letter before the first day, and set up a meeting as soon as possible. Never assume.”

Mann said that punishment usually does not work because ADHD is a neurobiological disorder, and those who have it cannot usually control its effects without the right kind of support. Many of these children develop low self-esteem because they are reprimanded so frequently.

“These kids get in trouble constantly because they can’t stay in line or they lose things,” Mann said. “Part of their disability is a lack of organization. You can’t punish them for it.”

She recommends meeting with teachers and other school personnel to suggest some simple strategies that can be worked into the regular school routine without drawing attention to the child with ADHD.

“A lot of teachers want to help, but don’t know what to do because they haven’t been trained,” she said.

Because restlessness is often a factor, teachers can find positive ways to let a child stand up and move around, such as returning books to the media center or passing out supplies. For a child who repeatedly forgets to turn in his homework, appointing him “homework collector” may resolve the problem.

In addition to ADHD, Max has a learning disability called dyscalculia, which makes it difficult to memorize facts. Because he needed more specialized support than the public school was providing, Melissa A. enrolled him in Eton Academy, a private school in Birmingham that specializes in students who have ADHD and other learning disabilities.

“There are only six kids in a class, and they put together an individualized program for each student,” she said. “It would be wonderful if all schools could take that approach.”

Cristene Hall grew up with ADHD, so she thought she could help her 10-year-old son, Jakeb Bradburn, when he started showing signs of the disorder.

“He kept getting in trouble in school,” said Hall. “He refused to stay in his seat on the bus, he wasn’t following directions and his grades were Cs and Ds.”

When Hall took her son for testing, the results were as she had suspected: Jakeb was diagnosed with ADHD. She met with school personnel before Jakeb entered fourth grade to develop a plan under Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, which ensures that any child who has a disability identified under the law receives the accommodations necessary for academic success.

“I thought I would start seeing a difference,” Hall said. “Then came my breaking point. He was suspended three times during the first month. I was doing everything the school told me to do, everything the doctors told me to do. I had hit the wall; I was frustrated, crying. I didn’t know what to do.”

At the suggestion of a school social worker, the Melvindale mother turned to Mann for help, who reassured her there were options to help Jakeb manage his behavior and improve his performance in school. Mann facilitated a meeting at the school, working with the staff to design a behavior plan that worked with Jakeb’s ADHD, rather than against it.

“He’s only gotten in trouble once, and his grades are As and Bs,” Hall said. “He’s starting to see he has responsibility and to be accountable. I see him maturing.”

Hall also enrolled in Mann’s parenting program, where she learned effective strategies to use with Jakeb at home.

Some of the tools include detailed checklists for morning, after school and bedtime, with visual reminders about daily tasks such as brushing his teeth, hanging up his coat and emptying his backpack. Hall said the checklist is more effective than the constant verbal reminders she used in the past.

“It reminds me every single day that I have to do everything,” said Jakeb, who is “really happy” about the improvement in his grades.

Hall uses another system involving pennies and marbles to reward Jakeb for good behavior during the school day.

“As a parent, you’ve just got to stay on it,” Hall said. “Stick with your instincts. Parents know their kids. Look for answers, talk to people.”

Sensory Issues

Michelle Mintz

More than 60 percent of children with ADHD also have sensory processing disorders, according to Michelle Mintz of Inner Connections in West Bloomfield. Mintz, who is an occupational therapist, provides a variety of services using sensory input techniques that help the brain build new neural pathways. Some of the signs that a child has sensory processing issues include sensitivity to touch or sounds.

“These are the kids who can’t tolerate noisy environments, or who are bothered by the tags inside their clothing,” she said.

The treatment Mintz provides helps children with problems such as attention deficits, poor handwriting or other fine motor skills and coordination.

“A lot of them don’t have a sense of where their bodies are in space,” said Mintz. “I look at the whole kid, the whole picture, to determine what kind of therapy is best.”

She uses a variety of techniques, sometimes in combination, that include integrated listening systems, balance and movement exercises, and craniosacral therapy, which works with the tissue and fluids surrounding the central nervous system to help create balance and improve performance.

Dr. Eric Mintz of Gentle Touch Family Chiropractic in West Bloomfield uses a neurofeedback system called BrainCore Therapy to treat children and adults with ADHD and other disorders. According to Mintz, who is Michelle’s husband, research shows those with ADHD had higher than average levels of delta and theta brainwaves, which are normally associated with sleep. Some of the outward manifestations of this include lack of attention and hyperactivity.

“By helping the brain through BrainCore Therapy to retrain dysregulated brainwave patterns, we can transform an unhealthy brainwave imbalance into a normal, healthy, organized pattern,” Mintz said. “The best thing is that it’s non-invasive and no drugs are utilized.”

While BrainCore Therapy is a proprietary system, other local practitioners offer neurofeedback-based treatment for the purpose of brain wave regulation. One such psychologist is Michael Morris of Novi, who uses interactive light therapy to relieve symptoms of ADHD, anxiety, depression and other conditions.

Mintz said that, in some cases, BrainCore Therapy can minimize and sometimes replace the need for medication. “I’ve seen children go from getting C’s and D’s in school to A’s and B’s, sleeping better, improving behavior, handling stress better, no longer forgetting things,” he said. “Most often what I hear from patients is an overall improvement in ability to focus and pay attention.”

As a fourth-grader in Lake Orion, Jacob Lasher was experiencing a decrease in grades and an increase in confrontational behavior, hyperactivity and insomnia. While researching treatment options for his son’s ADHD, his father, Anthony Lasher, came across information about neurofeedback and BrainCore Therapy. Although he was skeptical at first, Lahser decided to give it a try. After 20 sessions over a 10-week period, Jacob began to exhibit significant improvement in several areas.

Dr. Eric Mintz

“Jacob’s insomnia began to disappear … no longer was I finding a restless, exhausted, frustrated child each morning,” said Lahser, who received feedback from several adults who noticed that his son appeared visibly calmer and more focused. “Finally, at the conclusion of his fourth-grade school year, Jacob brought home a report card of straight A’s in academics and significant improvements in behavior-related markings.”

Music is another tool that can be used to improve concentration in children with ADHD. A research study at Brigham Young University found that when a group of kids ages 7-17 with ADHD listened to three 40-minute recordings of classical music a week, their brain waves moved to higher levels that allowed them to focus more on tasks while they listened.

For very young children, giving directions in a rhythmic sing-song manner can help improve attention because rhythm is perceived differently by the brain.

Martial arts, such as karate, have been shown to help children with ADHD by promoting self-discipline and improving physical dexterity and confidence.

At Mann’s suggestion, Cristene Hall signed Jakeb up for karate lessons, which she says have helped develop his coordination as well as his self-esteem.

“A lot of people look at it [ADHD] as an excuse for a ‘bad kid,’ but I think he’ll do better than I did as a child,” Hall said. 

By Ronelle Grier, Contributing Writer

Blue lights cast a cool glow on the walls inside Local Kitchen and Bar in Ferndale and white paper lanterns hung from the ceiling; music played, drinks flowed, and 20- and 30-somethings mingled. The festive gathering April 11, co-sponsored by NEXTGenDetroit and AIPAC (the American Israel Public Affairs Committee), was a 65th birthday bash for Israel. Partygoers paid a $10 cover charge. There was also food, a blue-and-white candy bar and dancing.

“It’s a fun, light vibe,” NEXTGen Detroit director Miryam Rosenzweig said while lounging on a bench looking out over the crowd. “We want to begin reintroducing Israel into the conversation.”

Organizers plastered the walls with posters depicting Israel celebrations from 1949 and through each decade. They also used an Internet hookup to project a live Kotel cam image of the Western Wall plaza in Jerusalem. Around 9:30 p.m. (4:30 a.m. Israel time), several members of the group “Detroiters in Israel” walked into the camera shot waving and holding large “D” signs for Detroit. They knew partygoers would be watching. What they didn’t realize was that security guards around the Kotel would be watching, too. The small group was briefly detained and questioned after the sign-waving stunt.

“I guess it’s a sensitive zone and they didn’t know why people were standing there at 4:30 in the morning waving signs,” Rosenzweig explained. “Everyone (on both sides) had a good laugh!”

Back at the party, Ryan Fishman, an AIPAC young leadership development volunteer and NEXTGen board member, said it was great to see so many of his peers rallying around the Jewish state.

“We’re fortunate to have a vibrant Jewish community in Detroit,” he said. “Celebrating Israel’s 65th birthday was a great way to partner AIPAC with Federation.”

At one point during the evening, there was also a countdown. As the group shouted out “3-2-1,” cannons went off sending confetti shooting into the air. Rosenzweig pointed out her generation only knows Israel as a regional superpower or through subsidized educational Birthright trips — a much different perspective than her parents or grandparents had decades ago.

“I have a picture of my grandmother in a displaced persons’ camp when Israel became a state,” she said. “My parents grew up in a world where it’s 1967, Israel is 18 years old, and everybody attacks it.”

She added the organization’s long-term goal is to reconnect America’s Jewish community with the Jewish community in Israel.

“If everybody walks away with a good feeling about Israel, we all win,” she said. 

By Robin Schwartz, Contributing Writer