Who's Who at Temple Kol

the right fit for you!

Mezuzah Dedication Voice of Our People Mosaic Pancake Breakfast Rabbi Roman Teaches Torah

Brotherhood Softball Purim Fun Community Service Our Clergy

248.661.0040 www.tkolami.org

Temple Kol Ami • 5085 Walnut Lake Rd • West Bloomfield • MI • 48323 • [email protected]

• Innovative, community recognized Religious School • Commitment to individual B’nai Mitzvah services • An intimate congregation where members get to know each other • Easy to become involved and assume leadership roles • Wide scope of educational opportunities for children and adults • Highly visible community Social Action programs • Strong environmentally friendly philosophy • Social activities for families and individuals • Non-traditional and interfaith families welcome

Founded in 1966 by Rabbi Ernst Conrad, of blessed memory, and originally known as “The New Temple,” Temple Kol Ami (TKA) maintains a deep commitment to liberal Judaism and a philosophy of social commitment. Rabbi Conrad had a lifelong commitment to these ideals and they became Temple Kol Ami's identity...an identity that is as strong today as it was more than forty years ago . The New Temple became Temple Kol Ami (The Voice of My People) and moved into its present building on Walnut Lake Road in West Bloomfield in 1975.

By 1986 its membership had grown to include 225 families and Rabbi Norman T. Roman was chosen to lead the congregation. He is nationally recognized for his outstanding work with youth and adults alike and his ability to relate to children at all levels.

In 2008, TKA expanded the building to bring the Religious School onsite. The expansion included a school wing with new administrative offices. Our new wing is awaiting its official LEED certification, qualifying it as a "green" building.

To ensure that Temple Kol Ami remains a warm and welcoming place to gather, congregational bylaws limit membership to a maximum of 500 families – small enough to offer a personal touch; large enough to offer a wide variety of social and educational programming.

Social Action is fundamental to the fabric of TKA. Among the projects sponsored are Temple recycling and maintaining an environmentally friendly building, housing and feeding the homeless, collecting food and supplies for those in need, participating in Relay for Life, building homes with Habitat for Humanity and working at the FAME games for special athletes. The Social Action Committee has a multi-generational focus - inviting all age groups to participate.

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Visit the TKA website at www.tkolami.org for information on upcoming events, monthly and holiday worship schedules, Religious School information and pictures of recent Temple activities.

Better yet, call us for a personal conversation. Our Rabbi and staff welcome your calls.

Temple Office (248) 661-0040 FAX (248) 661-5901

General E-mail [email protected]

Norman T. Roman Rabbi [email protected] Ariana Silverman Assistant Rabbi [email protected] Andee Liberman Director of Education [email protected] Tiffany Green Cantorial Soloist [email protected] Cheryl Chaben Executive Director [email protected] Julie Flashner Temple Assistant [email protected] Nathalie M. Conrad Director of Music Emerita

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WORSHIP AND RITUAL

High Holy Day Services High Holy Days are a special time at Temple Kol Ami. Traditional adult services and multi- generational, youth-oriented services are held on both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. TKA participates in a reciprocal ticket program with URJ congregations for family members and friends who may be visiting during the holidays, and for our members who are traveling.

Shabbat Evening Services Temple Kol Ami offers several options for Shabbat worship. Often Friday services are early, suitable for those who are coming from work and perhaps meeting the rest of their family or friends. These services last approximately an hour, followed by a simple Oneg Shabbat (Joy of the Sabbath ), an anticipation of the meal to come, whether one goes home or joins friends. Monthly and on special occasions the Friday evening service starts at 7:30 pm. During the summer months all Friday evening services are early. Look at our website www.tkolami.org for service starting times. Members are encouraged to participate in all Shabbat services by lighting candles, reciting the Torah blessings, carrying the Torah in the hakafah or reading Torah.

Torah Explorer Services This Tot Shabbat experience is for pre-readers and their parents and grandparents. Children sit on the Bimah with the Rabbi, sing Shabbat songs and hear a Torah story.

Shabbat Morning Services Saturday morning services that do not include a student becoming Bar or Bat Mitzvah are informal, participatory services that begin at 11:00 a.m. Also on Saturday mornings, congregants may join in a Chevrat Torah study session to learn Torah through lively discussion. Saturday mornings are dedicated to the wonder of Shabbat and the renewal of the spirit it can provide.

Special Holidays and Festivals Services and family activities are held for all holidays and festivals with special events that offer meaningful and family-friendly religious experiences. Among our many family friendly activities, congregants help to build the congregational Sukkah, rejoice as the Torah is rolled back to Genesis on Simchat Torah, and celebrate at the annual Purim Megillah reading.

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WORSHIP AND RITUAL

Bar/Bat Mitzvah Becoming Bar or Bat Mitzvah marks the student’s acceptance of his or her responsibility to the Torah and to the Jewish community. Both children and adults are eligible to study and become Bar/Bat Mitzvah at TKA. Our Clergy and Religious School teachers work with the students to ensure a thorough understanding of and preparation for the service.

The Bar/Bat Mitzvah student becomes Bar or Bat Mitzvah at a Shabbat service where he or she leads the congregation in prayer, chants a designated portion of the Torah and Haftarah and teaches the congregation through a D’var Torah. TKA’s intimate size allows each student the opportunity to lead his/her own Shabbat service.

TKA takes great pride in training its B’nai Mitzvah students to lead virtually the entire Shabbat service. This comprehensive learning experience teaches the student about every aspect of the service through prayers and customs. Temple Kol Ami provides a unique Bar/Bat Mitzvah service personalized just for your family.

Life Cycle Events Temple Kol Ami congregants enjoy celebrating cherished milestones – weddings, Brit Milah, baby namings, Consecration, B’nai Mitzvah, Affirmation, and Religious School graduation - in a personal and warm setting with the support of Clergy and Temple family. Clergy and our Caring Community reach out in times of need and help grieving families with Shiva services.

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RELIGIOUS SCHOOL

Temple Kol Ami Family Religious School is a vibrant Jewish educational program. TKA’s Religious School is recognized as one of the finest and most innovative in Metropolitan Detroit. Religious education with Judaic and Hebrew studies begins in the pre-school years and continues throughout high school. We are blessed to have outstanding faculty, many of whom are professional teachers as well as congregants. Our outstanding Madrichim program trains students to be classroom aides and tutors for all grades. Special accommodations for all grades and students are available within our program. Classes are held in an environmentally friendly building, which is located on our temple site. Our modern classrooms are equipped with the latest computer and internet technology.

Temple Kol Ami has a special arrangement for weekday pre-school with the Jewish Community Center’s Pitt Child Development Center where our youngest members can attend pre-school at JCC members’ rates. Rabbi Roman is also involved in Pitt Center programming.

Elementary School Kindergarten through 6 th grade - Study, play, songs, and crafts are provided for all grade levels. Students learn about their heritage, traditional holiday and life-cycle celebrations , tzedakah and the enjoyment of spirituality. Hebrew is taught to students on an ongoing basis. This program is offered Sundays, 9:30 a.m. until noon, for all elementary grades. Fourth, fifth, and sixth graders also meet on Wednesdays, 4:45 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

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RELIGIOUS SCHOOL

Middle School 7th – 8 th grade ~ An innovative curriculum keeps seventh grade students interested as they learn. Seventh graders meet from 4:45 – 6:15 p.m. on Mondays. B’nai Mitzvah study is incorporated into the schedule of 7 th Grade. Within their learning the 7 th grade students study parshot, influential contemporary Jewish figures and participate in Mitzvah projects. Our program is so innovative that the majority of our 7 th graders choose to continue their education after they become B’nai Mitzvah.

Eighth grade students meet on Monday, usually from 6:15 – 8:15 p.m. and participate in a travel program by visiting different Jewish sites within our community. Hands-on learning adventures keep the education process lively.

High School 9th – 12 th grade ~ Students learn together each Monday from 6:15 – 8:15 p.m. The evening begins with a casual dinner and an opportunity to socialize. Students then attend classes on varying topics including comparative religion, Zionism, and Holocaust, all of which highlight Jewish morals, ethics, and Talmudic teachings as they relate to the modern world. Our high school classes are taught by TKA Clergy and our outstanding faculty.

Affirmation Affirmation study is led by Rabbi Roman during the tenth grade year of Religious School. Students explore the principles of Reform Judaism and work toward development of a mature Jewish identity. Shavuot marks the completion of the Affirmation process. The students and their families are honored during our Erev Shavuot service.

Madrichim Starting in 8 th grade, students are invited to learn how to be a Madrichim (classroom aides). Students learn how to assist in the classrooms and are role models for the younger students on Sunday mornings. After a successful year of learning, students are paid for their time.

In addition to the programs detailed on these pages, TKA believes in Jewish enrichment outside the classroom. Our children travel to other congregations, to Israel and attend Jewish summer camps. We encourage attendance at Shabbat Services, Shabbat dinners, family camp, and family programs.

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INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Temple Kol Ami is a welcoming congregation. Members are encouraged to get involved at whatever level they choose; there is something for everyone! Programming is planned to satisfy intellectual, spiritual and social needs. A few of the many opportunities available at TKA are highlighted below:

BROTHERHOOD and SISTERHOOD offer an array of social and educational programs, including health, financial and recreational topics among others. Community service is an important part of their programming. The members of each group create and lead an inspiring Shabbat Service every year. It is a special experience for both the participants and the congregation.

Whether your interests lie in religious services, social action, Jewish education, or simply socializing with a group of your peers, there is a place for you in TKA’s Brotherhood or Sisterhood.

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INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

SOCIAL ACTION ~ One of our fundamental obligations as Jewish people is Tikkun Olam -- Repairing the World. The Social Action committee of Temple Kol Ami is dedicated to initiating action by organizing and empowering our fellow congregants toward this goal. Therefore, we will take action in our greater community to impact social justice, fight poverty, promote and support critical health issues, and encourage environmental conservation and sustainability.

The Social Action Committee also sponsors Relay for Life, housing and feeding the homeless, Scholar in Residence, Adult Education and the Caring Community. Family excursions to Israel and many other social activities come from the desk of this busy committee.

CARING COMMUNITY (WeCare) strives to reach out in times of need and celebration. Acknowledging life cycle events, they offer support and encouragement to the Temple community.

KATY YOUTH GROUP ( Kol Ami Temple Youth ) KATY is a group of energetic and dedicated teens who plan and participate in fun and educational programs. KATY members work together to learn about themselves, explore Judaism and make a difference in the community. Operating both independently and as part of the North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY), KATY encourages members to become involved in the Reform movement locally and at regional and national levels.

NFTY-Michigan sponsors kallot (weekend study conclaves) throughout the year. Kallot bring together members of Temple youth groups (like KATY) from all around Michigan. Programming encourages the exploration of Reform Judaism in a safe and fun social setting. Participating in KATY/ NFTY fosters new friendships and strengthens Jewish identity in teens.

ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVOLVEMENT

Choir Membership Committee Cultural Committee Religious School Facility Committee Religious Services Committee Finance and Budget Committee Shiva Corps Fundraising Committee Social/Special Events Library Usher Corps

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WHO’S WHO AT TEMPLE KOL AMI

Rabbi Norman T. Roman Since joining TKA in 1986, Rabbi Roman has shared his knowledge of and love for Judaism, his spirituality and his personable style of leadership. Our Rabbi demonstrates commitment and love for the State of Israel in many ways. He leads congregational trips to Israel, is often quoted in the media and is one of the area’s most respected and knowledgeable Rabbis.

Rabbi Roman was born in New York and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. Undergraduate education at John Carroll University and Rabbinical studies at the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion – brought him to his current role. Post-graduate educational achievements include a Master’s Degree in Hebrew Letters and the title “Reform Jewish Educator.”

Noted for his knowledge of folk music and his guitar skill, Rabbi Roman has performed at synagogues, universities and community functions throughout the United States and Israel. He is recognized nationally for his work with Jewish youth, and has served as Rabbi-in- Residence at the National Federation of Temple Youth Leadership Institute (Kutz Camp) and at the Olin-Sang-Ruby Institute (OSRUI) in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.

Rabbi Roman makes everyone feel welcome and has a gift for knowing everyone’s name.

Rabbi Ariana Jaffe Silverman Rabbi Silverman joined Temple Kol Ami after being ordained by the Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion in 2010. She was deeply influenced by her years at Temple K.A.M. Isaiah Israel and six summers at OSRUI. After graduating from Harvard University, she followed her passion for environmental education and advocacy and worked at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, the Sierra Club, and Hazon.

During rabbinical school, she served congregations including Temple Beth Israel in Steubenville, OH, and Congregation Emanu-El of the City of New York. She is an alumna of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship Program, CLAL’s Rabbis without Borders Student Fellowship, and the American Jewish World Service (AJWS) Rabbinical Students’ Delegation. She lives with her husband, Justin R. Long, who is a professor at Wayne State University Law School.

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WHO’S WHO AT TEMPLE KOL AMI

Tiffany Green Our Cantorial Soloist Tiffany Green came to Temple Kol Ami in 2008, bringing over ten years’ experience as a Synagogue Musician and Jewish Educator. Ms. Green carries on a proud family tradition of professional musicians, choosing to follow in the footsteps of her mother, Cantor Penny Steyer of Temple Shir Shalom.

Tiffany Green attended Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan where she graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Music. Passionate about Jewish Education, she is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree at Spertus College in Chicago, Illinois.

After having worked in the Financial Industry for five years, Ms. Green is delighted to be at Temple Kol Ami, for she finds her life most fulfilled by creating beautiful music and working to instill a strong sense of Jewish pride in our youth. Tiffany and her husband, Curin, live in Sylvan Lake.

Andrea (Andee) Tarnoff Liberman Andee Liberman, a Detroit native, is Director of Education at Temple Kol Ami. Prior to assuming this position she worked as the elementary supervisor at Temple Kol Ami. During her diverse career in the field of education, Andee held the position of Special Education Coordinator for Akiva Hebrew Day School and taught in the Detroit Public School system for seven years. She is actively involved with various community organizations including Family Circle and the Metropolitan Detroit Board of Jewish Educators.

Cheryl Chaben Executive Director Cheryl Chaben was born and raised in the Detroit area. Before coming to TKA, she was Co-owner and Operations Manager of a successful mortgage company in Farmington Hills for almost 15 years. Prior to being self-employed she was the Regional Vice President of Operations for a national finance company. Cheryl is a member of the Detroit Area Association of Synagogue Administrators, and the National Association of Temple Administrators.

Nathalie M. Conrad Nathalie Conrad is Director of Music Emerita at Temple Kol Ami. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Nathalie Conrad graduated from the Peabody Conservatory of Music, and has been an integral part of the life of TKA since its very beginning. A gifted composer, pianist, and music arranger, she is a member of the Guild of Temple Musicians. At TKA, Nathalie provides music for special services. Nathalie also shares her musical talents with the greater metropolitan community.

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