Every Friday evening Temple members gather to greet the Shabbat. For Humanistic Jews, Shabbat is a time to slow down, connect to our Jewish heritage,
and consider how we can become better human beings. We meditate, enjoy our traditional songs, listen to the rabbi’s sermon, and remember our loved ones who passed away. All Celebrations are held at 7:30 pm unless otherwise noted. All are welcome.
Guest Rabbi
Look for a full description through email and mailings.
Apr. 7th
Passover Seder
Saturday, April 7th
5:30 pm
Featuring Jazz vocalist Susan Tobocman, from New York
Apr. 13th
Rebuilding Detroit
Guest Speaker: Steve Tobocman
Rabbi Kolton
7:30 pm
Steve Tobocman grew up in The Birmingham Temple and is a member of our congregation.
He served in the Michigan House of Representatives and is a powerful voice of vision and
justice for the City of Detroit. He believes that immigration is the key to building Global Detroit.
On this Shabbat Steve Tobocman will discuss his vision and current initiative for rebuilding Detroit.
Apr. 20th
"A Year in the Life of a Rabbi"
Rabbi Kolton
7:30 pm
Hebrew Naming Ceremony for Sarah, daughter of Meredith and Andy Louk; granddaughter of Barbara
and the late Stephen Mandell.
Loss and gain cycle through the life of a rabbi like the seasons around us.
There are babies and brides, people recovering from illness and funerals.
During this Shabbat Rabbi Kolton will invite us into her world as a rabbi as she reflects on the
people and places that influenced her in the past twelve months. She will speak on,
“A Year in the Life of a Rabbi.” Join us for an inspiring Shabbat.
Apr. 27th
Shabbaton: Temple Youth Sleepover Grade 4 and Up 7:00 pm: Children of all ages are invited to the family service
Each year the Temple fills up with sleeping bags, snacks, games, and smiling
children. Brave adults supervise our Shabbaton at our annual sleepover.
Children of all ages are invited to the family service. Those in grades 4 and
older can stay the night. Don’t miss the fun!
May 4th
An Evening with Eric Sirotkin:
Truth, Reconciliation, and the Empathic Civilization
Rabbi Kolton
7:30 pm
Detroit native and human rights attorney Eric Sirotkin will speak on his experiences
working with the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions in South Africa and Korea and how it
and our own peacemaking actions serve as a basis for the coming 'empathic civilization.'
Eric has just returned from a peace conference in North Korea and his Ubuntuworks Peace
Education Project (www.uwep.org) and regularly educates politicians, students, and
organizations around the world on how resolution of the conflict in Korea can be a
game-changer for world peace. "Our current approach to war, militarism and conflict,
" he says "is not sustainable nor in line with our hearts or a greater vision for our nation."
Eric was raised in Michigan and is the nephew of our very own, Mary Lewis!
May 11th
Honoring Our Mothers:
An Invitation To Bring Your Mother To Shabbat
Rabbi Kolton
7:30 pm
Do you want to honor your mother? Would you like to celebrate her with the
congregation and share your gratitude for her presence in your life?
Bring your mother to this Shabbat. Share your love for her with all of us.
For those whose mothers are no longer alive, share how your mother’s legacy continues to live in you.
Join us for a joyous evening as we honor and celebrate our mothers.
May 18th
Bnai Mitzvah Reunion of Recent Graduates
Rabbi Kolton
7:30 pm
The Bar and Bat Mitzvah program at The Birmingham Temple transforms our children
into more powerful, confident, and loving people.
On this Shabbat, students who recently celebrated a Bar or Bat Mitzvah will come
together and reflect on their experiences. Who did they choose as a hero?
Would they make the same choice today? What advice do they for their peers who
will have a ceremony in the near future? What advice do they have the parents of
those students?
Join us to honor our youngest adults and be inspired by their wisdom.
May 25th
Kadish: History and Meaning
Rabbi Kolton
7:30 pm
Of all the prayers uttered by the Jewish community today, none is more
emotionally compelling then the Kadish. Where did it come from? What does it
really mean?
Most importantly, should the Kadish be adapted and used by Humanistic Jews?
During this Shabbat Rabbi Kolton will explore the Kadish as seen through the
eyes of Leonard Bernstein, Allen Ginsberg, Elie Wiesel, and our own community
of Humanistic Jews.
