AfikimBlog!

Chocolate Seder

2008-04-05T22:26:00.001-04:00

Do you love chocolate? Do you love Passover?
Do you love nothing more than Chocolate and Passover put together?

If you answered yes to any or all of these questions then get excited for Ken Afikim's annual Chocolate Seder.

When? Sunday, April 13, 4-6pm

Where? 28600 Apple Blossom Lane
Farmington Hills, MI 48331

It will be a "chocolatized" celebration.

We hope to see you there!

Please email or call me with any questions.

Habo Uruguay Peula

2008-03-22T20:17:00.002-04:00

Come talk about Habonim Dror and what we are doing in South America.

When?
March 30th
1-3pm

Where?
The Jensen Home
32415 Sylvan Lane
Beverly Hills, MI 48025

Contact Tammy at rosheizordetroit@gmail.com

Michigan Shabbaton

2008-03-11T22:44:00.002-04:00

Come to this fun sleepover for everyone 7th grade and up.

When? Friday, March 14, 7:30pm to Saturday, March 15, 10:30am
Where? ICC Coop, 1520 Hill St., Ann Arbor (it's the building behind the building)
What to bring? a sleeping bag, pillow, pajamas, toothbrush and permission slip

Cost? $10 per person

Why? For sooooo much fun.

With questions or to RSVP please contact Tammy at rosheizordetroit@gmail.com.

Israel Peula

2008-03-05T19:30:00.001-05:00

Sunday, March 9
1-3pm

Location:
At Noa Granot's house
10105 Kingston Ave
Huntington Woods, MI 48070

We hope to see you there!

If you have any questions contact Tammy at rosheizordetroit@gmail.com

Winter Olympics

2008-01-23T20:17:00.000-05:00

The winter olympics are coming to Ann Arbor!

Habonim Dror ken members are coming from all across the Detroit and Ann Arbor areas to partake in the fun and games!

Join Ken Afikim and Ken Pardes for a day of fun and games!Who? All of us in Ken Afikim and Ken Pardes!

What? The winter experience of the year!

Where? 1060 Baldwin Ave, Ann Arbor MI

When? Sunday, February 3rd; 2:00-4:00 pm

Why? Fun! Fun! Fun!

If you have questions or to RSVP contact Tammy at rosheizordetroit@gmail.com.

Calendar of Upcoming Events

2008-01-23T20:12:00.001-05:00

Get excited for another amazing semester in Ken Afikim.

Sunday Feb 3: Winter Olympics

Sunday March 2: Israel Peula with Hadas

Friday March 14: Shabbaton Bonim and up

Friday April 11: Shabbat Dinner

Sunday April 27: Chocolate Seder

May 24 or 25: Goodbye Picnic

Chanukah Party with Ken Pardes

2007-12-05T08:30:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year again!
Time to celebrate Chanukah with all your friends in Ken Afikim and Ken Pardes (Ann Arbor).

We will be having our annual Chanukah party on:

Sunday, December 16
2-5pm

at:
2010 Washtenaw (next to Beth Israel Synagogue)
Ann Arbor, MI 48104

If you have questions or want help arranging a ride please contact Tammy at rosheizordetroit@gmail.com.

We hope to see you there!

Havdallah - November 17

2007-11-12T08:31:00.000-05:00

Come to Ken Afikim's Havdallah and Dinner Peula.
- We will be providing pizza and fun!

Saturday, November 17
6-8pm

at Sarah Lerman-Sinkoff's House
5095 Far Ravine Ct.
West Bloomfield, MI 48323

I hope that you can make it!

Feel free to e-mail or call with any questions.

Our next peula will be the Channukah Party with Ann Arbor on December 16.

Fall Festival

2007-10-27T12:29:00.000-04:00

Come to Fall Festival for an afternoon of fun and games!

Sunday, November 4
1:30-3:30pm

at Max Jensen's House
32415 Sylvan Lane
Beverly Hills, MI 48025

We will be having snacks!

If you have any questions call:
Tammy

A Fun-Filled Weekend

2007-10-27T12:17:00.000-04:00

On October 12-14 Ken Afikim had a weekend filled with food, fun and environmentalism.

We started the weekend with a successful Shabbat Dinner at which everyone got the chance to create a Challah that represented environmentalism. The challah's emerged beautiful and delicious, representing everything from Al Gore to a modified Habonim Dror semel, with an emphasis on the wheat.

After a delicious dinner provided by all those in attendance each group shared their challah and we discussed the upcoming environmental Tikkun Olam (healing the world) project.

On Sunday Ken Afikim met at the Douglas-Evans Nature Preserve in Beverly Hills to help with invasive plant removal. After learning how to identify the invasive plants - Buckthorn and Garlic Mustard - as well as the always pesky poison ivy we set off to do some good.

In just an hour we were able to take down some big buckthorns as well as remove Garlic Mustard seedlings before they had the chance to spread their seeds. Our partners were very thankful for our help and we look forward to working at the Douglas-Evans Nature Preserve again in the spring.

Tikkun Olam Project

2007-10-10T18:39:00.001-04:00

October 14

2:00 – 3:30pm

We will be doing Invasive plant removal at the Douglas-Evans Nature Preserve in Beverly Hills.

We will be at the Douglas-Evans Nature Preserve in Beverly Hills, Located on Evergreen road about ½ a mile north of 13 mile road. (There is a gravel driveway from Evergreen road to the utility building in the preserve)

· Wear sturdy shoes, long pants.

· Work gloves are recommended.

· Fleece and other jackets that can catch seeds should be avoided.

· Bring a hand shovel if you have one.

· Bring water and use the bathroom before you leave. There are no bathrooms at the site.

Shabbat Dinner - October 12th

2007-10-10T18:35:00.000-04:00

Where?

Max Levine’s House:

25951 Dundee

Huntington Woods, MI, 48070

When?

Friday, October 12

6:00-8:00 PM

What to Bring:

Chalutzim/Amelim (grades 3-5): Desserts

Chotrim (grades 6,7): Side Dishes

Bonim/Garinim (grades 8,9): Drinks

Everyone: Family & Friends

This is a dairy meal.

Additional Information about Tikkun Olam

2007-10-02T01:46:00.001-04:00

Fr: Lillian Dean, Coordinator
Healthy Lawns & Gardens, SOCWA (SE Oakland Co. Water Authority)
Douglas Evans Nature Preserve Environmental Education Project

Re: PROGRAM AT DOUGLAS EVANS NATURE PRESERVE, BEVERLY HILLS
Sunday, October 14; 2:00 - 3:30 pm

Thank you for your interest in the Douglas Evans Nature Preserve, located along the Rouge River/Green Corridor in Beverly Hills (Evergreen Rd. between 13 Mile and 14 Mile Rd., west side). Our volunteer environmental education committee is delighted to host your group and we appreciate your interest in "making a difference" for the environment.

The Nature Preserve includes a prairie meadow, planted on top of stormwater retention basin…as well as a woodland area. We will host your group in the open prairie meadow section of the Preserve. The area is "glorious" in October because the tallgrass prairie grasses are tall - creating an environment that sometimes feels like "Little House on the Prairie" - type of country. It is amazing that the preserve is in the middle of an urban section of Oakland County with 100,000 people living within 10 miles!

An introduction/orientation will be provided by our leaders for the day, Howard Knorr and Stephanie Patil. Two activities will be offered to participants - youth and adults. (Participants can choose their activity when they arrive on October 14):

1. Native grass seed collection and planting. Grass seed will be collected in paper bags and "planted" at designated spots. We can provide all of the materials and a demonstration. (We want MORE prairie grasses in some areas that have none.)

2. Digging of small buckthorn trees. Common buckthorn is an invasive species and problem plant in the prairie meadow and along the woodland edge. Small seedlings can be dug up from the ground with a shove. We will have about 10 shovels - but it would be helpful if your group brought their own shovels as well. Orientation will be provided to this group. This is hard work, but very important ecologically for the prairie meadow.

Please provide us with a list of the number of participants and their ages by October 5th. A "general" idea of the interest in native grass seed collective vs. buckthorn tree digging will help us with materials.

Participants should dress for the weather. Hiking boots or sturdy shoes with soles are required. (Tennis shoes are o.k., but should be "old shoes." Long pants, long sleeve shirts, and work gloves are recommended. Fleece and other "fuzzy" jackets that "catch" seeds should be avoided.

There are no bathrooms on the site available for our use. You should also bring your own water.

There is a gravel driveway that leads from Evergreen Road to the utility building on the interior of the Preserve. Normally, access is blocked by a metal gate. The gate will be open on Oct. 14 so cars can easily drive in and park.

In the event of serious rain, the event will be cancelled with the rain date possibility off Sunday, October 28. If there is a "light mist", we can proceed with a nature walk at the prairie meadow - if your group has waterproof jackets. There is an "overhang" at the utility building where we can stand out of the wind, if necessary.

You are welcome to visit the Douglas Evans Nature Preserve on your own BEFORE October 14 to see the site and get a feel for the landscape.

Ken Afikim Fall 2007 Schedule

2007-09-23T19:16:00.000-04:00

Friday, October 12 - Shabbat Dinner

Sunday, October 14 - Tikkun Olam (Community Service Day)
Douglas-Evans Nature Preserve Invasive Plant Removal

Friday, November 2 - Shabbat Dinner

Saturday, November 17 - Havdallah

Sunday, December 9 - Ken Afikim/Ken Pardes Hannukah Party

Ken Pardes (Ann Arbor) Fall 2007 Schedule

2007-09-23T19:00:00.000-04:00

Sunday, September 30 - Peula (split older and younger chanichim)

Friday, October 12 - Shabbat Dinner (split older and younger chanichim)

Sunday, October 28 - Peula

Friday, November 9 - Shabbat Dinner

Sunday, December 9 - Ken Afikim/Ken Pardes Hannuka Party

Sunday, December 16 - Peula (split older and younger chanichim)

Coming Up: Israeli Dancing at JCC West Bloomfield

2007-01-10T23:59:00.000-05:00

Please join us and bring a friend to our next event, Rikudei-Am (Israeli Dancing) at the West Bloomfield JCC on Sunday, January 14th from 1-3 am. This peulah is open to the entire community, and all ages are welcome. Families are encouraged to attend. Please wear a Habonim shirt. See you there!

Movie Night Fun!

2007-01-10T23:25:00.000-05:00

Ken Afikim had an amazing Movie Night on January 5th, starting 2007 off with a big bang!

We began by welcoming the Sabbath Queen with a lovely kiddush led by several of our chanichim, and following our Tavor traditions for breaking bread together. Then we feasted on a delicious Shabbat dinner!

We added a Movie Night twist to our Icebreaker games by making our very own movie.

Then we watched a classic film about how important Kvutsah (the group) is, and how Shituf (sharing/cooperation) is critical for achieving your goals. That's right folks, it was "The Goonies"! We discussed the themes of the movie, and then finished up with a rousing game of 'Bang!'

A look back at the latter half of 2006

2007-01-01T15:07:00.000-05:00

The last two months of 2006 were eventful ones for Ken Afikim, and now that we've rung in a brand new calendar year, we should take a moment to look back at what we've done lately here in Detroit.

In November, Tikkun Olam was center stage, as we discussed the fundamentals of "fixing the world." What is tikkun olam, why do we do it, and how? We shared our collective visions of what makes a 'broken' world, what makes an 'ideal/perfect' world, through a visual collage medium, and then discussed what we can do to move things closer to the latter vision. In the process, we collected cans to donate to Yad Ezra, the Jewish food pantry in town. It was a great peulah, thanks especially to the nachshonim who attended.

We also had a rockin' Chotrim Overnight with the entire Michigan Eizor, at which we had fun peulot, had a medurah and made s'mores, sang kumsitz, watched a movie about establishing unions and challenging the dominant paradigm, and got to spend a lot of time together with our friends from Kalamazoo and Ann Arbor. (We can't wait for the Eizor Michigan Shabbaton to do it all again!)

Then, December brought the eizor Chanukah party, which included paper bag dramatizations of the Chanukah story, sufganiya eating contests, a challenge to make the best chanukah menorah out of playdough, lots of dreidel spinning, chocolate gelt eating, exchanging of gifts, and best of all, partying with our fellow Habo's from all over Michigan! We even collected a very large box of donated children's books to go to Bookstock, a Jewish book sale for the metro-Detroit community.

Nachshonim and Ma'apilim then headed off to Winter Seminar in lovely Mansfield, Ontario, for a week of intensive peulot about the movement and lots of crazy kef with our chaverim from all over North America. The weather outside was not very frightful, but the fires were still delightful, and the company could not have been better! Tzevet Afikim returned inspired, and firmly upon the hagshama path, ready to begin a brand new year!

If you are interested in picking up what we are putting down in D-town, and would like to be on our mailing list, just contact Raya, Rosh Eizor for Detroit, at rosheizordetroit@gmail.com.

מסיבת חנוכה במישיגן a.k.a. Michigan Chanukah Party!

2006-12-16T15:41:00.000-05:00

Hey there Ken Afikim! Please join us for a rousingly fun celebration of Chanukah, Hannukah, or even חנוכה on Sunday, December 17th from 2-4 pm at Beth Israel Congregation in Ann Arbor, MI.
Bring a lightly used children's book to donate, as well as a gift under $5 for a gift swap. We'll have traditional fried foods, games, exciting historical re-enactments, and of course, plenty of fun times with your friends from the Michigan eizor!
If you want details or need to arrange a last-minute carpool, contact Raya, Rosh Eizor for Detroit, at rosheizordetroit@gmail.com.

Mark Your Calendar Alert! Tikkun Olam and Chotrim Overnight

2006-11-03T20:42:00.000-05:00

Mark your calendars--there are two great events coming up!
On Sunday, November 12 from 2-4 pm, we're kicking off Tikkun Olam ("fixing the world") at the Crown Pointe building in Oak Park (corner of Greenfield and Lincoln). Bring a canned food item to donate.

Then, Saturday November 18th-Sunday November 19th (5pm-11am) is our fabulous Chotrim Overnight, for all of Eizor Michigan, including Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Kalamazoo. We'll have fun in Ann Arbor all night long!

Watch your mail for fliers, and invite a friend. We hope to see you!

Challah Baking Shabbat Dinner--A Very Tasty Success!

2006-11-03T19:50:00.000-05:00

On Friday Night, October 27th, Ken Afikim had an amazing Shabbat Dinner for our extended Ken mishpacha. Our Shabbat was made extra special because our parents were sharing the evening with us as we baked our own challot. It was a bit crowded at Noa's house, with over 35 people in attendance!

After a few quick ice-breaker games, we got ready for Shabbat with a favorite Tavor tradition, singing "Hachama Me'rosh," together.
Then, we split into groups and were assigned the task of depicting our favorite aspects of Shabbat in challah dough.

While the challot were baking, we lit the candles and said the blessings all together, then ate a delicious shabbat meal.We presented our Shabbat Challah creations to everyone,
laughing at some of the creative figures that our chaverim had made.

Then we shared our challot with friends. They were delicious!

Every one had a great time--even the madrichim! Ken Afikim wants to thank all the people who came to spend Kabbalat Shabbat with us. A special thank you to Noa's family for hosting us!