Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Congregation

Emily Eisbruch

Welcoming Newcomers

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– by Carol Lessure


Many years ago, Deborah Dash Moore shared a story that had a lasting impact on me. A
renowned Jewish scholar, I have learned much from Dr. Moore over the years. This time, she shared a personal story.

Dr. Moore arrived from NYC to lead the Frankel Center for Judaic Studies over the summer of 2005. Of all the many Jewish colleagues that she met at the University of Michigan, only one invited her to attend High Holiday services at their congregation. This invitation was most welcome and it led her to build a lasting connection with that congregation. It was not the Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Congregation which was a fairly small Havurah at the time. As a third generation Reconstructionist with a long history with the West End Synagogue in New York City, Dr. Moore found us. She has been an active AARC member for twenty years sharing her expertise with Yom Kippur workshops, rabbinic leadership, and reading Torah.

Her story demonstrates the power of personal invitations and connections. As we enter a time when new people arrive to Ann Arbor to learn, teach and/or work, I encourage each of us to welcome newcomers with kindness and, if possible, an invitation to do something together. You will likely have new work colleagues, new neighbors, or new families at your children’s schools.

If they happen to be Jewish, please invite them to an AARC event, share what you like about our congregation, and perhaps offer to host them for Shabbat dinner. By the end of July, let them know that AARC has ticketless high holiday services that are open to all. If they have young children, share information about our small family-like Beit Sefer.

By late August or early September, you can share the schedule of our High Holiday services and programs. These will be a featured part of our website front page. Perhaps you can offer to meet them for services, a children’s program, or invite them to join you for the end of Yom Kippur when AARC provides afternoon workshops, a unique Memorial Service, a short lovely Nielah service with a Shofar blast, and a communal Break the Fast (be sure to pay & pre-register for the meal, please).

AARC Welcomes Tiara Hawkins as Program Manager

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The AARC is delighted to welcome Tiara Hawkins as our new program manager. Tiara has a history degree from the University of Michigan Flint and a background in human resources, office management, and legal assistant work.  “I’m excited to bring my skills into this role with the AARC, and I’m truly looking forward to doing the best job I can while learning from each of you in this incredible congregation.” Tiara comments.


Tiara says, “My husband Scott and I have three amazing kids—Ryan, who’s 5 and turning 6 in July, Aurora, who will be 3 in just a few days, and our youngest, Harlee, who just turned 1. All three of them attend the Early Childhood Center at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, and it’s been such a wonderful experience for our family. I converted to Judaism in 2019, right before Scott and I got married, and it’s been such a meaningful part of my life ever since. My hobbies are reading, swimming, and spending time with my family.” 

Tiara will be in charge of AARC communications, event coordination and more.  Tiara’s first time coordinating AARC Fourth Friday services was May 23, 2025 and she did an outstanding job, alongside Emily Ohl.   The congregation extends warm appreciation to our previous program manager, Emily Ohl. We are so glad that Emily will remain in the AARC community.

When you see Tiara at an event, be sure to introduce yourself and don’t be shy to ask if you can lend a hand!

2025 AARC Retreat – Gratitude

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We had gorgeous weather, and participants expressed joy and gratitude for the opportunity to deepen bonds and make new connections.

Thanks to Leora Druckman, our amazing coordinator for the 2024 and 2025 AARC retreats. Kudos to everyone who contributed to a fantastic AARC retreat at Camp Tamarack’s Butzel Center the weekend of May 9-11, 2025.

Outdoors



Friday and Saturday Services and Havdalah


Saturday Evening Music and Dancing


Programs


More Fun Times


Delightful Dining


We look forward to seeing you at the next AARC retreat, either in 2026 or 2027.

It’s about the people, the place & the experience

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Join for the AARC Retreat, May 9-11, 2025

When
Friday evening, May 9, 2025
through
Sunday afternoon, May 11, 2025
(this is Mother’s Day Weekend)

Where
 The Butzel Retreat Center at Camp Tamarack (about a one hour drive Northeast of Ann Arbor in Ortonville, Michigan)

Registration

Registration must be completed by midnight, Friday, May 2, 2025.  Pricing is flexible to make sure everyone can attend regardless of financial situation.

To register click on the button below:   

Register Here

More information about the Butzel Retreat Center can be found HERE
Great photos from last year’s retreat are HERE

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS YEAR
Like last year, the retreat will offer an opportunity to reconnect with our community, the Earth and yourself in beautiful, natural surroundings. It’s about the people, the place, and the experience. We hope you will join!

The retreat will also offer

  • A chance to celebrate Shabbat as a community
  • Meaningful, musical services
  • Various workshops, discussion groups and other activities led by our talented community members
  • Fun activities offered by Tamarack Adventure Center, including swimming, kayaking and canoeing
  • Hikes exploring around the beautiful lakes on the 1,100 wooded acres of Tamarack/Camp Maas
  • A Saturday night party with music and dancing
  • Campfires with S’mores and singing* Childcare and Children’s Programming
  • …and other surprises as well!

A motel-like room at the Butzel Retreat Center (instead of shared cabins with bunks at the Specialty Camper Village like last year).
This means we will have…

  • Private rooms with their own bathrooms, instead of cabins (Rooms at Butzel can sleep up to four people with one queen size bed, one twin size bed and upon request, two fold out cots. )
  • Convenient parking next to our accommodations, instead of a parking lot that is a long walk away
  • ADA conforming facilities, instead of potentially difficult to traverse stairs and grounds
  • Meals cooked by Butzel staff and served in our own dining room, instead of eating children’s camp food at the main dining hall

We look forward to seeing you at the retreat!



Erica Ackerman, Climate Activist

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This Q&A with Erica Ackerman was written for the April 2025 Washtenaw Jewish News, as part of climate outreach coordinated by A2J Climate Circle initiative.

A member of the Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Congregation, Erica is a climate activist who serves on the Executive Committee of the Sierra Club Huron Valley Group.

Erica, tell us about the origins of your climate activism

I became a climate activist leading up to the 2008 election. Working with the groups “Obama for America” and then “Organizing for Action,” I developed presentations to raise climate change awareness. We coordinated climate change symposiums in Dexter, Jackson, Canton, and Ypsilanti. 

How did you become a leader with the Sierra Club?

In 2018, longtime Washtenaw County activist Dan Ezekiel asked me to run for the Sierra Club of Huron Valley executive committee, and I was honored to step up.  At the time, funding for climate initiatives in the city of Ann Arbor was in doubt. The Sierra Club mobilized our community to attend city council meetings and to make their voices heard.  These efforts were impactful, and in 2019 the Ann Arbor city council passed the A2ZERO plan.  A key goal of A2ZERO is to realize community-wide carbon neutrality by 2030.

Have Jewish values played a part in your climate activism work?

Yes, for me it all seems integral; Jewish values lead to wanting to protect our environment, and advocating for the earth leads to appreciation of Jewish values, especially around Tikkun Olam (repairing the world).

Regarding activism in the Jewish community, prompted by our rabbi, I recently participated in lobbying through Jewish Earth Alliance, where we pushed our US Senators to defend our progress on climate action. 

Advice for others who want to get involved?

The Sierra Club could definitely use more people who are active and interested in taking action.  Start by attending the monthly Sierra Club program meetings, held on the third Tuesday of the month, 6pm to 7:30pm, in-person at the downtown branch of the Ann Arbor District Library. The programs offer a mix of nature talks and environmental activism.

In addition, Sierra Club Executive Committee meetings are open to the public.  They are held on Zoom, the first Thursday of every month at 7pm. If you are interested in the Sierra Club Executive Committee Zoom link, text me (Erica) at 734-330-0163.