DJN January 20, 2022 by The Detroit Jewish News

THE DETROIT

JEWISH NEWS $

200 Jan. 20-26, 2022 / 18-24 Shevat 5782

thejewishnews.com

Sculpture Hockey star Elle Hartje explores family roots, grows personally during a pandemicplagued season in Slovakia. See page 28

contents Jan. 20-26, 2022 / 18-24 Shevat 5782 | VOLUME CLX, ISSUE 23

PURELY COMMENTARY 4-9

Essays and viewpoints.

OUR COMMUNITY 10

The Lines Are Drawn

FACES & PLACES

26 Shine a Light on Antisemitism 27

A Mitzvah Weekend

New congressional districts impact Metro Detroit’s Jewish community.

SPORTS

A Place to Mourn

Clover Hill Park Cemetery plans on-site shivah center expansion.

80 Years Ago

Hockey star Elle Hartje explores family roots, grows personally during a pandemic-plagued season in Slovakia.

In 1942, Joe Biden and the Jewish News were both born.

Would You Risk Your Life to Save a Book?

The Zekelman Holocaust Center opens new exhibit.

Planning a Trip?

Ice Sculpture

BUSINESS 32

Healthy Food, Fast

Former Hiller’s VP Justin Hiller brings Saladworks and Frutta Bowls to West Bloomfield.

‘Soup and Study’

MAZEL TOV

Grant for ‘Freedom of Religion’ Initiative

Torah portion

Society For Humanistic Judaism receives grant to launch Michigan programming.

Why the Giving of the Torah is a Turning Point in History

Ann Arbor Federation’s Main Event

Woodward Avenue Shul offers study program in-person or on Zoom.

Award-winning author Dara Horn to headline Feb. 9 fundraiser.

The Challah Train

JFamily program sends challah to the doors of community members.

Newish and Jewish

NEXTGen Detroit to host special networking event for new and returning Detroiters.

A Helping Holiday

The Rabbi and the Shrink

Hillel student and friends decorated rocks to raise money for food bank while on vacation.

Orthodox Jewish rabbi and Catholic Cuban psychologist talk ethics in new podcast.

FOOD

Everything you need to know about traveling during Omicron.

From the Home Kitchen of Chef Aaron Blintzes from 1918

35 Moments

SPIRIT

Synagogue Directory

ARTS&LIFE 40

Ain’t No Passing Craze

Ben Lipitz is Disney’s The Lion King’s Pumbaa for 19 years.

Slice of Life — and More

3-minute vacation film snippet of small-town Jews in pre-Nazi Poland yields a revealing movie.

44 Celebrity News

EVENTS

45 Community Calendar

ETC.

The Exchange 47 Obituaries 49 Looking Back 54

Shabbat Lights

Shabbat begins: Friday, Jan. 21: 5:14 p.m. Shabbat ends: Saturday, Jan. 22: 6:19 p.m.

* Times according to Yeshiva Beth Yehudah calendar.

ON THE COVER: Cover photo/credit: Elle Hartje. Photo from Yale University. Cover design: Michelle Sheridan

thejewishnews.com Follow Us on Social Media: Facebook @DetroitJewishNews Twitter @JewishNewsDet Instagram @detroitjewishnews JANUARY 20 • 2022

PURELY COMMENTARY essay

I Called Her Aunt Anna

he stories behind how Jewish families bond with those of other religions have always fascinated me. I grew up in an Orthodox, then later Conservative Jewish family. Sandy My parents were Hermanoff very close with a woman from a Greek Orthodox family. Her name was Anna, but I loved her so much and felt so close to her, I always called her Aunt Anna. She came into my family when my dad joined a partnership with three brothers who were in the restaurant supply business. She was the secretary. My dad told me the story that Aunt Anna and one of the brothers, Eddie, were very much in love. But it was not to be. Eddie was from an Orthodox Jewish family; Anna was from an Orthodox Greek family. Eddie was my dad’s best friend. They went everywhere together. One day in 1946 my dad and Eddie were doing errands. It was a quick visit to a doctor’s office where Eddie was having a checkup. As they were leaving, Eddie started to breathe heavily and grabbed his chest. He died hours later of a heart attack. He was in his early 30s. My parents and Aunt Anna never got over Eddie’s death. My dad told me he promised Eddie to look after Aunt Anna for the rest of her life. And he

JANUARY 20 • 2022

did. Aunt Anna never married, and she was very close to our family until she passed away at 90 in 2012. Aunt Anna was there when I was born and attended almost every event that happened in my life. She told me lots of funny stories about her family the whole time I was growing up. When it was time to go away to college, she took me clothes shopping. I had eight real aunts, but Aunt Anna was always there for me. She was about 5’4”, had dark brown curly hair, big wide brown eyes that twinkled and a big smile. She was always dressed beautifully, and I loved her perfume. She was very special to me. She was one of five daughters in a very close Greek Orthodox family. I remember visiting her parents’ house when I was a little girl. The desserts and all the specialty dishes I tasted were so delicious. The family was warm and welcoming. It was like being in a Jewish home. When I was very young, I remember one time going to church with her. I was awestruck with the colorful windows and high ceilings — very beautiful, but very different from the synagogue I was used to. Aunt Anna always made a big deal on my birthday. I still have some of her beautiful gifts that I treasure. She was so caring, a good listener and supportive — even sometimes when my very own parents wouldn’t listen. And I always felt that she missed so much in life because she never married. She was very active in the

Greek church. In fact, she worked in the church for many years before she came to work for my dad. I always thought she would have made such a great mother, wife, etc. I always felt I was the daughter that Aunt Anna never had. After my dad passed away, my mom came to Detroit to live in an assisted living development. I discovered that Aunt Anna moved to a senior living complex, so I got Aunt Anna and my mom together for several phone calls. But then they suddenly stopped, and we were unable to connect. I found out from her family that she passed away in 2012 — six months before my mother. A LONG-HELD SECRET Fast forward to 2013 when I was in my office, and I received a phone call from Aunt Anna’s nephew who I hadn’t heard from for years. We exchanged greetings and then he told me his whole family couldn’t figure out why my parents and Aunt Anna were so close. I told him I was sorry she had never married and that I missed her. I was sorry that my mom and I couldn’t come to her funeral because mom couldn’t make the trip. He hesitated. He cleared his throat. Then he just divulged that Aunt Anna and Eddie found out that she was pregnant in 1943. Aunt Anna went to another state, had the baby and brought it back with her. The baby was adopted by a family two years later. She grew up in a wonderful Jewish family, went to college and married a great guy — a

doctor. He told me where they lived in Akron but didn’t have any contact information. Her name was Susan Schwartz and her husband’s name was Barry. I was numb and dumbfounded. I couldn’t believe it. Why had my parents not told me about this? The baby was one year younger than me, so had we played together as infants? Where could I find her — and what would I say to her? Was she brought up Jewish? Greek? Where was she and what did she look like? Did she ever try to find her birth mother, and did she ever contact her? After I collected myself, I looked up the name — and there it was! I called the number and left a message. “I don’t know how to start this, but my parents and your birth mother were best friends, and I never knew about you. Please call me. I would like to know all about you. Your mother was my second mother. This all is a big shock to me.” About an hour later, the phone rang. The woman on the other end sounded just like my Aunt Anna. I had a lump in my throat. I couldn’t believe it was not her. Her voice and the way she pronounced her words was uncanny. That was the moment Susan came into my life. Susan and I exchanged stories. We laughed and we cried. She told me she had tried several times to reach Aunt Anna. She even brought flowers to her on one occasion, but Aunt Anna said she knew who she was, and she could not

be in her life. She closed the door on Susan’s face. Susan and Barry were devastated. After an hour of conversation, I invited Susan and her husband for a weekend visit. We both had so many questions that needed answers. She was hoping I could close the information gap; I was hoping she could do the same for me. We talked a few times before Susan and Barry came to visit. She knew of people who were friends of my parents, and we tried to put pieces of the puzzle together. But we couldn’t find where she was staying before she was adopted when she was around 2 years old.

PA R

TISANS, POET

S, A ND

Susan and I figured out why my birthday was always such a big deal to Aunt Anna. Eddie and I both shared the same birthday. I was Aunt Anna’s substitute daughter. I anticipated the day Susan and Barry came to the door. I was excited, emotional and nervous. But when I opened it, Susan was beautiful and petite with straight, short gray hair and Aunt Anna’s smile. She talked just like her; had the same mannerisms: her hands, the way she spoke, laughed, smiled. It was Aunt Anna. On that day, my husband and I gained two new friends and family members: Susan and Barry. We continue to

ER A

visit (not as much as we’d like during COVID), but we know each other’s kids/ grandchildren, relatives, etc. We talk often, exchange gifts, emails and text each other on holidays and birthdays/ anniversaries. As I take a few paces back and look at my life, we are blessed to have Susan and her family in it. My heart breaks when I think Aunt Anna could have had so much nachas with Susan, her husband, children — her grandchildren. Certainly, times have changed. If Aunt Anna and Eddie would have met today, perhaps they might have married, had a family, and

celebrated both Jewish and Greek holidays together. Mixed and interracial marriages are more accepted — a discussion for families and clergy everywhere. A sad story, but a happy ending. A good thing came out of the love that Aunt Anna and Eddie had: a great friendship with a talented and beautiful friend I will enjoy for the rest of my life. Susan and I don’t have all the answers, but we have each other. Sandy Hermanoff is an area public relations consultant who loves to cook and bake. The names in this story have been changed to protect their privacy.

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THE

JANUARY 20 • 2022

PURELY COMMENTARY column

New Vaccination Policy at Temple Beth El

or nearly two years, much of our communal dialogue has been dominated by the cloud of COVID-19. Every one of our institutions — synagogues, agencies, Federation — has wrestled with questions about how best to protect our community from this pandemic. And yes, protect means honoring Rabbi Mark the value of pikuach nefesh Miller (saving lives) by trying to ensure each individual’s health and safety … but it also means protecting our mental and spiritual heath, and preserving our ability to lead Jewish lives even under these unprecedented circumstances. It should not be a surprise that while we are all on the same “team” fighting against COVID, there have been

variations in our responses. We all want the same thing, but there is more than one path to get there. In that vein, I am proud to let you know about a new policy approved by Temple Beth El’s Board of Trustees a few weeks ago. Effective immediately, and on a temporary basis, all adults will be required to show proof of full vaccination to attend Shabbat services at Temple Beth El. Grounded on the best scientific and medical guidance, our Board took this action for three primary reasons: First, it is clear that ensuring vaccination is the best way to keep people safe. Studies and stories all indicate that our Jewish community is among the most highly vaccinated groups in the country. Still, as we watch the rise of Omicron, and as COVID is surging to its highest levels, this step

is intended to create the peak degree of safety. And while Shabbat services are only one element of all we offer at TBE, our Board wanted to make it clear that they are not preventing anyone from having access to their clergy or to Temple in general. Second, as we all begin to (hopefully) emerge from the pandemic, it is vital that people feel safe coming back to Temple. Although this one is more subjective, many people are simply more comfortable knowing that everyone around them is vaccinated. So, this policy is designed to encourage more and more people to join us for services in-person (even as we, like many synagogues, continue to offer a high-quality virtual option every week at www.tbelive.org). Lastly, we emphatically believe that being part of the solution is the Jewish continued on page 9

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JANUARY 20 • 2022

PURELY COMMENTARY column

New Year Resolutions that Go Beyond Ourselves Though we’re already several days into January, even a belated resolution can signify a step toward the type of progress we desire.

enjamin Disraeli wrote: “I am prepared for the worst but hope for the best.” Mel Brooks sang: “Hope for the best, expect the worst.” In slightly different ways and from very different platforms, Dan Schnur both the statesman and the comedian identified the same precarious mix of optimism and pessimism inherent in their shared Jewish faith. Since one of the foundations of Judaism is a trust in God, it’s understandable that we would find these conflicting impulses within ourselves, recognizing the challenges of adversity while maintaining positive beliefs about the ultimate outcome. We’ve come to expect misfortune over the millennia, but we’ve also learned to rely on our faith to get us through. This combination of discordant attitudes is not unique to Jews but is characteristic of peoples who have suffered subjugation. African American poet Maya Angelou addressed the same apparent contradiction when she said, “If I insist on being pessimistic, there is always tomorrow.”

JANUARY 20 • 2022

As did Irish author George Bernard Shaw, who observed: “Both optimists and pessimists contribute to society. The optimist invents the aeroplane, the pessimist the parachute.” When a historically oppressed group perseveres, it’s because that blend of optimism, determination and hope keeps us going. That’s why recent polls showing a sizable drop in the number of Americans who made a New Year’s resolution for 2022 are so disconcerting. A New Year’s resolution is a sign of personal optimism, reflecting an individual commitment to selfimprovement. And even for those who are less hopeful about future prospects for their community, their country or their world, a resolution to improve an aspect of one’s own life suggests a belief that it’s worth the effort to achieve that progress. But a CBS News poll this month shows that only 29 percent of Americans plan to make a New Year’s resolution this year, down from the 43 percent who made that commitment at the end of 2020. A similar survey taken by The Economist and YouGov demonstrated that those who are more optimistic about the future are more likely to

make resolutions. It appears that a growing number of us simply believe that it is no longer necessary to demonstrate such resolve — even to ourselves. Even those who rely on the Almighty to help us overcome difficult obstacles also understand that God helps those who help themselves. So, the lack of motivation to make a New Year’s resolution may indicate a loss not only of optimism but a loss of hope as well. Most of us are not able to eliminate COVID, remake the American political landscape in a manner more to our liking or magically resolve longfestering crises in the Middle East and other global hot spots. But individual initiative and determination can be the first steps toward broader change. Even though we’re already several weeks into January, even a belated New Years’ resolution can signify an important step toward the type of progress we desire. So here’s hoping that at least some who have read this far will still consider that type of personal commitment. In addition to the more standard promises to lose weight, read more, change jobs, etc., there are other types of outward-facing

resolutions that can make a difference in the lives of others, should we care to attempt them. Participating in a neighborhood park cleanup won’t solve climate change. Mentoring an at-risk youth won’t eliminate income inequality. Writing a small check to a worthwhile community group won’t end homelessness. And having coffee with someone from the other political party won’t heal the intense polarization that has infected our politics. But such individual efforts can add up to larger change, and small steps forward can make the bigger challenges seem a little less overwhelming. For most of the year, we’ll spend our time discussing problems of national and global import. These conversations are necessary, but they can also make us feel somewhat helpless … and pessimistic. But a New Year’s resolution could make a difference in someone else’s life — and help restore a sense of optimism to ours. Dan Schnur teaches political communications at UC Berkeley, USC and Pepperdine. He hosts the weekly webinar “Politics in the Time of Coronavirus” for the Los Angeles World Affairs Council & Town Hall. This article first appeared in the Jewish Journal.

NEW VACCINATION POLICY continued from page 6

letters thing to do. I realize that vaccinations have become controversial in some quarters, but they shouldn’t be. COVID has been a scourge to all of us, and while we can’t control the world around us entirely … perhaps the most fundamental message of Torah is that we, as human beings, do play a vital role in creating the future we desire. And I am confident that that future will soon be within reach as more institutions across society take steps to educate and encourage people to get vaccinated, to wear proper masks, and to act with both caution and optimism. The one thing we cannot do in the face of evil or suffering is fail to act. Paraphrasing the words we declare every year during the High Holidays … the work of our own hands and our own hearts has the power to counteract even the most challenging reality. I pray that we are up to the task! Rabbi Mark Miller is the senior rabbi at Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Township.

A Touching Column

Dr. Jeff London’s article, “40 Years of Psychiatry: What Have I Learned?” (Jan. 6, 2022) touched me deeply with his honesty, humility and hope. I have practiced psychology for many years and can identify with his perceptive insights and lessons about the human condition. I especially resonated with the following paragraph: “The thought that one never knows the effect you might have in each encounter has helped me through the ups and downs of 40 years of practice. It was also a wonderful life lesson.” Yes, we have psychiatric medications that metaphorically go after problems in our hard drives. And yes, we have psychological therapies that help correct cognitive distortions,

irrational beliefs and rigid coping styles in our software. But, as Dr. London reminds us, “we often just need a connection with another person to find our own way back home.” — Steven J. Ceresnie, Ph.D. Psychologist Plymouth

CORRECTION In “Help Wanted,” (Jan. 6, page 14), Melissa Pletcher’s title was incorrect. She should have been described as Volunteer Services Coordinator.

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JANUARY 20 • 2022

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The

New congressional districts impact Metro Detroit’s Jewish community.

BALLOTPEDIA

Lines Are Drawn Old Congressional Districts

JACK LESSENBERRY SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

LANSING or the past four years, Michigan has had two Jewish members of Congress, both Democrats: Andy Levin, who succeeded his legendary father Sandy Levin, and Elissa Slotkin, who has twice won a seat that had been designed to elect Republicans. But this year, both will be running in districts that are substantially different. One, Andy Levin, is facing an unexpected primary challenge that could end his career, while Slotkin, as she’s always had, seems destined to have a tough battle to survive. Meanwhile, the substantial Jewish population of Southfield is very likely to find that next year they will be represented in Congress by a person many find anathema: Rashida Tlaib, a Muslim of Palestinian descent who repeatedly has attacked Israel for what she has called its “apartheid” and “racist” policies. Why is all this happening — and how are things likely to turn out? Well, as you may remember from civics class, the law requires states to draw new congressional and legislative districts every 10 years once the results of the newest census are known. In the past, the Michigan Legislature always did this. But four years ago, a grassroots citizens’ group called Voters Not Politicians succeeded in amending the state

JANUARY 20 • 2022

Newly Drawn Districts

constitution. Redistricting was turned over to a new Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission controlled by no political party. They were charged with designing districts that were close to equal in population, not gerrymandered to give any party an advantage and that kept communities with common interests together, so far as possible to do so. Additionally, they had another problem: National population shifts meant that Michigan will lose a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, the sixth it has lost since 1980. That meant that no matter what, at least one current member wouldn’t be back next year. Late surprises could be in store, but here’s an early look at how all this seems likely to impact Metro Detroit’s Jewish community: LEVIN VS. STEVENS Since 2019, the 61-year-old Levin has represented Michigan’s old Ninth District, two-thirds of which is southern Macomb County. But the new map divided that territory between two districts. The Macomb County part is in a new 10th District, now seen as a swing district that either party could win in November, while his Oakland territory, including his home, is in a new 11th District, much of which has been rep-

resented by Haley Stevens, who was also first elected in 2018. Levin immediately announced that he would run in the 11th District. But so did Stevens, whose situation is the reverse of his. Up to now, she has represented more of Oakland County than Levin, but she lives in Rochester Hills, now in the one tiny corner of the mostly Macomb 10th District. Members of Congress don’t have to live in the districts they represent, but she said she’d move. Andy Levin That sets up a potential blockbuster battle between Stevens and Levin to win the August Democratic primary. Some feel Levin may have an edge because of his famous name and his family’s fundraising abilities. But maybe not: In 2018, Levin won that nomination only because of Macomb County voters; he narrowly lost Oakland County to Ellen Lipton. Whoever does win will be Hayley favored in this DemocraticStevens leaning district in November, which likely contains more Jewish voters than all other Michigan congressional districts combined.

THE 11TH DISTRICT LIKELY CONTAINS MORE JEWISH VOTERS THAN ALL OTHER MICHIGAN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS COMBINED. SLOTKIN’S CHALLENGE Elissa Slotkin, who was also first elected in 2018, has never had an easy election; she twice has had to raise huge sums — $7.5 million in 2020 — to narrowly hold on Elissa to her seat. Slotkin That’s the case even though her foreign policy knowledge and experience are highly regarded; though only 45, she already has had a career as a CIA analyst and an

Assistant Secretary of State for National Security Affairs. Nor is she likely to have an easy time this time, and she, too, is having to move. Her home in Holly has been redistricted into a new 9th District that is solidly Republican. She promptly announced she also would move and run in a new 7th District centered in Lansing, much of which she has already been representing, and that includes heavily Democratic Ingham County, heavily GOP Livingston and

some other territory that usually leans Republican. Bottom line: Slotkin is likely to continue to have to fight hard every time she runs for the next 10 years. RASHIDA TLAIB AND SOUTHFIELD It is unlikely that any of the four Democrats, four Republicans and five independents on the redistricting commission imagined that Tlaib would be representing Southfield, Beverly Hills, Franklin, Livonia or any of the other cities this new 12th District includes. Currently, two members of Congress live in this heavily Democratic district: Debbie Dingell and Brenda Lawrence, now Michigan’s only Black member of Congress. But Dingell, who has long lived in Dearborn, immediately said she would move to the new Ann Arbor-area centered dis-

trict. And Lawrence surprised everyone by announcing she’d retire. And then, hours later, Rashida Tlaib announced she would move to the district, which includes Dearborn, and run there. Whether she will have any primary opposition wasn’t known, but any challenger may be daunted; she is now a national figure and easily raised more than $4 million for the 2020 primary. There may well be more surprises ahead — but for Jewish Detroit, this round of redistricting seems likely to have more impact than most. We won’t know the full picture until after Nov. 8, but we do know it’s likely to be a bumpy, and very expensive, ride.

Jack Lessenberry is a longtime Michigan political analyst.

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An outdoor terrace in front of the Davidson/ Hermelin Chapel is planned to be built in the spring of 2022.

A Place to Mourn Clover Hill Park Cemetery plans on-site shivah center expansion.

SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

raditionally, families who have lost a loved one conduct daily services and receive visitors at the family home for a week after the funeral. They gather with friends for comfort and often share memories of the deceased individual. Family members often eat together during the shivah period. But times have changed. According to Kim Raznik, executive director of Clover Hill Park Cemetery in Birmingham, today many shivahs have been reduced to one to three days. This is due in part to distance — Detroiters have spread out geographically and more family members live out of town.

JANUARY 20 • 2022

Sometimes there is no family member left in Detroit who has a home for a shivah. Clover Hill Park Cemetery, which was established by Congregation Shaarey Zedek

in 1918, is trying to meet families’ changing needs. Raznik explains that “just prior to COVID, we renovated the Berman Administration building (located at the cemetery), creating an indoor area to accommodate families who wanted to gather after a funeral service or an unveiling to hold shivah or gather with family and friends. It was well received as many people travel from out of town and have no space to gather other than a restaurant.” A few events were held in the Berman Remembrance

A rendering of the new Barnett Family Reflection Room, which features capacity for 75 people.

Center before COVID spread. As COVID progressed, it became more challenging to hold funerals and shivahs safely. Families were reluctant to welcome guests into their homes and risk virus transmission. The Michigan Board of Rabbis recommended its members refrain from visiting private homes for safety reasons. Some temples and synagogues began offering outdoor or indoor space for shivahs. “Ideally and traditionally, shivah belongs at home. But people are becoming more

South Florida Real Estate SHELDON JAFFEE A rendering of the new Barnett Family Reflection Room adjacent to an open-air patio.

spread out, and it’s not safe to be in a home,” says Rabbi Aaron Starr of Congregation Shaarey Zedek. The congregation has hosted outdoor shivahs and other events at its Southfield facility and grounds. In addition, some shivah services are held in its main sanctuary with participants distanced and masked in this very large space. “We need to honor the deceased and comfort mourners, and achieve those mitzvot safely,” he explains. ADDITIONAL OPTIONS AT THE CEMETERY Clover Park Hill Cemetery is adding additional options for families who want to hold a shivah or commemorate an unveiling at the cemetery. Ground was broken in December for a new Barnett Family Reflection Room, attached to the administrative building but with its own entrance. This 1,000-squarefoot addition, designed by Daniel Lubin, will be available for rent for shivah or for gatherings after an unveiling. Clover Hill’s program coordinator, Sharday Selby, will assist families with kosher catering and other event arrangements. The new facility is named in honor of donors Ken and Mari Barnett. Completion is expected in the spring and

an adjacent patio is planned for outdoor gatherings, such as after an unveiling. Raznik points out that many unveilings have increased in size because some funerals held during the earlier days of COVID were limited to the immediate family. With COVID, more families are holding funerals in the Davidson/Hermelin Chapel, located close to the cemetery’s administrative building, which eliminates the trip from a funeral home to the cemetery. Additional outdoor space is being built adjacent to the Davidson/Hermelin Chapel. Raznik says that this addition — encompassing a terrace and expanded outdoor entryway — will accommodate guest overflow and provide space for families to gather safely before and after funerals. This expansion is being donated by Harriet and Gregg Orley. Raznik adds that there are plans to hold other programs and services in both new spaces. “We want to make things easy,” she says. She believes that Clover Hill Park is the only local cemetery to offer these on-site facilities.

For more information about the shivah center, visit www.cloverhillpark.org/berman-shiva-center.

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OUR COMMUNITY HISTORY

Yeshivath Chachmei Lublin

Phil Slomovitz, circa 1990

80 Years Ago

In 1942, Joe Biden and the Jewish News were both born. IRWIN J. COHEN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

ighty years ago, there was much to talk and read about. America was still reeling from the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Japan declared war on the United States and Britain after the attack on Hawaii and Honolulu. The following day, the United States declared war on Japan, and three days later, Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S, after which the U.S. declared war against them. Detroit’s newspapers on Dec. 15, sorted out the facts and destruction eight days earlier. At Pearl Harbor, six warships were destroyed, 2,729 men killed and 656 wounded. One of the 2,729 killed was a 27-year-old Jewish Detroiter, Harold Eli Shiffman. A graduate of Central High School, Shiffman enlisted in the Navy in 1940 and was stationed on the battleship Arizona as a radioman. My uncle, Sammy Cohen, was married at the Beth Tefilo Emanuel synagogue, then on the corner of Taylor Street and Woodrow Wilson in Detroit, on Dec. 7, 1941. He was a member of Young Israel of Detroit and so were most of the guests. The talk at the wedding was war, and the young men knew they soon would get an invitation from Uncle Sam to report for induction. My Uncle Sammy was ticketed to report for duty on the second night of Passover. My older cous-

JANUARY 20 • 2022

in related that the family was together for a seder, and Uncle Sammy had to leave early. Uncle Sammy saw military action in Italy and was wounded storming enemy lines. He was awarded the Bronze Star, Combat Badge and Purple Heart for his heroics and spent months recuperating at military hospitals. He died in 1990 at the age of 80, but was proudest that his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were all observant Jews. Today, the number is over a hundred, and each and every one is an observant Jew. “That’s the way to beat Hitler,” he used to say. Uncle Sammy knew the way the torch of religious Judaism would pass on to the next generation was to send his children to Jewish day school, and his five children all graduated the Yeshiva Beth Yehudah in the 1960s. JEWISH SCHOOLS However, 80 years ago in 1942, there were no Jewish day schools in Detroit. The Yeshiva Beth Yehudah, then an afternoon and Sunday school, housed over a hundred students in six grades in a four-flat (two units on the first floor and two above on the second floor) on Elmhurst near Linwood while the new YBY building, in partnership with Congregation Mogen Abraham on Dexter and Cortland, was in the finishing stages of construction.

At the time, the United Hebrew Schools, also offering a Hebrew studies program, was headquartered in the Rose Sittig Cohen Building on Lawton and Tyler, and the system had a staff of 42 with almost 1,500 students spread around several school buildings. Samuel and Leah Bookstein donated $25,000 toward the purchase of a building on Linwood and Elmhurst to be transformed into Yeshivath Chachmei Lublin. Rabbi Moshe Rotenberg, a graduate of the institution in Lublin who had come to America earlier in the year, served as dean of the school. JEWISH NEWSPAPERS In 1942, Detroit had a population of over 1.7 million. The city had seven radio stations and three daily newspapers, the Detroit Free Press, the Detroit News and the Detroit Times. The Jewish community had its publications, too. For 26 years, since 1916, the weekly Detroit Jewish Chronicle reported on the happenings in the Jewish community. Most people saw no need for another local Jewish weekly. However, several community members formed an advisory board and financial backing behind editor Phillip Slomovitz. Slomovitz had emigrated from Russia in adolescence and mastered writing English. He began his journalism career as a night editor on the University of Michigan’s student publication and graduated to the Detroit News copy desk as a reporter and editor. His interest in championing Jewish causes and issues led to editorships with the Jewish Pictorial, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency and the Detroit Jewish Chronicle.

THE WAR CONTINUES President Roosevelt wanted Major League Baseball to continue even though players were either enlisting or waiting to be drafted. Teams filled out their rosters with several who were too young or too old to be major leaguers in normal times. At the ballpark, fans were urged to return foul balls hit into the stands so the balls could be shipped overseas to soldiers. Fans received a 25-cent war stamp for each baseball. In a show of patriotism, “The StarSpangled Banner” was played in every ball-

ment which confirmed the stories and rumors of Jewish extermination in all Hitler-ruled Europe.” Wise stated that sources confirmed about half of the estimated 4 million Jews in Nazi-occupied Europe had been slain in an extermination campaign. While the State Department confirmed reports of mass extermination, it didn’t make public Breckenridge Long’s policy of blocking Jews from getting visas. Over two years earlier, on June 26, 1940, the antisemitic Long, the Roosevelt-appointed assistant secretary of state, sealed the fate of thousands and thousands of Jews with this memo: “We can delay and effectively stop, for a temporary period of indefinite length, the number of immigrants into the United States. We could do this by simply advising our conWIKIPEDIA

park prior to every game. With Hank Greenberg serving in the military for the second time, Murray Asher (Moe) Franklin made the major leagues with the Detroit Tigers for the first time for a full season. The veteran Jewish minor league infielder compiled a big-league average of .261 with two home runs before enlisting in the Navy. He would be gone for three years and never would play in the big leagues again. Captain Ruben Iden survived the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. However, the threeyear Marine Corps veteran dive bomber pilot was killed at Guadalcanal on Sept. 20, 1942, while on a photo reconnaissance mission. The 24-year-old Iden was one of the first — if not the first — Jewish Detroiter killed in action after war was declared. JEWISH BASEBALL MUSEUM

Small in stature, Slomovitz towered over others as a ferocious fighter for and defender of justice and Jewish causes. Slomovitz contacted Danny Raskin, then a young reporter with the Detroit News, to join the new publication. Raskin didn’t think there was room for two local Jewish weeklies, But Slomovitz’s determination soon melted Raskin’s reluctance. Raskin’s first column in the first Jewish News on March 27, 1942, was titled Jewish Youth’s Listening Post. It was a difficult time to launch a new Jewish weekly as hundreds of Jewish men had recently departed to do their part in the war effort. Manuel Merzon, a respected, observant attorney, published the Detroit Jewish Review, a small bimonthly religious-oriented magazine. Merzon, famous for wearing a large yarmulke around town, also began wearing a yellow Jewish star arm band similar to those worn by the Jews in Europe. He wanted to keep the plight of the Jews on the other side of the ocean in the public eye. However, with two local Jewish weeklies on the scene and diificult economic conditions, Merzon ceased publication. Twenty-five years later in 1967, I was working downtown in City Hall for the Wayne County Treasurer’s office. Merzon would often come by and check properties for his legal work. I mentioned that my father picked me up daily as he worked nearby, and we’d be happy to take him home. My father loved taking him as they were about the same age, and I got to hear stories and discussions about WWII, politics and the state of the local Jewish community. My father was impressed with Merzon, who for years helped low-income people with legal advice at very little or no charge. Merzon imparted his love and devotion to the community and its establishments to his grandson, Gary Torgow, who later wrote a book about his mentor titled Raising the Bar.

Murray Asher (Moe) Franklin

Captain Rubin Iden

HORRIFIC NEWS FROM EUROPE There was a lot of crying among Detroit Jewry as they heard and read about the heart-wrenching reports from Europe. Five thousand Jews from the Minsk ghetto were forced to stand beside a large pit as children were thrown in. Then adults were machine-gunned to death, falling on top of the children who ultimately died of suffocation. Reports from Greece confirmed that thousands of children had died of starvation since the Nazi occupation began; 1,500 Jews in Radom had starved to death and 13,300 Jews were murdered in Lwow. More than 16,000 Jews of Poniewiesch, in Nazi-occupied Lithuania, were massacred over a three-day period. The Nazis were converting thousands of talesim (prayer shawls) into winter underwear for German soldiers. In a New York Times page 10 article on Nov. 25, 1942, Dr. Stephen S. Wise, chairman of the World Jewish Congress, said, “The State Department finally made available the docu-

Breckenridge Long

suls to put every obstacle in the way and to require additional evidence and to resort to various administrative devices which would postpone and postpone and postpone the granting of the visas.” Within a year following Long’s memo, immigration was cut in half, and all immigration requests were bogged down in a State Department-controlled Washington office, subject to a system of reviews and reviews of reviews. Long masked his antisemitism by claiming he feared Hitler would send spies to America through the visa program that he was in charge of. When the war ended and records were eventually examined, it was estimated that 200,000 European Jews lost their lives because of Breckenridge Long. Irwin J. Cohen is the author of 10 books, including the iconic “Echoes of Detroit’s Jewish Communities: A History.” He headed a national baseball publication for five years and interviewed many legends of the game including Hank Greenberg. He may be reached in his dugout at irdav@sbcglobal.net. JANUARY 20 • 2022

OUR COMMUNITY

Would You

Risk Your Life to Save a Book?

The Zekelman Holocaust Center opens new exhibit: “The Book Smugglers: Partisans, Poets and the Race to Save Jewish Treasures from the Nazis.” JN STAFF

ould you risk your life to save a book? That is the underlying question of “The Book Smugglers: Partisans, Poets, and the Race to Save Jewish Treasures from the Nazis” on view at the newly renamed Zekelman Holocaust Center (HC) now through May 31, 2022. The exhibition was curated Dr. David E. by Holocaust Fishman Museum Houston and based on the book of the same name by Dr. David E. Fishman. “The Book Smugglers” is the nearly unbelievable true story of ghetto residents who rescued thousands of rare books and manuscripts by hiding them on their persons, burying them in bunkers and smuggling them across borders. Set in Vilna, Lithuania — also known as the “Jerusalem of Lithuania”

JANUARY 20 • 2022

for its robust Jewish culture rich with art, music, literature, poetry, theater and opera — a small group of partisans and poets risked everything to save Jewish cultural treasures. Prior to WWII, literature and art enabled Vilna residents to rise above their everyday persecution and enjoy a world of beauty in sound and color. Cultural activity compensated for the Jews’ difficult political and economic situation. Once Vilna’s Jews were forced to live in a ghetto, the “Paper Brigade” was formed by a group of 40 intellectuals, writers, educators and activists to save Judaica for the next generation. Together, they rescued Jewish artifacts, books, scrolls, photographs, works of art, diaries and literature from the hands of the Nazis by either smuggling them into the ghetto or hiding them in plain sight. “This is truly an incredible tale of heroism, resistance and

friendship and of unwavering devotion — including the readiness to risk one’s life to save literature and art,” said Rabbi Eli Mayerfeld, CEO of the Zekelman Holocaust Center. “Dr. Fishman thoroughly researched this astonishing account by reviewing Jewish, German and Soviet documents, including diaries, letters, memoirs, and by interviewing several of the story’s participants.” The exhibition consists of approximately 100 artifacts and reproductions on display, including panels with paintings and drawings, photographs, poetry, diaries, testimonies and music representing the Jewish heritage of Vilna. Featuring themes of resistance and persistence of cultural identity, the exhibition focuses on the complicated history of Vilna, life before WWII, contributions of five members of the Paper Brigade and the results of their heroic mission.

Details In honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Jan. 27, Dr. David E. Fishman will discuss the incredible story of his book and the exhibit. This program will be presented virtually at 7 p.m. To register to attend the virtual lecture via Zoom, visit tinyurl.com/mtynzzj8. To order a copy of Fishman’s book, visit https://tinyurl.com/yckwyz2c. Additionally, on Jan. 27, the HC will feature a second-generation Holocaust survivor speaking at noon. Space is limited and reservations are required. At 1 p.m. there will be a docent-led public tour of the museum. Reservations are required. For more information, visit www.holocaustcenter.org or call (248) 553-2400.

COURTESY OF MORESHET ARCHIVE, ANIELEVICH MEMORIAL HOLOCAUST STUDY AND RESEARCH CENTER.

Mikhal Kovner, a member of the Paper Brigade, sorts documents at YIVO.

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OUR COMMUNITY

Planning a Trip? Everything you need to know about traveling during Omicron. ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

light cancellations, changing travel rules and getting stuck abroad: These are just a few of the many issues travelers are facing in recent weeks as the rapidly spreading Omicron variant of COVID-19 continues to impact the travel industry. Having recently returned from a trip to Aruba, I faced all these issues and then some as Omicron quickly went from what felt like a small possibility in the background to the forefront of the news and, of course, our vacation. Flying out to Aruba from Detroit in early December, the first officer on our flight didn’t show up. Luckily, another first officer was called in, who managed to drive to the airport in time for our flight to take off two hours late, but we still managed to make our connecting flight to Aruba. Others, however, aren’t so lucky. “People are calling in because they have Omicron and they’re getting sick, so [airlines] have staff shortages,” Jewish travel expert David Fishman of Metro Detroit-based Cadillac Travel Group explains. “But what also David happens in these situations is Fishman a lot of times, people who are working will pick up more flights.” Airline staff will max out how many hours they’re allowed to fly, Fishman con-

JANUARY 20 • 2022

tinues, contributing to the cancellations. “It’s a big problem,” he says. FEAR OF GETTING STUCK ABROAD Coming home on Christmas Eve, my two flights took off as planned — but many people at my hotel were stuck, facing last-minute and unexpected holiday cancellations. It’s another hurdle travelers must be ready to face if traveling in the coming weeks. “That’s another part of the problem, a fear of getting stuck somewhere,” Fishman explains. While my family managed to come home in a timely manner with negative COVID19 tests, we narrowly avoided an Omicron spread at our hotel. One week after we left, 33 rooms were on lockdown, and friends of ours faced 10 days of isolation in their rooms until they were able to present three negative COVID-19 tests in a row following the mandatory quarantine period. This means people could miss work, getting home in time to take care of their kids or other crucial matters that often have to be weighed out as real possibilities prior to planning a trip. Fishman says travelers often wonder what will happen in the event that they contract the virus and get stuck, especially abroad. The key, he explains, is to do as much homework as possible to stay up to date

on government restrictions and guidelines — even up to a day before leaving — and to secure travel insurance, which he recommends as the smartest thing one can do. “There are types of coverages that allow you to get home,” Fishman explains. “Most people don’t know about it.” While these memberships can sometimes run on the more expensive side, Fishman says they offer peace of mind to travelers truly concerned about the possibility of getting stranded. HOW TO TRAVEL SAFELY That’s why Farmington Hills-based Jewish family practice physician Dr. Jeffrey Soffa says travelers should consider the pros and cons of every trip. “You have to be aware that you’re going to be around a lot of different people, and you’re not going to know what their status is regarding immunizations or illness,” Soffa explains. He recommends considering your own health, vaccination status, age and whether a trip falls into an essential category (such as taking care of a sick family member) or under the vacation umbrella, the latter of which could be postponed if needed. Dr. Jeffrey Either way, Soffa says “you Soffa want to make sure that you’re wearing a mask right, that your immunizations are up to date and that you stay as far away from other people as possible.” Soffa suggests wearing an N95 or KN95 mask, which offer higher levels of protection against COVID-19. Cloth masks, he says, will help keep a sneeze or cough from traveling, but often won’t do much else in preventing virus spread. Yet when it comes to push or pull, any mask is better than not wearing one at all, Soffa adds. He also suggests avoiding highly crowded places while traveling, like theaters or other indoor spaces where people sit or stand closely to one another for extended periods of time. And if you do happen to get sick, Soffa says you can treat your symptoms while self-isolating, but to always get prompt medical attention at an urgent care or hospital if you experience shortness of breath or other more severe symptoms. “You don’t want to take a chance,” he says.

‘Soup and Study’

Woodward Avenue Shul offers study program in person or on Zoom. DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

mong many programs the Woodward Avenue Shul is offering this winter is the “Soup and Study” program, an opportunity to participate in a weekly discussion analyzing a larger Jewish topic that Rabbi connects with the Mendel weekly Torah porPolter tion, accompanied with a warm, hearty soup. There have been three sessions so far, the first on the topic of trust and faith in God and the next two on freedom of choice and determinism.

The program can be enjoyed in person or virtually, with a Zoom link available upon request. The in-person program takes place at 7 p.m. Wednesdays at the shul. For the Woodward Avenue Shul, which Rabbi Mendel Polter calls a warm, welcoming, family-oriented “small-town shul,” the COVID-19 pandemic has caused havoc in terms of community engagement. “We continued to have in-person services. We follow the Orthodox version of Judaism and don’t have the option of virtual services on

Shabbat or the holidays, but we are trying our best to engage people who don’t come on Shabbat or holidays, and also offer an option that will work for everyone at different times of the week,” Polter said. He says the goal for the program’s length was at least for the duration of the Book of Exodus, taking it week-by-week to see how it goes and, if it kicked off, it would continue and, if not, that would be fine. “Every Torah portion has something we can sort of delve into on the Jewish perspective of things,” he said. Polter says the attendees are really enjoying it so far, even

spreading the word to others they know. “It’s engaging. We talk to each other, and whoever attends in person can talk to people on the Zoom,” Polter said. “Any opportunity to create community engagement, even if it’s virtual, is, in my opinion, very important, healing and comforting. It adds meaning and purpose to the Jewish people, and really to anyone’s life. “The Yiddish word would be ‘hamish,’” he said. “A hamish atmosphere, people feel comfortable and everyone’s enjoying themselves whether at home or in person. It’s very light, but also touching on deeper subjects.” Interested in participating virtually? Email office@thewas. net for the Zoom link. For other programs at the Woodward Avenue Shul, visit https://thewas.net.

ally as it seeks to then expand into other states. Sarah Levin, program coordinator for the initiative, adds, “There are, unfortunately, church-state separation issues in every state that should be of concern for Jews, as a religious minority. We have an obligation to share our diverse perspectives and historical experiences to help more grassroots activists educate decisionmakers to not favor one religion’s approach over others or none.”

Society for Humanistic Judaism (www.shj.org) is the central body for the Humanistic Jewish movement in North America. Founded by Rabbi Sherwin Wine and volunteers in suburban Detroit in the mid-1960s, Humanistic Judaism combines the Jewish values of loving-kindness (gemilut chassadim), charity (tzedakah), and making the world a better place (tikkun olam), with the recognition that the responsibility for putting those ideals into practice lies in human hands. It is a nontheistic movement in which cultural Jews and their families can affirm, celebrate and enrich their Jewish identity and values.

Grant for ‘Freedom of Religion’ Initiative Society For Humanistic Judaism receives grant from the Simon Foundation to launch Michigan programming. JN STAFF

he Donald R. and Esther Simon Foundation has awarded a grant to the Society for Humanistic Judaism (SHJ) to expand its Jews for a Secular Democracy social justice initiative by piloting a state-specific program in Michigan. The goal is to build a pluralistic network of partners in the state across Jewish communal institutions and denominations to bring a Jewish perspective to education and advocacy defending the separation of church and state. SHJ Executive Director Paul Golin explains, “The

results of this grant will be a Jewish community more aware of how social-justice issues of great concern to Jews, such as reproductive rights and LGBTQ+ equality, tie into First Amendment religious freedom; a greater understanding of how to advocate for positive change on these issues; and a working coalition to learn together and foster that positive change through shared Jewish values.” The grant provides the opportunity to create a statebased model and “learning lab” for the Jews for a Secular Democracy initiative nation-

JANUARY 20 • 2022

OUR COMMUNITY

Main Event Set in Ann Arbor

Award-winning author Dara Horn to headline Feb. 9 Federation fundraiser. RACHEL WALL SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

he Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor will bring noted author Dara Horn to headline its 2022 Main Event fundraiser on Wednesday, Feb. 9, at 6:30 p.m. The event, which is open to the public, will take place in person at the Kensington Court Hotel in Ann Arbor for guests Dara Horn fully vaccinated from COVID-19. It will be live-streamed for those unable to attend in person.

Horn’s most recent work is the essay collection People Love Dead Jews: Reports from a Haunted Present (2021), which Kirkus Reviews called “brilliantly readable” and which appeared on recent best-of-the-year lists from the New York Times, Publishers Weekly and the Chicago Public Library. Horn’s six works of fiction, also award-winning, include the novels All Other Nights (2009), A Guide for the Perplexed (2013) and Eternal Life (2018). A regular columnist for Tablet maga-

zine, Horn has published nonfiction in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post, among other notable publications. Described as a “startling exploration of how Jewish history is exploited to flatter the living,” People Love Dead Jews reflects on subjects such as the international veneration of Anne Frank, the blockbuster traveling exhibition called “Auschwitz” and the Jewish history of the Chinese city of Harbin. Drawing on her own family’s life, Horn challenges readers to confront the reasons why Jewish deaths are emblematic of the worst of evils the world has to offer, while there is so little respect for the vitality, complexity and depth of present-day Jewish life. The most significant fundraising event of the Jewish Federation’s Annual Community Campaign, the Main Event

supports the Federation’s communal partners in Ann Arbor, Israel and around the world. Participants will be asked to support the community with a minimum $100 pledge to the Jewish Federation’s 2022 Annual Campaign; students and young adults will be asked to make a meaningful gift. “Dara Horn addresses the issue of antisemitism in a unique way,” says Stephen Aronson, a co-chair of the 2022 Main Event, along with his wife, Levana Aronson, and Monica and Ben Rosen. “In the face of rising antisemitism, she encourages us to shine a light on vibrant, positive Jewish life, and this is what we’ll be doing when we come together for the Main Event this year.” For details about the program and to register, visit www. JewishAnnArbor.org, email info@jewishannarbor.org or call (734) 773-3535. BAKE STATION

The Challah Train JFamily program sends challah to the doors of community members.

DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

ant to do a mitzvah and have some tasty, fresh challah delivered to someone’s doorstep? Challah Train, an initiative of JFamily, is just the program for you. Challah Train entails challah being delivered each Friday to two members of the community, mostly families with children that would be served by JFamily. Jamie Kaniarz, Challah Train’s parent connector and “train conductor,” says the initiative is based on a different version of Challah Train in other communities that she learned about during her initial boarding with JFamily. “When looking for ways to

JANUARY 20 • 2022

engage with new families or families who have not traditionally been connected with JFamily and our programming, we came across the idea of Challah Train and thought it would be a perfect fit for our community,” Kaniarz said. Changes made from other iterations of Challah Train include using a nomination system in addition to personally selecting families; so, in addition to asking members of the community to nominate families, JFamily also asks families who have received Challah Train to nominate another family. “We also made the decision to not make the challah personally and instead use one of the

People can nominate someone to receive a challah from Bake Station.

amazing Jewish businesses in our community, Bake Station, to make sure that the challah is not only delicious and kosher, but is also safe for many families with food allergies,” Kaniarz said. For Kaniarz, it means a lot for JFamily to be able to offer this service. “We love being able to offer another amazing program to families in the Jewish commu-

nity and share the JFamily offerings with them,” Kaniarz said. “From PJ Library to Pop Ups and ‘It’s in the bag!’ holiday programming, we are always working on new and fun offerings for families.” People can nominate someone by emailing jfamily@jccdet.org or visiting JFamily’s Community Facebook page.

“Transforming the World from the Inside-Out” Inside-Out

Newish and Jewish

NEXTGen Detroit sets special networking event for new and returning Detroiters.

Featuring

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz

DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

ederation’s NEXTGen Detroit is hosting a special edition of its happy hour/bar night series, L’Chaim Detroit, on Jan. 26 from 6-8 p.m. L’Chaim Detroit: Newish and Jewish Edition is aimed at those who moved to town (or back to town) between March 2020 and present day and haven’t gotten out much or experienced all the awesome people and exciting things Detroit and Jewish Detroit have to offer. The event will give those in attendance some ideas and ways to get involved in the community, as well as the opportunity to meet other young Jewish adults who are calling Metro Detroit home. As of now, the event is set to take place at The Corner Grill, Bar + Game Room, 344 W. Nine Mile Road in Ferndale. $5 per person entry includes the first drink on NEXTGen Detroit, which is prepared to make the event virtual to ensure the experience is safe and COVID-conscious. Those interested are asked to register online by Jan. 24. Lauren Soifer, NEXTGen Detroit’s associate director, says they’ve come across a lot of new and returning Detroiters over the past two years chomping at the bit for the opportunity to engage with new people and experiences in the community.

“If they’re new to town, it’s been really hard to meet people during the pandemic. If they’re back to town — me, for example, who moved back this summer after seven years, I don’t know what’s cool now and the places and restaurants to go,” Soifer said. Soifer says NEXTGen Detroit’s hope is to create a space for people to meet others in the same position as well as people who are already involved with NEXTGen Detroit to welcome them and give them the opportunity to learn about what the community has to offer. “We’ve been gathering names and a list of people who we’ve talked to who’ve said they’re new; they don’t know how to meet people. They come to some of our events, but it seems like a lot of people already know each other and it’s hard to break in,” Soifer said. “I hope this gives them a space to feel like they can dive into what we have to offer and where they can meet other people and really feel like they’re a part of something.” To register, visit https://jlive. app/events/1441. If you are a young adult who is new to town, or know someone who is, and you would like to connect with Lauren and NEXTGen Detroit, email her at soifer@jfmd.org.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 27 7:00 PM In-Person at TBE or join us virtually. Visit TBEONLINE.ORG for Zoom link.

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JANUARY 20 • 2022

OUR COMMUNITY

COURTESY OF JILL SHERMAN-MARX

A Helping Holiday

LEFT: Oliver and Alice Hybl and Emeri Charlip are proud of the rocks they collected, designed and decorated. BOTTOM: Emeri Charlip delivered the money to the food bank and was given a tour.

Hillel student and friends decorated rocks to raise money for food bank while on vacation. DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

holiday vacation taken by a West Bloomfield family in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, turned into a vehicle to help those in need. Ten-year-old Hillel student Emeri Charlip, along with her two friends, Oliver and Alice Hybl, raised more than $400 for the Vallarta Food Bank by collecting, decorating and selling rocks. It began when the kids decided to do an art project when they were on the beach one day, and Jill Sherman-Marx, Emeri’s mother, asked if they were interested in making it into a fundraiser to benefit someone. The kids were thrilled at the idea. That morning, Sherman-Marx gathered art supplies to decorate the rocks with and a table for

JANUARY 20 • 2022

them to sell the rocks. “They got busy — boy, did they get busy,” Sherman-Marx said. “They took it very seriously.” Sherman-Marx was familiar with the Vallarta Food Bank after having traveled to Puerto Vallarta for more than 20 years. She knows how crucial it’s been during the pandemic. “It was so incredibly touching to me how one man started this operation in Vallarta and, at the height of the pandemic, they were feeding a ridiculous amount of people, like 800 people. It was crazy,” she said. The rocks were sold on a “give-what-you-can” basis. The largest single donation, Sherman-Marx recalls, was between 500 and 1,000 pesos,

about $25 to $50. “When I put the post on Facebook, I tagged the food bank in it and there were comments from people who bought them and they posted a picture of their rock, which was awesome and very sweet,” ShermanMarx said. At the end of the fundraising, Emeri and her family delivered the money and were fortunate to receive a tour of the food bank operation. “The woman who runs the food bank was in tears,” Sherman-Marx said. “For Emeri, I think it was really eye-opening. As we were leaving, we saw people lining up for the afternoon meal. For her to visualize and see people lining up … it was just really heartwarming. “My husband, Josh, and I teach her how fortunate we are. We get to go on vacation and do this stuff, and these people don’t even have food. It’s good for her to see and experience it.” Sherman-Marx believes this will be a yearly tradition, and Emeri agrees. “My favorite part was seeing

the people smile as they took a rock and looked at the inspirational message,” Emeri said. “My favorite rock had a rainbow and it said ‘love’ on the front and ‘never change who you are’ on the back. “It made me feel really good, realizing we’re doing something that will help other people in need that don’t have food,” Emeri added. “I would love doing it again.” Seeing her daughter and friends jump at the chance to help others was uplifting to Sherman-Marx. “It lets me know I’m doing something right. To see your child help somebody else is probably one of the most beautiful things a parent can do, and to do something that’s completely selfless … Josh and I both were just blown away,” she said. Seeing her daughter help people in need means even that much more as a Jew. “The first thing I said is this is tikkun olam, repairing the world. Helping one person at a time. That’s where it starts, and it just gets bigger from there.”

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he University of Michigan’s Frankel Center for Judaic Studies announced that it had received a new gift in excess of $1 million from local benefactors. The money will primarily be used to create a new fulltime endowed professorship on the faculty. The gift comes from the estate of Stuart and Barbara Padnos, and will endow a Stuart B. and Barbara Padnos Professorship in Jewish Thought, turning what had previously been a visiting faculty role into a full-time position. The original visiting professorship had been established in 1988 via an initial $250,000 donation from the Padnos family in honor of Stuart’s parents, Louis and Helen Padnos. Stuart Padnos, who died in 2012, was a Michiganbased scrap metal artist,

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recycling industry businessman and son of a Russian Jewish emigre. His sculptures are a common sight in Grand Rapids, as well as in his business headquarters in Holland, Michigan. The new donation, the exact amount of which was not disclosed by the university, was made by Stuart’s children, Doug, Daniel and Jeff. The school’s Frankel Center was founded in 1972 and has proven a lucrative destination for major gifts. It was renamed in honor of major benefactors the Frankel family in 1988, following a $2 million gift from the family; the Frankels then donated an additional $20 million to the center in 2005 to establish a new institute within the center, the largest-ever gift to a Judaic studies department at an American university.

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thejewishnews.com/subscription JANUARY 20 • 2022

OUR COMMUNITY

The Rabbi and the Shrink

Orthodox Jewish rabbi and Catholic Cuban psychologist talk ethics in new podcast. ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

he Rabbi and The Shrink is a podcast that’s aptly named. With a mission of advancing a global discussion on everything ethics, from ethics in business to ethics in relationships, the podcast — which is, of course, hosted by a rabbi and a shrink — aims to teach people moral principles while improving understanding of different perspectives. “It’s nice to have people who you can disagree with to show how to have civil conversations and wisdom,” explains Taylor-based psychologist and podcast

JANUARY 20 • 2022

co-host Dr. Margarita Gurri, a Cuban refugee who learned firsthand how important it is to be ethical. Growing up, Gurri experienced bullying and prejudice, which taught Dr. her the value of traits like Margarita Gurri respect, honesty and acceptance. As the COVID-19 pandemic put ethics into question, especially on social media, Gurri, who focuses on conflict, crisis and ethics in her career, knew something had to be done. “You can’t just sculpt people,”

she says, “so I wanted to create a podcast [about ethics].” BRIDGING DIFFERENT CULTURES The next step was finding the perfect partner and co-host to build a podcast with. In thinking about people to reach out to, Gurri remembered St. Louis-based Rabbi Yonason Rabbi Goldson, an Orthodox rabbi Yonason and keynote ethics speaker Goldson whom she met at a virtual ethics panel in May 2020.

“I thought of the rabbi immediately,” Gurri says. Goldson, a self-proclaimed “hitchhiking rabbi,” has hosted a TEDx Talk and works with leaders to create ethical business cultures. “He is a guy who is unusual for a rabbi because he’s very Orthodox now, but he wasn’t raised that way. He’s never short of stories [to tell].” Gurri called “the good rabbi,” as she refers to her co-host, and asked him to “say yes” before popping the question to join the podcast project. Luckily, he said yes and dived right in. Officially launched in December 2020, The Rabbi and The Shrink releases episodes weekly, with the exception of a few weeks skipped for Jewish holidays, now seeing nearly 50 episodes. Each episode features a different topic and guest speaker, which range all the way from Grammy award-winning pianists to convicted felons leading the charge for prison reform, all focusing on one common goal: to “unscript” everyday ethics, making them easy to understand. ENCOURAGING CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE “One of the things that really makes [the podcast] work is that we’re able to model how to have conversations with people who are different,” Rabbi Goldson says. “We’re not in lockstep on all of our ideas, and that’s the point.” Gurri says she and Goldson decided to add guests to the podcast in addition to their own perspectives on ethics because they “liked the disagreement.” “It’s been a really interesting ride for us,” she explains. “It’s fun and we’re learning.” In selecting guests to invite

on the show, Gurri and Goldson seek out people who are ethical, but most importantly, “making an impact.” The podcast co-hosts say their audience varies, since ethics can be appreciated by just about anyone and touch all corners of business and life. To continue helping people learn constructive ethical habits, Gurri and Goldson also have plans to host quarterly virtual summits. The date for the first summit is still being confirmed, though the hope is for it to take place this spring. CREATING A “GRAY ZONE” “We want to be the rallying point for people to be able to have these fun and safe conversations where they can update their values, update their skills and get more comfortable,” Gurri says, “while maneuvering complicated ethics.” Goldson, who is also the author of Grappling With The Gray, an ethical handbook for personal success, connects ethics to a gray zone, rather than something that’s black or white — another important building block of both the podcast and upcoming virtual ethics summits. With each episode, The Rabbi and The Shrink co-hosts are learning something new about the podcast business and shaping their vision for the future of the program. They’re receiving input from listeners that helps them identify what their audience wants and how to make it happen. “We’re excited about having a chance to really make a difference,” Gurri says. “We’re very similar in that.” To listen to the podcast, visit https:// therabbiandtheshrink.buzzsprout.com.

JANUARY 20 • 2022

faces&places

Shine a Light on Antisemitism PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF JCRC/AJC

The Detroit Metropolitan community gathered on Sunday, Dec. 5, to Shine a Light on Antisemitism. Members of the Jewish Community Relations Council/American Jewish Committee, Philos Project and Black Empowerment Council strategized together to create solidifying impact as a part of a national Jewish Federations of North America initiative focused on bringing varying cultural groups together to discuss the issue of antisemitism. The day of events began with an interfaith service at Greater New Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, under the direction of the Rev. Kenneth James Flowers. He spoke about the importance of preserving and cultivating interfaith relationships, the need for condemning antisemitism and hate, no matter the source of manifestation, and highlighted the role both Israel and the Jewish community played in the African American community in Detroit during his upbringing. Following the service, congregants at Greater New Mt. Moriah Baptist Church were invited to attend an interfaith luncheon at the St. Regis Hotel with members of the Coalition for Black and Jewish Unity, the Philos Project, the Detroit Roundtable for Protestants, Catholics and Jews, and other Shine a Light partners. “I am here today as a proud supporter of the great State of Israel and my Jewish brothers and sisters. Also, I am here to stand and to support my African American brothers and sisters, and to let everyone know that we will continue to fight against intolerance and injustice in the world, and that we will march on until victory is won,” said Flowers, who is also co-director of the Coalition for Black and Jewish Unity. Executive Coalition for Black and Jewish Unity member Jennifer Lewis stressed the importance of unity among the Black and Jewish communities. “It is so important that the Black and Jewish communities stand up for one another, that we fight racism and antisemitism together,” she said. A proclamation against antisemitism was presented at the luncheon, signed by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Lieutenant Gov. Garlin Gilchrist. As nightfall approached, a public menorah lighting was hosted by Jewish Ferndale under the direction of Rabbi Hershel and Chana Finman. Shine A Light partners stood together as the last candle was lit on the menorah, illuminating the dark sky and reminding us all to be a light to the world in dark times. TOP: Marc Bernstein MIDDLE: Rabbi Asher Lopatin, Rev. Ken Flowers (Greater New Mt. Moriah), Luke Moon (Philos Project), Adar Rubin, Ashira Solomon (JCRC/AJC). BOTTOM: Ashira Solomon, Rabbi Asher Lopatin and Adar Rubin.

JANUARY 20 • 2022

faces&places

A Mitzvah Weekend

n its 25th year, Mitzvah Day turned into Mitzvah Weekend, running from Dec. 24-26 to expand its outreach and offer alternatives to Jewish volunteers who observe the Sabbath. Hundreds of volunteers of various faiths came together to serve Metro Detroit nonprofits. Historically, Mitzvah Day is the single largest day of volunteering by Detroit’s Jewish Community Relations Council/American Jewish Committee. Volunteer efforts included almost 20 different organizations. Among many sites, participants prepared and served food at Cass Community Social Services, South Oakland Warming Shelters and Piquette Square, delivered Christmas gifts for Jimmy’s Kids and helped out at the Michigan Humane Shelters.

Patty Stelmaszak unpacks goodies from her truck.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF JCRC/AJC

JCRC/AJC Executive Director Rabbi Asher Lopatin and volunteer Shayna Lopatin

JCRC/AJC Board Director Carol Ogusky helps with meals at Fleischman Residence.

Rita Winer prepares food at Cass Community Social Services on Dec. 26.

JCRC/AJC First Vice President Phil Neuman and Hinda Neuman deliver meals to those in need. JANUARY 20 • 2022

sports HIGHlights NMLS#2289

Ice Sculpture Hockey star Elle Hartje explores family roots, grows personally during a pandemic-plagued season in Slovakia. STEVE STEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

lle Hartje was making a name for herself in women’s hockey at the dawn of the new year. The 20-year-old Yale University sophomore from Bloomfield Hills was averaging 1.29 assists per game, the highest average among NCAA Division I women’s hockey players. Hartje had six goals and 18 assists in 14 games for the Bulldogs (10-3-1), who were ranked No. 6 in the country, the highest ranking in program history.

JANUARY 20 • 2022

Hartje’s emergence is no accident. Anita Rival, Hartje’s aunt, also lived A decision that took her far out of in Bratislava until she was 4, moving her comfort zone and to the other with her parents to the U.S. in 1968. side of the world during a pandemic is Family ties were important, but paying huge dividends. hockey was Hartje’s focus while she Hartje lived during was in Slovakia. ABOVE: Elle Hartje scores the 2020-21 hockey She played for a the first of her two goals in club team — HC SKP season in Bratislava, her Slovakian club team’s Bratislava — that Slovakia, where Jan and 4-3 overtime loss to the Vienna Sabres in the Elite earned a bronze medal Eva Rival, her maternal Women’s Hockey League’s in the Elite Women’s grandparents, were born, 2021 playoff semifinals in Hockey League, lived as adults and got Budapest, Hungary. which has teams married.

MAGYAR JEGKRONG

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CREDIT: YALE UNIVERSITY

Sophomore slump? Not for Elle Hartje. She had six goals and 18 assists in the Yale University women’s hockey team’s first 14 games this season.

from Hungary, Germany, Poland, Austria, Sweden and Kazakhstan. She also played for the Slovakia national team in games against Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic after fulfilling a requirement set by Slovakian and international hockey organizations to establish residence in Slovakia by living in that country for at least eight months. The 5-foot-5 forward received permission from USA Hockey to join the Slovakia national team. She’ll be eligible to rejoin the U.S. national team player pool following next month’s Winter Olympics. LEARNING IN SLOVAKIA Hartje’s adventure in Slovakia was worth it.

“I grew up there as a hockey player,” she said. “I had time to reflect. I became more thoughtful. I became more aware of my strengths and weaknesses. “I also got faster and stronger and because the game there isn’t as physical as the game here, I had more time and space to make plays, and I improved those skills. “I was lucky. I played hockey almost every day last season. Many women in the U.S. didn’t have that opportunity.” Hartje also grew up as a person while she was in Slovakia. She had to. Despite her family’s connection to the country, she was a stranger in a foreign land. After she arrived in Bratislava in August 2020,

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continued on page 30 JANUARY 20 • 2022

LUCIA ISTOCYOVA

SIMONE BEDNARIK

TATIANA ISTOCYOVA

sports HIGHlights

LEFT: Budapest, Hungary is the backdrop for this photo of Elle Hartje, who was in Budapest with the Slovakia national women’s hockey team. MIDDLE: Elle Hartje (left) and Slovakian club team linemate Lucia Istocyova show off their bronze medals from the Elite Women’s Hockey League’s 2021 playoffs outside the rink in Budapest, Hungary. RIGHT: What’s old in Bratislava, Slovakia? The 18th-century Old Town. Bratislava also is a modern city. Elle Hartje proves it, showing off her Starbucks purchase while visiting Old Town.

continued from page 29

she had to quarantine for two weeks because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to family friends, she had an apartment in the city where she could stay, and food was brought in for her. She lived in a hotel in Bratislava along with her club teammates the rest of the time she was there. The team had a floor to itself. Her roommate, Simone Bednarik, spoke English. But the rest of her teammates “spoke only serviceable English,” Hartje said. Her club and national team coach spoke broken English. “I was on my own in a place where very few people spoke good English,” Hartje said. “And I couldn’t go home any time I wanted like I can now (at Yale).” Hartje said she experienced harsher COVID crackdowns in Slovakia than have been imposed in the U.S., like a country-wide 8 p.m. curfew. “And restaurants were delivery-only

JANUARY 20 • 2022

the entire time I was there,” she said. But there was time for bonding with her teammates, walks in Bratislava, and the club team provided three meals a day. When Hartje ate a traditional Slovakian meal, she sent a photo of it to her grandmother, who has been making Slovakian meals for her since she was a youngster. Despite the quarantine, language barrier, canceled, postponed and rescheduled club league games and the cancellation of the World Championships in France because of the pandemic, Hartje said she loved her stay in Bratislava. It’s certainly a different place than Bloomfield Hills or New Haven, Connecticut, where Yale is located. Bratislava, with a population of a half-million, is the capital of Slovakia, and home to many universities, museums, theaters and art galleries. It’s situated along the Danube River, near

Slovakia’s borders with Austria and Hungary. Old Town, a pedestrian-only area that dates to the 18th century, is known for its packed bars and cafes when there isn’t a pandemic. At the top of a hill is the reconstructed Bratislava Castle, which overlooks Old Town and the Danube. Hartje’s mother, Nicole Hartje — Jan and Eva Rival’s daughter and Anita Rival’s sister — is glad Elle made the trip. “Elle turned a difficult situation into a positive life experience,” Nicole said. The difficult situation was caused by the pandemic, which shut down the Yale women’s hockey team for the 2020-21 season. Elle took a leave of absence from Yale for the 2020-21 school year, which opened the door for her to go to Slovakia, spend eight months there and play for the national team. She hasn’t been back to Slovakia since coming home in late March.

BOTTOM: Sunrise in Budapest, Hungary meant time for a selfie for Elle Hartje, who was in Budapest with the Slovakia national women’s hockey team. BELOW: Elle Hartje (27) battles for the puck with a MAC Budapest player during the Elite Women’s Hockey League’s 2021 bronze medal playoff game in Budapest, Hungary. Hartje and her Slovakian club team won the game.

MAGYAR JEGKRONG

a broken leg she suffered late in the hockey season. Elle was an outstanding multi-sport athlete at Detroit Country Day School. She was a four-time state champion in tennis, going 97-1 during her high school career, and a four-time All-State selection in soccer. Her accomplishments helped her earn a prestigious honor in 2019, when she was one of three girls named a High School Athlete of the Year by the Jewish News and Michigan Jewish Sports Foundation. Outside of high school, Elle was the captain and scoring leader for the Belle Tire 19U women’s hockey team that won a silver medal in 2018 and a bronze medal in 2019 at the USA Hockey national championships. Elle is one of four children of Tod and Nicole Hartje. Tod played hockey at Harvard University and won a national championship. Nicole was the captain of the tennis team at Harvard. The family attends Temple Shir Shalom in West Bloomfield Township. Please send sports news to stevestein502004@yahoo.com.

ELLE HARTJE

BACK IN THE U.S.A. She planned to compete with the Slovakia national team in an Olympic qualification tournament in November but was ill (not with COVID) and decided not to travel. It turned out to be a wise decision. The four Yale games Elle would have missed had she traveled — against Cornell, Colgate, Harvard and Dartmouth from Nov. 5-13 — were all wins for the Bulldogs, who outscored their four opponents 22-4. Elle had two goals and six assists in those games. She had a great freshman season at Yale in 2019-20. After scoring a hat trick in her first collegiate game and earning ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Week honors, she ended up sixth among Division I freshmen with .89 points per game, had 11 goals and 14 assists, and led her team in plus-minus with plus-23. Yale won a team record 17 games, finishing 17-15 for first-year coach Mark Bolding. Elle is considering playing soccer for Yale starting this spring. She didn’t play in her freshman year because of

JANUARY 20 • 2022

BUSINESS

Saladworks owner Justin Hiller

Healthy H Food,

FAST

Former Hiller’s VP Justin Hiller brings Saladworks and Frutta Bowls to West Bloomfield. ROBIN SCHWARTZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

JANUARY 20 • 2022

e grew up in the food business, at the supermarket chain his late grandfather Sidney Hiller started, and his father, Jim Hiller, ran for decades. Now Justin Hiller, former VP of Hiller’s Markets, has returned to the retail food industry, bringing a new healthy fast-food concept to Metro Detroit. He opened Saladworks and Frutta Bowls at Crosswinds Mall on Orchard Lake Road in December, creating 15 new jobs. The 2,000-square-foot location is the first co-branded restaurant of its kind, bringing two Philadelphia-based franchises together under one roof. It’s a one-stop shop for anyone craving made-to-order salads, Acai

bowls, wraps, smoothies, soups, sandwiches, panini melts, protein bites and more. “I was drawn to Saladworks and Frutta Bowls because they’re all about being original, and there are so many amazing options to choose from,” Hiller said. “Our ‘build-your-own’ salads are the most popular by far.” Hiller, 40, of Bloomfield Hills is married with two young children. He and his wife, Laurie Hughet-Hiller, an award-winning architect, are raising two boys, Ethan and Wyatt, ages 6 and 3. His family helped to feed more than three generations of Jewish shoppers dating back to 1941 when Hiller’s first opened in Berkley. The supermarket chain

once had more than 1,200 employees and seven locations: West Bloomfield, Ann Arbor, Northville, Plymouth, South Lyon, Commerce Township and Union Lake. Hiller’s was sold to Kroger in 2015. After that, Justin worked with Gleaners Community Food Bank to help launch a neighborhood mobile grocery program and as a stewardship administrator. “The food service industry has played an integral role in my life and I have a passion for the retail food space,” he said. “I’m excited to offer fresh, healthy food to this community again.” Justin grew up in Franklin, attended Temple Beth El and graduated from Albion College. He first learned about Saladworks and Frutta Bowls in a magazine article and flew to Philly to tour the company’s corporate office. He is now Michigan’s first franchise owner and the first to bring the two brands together. Founded in 1986, Saladworks is the nation’s leading fast-casual, create-your-own salad destination, with more than 150 locations across 18 states and two countries. Saladworks encourages guests to be original, giving them the option to choose from salads, warm grain bowls or wraps, along with an endless array of fresh vegetables, fruits, proteins and delicious dressings. The company spent years creating a menu that caters to a wide variety of nutritional and dietary needs from vegetarian and vegan to Keto, Paleo and Whole 30. The menu includes 12 chef-created signature salads, or guests can build their own with a base of greens, grains (or both) and

their choice of 65+ ingredients. There’s also a children’s menu. Frutta Bowls was founded in 2016, offering plant-based, whole-food ingredients in customizable bowls and smoothies. “It’s a healthy superfood smoothie base,” Hiller said. “I like what that brings to breakfast, lunch, a snack or a meal replacement.” While COVID-19 has made it a difficult time for restaurants, carry-out and delivery have become popular options. Saladworks and Frutta Bowls offers dine-in, carry-out, curbside pickup and delivery through DoorDash, Grubhub and Uber Eats. There’s also a catering menu with sandwich trays, large or individual salads, and more, plus an app where customers earn points and get rewards. The new restaurant is currently hiring. On a recent weekday, team members were busy filling in-store and online delivery orders and gathering ingredients from a seemingly endless salad and smoothie bar that stretches almost the entire length of the store. Hours are Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. Hiller’s goal is to open additional locations across Michigan. “As someone who is committed to eating healthy and living an active lifestyle, the opportunity to offer the community two health-conscious dining options is extremely exciting and humbling,” he said. Saladworks and Frutta Bowls is located at 4301 Orchard Lake Road in West Bloomfield. To learn more or place an online order, visit saladworks.com (and search Saladworks Crosswinds Mall), or call (248) 499-6992.

A Frutta Bowls acai bowl

A Saladworks salad

Storefront

JANUARY 20 • 2022

FOOD

FROM THE HOME KITCHEN OF CHEF AARON

CHEESE BLINTZES Pancake: 1 egg, beaten 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. sugar 1 cup milk 1 cup flour

TAVALLAI VIA FLICKR

FilIing: ½ lb. small-curd cottage cheese or ricotta 2 Tbsp. butter, softened 1 egg, beaten 1 tsp. salt Zest of 1 lemon 2 Tbsp. sugar ½ tsp. ground cinnamon Powdered sugar Cinnamon Oil or butter for frying

Blintzes from 1918

A snapshot of Jewish foods from all corners and of all types, the recipes pay attention to kosher laws and holiday concerns, and cover everything from the idiosyncratically spelled “Gefilte Fisch” to “Kentucky Chrimsel,” inclusive of almost any dish you can imagine. I’d like to share a recipe from the book, adapted slightly, that might well have been served 100 years ago: Cheese Blintzes.

IADS

here’s a tremendous collection of cookbooks in the libraries of Michigan State University, and they’ve digitized a number of them for researchers and the public alike to read Chef Aaron and enjoy. Egan Amongst these tomes is The International Jewish Cook Book, published in 1918.

These cheese blintzes would have been at home on the plates of these banquet-goers in 1936.

JANUARY 20 • 2022

Directions 1. Combine 1 beaten egg, 1 tsp. of salt, 1 tsp. of sugar and 1 cup of milk in a bowl, whisking well. Add the flour and mix until evenly combined. Don’t overmix. 2. Heat an 8-inch nonstick or stainless skillet over medium-high heat and add a little oil or butter to the pan, just enough to cover. Add 2 Tbsp. of batter and tilt the pan immediately to spread the batter out thinly and evenly over the bottom of the pan. This is essentially making crepes, if you’re familiar with the process. 3. Fry the pancakes until browning nicely on one side, then remove from the pan and place on a cutting board, cloth, or plates for storage and cooling, uncooked side up. Repeat with the rest of the batter; do not stack your blintzes, as they’ll stick to each other; lay them out across whatever you must to accomplish this.

3. Combine the filling ingredients in a bowl and mix well until evenly combined. Divide this mixture amongst your blintzes and spread across the bottom third of the pancake, leaving a ½-inch border without cheese on it along the edge. 4. “Fold over and tuck the edges in well,” read the original directions, giving you no other idea of what you’re supposed to do; the motion is not unlike rolling up a burrito, with the goal of fully enclosing the cheese within the parcooked pancake. Fold up the bottom edge, then the sides inward, then fold again to the top edge, and make sure that the edges are sealed nicely to the cooked side of the blintz, not hanging out loosely. The goal is to create a nice neat rectangular parcel. Set aside and repeat with the rest of the blintzes. 5. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and cinnamon, then fry again in butter or oil until golden brown and crispy; work in batches and don’t overcrowd the pan to keep the crispy exterior. Set the cooked blintzes to drain on a cooling rack over paper towels or extra brown paper bags (the best grease soaker there is.) 6. Serve warm with syrup, fruit preserves, clotted cream or citrus curd as a garnish and sauce. Sprinkle with more powdered sugar and cinnamon, if you like, before serving.

Mondry 100th

MAZEL TOV! Nathaniel James Emery, son of Carolyn and Jerrold Emery, will be called to the Torah as a bar mitzvah at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield on Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. He is the loving grandchild of Judith and William Martz, and Arlene Blum. Nate is a student at Power Middle School in Farmington Hills. For his mitzvah project, he donated his time at the Temple Israel Fresh Food Pantry.

Daniel Ilan Shapiro will become a bar mitzvah on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022. He is the son of Evan and Sheri Shapiro and brother to Meredith Shapiro. Grandpa and Savta Paul and Rena Gritt, and Bubbie Joan Shapiro are proud of his achievement. Daniel attends Hillel Day School in Farmington Hills. For his mitzvah project, he is raising money for and awareness against hatred by speaking out and selling shirts to benefit the AntiDefamation League.

HOW TO SUBMIT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mazel Tov! announcements are welcomed for members of the Jewish community. Anniversaries, engagements and weddings with a photo (preferably color) can appear at a cost of $18 each. Births are $10. There is no charge for bar/bat mitzvahs or for special birthdays starting at the 90th. For information, contact Editorial Assistant Sy Manello at smanello@ thejewishnews.com or (248) 351-5147 for information or for a mailed or emailed copy of guidelines.

SPIRIT

TORAH PORTION

Freedom of Thought

not have time to study. any wonder what is the real secret of the Then came the giving of the Jewish nation? How do Torah, which represented the the Jews have so many members complete opposite of Egyptian who invest their entire lives belief. God did not just give in study and scholarship? the Torah to a select few of What is the deeper reason the most honored rabbis, for motivation to acquire but to all men, women knowledge and be eduand children. Ever since, Torah study became an cated? Rabbi inheritance; everyone has More than 3,000 years Schneor the right and obligation to ago, a small percentage Greenberg study Torah. of people knew how to We read in Parshat Yitro read. Only the most elite Parshat Yitro: Exodus that prior to receiving the received education. The 18:1-20:23; Torah, the Jews pledged ruling class specifically Isaiah na’aseh, “we will do;” and intended it that way to 6:1-7:6; 9:5-6. the Torah tells us that they ensure that the common all said it together in one voice. folk wouldn’t have the capacity to Later, when they pledged na’aseh revolt. In ancient Egypt, most of the Jewish people were busy a full v’nishma; the verse states, “And day with forced labor; they did they said, ‘All that God said, we

ea Mondry celebrated her 100th birthday on Jan. 17, 2022. She has been a lifelong Detroitarea resident who currently resides in West Bloomfield. She marked the day with a 100th birthday party hosted by her children, Larry and Susie Mondry. She was surrounded by her grandchildren, Drew, Emily and Carly Mondry, as well as by many nieces, nephews and dear friends.

Kudlacik-Zlatopolsky

r. and Mrs. Gregory Zlatopolsky of West Bloomfield are delighted to announce the engagement of their daughter Ashley Zlatopolsky to Joseph Kudlacik, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kudlacik of Southgate. Ashley owns Ashley Zlatopolsky Media and Joseph is a regional digital sales manager at Salem Media. An October wedding is planned at Tam-O-Shanter Country Club.

will do and we will listen’” not “together” and not “in one voice.” The meaning of “we will do” is simply to do everything that God commands. The meaning of “we will listen,” the Lubavitcher Rebbe of righteous memory explains that it’s not just to hear, which is obvious, but to understand and grasp God’s words. When it comes to na’aseh, doing/action, then the entire nation is unified. Everyone keeps the same mitzvot. Everyone lights Shabbat candles, puts on tefillin, fasts on Yom Kippur, etc. When it comes to nishmah, the understanding and grasping of Torah, there isn’t that same unity. Everyone has an individual obligation to try to understand the words of the Torah. Judaism encourages everyone to think on their own and not just accept things because someone greater said so. That is the secret; the people

do not accept anything at face value. They are all encouraged to ask questions and challenge every conclusion they read. In Judaism, we find all approaches. Some believe the best way to get close to God is through happiness. Some are convinced it’s only through doing good unto others. Many believe they must dedicate their entire lives to Torah study, and some argue that one specifically needs to get out into the big world and integrate into some practical industry. Each has the right to think differently, and teachers even encourage independent thinking. Therefore, in Judaism, study has turned into an intellectual experience, something that people enjoy. Rabbi Schneor Greenberg is rabbi of the Chabad Jewish Center of Commerce, rabbi@jewishcommerce.org.

JANUARY 20 • 2022

SPIRIT

A WORD OF TORAH

Why the Giving of the Torah Is a Turning Point in History

hat are the key turning points in history? What are the events that changed the world beyond recognition and whose impact was felt by everyone, everywhere? You could talk about the invention of the electric light bulb or Gutenberg’s printing press. You could mention the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, which set off World War I and led to World War II, or Chief Rabbi the French and American Warren Revolutions, or the fall of Goldstein the Berlin Wall. More recent examples could be 9/11 or the 2008 recession or the invention of the internet. But, in this week’s parshah, Yitro, we encounter history’s single biggest turning point, a moment that changed everything,

JANUARY 20 • 2022

for everyone, forever: the giving of the Torah by God to Moses and the Jewish people at Mount Sinai. From this moment onward, nothing would be the same. The Torah had entered the world. But, what is the Torah really? And why is its impact so powerful and far-reaching? We know that the Torah comprises 613 distinct commandments — the mitzvot — but what is their meaning and purpose? The starting point is to understand that the Torah’s total focus is the human being. This is expressed most vividly in the Talmud (Shabbat 88b), which records how, when Moses ascended Mount Sinai to receive the Torah from God, the angels vehemently protested, asking how God could consider giving away His most treasured possession — the Torah — to a creature of flesh and

blood. God told Moses to answer the angels, and Moses proceeded to list the Ten Commandments: “I am the Lord your God, Who took you out of Egypt”; “Honor your father and your mother”; “Don’t murder”; “Don’t steal”; “Don’t commit adultery.” “Do you have a father and mother?” Moses asked the angels. “Have you been enslaved in Egypt? Have you passion or jealousy or greed, or any evil inclination?” In so doing, Moses clearly demonstrated that the Torah was intended for human beings. Or, put another way, human beings are created in order to fulfil the mitzvot of the Torah. THE MITZVOT But, how do the mitzvot work? The Torah calls the first human being

Adam, which comes from the Hebrew word adama, meaning “earth” or “ground.” What is the connection between the two? The Maharal explains that humans are similar to the ground in one essential respect: They are both pure potential. Whether or not a piece of land will produce fruit depends on what is done with it. Even the most fertile piece of land will not produce fruit if it is left to lie fallow; it needs to be ploughed, fertilized and cultivated. So, too, the human being is pure potential, and to live a fruitful, productive life requires great and continuous efforts. We arrive in this world as pure potential and, through the process of life, we actualize that potential. And it’s up to us. We have been given free choice to turn that potential into personal growth and spiritual greatness, into becoming refined, elevated, moral and holy — but we can also choose to squander it and simply let it lie dormant. The Maharal (Tiferet Yisrael, chapters 6-8) says the 613 mitzvot are a blueprint for us to “create ourselves” — to access and actualize our Godly potential. The mitzvot have been specifically designed by our Creator to catalyze our latent spiritual energy. At its heart, this process of self-actualization — of converting potential into actuality through performing the mitzvot — is an act of sublime creativity. What are the mechanics here? How exactly do the mitzvot unleash our Divine potential? The Maharal explains that the mitzvot have been formulated by the Creator of everything, and therefore have the spiritual energy to develop the full potential of the human being. There is a natural bridge between Torah and the soul. With every new mitzvah we perform, we create a corre-

sponding extra dimension within our soul. In essence, by living in tune with Torah, we live in tune with our soul; by living a true Torah life, we nurture and expand our spiritual selves. Living in harmony with the soul brings with it a deep sense of spiritual connection and tranquility of spirit. Indeed, the Midrash says the union between body and soul is fraught with tension. These two constituent parts of the human being come from different worlds and have different needs. The Midrash illustrates this with the analogy of a marriage between a farmer and a princess; the farmer brings the princess all the produce from the field that is so precious to him, but which is meaningless to her. So, too, the body brings the soul all the physical pleasures of this world, but the soul remains empty and unsatisfied. The soul originates from the palace of God and requires the goods of the spiritual world to feel satisfied and fulfilled. It requires a life of meaning and good deeds, and a connection to God, which the Torah provides. This is what gives us satisfaction and pleasure at a deep level. REACHING OUR FULL POTENTIAL There are many ways to demonstrate this. For example, we’ve all experienced the warm glow of satisfaction that comes from giving to others. A recent research project conducted by Michael Norton of Harvard Business School found that, regardless of income level, those people who spent money on others reported greater happiness, while those who spent more on themselves did not. On the other end of the spectrum, there is the feeling of guilt — the deep sense of spir-

itual unease we experience — when we do things that are not in harmony with the soul. Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman, known as the Ramban, explores another way the mitzvot are catalysts to unleash the full potential of a person. He emphasizes that the mitzvot are not for God’s benefit, even though He commanded us to perform them. He says God gave us the mitzvot for our own sakes — to mold us into better people. According to the Ramban, each mitzvah refines us in a particular way. He gives the example of the mitzvah to send away the mother bird before taking the chicks or the eggs from the nest, and how this helps us cultivate the quality of compassion. He also refers to the mitzvot of commemorating the great miracles of Jewish history. These are not, he says, for glorifying God, but rather for our own sake, so we should understand and appreciate these formative moments of our people, and so we can reinforce our faith and clarify our worldview. According to this, the mitzvot are a comprehensive program of thought and action designed by God to help us become wise, compassionate, refined, loving, idealistic, giving, courageous, spiritual, ethical and holy. To help us become better people in every conceivable way. So, from the moment in history when we received the Torah, life would never be the same. From that moment on, we had a blueprint for how to live life, how to love life and how to fulfill our awesome potential. Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein, who has a PhD. in Human Rights Law, is the chief rabbi of South Africa. This article first appeared on aish.com.

JARC Supporters Raise Over $1.3 Million To kick off the new year, JARC, a Metro Detroitbased nonprofit agency that serves 150 individuals with developmental disabilities, announced that their fall fundraising campaign netted more than $1.3 million for the nonprofit. The funds raised will be used toward aiding people with developmental disabilities and cognitive impairments at 80 different locations in Metro Detroit. Assistance is provided by JARC to individuals who live independently with minor needs, to those in group homes of which some residents have complex medical needs and those who require 24/7 staffing. For over 50 years, JARC has worked to ensure that all persons served can live their life to the fullest. Throughout their fall fundraising campaign, JARC encouraged Metro Detroiters to show their support by getting involved through volunteer opportunities and donations. “Like many organizations, the pandemic presented JARC with a unique set of circumstances relative to how we best serve people with developmental disabilities and cognitive impairments,” said Shaindle Braunstein, CEO of JARC. “The financial support JARC received from the community and businesses has been vital to enhancing and continuing the programs and services we provide JARC’s persons served.” JANUARY 20 • 2022

SPIRIT

Synagogue Directory CONSERVATIVE Adat Shalom Synagogue Farmington Hills (248) 851-5100 adatshalom.org

Temple B’nai Shalom Benton Harbor (269) 925-8021 tbnaishalom.org

Ahavas Israel Grand Rapids (616) 949-2840 ahavasisraelgr.org

INDEPENDENT Grosse Pointe Jewish Council Grosse Pointe Woods (313) 882-6700 thegpjc.com

Congregation Beth Ahm West Bloomfield (248) 851-6880 cbahm.org Congregation Beth Israel Flint (810) 732-6310 cbiflint.org Congregation Beth Shalom Oak Park (248) 547-7970 congbethshalom.org Beth Tephilath Moses Mt. Clemens (586) 996-3138 bethtephilathmoses.com B’nai Israel Synagogue West Bloomfield (248) 432-2729 bnaiisraelwb.org Congregation B’nai Moshe West Bloomfield (248) 788-0600 bnaimoshe.org Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue Detroit (313) 962-4047 downtownsynagogue.org Congregation of Moses Kalamazoo congregationofmoses.org Congregation Shaarey Zedek Southfield (248) 357-5544 shaareyzedek.org

JANUARY 20 • 2022

Kehillat Hatzhav Hagadol Mackinac Island (906) 202-9959 mackinacsynagogue.org

Beth Tefilo Emanuel Tikvah Southfield (248) 559-5022 Birmingham-Bloomfield Shul Birmingham (248) 996-5818 bbchai.org B’nai Israel-Beth Yehudah Oak Park (248) 967-3969 bi-by.org B’nai Zion Oak Park (248) 968-2414

ORTHODOX Agudas Israel Mogen Abraham Southfield (248) 552-5711 aymadetroit.org

Chabad House-Lubavitch of Eastern Michigan Flint (810) 230-0770 chabad.org

Ahavas Olam Southfield (248) 569-1821 Ahavasolam.com

Chabad Jewish Center of Commerce-Walled Lake Commerce Township (248) 363-3644 jewishcommerce.org

Ahavas Yisroel Oak Park (248) 298-2896 Learntorah.info Aish Hatorah in the Woods Oak Park (248) 327-3579 Aishdetroit.com Bais Chabad of Farmington Hills (248) 855-2910 chabad.org Bais Chabad of North Oak Park (248) 872-8878 chabad.org Bais Haknesses Hagrah Oak Park (248) 542-8737 Balfour Shul – K’Hal Rina U’Tefila Oak Park (732) 693-8457

Chabad Jewish Center of Novi-Northville (248) 790-6075 novijewishcenter.com Chabad Jewish Center of Troy Troy/Rochester Hills (248) 873-5851 jewishtroy.com Chabad-Lubavitch of Bingham Farms Bloomfield Hills (248) 688-6796 chabadbinghamfarms.com

Etz Chayim of Toledo Toledo, OH (419) 473-2401 Etzchayimtoledo.org First Hebrew Congregation South Haven (269) 637-1603 firsthebrewcongregation.org Kehillat Etz Chayim Huntington Woods etzchayim-detroit.org Kollel Institute of Greater Detroit Oak Park (248) 968-1891 kollel@kolleldetroit.org Mishkan Israel, Nusach H’ari, Lubavitch Center Oak Park (248) 542-4844 theyeshiva.org Ohel Moed Shomrey Emunah West Bloomfield (248) 737-2626 ohelmoed.org Or Chadash Oak Park (248) 819-1721 or-chadash.org Sara & Morris Tugman Bais Chabad Torah Center of West Bloomfield (248) 855-6170 baischabad.com Shaar Hashomayim Windsor (519) 256-3123

Chabad of Western Michigan Grand Rapids (616) 957-0770 chabadwestmichigan.com

Shaarey Zedek Windsor (519) 252-1594 shaareyzedekwindsor.com

Dovid Ben Nuchim-Aish Kodesh Oak Park (313) 320-9400 dbndetroit.org

Shomer Israel Oak Park (248) 542-4014 godaven.com

Shomrey Emunah Southfield (248) 559-1533 congregation-shomreyemunah-105705.square.site The Shul-Chabad Lubavitch West Bloomfield (248) 788-4000 theshul.net

Temple Beth El Battle Creek (269) 963-4921 Temple Beth El Bloomfield Township (248) 851-1100 tbeonline.org

Temple Israel West Bloomfield (248) 661-5700 temple-israel.org Temple Jacob Hancock templejacobhancock.org

Temple Beth El Flint (810) 720-9494 tbeflint@gmail.com

Temple Kol Ami West Bloomfield (248) 661-0040 tkolami.org

Temple Beth El Midland (989) 496-3720 tbe_midland@yahoo.com

Congregation Shaarey Zedek East Lansing (517) 351-3570 shaareyzedek.com

Young Israel of Southfield (248) 358-0154 yisouthfield.org

Temple Beth Israel Bay City (989) 893-7811 tbi-mich.org

Temple Shir Shalom West Bloomfield (248) 737-8700 shirshalom.org

RECONSTRUCTIONIST Congregation Kehillat Israel Lansing (517) 882-0049 kehillatisrael.net

Temple Beth Israel Jackson (517) 784-3862 tbijackson.org

Yagdil Torah Southfield (248) 559-5905 Young Israel of Oak Park (248) 967-3655 yiop.org

Congregation T’chiyah Ferndale (248) 823-7115 tchiyah.org Reconstructionist Congregation of Detroit (313) 567-0306 reconstructingjudiasm.org REFORM Bet Chaverim Canton (734) 480-8880 betchaverim@yahoo.com Temple Benjamin Mt. Pleasant (989) 773-5086 templebenjamin.com Congregation Beth El Windsor (519) 969-2422 bethelwindsor.ca

Congregation Beth Shalom Traverse City 231-946-1913 beth-shalom-tc.org Temple Beth Sholom Marquette tbsmqt.org Temple B’nai Israel Kalamazoo (269) 342-9170 Templebnaiisrael.com Temple B’nai Israel Petoskey (231) 489-8269 templebnaiisraelofpetoskey.org Temple Emanuel Grand Rapids (616) 459-5976 grtemple.org Temple Emanu-El Oak Park (248) 967-4020 emanuel-mich.org

REFORM/RENEWAL Congregation Shir Tikvah Troy (248) 649-4418 shirtikvah.org SECULAR/HUMANISTIC Congregation for Humanistic Judaism of Metro Detroit Farmington Hills (248) 477-1410 chj-detroit.org Sholem Aleichem Institute Lathrup Village (240 865-0117 secularsaimichigan.org SEPHARDIC Keter Torah Synagogue West Bloomfield (248) 681-3665 rabbisasson.wixsite.com/keter Ohr Hatorah Oak Park (248) 294-0613 Ohrhatorah.us

TRADITIONAL Woodward Avenue Shul Royal Oak (248) 414-7485 thewas.net MINYANS Fleischman Residence West Bloomfield (248) 661-2999 Yeshivat Akivah Southfield (248) 386-1625 farberhds.org

ANN ARBOR

CONSERVATIVE Beth Israel Congregation (734) 665-9897 @BethIsraelCongregation ORTHODOX Ann Arbor Chabad House (734) 995-3276 jewmich.com Ann Arbor Orthodox Minyan annarborminyan.org RECONSTRUCTIONIST Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Congregation (734) 445-1910 aarecon.org REFORM Temple Beth Emeth (734) 665-4744 templebethemeth.org RENEWAL Pardes Hanah pardeshanah.org SECULAR HUMANISTIC Jewish Cultural Society (734) 975-9872 jewishculturalsociety.org Please email factual corrections or additional synagogues to list to: smanello@thejewishnews.com.

JANUARY 20 • 2022

JOAN MARCUS

ARTS&LIFE THEATER

Ain’t No Passing Craze Ben Lipitz is Disney’s The Lion King’s Pumbaa for 19 Years JULIE SMITH YOLLES CONTRIBUTING WRITER

hen Matthew Lipitz was in first grade, his teacher told the students to draw a picture of their parents in their occupational garb. Upon seeing Lipitz’s rendering, the teacher told Lipitz that his drawing was a nonsensical fabrication and sent the first grader crying to the principal’s office. When the principal returned to class with Lipitz Ben Lipitz in tow, the principal reprimanded the teacher, announcing that yes, indeed, Lipitz’s dad truly was Pumbaa. And to that embarrassed, small-minded teacher, the young Lipitz smiled and boldly remarked, “Hakuna Matata.” Ten years later, Ben Lipitz still kvells, recounting the legendary tale about his son, who is now 16. For nearly 19 years, Ben Lipitz has starred on Broadway, and on tour, as the wildly funny, beyond-lovable, scene-stealing Pumbaa in Disney’s The Lion King coming to the Detroit Opera House Jan. 27-Feb. 20.

JANUARY 20 • 2022

“I’ve been playing Pumbaa for so long that I’ve gotten a special dispensation that I’m now kosher,” laughs the actor who has played the “Hakuna Matata”singing warthog for more than 6,400 performances. This will be the fifth time that The Lion King comes to Detroit, and Lipitz has been in all the productions. For the actor who has spent the majority of his time on the road since 2003 touring with the Tony Award-winning musical penned by Elton John and Tim Rice, the pandemic brought Lipitz home for 18 months while Broadway and tours were halted. LIFE DURING THE PANDEMIC “Like every other artist, I did a lot of Zoom teaching, singing for benefits via video, taking classes and creating opportunities to support my colleagues emotionally,” says Lipitz, 57, who lives with his son, wife, Rosalie, “a recovering actress,” and daughter, Mikaela, 13, just outside of New York City. Mikaela’s bat mitzvah is on hold for now until they feel

Nick Cordileone as Timon and Ben Lipitz as Pumbaa in Disney’s The Lion King.

DETAILS

The Lion King will be performed at the Detroit Opera House from Jan. 27-Feb. 20. The Lion King will play Tuesdays through Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the Fisher Theatre Box Office, online at Ticketmaster.com and BroadwayInDetroit.com or by calling (313) 871-1132. Patrons will be required to show proof of a negative COVID test within 72 hours of the performance date or proof of full COVID-19 vaccination. All patrons are required to wear a mask. Disney recommends its productions for ages 6 and up. Children under the age of 2 will not be admitted. Children ages 2-11 will not need to show proof of negative COVID test or vaccine to attend The Lion King at the Detroit Opera House.

safe being in a larger community. “The pandemic gave me time to reflect, recharge and renew,” Lipitz adds. “It was an incredible time to reconnect to my family and to my faith. I did a lot of conversing with God in those 18 months.” Even during that time, Lipitz made it a priority to continue his charitable volunteer work with his hometown Jewish Community Center in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, where Lipitz has produced a Broadway Cabaret show for the past 12 years. Monies raised — well into the millions — from the Cabaret, which was moved to an online fundraiser for spring 2021, support camp scholarships for special needs children for the JCC and Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey. “The depth of Broadway talent for this recent production was staggering because all of my fellow artists were home during the pandemic and were able to participate,” says Lipitz, whose television debut was as a rabbinical assistant on Unsolved Mysteries. Other favorite Jewish roles include Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof and Max Bialystock in The Producers. ON THE ROAD AGAIN As of September 2021, Lipitz is thrilled to be back on tour again and reunited with his onstage sidekick of 10 years, Nick Cordileone, who plays Timon, the wisecracking meerkat. “Timon and Pumbaa are beloved icons. You can feel the anticipation and laughter that’s about to happen as we

come on stage,” jokes Lipitz, who shares a dressing room with his talented Italian friend. “It’s all the same guilt, just different holidays. He talks with his hands, and I eat with my hands.” Their hands are integral components to their performances and costumes, as Lipitz operates Pumbaa’s jaw and mouth with his arms. The Lion King is a spectacular visual feast based on Bunraku, a form of traditional Japanese puppet theater, that was created by Julie Taymor. Taymor, the show’s director, costume designer (Tony Award-winner) and mask co-designer, was the first woman to win a Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical. Lipitz says that his Pumbaa costume is the heaviest, single-puppet costume in the show, weighing 50 pounds and topped off with threefeet of yak hair. “I look like a giant sonic hedgehog,” he laughs. Though he misses the special concentrated time he was able to spend at home with his family during the pandemic, Lipitz is thrilled to be bringing The Lion King back to audiences, especially to Detroiters looking for a fun wintertime excursion. “I am an actor and artist who provides for his family in an industry that doesn’t have a lot of stability. And, for me, that’s the very essence of the tenets of Judaism in that we always want to make it better for our children,” Lipitz says. “Besides, I get to be Pumbaa every night. Why would I ever give up this job? I’ve got the greatest gig in the world.”

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A Stitch in Time: Michigan Writer Tells His Father’s Story in New Novel "This is the life story of one man, but it parallels the stories of millions of Jewish people who tried to escape from increasingly hostile Europe to someplace safer" says Louis Finkelman. Available for purchase at BarnesandNoble.com, Amazon.com and IUniverse.com Michael is available to schedule book club appearances and/or author signings! Call 248-765-5880 for availability and scheduling. JANUARY 20 • 2022

ARTS&LIFE FILM

LEFT: This photo shows what became of the Chandler family home and textile business. It came to house a 21st-century restaurant. BELOW: Evelyn Rosen, Maurice Chandler and Dorris Chandler

Slice of Life — and More

3-minute vacation film snippet of small-town Jews in pre-Nazi Poland yields a touching, revealing movie.

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

JANUARY 20 • 2022

one of the youngsters in the snippet noticed on the web by his granddaughter, Marcy Rosen of Bloomfield Hills, who recalled early family photos as she recognized her grandfather. Her observation led to vital resources for identifying the people shown so their stories could be told. Glenn Kurtz of New York found the film — made by his late grandfather, David Kurtz — in the 2009 Florida home of his parents. The clip Glenn Kurtz was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., and put online as only one of the pathways Kurtz ultimately used

FRANZISKA LIEPE

hat briefly was filmed in 1938 to remember vacation travels in Poland came to circulate across the web, motivated a book and recently was expanded into a 69-minute movie to be shown virtually this month by the Sundance Film Festival. The expressive milestones resulted from happenstance discoveries followed by determined research and connected families descended from residents of a small town, Nasielsk, where the three-minute clip of townspeople was filmed a year before Nazis decimated the town’s Jewish population. Maurice Chandler, 97, who divides his time between Michigan and Florida, was

to find the material written into Three Minutes in Poland: Discovering a Lost World in a 1938 Family Film, published in 2014 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Bianca Stigter, a Netherlands historian and cultural critic, also caught sight of the brief film while roaming the web, and she became intrigued with the title and fascinated by the lively images. She went on to direct the narration of closeups and montages for Three Bianca Minutes — A Lengthening, Stigter which has been spotlighted in festivals on its way to theaters. “One of the things that’s been so profound for me about this whole story is something I never imagined would happen, and that is the relationships that developed as a result of it and the connections with people,” said Kurtz, who remains close to the Chandler family and other Nasielsk families, organized descendent travel to the town and keeps attending film festivals to observe the emotional reactions of audiences to the Stigter movie. “I think Bianca approached the film in a spirit very similar to the one I felt in my book,” he said. “The main questions were who are these people and what happened to them as individuals even if it’s not possible in the end to gather all the information.” Kurtz, who teaches at the Gallatin School of Individualized Study at New York

“IT’S AMAZING TO HAVE MY GRANDFATHER’S SOUVENIR TRAVEL FILM SHOWING ON THE FILM FESTIVAL SCREEN, AND I’M AMAZED AT HOW HIS IMAGERY TOUCHES PEOPLE IN A WAY THAT’S PROFOUND.” — GLENN KURTZ

University and has taught at the Interlochen Center for the Arts, had traveled widely to find authentic ancestral records. “It’s amazing to have my grandfather’s souvenir travel film showing on the film festival screen, and I’m amazed at how his imagery touches people in a way that’s profound,” Kurtz said. “That’s astonishing, something miraculous to me.” FINDING COMMONALITIES Reactions to the clip and the film narrated by Helena Bonham Carter affect Kurtz most deeply as they focus on individuals, way beyond any statistics. The film delves into the commonalities of all people and not a stereotypical grouping of people. “I wanted to find a way to make [the original film] last longer and keep these people in the present some way,” Stigter said as part of a showing at the DOC NYC, considered America’s largest documentary film festival, where she told of her immediate reaction to

viewing the vacation clip. “I wanted to pay attention to the people we see and find out as much about them as possible,” she said. “We built it up piece by piece. We used it as an archaeological tool.” Stigter, who contacted Kurtz and studied the contents of his book, made a point of visiting with those having Nasielsk heritage to help obtain the narrative information without going beyond the three-minutes of the visuals. Some research was accomplished during a weekend stay at the Bloomfield Hills home of Evelyn Rosen, Chandler’s daughter, and Kurtz joined the group. “She and Glenn spent many hours interviewing my father,” said Rosen, who visited Nasielsk with her father and later with a group of 50 found through Kurtz’s research. “At one point, they interviewed me, and they interviewed my daughter. Bianca felt compelled to stretch out the film because everyone you see is so happy and carefree, and it

Evelyn Rosen, Maurice Chandler and Steven Rosen

Evelyn Rosen and Maurice Chandler

was so wonderful to see their smiling faces.” While the Chandler family had a remote preview of the film before it appeared at festivals, Rosen and her daughter also went to the Toronto International Film Festival for a public viewing. “I saw it there in a polished, finished version after spending so many hours scouring with my father through the original tape trying to identify people,” Rosen said. “I appreciate what Bianca did [with what she learned]. “I thought the narration made the film impressive. To use a very well-known actress as the voice of the narration made it more suitable and palatable for a greater audience.” Although David Kurtz left his Polish birthplace long before the Nazis came to power and died before his grandson, Glenn, was born, his memory will live on through artistic recognition. Stigter keeps him “in the present” by listing his name in her film credits for doing the camera work.

Details

Three Minutes — A Lengthening can be seen from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 24, and from 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 26, through 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 27. $20. Glenn Kurtz and Bianca Stigter will do a Zoom Q&A after the first Jan. 24 showing. All films must be started within the allotted time, then you have five hours to finish them. bit.ly/3qxDWR3. To see a related JN story from 2014, go to bit.ly/3r6EVq4.

JANUARY 20 • 2022

ARTS&LIFE CELEBRITY NEWS

BOB SAGET: YOU PROBABLY DIDN’T KNOW THIS; AUSTISM ON AMAZON, WASPS FIGHT ON HBO A day after Bob Saget died, the Jewish Telegraph Agency (JTA) did a good job of pulling together excerpts of interviews in which he discussed being Jewish. In short, he was “really Jewish,” but not very practicing for most of his adult life. The JTA article did touch on the fact that his faith in religion was shaken by the very premature deaths of his two adult sisters, the only siblings he knew. I checked out Saget’s 2014 memoir, Dirty Daddy, and learned that death haunted him his whole life. Saget practically begins his book with telling us about the death of three of his uncles. They all died before 50 from heart attacks. The tragedies don’t end there. His mother gave birth to a twin boy and girl in 1954. A dysentery outbreak hit the hospital and killed nine babies, including the twins. Saget was born two years — to the day — after the twins’ death. Saget’s ex-wife is Shelli Kramer, about 65. She is the mother of his three adult daughters. Kramer is a licensed therapist in California, and I am 95% sure she is Jewish. I don’t know more because details about Bob’s children and ex-wife are not out there. It’s clear that Saget protected their privacy. In his book, he does not

JANUARY 20 • 2022

BEHIND THE VELVET ROPE TV

NATE BLOOM COLUMNIST

Bob Saget

mention them by name (he says, “my daughter” and my “ex-wife”). His book has just one story about his wife and oldest daughter (whose name is Aubrey Saget. She’s now 34). Before telling the story, Saget informs his readers that he got permission from his ex and his daughter to tell this story. Here goes: His wife got an epidural just before she went into labor. The injection “missed” her spinal cord and the drugs went straight into her blood stream. She went into a coma and was, for hours, at the edge of death. The baby was delivered through a C-section. Saget described the terrible anxiety that he, and two sets of grandparents, went through — and the relief they felt when his wife “fooled” the doctors and regained consciousness sooner than expected. You know, it’s a cliché that comedians come from unhappy families. But Saget is something else — his family was not unhappy in

the usual way — fighting parents, no money, child abuse, etc. His parents were a traditional, Jewish, middle-class couple. They loved each other and they loved their children. Saget wrote that the specter of death informed a lot of his stand-up humor — graveyard humor he called it. But, maybe, the happy, loving side of his growingup informed the light side of Saget — the guy who is being called America’s Dad and the mensch who has been universally praised as being really nice and a good friend. By the way, Saget (Danny Tanner on Full House) wrote he first met Michigan native Dave Coulier (Joey on Full House) in a Detroit bar that was having a comedy night. Saget was 21 and Coulier was 17. They both ended up in LA, worked clubs and became lifelong great friends. In 1989, Full House premiered, and they became TV buds, too. OTHER NEWS As We See It is an

American series based on On the Spectrum, an internationally acclaimed Israeli series. All eight, firstseason episodes will begin streaming on Amazon Prime Jan. 21. The Amazon series, like the Israeli series, centers on three young-ish, autistic persons who live in a hostel for adults with autism. The hostel staff tries to transition these young-ish folks into independent living. Rick Glassman, 37, an American comedian who has Aspberger’s Syndrome (a form of autism), plays one of the three main characters in the Amazon series. As We See It was created by Jason Katims, 61, a veteran show-writer/ producer. Katims is the father of an autistic child. The Gilded Age premieres on HBO on Jan. 24. This “prestige” series was created by and is written by Julian Fellowes, the Brit who created and wrote Downton Abbey. It follows the clash, in the 1880s, between the “old money” New York City elite and rich newcomers. There appears to be no Jewish characters in the first season. However, Morgan Spector, 41, whose father is Jewish, has a juicy part as George Russell, a classic “new money” robber baron. I suspect in future seasons wealthy “clearly” Jewish characters will “brush up” against the “old guard.” This was the case in later seasons of Downton Abbey, which was set in the U.K. in the early 20th century.

ON THE GO

PEOPLE | PLACES | EVENTS

ARTIST SPEAKS 7 PM, JAN. 20 Hosted by the Jewish Historical Society of Michigan on Zoom. An exclusive conversation with Israeli artist Yigal Ozeri and his daughter, Shear, managing director of Yigal Ozeri LLC. Ozeri is one of the leading artists of photorealism in the world. Hosted by Barbara Cohn, this live conversation will cover Yigal Ozeri’s life growing up in Israel, his artistic influences, the art market and his newest series, Americana. He will also take viewers on a virtual tour of his studio. Cost: members, $10; nonmembers, $18. Info@ michjewishhistory.org. CABARET 313 6:30 & 8:45 PM, JAN. 22 For its first performance of 2022, Cabaret 313 hosts the University of Michigan Musical Theatre seniors for “Lost in Ann Arbor.” The students share their favorite songs, from Broadway hits to radio chart toppers, at the Garden Theatre, 3929 Woodward Ave., Detroit. The performances will feature 20 senior class students. The set list includes Broadway favorites as well as pop songs. Audiences will be socially distanced and seated safely apart at tables in the Garden Theatre. Masks will be required for the duration of the performance. Upon entry, attendees must show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of the event. To learn more, visit cabaret313.org. Ticket information: $200 front and center; $60 for general seating; $25 for 40 and younger. Free parking is available. Info: Priya Mohan, 313-4055061.

MEDITATION & MINDFULNESS 9:30 AM, JAN. 23 Adat Shalom Synagogue invites adults of all ages to join Rabbi Aaron Bergman for a class designed to help them find their internal spirituality and realize how Judaism can make them happier. The community is welcome. Free. For information, contact 248-851-5100 or visit adatshalom.org. ‘THE SCAFFOLD EFFECT’ 11 AM -NOON, JAN. 23 Hosted by JCC’s JFamily Detroit and the Detroit Jewish Book Fair. Moderator Franki Bagdade will lead a thoughtful discussion using a practical, compassionate guide to helping children develop independence and a strong identity. With child psychiatrist and founding member of the nonprofit Child Mind Institute, Harold Koplewicz. Virtual; free. Register at: jlive.app/ events/1338. ONLINE LEARNING NOON-1:15 PM, JAN. 24+ The Jewish Theological Seminary of America will sponsor a 10-week course, “Biblical Hebrew” with Dr. David Zev Moster. Reading of basic Hebrew is required. Cost: $350; limited financial assistance is available. Recordings will be provided to those unable to attend a session. Info: jtsa.edu. ‘SANCTIFIED SEX’ 12:30 PM, JAN. 24 The Jewish Theological Seminary of America sponsors this online book talk. Author Noam Zion will discuss his book, Sanctified Sex, which draws on 2,000 years of rabbinic debates addressing competing aspirations for loving intimacy, passionate sexual union

‘THE SCAFFOLD EFFECT’ 11 AM -NOON, JAN. 23 and sanctity in marriage. Registration is free: jtsa. edu/events/sanctified-sex/ e381787. LUNCH & LEARN NOON-1 PM, JAN. 24 “L’chaim: A Jewish View of Living and Doing [Part II]” will take place at Temple Shir Shalom in West Bloomfield. Join Rabbi Michael Moskowitz for this series that explores Jewish philosophy and how it guides us in our daily lives. Newcomers are welcome. No charge for temple members; $18/series for non-members. Mondays, Jan. 24 & 31 and Feb. 7 & 14. SHAME & TRADITION 2-3:30 PM, JAN. 24 The Jewish Theological Seminary of America is the sponsor of this discussion series online. Join Dr. David Kraemer to discuss the complicated emotion of shame and how Jewish tradition “feels” about it. The Zoom link for this session will be in the confirmation email that you will receive after you register: jtsa.edu. HEALTH WORKSHOP SERIES 8:30 AM-5 PM, JAN. 25+ Personal Action Toward Health (PATH) is a fun, interactive 6-week program designed by Stanford University to provide the necessary skills and tools to help people manage chronic pain and other persistent health conditions live a healthier life. This is a six-week work-

LUNCH & LEARN NOON-1 PM, JAN. 24 shop conducted by certified leaders. Open to adults, their family and friends, as well as caregivers. Participation is free, but a reservation is required as space is limited. Contact Joely Lyons, 248592-1995 or jlyons@jfsdetroit.org with questions or to register. Registration priority will be given to those living in western Wayne, Livingston, Oakland, Washtenaw and Macomb counties.

ABOUT RGB 7 PM, JAN. 26 Adat Shalom Synagogue invites you to join Rabbi Aaron Bergman on Zoom to look at the life, career and favorite Jewish teachings of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. There is no charge. To RSVP and receive a Zoom link, contact Kellie Yost, kyost@adatshalom.org, 248-851-5100. BOOK TALK 7:30 PM, JAN. 26 The Jewish Theological Seminary of America sponsors this online book talk. Join author Ken Krimstein when he discusses his book, continued on page 46 JANUARY 20 • 2022

ON THE GO

PEOPLE | PLACES | EVENTS continued from page 45

When I Grow Up, a graphic narrative based on newly discovered, never-before-published autobiographies of Eastern European Jewish teens on the brink of WWII — found in 2017 hidden in a Lithuanian church cellar. Registration is free: jysa.edu. HONORING MLK JR. 3-5 PM, JAN. 27 A virtual program brought to you by the University of Michigan Frankel Center for Judaic Studies. “Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a Black King of the Bible in Duke Ellington’s Symphonic Triptych Three Black Kings.” This is an ICAMus (The International Center for American Music) event, sponsored by MCECS (Michigan Center for Early Christian Studies), in collaboration with

the Frankel Center in honor of Martin Luther King Day 2022 Advanced registration required: tinyurl.com/2zvsappv.

DSO NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERT 7:30 PM, JAN. 27 Congregation Shaarey Zedek will host Dmitry Sinkovsky with an all-Mozart program, featuring his Overture to the Marriage of Figaro, Violin Concerto No. 3, and Symphony No. 38, which was written during the composer’s time in Prague. This per-

formance is only available as part of a 2021-2022 William Davidson Neighborhood Concerts subscription package. Subscribe today at dso. org/neighborhood. Please note that CSZ does not accept reservations for these concerts. PARENTING CHAT 10 AM, JAN. 30 An online event hosted by the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit for parents of tween and teenage children. Parenting expert Julie Fisher is logging on to discuss best practices of parenting in the digital age, including real-life examples of online mistakes and how to prevent them, mobile device etiquette, texting trouble, social media rules, program apps, parental controls, cyber-bullying and more. You’re also welcome to opt in to an optional brunch box, which will be delivered prior to the program. Register

Dear Readers, Happy New Year! Thank you for your support during these difficult times. Once again, our great staff has chosen to work and provide great service to the community and we applaud them for their professionalism and dedication. For this reason, we have decided to donate half of all money taken in from the day of sales that will be distributed amongst all the staff. Come support our wonderful staff on Staff Appreciation Day on Tuesday, February 1st to show your appreciation for the great work that they are doing! *Does not include Banquets, Deposits, or Deferred Orders for a later date (only the sales on Feb. 1st)*

before Jan. 23, at 6 pm: at jlive.app/events/1370. $36 per person for brunch. TEA PARTY 1-5 PM, JAN. 30 Sponsored by Federation NEXTGen Detroit at Purple Door Tearoom, 701 Livernois, Ferndale. A celebration of female friendship with treats, tea and good times. Tea party hats are encouraged. We’ll be making Valentine’s Day cards for residents at Jewish Senior Life. We are offering tea at two different times: 1 pm or 3:30 pm. Please select the time that works best for you and be sure to select the same time as any friends you are planning to meet there. Cost: $20 per person. Register in advance by Jan. 21: jlive. app/events/1407. Compiled by Sy Manello/Editorial Assistant. Send items at least 14 days in advance to calendar@thejewishnews.com.

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SPOTLIGHT

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Merger provides young Jews around the world increased opportunities to visit, study, work and live in Israel.

irthright Israel, the largest educational tourism organization in the world, and Onward Israel, the leading provider of midlength immersive experiences for young adults in Israel, have merged. Combining these two organizations strengthens Israeldiaspora ties by providing expanded opportunities for more Jewish young adults to participate in travel, study and professional development experiences. By merging Birthright Israel’s 10-day educational tours and Excel Fellowship program with Onward’s longer-length internships, study and immersive living experiences, the organization will more effectively be able to reach young Jews around the world with a variety of engaging programmatic options. As a result of the merger, Onward Israel will become a program offered by Birthright Israel, with Gidi Mark continuing to serve as International CEO of Birthright.

Ilan Wagner, formerly the CEO of Onward Israel, will become vice president of Onward programs at Birthright Israel. “Our primary goal has always been to give every Jewish young adult around the world a trip to Israel in order to help strengthen identity and connection with Israel,” said Mark. “The pandemic has been the greatest challenge we have faced on the road to achieving that goal, but by merging with Onward we take the next great step forward, ensuring that more young people have the opportunity to experience and develop a deeper relationship with Israel and its people.” Despite the headwinds posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Birthright Israel is optimistic about 2022 and beyond. Birthright Israel plans to resume trips as soon as it is safe to do so, for individuals who are vaccinated or have received a booster in the last six months. Meanwhile, the organization continues to experience massive enthusiasm for future trips, with tens of thousands of individuals pre-applying to participate.

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OBITUARIES

OF BLESSED MEMORY

KLARA ABAYEV, 91, of Oak Park, died Jan. 6, 2022. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, David and Larisa Abayev of Commerce Township; grandchildren, Regina Abayev, Marina Abayev; great-grandchildren, Ashton, Lior. Mrs. Abayev was the beloved wife of the late Abram Abayev; dear sister of the late Jenya Shkolnik, the late Bella Halfin. Contributions may be made to any charity dealing with assisting first responders for COVID-19. A funeral service was held at Hebrew Memorial Chapel. Interment took place at Machpelah Cemetery in Ferndale. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel. GILBERTINA MARY BALLANTYNE (RENA) AMIT, 83, loving wife and mother of three children, passed away on Jan. 8, 2022. Rena was born on Feb. 28, 1938, in Ayrshire, Scotland, to Gilbert and Jean (Watson) Watt. She spent a lifetime teaching several generations of children through early education at Kibbutz Barkai in Israel, Workman’s Circle and Gan Shalom in Oak Park. In 1965, she married Avraham Amit in Cyprus while living in Israel. They raised two sons, Gil and Natan, and one daughter, Alit. Rena had a passion for

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JANUARY 20 • 2022

OBITUARIES

OF BLESSED MEMORY

An Artistic Life

arilyn Schechter of West Bloomfield, known for her bright smile and independent spirit, died on Jan. 2, 2022. She loved her family with all her heart, filled her life with deep and lasting friendships, and was an accomplished artist, continuing to work late into her life. Marilyn was the beloved wife of Neal Schechter for 39 years, until his death in 2007. Together, with their partners, Larry and Ina Stevens, they dedicated their summers and their lives to running Camp Walden, providing a safe place for

Marilyn Schechter

generations of children to play and grow. She grew up on Tracey Street in Detroit, attended Mumford High School and earned a master’s in fine art from Wayne State

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21 Shevat Jan. 23 Suzanne Bartholomew Mollie Hoffman Reizel Kertes Stephen Levitz Samuel Neimark Bessie Radner Ernest Weinberg Irving Weissman Samuel Yagoda Sam Zirulnik

23 Shevat Jan. 25 Fannie (Blonder) Blinder Samuel Carmen Molle Cohen Sol Copin Betty Dobbs Anna R. Goldberg Lawrence N. Keller Annette M. Kunick Sarah Saltsman Fanny Ann Smith

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24 Shevat Jan. 26 Edward Bunin Anna Dora Dinkin Devorah Goldfarb Esther Grinwald Lena Holtzman Pearl Rottenberg Ben Weinstock 25 Shevat Jan. 27 Nathan Bakalar Jerry (Jerome) Bielfield Tillie Feldman Sarah Goldman Bernice Kaplan Mendel Simon

Hyman Waterstone Anna Tamaroff Witzel 26 Shevat Jan. 28 Michoel Ben-joseph Harry Neil Brodsky Wolf Cohen Esther Glicksman Arthur Louis Goulson Riva Gula Selma (sadie) Levine Theodore Lipman Leon Meckler Alexander Roberg Jennie Shore Leon J. Simon Geoffrey I. Spector Fannie Yaker 27 Shevat Jan. 29 R. Edward Berman Fanny Bokhaut Ernest H. Chayet Melvin Earl Duchan Sophie Engelman Saralee Gordon Ruben Grevnin Rose Hershman Rudolf Rib

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University. Known as an active listener with many followup questions, Marilyn was always interested in the latest news in the lives of her family and friends. She dressed with flair, frequently wearing chunky jewelry and dark lipstick. Her home was decorated with modern furniture, funky collections of baskets, tiny porcelain shoes and several pieces by one of her favorite artists, Alex Katz. For many years, Marilyn was also an active volunteer in the advocacy group WAND (formerly Women’s Action for Nuclear Disarmament)

Of the hundreds of art pieces Marilyn made, she’s best remembered for an installation she was chosen to create, in the ’90s, for a display window of the old J.L. Hudson’s store in Downtown Detroit. Upon the blank canvas of an empty space, she designed a structure of several, 12-foothigh paneled-walls covered in thousands of dried, leathery-brown banana peels. Her friends and family fondly recall helping Marilyn by saving all their banana peels. For many years, Marilyn kept a studio in a warehouse in Pontiac, where other

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artists had studios, too, bouncing ideas off each other. In her studio, she was surrounded by materials she had been collecting for years, like antique doll heads, fanciful fabrics and buttons of all shapes, sizes and colors. If she saw beauty in a thing, it might sit on a shelf — and in her mind — for years until one day, the idea hit to combine two old things and make one completely new thing. Her work was frequently featured in galleries in the Detroit area, including shows at the Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit Focus Gallery at Wayne

State, Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit, Detroit Artist Market and Whitdel Arts. She particularly enjoyed being in the company of artists at residency programs, including Millay Arts in Austerlitz, N.Y. Marilyn was the beloved daughter of the late Isadore and the late Rose Levin; loving sister of Mark Levin (Pam Levin); cherished mother of Buffy Schechter Levy (Stephen Levy) and David Schechter (Janet Gridley); loving grandmother of Noah Levy, Ethan Levy and Henry Schechter; dear

sister-in-law of the late Robert (Bluma) Schechter, Howard (Barbara Lee) Schechter, Ronnie (Sheila) Schechter and Andrea (Ricky) Visconte; proud aunt of Drew Levin, Brett Levin, Greg Schechter, Marc Schechter, Rachel Schechter, Michelle Parker, Steven Schechter and Marla Schechner; loving niece of Leonard and Ann Baruch, and Ed and Bess Levin. Those who wish to further honor the memory of Marilyn Schechter may do so by making a contribution to Taproots at Camp Walden, which provides outdoor learning

experiences to children from underserved communities; or Jewish Family Service/Geriatric Care Management, where professional geriatric care managers work to identify needs and then develop customized care plans for older adults in need. Upon her death, Marilyn left several works of art behind. If you loved Marilyn and would be interested in giving one of her pieces a good home, at no charge, please let the family know here: https:// tinyurl.com/fskyst7r. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

Serving each family. Consoling each heart. For 105 years.

JANUARY 20 • 2022

OBITUARIES

OF BLESSED MEMORY continued from page 49

learning; she spent her free time studying the history of Scotland and the lands and people of the Bible. She was also an avid music lover and loved playing the piano all her life. Rena was preceded in death by her husband, Av; and her son, Natan. She is survived by her son, Gil, and his wife, Lisa; and their children, Kaitlyn and Ryan; her daughter, Alit, and her husband, Kirk; and their children, Aylie, Zina and Greyson; her daughter-in-law, Kristie; her children, Quintin and Wyatt, her brother, Ian; several cousins, nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, at Alit and Kirk’s home,

JANUARY 20 • 2022

30600 Lahser in Beverly Hills, MI 48025 from 2 to 5 p.m. PETER GREEN, of Sunland, Calif., died of natural causes on Aug. 26, 2021. He was the beloved son of the late Alexander and Rose Green. He will be greatly missed by brother, Ivan of Farmington Hills, and the many other relatives and friends who mourn his passing. They feel blessed by his intelligence, generosity, wit and humanity. DAVID KAHAN, 93, of Bloomfield Hills, died Jan. 8, 2022. He is survived by his wife, Terry Kahan; sons and daughtersin-law, Douglas and Ilene

Kahan, Jeffrey and Tammy Kahan, and Michael Kahan and Tina Alabhosaria; grandchildren, Eryn and Max Rebner, Noah Kahan, Nicole Kahan, Hannah and Nicole Figueroa, Sara and Matthew Brodsky, Rachel, Seth and Jeremy Kahan, and Naomi and Leora Kahan; great-grandchildren, Shane and Harris Rebner, Reece and Quinn Brodsky, and Asher Figueroa. Interment was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to AIPAC, 251 H. Street N.W., Washington, D.C., 20001, aipac.org; Boys Town Jerusalem Foundation of America, 209 W. 29th St., Suite 6250, New York, NY 10001, boystownjerusalem.

org (founded in the wake of the Holocaust and dedicated to providing an outstanding education for Israeli children of all races and socio-economic backgrounds, Boys Town Jerusalem is a residential school located within Israel’s pre-1967 borders); or B’nai B’rith Youth Organization, 7115 Orchard Lake Road, Suite 220, West Bloomfield, MI 48322, bbyo.org/donate/ michigan. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. ADRIENNE MAROFSKY, 73, of Southfield, died Jan. 4, 2022. A graduate of Southfield High School, she also attended

Wayne State University. A positive, kind, caring, loving and helpful individual, she never complained even throughout her illness. Adrienne is survived by her sister and sister-in-law, Lenore Marofsky of Hollywood, Fla., and Marcia Marofsky; many other loving family members and friends, including Jeffrey and Linda Levitin, Ricky and Lauren Levitin, Mark Levitin, Steven Marofsky, Stacey Marofsky; and their children, Myrna Shanker and Cheri Pentzien. She was the loving daughter of the late Dorothy and the late Lewis Marofsky; beloved sister of the late Bernard Marofsky; dear friend of the late Norma and the late Lenny Levitin. Contributions may be made to Michigan Humane Society, 30300 Telegraph Road, Suite 220, Bingham Farms, MI 48025; or Yad Ezra, 2850 W. 11 Mile Road, Berkley, MI 48072. A graveside service was held at Hebrew Memorial Park. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.

OBITUARY CHARGES The processing fee for obituaries is: $125 for up to 100 words; $1 per word thereafter. A photo counts as 15 words. There is no charge for a Holocaust survivor icon. The JN reserves the right to edit wording to conform to its style considerations. For information, have your funeral director call the JN or you may call Sy Manello, editorial assistant, at (248) 351-5147 or email him at smanello@ thejewishnews.com.

Invested In Others

osalie Rishavy, born Rosalie Berman, died in her sleep, surrounded by family, on Dec. 31, 2021, of complications from Parkinson’s disease. She will be remembered fondly by her many friends and family as a fierce proponent of equal rights, the rights of workers and desegregation. She was an avid reader, loved to entertain and adored her family. Rosalie was born in Detroit to Faye (Steiner) and Louis Berman. Home with asthma frequently as a child, she learned to love reading and escaped into books. She learned to love the arts and classical music from her Aunt Ida, who took her to plays and concerts. Rosalie graduated from Detroit Central High School in the class of 1957. She met Kenneth Tucker in a music appreciation class, while they were both students. Married, she continued her education and achieved a B.A. from Wayne State University in 1961. When they divorced in the 1970s, she returned to school and earned her master’s in education, graduating with both her boys in attendance. She would later use the degree professionally and as a volunteer tutor for students. Rosalie was true to her commitments to equality. Professionally, she worked for 20 years in the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, investigating allegations of employment discrimination. As a parent,

Rosalie Rishavy

she brought referendums to the school district to desegregate Oak Park and Royal Oak Township schools. When this repeatedly failed, Rosalie had her own two children bused every day to Carver Elementary school so that they would grow up appreciating diversity. Rosalie was introduced to Edward Rishavy by friends at a Michigan Democratic Party fundraiser. They had a loving marriage from 1997 until his death in 2015. The couple enjoyed hosting dinner parties for friends and family, traveling by car to small towns throughout Michigan and New York, spending time in their second home on Lake Huron, attending DSO concerts and other cultural events in Detroit and many other activities. After she retired from the EEOC, Rosalie went back to a previous career as an English and reading teacher, which she continued until 2016. She will be remembered as the founder of the Bagel and Lox Kentucky Fried Chicken Book Club. She was a staunch supporter of the Democratic party and liberal social causes

her entire life. After she died, her children found that she had long-term monthly contributions to a wide array of different liberal and humanitarian institutions. She may be best remembered for her amazing culinary skills. When people talk about Rosalie, they often refer to a specific meal or dessert she prepared for them. Her sons especially remember her apple pies. Her latkes were anticipated every year, and the promise of her matzah balls ensured her family would gather for Passover. Rosalie is survived by her two children, David Tucker (Laura Strubel), Hadar Tucker (Pat Wells); her sister, Evelyn Mack (Charlie Mack); five grandchildren, Rachel, Ethan, Elena, John and Anastasia Tucker. Rosalie was predeceased by her husband, Edward Rishavy; and her parents, Faye (Steiner) and Lou Berman. The family plans to hold a memorial service at the Temple for Humanistic Judaism (formerly Birmingham Temple) this year, where Rosalie’s ashes will join Edward’s in the Peace Garden. Timing of the memorial will depend on the COVID epidemic. In the meantime, those wishing to honor her memory with a charitable contribution in her name might consider Planned Parenthood, the Michigan Democratic Party or the Parkinson’s Foundation. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

JANUARY 20 • 2022

Looking Back

From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History accessible at www.djnfoundation.org

A Yiddish Literary Giant

ast fall, I read about a “lost” novel of the great Yiddish author and playwright Sholem Aleichem. For some unknown reason, this novel, Moshkeleh Ganev or Moshkeleh the Thief, was left out of Aleichem’s 28-volume collected works. First published in a Yiddish Warsaw newspaper in 1903, it was rediscovered by writer Curt Leviant, who translated Moshkeleh into English for the first time. A “lost” novel? I had to read it. I figured I could do with a bit of enlightenment. I was rewarded by this brief, entertaining Mike Smith read. Alene and The protagonist, Graham Landau Moshkeleh, is a horse Archivist Chair thief from a long line of horse thieves, a real tough guy, always ready to fight, but also known to be a clever fellow. In Aleichem’s portrayal, he is a professional, not unlike a skilled lawyer or doctor. In the book, Moshkeleh is recruited by a tavern owner to bring back his daughter, Tsireleh, who had eloped to a monastery with a non-Jewish tax collector. The story is also a parody upon relationships between elites and the lower classes. Universally known by his chosen pen name, Sholem Aleichem, the writer Solomon Naumovich Rabinovich (1859-1916) was one of the foremost creators of Yiddish literature. Born in Russia, his stories of life in the shtetl, told with humor, are literary treasures today. The play and movie Fiddler on the Roof was inspired by Aleichem’s short stories about “Tevye the Dairyman.” I decided to search in the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History to see the local scope of Aleichem’s impact. It was overwhelming. “Sholem Aleichem” is cited 4,705 times in the Archive; 790 for “Sholom Aleichem.” It should be noted that Sholem Aleichem is Yiddish for the Hebrew “Shalom Aleichem,” or may “Peace be upon you” or “Peace to you.” It can also

JANUARY 20 • 2022

be spelled Sholom Aleichem, which is indeed the spelling used for the novel, Moshkeleh the Thief. Some of the citations in the Archive, therefore, refer to the greeting, not the author. Suffice it to say that Aleichem has a huge presence in the Archive. Over the years, there have been hundreds of events at men’s and women’s clubs, Hebrew schools, and synagogues and congregations featuring readings and plays from Aleichem. Readings of his work were aired on local Jewish radio shows. And, in 1926, the Shalom Aleichem Institute was established in Detroit and is still going strong, preserving the Yiddish language and presenting educational programming in honor of the writer. Aleichem’s work was featured in other ways. The Detroit Jewish Chronicle published several of Aleichem’s short stories in full: See “Passover in a Village,” in the April 15, 1927, Chronicle, for one example. The Yiddish Playhouse on Hastings Street in Detroit would present his plays ). There are (March 3, 1926, Chronicle). also many reports and discussions of Aleichem’s work and his place among the global literati in the Archive. Aleichem made several trips to America and moved permanently to New York City a few years before his death. He traveled to Detroit in May 1915. On his first visit to America, Aleichem was introduced to Mark Twain as the “Jewish Mark Twain.” Twain retorted, “No, I am the American Sholom Aleichem!” (Dec. 4, 1931, Chronicle). Sholem Aleichem was a literary giant. The Davidson Archive offers proof of his status. Want to learn more? Go to the DJN Foundation archives, available for free at www.djnfoundation.org.

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DJN January 20, 2022

Articles inside

Looking Back

Obituaries

The Exchange

Celebrity News

Community Calendar

Slice of Life — and More

Ain’t No Passing Craze

From the Home Kitchen of Chef Aaron

Why the Giving of the Torah is a Turning Point in History

Healthy Food, Fast

Shine a Light on Antisemitism

Essays and viewpoints

Ice Sculpture

80 Years Ago

The Rabbi and the Shrink

A Helping Holiday

Planning a Trip?

A Mitzvah Weekend