DJN January 27, 2022 by The Detroit Jewish News

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200 Jan. 27-Feb. 2, 2022 / 25 Shevat- 1 Adar 1 5782

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Hostage Aftermath Examining the courage required to be a rabbi, community support, antisemitism and security issues. See page 14

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contents Jan. 27-Feb. 2, 2022 / 25 Shevat- 1 Adar 1 5782| VOLUME CLX, ISSUE 24

PURELY COMMENTARY

ERETZ

4-12

Essays and viewpoints.

OUR COMMUNITY 14

Hostage Aftermath

Examining the courage required to be a rabbi, community support, antisemitism and security.

FACES&PLACES 38

SPORTS

Jewish Meditation

MAZEL TOV

New course explores mindfulness and spirituality.

At Last

Ann Arbor City Council condemns weekly synagogue protesters as antisemitic.

JFS Outreach

“Frum-friendly” Lev Detroit initiative targets Orthodox community.

HEALTH 23 26 30 32

Try these tips to ensure you get your z’s.

JFS to Educate on Disordered Eating

HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY Educating the Public on the Holocaust

Posen Library makes “teaching clips” available to the public.

Kaddish for Jewish Communities

Holocaust memorial books document Jewish life and death.

About two dozen athletes will represent Detroit this summer at the revived JCC Maccabi Games.

Moments Torah portion

The Power of Empathy

Synagogue Directory

ARTS&LIFE 46

An Homage to ’80s Music

Old-Time Country

An Officer and a Gentleman comes to the Fisher Theatre. Corn Potato String Band performs at The Ark.

Talmudic Legal Thinking

Celebrity News

Anxiety off the Charts? As Omicron surges, so do Michiganders’ anxiety levels

Small but Mighty

Sign Me Up, Coach!

Consider a health coach to get you back on track for 2022.

SPIRIT

Struggling to Sleep

Jewish Women’s Foundation grant will expand education and training to prevent eating disorders.

Temple Shir Shalom’s Tikkun Olam-a-thon

University of Michigan Removes Schlissel as President

Former University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman has been appointed interim president.

Israeli Figure Skating Duo Chase ‘Impossible Dream’ To Beijing

Author brings humor, sports and celebrities to this serious topic.

EVENTS 53

Community Calendar

FOOD 54

From the Home Kitchen of Chef Aaron French-Style Yogurt

ETC.

Spotlight

Winter Soup Drive

The Exchange 55 Obituaries 56 Looking Back 62

Check Online for Breaking News! The JN’s print production schedule often precludes us from covering news in a timely manner. (The JN you receive in your mailbox on Thursday was written and finished the week before.) Therefore, we strive to bring you the most up-to-date news on our website, thejewishnews.com, where you’ll find stories about breaking news in real time. If you have a tip about breaking news or a story you’d like to see covered in the JN, please send an email to jheadapohl@thejewishnews com.

Shabbat Lights

Shabbat starts: Friday, Jan. 28: 5:23 p.m. Shabbat ends: Saturday, Jan. 29: 6:28 p.m. * Times according to Yeshiva Beth Yehudah calendar.

thejewishnews.com Follow Us on Social Media: Facebook @DetroitJewishNews Twitter @JewishNewsDet Instagram @detroitjewishnews ON THE COVER: Cover photos/credit: Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker/Congregation Beth Israel via JTA Cover design: Michelle Sheridan JANUARY 27 • 2022

PURELY COMMENTARY opinion

Jews And Muslims Can Walk a Common Path. Martin Luther King Jr. Showed Us How. EBOO PATEL AND JOSHUA STANTON JTA.ORG

JANUARY 27 • 2022

ROBERT LYLE BOLTON/FLICKR COMMONS

n 1957, at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered words whose wisdom continue to resound today: “For the person who hates, the true becomes false and the false becomes true. That’s what hate does. You can’t see right. The symbol of objectivity is lost. Hate destroys the very structure of the personality of the hater.” When a weekend meant to commemorate Dr. King was shattered by the hostagetaking at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, we called upon each other as longtime friends and colleagues to find a better path forward for our respective communities. We feared that hate could disrupt the relationship that we had long shared and held dear. Because the hostagetaker was a Muslim man apparently intent on freeing a Muslim women convicted on terrorism charges, opportunists are already hard at work exploiting our trauma in order to pit Muslims and Jews against each other. In the spirit of Dr. King, equally embodied in the tireless bridge-building of Rabbi Charles Cytron-Walker of Congregation Beth Israel,

A quotation at the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial in Washington, D.C., reads “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”

we feel called to explore a new blueprint for how we can resist the temptation to allow hate to beget hate. This is but an initial sketch, no doubt with much input needed from lay leaders and clergy from across the Muslim and Jewish communities. First, we need to change the story. Extremists are of no faith tradition but their own: extremism. We need to stop framing the conversation as community against community, so much as Muslims and Jews together against a common enemy. We need to call out and sideline extremists, leaving them isolated in their own camp. To that end, we suggest reflecting on the hostagetaker at Beth Israel as an extremist from the United Kingdom with heinous goals unbefitting any faith. Second, we need to tirelessly build bridges among the rest of us. We

are all feeling isolated after two years of pandemic. We need to go out of our way to call friends, neighbors and relatives across lines of faith just to reaffirm the significance of relationship. Today, in the wake of the Jan. 15 trauma, Muslims should call their Jewish friends. Tomorrow, unfortunately, in a world brimming with hate, it may need to be the other way around. The rest of the time, both should call — and call upon — each other. Third, we need to develop a knowledge and appreciation of each other’s traditions. It is easy to fear an “other” that you do not understand. We need to visit each other’s houses of worship, read each other’s sacred texts, learn how people live out the tenets of their faith and culture, understand how each tradition inspires Jews and Muslims to serve others, and how we all struggle with

challenging concepts and ideas in our respective faiths. Fourth, we need to expand our existing infrastructure of collaboration. The American Jewish Committee’s MuslimJewish Advisory Council holds the potential to expand its regional reach and engage hundreds more leaders across the country. Local collaborations, such as that which exists between New York’s Cordoba House and East End Temple, should welcome new partners and look into opportunities for larger-scale programing. College campuses are ideal spaces for interfaith cooperation, especially through projects that combine service, learning and dialogue. Fifth, we need to build entirely new paths to connection. We are working with Rabbi Benjamin Spratt of Congregation Rodeph Sholom in Manhattan to

opinion gather a book group for clergy, so that we can study deeply and reflect upon social issues that we can best address together. We need to establish advocacy coalitions to push together for better governmental monitoring of Islamophobia and the overdue confirmation of Dr. Deborah Lipstadt as U.S. Special Envoy to Combat and Monitor Antisemitism. We need to dream about more Muslim-Jewish community centers and shared spaces for gathering. We need to create a joint fundraising mechanism to seed new ventures and increase resources for grassroots organizations like the Muslim-Jewish Solidarity Committee and the Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom. We have countless common causes but have underbuilt mechanisms to act upon them. In honor of Rabbi Cytron-Walker’s heroism and longstanding commitment to interfaith collaboration; in memory of Dr. King; for the sake of ourselves and our children, we are called to do better. The American Muslim and Jewish communities are vibrant, empowered and open-minded. In the wake of Colleyville, we need to build as never before. Together, we can. Eboo Patel is founder and president of the Interfaith Youth Core and author of the forthcoming book, “We Need to Build.” Joshua Stanton is rabbi of East End Temple in Manhattan, Senior Fellow of CLAL – The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, and co-author of the forthcoming book, “Awakenings.”

For The Country’s Sake, Netanyahu’s Trial Must Go On

he more opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu’s trial moves forward, the more it appears his indictment, in which hundreds of millions of shekels have been invested and which has dragged Israel into a state of political Haim Shine chaos, was in JNS.org fact aimed at promoting a government revolution. And it worked. Central witnesses for the prosecution, who are mainly state witnesses, have now become witnesses for the defense. Police investigators on the witness stand say they did not really know what they were supposed to investigate, beyond the expectation they find a few testimonies to incriminate a target marked as corrupt in advance. The investigative methods have been revealed to be questionable, bolstering the impression that witnesses were improperly pressured and told what to say, among other things. Such methods are reminiscent of those used in dark regimes that combine propaganda, mass psychology and disinformation. It seems every reasonable citizen has now come to understand that it is not just the opposition leader who is on trial but senior

law enforcement officials, who have severely damaged Israeli democracy. We will pay for the damage for many years to come. There cannot be genuine rule of law when the public’s level of trust in the law enforcement system has been reduced to an unprecedented low. Netanyahu, therefore, did right by the State of Israel when he refused to surrender and decided to fight for his innocence. Had he quit, the cases against him would have likely been closed, and his bitter rivals in the media would have praised his courage. His obstinacy will pay off for all of us and will ultimately lead to the comprehensive and vital repair of the justice system. In recent days, the question of a plea bargain has been brought to the table. This is a complicated issue, and an agonizing deliberation for Netanyahu. We must, however, differentiate between the private and the public realms. In the private realm, all reasonable people understand Netanyahu’s chances of receiving a fair trial are slim. A sweeping acquittal on all accounts would be too harsh an indictment of the law enforcement and justice systems to which the court belongs. Under such circumstances, a plea bargain could save a lot of

aggravation and years of litigation that could serve as fuel for the slanderous campaign against the former premier. (Even if he were to decide to sign a plea deal, Netanayahu was right not to have agreed to do so earlier. His willingness to come this far has served to expose much of the State Attorney’s Office’s negligence and bias.) Yet out of genuine concern for national values and the future of the state, the trial must go on. The many donors who contributed to Netanyahu’s defense campaign, which managed to raise impressive funds in hours, did so in the belief that the country’s law enforcement system needs to be fixed. This is not about charity for Netanyahu. It’s about the belief that only he can now lead the struggle to reveal the distortion and fix the justice system. Otherwise, every elected official in Israel will be at the mercy of the system. In this manner, Israeli democracy will be handed over to a small and unelected oligarchy whose senior representatives will always find themselves in cushy positions after concluding their public service roles as Israel’s true leaders. Dr. Haim Shine is a faculty member of Israel’s Academic Center of Law and Science, and a member of the Jewish Agency’s Board of Governors. JANUARY 27 • 2022

PURELY COMMENTARY essay

Caught in Ice, Light, Silence

anuary is the month that tries our souls, often bringing the year’s worst weather to Michigan. It turns post-holiday deflation into a sense of lingering dread, a looming despair fueled by bitter winds, interminable lake effect snow and some of the calendar’s shortest days. Robert Each January, Franciosi the physical cold I feel is accompanied by the harsher and icier winds of history. Sometimes they buffet me as I walk across a frozen parking lot on the Grand Valley State campus or crunch my way through drifting snow between buildings. More often they penetrate a warm classroom or the harbor of my

office when I pause to remember the many thousands who once marched through the snows of Poland in 1945. For a host of reasons, Yom HaShoah, which usually falls in April, has become the day when most Jews mark the Holocaust, but I sometimes think that in our northern clime, Jan. 27, designated by the United Nations as International Holocaust Remembrance Day, may be the more appropriate commemorative choice, marking the moment in 1945 when troops of the Red Army liberated Auschwitz-Birkenau. Liberation, though, is a misnomer. Ten days before the Soviets arrived, the Nazis had evacuated nearly all the camp’s prisoners, some 56,000 men and women, marching them west into the Polish winter.

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Elie Wiesel’s Night forever etched this infamous death march in our collective memories, though his account seldom lingers over the cold felt by the malnourished and rag-clad victims. Still, when teaching Night during a Michigan winter, I always try to make this section visceral to my students by asking them to imagine setting out, right then, without their North Face coats and Ugg boots, for a march through the snow to Big Rapids, some 73 miles away. With no food or water, with Germans shepherds tearing at their heels and with pistol shots for those who faltered. THE TORMENTS OF WINTER For me, such a mental exercise always evokes Dante’s Inferno, where the deepest

continued on page 8

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JANUARY 27 • 2022

center of Hell is a vast frozen lake, Cocytus, in which traitors are embedded in the ice. Six hundred years later, what the poet could only imagine had been created by Hitler’s legions on the windswept Silesian plains. Among the many survivor accounts of Auschwitz there are some common observations regarding the seasons: spring was a time of viscous mud that grabbed the prisoners’ wooden-soled clogs; summer was when the camp’s pestilential stench hung over them; but it was the Polish winter that most tormented them, its very approach striking fear in even the most veteran of haftlinge or prisoners. Primo Levi, writing of the onset of winter in the chapter “October 1944” of Survival in Auschwitz, recalls thinking that it would kill seven out

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PURELY COMMENTARY of 10 prisoners who were then building Monowitz, the vast synthetic rubber factory whose construction took thousands of lives, yet produced not an ounce of the precious material. Those who did not die that winter would “suffer minute by minute, all day, every day.” In fact, the very word “winter,” Levi argues, seems inadequate to what the prisoners had to endure. “Just as our hunger is not the feeling of missing a meal,” he writes, “so our way of being cold has need of a new word. If the Lagers had lasted longer, a new, harsh language would have been born; and only this language could express what it means to toil the whole day in the wind, with the temperatures below freezing, wearing only a shirt, underpants, cloth jacket and trousers, and in one’s body nothing but weakness, hunger and knowledge of the end drawing near.” Writing in the wake of his liberation, Levi could not have known that a French woman, who had faced even harsher conditions at Birkenau, was also struggling to find new combinations of words to describe what winter had meant there. Charlotte Delbo was not a Jew and had been sent to Auschwitz in January 1943 as part of a group of 230 women, nearly all of them political activists. Her account of the first winter she endured comprises most of None of Us Will Return, a searing account she wrote in a single month, January 1946, but declined to publish for two decades. In one section, Delbo strives to convey the sensations of standing at roll call amidst the frozen Polish landscape. “The sky is blue, hard and glacial. One thinks

JANUARY 27 • 2022

SANDRA AHN MODE

continued from page 6

of plants caught in ice,” she writes. “It must happen in the Arctic region, when the ice even freezes underwater vegetation. We are frozen in a block of hard, cutting ice, transparent like a block of pure crystal. And this crystal is pierced by light, as if the light were frozen within the ice, as though ice were light.” With more of a poetic sensibility, perhaps, than chemist Primo Levi, she pushes figurative language almost to the breaking-point, as if only such excess could convey what she terms the “deep memory” of Auschwitz. Delbo describes the light as “motionless, wounding,” the “light of a dead planet,” but then settles on evoking the sensations of her comrades as they stand one day for hours in the Polish winter, blinded by the light of the snow-covered plain: “Immobile in the ice wherein we are caught, inert, unfeeling, we have lost all living senses. Not one of us utters, ‘I’m hungry. I’m thirsty. I’m cold.’ Ferried over to another world, we are subject

to drawing breath in another life, we the living dead caught in ice, light, silence.” With the mundane title, “The Next Day,” Delbo conveys Birkenau’s perpetual horrors and routine barbarities, a place where in winter SS guards and their dogs are both clad in warm coats, while an officer on horseback “examines the perfect squares of 15,000 women standing on the snow.” And as they shiver on a field of “dazzling snow,” the women are gripped by a shared fear, wondering “What are they going to do with us?” After hours of standing, of being “turned into statues by the cold,” they finally understand the reason for their interminable assembly: Block 25, the way station to the crematoria, is being emptied, its marked-for-death women prisoners packed into open gravel trucks that drive them to the gas chambers. “Each face is inscribed with such precision over the icy light, the blue of the sky,” Delbo declares, “that it remains marked there for

eternity.” All of the women howl yet make no sound: those on the trucks because they know their fate, though “their vocal cords had snapped in their throats”; those standing on the snowy plain because they were “walled in the ice, the light, the silence.” Central to Dante’s scheme for his Inferno is the idea that all punishments suffered there are just, are based on sins committed in life. With her stark echo of Dante — a figure central also to Levi’s book — Delbo depicts a Hell built upon sin, not justice, in which the innocent, even those who survive the camp, remain trapped in its frozen center. As her comrade Mado says in The Measure of Our Days (1971), “At any moment, carried by a smell, a day from over there returns.” The mere fact of a rotten potato in her vegetable bin sends her back to walking past the camp kitchens, so that “everything surfaces again: the mud, the snow, the blows of the truncheons.” In his poem “Shema,” Primo Levi addresses us directly, we who “live safe” in our “warm houses,” who return each night to “hot food and friendly faces,” entreating us not just to remember those who suffered in the Holocaust, but figuratively to affix reminders of their stories to the doorposts of future generations. “Carve them in your hearts” he entreats, “repeat them to your children.” And so, when late January comes, I gird myself against winter’s harshness and, in my heart, once again join the standing and marching thousands. Robert Franciosi is a professor in the Department of English Language and Literature at Grand Valley State University.

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PURELY COMMENTARY opinion

he Jan. 15 hostage situation at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, has inspired many fears: that there will be more violence directed at synagogues, that this attack will fuel Islamophobia, that increased policing at shuls Raphael will harm Jews of Magarik color. I think there is yet another danger, less immediate but nonetheless worth discussing. As Jewish communities talk more about security, safety concerns may encourage the continued migration of services to Zoom and discourage the resumption of in-person collective gatherings. When the pandemic started, liberal and Modern Orthodox synagogues overwhelmingly canceled in-person services. Such shutdowns saved lives. Many communities began experimenting with online programming. For Purim 2020, I went straight from reading the megillah in-person at an office to reading from it for an online broadcast, when my Chicago congregation canceled its large, in-person reading. Online services present problems for the traditionally observant, like me: Can one convene a prayer quorum, or minyan, over the internet? Which technologies are permissible or not on Shabbat? Then again, Zoom services fill important spiritual and social needs for people stuck alone at home. And they

JANUARY 27 • 2022

even have advantages over in-person gatherings, as remote services are accessible to homebound seniors and people with disabilities who couldn’t attend even before the pandemic. They allow synagogues to reach sympathetic audiences in far-off places. Eventually, communities could save on expensive, large physical buildings. Little by little, a stopgap measure begins to seem appealing as a long-term choice. Concerns about security will only increase this appeal. Providing security is costly and logistically complicated, requiring additional staffing and training. Moreover, fears about hostile attackers encourage us, as COVID19 does, to imagine public in-person gatherings as dangerous, fraught occasions. Given the horrible attacks on synagogues in the last five years, what regular synagoguegoer has never felt nervous about security? Moreover, we worry about a security threat for some of the same reasons we worry about a virus. In-person synagogue services are public; we let everyone in, which means we give up control over whom we encounter. Reading through an AntiDefamation League guide called “Protecting Your Jewish Institution,” I am struck by how the word “public” is used to signal danger: Avoid providing directions to your institution online because they will be “public.” Do not “publicize” details of a trip too widely. Be wary of the “security concerns created by “going public.’”

KELLY SIKKEMA

Importance of In-Person Prayer

The more the “event is open to the public,” the higher the risk. Security protocols, like health protocols, involve managing, controlling and inherently limiting the public. Of course, such management is far easier over Zoom. But that ease comes at a cost. One reason I attend religious services in the first place is that they are public. Much of our social life is not: Domestic spaces are usually restricted to the intimate circles of friends and family; workplaces are ruled by private employers; leisure spaces frequently require purchases to enter. A religious teacher of mine once said that we pray communally to learn to tolerate how obnoxiously other people pray — a suggestion I then found confusing, but which now seems wise. Part of the point of a synagogue is that you do not have control, that you are exposed to others, that you are forced to sit next to those you might otherwise eschew, with whom you would never have thought to share an intimate, spiritual experience. I treasure in-person prayer for other reasons: Participatory singing does not work online, for instance, and

Zoom services tend to divide communities into “performers” and spectators. But even if that were solved, what is lost online is precisely what makes synagogues inflexible, difficult to manage, sometimes sensorily unpleasant or even menacing. I remember how, when I spent a summer abroad in a small European community, two men who had a longrunning personal and financial feud would both wince and smile when they saw each other at Shabbat afternoon services — because each knew he needed the other to make a minyan. That uncomfortable dependence is a benefit of the rigid inflexibility of placebased Jewish prayer. A community is defined by association with people who will never be your friends. Many trends in contemporary life reduce such unpleasant experiences: You enjoy the food you like at your dining table, without having to deal with the other diners; you exercise not in a gym, let alone a public park, but at home with an app; you share virtual space with people chosen for you individually by an algorithm.

INNOVATIVE. ENGAGING. ENLIVENING. TOTALLY CAPTIVATING.

INNOVATIVE. ENGAGING. ENLIVENING. TOTALLY CAPTIVATING. We lead increasingly atomized lives, buying in INNOVATIVE. ENGAGING. ENLIVENING. TOTALLY CAPTIVATING. private rather than being in public. Private spaces are also INNOVATIVE. ENGAGING. ENLIVENING. TOTALLY CAPTIVATING. inherently unequal. Not everyone has a computer, a quiet room and a reliable internet connection to access INNOVATIVE. ENGAGING. ENLIVENING. TOTALLY CAPTIVATING. online services. For all their inclusiveness, online services will likely marginalize unhoused people; they will INNOVATIVE. ENGAGING. ENLIVENING. TOTALLY CAPTIVATING. be most comfortable for All Seasons invites you to discover new perspectives and those with large, spacious houses and up-to-date every moment of new everyperspectives day! All Seasonsenjoy invites you to discover and technology. A synagogue is supposed to be a space in enjoy every moment of every day! which one matters just for being a person — regardless of their means, everyone eats All Seasons invites you to discover new perspectives and the same at kiddush. Reports that the Colleyville every day! and All Seasonsenjoy invitesevery you tomoment discover of new perspectives hostage-taker impersonated an unhoused person looking the moment Joys of Senior Living enjoyFor every of every day! for a shelter are frightening, For the of Seniornew Living but we should be proud that All Seasons invites youJoys to discover perspectives and our synagogues offer a calm enjoy every moment of every day! space for people without any other. Houses of worship are vulnerable by design, and when that space is closed off, whether through security or by going online, something For the Joys of Senior Living is lost. Obviously, these concerns are secondary when lives For the Joys of Senior Living are at stake. (And as we return to praying in-person, communities must learn to be more accessible to disabled people.) Managed by: Ask Us Why! Proud Recipient of the Prestigious Nonetheless, the possibility of an active shooter or the Managed by: Ask Us Why! Proud Recipient of the Prestigious dangers of a virus can also easily become alibis for a convenient erosion of public, physical gathering. That does seem to me something worth worrying about.

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A version of this piece originally ran in J. The Jewish News of Northern California and is reprinted with permission via JTA. Raphael Magarik is an assistant professor at the University of Illinois Chicago. He earned a Ph.D. in English from UC Berkeley.

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JANUARY 27 • 2022

PURELY COMMENTARY opinion

Schools Must Coexist with COVID

am tired of COVID. I know you are, too. But here we are, dealing with a fourth wave of coronavirus, and beginning to wonder if we’re going to work our way all the way through the Greek alphabet and ultimately get to an Dan Schnur Omega variant JNS.org sometime this year or next. At least for those of us who are vaccinated and boosted, each new outbreak is somewhat less disruptive than the one before. The fact that Omicron is so transmittable has left hospitals, grocery stores and other employers scrambling for workers, but the impact of this newest strain has been much more of an annoying inconvenience than a dangerous threat. When COVID first hit, and our knowledge of the virus and our protections from it were so limited, the first priority was to preserve public health, even at immense economic and societal cost. For two years, the crux of the political debate has been about how best to balance those dueling considerations, although the balance has gradually shifted toward reopening. But as the nation’s public schools begin classes again after the holiday break, students and their parents are finding themselves at the center of what may become a brutal political fight over whether and how schools should be operating in this latest iteration of

JANUARY 27 • 2022

the pandemic. We are just beginning to understand the extent of the learning loss that occurred when students were limited to online classes over the last two years — and the even greater damage suffered by children from minority and lower-income communities. We have barely any clue as to the long-term psychological harm these young people suffered from their protracted isolation and desocialization while their schools were closed. The Republicans’ upset victory in the Virginia governor’s race last fall demonstrated the parental dissatisfaction toward prolonged school closures, and Democrats from Joe Biden on down have scrambled to encourage their teachers’ union allies to return to the classroom. But the rapid spread of Omicron over winter break has undermined that strategy, and it now appears that growing union resistance to school reopening will have immense educational and political impact. One New Jersey labor

leader recently cast the familiar health versus economy debate in especially stark terms when he said, “I’d see the entire city of Newark unemployed before I allowed one single teacher’s aide to die needlessly.” Any death is a tragedy that we should make great effort to avoid, but such an absolute standard would require the criminalization of cars, airplanes, pharmaceuticals (and possibly electricity, ladders and fatty foods). In reality, we make these tradeoffs every day, balancing what we believe to be some level of acceptable risk in exchange for both necessities and conveniences in our daily lives. It wouldn’t be possible to hold in-person classes under such criteria — ever. A more measured assessment was offered in the Bay Area, where respected Santa Clara County Public Health Director Sara Cody issued a joint statement with the county’s office of education urging schools to stay open. “We need to find ways to coexist and live with COVID,”

Cody said. “We’ve learned that in-person education is what [students] need and remote learning doesn’t support their mental health, emotional health and academic wellbeing nearly the way that in-person learning does.” To his credit, California Gov. Gavin Newsom successfully pressured the powerful California Teachers Association into a commitment last month to keep the state’s public schools open. But such agreements are often tenuous, and there is already evidence of teacher sick-outs and other efforts to temporarily suspend classroom instruction. And testing shortages, rising caseloads and lack of qualified substitute teachers make it likely that these trends will spread quickly just as parents are preparing to send their children back to school. Newsom, Biden and other Democratic leaders have benefited tremendously from their relationship with teachers’ unions over the years. But while still protecting the health of their constituents, they will need to find a way to prod their labor allies into a more balanced approach. That balancing act won’t be easy — and it carries extremely high stakes for children and politicians alike. 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.

JANUARY 27 • 2022

OUR COMMUNITY

Congregation Beth Israel Synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, Jan. 15, 2022

Examining the courage required to be a rabbi, community support, antisemitism and security.

HOWARD LUPOVITCH

JANUARY 27 • 2022

CONGREGATION SHAAREY ZEDEK

s far back as Abraham and Sarah, Jews have been taught to be a welcoming people. Congregations and those who lead them have long championed the message, opening their doors, literally and figuratively, to their members and the broader community. “These are open spaces; there’s a strong, deeply rooted notion in Judaism about kindness to strangers and welcoming strangers,” says Howard Lupovitch, associate professor of history and director of the Cohn-Haddow Center for Judaic Studies at Wayne Howard State University in Lupovitch Detroit. “So, a synagogue and rabbi, as part of their training, they’ve been taught to imbue and to

teach and to live this value.” The Jan. 15 hostage situation at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, comes as a reminder that abiding by this value is not without risks. Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker had graciously invited a man in from the cold and offered him a cup of tea, unaware the visitor would soon take him and three congregants hostage at gunpoint. In 1966, Rabbi Morris Adler was fatally shot by a 23-year-old congregant while Adler was conducting Shabbat services and a bar mitzvah at Congregation Shaarey Zedek (CSZ) in Southfield. “Because of that tragedy that took place on the Shaarey Zedek bimah, there’s not a Shabbat that goes by that I’m not mindful of the fact Rabbi Aaron Starr that we are at risk,”

says CSZ’s Rabbi Aaron Starr. Security, he says, has been on members’ minds for more than 50 years now. Starr is a longtime friend of Cytron-Walker, who grew up in Lansing. They lived in the same dorm at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and both participated in NFTY Michigan, a Reform Jewish youth group. Starr also is a friend of Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, a New York-based rabbi who ended up becoming part of the story. The hostage-taker demanded Cytron-Walker contact her that Saturday to try and secure the release of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist serving 86 years in jail for attacking American troops in Afghanistan. “I happen to know both of these [rabbis], but it’s not about me, it’s about them and their true heroism and commitment

DEVORAH TITUNIK

KAREN SCHWARTZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

to saving Jewish lives,” Starr says. “And I think all of us are trying to do that, whether it’s compassion for our friends and family, or standing up for what’s right, or literally saving someone’s life, if that’s what we’re called upon to do.” He pointed to the courage of rabbis all over the world in speaking truth to power, bringing to light issues of ethics and morality, and trying to address questions of justice in a world rife with injustice. “A rabbi, by his or her nature, has to be courageous in ways large and small,” Starr says. “Please God, we won’t have to be put in the situation of defending our community physically the way Rabbi Cytron-Walker did, but it takes a lot of courage to be a rabbi.” Devorah Titunik, a longtime member of Congregation Beth Israel who grew up in Ann Devorah Arbor, was Titunik watching the livestreamed Jan. 15 Shabbat

ANDY JACOBSOHN/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES VIA JTA

Hostage Aftermath

Ra Cy co Co Is Te

JCRC/AJC Receives Interfaith Support

Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker with congregants at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas.

STACY GITTLEMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

NY JEWISH WEEK

Rabbi Asher Lopatin, executive director of Detroit’s Jewish Community Relations Council/ American Jewish Congress (JCRC/AJC), said that in the days following the Jan. 15 terror attack, there was a great outpouring of statements of support by community leaders and leadRabbi Asher ers of other faith Lopatin groups, including Christians, Muslims and Hindus — all condemning the terror attack. They referred to the incident as antisemitic, and several lauded Rabbi Charlie CytronWalker for his leadership and bravery. They also expressed gratitude that the hostages survived physically unharmed. Lopatin said the terror attack occurring on the Shabbat of Martin Luther King Jr. weekend made it even more jarring. Yet, he said he could feel the love and support of the wider community as he spent the weekend participating in events to mark the holiday. He went to synagogue Sunday morning and then on to an interfaith church service with the Coalition for Black and Jewish Unity at Greater New Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in Detroit. The service was led by Rev. Kenneth Flowers with participation from local Jewish clergy. Lopatin said he felt the embrace and support of Detroit’s Black community. “Rev. Flowers spoke about how concerned he had been and praised the Lord for the release of the hostages,” Lopatin said. “The Jewish community is strong … but we do need that love and embrace.”

— RABBI AARON STARR

service when she heard ranting and shouting. She was shocked to learn her rabbi and three congregants were being held hostage. “During the ordeal, I thought, if I was ever in such a situation, [Rabbi Charlie] would be the person I would want with me because he’s such a calming presence,” she tells the JN. “After learning the details since they escaped, I feel certain that he is the reason they all survived.” The recent incident hit close to home not only because of Cytron-Walker’s local ties — his Michigan family includes his mother, brother, sister and extended family — but also because a terrorist disrupted a sacred

community on a sacred day in a sacred space, Starr says. He says he hopes people are moved to do something more in their Jewish journey as a result of recent events and that each Shabbat service will bring more people in attendance, whether physically or online. “Our response to antisemitism has not changed,” Starr explains. “The best response to antisemitism is to do our utmost to protect Jewish lives, including supporting the State of Israel, and also to live meaningful, committed Jewish lives in which we find joy, pride and blessing in our Judaism.” In addition to all the agencies working behind the

scenes, Michigan’s Jewish community leapt into action Jan. 15 as word of the crisis spread. “The Talmud tells us every Jew is responsible for one another,” Starr says. “And the Torah tells us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. I think if you merge those two ideas, you have the community that we have, that truly cares and supports each other when we need it most.” Local rabbis and Jewish agency leaders mobilized quickly to offer CytronWalker’s Michigan family support as the situation unfolded. Hearing the news in Texas, Rabbi Mark Miller of Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Township immediately Rabbi Mark reached out to Miller Cytron-Walker’s sister, a congregant. He met her brother when Miller was a rabbi in Houston. “From the start, my goal was just to be supportive in

TEMPLE BETH EL

“A RABBI, BY HIS OR HER NATURE, HAS TO BE COURAGEOUS IN WAYS LARGE AND SMALL.”

continued on page 16

JANUARY 27 • 2022

ANDY JACOBSOHN/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES VIA JTA

A police team at work at Congregation Beth Israel, Colleyville, Texas, Jan. 15.

whatever way worked for her,” Miller says. “... It is paralyzing to simply wait in fear.” Miller usually does not use email or social media on Shabbat, yet he put out a post to inform the Beth El community and to ask for prayers while also protecting the identity of the rabbi’s family members. Additionally, he sent a message to the Temple’s board of trustees and notified them that he would only send out another notice once the situation was resolved to honor the family’s privacy. “We are all so thankful for the overwhelming support we’ve received from the entire community,” says Cytron-Walker’s Michigan family in a statement. “We hope that people will use this opportunity to follow Rabbi Charlie’s lead by combating anger and hate with kindness, love and decency.” Beth El’s Miller said the time following the crisis would be a time for outreach and reflection, which would not only include gratitude that the four hostages escaped physically unharmed, but also

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“GOING TO SYNAGOGUE SHOULDN’T TAKE AN ACT OF COURAGE. IT SHOULD LITERALLY BE A SANCTUARY, AND SO WE HAVE TO FIND THAT BALANCE BETWEEN SECURITY AND BEING WELCOMING AND OPEN.” — GARY SIKORKSI

“a serious discussion about the nature of antisemitism and our security at Temple.” STAYING VIGILANT Though Jewish organizations are built on being inclusive and welcoming, they must also be secure for those who use them. Technology certainly plays a role, but ultimately training, policies, procedures and protocols are key to keeping everyone safe so they can have a meaningful communal experience. “Going to synagogue shouldn’t take an act of courage,” says Gary Gary Sikorski, director Sikorski of communitywide security for the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. “It

MYJEWISHDETROIT.ORG

continued from page 15

should literally be a sanctuary, and so we have to find that balance between security and being welcoming and open. It’s a tough balance to find sometimes.” Sikorski emphasizes that security is “everybody’s business,” meaning that if community members see something unusual, they should report it, and also that people should make sure, when shopping for a school, daycare or synagogue, that they consider the security in place. At the same time, with that awareness, life at Jewish institutions must keep thriving. “I think we have to carry on as normally as possible,” he says. Primarily through Federation efforts, the community has invested significant funds to improve target hardening

and has put technology in place — with the goal of making sure every synagogue has the ability to lock its doors and vet visitors or guests as they come in. But the human element is critical as well, he says. “Having trained staff, especially clergy as well as congregants, is really an important part of an all-hazards response plan,” Sikorski says. “This [Texas] incident clearly illustrates the importance of training, planning and preparation.” Federation’s security program started in 2006 and, in 2008, increased its reach with security in place at Jewish agencies and on the Eugene and Marcia Applebaum Jewish Community Campus in West Bloomfield as well as the A. Alfred Taubman campus in Oak Park. In 2013, Federation

ANTISEMITIC BAROMETER From the standpoint of understanding incidents in a broader context, there’s been a move toward looking

You Can Fight Antisemitism

Anti-Defamation League suggestions: • Speak out against antisemitic jokes and slurs. Silence can send the message that such humor and derogatory remarks are acceptable. • Donate money to organizations that fight antisemitism. • If you encounter an antisemitic website, contact the Anti-Defamation League (adl.org) and/or the site’s host carrier to complain and request that the site be taken down. • Report to the college administration and/or ADL, any incidents of antisemitism that violate campus diversity or harassment codes. • Lobby public officials to take actions and make statements against antisemitism. For more ideas to fight antisemitism, go to bit. ly/33Xk6p6 and adl.org/media/14082/download. at incidents, such as what happened in Texas, collectively — instead of as standalone, isolated occurrences. That necessitates keeping a barometer on antisemitic incidents and considering them as data points reflective of the sentiment in a community or an area, Sikorski says. Recognizing antisemitic incidents and not letting them be minimized is a big part of that process, says Carolyn Normandin, Michigan regional Anti-Defamation League director. She says that while the FBI attributed the standoff to terrorism, an FBI agent in Dallas shortly after the standoff Carolyn Normandin stated that the hostage-taker was “singularly focused on one issue” that was not related to the Jewish community. “This was really not helpful,” she says. “The FBI quickly rectified the agent’s statements, but, unfortunately, people who want to downplay antisemitism in this country seized on the agent’s comments, and that is troubling.”

ADL

started a school security program and focused on agencies serving children. In recent years, Federation has additionally helped agencies apply for National Department of Homeland Security grants and offered grant-matching programs to help synagogues improve their security. And when it comes to responding to incidents like the one recently in Texas, Detroit’s community also relies on close relationships with local, state and federal law enforcement, Sikorski says. “We have tried to position ourselves and the Jewish community in Detroit at an even, consistent level of security awareness,” he explains. That means when there’s a quieter period, people may wonder why these measures are in place, but when there’s a spike, they’re glad it’s there. “Incidents like [those at synagogues in Texas, Pittsburgh and Poway, California] tend to increase the community’s awareness,” he says. “On any given Shabbat, something could happen, and we need to be prepared for that.” Over the years, Federation, local police departments and other community organizations have offered active assailant response training, with special training sessions taking place around the High Holidays. Sikorski says this training often extends to congregation members as well as staff at synagogues and also at schools. “There’s been a lot of community training and we expect this will spur more,” Sikorski says.

Antisemitism has been going up steadily in Michigan for several years, she says, pointing to ADL statistics that show an increase of 240% in the state in the last five years. “This rise in antisemitism didn’t happen yesterday or the day before,” she says. “This particular incident [in Texas] is a really painful reminder that synagogues in America continue to be at risk, and there’s no doubt, given what we know so far, that the synagogue was targeted.” In additon to the fact it happened at a synagogue, the incident in Texas also reflects a dimension of antisemitism related to the idea of a Jewish conspiracy and the myth of Jewish power. It suggests Jews have a disproportionate amount of influence over government and also that Jews “control the world” in ways that give them the ability to get immediate results. “He believes in the notion that Jews are powerful,” WSU’s Lupovitch says of the Texas hostage-taker. “He believes in the idea that Jews can wield influence. He went to a synagogue and asked a rabbi to call another rabbi. This way

of buying into Jewish power and privilege is in itself an antisemitic trope.” Detroit’s Jewish communal organizations came together Jan. 15 to address the Texas hostage situation, ADL’s Normandin says. “On a sleepy Saturday in January … we start activating phone trees and making sure people we know do work in this area start engaging.” That meant connecting Cytron-Walker’s local family with resources and also making sure local, state and federal law enforcement had extra patrols at several weekend Jewish community events “out of an abundance of caution,” she says. And while the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and others continue the investigation, so, too, community organizations will continue to improve their collaboration and educate others about antisemitism. “I think it’s really important for Jewish community leaders and Jewish citizens to help everyone they know be allies in [fighting] this horrible trend of the rise of antisemitism,” Normandin says. “We must continue to call this out and seek solutions for this rise in hatred, specifically against us as Jews.” That includes recognizing the role individuals can play when those they know or others make antisemitic comments. It’s tough to tell people that what they’re saying is offensive, she says, but calling it out is crucial. “Antisemitism is way underreported,” she says. “We have to report incidents so we have good data. We have to call people out even when it’s uncomfortable for us.” Contributing Writer Stacy Gittleman added to this story. Contributing Editor Keri Guten Cohen coordinated this report. JANUARY 27 • 2022

OUR COMMUNITY

University of Michigan Removes Schlissel as President

Mark Schlissel

Dr. Edith Eger JN FILE PHOTO

Former University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman has been appointed interim president. JN STAFF

he University of Michigan Board of Regents on Jan. 15 announced it unanimously voted to remove Mark Schlissel as president due to an alleged “inappropriate relationship with a university employee.” They said an anonymous tip came on Dec. 8 alleging that Schlissel, the second Jewish president in U-M’s history, and the sub-ordinate were having an affair. “After an investigation, we learned that Dr. Schlissel, over a period of years, used his university email account to communicate with that subordinate in a manner inconsistent with the dignity and reputation of the university,” the regents wrote in a statement. The board released copies of the emails and text messages in question, which date back to September 2019, as well as its letter to Schlissel informing him he was being fired, in which it outlined some of the most concerning comments. Those include innuendo, Schlissel referring to the person as “sexy” and references to emotional

JANUARY 27 • 2022

distress that seemingly stemmed from the relationship. Other emails the regents released included references to making plans together, an article about sex that Schlissel forwarded to the subordinate and information about gifts he bought the person. “These emails demonstrate that you were communicating with the subordinate through the University of Michigan email system using an inappropriate tone and inappropriate language,” the regents’ letter to Schlissel reads in part. “They also demonstrate that you were using official University of Michigan business as a means to pursue and carry out a personal relationship with the subordinate. “Your conduct as summarized above is particularly egregious considering your knowledge of and involvement in addressing incidents of harassment by University of Michigan personnel, and your declared commitment to work to ‘free’ the university community of

sexual harassment and other inappropriate conduct,” the letter continues. “… There can be no question that you were acutely aware that any inappropriate conduct or communication between you and a subordinate would cause substantial harm to the dignity and reputation of the University of Michigan.” Former University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman has been appointed interim president. Schlissel succeeded Coleman as president in January 2014. He had been provost at Brown University. In a statement, Coleman said that while she was “saddened by the circumstances” under which she was being called back, she was “honored” to fill the role. Schlissel had a base salary of $927,000 a year. He announced last October that he would step down in June 2023, a year before his contract was to expire. The board expects to find someone to take over as president on a permanent basis as early as this summer.

The Shul Hosts Dr. Edith Eger The Shul-Chabad Lubavitch presents “The Ballerina of Auschwitz,” an evening with Dr. Edith Eger on Thursday, Feb. 3, at 6:30 p.m., a program geared for men and women at any stage of life. Participants will hear from her live (she will be joining virtually) as they enjoy a light dinner. A Zoom option is available as well. In 1944, 16-year-old Edith Eger was sent to Auschwitz where she endured unimaginable experiences, including being ordered to dance for the infamous Dr. Joseph Mengele. A thriving Holocaust survivor, acclaimed clinical psychologist and expert in trauma recovery, Eger is an inspiring speaker, human dignity advocate and author. There will also be two opportunities for follow-up with Book Club discussions on her incredible books, The Choice: Embrace the Possible and The Gift: 12 Lessons to Save Your Life. Choose between Sundays at 10:30 a.m., or Mondays at 7 p.m. Dates run from March 6/7, through April 3/4. The event will b held at The Shul - Jack & Miriam Shenkman Building, 6890 W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield. In-person cost is $18; Zoom link cost is $10. To register, go to https://tinyurl. com/yckkv52f.

OUR COMMUNITY

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OUR COMMUNITY A protester stands outside Beth Israel Congregation in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 2020 flanked by anti-Israel and antisemitic signs. On Jan. 18, 2022, the Ann Arbor City Council formally condemned the weekly protests, which had been going on for 18 years.

ALEX SHERMAN/JEWISH TELEGRAPHIC AGENCY

At Last

Ann Arbor City Council condemns weekly synagogue protesters as antisemitic. ANDREW LAPIN JTA

or 18 years, a group of protesters has gathered every Saturday outside one of this city’s synagogues during Shabbat morning services, brandishing signs with slogans such as “Jewish Power Corrupts.” Last week, for the first time, the city council of Ann Arbor issued a formal resolution condemning the protests as antisemitic. The resolution answers the pleas of members of Beth Israel Congregation, a Conservative synagogue just a few blocks from the University of Michigan’s Hillel center, as well as the synagogue’s neighbors. They have appealed to the city for years to take decisive action against the protesters, whom they say are targeting Jews at a house of worship and harassing members of the community. The protesters’ stated purpose is to critique Israel policy, but members of the group frequently bring antisemitic signs and chant antisemitic slogans. The group’s de facto leader, Henry Herskovitz, identifies

JANUARY 27 • 2022

himself as a former Jew and has spread Holocaust denial and praised neo-Nazis in blog posts. A congregant, in addition to a local Holocaust survivor, sued the protesters and the city in 2019, alleging that the protests violate worshippers’ First Amendment rights to safely practice their religion and that the city has not enforced local ordinances that the protesters are violating. That lawsuit was dismissed in September, with the U.S. Court of Appeals ruling that the protesters had a free-speech right to continue their activities. For years the city declined to get involved in what was happening on Washtenaw Avenue. That changed during the city council meeting on Jan. 18, three days after a rabbi and his congregants were taken hostage during services by an antisemitic assailant in Texas. “The Ann Arbor City Council condemns all forms of antisemitism and, in particular, the weekly antisemitic rally on Washtenaw Avenue,” states the resolution, which was

approved unanimously by all voting council members. The resolution also “calls upon the persons who rally to express antisemitism on Washtenaw Avenue to renounce extremism, disband, and cease their weekly show of aggressive bigotry.” The council further “declares its support for the Beth Israel Congregation, their guests, and all members of the Jewish Community in Ann Arbor, each of whom has the right to worship, gather and celebrate free from intimidation, harassment and fear of violence.” “I was just elated,” Beth Israel Rabbi Nadav Caine told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, noting that, in the wake of the failed lawsuit that had targeted the city directly, “it would be a lot easier not to say anything… I really thought it was bravery and an awareness on their part that, in this time, leaders have to speak up about the hate that happens to people who are not in their group.” Caine had moved to Ann Arbor in 2018 after previously

serving as a rabbi in Poway, California — the site of a 2019 deadly antisemitic shooting at a Chabad house. Seeing the council’s resolution come only three days after the synagogue hostage crisis in Colleyville, Texas, Caine said, “was the yin-yang of extreme emotions.” The hostage situation had gripped the world’s attention and renewed focus on antisemitic threats targeting Jewish houses of worship. The rabbi held hostage in Texas, Charlie Cytron-Walker, is himself a graduate of the University of Michigan. But the resolution, which did not mention the events in Texas but did reference antisemitic signs seen at the U.S. Capitol building during the attempted insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, had actually been in the works for months, Caine said. Most notably, he said, it was spearheaded by the mayor of Ann Arbor himself. “This did not come from, like, ‘Jewish friends,’” Caine said, adding that he and the congregation had been cautious about not appearing to fit “the Jewish stereotype of the person who’s making my leaders do something they don’t want to do. In fact, that’s kind of what we’re accused of, which is using ‘Jewish power.’” Reached for comment, Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor said he couldn’t recall the exact origins of the resolution but that it had come out of “conversations” with the Ann Arbor Jewish Federation.

He said the city had issued some proclamation against the group in 2004, before he became mayor, but that a 2021 resolution condemning anti-Asian harassment had “resurfaced” the desire to issue something more forceful against this group. Taylor has spoken out against the protests before and has visited the synagogue to apologize directly to congregants. The protesters “express antisemitic tropes, they peddle in conspiracy and their goal is to disrupt an innocent congregation,” he told JTA. “That is entirely inconsistent with Ann Arbor’s values, full stop.” But, Taylor said, the city had little power to take any further action against them. “People have a right to gather on public sidewalks and to speak there,” he said. “We can’t take action in intervention of anyone’s First Amendment right.” Caine said that Ann Arbor, a college town with a long history of progressive politics and leftist social movements, has a tendency to look the other way when Jews are being targeted. “It did feel to us, it really did — not just to me — that Ann Arbor was no place for hate, except for hating Jews,” he said. But the synagogue held out faith that the city would take a stand, which is partly why Beth Israel had declined to get involved in its own congregant’s lawsuit, Caine said. “We had to consciously ask ourselves, ‘Is the city our enemy?’” he said. “We have to understand they are not.” Ann Arbor City Council meetings have themselves

been regular demonstration sites for local anti-Israel activists whom observers say often cross the line into antisemitism. Even at the meeting at which the resolution was passed, a group during the public comment period held up an anti-Israel sign for the city council camera behind Caine, synagogue president Deborah Loewenberg Ball and Eileen Freed, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor, as they spoke in support of the resolution. The activists also chanted “Stop shooting Palestinians!” after each Jewish speaker finished their remarks. These Ann Arbor residents, who frequently push the city council to adopt anti-Israel resolutions, also associate with the Beth Israel synagogue protesters. One local anti-Israel activist, environmental toxicologist Mozhgan Savabieasfahani, recently declared her intent to run for city council following an unsuccessful run in 2020 in which she had singled out Jewish donors to her opponents in social media posts. Although Caine expects the protesters to continue their weekly actions, he said the statement from the city will still help the congregation a great deal. “When you walk into the synagogue, there’s a pamphlet that explains what’s happening outside,” he said. “So what I now can put in is, ‘I want you to know that this doesn’t represent Ann Arbor’” — and then, he said, he will quote the resolution.

Our STORY When you lend money to My people, to the poor among you, do not act toward them as a creditor; exact no interest from them. Exodus 22:24 This sentence forms the basis for Hebrew Free Loan’s mission. On Shabbat Mishpatim, the words that underlie one of our community’s longest-serving agencies will be read during services in synagogues around the world. Hebrew Free Loan is proud to have assisted Jews in our community for more than 120 years based on this directive. Our Board and professional staff carry out the Mishpatim ideal every week when we provide interest-free loans and caring, thoughtful guidance to Jews across Michigan. We offer loans for personal, educational and small business needs, helping to improve lives, support Jewish families and help our neighbors attain their goals. What is even more important, the money that goes to local families and businesses is generated entirely from local contributions to our loan capital fund. When you give to HFL, you are breathing life into the place you live. When you recommend HFL to someone you know, you strengthen Jewish life across the state. When you come to HFL as a borrower, you trust us to support your goals. So each time a student goes to college, a home gets a new roof, or a bright idea becomes a business, their community is behind them.

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OUR COMMUNITY

JFS Outreach

“Frum-friendly” Lev Detroit initiative targets Orthodox community. LOUIS FINKELMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

ewish Family Service (JFS) of Metropolitan Detroit continues to develop Lev Detroit (lev means heart in Hebrew), directed specifically toward the local Orthodox Jewish community. “Lev Detroit, JFS’s recent initiative to be as frum-friendly as possible, began in 2019 with JFSers Dini Peterson and Sammie Rosenbloom leading the charge,” says JFS CEO Perry Ohren. “This follows almost 100 years of being as welcoming as possible to members of the Orthodox communities.” Dini Peterson, a licensed social worker, now JFS Chief Program Officer for Family & Community Services, began working for JFS in 2011. Since then, she notes, “the Orthodox segment of the community has grown, Dini and JFS has made a special Peterson effort to be a resource to the Orthodox community. We have been working to build up trusting relationships with rabbis, schools and community organizations.” So, she and Rosenbloom spearheaded Lev Detroit. “The history of JFS involves trying to serve all segments of the community,” Peterson says. “JFS efforts grow organically, but Lev Detroit is a new level of investment for the agency. Giving outreach to the Orthodox community a name and devoting resources to it, creates a focus and demonstrates an ongoing commitment.” Last year, Bentzion Belen joined JFS as director of Lev Detroit. He specifies some of the department’s activities: • Orthodox 101: “We provide training to all our staff, and to some outside groups Bentzion including medical centers, to Belen help professional care providers become more sensitive to the cultural background of Orthodox clients, such as a

JANUARY 27 • 2022

concern for kashrut, Shabbat, family purity, holidays and the high cost of school tuition. • “Lev Detroit provides referrals to JFS’s behavioral health department, which employs culturally sensitive licensed social workers, as well as to Family Support Services and other departments within JFS. Lev Detroit may also refer to external resources within the local community and to financial resources available to members of the Jewish community, including Matan Beseter and Yad Ezra.” • For clients who seek more high-level intervention, Lev Detroit provides referrals to culturally aware external therapists. • “We have increased the number of school-based social workers to many of the yeshivot and day schools, serving over 1,400 students within the community.” • The New Family Welcome Basket is a pilot program. “When families move here from outside of Detroit, we present them with a welcome basket that includes a resource guide for the institutions of our community, restaurants, local synagogues (and davening times), Community Links and information about the Women’s Orthodox League (WOL) and Hatzalah. Local small businesses supply a coupon booklet offering discounts for shopping in the area. More than 50 families who moved here since midsummer have received these baskets.” • Another program helps with the cost of school uniforms. “Several of the girls’ schools require uniforms, which can be expensive for families. We have arranged for families to pick up uniforms without charge. To date, we have provided uniforms for 118 students in 50 families.” Regarding JFS’s food assistance program, Ohren says, “We provide food vouchers to help families. The vouchers help families purchase food at local markets and at the Grove for families that purchase at the

entirely kosher market. “In the weeks leading up to Passover,” he says, “we provide an additional $50,000 to $70,000 of food assistance. Passover costs money. We do not monitor the kind of Passover provisions that our clients choose. We want to help people maintain their lives and commitments.” Belen quantifies the project: “Last year, we helped 335 families prepare for the holiday. The program is not just for Orthodox families. We believe that 180 of the families are Orthodox.” Last year, Lev Detroit brought in Rabbi Avrohom Union from California for two talks offering guidance on how to detect and deal with domestic abuse, with one talk for rabbis and another for rebbetzins and women who teach kallah classes. Lev Detroit also cooperates with other organizations. For example, the National Council of Jewish Women provides backpacks filled with schools supplies at the beginning of the academic year. “This year,” Belen reports, “we worked with NCJW to provide 536 backpacks to students from 173 families, many who are Orthodox.” As a new initiative, Bikur Cholim of Detroit provides a packet for new mothers that includes practical items. Lev Detroit contributed resource guides including information about available mental health support. Belen notes that JFS currently employs 14 Orthodox staffers and two Orthodox interns. “Lev Detroit makes sense as an initiative of Jewish Family Service,” CEO Ohren says. “Growth in the Jewish community is now in the Orthodox segment. We are Jewish Family Service: Our first name is ‘Jewish’; we want to serve everyone in the Jewish community. We want to be sensitive to the special requirements of each of the subpopulations that show up at JFS.”

HEALTH

Struggling to

Sleep

re you feeling that tension right about now? Is it the latest wave of COVID that is causing stress? (As if we didn’t have anything to worry about before COVID). Perhaps it’s a personal financial issue? New job or conflict in the workplace? Having a rough time with your spouse or your kid acting up? How did I know? Because we are human and part of being alive is having these struggles. And let’s be honest, the Jewish community is not known for our chilled-out personalities and carefree lifestyles. Pesach is always less than a year away and, frankly, it seems that we sometimes make up something to stress about if there is nothing else major going on. I mean, wasn’t your shul’s board meeting a little bit too intense trying to figure out what they’d serve for kiddush? But how can we go on with our stressful and busy lives without letting these things eat away at our sleep? It’s one thing to feel the stress in the principal’s office

Try these tips to ensure you get your z’s. DORON LAZARUS SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

or the workplace conference room, but what happens when it doesn’t end there? How are we supposed to sleep when that stress lodges inside our neck and back, causing us to toss and turn the whole night in discomfort? Or what about when, as our head hits the pillow, our mind is flooded with worry, doubt, dread and planning our entire life? Insomnia is very real. In fact, we live in the most sleep-deprived generation in the history of the world. The majority of adults in the U.S. will struggle with insomnia at one point in the year, onethird of them experiencing insomnia on a regular basis. But that doesn’t have to be the case. And the solution is not running away from stress either. Although it does sound nice to leave everything behind and relax in a hammock swaying in the Caribbean right about now, it is not always so feasible; and yes, you can sleep well even with everything going on.

Have you ever wondered, how do leaders of nations and generals in the military actually sleep with the pressure of the lives of millions of people in their hands? The secret is not avoiding stress, it’s learning to filter it out and process it differently. Let me offer you some practical suggestions of how to leave stress and anxiety where they belong and out of the bedroom to allow you to sleep great, no matter what is going on. 1. Cell Phone: Yes, I know you’ve probably seen this a hundred times, but honestly, really smart people tend to be terrible at this. You have a choice: your smart phone or your sleep. I know it sounds radical, but unless you are a doctor on call, turn your smartphone off at 9 p.m. It doesn’t belong in your bedroom. 2. Worry Time: You need to give yourself time to get that worrying out of your system. Designate 20 minutes a day, ideally in the evening, and get out a pen

continued on page 24

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and paper and pour out your concerns. Plan your next day. Right out some of your emotional angst. If talking things out is better for you then find a friend. You don’t need to come to a resolution, but you do need to process thoughts and emotions beyond your own head. 3. Sacred Space: Kabbalistically, a couple’s bedroom in their home parallels the Holy of Holies in the Temple in Jerusalem. And that means that the bedroom is for sleep and intimacy — that’s it. Keep your work laptop and your boss’s orders out of there. Working from home can be great; but keep it out of the bedroom. 4. Intense Conversations: How often does it happen that a couple will finally have some quiet time to speak around 10 or 11 p.m., only to then find themselves embroiled in some intense discussion that morphs into an argument about the kids, the finances or the in-laws? Couples do need time to speak these things out, but they need to carve out a different time — not right before bed. 5. Change Your Mindset:

90% of stress is from the way you process the events, not the events themselves. Let’s say you and your family are under financial hardship and drowning in credit card debt. Some things, despite our best efforts, turn out in less than desirable circumstances. But the reaction is up to us. You can create the narrative in your head. One person might think, “I’m never going to get out of this debt. I’m such a failure. I’m going to die impoverished; it’s all over”. While another person can think, “I have phenomenal coping skills. I will totally get through this. I am inherently precious and valuable no matter how my bank account is.” So, the choice is yours. Sleep is literally the foundation of our physical and mental health. It’s one of the greatest investments we can make, yielding a bounty of energy, health and success. Doron Lazarus is a Certified Sleep Science Coach, a Rapid Transformation Therapist and the founder of Executive Sleep Consulting, an online sleep practice dedicated to transforming the sleep of his clients all over the world. He can be reached via email at doron@ executivesleep.org or online at www. executivesleep.org.

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HEALTH

Sign Me Up, Coach! Consider a health coach to get you back on track for 2022.

f you are like most people, you’ve thought of health-related issues and little else during the past year and a half. Yet, at the same time, many of us have neglected our health during the pandemic. If this seems like an oxymoron, consider the Lynn Breuer fact that despite hours spent wiping down groceries and researching the best masks for our families, many of us stopped paying careful attention to what we eat, how much we eat and whether we’re exercising, especially now that chilly weather is here. And somewhere along the way, stress management went out the window as well! If you’ve been feeling tapped out and tired lately, this may be one reason. For most of us, this is caused by unrelenting stress. We were “all hands on deck” in the early days of lockdown, but after the freedoms of low case counts and warm temperatures

of summer and early fall, it is brutal to see that, unfortunately, the end is no longer in sight. This kind of constant stress impacts us emotionally, as seen by increasing numbers of people seeking help for depression and anxiety. It affects us cognitively as high levels of adrenaline cause us to be easily distracted and forgetful. And it impacts us physically in a myriad of ways ranging from hypertension and weight gain to insomnia and broken teeth (from grinding them at night). While there is little we can do to control the outside world, we can take control of our stress levels and our health. When it comes to taking good care of our health, many people are able to do that completely on their own … they are highly motivated and when they say they will lose 20 pounds and exercise more, they just do it. For many of us though, it is not that simple. Sure, we want to lose weight, exercise, lower our cholesterol and blood sugar levels, manage

our stress etc. … but not today. Maybe tomorrow. If this sounds all too familiar, you may be interested to know that health coaches can help you find the motivation to put yourself on the road to better health. A health coach is someone specially trained to help people increase their motivation for making changes in their lifestyle. They can provide assistance with goal setting, education and ongoing support if needed, as well as accountability with weekly or biweekly check-ins. The focus of health coaching is to help us be sure we’re using our time between visits to the doctor wisely. And, best of all, for anyone with at least one diagnosed chronic health condition and a referral from a physician, health coaching is covered by Medicare and offered by Jewish Family Service. One final point to consider: Our ability to manage our health is intimately connected to our cognitive abilities. While

most of us will experience some normal cognitive decline as we age, the pandemic has accelerated the process, causing many people to feel more distracted than usual, noticing slightly more difficulty with short-term memory. Luckily, Jewish Family Service offers Mind Aerobics classes. This evidenceinformed curriculum gives us a way to fight back against cognitive decline, maximizes our brains’ built-in capacity for neuroplasticity and gives our brains quite a workout! Each class targets aspects of our cognition needed for everyday functioning, including reaction time, visual/spatial skills, attention and concentration, memory, language and problemsolving. And, best of all, there’s no workout clothes required! For more information on working with a health coach (one-on-one or in a group setting) or joining a Mind Aerobics class, contact Joely Lyons at (248) 592-1995 or jlyons@jfsdetroit.org. Lynn Breuer, LMSW, CDP, is a licensed clinical social worker, a certified dementia practitioner, a health coach and a New England Cognitive Center master program trainer. She serves as Director of Community Outreach & Wellness at Jewish Family Service. continued on page 28

JANUARY 27 • 2022

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HEALTH continued from page 26

Tips to Help Reduce Stress

Spend time outside … even if it is cold! Being in nature helps release stress so venture outside for a few minutes each day to nurture a sense of wellbeing. Limit exposure to the news. We all need to stay informed about the

laughter (the kind where we laugh out loud) helps us reduce stress. Whether you watch comedies that you don’t admit to watching publicly but make you laugh out loud, or love a good Joke of the Day calendar or app for your phone, having a humorous outlook can help reduce stress levels. world around us. But 24/7 exposure can cause a tremendous increase in our baseline stress levels. Instead, limit yourself to one half-hour news show each day or sign up for one daily news email such as the New York Times Daily Briefing. Make it a point to laugh each day. Deep belly

Exercise. Sustained physical activity causes the release of endorphins in our brains that help improve our mood. So whether you choose to walk, dance, do Tai Chi or jog, get up off the couch (with your doctor’s advice, of course) and move! Socialize. Spending time with others either in person

or virtually via FaceTime and Zoom can do wonders to reduce our sense of isolation and stress. So, put on a clean shirt, comb your hair and plan a game night! Breathe. We can improve our vagal tone, a physiologic component of our stress response, simply by spending a few minutes each day doing breathing exercises. Try inhaling through your nose as if you were inhaling the fragrance of a flower, then slowly breathing out through your mouth in order to blow out all the candles on a birthday cake. In order to elongate your exhale, picture the whole top of the cake covered in candles.

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JANUARY 27 • 2022

anuary and February are some of the toughest months for Michiganders. In previous years, an increase in mental health concerns during this time could be attributed in part to seasonal depression. Now, however, the ongoing COVID19 pandemic and surge of the Omicron variant are making this winter more challenging than ever for people in Metro Detroit. “There’s a feeling of hopelessness right now,” says Dr. Melanie Schwartz, a Jewish clinical psychologist Dr. Melanie and owner Schwartz of Viewpoint Psychology and Wellness, which has locations in Commerce Township and West Bloomfield. “You already have seasonal depression going on. And then you add in COVID, and then you add in people’s everyday problems.”

It’s a combination that’s led to an uptick in people seeking mental health care, Schwartz explains. “We are seeing a lot more depression,” she says. “We’ve definitely seen a resurgence of people’s anxiety related to COVID.” A NEW FORM OF ANXIETY COVID-related anxiety never disappeared, Schwartz says, but it decreased last year when positive case numbers dropped significantly, and it felt like things were slowly returning to normal. Now, however, people are experiencing a new type of anxiety that is largely due to a specific type of fatigue that stems from dealing with what feels like a never-ending pandemic. “People are having more anxiety because this [variant] seems way more out of control and people were doing everything they could to prevent COVID,” Schwartz explains. “People are feeling

very helpless and like they don’t have any control over the situation.” Now, Michiganders are growing irritable. Schwartz is seeing a lot of “when is this going to be over?”-type thinking, with frustration mounting over rapidly changing guidance from the CDC. “The information changes every day, which seems to also create anxiety for people because nobody knows what the right answer is anymore,” she says. “There are those concerns and worries that people aren’t doing what they’re supposed to be doing [because of that].” When it comes to how people are actually handling the Omicron surge, though, Schwartz says the response is mixed. Some people have chosen to quarantine once more and remain in mostly isolated settings, while others are choosing to go on with their lives as planned. AN INCREASE IN HYPOCHONDRIA It’s also a challenging time for people to accurately gauge their symptoms, which is leading to an increase in hypochondria, Schwartz says. “Any little symptom that you normally wouldn’t think twice about… ‘Is it COVID?’ is the next thought that comes to your head. Health anxiety has significantly increased because just about anything can be a symptom at this point.” The uptick in anxiety can also blur the lines between stress-related symptoms and those caused by virus or illness because anxiety can also cause things like headaches, stomachaches, fatigue and a general feeling of being rundown. All these factors

combined mean it’s more important than ever for people to prioritize their mental health, Schwartz says, and to practice self-care. “Self-care is important and making sure that you are doing things for your health,” she explains. “Remember that this time of the year is hardest on everybody in Michigan, so you have to make sure you’re eating healthy, exercising and socializing, whether that’s in-person or virtually.” FINDING BALANCE Communication is key during this difficult time, so being able to have open discussions with loved ones about your personal comfort level matters. “People are still across the board in terms of where their comfort level is with [Omicron],” Schwartz says. “I don’t think there’s any right or wrong; I think you just do whatever you’re comfortable with.” The best way to handle that approach, Schwartz recommends, is to find balance. “You can be talking about it too much and focusing on it too much, and that’s not healthy,” she says. “It can be hard to find that balance when that’s all you see on TV and read; but at the same time, you have to talk about how you feel because you can’t keep it inside. That’s not good for you either.” Ultimately, it’s essential to do what’s right for you, Schwartz says. “Make sure that you’re doing things that you enjoy. You have to be able to balance out something positive with all of the negative stuff that’s thrown at us. “Self-care leads to resilience,” she adds, “that’s what we need right now.”

A Healthier You Starts With

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OUR COMMUNITY

JFS to Educate on Disordered Eating Jewish Women’s Foundation grant will expand education and training to prevent eating disorders. SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

ating disorders can be serious health problems but often are unrecognized or misunderstood. Dini Peterson, chief program officer, Family and Community Services, Jewish Family Service (JFS) of Metropolitan Detroit, says that 9% of the Dini American popuPeterson lation is believed to have an eating disorder — two-thirds of them girls and women. Eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia and binge eating are most common among adolescent girls, but boys and men also may struggle with such problems, she explains. JFS recently received a oneyear $20,000 grant from the Jewish Women’s Foundation of Metro Detroit primarily to train clinicians and educate the community about eating disorders. The goal is to help parents raise children who have an emotionally and physically healthy relationship with food. During National Eating

JANUARY 27 • 2022

Disorder Week—Feb. 21-27, 2022, JFS will offer free educational programs for teens (Feb. 22) and for parents and other adults (Feb. 24) via Zoom. (See sidebar.) The curriculum will focus on preventing “disordered eating” and helping individuals develop a positive body image. “Eating disorders may be underdiagnosed in some groups and JFS is conducting more training to help our staff recognize signs and symptoms. We want JFS therapists to recognize eating disorders even if their clients are accessing treatment for a different reason. Food issues increased during the pandemic because there was more stress and isolation. Who doesn’t feel out of control?” Peterson says. BODY IMAGE AND JEWISH CULTURE Peterson points out that society and the media present messages about body image and diet culture that can encourage individuals to view themselves in a negative way and compensate with detrimental eating habits. Jewish individuals may face

particular eating challenges due to a cultural focus on food that can feel at odds with societal pressure to be thin,” she adds. JFS has connected with Marcy Forta, Ed.D., a holistic nutritionist, who has provided training in Jewish day schools and for JFS staff. Forta, who overcame an eating disorder in her teens, focuses on driving awareness, education and prevention in the Jewish community, Marcy especially among Forta Orthodox individuals. “Food is important in Jewish

life, and we experience significant perfectionist pressure to adhere to a super woman ideal,” Forta says. She cites the importance of young Jewish women feeling pressure to be attractive in order to make a good shidduch. “Being thin as an ideal is more important in Jewish communities,” Forta explains. She stresses the importance of “appreciating your unique self or essence (atzmi in Hebrew).” Forta has founded a nonprofit organization — atzmi.org — to help educate and change attitudes within the Orthodox community with help from JFS. Too often “we moralize food and use it as a reward, which can be very dangerous. Food is not good or bad. It’s a gift from God,” she says. “There is a lot of misinformation about eating disorder signs and symptoms. You don’t have to look emaciated to have one. And there is stigma about mental health, and families can be secretive about eating disorders,” Forta explains. Peterson says that therapy for eating disorders — which can include individual or familybased treatment — can be very successful. When necessary, JFS therapists can refer patients to specialists in the field and to residential treatment facilities through their network, which includes kosher options.

Educational Events for National Eating Disorder Week

Jewish Family Service and Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit are presenting these Zoom events: For Tweens, Teens & Young Adults #RealTalk: A Conversation about Mental Health and Body Image with Victoria Garrick Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. https://jlive.app/events/1491 For Parents & Youth Professionals Eating Disorder Advice from the Experts: What Parents and Youth Professionals Need to Know Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. https://jlive.app/events/1488

OUR COMMUNITY

HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY Deborah Dash Moore

Educating the Public on the Holocaust

Posen Library makes “teaching clips” available to the everyone.

eborah Dash Moore has taught Jewish history surrounding the Holocaust for 30 years and is confident there always is a lot more to be learned by students and teachers. Moore, the Frederick G.L. Huetwell Professor of history and professor of Judaic Studies at the University of Michigan as well as editor-in-chief of the Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, applied that stance throughout the pandemic. Accessing the resources of the Posen Library and apart from her university responsibilities, Moore oversaw the creation of videos digitally available for free by the general public and especially in anticipation of International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Thursday, Jan. 27. “We have a cluster of what we call teaching clips, which are three-to-five minute clips on seven specific topics that are designed to be potentially used for classroom instruction,” Moore explained. “It’s like having a visiting professor come into a class about a specific issue, but each clip is also accessible for anyone who has three-tofive minutes and wants to think about something different.” The topics include “Antisemitism, Holocaust,” “Religious and Spiritual Culture,” “Modern Jewish History,” “Jewish Visual Cultures,” “Secular Jews,” “Gender Studies,” “Jewish Literature” and “Biblical Literature.” For in-depth presentations, Moore serves as moderator for 11 digital events that cover a range of religion-based topics, each running about an hour and prepared in varying collaborations that include the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., Center for Jewish History in New York and the Holocaust Museum Los Angeles. The presentation titled “Jewish Writing During the Holocaust” brought new and valuable knowledge to Moore as she inter-

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

viewed Samuel Kassow, the Charles Northam Professor of History at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., and author of Who Will Write Our History? Rediscovering a Hidden Archive from the Warsaw Ghetto. “I learned of several women poets I did not know about, and one, Zuzanna Ginczanka (1917-1944), wrote the poem ‘Non Omnis Moriar’ that stands out beyond being a literary work,” Moore said. “She wrote about being in hiding during the Holocaust and being betrayed by her landlady, who reported Ginczanka’s Jewish identity to the Nazis before going on to enjoy the poet’s clothes and other things left behind although the poet certainly didn’t have much to leave behind. “What becomes so powerful about this poem is that it names the landlady so the

poem was used to convict the woman after the war. I had never imagined poetry able to be summoned in a trial as testimony, but this poem was.” A wider exploration of the Holocaust is presented in the video “Catastrophe and Rebirth, 1939-1973.” The two guest speakers include Kassow and David Roskies, Sol and Evelyn Henkind Chair in Yiddish Literature and Culture and professor of Jewish Literature at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. Other programs include “Secularism and Religious Tradition,” “What’s New in the Bible,” “Voices of Jewish Women,” “Midwives, Musicians. Soldiers, Rabbis: Whose Stories Will Become Jewish History?” and “Between the World Wars: Great Creativity and Growing Crisis.” Making subjects and materials available digitally falls in line with the Posen Library, which is not a physical library but a published collection available for purchase in hard copy by the Yale University Press and also online for free. The library was founded and funded by Felix Posen, a retired commodities trader. “I think these videos are really interesting because of the ways in which they broaden appreciation of the context of the Holocaust by looking at the entire Jewish world, not just the world of Jews who were under Nazi rule,” Moore said. In discussions pointing to issues of antisemitism and ways of resistance, tapes refer to religious, spiritual, artistic, political and combative responses. “People don’t always recognize there are many ways of fighting back,” Moore said. “That’s one of the things that’s relevant today from these videos.” To access a teaching clip or full program, go to posenlibrary.com, click on “About” and scroll down to “Teaching Clips” or “Events.” The programs also are available on YouTube.

JANUARY 27 • 2022

OUR COMMUNITY

HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY

Kaddish for Jewish Communities

Examples of memorial books from the Zekelman Holocaust Center’s collection.

Holocaust memorial books document Jewish life and death.

ix million Jewish individuals were killed during the Holocaust, and many of the hundreds of European communities where they lived were essentially decimated. Afterward, beginning in the 1950s and continuing even today, some Jewish survivors of European villages, cities and regions began to publish books about their communities. They wanted to document the rich Jewish life of their hometowns, often dating back hundreds of years, and to pay tribute to the family members who had died during the Holocaust. In Yiddish, these books are known as Yizkor Bikhur — memorial or remembrance books. In a sense, they serve as a form of Kaddish — the memorial prayer said for deceased family members — for Jewish communities that were destroyed. Many volumes were published in Israel and the U.S. after the war in a range of formats and languages. Sometimes members of landsmannshaften (organizations of Jews from the same European hometown) published them. Some books, such as the one published by the New Cracow Friendship Society, include individual family tribute pages that list deceased relatives and helped pay for publication. Some communities published more than one memorial book. With black and white photos of rabbis, school children, family groups, synagogues and homes, these books create poignant images of the past. Some include detailed histories of Jewish communities dating back to the 1500s. DAVID-HORODOK The memorial book for David-Horodok,

JANUARY 27 • 2022

a town in Byelorussia, includes photos and descriptions of individual Jewish partisan and resistance fighters. Detroit is home to many descendants of this town, about 60 miles from Pinsk. Heart-breaking first-person accounts document how the Nazis and some cooperative locals first took away the Jewish community’s rights and dignity, then their property and finally their lives. Many Jewish Horodokers were murdered in or near the town in 1941 by the SS and local non-Jewish citizens, as described by survivors in the memorial book. Faiga Weiss, librarian and archivist at the Zekelman Holocaust Center (HC) in Farmington Hills, explains that “memorial books have the capability to give someone identity, a connection to their roots. In Pirkei Avot, [Chapter of the Fathers] Chapter 3, Verse 1, the Mishnah says, ‘Know from where you came, and where you are going…’” These books, she explains “brings the history to your face.” The HC has more than 1,600 memorial books — one of the largest collections in the United States, according to Memorial Books of Eastern European Jewry, published in 2011. An estimated 2,000 memorial books have been published worldwide. The Holocaust has inspired a huge volume of literature, but the memorial/remembrance book designation is limited to volumes that include lists of pre-war community residents and those who died during the Holocaust, Weiss explains. When Rabbi Charles Rosenzveig opened the West Bloomfield Holocaust Memorial Center in 1984 (which later

SHARI S. COHEN

SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Resources for Those Interested in Holocaust Memorial Books

For those seeking a memorial book for a particular town or region, the Zekelman Holocaust Center provides an online list at www.holocaustcenter.org/visit/library-archive/ memorial-book-collection/ Due to remodeling, the collection is currently in storage, but individuals interested in research or in viewing specific books can contact faiga.weiss@hmc.org for assistance. In addition, the New York Public Library offers some scanned memorial books on its website: https://libguides.nypl.org/yizkorbooks The National Yiddish Book Center sell reprints of some memorial books: www.yiddishbookcenter. org/collections/yizkor-books/howto-order Translations of memorial books are available through www.jewishgen.org/Yizkor/ybip.html or www. amazon.com. Source: Faiga Weiss

Oak Park. The book includes descriptions of pre-war life from Eisenberg’s great aunt, Anna Zemmol. Roz Blanck of Franklin, who is active in the local David-Horodok group, has visited the town twice. There are no Jews living there now, she says. The town has a Holocaust memorial sculpture. According to Weiss, new information about the World War II era continues to be discovered. “Holocaust history hasn’t ended yet,” she says. “What I am seeing is that more and more individuals and families are selfpublishing their own personal memorial books for their families in limited editions. Our Museum Shop is proud to feature these local survivor personal narratives.”

BY SHARI S. COHEN

moved to Farmington Hills), a library with archives was an important part of his plan. According to Weiss, “He wanted documentation.” Today the Zekelman memorial book collection is an important resource for Holocaust survivors and their children; individuals doing genealogy research; as well as students, researchers and authors. Cheri Eisenberg, a former Detroiter who now lives in Atlanta, explains that there are two memorial books for David-Horodok — one published in 1957 in Israel in Hebrew and Yiddish, and another in English in the U.S. in 1981. The latter was published with assistance from the David-Horodok’s Women’s Organization, then based in

Examples of memorial books from the Zekelman Holocaust Center’s collection.

German Memorial Books

The Zekelman Holocaust Center has a very large collection of memorial books published by German cities and other organizations. Librarian/Archivist Faiga Weiss says German-speaking volunteers helped the Holocaust Center contact German cities and archives to locate memorial books. They sent the books that they had published at no charge. “The quality of the memorial books was also exceptional. They listed the people who were deported, their birthdates, where they were deported and date of death. Some of the books actually traced survivors and noted where they were currently living,” she says.

Need to find help during a family crisis? Call jhelp at 1-833-445-4357 or visit: jhelp.org Your one-stop for support from Jewish Detroit.

Supported through the generosity of The Jewish Fund and the D. Dan and Betty Kahn Family Foundation.

JANUARY 27 • 2022

ERETZ

Israeli Figure Skating Duo Chase ‘Impossible Dream’ To Beijing She’s from New Jersey, he’s from Ukraine, and they trained together for just three months. ABIGAIL KLEIN LEICHMAN ISRAEL21C

JANUARY 27 • 2022

KRPHOTOGS PHOTOGRAPHY VIA ISRAEL21C

lot of hopes are riding on the skates of Hailey Kops and Evgeni Krasnopolski. The figure-skating pair are among six athletes expected to represent Israel at the Beijing Olympics, Feb. 4–20. And Israel has never medaled at the Winter Games. “Yes, there’s a little pressure — but in the best way possible,” Kops tells ISRAEL21c. This will be the first Olympics for Kops, 19, and the third for Krasnopolski, 33. They’ve already accomplished an astonishing feat by securing one of just 19 slots allotted to figure-skating pairs at Beijing. They began skating together only last June, and yet in September beat out top contenders from countries including China, Britain and Ukraine at a qualifying tournament in Germany. “It was insane that they had a little more than three months to try and qualify for the Olympics,” says Hailey’s father, Steven Kops. “Most teams have been skating for years together to get the timing and connection needed for pairs. They had three months. The music they skated to was ‘The Impossible Dream’ and it truly was impossible.” Even more so because Kops had taken a two-year break from competitive skating at age 17 to finish high school and study at a Jerusalem seminary for the 2020-21 academic year. Kops grew up in northern New Jersey and took on Israeli citizenship upon joining Team Israel in middle school. Krasnopolski has resided in northern New Jersey for 13 years — Team Israel ice skaters often train there, under head coach Galit Chait Moracci, due to the shortage of rinks in Israel.

Israeli figure skaters Hailey Kops and Evgeni Krasnopolski.

Krasnopolski and Kops fell out of touch after Kops went to Israel in the fall of 2020. He assumed her skating days were over. That’s why he didn’t think of her the following spring when he was seeking a new partner for his third Olympic bid. Chait Moracci’s parents — Israel Ice Skating Federation President Boris Chait and Team Leader Irene Chait — did think of Kops but first pursued other options. Finally, on June 8, they phoned her father. When Steven Kops answered the phone, Boris Chait said, “I have two words: Hailey Evgeni.” “You won’t believe this,” replied Kops. “Hailey just returned this morning from seminary.” She quickly accepted the opportunity to be Krasnopolski’s partner. “I have a huge amount of respect for him as a two-time Olympian,” she says.

Krosnopolski tells ISRAEL21c, “I knew nothing about it until Galit called me and said, ‘Tomorrow Hailey will be at the rink.’” He was pleased to find that they had good chemistry and were both committed to the Olympic goal. “Hailey was just crazy enough to believe that if we focused and put a year’s worth of work into three months, we could do it,” he says. A CONNECTION TO ISRAEL Evgeni Krasnopolski moved to Israel from Ukraine with his family at age 3. He started skating at 7, and as a preteen began representing Israel internationally. Having won many doubles competitions, he qualified for the 2014 and 2018 Winter Olympics. He was drafted, like his peers, at 18

COMMUNITY but his Outstanding Athlete status allowed him to continue training and competing. Relocating to New Jersey for intensive training, he returned to Israel every three months to put in his required time on base over the next five years. Hailey Kops first ventured onto the rink at 3 years old under the tutelage of her mother, Lisa, a U.S. Figure Skating Association gold medalist. Within a few years she was winning trophies as a singles skater. When Chait Moracci invited her to join Team Israel at 13, “I didn’t think twice about becoming a citizen of Israel,” she says. “Just being Jewish and growing up modern Orthodox, I always had a connection to Israel even if I do live in the U.S. So to become a citizen was really cool to me.” Kops and her first skating partner, Artem Tsoglin, finished seventh at the Junior World championships in 2019. “When I started doing pairs, I realized I loved it more,” she says. “I’m a bit of an adrenaline junkie, so I love the throws and twists.” GLIDING TO THE TOP After just two months of training, Kops and Krasnopolski finished last at the Cranberry Cup in Boston. “We both needed to adjust some skating issues to make the best of our partnership,” says Krasnopolski. “Because of COVID, we had only two competitions before the qualifier in September. So for the second competition, in New York, we just knew we had to be confident and do it.”

And indeed they glided to the top against all odds. “It’s an honor to be one of the six athletes competing for Israel,” says Kops. “Not many people get the opportunity to quality for the Olympics and going there under the Israeli flag means so much to me. We’re not the only skaters who have to train outside the country they represent. But I feel a connection because I’m skating under the Israeli flag.” She and Krasnopolski practice Sunday through Friday rather than the more usual Monday through Saturday, as Kops is Sabbath observant. She said the partners will “focus on nothing else until we leave for Beijing. We still have a lot to work on.” They are to be joined in China by at least four other Israeli athletes: Two-time Olympic figure skater Alexei Bychenko in men’s singles; Vladislav Bykanov in shorttrack speed skating; and sister-and-brother Alpine skiers Noa and Benjamin Szollos. (More may qualify closer to the Games.) Israel’s largest-ever Winter Games delegation was only 10 athletes, in 2018. In contrast, Israel sent a record 89 athletes to the Tokyo Olympics last summer and brought home two gold and two bronze medals. In Beijing, says Boris Chait, “Our goal is to be in the finals, and it would be amazing if we end up in the top 10. Easy? No. But as one very wise commentator once said, every athlete that made it to the Olympics is a winner and every Olympic athlete has a story to tell.” Reprinted from UnitedwithIsrael.org.

Alpena’s Temple Beth-El Fundraising to Preserve its Windows Temple Beth-El in Alpena, Michigan, is one of the few remaining 19th-century synagogues in the United States. It is a 131-year-old building nestled on a quiet residential street — the only synagogue east of I-75 from Bay City to the Upper Peninsula and, therefore, an oasis of Judaism along Lake Huron. The temple is asking for help to protect and preserve its four historic and irreplaceable stained-glass windows. Over 40 years ago, the Board of Directors had these 80-90-yearold glorious images covered in plexiglass. That plexiglass is now very brittle and fogged. To protect and preserve the beauty of these windows, the temple has started a project to replace

A stained-glass window at Temple Beth-El.

the plexiglass with a stronger protective acrylic that will resist vandalism and will not fog. The cost of this project is $24,500 with $9,500 promised from a FEMA Nonprofit Security Grant. The remaining $15,000 is the temple’s goal for additional fundraising. This is a large expense for a small congregation, so it is seeking support from the public. Contributions can be sent to Temple Beth-El, PO Box 55, Presque Isle, Michigan 49777. Or use the PayPal account on the Temple Beth-El website, www.templebethelalpena.org.

Law Scholarship Offered by JBAM The Jewish Bar Association of Michigan (JBAM) will award a $1,500 scholarship to a law student who exemplifies the character and values of the late attorney Charles J. Cohen. A Michigander at heart, he continually stressed the importance of legal education. It is only fitting that JBAM chose to honor the life and legacy of Charles J. Cohen by naming its educational scholarship in his name. Scholarship applicants must be enrolled full or part-time at a Michigan Law school; a 2L at the time of application submission; in good academic and administrative standing; with a minimum of a 3.00 GPA; committed to practicing law in Michigan; and able to demonstrate a history of involvement

within the Jewish community, the law school community and the legal community at-large. Each applicant must submit: 1. A detailed letter of interest explaining how they meet award criteria, and any relevant connections and commitments to the State of Michigan; 2. A resume; 3. An official law school transcript; and 4. Letters of recommendation (no more than 2) as part of their application. Applications in a single pdf packet are due to Andrew Cohen, andrew@theclo.com, by Feb. 21. The award will be made by March 11 and announced publicly by March 18. Information about the Jewish Bar Association of Michigan can be found at www.jewishbar.org. JANUARY 27 • 2022

faces&places

Temple Shir Shalom’s Tikkun Olam-a-thon

Laurie Nosanchuk and Marcia Scarr make “Sweet Day” boxes for heroes in our community.

COURTESY OF TEMPLE SHIR SHALOM

n Jan. 19, close to 250 members of Temple Shir Shalom joined in-person and online for their annual “Tikkun Olam-a-thon” — a day of social action celebrating both Jewish values and the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. From toddlers to octogenarian participants, there were projects for every age benefitting 10 different local organizations. Projects ranged from making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for Detroit’s homeless to making fleece scarves for elementary students. “We had a blast” and “I love helping others” were just two of the reviews shared by religious school students who were a part of the day. The day was planned in partnership with the Temple’s Social Action Committee chaired by Sallyjo Levine, and SHORESH, the Shir Shalom Religious School, led by Associate Director Andee Liberman. It began with an opening assembly that included a high-energy tefillah (prayer) experience and a presentation from Kristina Rinaldi, the executive director of Detroit Dog Rescue — sharing the evolution of DDR and why taking care of animals was an important value for her family. To be a part of next year’s Tikkun Olam-a-thon or to learn about other religious school and social action programming, contact Shir Shalom at (248) 737-8700.

Elliot, Sadie and Parker Goldman display the bags filled with toiletries and inspirational messages they assembled and created for Heart 2 Hart.

Jenna and Brock Vinter make Snuffle Mats for Detroit Dog Rescue.

High School Youth Group members Abby Samson, Maddy Pitler and Ella Blank make fleece scarves for elementary school students.

JANUARY 27 • 2022

Ariana, Zev and Stephanie Lorber make Helping Hands Bags for Corner Shower and Laundry.

SPORTS

KAREN GORDON

Participants in the JCC Maccabi Games & ArtsFest in Detroit in 2019 filled a blank wall at the closing party with thoughts about what Maccabi means to them.

Small but Mighty About two dozen athletes will represent Detroit this summer at the revived JCC Maccabi Games. STEVE STEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

join forces with athletes from other communities to create teams. These facts create a mixed bag of emotions for Karen Gordon, a Detroit Maccabi delegation head since 1999. “I’m excited the Maccabi Games will be held for the first time since we (Detroit) were a host in 2019. It’s a sign that all is right with the world. It gives us a sense of normalcy,” she said. “But I’m disappointed, of course, that we don’t have more athletes going. “When it was announced last summer that San Diego would be hosting the Maccabi Games in 2022, I said at the time that

Karen Gordon

KAREN GORDON

he JCC Maccabi Games are back. Or, perhaps more appropriately, starting again 40 years after they began. After an unprecedented two-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual Olympic-style sports, cultural and social event for Jewish teens ages 13-16 will return this summer in San Diego. It appears 22 Detroit athletes will attend, perhaps a few more, a steep drop in attendance from previous years. There aren’t enough Detroit athletes to form a team in any team sport. Detroit athletes will

we’d have kids coming out of the woodwork, or we’d have a hard time fielding teams. It’s the latter.” Gordon pointed to several reasons for Detroit’s small turnout. “Unfortunately, we’re not

done with COVID,” she said. “Also, there isn’t a ‘last year’ or ‘year before’ for kids to talk about their Maccabi Games experiences with their family and friends. We’ve lost a generation of kids. We’re starting over.” Gordon said it’s also possible that families had a choice between sending their children to summer camp or the Maccabi Games and chose camp if they had a good experience last year. The JCC Association of North America, which organizes and conducts the Maccabi Games, has decreed that all Maccabi Games participants in San Diego — athletes, coaches, organizers and staff — must be vaccinated against COVID-19. Also, members of host families who can be vaccinated must be vaccinated. “We lost a couple kids because of the vaccination mandate,” Gordon said. Detroit has had more than 100 teens travel to Maccabi Games sites in recent years. ArtsFest joined the Maccabi Games offerings in 2006. Perhaps the high-water mark in recent attendance for the Detroit Maccabi delegation was in 2006, when 90 teens went to Vancouver on a charter plane, and another 30 went to Phoenix. “It’s the only time we’ve used a charter plane,” Gordon said. Three years later, 96 Detroit teens went to Mid-Westchester (New York), 21 went to San Francisco and 10 went to San continued on page 40 JANUARY 27 • 2022

SPORTS Antonio. In 2011, 31 Detroit teens went to Israel, 42 went to Philadelphia and 26 went to Springfield, Massachusetts. In the two years prior to Detroit being a Maccabi Games host in 2019, 59 Detroit teens went to Miami in 2017 and 58 went to Orange County (California) in 2018. About 70 to 75 Detroit athletes and artists were expected to participate in the 2020 Maccabi Games before they were canceled by the JCC Association in March 2020, shortly after the start of the pandemic. The 2020 Maccabi Games sites were Pace University in Westchester, New York, and San Diego. No sites were announced last year.

Here’s a breakdown by sport of Detroit’s 22 athletes for the 2022 Maccabi Games, which will be held July 31 through Aug. 5, hosted by the Lawrence Family JCC. 5 — 14U baseball 4 — Ice hockey 3 — Girls soccer, tennis 2 — Girls basketball, swimming 1 — 14U boys basketball, 14U boys soccer, dance Tennis, swimming and dance are individual sports. Detroit athletes also can compete on 16U baseball and 16U boys basketball teams. There will not be an ArtsFest in San Diego to reduce the number of participants. Gordon said about 70% of the Detroit athletes going to San Diego are age 13 or 14,

JAMIE FELDMAN

continued from page 39

Detroit athletes and artists (from left) Sasha Ruskin, Madison Kessler, Sydney Ruskin, Alexa Kessler, Lizzie Bassin and Allie Bassin have some fun at the closing party for the JCC Maccabi Games & ArtsFest hosted by Detroit in 2019.

which means they have three or two more years of Maccabi Games eligibility. Prospective Detroit athletes for this summer’s Maccabi Games can contact Gordon at karengordon44@icloud. com for information about registration, scholarship opportunities and travel.

There also is information at www.maccabidetroit.com. Gordon also is recruiting additional leadership for Detroit Maccabi. Those interested can send her an email. Please send sports news to stevestein502004@yahoo.com.

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MAZEL TOV! Riley Addison Gutman, daughter of Sarah and Eric Gutman, will be called to the Torah as a bat mitzvah at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield on Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022. She will be joined in celebration by her sister Sydney. Riley is the loving grandchild of Sandy and Cheri Topper, Bonnie and Dr. Leslie Bricker, Karen and Howard Gutman, and Margo and Jeff Lowe. Riley is a student at Norup International School in Oak Park. As part of her mitzvah project, she sold bracelets to raise money for the Camp Walden scholarship program, Taproots. Jacob Potocsky, son of Julie Potocsky and Kevin Potocsky, will lead the congregation in prayer as he becomes a bar mitzvah at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield on Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. He will be joined in celebration by his brother Logan. Jacob is the loving grandchild of Evelyn and Louis Wolff, and Myra and Dennis Potocsky. He is a student at Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit in Farmington Hills. For his most rewarding mitzvah project, Jake contributed to the Feeding Families Project and Food Delivery for the Homeless.

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.

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SPIRIT

TORAH PORTION

Laws That Build Character

very year I am amazed at treat not only him with respect but assist his family with their the lessons in sensitivity that the Torah teaches us needs, too. It’s such a contrast to the in this Torah portion. penal system that we One would think that know, where the perpethe Torah would begin trator exits incarceration its laws (mishpatim), worse off than when given at Sinai, regarding entered, and his family is the High Holidays or the abandoned. service in the Tabernacle Rabbi We also see compassion or the requirement to Boruch Levin when the Torah needs to tithe, etc.; but it first penalize a thief. There is chooses to discuss the Parshat less monetary punishment unsavory person who is Mishpatim: when one steals an animal a thief and needs to be Exodus that necessitates being sold into servitude. The 21:1-24:18; carried on one’s shoulders, Torah is worried about Jeremiah embarrassing the thief, the weakest among us; 33:25-26; and, in order for the than if one stole an animal 34:8-22. thief to be rehabilitated, that’s able to walk on its he is sold to a fine Jewish own. The Torah takes into consideration one’s emotions person who is obligated to

when issuing a penalty. In a fascinating ruling, we see how the Torah expects us to refine our characters. The Torah instructs us to rush to the aid of an animal suffering under too heavy a load. However, if two animals were suffering, one belonging to one’s friend and one belonging to one’s enemy, we are obligated to first assist our enemy’s animal, in order to work on our own character refinement and facilitate a peaceful relationship. In a later ruling, also discussing the care for animals, the Torah prohibits plowing with an ox and a donkey. One explanation is that since the ox chews its cud, the donkey may think the ox was just fed and it wasn’t. This would be insensitive. The commentators extrapolate from this law that an employer must hire people who are compatible and equal in their strengths. One worker should not feel that

he’s carrying most of the load while another struggles to keep up. These lessons in refinement helped hone the character of Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer, a great rabbi from a previous generation (1870-1953). When he walked home in Jerusalem from the synagogue, even when he had difficulty walking, he would go the long way around. When asked why, he explained that since he now must use a cane that taps on the sidewalk, he noticed that he scared off the feeding birds from the birdseed a neighbor provided for them. Fortunate is the one who learns and becomes great by refining his personality. So many of the laws in Mishpatim are so sublime, indicating clearly that the Torah was given by God at Sinai. Rabbi Boruch Levin is executive director at Hebrew Memorial Chapel in Oak Park. JANUARY 27 • 2022

SPIRIT

The Power of Empathy

illiam Ury, founder of the Harvard Program of Negotiation, tells a marvelous story in one of his books. A young American, living in Japan to study aikido, was sitting one afternoon in a train in the suburbs of Tokyo. The carriage was Rabbi Lord half empty. There Jonathan were some mothSacks ers with children and elderly people going shopping. Then, at one of the stations, the doors opened, and a man staggered into the carriage, shouting, drunk, dirty and aggressive. He started cursing the people and lunged at a woman holding a baby. The blow hit her and sent her into the lap of an elderly couple. They jumped up and ran to the other end of the carriage. This angered the drunk, who went after them, grabbing a metal pole and trying to wrench it out of its socket. It was a dangerous situation, and the young student readied himself for a fight. Before he could do so, however, a small, elderly man in his 70s, dressed in a kimono, shouted “Hey” to the drunk in a friendly manner. “Come here

JANUARY 27 • 2022

and talk to me.” The drunk came over, as if in a trance. “Why should I talk to you?” he said. “What have you been drinking?” asked the old man. “Sake,” he said, “and it’s none of your business!” “Oh, that’s wonderful,” said the old man. “You see, I love sake, too. Every night, me and my wife (she’s 76, you know), we warm up a little bottle of sake and take it out into the garden and we sit on an old wooden bench. We watch the sun go down, and we look to see how our persimmon tree is doing. My great-grandfather planted that tree …” As he continued talking, gradually the drunk’s face began to soften and his fists slowly unclenched. “Yes,” he said, “I love persimmons, too.” “And I’m sure,” said the old man, smiling, “you have a wonderful wife.” “No,” replied the drunk. “My wife died.” Gently, he began to sob. “I don’t got no wife. I don’t got no home. I don’t got no job. I’m so ashamed of myself.” Tears rolled down his cheeks. As the train arrived at the student’s stop and he was leaving the train, he heard the old man sighing sympathetically, “My, my. This is a difficult predicament indeed. Sit down here and tell me about it.” In the last

glimpse he saw of them, the drunk was sitting with his head in the old man’s lap. The man was softly stroking his hair. What he had sought to achieve by muscle, the old man had achieved with kind words. SEEING THROUGH SOMEONE ELSE’S EYES A story like this illustrates the power of empathy, of seeing the world through someone else’s eyes, entering into their feelings and of acting in such a way as to let them know that they are understood, that they are heard, that they matter. If there is one command above all others that speaks of the power and significance of empathy it is the line in this week’s parshah: “You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the heart of a stranger: You were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Ex. 23:9). Why this command? The need for empathy surely extends way beyond strangers. It applies to marriage partners, parents and children, neighbors, colleagues at work and so on. Empathy is essential to human interaction generally. Why then invoke it specifically about strangers? The answer is that “empathy is strongest in groups where

TOA HEFTIBA ON UNSPLASH

A WORD OF TORAH

people identify with each other: family, friends, clubs, gangs, religions or races.” The corollary to this is that the stronger the bond within the group, the sharper the suspicion and fear of those outside the group. It is easy to “love your neighbor as yourself.” It is very hard indeed to love, or even feel empathy for, a stranger. As primatologist Frans de Waal puts it, “We’ve evolved to hate our enemies, to ignore people we barely know and to distrust anybody who doesn’t look like us. Even if we are largely cooperative within our communities, we become almost a different animal in our treatment of strangers.” Fear of the one-not-like-us is capable of disabling the empathy response. That is why this specific command is so life-changing. Not only does it tell us to empathize with the stranger because you know what it feels like to be in his or her place, it even hints that this was part of the purpose of the Israelites’ exile in Egypt in the first place. It is as if God had said, your sufferings have taught you something of immense importance. You have been oppressed; therefore, come to the rescue of the oppressed, whoever they are. You have suffered; therefore, you shall become the people who are

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there to offer help when others are suffering. And so it has proved to be. There were Jews helping Gandhi in his struggle for Indian independence; Martin Luther King in his efforts for civil rights for African Americans; Nelson Mandela in his campaign to end apartheid in South Africa. An Israeli medical team is usually one of the first to arrive whenever and wherever there is a natural disaster today. The religious response to suffering is to use it to enter into the mindset of others who suffer. That is why I found so often that it was the Holocaust survivors in our community who identified most strongly with the victims of ethnic war in Bosnia, Rwanda, Kosovo and Darfur. THE POWER OF STORIES I have argued, in Not in God’s Name, that empathy is structured into the way the Torah tells certain stories — about Hagar and Ishmael when they are sent away into the desert, about Esau when he enters his father’s presence to receive his blessing only to find that Jacob has taken it, and about Leah’s feelings when she realizes that Jacob loves Rachel more. These stories force us into recognizing the humanity of the other, the seemingly unloved, unchosen, rejected. Indeed, it may be that this is why the Torah tells us these stories in the first place. The Torah is essentially a book of law. Why then contain narrative at all? Because law without empathy equals justice without compassion. Rashi tells us, “Originally, God planned to create the world through the attribute of justice but saw that it could not survive on that basis alone. Therefore, He prefaced it with the attribute of compassion,

joined with that of justice.” That is how God acts and how He wants us to act. Narrative is the most powerful way in which we enter imaginatively into the inner world of other people. Empathy is not a lightweight, touchy-feely, add-on extra to the moral life. It is an essential element in conflict resolution. People who have suffered pain often respond by inflicting pain on others. The result is violence, sometimes emotional, sometimes physical, at times directed against individuals, at others, against whole groups. The only genuine, non-violent alternative is to enter into the pain of the other in such a way as to ensure that the other knows that he, she or they have been understood, their humanity recognized and their dignity affirmed. Not everyone can do what the elderly Japanese man did, and certainly not everyone should try disarming a potentially dangerous individual that way. But active empathy is life-changing, not only for you but for the people with whom you interact. Instead of responding with anger to someone else’s anger, try to understand where the anger might be coming from. In general, if you seek to change anyone’s behavior, you have to enter into their mindset, see the world through their eyes and try to feel what they are feeling, and then say the word or do the deed that speaks to their emotions, not yours. It’s not easy. Very few people do this. Those who do, change the world. The late Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks served as the chief rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, 1991-2013. His teachings have been made available to all at rabbisacks.org. This essay was written on Feb. 6, 2018.

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JANUARY 27 • 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 27 • 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 West Bloomfield (248) 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 27 • 2022

ARTS&LIFE THEATER

Homage to ’80s Music An Officer and a Gentleman comes to the Fisher Theatre.

JULIE SMITH YOLLES CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Wes Williams and Mia Massaro star in An Officer and a Gentleman

JANUARY 27 • 2022

n March 11, 2020, casting for the workshop reading of the musical An Officer and a Gentleman, The Musical was a go. And then Broadway shut down the next day. In April 2020, the first script reading of An Officer and a Gentleman was moved from in-person to Zoom. “And then the world went silent,” said Dan Lipton, An Officer and a Gentleman music supervisor, arranger and orchestrator. “I honestly thought, at that point, that the project would just disappear. But our team at Work Light Productions decided that we would forge ahead. And, with their financial resources and logistical know-how, we were able to have the workshop.” That was in November 2020, pre-vaccine days. So 18 cast members and 10 creatives from the production team went into a quarantined bubble in Cleveland to hold the in-person script workshop. For three weeks, they only went back and forth from the hotel to the rehearsal hall. “That workshop is the reason why the show exists and why we are able to go out on tour,” said Lipton, who has been the music director

for many Broadway legends including Kelli O’Hara, Audra McDonald, Brian d’Arcy James, Sherie Rene Scott, John Lithgow, Judy Kuhn and for Sting’s The Last Ship. The first U.S. tour of An Officer and a Gentleman launched on Oct. 15, 2021, in Elmira, New York, and will come to Detroit’s Fisher Theatre Feb. 1-13. Prior to this production, previous versions of the musical were performed in Australia in 2012 and the U.K. in 2018. “The show is all about the American military, so it’s very appropriate that we’re finally putting it on in the U.S.,” says Lipton, who grew up in a cultured, upper middleclass Jewish family in New Jersey and received his music composition degree from Northwestern University. “My songwriting heroes — Stephen Sondheim, Irving Berlin, Stephen Schwartz, Marvin Hamlisch and Oscar Hammerstein — were all Jewish.” As a kid, Lipton, 46, attended Broadway shows, performat at arts summer camp, the high school preparatory division of Mannes School of Music in New York City and watched MTV. “Those MTV hits are

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAN LIPTON

“Those MTV hits are burned burned in my head. The fusings of that and listening to my uncle’s record collection is a big part of my work and life. That shaped my cultural diet and my musicality,” Lipton says. TRUE TO THE FILM Lipton assures fans of the 1982 film, An Officer and a Gentleman, which starred Richard Gere, Debra Winger and Louis Gossett Jr., that the musical stays true to the storyline. Resilient U.S. Navy trainee Zack Mayo (played by Wes Williams on tour) is put to the test by Drill Sgt. Foley (David Wayne Britton) while loved and supported by Paula Pokrifki, a local factory worker (Mia Massaro). “The show has all of the bones of the movie, but we’ve updated it to be a more accurate representation of America in 2021. We’ve addressed today’s gender and racial dynamics and have done inclusive casting and empowered the characters. And even though it’s all about the American military, the show presents patriotism without the divisive politics,” says Lipton, who credits the comic relief in the show to actor KD Stevens who plays

Details:

TOP: The cast of An Officer and a Gentleman playing at Detroit’s Fisher Theatre Feb. 1-13, 2022. ABOVE: An Officer and a Gentleman’s Producer Steve Gabriel, Music Supervisor Dan Lipton, Writer/Director Dick Scanlan, Choreographer Patti Wilcox, Dance Arranger Gary Adler (from Huntington Woods) and Associate Choreographer Kelly B.

Jewish character “Cohen.” Lipton was responsible for all musical decisions, which included casting, choosing the perfect playlist of ’80s hits, securing the licensing rights and then putting his talents to work on creating new vocal mash-ups and arrangements. Audiences can look forward to hearing the iconic Grammy and Oscar-winning No. 1 hit “Up Where We Belong” by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes from the movie and other favorites by Steve Winwood, Pat Benatar, Debbie Gibson, Richard Marx, Bananarama, Survivor, Corey Hart, Carly Simon, Rush, Rick Springfield,

Men at Work and Styx. As the man wearing the three hats of music supervisor, arranger and orchestrator, Lipton regularly drops in to check on the show at different tour stops. “I’m the eyes and ears in the house — the guy who roams the lobby and the bathroom, eavesdropping on the audience comments,” Lipton jokes. “You should come see the show to elbow your date when your favorite ’80s hit pops up in our story. All over the country, I can tell we’re hitting a popmusic sweet spot, while telling a timeless romantic story. It’s been very gratifying.”

Performance times for An Officer and a Gentleman appearing Feb. 1-13, 2022, at the Fisher Theatre, located at 3011 W. Grand Blvd. in Detroit are Tuesday through Saturday evening performances at 8 p.m., Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2 p.m., Sunday evening performance at 7:30 p.m. and an open captioned performance on Sunday, Feb. 6, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $39 and include facility and parking fees. Tickets can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com and in person at the Fisher Theatre Box Office. Broadway In Detroit 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 before they will be admitted into the venue. Additionally, all patrons will be required to wear a mask while inside the theater regardless of one’s vaccination status.

JANUARY 27 • 2022

A Stitch in Time:

ARTS&LIFE MUSIC

"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.

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JANUARY 27 • 2022

CORN POTATO STRING BAND

Michigan Writer Tells His Father’s Story in New Novel

Aaron Jonah Lewis, Lindsay McCaw and Ben Belcher

Old-Time Country Corn Potato String Band performs at The Ark.

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

he three members of the Corn Potato String Band began playing fun country music together in 2012, but it’s been almost three years since they’ve been able to appear in person as a trio. With entertainment venues opening again, they’re glad to resume taking their song stylings around Michigan with an appearance Thursday, Feb. 10, at The Ark in Ann Arbor. Sensing their energy geared up, the three dubbed this the “No Spaghetti Arms Tour.” “The main way I’m feeling liberated since the pandemic is by setting time aside to play music with my really good friends,” said Detroiter Aaron Jonah Lewis, a multi-instrumentalist joined by another Detroiter and multi-instrumentalist, Lindsay McCaw, and banjo player Ben Belcher of Alabama. “Getting in front of people and sharing that experience has always been really import-

ant to us, and it’s been hard to go without it.” The instruments the trio plays include fiddle, guitar, bass and mandolin. They joke about what their title represents about themselves and their choice of songs: the ears and eyes of America as the starches of the New World. “We do traditional songs, some new songs and tell the stories that go with the writing of the songs,” said Lewis, a Midwestern-bred entertainer whose immersion in Southern music came after the classical. “We try to do some songs that people will recognize and relate to as well as songs they haven’t heard before. An idea is to unearth gems from the musical past.” An example of their style is the presentation of two versions of a tune based on the fight song of Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va. Lewis does “Washington County” learned as a fiddle arrangement once recorded

UPSCALE CONSIGNMENT & AUC TION HOUSE

by the late famed fiddler country music. It spans the Kenny Baker. McCaw does time period from before “Washington and Lee Swing,” recorded technology was a jazz version early on peravailable. formed by Louis Armstrong. “We’re not trying to play “We love to revel in the what people have heard 1,000 history and connection to times. It’s a little bit of eduthe past, but we’re also very cation. We’re trying to share much about entertainment things that they may not have and humor,” heard before explained and tell the Lewis, whose background.” The Corn Potato group has During the String Band will appeared in pandemic, appear at and out of the Lewis start8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. U.S. “It’s funny ed work on 10, at The Ark, 316 S. how we’ll find a recording, Main Street, in Ann a song that’s “Ragtime Banjo Arbor. $20. (734) 761-1800. theark.org. been played by Revival,” indeFor more information some kind of pendent of his on the group and hillbilly string Corn Potato tour updates, go to band in the ’20s partners. It will cornpotato.com. and ’30s, and it have 27 pieces turns out that arranged for it was written by professional banjo and other instruments composers on Tin Pan Alley and feature 10 different years earlier.” ensembles across the selecLewis, 40, who also teaches tions. instrumental music to private The numbers reach from students, was a violin perfor- “Maple Leaf Rag” popularmance major at Interlochen ized by Scott Joplin to “Pearl before being introduced of the Harem” by Harry Guy, to folk styles and country a Detroit composer going performers by a friend met back 100 years and into ragthrough a Habonim Dror time. program in Israel. While planning for the After working with difupcoming tour, Corn Potato ferent bands and getting to members will include some know different musicians, visuals designed and crafted Lewis asked Belcher and by McCaw. Moved as a scroll McGaw to form Corn Potato. mounted on a couple of rods He had met Belcher through to make up what is known as connections made during a crankie show, the images — the program in Israel, and abstract and representational he got to know McGaw — will roll through to accenthrough participation at an tuate the music. Appalachian String Band Two songs accompanied Festival in West Virginia. by images are “You and a “We’re kind of like a niche Canoe” by Emile Grimshaw of a niche,” Lewis said. “We and “Freckles” by Joe Morley, most closely fit in with what which is on Lewis’ latest people call old-time counrecording, Mozart of the Banjo: try. We don’t sound quite The Joe Morley Project. the same as anyone else. The audience joins in by Although we do think of it imagining for themselves as country music, it’s bolder how the images relate.

Details

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W EG A VEI SNTGR I AC TLILO NS STAT E C O V I D - 1 9 U IRDEE LOI NBESSE&R R G U I D E L I N E S &JANUARY R E S T R27I C•T2022 I O N |S 49

ARTS&LIFE BOOK REVIEW

Talmudic Legal Thinking Author brings humor, sports and celebrities to this serious topic. LOUIS FINKELMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

udi Levine, a native Detroiter who now lives in Texas, has written a lively, funny, readable, informative book about what could be a forbidding topic — legal thinking in the Talmud. This book is not for everyone, though. However, if you fit into the target audience, you will certainly want to read his book, Are You Sure? (Volume 1) How Chazakahs Guide Us Through the Unknown (Shikey Yudi Levine Press). The book focuses on a difficult problem in comparative law: What should courts do when we do not have clear evidence? What should we do when we do not have enough evidence, or when the evidence is unclear or contradictory? Most of our lives, we do not have enough evidence to reach certainty, and yet we still have to decide. Law courts certainly have to reach decisions. In law, some official has to have the power to decide. The legal system can emphasize rules

JANUARY 27 • 2022

for the official to follow “if the ball crosses the plate above the batter’s knees” or it can emphasize empowering the official “if, in the opinion of the umpire, the ball crossed the plate.” The Talmud devotes much thought to the nature of the rules. In the Talmud, a rule to use in cases of doubt is called a chazakah, a legal presumption establishing burden of proof. A chazakah, in Levine’s definition, “guides us through the unknown.” Levine provides us with a systematic classification of the different varieties of these rules. For each rule, he describes its function as it appears in the Talmud. Invariably, the Talmudic rabbis disagree about the scope and meaning of the rules, and later rabbis disagree about what the early rabbis meant. Levine guides us through the disputes with clear conceptual analyses. This is real scholarship. The enthusiastic forward for this book was written by Noah Feldman, Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law at Harvard University and director of its

Program of Jewish and Israeli Law. So, the book provides significant material for serious study. But I described the book as funny, not a typical description of books of Talmudic analysis. Part of the humor comes from this: Levine illustrates each doubt with examples from the world of sports or of popular entertainment. His examples typically convince the reader of the continuing need for systematic thinking about conflicts, and often show the current value of the resolutions suggested by Talmudic rabbis. These discussions startle by rubbing together material from different cultures. Discussions of Talmudic thinking do not often consid-

er the wisdom of the National Basketball Association when it decided to recognize Grant Hill and Jason Kidd as co-winners of the Rookie of the Year award. Would it have been a greater honor to recognize one as Rookie of the Year of the Eastern Conference and the other of the Western Conference? Or does the shared honor as co-holder of the Rookie of the Year of the whole NBA seem greater? Somehow, in Levine’s analysis, this question illuminates a dispute between Rambam and Tosfos about how to analyze the first Mishnah in Bava Metsiah, in which two disputants come to court, each holding the same garment and claiming the whole thing. Discussions of Talmudic

Love Lift US Up thinking do not often consider what Kanye West did when presenting an award to Taylor Swift at the 2009 Video Music Awards — interrupting her presentation to imply that Beyonce deserved the award. Levine judges Kanye West’s opinion correct — Beyonce deserved the award — but the action inappropriate. Levine uses this incident to illuminate the complex Talmudic discussion of a Kohen who seizes the agricultural tax that the farmer, by law, must donate to a Kohen of the farmer’s choice. If the court allows the Kohen to keep his ill-gotten gains, the farmer loses his right to choose a recipient, a right that perhaps should have no significant value. The farmer must not get paid for choosing one Kohen over another. Still, the court does extract the tax from the Kohen, according to Tosfos, as explained by Levine, because “grabbing is simply not the appropriate course of action.” Many writers could evoke pop culture and sports to illustrate Talmudic discussions and still write desert-dry prose. Levine’s jazzy, improvisational and eccentric diction succeeds in conveying his meaning while inspiring an amused smile or even a good belly laugh. But this book is not for everyone. One limitation comes because Levine sprinkles his text with a generous supply of Hebrew and Aramaic terms and names, transliterated in Ashkenazic pronunciation.

Levine assumes his reader has at least some level of familiarity with the terms of Jewish law, with the sages of the Talmud and later contributors to rabbinic literature. A second limitation comes from the opposite direction: Some people who know which end of a Talmud is up have kept away from popular culture. They might feel lost or offended by Levine’s examples. The final limitation: Your reader has to have a sense of playfulness. I would not ask a somber person to try to read this book. But, if you can navigate through a little Talmud, know some sports or pop culture and have a sense of humor, do yourself a favor and get a copy of Are You Sure? While you are at it, get some as presents for other folks who fit the description. This is a happy book. Reading it makes me smile. One aspect of the book, however, inspires sad thoughts. In a few years, the Talmudic analysis will still come across as fresh and accessible; anyone who studies Talmud would find them useful. By then the references to sports and popular culture may have become as obscure as anything in the Talmud; people might need detailed historical notes to make any sense of them at all. The legal analysis in this book will retain relevance for decades, while other parts might become incomprehensible. Maybe that will create opportunities for future scholars.

Opens Tuesday February 1-13, 2022 Fisher Theatre BROADWAYINDETROIT.COM | TICKETMASTER.COM | BOX OFFICE Groups (10+) BroadwayInDetroitGroups@theambassadors.com (subject: An Officer and a Gentleman) OC open-caption performance February 6 at 7:30PM

IF ONLY LIFE WERE AS EASY AS PIE

MUSIC BY SARA BAREILLES (“LOVE SONG,” “BRAVE”)

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JANUARY 27 • 2022

ARTS&LIFE NATE BLOOM COLUMNIST

MYSTERY IN 8 ACTS; BETTY CELEBRATED; GAME-CHANGING VACCINE? AT&T STAR UPDATE The Afterparty is an Apple+ series that premieres on Friday, Jan. 28. It centers on a murder mystery at a high school reunion. Each one of the series’ eight episodes features a retelling of the same night from a different character’s perspective. Each episode has its own unique visual style and film genre to match the teller’s personality. Ike Barinholtz, 44, Ilana Glazer, 34, and Ben Schwartz, 40, play members of the high school reunion class. They each have “their own” episode. Dave Franco, 36, plays Xavier, the murder victim, and Tiffany Haddish, 42, plays a police detective investigating Xavier’s death. Advance reviews are quite good. Celebrating Betty White: America’s Golden Girl is a one-hour special that will air on NBC on Monday, Jan. 31, at 10 p.m.. The special will feature friends and co-stars of White. It will also include a lot of great Betty White clips. I was a bit surprised that the special is on NBC, since White’s most famous roles were in two CBS shows: The Mary Tyler Moore Show (MTM) and The Golden Girls. But, during her long career, she appeared many times on NBC and even starred in a short-lived NBC sit-com in the ’50s. No guest list has been announced as I write this. No doubt, many Jewish folks will appear. Sadly, none of the

JANUARY 27 • 2022

stars of MTM or The Golden Girls will appear. White was the last surviving main cast member of both these shows. I am virtually certain that James L. Brooks, 81, will appear. He praised White right after her death. Brooks, a three-time Oscar winner, co-created MTM and even once had a cameo role on the show, playing a rabbi. He co-wrote the show’s first episode and seven others. It would be great if Ed. Weinberger, 80, and Susan Harris, 81, appeared on the special. Weinberger wrote the episode in which Betty White first appeared on MTM (as Sue Ann Nivens, The Happy Homemaker). He wrote or co-wrote another 19 MTM episodes. Harris created The Golden Girls, and she wrote the first episode. Back in March 2020, I wrote a column item that included Dr. Peter Hotez, now 63. Here’s what I said: “[Hotez] is the director of the Texas Center for Vaccine Development. He frequently appears on MSNBC and CNN. He’s been working with India on a COVID19 vaccine. In 2017, he received the Distinguished Achievement Award from B’nai B’rith International.” Hotez has remained a frequent news show guest. He’s always remotely interviewed in his office and, most of the time, you can see a biography of Israeli diplomat Abba Eban behind him on a bookshelf. The front of this big book is facing out. This “Eban/Israel plug” is clearly intentional. In late December, it

GOODREADS

Ed. Weinberger

CELEBRITY NEWS

was announced that a COVID-19 vaccine that Hotez co-developed with one American colleague had been authorized for emergency use in India and Bangladesh. The vaccine is not being patented (so cost will be very low). India, and other lesser-developed countries, have existing factories that can massively and cheaply produce this “low-tech” vaccine. It could be a global “game-changer.” You might be curious about the AT&T fictional salesperson, “Lily”, in TV ads. Long ago, I reported that Lily was/is played by Milana Vayntrub, now 34. She was born in the former Soviet Union. Her Jewish parents were tired of antisemitism and came to the States in 1989. Milana was then 2 years old. The family settled in Los Angeles. Milana was a modestly successful child actor who didn’t have much career success as an adult actor. Then she got the Lily role in 2013. The Lily ads ended in

2017, only to be revived in 2020. Milana has been an ace salesperson for AT&T. Sales soared when she appeared (as Lily) in 2013 and went down until she returned. After seeing a recent AT&T Lily ad, I was curious if there was anything new to say about Milana. Well, there is. First of all, she now directs the ads she is in. Second, the Lily character is now always filmed so she appears friendly, but business-like, with little attention to her body. Why? Because, like a lot of female celebs, Vayntrub has been photographed on Hollywood red-carpets, etc., in a low-cut dress and she has a voluptuous figure. These photos attracted the attention of idiots who bombarded her personal and corporate social media (Instagram, etc.) with inappropriate and sexually harassing messages. Steps have now been taken to quickly delete such messages.

ON THE GO

PEOPLE | PLACES | EVENTS

SOULFUL YOGA 10 AM, JAN. 29 Adat Shalom Synagogue invites you to join Rabbi Aaron Bergman and yoga instructor Mindy Eisenberg. Connect body and soul as they apply the wisdom of Torah to the gentle practice of yoga. No yoga experience is necessary. There is no fee to participate. For questions, contact 248851-5100. SHALOM SHABBAT 10:30 AM, JAN. 29 Adat Shalom Synagogue invites you to join Hazzan Dan Gross and Rabbi Dan Horwitz for songs, prayers, fun and friends. Registration and information: adatshalom. org/familyshabbat or contact Sammi Shapiro: sshapiro@adatshalom.org; 248-626-2153.

Gail Rosenbloom Kaplan

GET ARTSY 11 AM-1 PM, JAN. 30 Hosted by Jewish Federation Women’s Philanthropy at the Max M. Fisher Bldg., 6735 Telegraph, Bloomfield Hills. Working artist Gail Rosenbloom Kaplan will

help you create your choice of Jewish-themed art. She’ll also give a brief presentation on the history of Jewish art and why she carries on this tradition of artistic expression. You will also help with a collaborative art project of eight beaded kiddush cups that will be donated to Jewish Senior Living dining rooms. A boxed brunch and drinks are included. Register today: jlive.aqpp/events/1408. This event is limited to 50 participants. CLIMATE DIALOGUE 3-5 PM, JAN. 30 This free online event is hosted by JDetroit. Join Rabbi Dr. Eliezer Diamond and art curators Laura Earle, Leslie Soble and Olivia Guterson for a look at the Jewish issues around climate change and environmental stewardship framed around the current exhibit at the JCC’s Janice Charach Gallery, “Environmentally Speaking.” The exhibit is a multi-sensory and accessible exhibition, running through March 3 at the gallery. After registering, check your email for your registration email. It contains the link to join the YouTube Livestream: jlive.app/ events/1449. PSALMS OF CRISIS 2-3:30 PM, JAN. 31 The Jewish Theological Seminary of America sponsors this discussion

Dr. Rachel Rosenthal

series online. In this session, Dr. Rachel Rosenthal will explore some rabbinic sources that focus on grief and the ways that the rabbis use it to transform their circumstances and their communities. The Zoom link for this session will be in the confirmation email you will receive after you register. Registration is free, but there is an opportunity to make a donation after registering: jtsa.edu. JEWISH BLUES 3-5 PM FEB. 1 A University of Michigan Frankel Center for Judaic Studies virtual music program. Luca Bragalini, 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/t77y66uh. ROSH CHODESH STUDY 10-11 AM, FEB. 2 The Adat Shalom

Synagogue Sisterhood invites women from the community to welcome the new month of Adar 1 with a study session led by Rabbi Blair Nosanwisch, director of spiritual care. No charge. RSVP: Rochelle.r.lieberman@ gmail.com or 248-5532498. Zoom link will be provided. DR. EGER SPEAKS 6:30 PM, FEB. 3 At The Shul, 6890 W. Maple, West Bloomfield. “In Conversation with Edith Eger” is geared for men and women at any stage of life. Hear from her live (she will be joining virtually) and enjoy a light dinner. Zoom option available as well. In 1944, 16-year-old Edith Eger was sent to Auschwitz where she endured unimaginable experiences, including being ordered to dance for the infamous Dr. Joseph Mengele. For ticket info: theshul.net/dreger. EXPLORE -ISMS 7:30 PM, FEB. 3 Adat Shalom Synagogue invites you to join Rabbi Aaron Bergman and Rabbi Blair Nosanwisch, director of spiritual care, on Zoom to explore Judaism and Egalitarianism. No fee to participate. To RSVP and receive a Zoom link, contact Kellie Yost, kyost@ adatshalom.org, 248-8515100, ext. 246. Compiled by Sy Manello/Editorial Assistant. Send items at least 14 days in advance to calendar@ thejewishnews.com.

JANUARY 27 • 2022

FOOD

Learn How to Wow Your Employer

FROM THE HOME KITCHEN OF CHEF AARON

French-Style Yogurt

s we have found ourselves at home more and more, many of us have turned to cooking things for ourselves that we’d usually buy without a second thought. For me, such Aaron Egan an item has been yogurt; after making a batch, you suddenly realize that the process is so

easy and so straightforward that you won’t need to shop for yogurt again. (You still will, but … you know.) The most important note is to keep a little bit of yogurt as starter for your next batch — otherwise you’ll get ready to make a new batch of yogurt, only to find yourself buying one small container of plain yogurt to make yourself one big container of plain yogurt. I fill my yogurt into 6-ounce

jars from old purchased yogurts past; you can use jam or jelly canning jars or sealable reusable containers of any type you like. Try to use things that don’t pick up strong flavors — the last thing you want is vanilla-onion yogurt. This is also a great recipe for Shabbos — once it’s been heated, there’s no more cooking. Once it’s in the oven to ferment, it’s done being touched for at least 12 hours.

FRENCH-STYLE YOGURT Yield: About 6-7 5-ounce portions of yogurt Ingredients 4¾ cups of whole milk ¾ tsp. vanilla extract ⅓ cup granulated sugar 1 Tbsp. existing yogurt Directions 1. Pour the milk and sugar into a saucepan and heat on a medium-low flame until it reaches 180°F. Hold between 180°F-190°F for one hour. Stir frequently during the whole process to avoid scorching or cooking the milk proteins. (I always end up with a bit of cooked milk, so don’t worry if it’s not perfect. You want to avoid an actual scorch.) 2. Turn off the heat and let the milk cool down on the counter or stovetop to around 110°F. 3. Put the cultured yogurt into a bowl and add a quarter cup of the warm milk, then whisk until no lumps are left. 4. Pour the mixture and the vanilla extract into the

JANUARY 27 • 2022

saucepan and mix well. 5. Place the jars you will be using on a sheet pan/ baking dish. Portion the final yogurt mixture into the jars. Cover with plastic wrap. 6. Turn your oven on to preheat for 90 seconds. Turn it off, place the yogurt tray in the oven and leave the oven light on. If not possible, a small paraffin wax light or 12-hour tea light-type candle will work to keep the temperature in

the oven slightly warmer than body temperature (in that 100-110 range.) 7. Ferment, untouched, for 12 hours (or more, my last batch went 16 hours.) 8. Remove from the oven and refrigerate for several hours for the best texture. Cover individually once fully cooled. This yogurt will have a thick, creamy consistency and should stand up somewhat when spooned out of the container.

JVS Human Services will hold a free Zoom webinar on Feb. 1 at 1 p.m. entitled “How to ‘Wow’ Your Future Employer in an Interview.” The Zoom program will feature a human resource professional from the med-tech company Xoran Technologies, along with a JVS Human Services recruiter — both have inside knowledge of how to impress a potential employer and how to avoid red flags that could derail the hiring process. To register for the program, go to the events page at www. jvshumanservices.org. The webinar will later be streamed on the JVS Human Services Facebook page. “The New Year is typically a time when people reset the clock and feel excited and hopeful about starting something new and that particularly goes for employment,” said Sherrie James, supervisor of career counseling at JVS Human Services. “The current labor market, which has employers scrambling for the right candidates, gives job seekers a real impetus to make that change now.” James explained that Metro Detroiters also have the option to get more detailed career counseling, computer training and job search assistance from JVS Human Services. The agency can provide direction on the type of employment job seekers might be qualified for, plus personalized interview practice, and advice on resumes and LinkedIn. Those seeking one-on-one career counseling, computer training or job search assistance can email employmenthelp@jvshumanservices.org or call (248) 233-4245.

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Erin Lewis, Brooke Weingarden and Lindsey Maddin

Winter Soup Drive Federation’s Women’s Philanthropy volunteers aim to collect 1,000 pounds of kosher soup this year for Yad Ezra. DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

early two full years into the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of Detroit-area Jewish families requiring food assistance is still near the highest it’s ever been — and, for the second year in a row, there’s a way you can help. Now through Jan. 31, Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit’s Women’s Philanthropy Tikkun Olam Volunteers (TOV) are holding their “Winter Soup Drive” to benefit Yad Ezra. The volunteers are aiming to collect 1,000 pounds of kosher soup — in cans, packages and/ or boxes for the increasing number of families facing food insecurity. The goal is to surpass last year’s collection of 600 pounds of soup. Donations can be brought to the Jewish Federation building on Telegraph in Bloomfield Hills. There’s a drop-off box in the lobby that people can visit any time during normal business hours. Individuals can also donate funds directly to the soup drive at jewishdetroit.org/event/soupdrive2022 if they’re out of town or want someone to buy on their behalf. Yad Ezra accepts kosher soups with an OU or OK hechsher label. Suggested brand names include (but aren’t limited to): Amy’s, Croyden House,

Goodman’s, Imagine, Liptons, Manischewitz, Osem, Pacific, some Kroger brand soups, some Trader Joe’s brand soups and Tabatchnick. Kosher beet borscht would also be especially appreciated by the Russian families who make up 65% of Yad Ezra recipients. Pam Bloom, Women’s Philanthropy vice president, came up with the idea for the soup drive last year. “Our community rallied around this effort to make it a success last year,” Bloom said. “The need is even greater now than previously. We knew we had to do this again — and we are hopeful of reaching our goal of 1,000 pounds.” The three Women’s Philanthropy TOV chairs, Erin Lewis, Lindsey Maddin and Brooke Weingarden, along with Amy Wayne, associate director of Women’s Philanthropy, are also looking to build on last year’s success. “It’s been going great. We estimated we had about 250 pounds of soup after the first week and the monetary donations are going strong as well,” Wayne said. “Just finding out how great the need still is, that it’s only rising and challenges are ongoing … we knew we had to continue these efforts. We’re hopeful of reaching our goal.”

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OBITUARIES

OF BLESSED MEMORY

LENORE. N. BERON, 82, of West Bloomfield, died Jan. 13, 2022. She is survived by her daughter, Rochelle Wetstein; son, Eric Wetstein; grandchildren, Angelo Colella, Hannah Colella, Isabelle Colella and Amanda Wetstein. Interment was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. LOUIS BROWN, 79, of Royal Oak, died Jan. 12, 2022. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Michael and Sheri Brown of Franklin; daughter and son-in-law, Alissa and Bryan Anstandig of West Bloomfield; grandchildren, Matthew Brown, Lauren Brown, Alex Brown, Bradley Anstandig, Emily Anstandig; he is also survived by Sarah Brown and Marsha Vetrone. Contributions may be made to Jewish Family Service, 6555 W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322; Partners Detroit; Hebrew Free Loan, 6735 Telegraph Road, Ste. 300, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301; or to a charity of one’s choice. Funeral service was held at Hebrew Memorial Chapel. Interment took place at Hebrew Memorial Park. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel. continued on page 58

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OBITUARIES

OF BLESSED MEMORY continued from page 57

SUSAN QUINLAN FELDSTEIN, 77, of Bloomfield Hills, died Jan. 15, c. 1985 2022. Susan was born in Chicago, Ill. She graduated from Shrine High School in 1962, Wayne State University in 1966 and Wayne State Law School (cum laude) in 1973. She was a brilliant attorney, a lifelong Detroiter, a feminist pioneer, a passionate lover of dogs and, most importantly, the proudest mother of Rachel (Gary) Feldstein Axelrod and David Feldstein. The family will remember Susan every time they see a German shepherd, hear of a brilliant cause that needs an advocate and feel her love through all the lives she touched. She was the very loving Grandma SuSu to A.J., Nate and Jake; the big sister to Bill (Sue) Quinlan. Susan was preceded in death by her parents, William J. Quinlan and Kathleen E. Bent Quinlan; and her brother, Lawrence J. Quinlan. Contributions may be made to the Michigan Humane Society, to the Israel Guide Dog Center or to the Robert J. Turner Foundation. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel. MYLES HOFFERT, 77, of West Bloomfield, died Jan. 18, 2022. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Ronna Hoffert; children, Julia Rosen, Jared and Julia

Hoffert, and Mara and Flora Hoffert; grandchildren, Justin Rosen, Maya Rosen and Sarah Hoffert; sister and brother-in-law, Honora and Paul Rappaport. Interment was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Hebrew Free Loan, Hoffert-Babcock Fund, 6735 Telegraph Road, Suite 300, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301, hfldetroit.org. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. JUNE LIEBERMAN, 92, of Scottsdale, Ariz., formerly of Birmingham, died Jan. 17,

2022. She is survived by her daughters and son-in-law, Jane E. Smitt, and Peggy and Martin Clancy; grandchildren, Matthew and Kayla Hollander, David Hollander, Julia and Jared Hoffman, Elizabeth Clancy and Megan Clancy. She is also survived by her loving caregivers, Sunny and Ginger. Mrs. Lieberman was the dear sister of the late Adele Borin and the late Nora Wolf; the devoted daughter of the late Mary and the late Louis Siderman. Interment was at Beth El Memorial Park. Contributions may be made to JARC, Smitt Family Fund, 6735 Telegraph, Suite 100, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301, jarc.org. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. JUDITH I. SELITSKY SAMSON, 78, of Novi, died Jan. 16, 2022. She is survived by her husband of 56 years, continued on page 60

JANUARY 27 • 2022

Judaism embraces all facets of life . . . including death. Trust us to assist you with dignity and grace.

Yeshiva Beth Yehudah

expresses its heartfelt and deepest condolences to the family of

Lois Shiffman a”h The Yeshiva has dedicated the learning for this month by our students and Kollel Scholars in the merit of the neshama of Lois Shiffman, of blessed memory. Along with her husband, Dr. Milton Shiffman, a”h, she dedicated her life and efforts to supporting Jewish Education for all. May her virtuous efforts on behalf of the Jewish People and the Detroit community be a blessing to her family and to us all. Gary Torgow President

Rabbi Gershon Miller Dean

Rabbi Shragie Myers Executive Director

JANUARY 27 • 2022

OBITUARIES

OF BLESSED MEMORY continued from page 58

Dr. Michael Samson; sons and daughters-in-law, Rob and Julie Samson, and Danny and Tami Samson; grandchildren, Jordan, Charlie, Olivia, Abby, Josie, Leo and Henry Samson; sister and brother-in-law, Ruth and Lawrence Daniels; brother and sister-in-law, Dr. Mark Selitsky and Dr. Orit Szwarcman; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Barbara and Dr. Michael Sitrin; loving nieces, a nephew and a world of devoted friends. Mrs. Samson was the daughter of the late Esther Cutler and the late Ruben Selitsky. The family wishes to thank the following caregivers who provided unconditional love all the while giving exceptional care: Felicia, Kim, Joy and Jessica. Interment was at Beth El Memorial Park. Contributions may be made to Michigan

JANUARY 27 • 2022

Parkinson Foundation, Judith and Michael Samson Education Fund, 30400 Telegraph Road, Suite 150, Bingham Farms, MI 48025, parkinsonsmi.org; National Council of Jewish Women, Judith and Michael Samson Literacy Enrichment Fund, 26400 Lahser Road, Suite 306, Southfield, MI 48033, ncjwmi. org; or to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. SYLVIA S. SCHEY, 94, of West Bloomfield, died Jan. 18, 2022. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Mickey and Samina Schey; daughters and sons-in-law, Linda and Steve Ross, and Debby and

Steve Sharlin; grandchildren, Emily and Eric Kaczander, Aaron and Sara Schey, Dr. Jordan and Pruthvi Sharlin, Dr. Colby Sharlin, Sydney Sharlin and her fiance, Phil, Justin and Sarah Ross, Marissa and Brian Bailey, and Travis Hurst; great-grandchildren, Calvin Kaczander, Rosa Kaczander, Maya Schey, Mody Schey, Alexander Schey, Lyla Ross, Theodora Ross, Olivia Bailey, Emma Bailey, Eliana Higgs and Reese Higgs. Mrs. Schey was the beloved wife of the late Carl Schey. Interment was at Hebrew Memorial Park. Contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

SHELDON SEGEL, 80, died Jan. 15, 2022, in Florida, where he had been residing since 1975. A native of Detroit, Shel was born in 1941 to Harry and Jean Segel. He served his country in the U.S. Army and later graduated from the Detroit College of Law. He was a kind and gentle soul who loved the outdoors and animals. A loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather and a friend to all, Shel will be greatly missed. He is survived by his two children, Jennifer Berins (Bruce Graham) of Winter Garden, Fla., and Melissa Segel (Greg Houlihan) of Atlanta, Ga.; grandchildren, Amanda (Gil Levy) of Winter Garden,

Jessica of Winter Garden and Lillian Houlihan of Atlanta; great-grandchild, Gavin Levy. A celebration of life with his immediate family is being planned. STEPHEN SPITZ, 85, of West Bloomfield, died Jan. 16, 2022. He is survived by his wife, Helene Spitz; daughter and son-in-law, Marcy Spitz and Dr. Douglas Sternberg of Sylvan Lake; brother, Bruce Spitz; grandchildren, Carly and Elie Sternberg, Ari and Nicky Sternberg, Daniel and Anya Sternberg; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Barbara and Herschel Goldstein, Candy and Larry Spoont. Mr. Spitz was the loving father of the late Kevin Spitz; treasured son of the late Philip and the late Eva Spitz. Contributions may be made to Make a Wish Foundation of Michigan, 7600 Grand River Ave., Suite 175, Brighton, MI 48114; Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, 733 Third Ave., Suite 510, New York, NY 10017. Funeral service was held at Hebrew Memorial Chapel. Interment took place at Beth Tefilo Emanuel Cemetery in Ferndale. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel. EDYE TESSER of Las Vegas, Nev., formerly of the Detroit area, entered into rest on Jan. 14, 2022, after a 16-year battle with brain tumors; it was time for her not to suffer any longer. She is survived by her loving husband, Robert; her twin daughters, Ashlee and Carly (Shlomo Shaul); dearest sister, Marcia (Lane) Hall. She was laid to rest Jan. 18, 2022, in Las Vegas.

A Devoted Family Man

avid Kahan, 93, of Bloomfield Township and Highland Beach, Fla., beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away on Jan. 8, 2022. He was born in Gheorgheni, David Transylvania, Kahan one of six children born to Moshe Chaim and Raizel Toba. In the spring of 1944, he was deported to Auschwitz with his parents, younger brother, Hersch Leib, and sister, Chaya Sara. Only he survived the selection by the infamous Dr. Mengele. David was transferred to the Muhldorf and then Mittergars concentration camps in Germany. He was liberated by the American army on April 30, 1945. Following the war, he stayed in displaced person camps in Germany. At the Fuhrenwald camp, he learned from a friend from his hometown that his older brothers, Ephraim and Mechier, had been in a Hungarian army work camp. Only Ephraim survived and later immigrated to Israel, where he raised his family. His brother Meir Yosef survived the Nazis but died fighting in the 1948 Israel War of Independence. David’s love for America began when he was liberated by the U.S. Army and continued as America

provided opportunity for a wonderful life where he built a successful business from nothing and raised a loving family. In 1949, David was able to immigrate to the United States, settling in Detroit in 1950. He met his beloved wife, Terry, and they were married in 1953 and had three sons. They loved to go dancing, play cards and travel the world; annually, they visited family in Israel. They also attended AIPAC conferences across the country for decades. David went from working in a tool and die shop, to selling shoes, to selling houses, to eventually starting a commercial real estate company, Premier Realty in Troy, Michigan. His three sons joined the family business. He was a fair but tenacious businessman with agreements sometimes completed by a handshake or written on the back of a napkin. He was greatly respected as an honorable and successful businessman. David was passionate about his support of Israel and numerous charities that supported the future of the Jewish people. He shared his Holocaust story with audiences at universities, high schools and civic groups, so that the lessons of the Holocaust would never be forgotten. Over the years, he was honored by various charities and organizations for his lifetime of activism and contributions. The scope of David’s charitable endeavors on behalf of the Jewish community was all

encompassing. At the center of his obsession was the survival of the Jewish people and the State of Israel. He often said that if Israel had been in existence during World War II, then the Holocaust would not have happened and his family would have survived. David especially cherished his 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was lovingly involved in their lives. He imparted to them the importance of family, charity and support of Israel, to continue his legacy. David was dearly loved and will be greatly missed. David Kahan is survived by Terry, his beloved wife of 68 years. He was the devoted father of Douglas (Ilene) Kahan, Jeffrey (Tammy) Kahan, Michael Kahan (Tina Tringali); adored grandfather of Eryn (Max) Rebner, Noah and Nicole Kahan, Hannah (Nicole) Figueroa, Sara (Matthew) Brodsky, Rachel, Seth and Jeremy Kahan, and Naomi and Leora Kahan; devoted great-grandfather of Shane and Harris Rebner, Reece and Quinn Brodsky and Asher Figueroa; he is also survived by loving nieces and family in Israel. Services were at the Davidson/Hermelin Chapel at Clover Hill Park Cemetery and interment was at Clover Hill. Donations may be made in his memory to AIPAC, aipac.org; Boys Town Jerusalem Foundation of America, boystownjerusalem.org; or BBYO, bbyo.org/ donate/michigan. JANUARY 27 • 2022

Looking Back

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

An Odious UN Resolution

ast month, Dec. 16, 2021, marked the 30th anniversary of the revoking of the odious United Nations resolution 3379. Adopted by the UN’s general assembly on Nov. 10, 1975, the resolution “determined” that “Zionism is a form of racism and racial discrimination.” Think of the basic logic of resolution 3379. First, there are variations on the meaning of Zion. Specifically, the word can refer to a hill in Jerusalem. The larger meaning, as Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the term, refers to: “the Jewish homeMike Smith land that is symbolic of Alene and Graham Landau Judaism or of Jewish national Archivist Chair aspiration.” So, if Zionism is a form of racism, then anyone — Jewish or non-Jewish — who supports a Jewish homeland is inherently a racist. By this reasoning, all of us who work for and have worked for the Detroit Jewish News might be considered racists This UN resolution also reflects the particular politics of the era as well as the messy nature of the democratic process at the UN. The list of nations voting for resolution 3379 largely consists of anti-Israel Arab states and supporting allies, including such “role-model nations” as Cuba, East Germany, Pakistan and Mali. Moreover, they were urged on by the Soviet Union with its larger agenda of confronting the U.S., which was supportive of Israel. Western nations voted against the measure. Israel and the U.S. opposed the resolution. Chaim Herzog, Israeli ambassador to the UN and future president of Israel, noted with irony that the resolution was passed on the 37th anniversary of Kristallnacht in Germany: “For us, the Jewish people, this resolution based on hatred, falsehood and arrogance, is devoid of any moral or legal value. For us, the Jewish people, this is no more than a piece of paper and we shall treat it as such.”

JANUARY 27 • 2022

Daniel Patrick Moynihan, U.S. ambassador to the UN, agreed: “[The United States] does not acknowledge, it will not abide by; it will never acquiesce in this infamous act ... A great evil has been loosed upon the world.” President Gerald Ford supported this position. Even Nelson Mandela said that he found the resolution to be “offensive” (Dec. 13, 1999, JN). One need look no further than the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History to see the impact upon the local community. There are 130 pages that have discussions of “Zionism is Racism.” There are letters from citizens. For example, see those from Louis Panush (Jan. 4, 1985) and Leslie Rochlen (age 12) and Margo Shorr (age 11) (Nov. 21, 1975). It is a topic in many articles. Longtime Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit official Robert Aronson related that, the UN resolution was passed within a month of his hire at the Milwaukee Federation (before he came to Detroit): “That kind of lit my fire.” So, he organized a pro-Zionist rally attended by 2,000 supporters (Oct. 22, 1999). Brenda Rosenberg and Samia Bahsoun wrote the guest column “AntiZionism is Racism: Why We Need to Have the Conversation (April 11, 2013). In 1991, President George H. W. Bush personally introduced the motion at the UN that revoked resolution 3379. Unfortunately, the sentiments of 3379 still linger today, on college campuses and the internet, or outside Congregation Beth Israel in Ann Arbor. As the ADL recently stated, the fight is not over. Want to learn more? Go to the DJN Foundation archives, available for free at www.djnfoundation.org.

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DJN January 27, 2022

Articles inside

Celebrity News

Community Calendar

Looking Back

Talmudic Legal Thinking

From the Home Kitchen of Chef Aaron

Obituaries

An Homage to ’80s Music

Old-Time Country

The Power of Empathy

Educating the Public on the Holocaust

Essays and viewpoints

Hostage Aftermath

JFS to Educate on Disordered Eating

University of Michigan Removes Schlissel as President

At Last

Small but Mighty

Temple Shir Shalom’s Tikkun Olam-a-thon