DJN February 25, 2021

THE DETROIT

JEWISH NEWS 200 Feb. 25-March 3, 2021 / 13-19 Adar 5781

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thejewishnews.com thejewishnews

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Floating Cloud ON A

With Detroit’s help, Israeli firm creates app to give your car a smoother, more efficient ride.

See page 12

WELCOME We are excited to welcome

Emily Kahn

to Cindy Kahn Real Estate and the Hall & Hunter Realtor’s family!

Emily, Cindy’s daughter, is a master of sales and business technology, having spent the last 7 years working in the fast-paced fashion industry in New York City.

Emily’s skills and talents will be a great addition to Hall & Hunter Realtor’s #1 Top Producing agent, Cindy Kahn, and her team! We look forward to Emily continuing on the tradition of marketing & selling the finest residential properties in southeastern Michigan with the same reputation for honesty, perseverance and market knowledge as her mom.

Emily Kahn

248.568.0569 emily@cindykahn.com

An Extraordinary Agent Providing Extraordinary Results #1 TOP PRODUCER FOR 2020 AT HALL & HUNTER REALTORS 248.568.7309 | Cindy@CindyKahn.com | CindyKahn.com

442 S. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, MI 48009

contents Feb. 25-March 3, 2021 / 13-19 Adar 5781 | VOLUME CLIX, ISSUE 4

Kaitlyn Schoen

32 20 Purely Commentary

Mazel Tov!

Milestones

4-10

26

On the Cover

Spirit

12

Like Floating on a ‘Cloud’

With Detroit’s help, Israeli firm creates app to give your car a smoother, more efficient ride.

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22

Aid for Women Is in the Works

Women’s Foundation resumes grants with new director.

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Moms Making Matches

New Possibilities

Hyperbaric therapy can treat diverse conditions and may offset aging.

Good News for Women

New procedure treats fibroids without surgery.

Jewish moms’ Facebook page dedicates a day to help singles find love.

Events

‘Scissorhands’ Thrills Fans

Arts&Life

Ex-Detroiter’s Cadillac Super Bowl commercial goes viral.

Tamarack Camps: Planting its Legacy

Through December 2021, the William Davidson Foundation has agreed to match scholarship endowment dollars raised and received by Tamarack Camps.

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Torah portion

Health

Our Community 17

In Honor of Grandma

Portion of cookie company’s sales to benefit JFS.

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Expressing Their Creativity

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Global Gold

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Local Jewish artists shine at BBAC mixed media exhibit.

The most complete Jewish guide to the 2021 Golden Globes.

Celebrity Jews

17 Etc.

The Exchange Spotlight: Farber Truman Scholars Obituaries Danny Raskin Looking Back

37 38 39 44 45

Shabbat Lights

Purim Begins: Thursday evening, Feb. 25.

Shabbat Starts: Friday, Feb. 26, 6:01 p.m.

Shabbat Ends: Saturday, Feb. 27, 7:03 p.m. * Times according to Yeshiva Beth Yehudah calendar.

ON THE COVER: Cover design: Kaitlyn Schoen

thejewishnews.com Follow Us on Social Media: Facebook @DetroitJewishNews Twitter @JewishNewsDet Instagram @detroitjewishnews FEBRUARY 25 • 2021

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PURELY COMMENTARY essay

I

n 1960, my parents Belle and Herb Cohen (of blessed memory) opened the Raven: a gallery and coffee house on James Couzens in Detroit. Their dream was to Brenda have a beautiful Naomi space to showRosenberg case Michigan and Detroit artists, visual arts, musical arts and poetry readings.

They wanted to culturally enrich our community in a beautiful, intimate and non-intimidating setting. My parents loved the arts. Almost every week, our family went to the Detroit Institute of Arts. We attended concerts, ballets and had season tickets for the Detroit Symphony.

Our small house was filled

with books and paintings from local artists.

It seems extraordinary when I look back. My parents were unassuming. My mother, a part-time model at Saks Fifth Avenue, and my dad, a Linotype setter, were the first to create such an amazing space. They respected talent and lived to help aspiring artists. The headline of my father’s 1977 obituary read “Herb Cohen was dedicated to culturally enriching youth.”

My father created the Raven String and Raven Woodwind quartets, directed

by Paul Paray, the conductor of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. They performed weekly. I was mesmerized listening to their music.

My father was one of the first to showcase Black artists, both painters like Harold

Neal and performers from folk music’s Josh White Sr. and Josh Jr. When they were in town, they were our house guests. We became close friends.

We also had the opportunity to hear unusual talents like Dorothy Ashby, who introduced the harp to jazz and was hailed as an accomplished modern jazz harpist.

Dorothy attended Cass Tech and Wayne State University.

The Dorothy Ashby Trio preformed monthly at the Raven, her husband on drums.

Dorothy told me she carried a triple burden: a woman playing in male-dominated jazz, being a Black woman in the entertainment industry and the Black community’s lack of interest in the sound of harp music.

Because we were surround-

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BRENDA ROSENBERG

The Raven Gallery: A Family Story of ‘Spilling the Honey’

TOP: Brenda’s parents at the opening of the Raven.

ABOVE: Brenda Rosenberg with first Black model Bessie Woods

continued on page 6

letters

It Takes a Village

My work in the Jewish communal field began when I needed a summer job during college, and I was looking though the Detroit Jewish News help wanted section.

I saw that Jewish Family Service (JFS) needed volunteer drivers to take older adults to doctor appointments. Thus began my career in the Jewish communal service field, and I never looked back.

The following summer, I was accepted into the JVS Project JOIN program and placed at Jewish Family Service volunteer department. Upon graduation, I worked at JFS as the Meals on

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FEBRUARY 25 • 2021

Wheels caseworker/coordinator and have been in the field ever since.

I am not writing today to tell you about me, but to tell you I have never been prouder to work in the Jewish communal services field as I have been since the start of the pandemic.

Last March, as the executive director of National Council of Jewish Women, Michigan, (NCJW|MI) I was invited to join daily meetings with other Jewish communal professionals, under the leadership of Steven Ingber, chief operating officer of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit.

Though NCJW|MI is not a Federation agency, the emphasis on these group meetings was how can we as community agencies work together to ensure that needs are being met during these difficult and uncertain times. This group has continued to meet since last March, and now meets weekly. We have shared resources, brainstormed ideas, collaborated and provided support for one another, all to benefit our community.

I am honored to be a part of this group and so proud to work in our Metro Detroit Jewish community. My motto

has always been, “It takes a village …” and this village of professionals have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure needs are being met. We are very lucky to have the dedicated leadership and staff working at the various agencies who truly care about our community members.

Thank you, Steve, for leading the way, and for all of the work our staff and volunteers have done during these past months in taking care of our community.

— Susan Gertner NCJW|MI executive director

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continued from page 4

ed with love, and introduced to the beauty of art, inspirational stories in books and our parents’ friends from every cultural group, my brother Sanford Allen Cohen (who passed away Dec. 4, 2020) and I followed in their footsteps.

In 1968, as fashion director for Saks Fifth Avenue, I was the first to hire Black models in Detroit. Bessie Woods worked in the stock room. I encouraged her to take to the runway.

When Bill Blass saw the beautiful Black model Billie Blair in his fashion show at the Saks Fifth Avenue Troy store, he invited her to be in his show in NYC and took her to Paris in 1973 for the historic Battle of Versailles Fashion Show that pitted French designers against American designers. The Black models stole the show for the Americans.

MY FATHER WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO SHOWCASE BLACK ARTISTS.

Publisher The Detroit Jewish News Foundation

| Editorial

| Board of Directors: Chair: Gary Torgow Vice President: David Kramer Secretary: Robin Axelrod Treasurer: Max Berlin Board members: Larry Jackier, Jeffrey Schlussel, Mark Zausmer

Senior Advisor to the Board: Mark Davidoff Alene and Graham Landau Archivist Chair: Mike Smith Founding President & Publisher Emeritus: Arthur Horwitz Founding Publisher Philip Slomovitz, of blessed memory

As the vice president of fashion marketing and merchandising for the J.L. Hudson Co., I also hired the first Black woman executive, Phyllis Johnson.

DETROIT CHESS TEAM My brother, also inspired

by our parents, created his unique path of “spilling the honey.” For 30 years, Sanford was a civics teacher at Southeastern High School in Detroit’s most impoverished neighborhood. He created a chess club as an afterschool activity to engage

Dorothy Ashby Trio

Brenda Naomi Rosenberg co-created the Tectonic Leadership program with Samia Moustapha Bahsoun “to make a more beautiful world by breaking barriers and reframing relationships, utilizing creativity to actualize change.”

DIrector of Editorial: Jackie Headapohl jheadapohl@thejewishnews.com Copy Editor: David Sachs dsachs@thejewishnews.com Social Media and Digital Producer: Nathan Vicar nvicar@thejewishnews.com Staff Reporter: Danny Schwartz dschwartz@thejewishnews.com Editorial Assistant: Sy Manello smanello@thejewishnews.com Senior Columnist: Danny Raskin dannyraskin2132@gmail.com Contributing Writers: Nate Bloom, Rochel Burstyn, Suzanne Chessler, Annabel Cohen, Shari S. Cohen, Alicia Chandler, Shelli Leibman Dorfman, Ben Falik, Louis Finkelman, Stacy Gittleman, Esther Allweiss Ingber, Mark Jacobs, Barbara Lewis, Jennifer Lovy, Rabbi Jason Miller, Alan Muskovitz, Robin Schwartz, Mike Smith, Steve Stein, Ashley Zlatopolsky

| Advertising Sales Director of Advertising: Keith Farber kfarber@thejewishnews.com Senior Account Executive: Kathy Harvey-Mitton kmitton@thejewishnews.com

| Business Office Director of Operations: Amy Gill agill@thejewishnews.com Operations Manager: Andrea Gusho agusho@thejewishnews.com Operations Assistant: Ashlee Szabo Circulation: Danielle Smith Billing Coordinator: Pamela Turner

| Production By Farago & Associates Manager: Scott Drzewiecki Designers: Kelly Kosek, Kaitlyn Schoen, Michelle Sheridan

MISSION STATEMENT The Detroit Jewish News will be of service to the Jewish community. The Detroit Jewish News will inform and educate the Jewish and general community to preserve, protect and sustain the Jewish people of greater Detroit and beyond, and the State of Israel.

VISION STATEMENT The Detroit Jewish News will operate to appeal to the broadest segments of the greater Detroit Jewish community, reflecting the diverse views and interests of the Jewish community while advancing the morale and spirit of the community and advocating Jewish unity, identity and continuity.

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FEBRUARY 25 • 2021

and empower the students to think in new ways. He took the chess team to the National Competition three times. Some 1,375 high school chess players from 200 high schools in 33 states participated. Southeastern High sophomore Martell Collins swept to a perfect 7-0 score in the tournaments and to a National Championship title.

Join me and my friend Dr. Shari Rodgers and Spill the Honey. May our family story inspire you to share your story of how you spill the honey on her website, www. spillthehoney.com. Let’s work together to make our world a better and sweeter place.

1942 - 2021 Covering and Connecting Jewish Detroit Every Week

DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

32255 Northwestern Hwy. Suite 205, Farmington Hills, MI 48334 248-354-6060 thejewishnews.com The Detroit Jewish News (USPS 275-520) is published every Thursday at 32255 Northwestern Highway, #205, Farmington Hills, Michigan. Periodical postage paid at Farmington Hills, Michigan, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: send changes to: Detroit Jewish News, 32255 Northwestern Hwy., #205, Farmington Hills, MI 48334.

To make a donation to the DETROIT JEWISH NEWS FOUNDATION go to the website www.djnfoundation.org

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PURELY COMMENTARY guest column

It’s Time to Reexamine Jewish Education

U

pon retiring from 48 years in Jewish education, I still find myself writing and learning about the field. I am working toward a doctorate in Jewish Studies from Chicagobased Spertus Institute of Jewish Learning Elissa Berg & Leadership, and my dissertation topic is “21st Century Non-Day School Jewish Education.”

At my disposal I have histories of Jewish education, numerous books and scores of scholarly (and not so scholarly) articles on the internet.

What I don’t have is input from 21st-century Jewish parents, and this is what I am attempting to gather now.

Jewish education has changed dramatically since the first day I walked into a religious school classroom as a teacher. Then, the youngest students started with Sunday school. Second-, third- or fourth-grade students began attending classes two or three days a week. There were lots of textbooks. Every student had a machberet (notebook) for Hebrew writing.

Most teachers stood in front of the class and talked — a lot.

There were music teachers and Hebrew songs, sometimes art or drama. Tefilah (prayer) was taught in the classroom and sometimes students had the opportunity to practice those prayers in a student service.

Students in Conservative or Orthodox programs were expected to attend Junior Congregation Shabbat services somewhat regularly.

Some schools had a Shabbat attendance requirement. The schools provided textbooks and assumed that teachers knew what to do with them. Many did. Teachers taught a variety of subjects each year and sometimes decided what to teach on their own. Students might learn the same things over and over.

(At least, that’s what they told

to teach each child the way he/ she needs to be taught, relating what we teach to the students’ lives. We know that what we teach should demonstrate how being Jewish improves our lives.

What we teach should help the students to lead meaningful lives and to understand that knowledge of our holy texts will help them thrive.

“Hello, First Grade”

“JEWISH EDUCATION HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY SINCE THE FIRST DAY I WALKED INTO A RELIGIOUS SCHOOL CLASSROOM AS A TEACHER.” their parents.)

Most schools did not have well-crafted curricula. There were few programs to help children who had learning difficulties. High school students and parent volunteers helped out with Hebrew reading and holiday parties. Students who quickly understood the material spent a lot of time waiting for the rest of the class to catch up.

Over the last decades we have learned a lot. We have learned

JEWISH EDUCATION TODAY These days, Hebrew reading is being taught in small groups or one-on–one. We are not teaching conversational Hebrew, but we are using a variety of methods to ensure our students have the sound and rhythm of Hebrew in their ears before they start learning to read. Teachers use computers in the classroom and are able to access websites that enrich their teaching.

Whiteboards allow students

to interact with the material.

Textbooks are much improved and teachers have learned to create rich lessons with or without them. Using their knowledge of child development, positive psychology, etc., teachers create an appropriate atmosphere for learning and for building friendships. Our schools use the arts, literature, project-based learning, drama, independent learning, outdoor education, family education, etc.

Technology is our newest tool. Religious-school teachers and administrators have learned much from online instruction over these last months. Teachers have been impressed both with how the use of technology allows some reticent students to succeed and with how much technology helps the teaching of Hebrew reading. Homework is not a hardship when students sign in from home and play review games.

We teach Israel while showing live pictures of Tel Aviv and teach about Jews in Ethiopia while talking to Jewish Ethiopians online. My dream is that schools will add instruction time with online lessons on days that students are not in school. There is, after all, no travel time involved.

For educational planning, as for teaching, it is important to know one’s audience. Judaism is more than a school subject. It is a way of life. Thus, it is important to know our students’ families and to understand how they interpret what it means to be Jewish.

What new can we learn?

In 1958, Jewish educators, concerned about their efficacy, continued on page 10

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FEBRUARY 25 • 2021

SUPER SUNDAY

MARCH 14 Answer the Call.

Help us take care of those in need in our community.

After an unexpected one-year hiatus, Super Sunday IS BACK! Once again, we will be making calls to secure donors to Federation’s 2021 Annual Campaign.

Never has Federation’s work been more critical than right now.

Every day, our partner agencies are handing out kosher meals to older adults, children and other vulnerable individuals. Providing emergency financial assistance for families in need, and educational supports for our day schools. Delivering mental health services for those that are struggling.

This is all possible thanks to more than 10,000 donors to our Annual Campaign. Please join the effort.

Answer the call on March 14 or make your donation now at: jewishdetroit.org/donate Interested in volunteering for our Virtual Team? jewishdetroit.org/supersunday2021 Other questions? Contact David Kurzmann at kurzmann@jfmd.org

FEBRUARY 25 • 2021

21_CCD_SuperSunday_AD_DJN_03-Mar.indd 1

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2/22/21 11:30 AM

PURELY COMMENTARY

PHOTO CREDIT JERRY ZOLYNSKY

continued from page 8

SEEKING TERRIFIC TEENS! The JN and the Jewish Community Center’s JFamily will once again shine the public spotlight on teens in our community with Rising Stars: Teens Making a Difference. 18 remarkable Jewish teens in the Metro Detroit area will be selected and featured in the April 29, 2021, issue of the Jewish News and recognized on the JN and JCC’s JFamily social media pages.

Nominees must live in Michigan, identify as Jewish and be students in grades 9-12; they can be selfnominated or may be nominated by others today through March 17.

Nominees should be recognized for impact, contribution and/or achievement in areas including (but not limited) to:

• Tikkun olam, volunteerism, social action, advocacy, philanthropy • Academics/education • Athletics • Music & arts • Business & entrepreneurship • Overcoming obstacles and challenges • Jewish growth and learning • Leadership To nominate yourself or a teen you know, go to thejewishnews.com and click on the Rising Stars button or to jfamily.jccdet.org/risingstars. The deadline is March 17.

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FEBRUARY 25 • 2021

created the first national study of Jewish education. Looking for direction, educators decided to find out how Judaism was lived by their families and what parents wanted children to gain from attending religious school. Two thousand religious school parents in 22 communities were asked why they were sending their children to religious school and what they hoped the children would gain from the experience. What would we learn if we asked the same questions today? How might this knowledge change the education we provide?

CHANGING TIMES The American Jewish world continues to evolve. Many do not live in Jewish neighborhoods. Many do not attend synagogue/temple services, even if they are members of congregations. There are Jewish Detroiters who identify as “just Jewish,” not part of any particular denomination, and not necessarily interested in Judaism as a religion. At the same time, Detroit is replete with Jews living rich Jewish lives in myriad ways.

I am asking for your assistance so that I can widen the scope of my dissertation and, also, share with my colleagues what local parents want from Jewish education. I’m ask-

ing Jewish News readers with school-age children (and those planning to have children) to answer the following questions.

No names or affiliations are required.

• What are the ages of your child or children?

• Do you send or are you planning to send your children to a day school or to a supplementary school?

• What are your aims in sending your children to a Jewish school?

• What do you expect your children to gain from the experience?

Please email your answers to J.ed.thesis2021@outlook.com, and I will send a summary of the results of both this survey and the 1958 survey to everyone who participates.

As Jews, we are enjoined to teach our children always, “when we sit in our homes and when we walk the paths of life, when we lie down and when we rise.” It is my hope that understanding the Jewish lives of our students and the hopes of their parents will help Jewish educators to inspire this generation of Jewish children.

Thank you.

Elissa Berg has been involved in formal Jewish education, family and experiential Jewish education in the metro area since 1974.

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Our STORY Marquette’s Temple Beth Sholom found itself in a quandary.

“We had the opportunity to purchase a building that could house our congregation closer to our small Jewish community (which shifted geographically over the 50 years since we built our first Temple), and which would be a more glorious home,” said Cary Gottlieb, Treasurer of Temple Beth Sholom. “We started a capital campaign and found enough money to make this a reality. Our problem was, much of the money was pledged, but we needed “real” money for the actual building purchase, the renovations, and the move. We needed a source of funds for a short-term loan that would not add additional costs to the Temple.

Fortunately, one of our Board members knew of HFL, and suggested we explore that as an option.”

Hebrew Free Loan’s Michigan Jewish Organization Loan Program (MJOLP) stepped into the breach. The fund was launched in 2017, in partnership with a generous matching grant from The Ravitz Foundation, and provides interest-free loans of up to $100,000 to qualifying Michigan synagogues and Jewish organizations that primarily or solely serve Jewish clients.

“Seemingly magically, we had an interest-free, shortterm loan, which allowed us to move into our new-tous one hundred-year-old building,” Cary said. “The process of getting the loan was so simple that now, four years later, I don’t even recall the process. It was that easy. We are very grateful to HFL and the opportunity they allowed us to pursue.”

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FEBRUARY 25 • 2021

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OUR COMMUNITY

Members of the team work in the test vehicle.

ON THE COVER

Like Floating on a

PHOTOS COURTESY OF TACTILE MOBILITY

‘Cloud’

With Detroit’s help, Israeli firm creates app to give your car a smoother, more efficient ride.

AMIR SHOAM CONTRIBUTING WRITER

F

or the past 16 months, 20 of the city of Detroit’s vehicles have been using Israeli software to automatically map hazards on the city’s roads.

Tactile Processor, developed by Tactile Mobility of Haifa, Israel, gathers data from each car’s built-in sensors and sends it to the company’s Tactile Cloud. Then, the Cloud uses a mathematical model called SurfaceDNA to combine the crowdsourced data into a map, including each road’s grade and normalized grip level, and the locations of potholes, cracks and bumps.

Boaz Funded by PlanetM, Mizrachi this proof of concept is a collaboration between the company, the city, and a major local automaker

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that had asked the other partners not to name it.

The company was established in early 2012, under the name MobiWize,

by Boaz Mizrachi and Yossi Shiri, who were later joined by their friend Alex Ackerman. While the last two have left years ago, Mizrachi remains the company’s chief technology officer.

In 2010, as a lecturer at the Technion in Haifa and an experienced entrepreneur, Mizrachi was presented with the idea to develop an app that would alert drivers if they were going too fast while nearing a stop sign.

However, his plans were bigger.

“Gas was becoming very expensive, and everyone was trying to save it,” Mizrachi said. “I was trying to solve the problem of how to get a vehicle from point A to point B with a minimum of gas.”

“I knew nothing about cars or mapping, but I knew that I had to know things about the road, like grades and curvatures; and about the vehicle, like its capabilities and its weight.”

At some point, Mizrachi had realized that most of that data had not existed.

“I was sure that Google had a map that showed all of the grades on Earth, but it didn’t,” he said.

“Also, if you wanted to show a 5% saving in gas, you’d need to measure it with the mean error being 1% at most.

However, a vehicle’s sensor’s mean error is up to 30%, as we had shown.”

The company started as part of a business incubator and developed an aftermarket system to be installed inside of a vehicle and instruct the driver on how to save gas based on the characteristics of the road and the vehicle.

“It would sometimes take it a week or two to calibrate itself for the specific car and roadmap, but eventually it would be super-accurate, like nowhere else in the world,” Mizrachi said.

About one year later, it was a Detroit company’s scout who challenged Mizrachi to create a cloud-based app that would control the car’s speed and gear-shifting according to where the car was heading. Mizrachi worked on the software for a few months, and then went to Detroit and connected his system to a car.

“The car would be driven once or twice, self-learn the map of road grades and what the road looked like, and save it to the cloud,” Mizrachi said. “The next vehicle to drive there would know what’s ahead of it.”

Within two weeks, Mizrachi managed to show a 5% saving in gas relatively to “standard” cruise control. “We had become known within the company, and I returned home with some money for that project,” he said.

SWITCH IN FOCUS In 2014 Mizrachi’s company recruited three private investors from Israel, Spain and Mexico, and got out of the incubator. He hired between 15 and 20 of his best students and got to work.

“We created a beautiful technology,” he said. “We demonstrated the ability to estimate a truck’s weight with a 2% mean error.

“We started working with automakers, understanding their needs, and showing them that the same building blocks can create interesting insights.”

The twist in the company’s story came shortly afterward, when gas prices tanked. “Nobody cared about saving gas anymore,” Mizrachi said. “On the other hand, it turned out that all of the

Data collected from the Tactile Processor

infrastructures that we had created were worth a lot, for they allowed a car to do other things, especially if that car was autonomous.”

While other companies trying to develop autonomous driving rely mostly on visual sensors, Mizrachi had realized that pictures do not show the full picture.

“Not everything can be seen,” Mizrachi said. “Some things you need to feel. Imagine yourself remotely driving a car using cameras and a steering wheel in your office. That is not the same.”

The company has created a language in which every pothole or bump is a different word. Those words are created using two mathematical models: While SurfaceDNA is a “digital twin” to the road, VehicleDNA is the same to the vehicle, creating real-time “virtual sensors” of the vehicle’s weight, fuel consumption, tire health and more.

Mizrachi said that the data that his company generated was more valuable than alternative solutions: “If a driver turned on the wipers, you could guess it rained. If I had connected millions of cars to a cloud, I’d have a

“A BMW SOFTWARE DEVELOPER CALLED ME FROM MUNICH AND SAID, ‘IMAGINE THAT IN 2021 A CAR WILL BE ABLE TO SELF-DRIVE AT 160 MPH WITH THE DRIVER SLEEPING.’” — BOAZ MIZRACHI

map of where it rained that day around the globe. However, just because it rained, and the road is wet doesn’t mean it’s slippery.

“You could drive the Cross-Israel Highway at 95 mph in pouring rain and everything would be fine,” he continued, “but in some places in Israel, even at 40 or 50 mph, very little rain can send you flying. It depends on the road’s texture, how much water has accumulated on it, the kind of asphalt on the road and your own tires.”

AUTOMAKERS STEP IN The company had been working with U.S. automakers for a few years, and then the Europeans joined in.

“Four years ago,” Mizrachi said, “a BMW software developer called me from Munich and said, ‘Imagine that in 2021 a car will be able to self-drive at 160 mph with the driver sleeping.’

I said, ‘I wish the driver luck. Why do you think I can help?’ He said that an essential condition for that would be knowing the grip level between the car and the road 300 yards ahead.”

Other German automakers quickly realized the potential of the unusual partner and also how unusual it was.

“We do things that are completely different than what the industry does,” Mizrachi said. “We are not car engineers. The first time that I arrived in Germany to install the system on a Porsche vehicle, they opened the engine cover and I asked, ‘Where has continued on page 14 FEBRUARY 25 • 2021

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13

OUR COMMUNITY ON THE COVER

continued from page 13

the engine gone?’ They told me that in Porsche cars, the engine is at the rear.”

In 2018, the company hired a vice president of business development, Eitan Grosbard, who was previously responsible for Eitan Grosbard mergers and acquisitions at Gett.

“I had known the automobile industry, but from a different angle,” Grosbard said. “I have entered a whole new world of software and data monetization.”

In 2019, the company has gained two major investors: Porsche and Union Motors, Toyota’s importer into Israel.

DETROIT’S ROLE In October of that year, Detroit had become one of several cities around the world to collaborate with Tactile Mobility on a proof of concept.

“The automaker was the one that has put this whole story in motion,” Grosbard said. “Its people said that they were already selling cars to municipalities, but they wanted to start selling service as well.

“It was the first time that I wasn’t working with a city alone,” said Grosbard, who added that a similar type of collaboration is already taking place in Germany, with unnamed partners.

In recent years, the city would rely on citizens using the SeeClickFix app, and a team of people actively searching, to know about road deficiencies. The project’s manager on the city’s side, Samuel Krassenstein, said that Tactile Mobility’s data had changed things.

“Traditionally, when we’d do a road analysis, it was based on a visual assessment of the road, but that rating system isn’t necessarily aligned with where drivers are facing the most pain,” he said. “This type of analysis is based on ride quality. The combination of them ends up working very well.”

Krassenstein said that the project was made unique by the passive form of data collection.

“We did not tell our staff in our vehicles where to drive. We just let them go on their daily business. We’re pretty happy with the coverage of the city we got just on 20 vehicles.”

While the city currently receives raw-data monthly Samuel Krassenstein reports, Krassenstein expressed hope that in the future, the data would be more “real-time” and “consumer-ready.”

Grosbard said that a relevant system would be ready by Q3 2021.

Mizrachi said that even for cities with limited budgets, the system would be a worthwhile investment: “When we installed a similar system in our hometown Haifa, they said, ‘We know that our roads are completely ruined.

Instead of paying you, we could fix a couple of potholes that we know about.’ We explained to them that some roads are bad enough to make a car crash, even because of a small pothole — if its edge is steep enough, or if it’s exactly on the tire track.

Especially if you have tons of potholes, you should know which would cause the most damage.”

The Tactile Processor

Last year, both Porsche and BMW announced that they would use Tactile Mobility’s technology in their cars.

Last December, two more investors have joined in: Nexteer, a company that provides solutions to automakers in the steering department, and The Group Ventures, a Canadian venture capital fund for special AI-based technologies.

“We are preparing for another investment round this year,” Grosbard said.

Today, the company has almost 30 workers. The interim CEO for the past few months has been Rani Plaut, a well-known entrepreneur, and a board member and an adviser to the company for several years.

PROBABLE COMPETITORS Both Grosbard and Mizrachi acknowledged that their system’s success may provoke a stiff competition but showed optimism.

“Competition only strengthens the notion that the product is needed,” Grosbard said. “That way, potential clients will also know that they aren’t dependent on us alone.”

Mizrachi said that the quality of Tactile continued on page 16

Video and data from the pilot program

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FEBRUARY 25 • 2021

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OUR COMMUNITY ON THE COVER

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Mobility’s engineering could give it the edge: “Many machine-learning companies try to get into vehicles, and usually they rely on super-heavy resources,” he said. “NVidia is trying to get its heavy processors into vehicles. If you count on a very heavy processor in the car, in terms of price, power draw, size, etc., the number of cars that you’ll get into is small.

“However, if you aim your technology toward very lean and cheap computers — if you have reliable machine learning in 200 kilobytes — then you win. That is the difference between a company that sells millions of units and a company whose product is sold alongside a

couple of luxury vehicles in Abu Dhabi.”

Grosbard said that data such as tire health, for example, had many possibilities for future monetization:

of drivers that use their tires and so on — and for marketing and sales.

“Vehicle fleets can use the same data. Tires are the second-highest operational

“ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE TONS OF POTHOLES, YOU SHOULD KNOW WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE MOST DAMAGE.” — BOAZ MIZRACHI

“Tire manufacturers can use this information for R&D — how long it takes their tires to wear out, what different geographical areas can indicate, the kind

expense for motor vehicle fleets, after gas. They’ll be able to receive an indication about tire health in all of their vehicles.

“As an insurance company,

if I knew your tire condition, I could tell you that if you don’t replace your tires, your risk profile will be higher.

“Lastly, if the automaker knows that your tires are worn out, it can draw you into its repair shop.”

Mizrachi was looking a few years into the future: “Our vision is ‘Tactile Inside.’ We want our software to be embedded in as many cars of possible out of the manufacturing strip — at least 10 million cars. As soon as that happens, we’ll have a map of the world’s roads with very high quality and refresh rate.”

“We’ll be happy to become a supplier of innovative information to all of the municipalities in the U.S.”

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JWF provides support for Giving Gardens

Aid for Women Is in the Works

Women’s Foundation resumes grants with new director.

BARBARA LEWIS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

M

ichigan’s Jewish Women’s Foundation is resuming its grant-making activities under the leadership of a new director, after temporarily halting activities last spring due to COVID. Sigal Hemy started as director in September. She is the only paid staff of the organization, which is directed by a leadership committee of its trustees.

The Jewish Women’s Foundation of Metropolitan Detroit (JWF) began in 1998 as an autonomous fund within the United Jewish Foundation.

A number of studies in the field of philanthropy had shown that few grants nationwide were going to programs that benefit women and girls — and even fewer were going to programs that promote social change and gender equity.

Women can become JWF trustees by making a significant donation that is in addition to their annual gifts to Women’s Philanthropy of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. There are also opportunities for lifetime and intergen-

erational trusteeships. From its original 11 trustees, the organization grew to more than 65 at the end of its first year and now numbers more than 145. The foundation fosters a democratic environment where all trustees have a voice and a vote.

The JWF’s 2020 grant cycle was suspended after the COVID pandemic hit. The organization curtailed its activities and gave $100,000 of its 2020 grant funds to Federation’s emergency COVID relief fund.

The organization is now continuing its 2020 grant cycle by evaluating all open grant applications; it is also preparing to accept new applications for the 2021 cycle. With a maximum grant of $20,000, the JWF has granted more than $3 million to local nonprofit organizations.

These agencies, many of them Jewish-sponsored, have used JWF grant dollars to respond to domestic abuse, help women become economically self-sufficient, enrich the lives of girls and women of all ages through educational programs and cultural events, support women

dealing with substance abuse, fund work training programs and help women with chronic illnesses.

Hemy was a program officer at the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation, where she managed a $3.6 million grants portfolio in arts, culture and sustainability.

She grew up in Pittsburgh and holds an undergraduate degree from Michigan State University and a master’s in clarinet performance from the University of Michigan. After working in arts administration for five years, she earned a master’s in business administration at U-M’s Ross School of Business, specializing in strategy and social impact.

Hemy, 32, was appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to the Michigan Council of Arts and Cultural Affairs and is on the board of directors for People for Palmer Park.

“The trustees at JWF are an amazing group of women, and my favorite thing about this position is working with them to ensure that their giving is as

meaningful as it can be,” said Hemy, who lives in Pleasant Ridge with her husband, Mike Spiegel, a software developer, and Sammie, a rescue German shepherd mix.

Leaders of the JWF trustees are thrilled with Hemy’s knowledge and enthusiasm.

“She is intelligent, skilled and very engaging in an unassuming way,” said Helen Katz of Bloomfield Hills, who was one of 11 founding trustees of the JWF and served as its first director.

While respecting the group’s traditions, Hemy is “poised to make the kinds of changes that will help us grow and thrive.

The leadership is thrilled with what she has accomplished in her short tenure at JWF,” Katz said.

Debbie Singer, chair of the trustees’ leadership team, said she was impressed with Hemy’s calm demeanor and breadth of Sigal Hemy

knowledge of foundation grant making.

As the organization moves into its 2021 cycle, Hemy will be teaching the trustees how to evaluate grant applications, said Singer, and will be working with community members to assess the needs for Jewish women and girls.

Mara Moss of Bloomfield Hills, trustees’ co-chair, added, “She’s young and dynamic, and we’re excited to have her.”

FEBRUARY 25 • 2021

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17

OUR COMMUNITY

Y MOMS Making

Matches

Jewish moms’ Facebook page dedicates a day to help singles find love.

ROBIN SCHWARTZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

18

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FEBRUARY 25 • 2021

ou could feel the love in each and every post on the Jewish Moms of Metro Detroit Facebook page. One day only, Feb. 15, the day after Valentine’s Day, was dedicated solely to posts about Jewish singles of all ages looking for the right Jewish match.

Using the hashtag for “it’s a shidduch” — #itsashidduchjmoms — dozens of the group’s 2,600 members posted about their brothers, sisters, best friends, mothers, fathers and others who are single and looking for love, especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Shidduch is the Yiddish word for “a match that leads to marriage.”

“It’s hard for people who are single,” said Katey Wagner, one of the private Facebook group’s four administrators along with Lindsay Mall, Lindsay Cox and Brooke Leiberman. “You can’t really go to bars, you can’t go on singles trips, there are no networking events going on … so there’s little opportunity for people to meet others right now. A lot of people have actually moved home because of the pandemic.”

Dr. Sarah (no last name given on the post), 33, is the perfect example. Her friend, Sharon Minkin, posted on her behalf and gave the JN permission to share an excerpt of her post.

“Sarah just moved back to Metro Detroit after being away for 15 years,” she wrote.

“As beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside, she’s kind and funny compassionate and hardworking, wicked smart and adventurous.”

“My brother, he’s a doctor,” one of the JMoms enthusiastically responded.

“PM [private message] me,” Minkin replied.

Throughout the day, private messages were flying, and phone numbers were being exchanged behind the scenes.

“I got my mother-in-law a date, so that’s fun,” Wagner said. “A woman gave me her dad’s number, and they both saw photos of one another; who knows if it will work out, but that was pretty cool.”

The posts featured local men and women in a wide variety of professions. There was Rachel, 30, who works in real estate; Ari, 34, who loves health and fitness; beautiful cousin

Sarah, 43, who lives in Chicago. Most people posted on behalf of others, but several spoke about themselves.

“Decided to be a little brave and post for myself,” wrote Nicole Kovenich who also gave the JN permission to share her post.

“I’m 28, in the process of a divorce, and I have a 5-year-old boy … ‘Looking for: intelligent, motivated, active gentlemen with a good sense of humor.’”

BRISK RESPONSE One woman posted about her brother-inlaw and set off a slight frenzy. Within two hours, there were 30 comments under the post and lots of messages that said things like, “I might have someone,” “I know someone amazing” and “messaging you now.”

Katey admits she was a little surprised by how quickly this new feature took off.

“I wasn’t sure how it was going to go, but it’s going really well. There are a lot of people participating, taking screen shots and texting people,” she said. “The main goal is just to get people talking. Who knows what’s going to come out this? I’m very excited to see!”

It was an anonymous JMom who first reached out with the matchmaking idea.

Katey announced the rules on the night before (first names only, post a photo, and the rest is up to you) and by the next morning the Facebook page was buzzing with potential.

As the Jewish News reported last year, the Jewish Moms of Metro Detroit Facebook page was founded in 2017. The group has become an online support network and a hub for sharing tips, swapping recommendations, promoting family-friendly activities, building businesses and more. Now, add love to the list. This is the first time they’ve ever had a special day dedicated to singles and dating.

“I am married, but I am loving all of these posts today,” one mom wrote. “I can’t wait to see how many connections come out of it!”

“Can we please have updates on who made a shidduch?” wrote another mom.

Several participants were asking the administrators if they’ll do this again. But, the big question is — will any of the Jewish singles connected by the click of a mouse truly “click?” Only time will tell. The JMoms are hoping some weddings will come out of the day of online matchmaking. And what a great story that would be.

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OUR COMMUNITY

Actors Timothee Chalamet and Winona Ryder

‘Scissorhands’ Thrills Fans

“OUR TEAM KEPT JOKING WE WERE BREAKING THE INTERNET.” — LAURA MARKOFSKY

Laura Markofsky

Ex-Detroiter’s Cadillac Super Bowl commercial goes viral.

DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

I

f you watched the Super Bowl along with nearly 100 million Americans on the evening of Feb. 7, you may have seen a commercial in which a Jewish ex-Detroiter played an instrumental role.

Laura Markofsky, who grew up in West Bloomfield, did the PR work to get TV and online media buzz for the Cadillac commercial that aired during the big game.

“It’s been so exciting and truthfully a big honor to work on a brand of this size and legacy that it holds,” Markofsky said.

Markofsky attended Hillel Day School, West Bloomfield High School and the University of Michigan for undergrad.

She moved to New York in 2007 and had stops at multiple talent agencies, eventually joining MSLGROUP where she currently serves as senior vice president.

Markofsky’s specialty is in consumer lifestyle clients, especially in the luxury space, working on everything from American Express to Verizon. She’s had previous work in TV, doing publicity for different shows on the USA Network, E! and Bravo.

In Markofsky’s tenure with MSL, she’s worked on everything from JennAir, a luxury kitchen appliance company, to now working on Cadillac.

Markofsky and MSL work side-by-side as an integrated agency team with Leo Burnett, a creative agency that does work for Cadillac.

“Leo Burnett had an opportunity to present a series of Super Bowl ideas to Cadillac to see if anything resonated to translate off paper and into a TV spot,” Markofsky said.

20

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FEBRUARY 25 • 2021

“We were lucky enough that Cadillac fell in love with the concept.”

The concept, ScissorHandsFree, paid homage to the 1990 film Edward Scissorhands. The commercial followed Edward’s son “Edgar” Scissorhands, played

by Jewish actor Timothee Chalamet, through the trials and tribulations he faces in daily life while having scissors for hands.

Another Jewish actor, Winona Ryder, played his mother, Kim. The commercial eventually cuts to Edgar being gifted a new Cadillac LYRIQ, an upcoming electric vehicle being produced by the company. The car enables Super Cruise technology, Cadillac’s hands-free driving assistant, allowing Edgar to finally complete an everyday task without his “scissorhands” getting in the way.

“Because he’s using Super Cruise technology, he’s able to drive and take his hands off the wheel, and for the first time you see a smile come across his face because he feels empowered and the freedom of not being hindered by his hands,” Markofsky said.

PLANNING STRATEGY The Leo Burnett team came up with the idea, and Markofsky and her team came up with the strategy of realizing that idea and garnering coverage and excitement for it. Carat, the media agency that supports Cadillac, also helped bring the idea to life.

“I think now is a time more than ever that people need a little bit of nostalgia and that comfort of things they know and love from when they were younger,” she said.

An eight-second teaser of the ad aired on ABC’s Good Morning America on the Thursday before the game, and on Super Bowl Sunday morning, there was a coordinated effort with a plethora of media interviews with the full ad going live online at 11 a.m. Sunday.

When the ad went live, hits started rolling in, kicking off with an article in Vogue.

“The coverage catapulted from there with a People.com article, CNN, Variety, Vanity Fair, and then by 3 p.m. that afternoon, we were trending on Twitter because people were talking about it so much,” Markofsky said. “Our team kept joking we were breaking the internet because we were getting so much coverage.”

Markofsky said she and her team were working during the game, setting up a “virtual war room” where the team members were tracking what kind of coverage was coming in while also proactively reaching out to media and sharing press materials with them.

“When the ad finally aired, I cried,” Markofsky reflected. “It was such an honor to see the results of our labor come to fruition and on such an incredible stage. I don’t think I have ever felt such a sense of pride associated with a project in my career.”

MAIN ENTRÉE

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OUR COMMUNITY

COURTESY OF TAMARACK CAMPS

Tamarack Camps:

Planting its Legacy

COURTESY OF TAMARACK CAMPS

Through December 2021, the William Davidson Foundation has agreed to match scholarship endowment dollars raised and received by Tamarack Camps.

ROBIN KAUFMAN TREPECK SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

T

amarack Camps is tirelessly working to reopen for the summer of 2021, and, at the same time, planting seeds for the future.

As my ancestors planted for me, so too will I plant for my children. — Talmud Ta’anit 23a As represented in the following parable: One day, Honi the Circle Maker was walking on the road and saw a man planting a carob tree. Honi asked the man, “How long will it take for this tree to bear fruit?”

The man replied, “Seventy years.” Honi then asked the man, “And do you think you will live another 70 years and eat the fruit of this tree?” The man answered, “Perhaps not.

However, when I was born into this world, I found many carob trees planted by my father and grandfather. Just as they planted trees for me, I am planting trees for my children and grandchildren so they will be able to eat the fruit of these trees.”

Like the old man in the above story planted seeds for the next generation, so must Tamarack Camps. “We didn’t need a pandemic to

show just how important a robust endowment can help, but these difficult days (with a halt of camper revenue and fundraising events), most certainly magnified its importance,” says Lee Trepeck, Tamarack’s chief executive officer.

Prior to the spread of COVID-19, Tamarack was in early discussions to launch a comprehensive campaign with a significant focus on endowment. While that initiative is on hold, efforts to raise its scholarship endowment have been jump-started by the William Davidson Foundation. Each year, Tamarack provides almost $900,000 in scholarships, but in these challenging times, the need for 2021 is expected to exceed $1 million. Its scholarship endowment (which annually spins off roughly 5%) currently covers less than 15% of that amount.

In 2019, with an effort to catapult Tamarack’s endowment fundraising initiatives, the William Davidson Foundation provided a

grant of $1 million toward scholarship endowment.

Further, through December 2021, the William Davidson Foundation has agreed to match, $1 to $1, scholarship endowment dollars raised and received by Tamarack Camps.

Once this match is fully realized, Tamarack Camps will have increased its scholarship endowment by an additional $1.6 million.

Thanks to many generous contributors, Tamarack Camps is over halfway to its matching goal. (The William Davidson Foundation will match up to $800,000, of which Tamarack has raised $450,000 to date.)

Three of several new endowment supporters who have made a significant impact toward reaching the matching challenge are the Blumenstein Family, “TSS ’91” and Ruth Hurvitz.

TOP: Jason Zaks at Tamarack with sisters Lisa (Zaks) Klein and Alana (Zaks) Chakrabarti.

ABOVE: The Blumenstein Family (and penguins)!

THE BLUMENSTEIN FAMILY Penny and Harold Blumenstein, their son and daughter-in-law, Ricky and Carol, and family, are well-recognized leaders in the Detroit Jewish community; however, they are not traditionally, per se, “Tamarack people” (none of them were campers, served on the board, or participated in its programs). Nonetheless, they recognize that Jewish summer camp and Tamarack Camps, in particular, are a powerful indicator for living Jewishly.

As a family, the Blumensteins are motivated to ensure that a Jewish soul grows and prospers within our community.

In addition to a generous 2020 continued on page 24

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FEBRUARY 25 • 2021

SAVE THE DATE

HONORING

CELEBRATE HILLEL DAY SCHOOL AT OUR DRIVE-IN GALA

SUNDAY MAY 23, 2021

SHERI AND DAVID JAFFA DREAM MAKER HONOREES

IN THE TEMPLE ISRAEL PARKING LOT

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR GALA SPONSORS*

GALA EVENT SPONSOR

JESSICA ALTER (CLASS OF 1993) SENATOR JEREMY MOSS (CLASS OF 2000)

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI

STROLLING DINNER SPONSOR

SUE AND ALAN KAUFMAN RAFFLE SPONSOR

Eden, Kevin, Skylar, and Zachary Elbinger BAR SPONSOR

SILENT AUCTION SPONSOR

Hedy & David Blatt

DESSERT SPONSOR

DRIVE-UP SPONSOR

VISIT WWW.HILLELDAY.ORG/SHULMANJOURNAL TO PLACE A CONGRATULATORY AD FOR THE HONOREES, RECOGNIZE OUR STUDENTS AND/OR TEACHERS, OR TO PURCHASE TICKETS.

* in formation

FOR QUESTIONS, CONTACT MARNI CHERRIN AT 248.539.2920 OR MCHERRIN@HILLELDAY.ORG

OUR COMMUNITY

In Honor of Grandma

Carly Wolf

Portion of red velvet cookie company’s sales will go in gratitude to JFS.

DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

C

arly Wolf ’s boyfriend, Spencer Goldberg, had a cookie recipe he was using to capture hearts and stomachs before they ever met.

But it wasn’t until well into the pandemic, after some convincing, that a dream about a cookie company became a reality.

Goldberg and his mother, Barbara, along with Wolf, opened Gold Mountain Cookies in the final week of 2020.

But just as the company was getting underway, Wolf ’s grandmother Vita Lisnek passed away from COVID-19.

Lisnek, whose family owned a bakery, moved to the Detroit area about five years ago so she could be closer to family. It

was Jewish Family Service that played a monumental role in assisting Lisnek during her final years of life.

In honor of her late grandmother, Wolf had the idea to name a cookie after her with a portion of the proceeds from each sale going back to JFS. “JFS donated a lot of meals to her, always provided caregivers and just took really great care of her,” Wolf said. “We thought it would be very nice to give some of the proceeds back to them since they helped her so much.”

The Red VelVita cookie was born — a red velvet cookie stuffed with cream cheese filling and white chocolate chips.

The Red VelVita is also

The Red VelVita

the first flavor to be a part of the company’s “Memorable Munchies” line, where customers can request the company create a cookie in honor of a

loved one.

The Goldbergs are the owners and do all the baking, while Wolf does a lot of behind-the-scenes work as chief operations officer. Wolf ’s sister and Goldberg’s brother are also involved with the company.

With how much Lisnek meant to the family and how much JFS helped her, Wolf is grateful to be able to honor her legacy and pay it forward at the same time.

“I know my Grandma would be so thankful, proud and happy of everything we’re doing,” Wolf said. “She loved cookies, so she would be thrilled. Just being able to give back to the people that helped her really means a lot to me, my mom and my whole family.”

Anyone can order by emailing goldmountaincookies@gmail.com or by direct messaging them on Facebook or Instagram.

TAMARACK CAMPS continued from page 22

gift to support the scholarship match, the family wishes to encourage others to join by further matching gifts made in 2021 up to $100,000. Speaking for the family, Penny explained: “Camping creates a sense of community and strengthens Jewish identity more than any other Jewish experience. It’s not just a summer, it’s a lifetime!”

TSS ’91 A group of Tamarack alumni that shared special years at the “Greatest Place on Earth” created a memorial scholarship endowment in memory of their campmate and friend, Jason Zaks. The fund was established

by Jason’s TSS (Teen Service Staff) 1991 “family,” the Zaks family, and friends to honor and joyfully remember Jason — and celebrate the profound impact

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FEBRUARY 25 • 2021

Tamarack has had on their lives.

The group reconnected during a Tamarack Alumni Havdalah and a subsequent reunion this summer; from that point, they quickly agreed to remain connected, honor Jason and actively participate in a meaningful gift to support camp. In less than two months, the group created the “Jason Zaks Memorial Scholarship Fund” and has already raised more than $35,000. The TSS ’91 group is excited to continue to grow the endowment and help send more kids to camp — and, along that path, hopes to inspire other Tamarack alumni groups to create endowments of their own.

For more information, visit https://tamarackcamps.com/ alumni/jason-zaks-memorial-fund.

RUTH HURVITZ Another Tamarack alumna and longtime friend to Tamarack, Ruth Hurvitz, started a scholarship endowment in memory of her late husband, Alan, a longtime executive board member of Tamarack Camps.

After witnessing the impact of Tamarack’s Teen Travel programs on his own children and wanting the same for others, Alan repeatedly challenged his fellow board members to make scholarships available for these iconic programs. Teen Travel scholarships were eventually approved in 2017. The Alan Hurvitz Alaska and Western Teen Travel Scholarship Fund now supports teens who may not otherwise afford the experience of a Tamarack Camps’ impactful and life-changing travel trip.

Each of the above endowment funds (and all contributions to existing or newly created scholarship endowment funds throughout 2021) will have double the impact as they are fully matched by the William Davidson Foundation Match.

We’re sowing the seeds to ensure Tamarack’s mission to build a vibrant community by providing enriching Jewish camping experiences for children and families, respectful of financial ability, for tomorrow and beyond.

To join in supporting Tamarack Camps’ endowment efforts, visit tamarackcamps.com/giving/endowment or, to set up a new endowment, contact Robin Kaufman Trepeck at rtrepeck@ tamarackcamps.com. This story first appeared in myjewishdetroit.org.

The Detroit Jewish News is Moving!

On Monday March 1, 2021 our new office location will be 32255 Northwestern Hwy, Suite 205 Farmington Hills, MI 48334 in the Tri-Atria Building.

Our current office at 29200 Northwestern Hwy, Suite 110 Southfield MI 48034 will be closed on Friday February 26, 2021 in preparation for the move, there will be no papers in front of the suite that day. You may resume picking up papers out front if need be on Monday, March 1st at the new location.

While you will be able to get the Jewish News outside the office door, our office will be closed to visitors.

Due to the weather catastrophe in Texas, we are not getting our furniture in time and The Detroit Jewish News employees will be working remotely for the time being. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this transitional time.

32255 Northwestern Hwy, Suite 205 Farmington Hills, MI 48334

Deliver to 32255 Northwestern Hwy, Suite 205 Farmington Hills, MI 48334

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JEWISH NEWS 32255 Northwestern Hwy, Suite 205 Farmington Hills, MI 48334

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JEWISH NEWS 32255 Northwestern Hwy, Suite 205 Farmington Hills, MI 48334

FEBRUARY 25 • 2021

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MAZEL TOV! JAN. 29, 2021 Rebecca and Michael Segal are thrilled to announce the birth of their son, Benjamin Asher. Two-year-old sister, Madeline, happily welcomes her little brother as well.

Overjoyed maternal grandparents are Jodi and Dr. Alan Klein (formerly of Pittsburgh, Pa.); paternal grandparents are Dr. Phyllis Segal and Richard Segal, all of West Bloomfield. Maternal great-grandparents are Jane and Dr. Peter Cohen of Pittsburgh, and Sybil Klein of Philadelphia, Pa. He is also the great-grandson of the late Robert Klein. Paternal great-grandparents are the late Eva and Bernard Gordon, and the late Dr. Alice and Dr. Andrew Segal. Benjamin is named after his paternal great-grandfathers; his Hebrew name, Feivel, was that of his maternal great-great-grandfather Philip Kaufman.

JAN 10, 2021 Lisa and Evan Sack are so happy to announce the birth of their son, Ethan Stewart Sack. Ethan is the grandson of Lee and Bruce Sack, and Cindy and Ray Stewart.

Proud great-grandparents are Harriet Barish, and Barbara and Robert Riley. He is the greatgrandchild of the late Murray and Annette Sack, David and Shirley Milgrom, and Jack Barish.

Jacob Pitler, son of Lori Pitler and Randall Pitler, will lead the congregation in prayer as he becomes a bar mitzvah at Temple Shir Shalom in West Bloomfield on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021. He is the loving brother of Madeline and grandson of Sandra Pitler, the late William Pitler, Ronald Boller and the late Marilyn Boller.

Jacob is a student at Norup International School in Oak Park.

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FEBRUARY 25 • 2021

Iwrey 60th

P

hyllis and Irwin Iwrey of Southfield are thrilled to have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Feb. 1, 2021. Their loving children and grandchildren wish them a big mazel tov and much love, health and happiness!

Kishinevsky-Klein

J

effrey and Susan Klein of Huntington Woods are thrilled to announce the engagement of their daughter Rachel to Sam Kishinevsky, son of Michael and Bracha Kishinevsky of North Andover, Mass.

Rachel is pursuing her law degree at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. Sam received his M.B.A. from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business and is employed at Strategy& in Chicago.

Rachel and Sam are planning an August wedding at Congregation Shaarey Zedek. They currently reside in Chicago.

HOW TO SUBMIT ANNOUNCEMENTS Mazel Tov! announcements are welcomed for members of the Jewish community. Anniversaries, engagements and weddings with a photo (preferably color) can appear at a cost of $18 each. Births are $10. There is no charge for bar/bat mitzvahs or for special birthdays starting at the 90th.

For information, contact Editorial Assistant Sy Manello at smanello@thejewishnews.com or (248) 351-5147 for information or for a mailed or emailed copy of guidelines.

SPIRIT

TORAH PORTION

Remembering Who We Are

The portion describes the fancy, elaborate clothing of the priesthood when making sacrifices. It also describes the Ark of the Covenant that and put down a different was to be covered in gold. read a story about a ritual item: Kiddush cup, It seems strange that while Jewish immigrant from Shabbat candles, tallit, the Israelites are trying Europe who moved to the Chanukah candles. to get to the promised lower east side of New York The man came land they stop and make in the early years of 20th back to life. The items such elaborate costumes century. reconnected him and objects.

To get a job, he changed to his past and his Doing so was not his traditional clothes and family. They reminded Rabbi Aaron ritual for ritual’s sake worked on Shabbat and Bergman him who he was: a and not for God, holidays. He needed to feed human entitled to because God does his family and felt he had no Parshat not need anything. dignity, not just a other choice.

Tetzaveh: It was to remind a drone.

He often slept at work Exodus 27:28248.289.0600 This is the main because of late hours at night 30:10; Ezekiel group of recently freed slaves that they were point in our Torah and early hours in morning.

43_10-27. www.tusharvakhariya.com capable of beauty and portion. When we He often seemed distant, (Shushan tushar@tvhomes.com Purim) splendor, that they could remember who we depressed and lost. remember who they are, we can face At night, 210 his Schildren Old Woodward | Suite 200 | Birmingham MI 48009 really were, and not Pharaoh’s the challenges of life more would go to6755 work where Telegraph Road | Bloomfield Hills MI 48301 vision of who they were. optimistically and joyfully. he was asleep at a desk

I

The Kiddush cup, candlesticks and challah on Shabbat remind us that we are entitled to rest and a life at home that is joyous and happy.

The mezuzah reminds us to remember our values when we leave for work and when we come back home.

The tallit reminds us that we are robed in splendor, no matter how modest our lives.

The purpose of ritual, of doing Jewish, is to remember that we are all capable of goodness and that we can create a world of beauty and splendor even when we feel like we are in the wilderness.

Aaron Bergman is a rabbi at Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills.

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248.289.0660 www.tusharvakhariya.com 6755 Telegraph Road | Bloomfield Hills MI 48301 210 S Old Woodward | Suite 200 | Birmingham MI 48009

FEBRUARY 25 • 2021

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Patients undergo hyperbaric oxygen therapy at Oxford Recovery.

COURTESY OF OXFORD RECOVERY

HEALTH

New Possibilities Hyperbaric therapy is used to treat diverse medical conditions and may offset aging.

SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

O

xygen is a necessity for life — to transfer energy from food into a usable form and to perform vital functions throughout the body. More than 100 years ago, a hyperbaric chamber — an enclosed space with high con-

centrations of oxygen at higher than atmospheric pressure — was first used in the U.S. for medical purposes.

According to the Mayo Clinic, “Under these conditions, your lungs can gather much more oxygen than would be possible

breathing pure oxygen at normal air pressure. When your blood carries this extra oxygen throughout your body, this helps fight bacteria and stimulate the release of substances called growth factors and stem cells, which promote healing.”

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for 14 medical conditions, including wounds that don’t heal because the patient is diabetic and severe burns. Exposure to high-pressure oxygen is believed to stimulate the formation of new blood vessels and aid the body’s infection-fighting ability.

In recent years, HBOT has been used outside the U.S. for conditions such as stroke recovery, autoimmune disorders and autism. In the U.S., “off-label” use of HBOT for non-FDA-ap-

proved medical treatment is permitted but may not be covered by insurance.

Locally, the Oxford Recovery Center, founded in 2008 by Tami Peterson, provides HBOT, coordinated with other treatments for an integrated approach, for more than 100 conditions, including autism, concussions, stroke, anxiety and auto-immune disorders, according to Ned Kulka, Oxford’s marketing director.

Peterson started Oxford Recovery Center after her young daughter was diagnosed with viral encephalitis and suffered severe neurological setbacks.

Her daughter, treated with HBOT, made a remarkable recovery.

STROKE RECOVERY Today, Oxford provides a broad range of treatments for children continued on page 31

Good News for Women

“NINETY PERCENT OF PATIENTS HAVE POSITIVE RESULTS.”

New procedure treats fibroids without surgery.

SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

F

ibroid tumors — benign growths in the uterus and uterine walls — are common, occurring in about 70 percent of women. These growths typically start small, and some individuals with fibroids have few or minor symptoms.

However, fibroids often grow in size and number, and many women experience significant abdominal pain, pressure and heavy menstrual bleeding as a result. In addition, fibroids can make it more difficult to become pregnant and cause complications during pregnancy, according to Danny Benjamin, M.D., FACOG, chief of obstetrics and gynecology at DMC

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Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital in Commerce.

When symptoms were severe, women could choose hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) or myomectomy (surgical removal of the fibroids), but both surgical procedures require hospitalization and a lengthy recovery.

Hormonal injections or the use of IUDs with hormones sometimes provided temporary relief but also caused unpleasant side effects. For most patients, fibroids tended to grow back after treatment was completed.

In the past, Benjamin performed a laparoscopic procedure to shrink the fibroids. However, the earlier technology required

— DR. DANNY BENJAMIN

at least three small abdominal incisions, making it technically more challenging depending on the tumor location. Last year, Gynesonics, a company specializing in the imaging and treatment of gynecologic conditions, received permission from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its newest version of the Sonata procedure that uses a combination of ultrasound and radiofrequency to target and shrink fibroids. In medical terms, it is described as a sonography-guided transcervical fibroid ablation device.

“I was very impressed by the results of the clinical studies, and the positive impact Sonata had on women’s lives. The incision-free nature of Sonata addresses the growing preference of women seeking a less-invasive, lower risk procedure that preserves the uterus,” said Benjamin, who was specially trained for the procedure.

With the Sonata procedure, the gynecologist inserts a handheld device into the cervix to identify the location of the fibroids with ultrasound and then uses radiofrequency — a continued on page 31

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www.OxfordRecoveryCenter.com FEBRUARY 25 • 2021

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FEBRUARY 25 • 2021

POSSIBILITIES from page 29

and adults at Brighton and Troy locations. One patient, folksinger Ron Coden, 78, of Huntington Woods, began HBOT five times a week after a serious stroke in January 2020, according to his daughter Casey Coden Diskin, M.A., Oxford’s executive director of ARTS Autism Services.

“He wasn’t talking at all and his left side was numb,” she said.

“He started hyperbaric, and it did amazing things for his speech and neurological issues.

“He is able to hold a conversation and sing.”

Recent research indicates the therapy may help slow down the aging process, as measured by the shortening of telomeres, DNA protein structure at the end of each chromosome.

A small portion of telomere DNA is lost through normal cell division and over time, telomeres become shorter and cells lose their ability to divide, resulting in aging.

ISRAELI STUDY A team of physicians at Tel Aviv University conducted a study of 63 healthy individuals ages 64 and older. About half the group received 60 hyperbaric sessions over 90 days but did not change their diet, medication or lifestyle. Participants’ blood samples were compared with a control group who did not have HBOT. Results showed that those who had HBOT had less telomere shortening.

“Until now, interventions such as lifestyle modifications and intense exercise were shown to have some inhibition effect on the expected telomere length shortening,” explained lead researcher Dr. Amir Hadanny.

“In just three months of HBOT, we were able to achieve such significant telomere elongation — at rates far beyond any current available interventions or lifestyle modifications.”

The Israeli study was published last year after peer review in the journal Aging.

GOOD NEWS from page 30

form of heat — to reduce the size of the tumor. “There are no incisions, and the ultrasound defines the safety zone where the heat will be used,” Benjamin explains. General anesthetic is not required. Without abdominal incisions, potential complications are reduced.

‘AN IMPROVEMENT’ Julie McCarthy, 53, of Brighton, had pain from fibroids but didn’t want a hysterectomy. In November, she had the Sonata procedure at DMC Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital with positive results.

After the outpatient procedure, she was sleepy and had some temporary cramping and bleeding. Immediately, McCarthy felt less pressure,

especially on her bladder. “I don’t have that heaviness, pressure or pain on one side. There is less bloating, distension and tenderness. I definitely see an improvement in the quality of my life.”

Jamie King, 36, was the second Sonata patient at Huron Valley-Sinai. “It was extremely easy with no pain, some bleeding and a little pressure,” she said. “I don’t have the same pain. It feels like it’s gone. I didn’t need any recovery time.”

“There is a high success rate.

Ninety percent of patients have positive results,” said Benjamin.

Currently, Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital is the only hospital within the Detroit Medical Center offering the procedure and the first in Michigan.

ON THE GO

PEOPLE | PLACES | EVENTS

is a $42 event fee, which includes materials. Info: tikvah@hadassahmw.org or call 248-683-5030.

A MUSICAL EVENING 8-9:30 PM, FEB. 27

A VIRTUAL PURIM FEB. 25-28 The holiday of Purim has often been called “the Jewish Carnavale,” with the joys of song, laughter and drama folded into one, The Yiddishkayt Initiative (“YI Love Jewish”) will be serving up at its first annual International virtual YI Love Yiddishfest — Purim Edition, online from Feb. 25-28.

Virtual visitors will be able to step right up for a wide range of free performances, concerts, readings and interviews featuring major award-winning American and International entertainers. The celebration continues with the YI Love YiddishFest 2020 — Purim Edition, which will be simultaneously streamed on the yilovejewish.org website, Facebook Live and YouTube Live. For information about Yiddishkayt Initiative, visit YILoveJewish.org.

TOUR ISRAEL NOON - 1PM, FEB. 25 Temple Shir Shalom is offering a live, virtual tour “The Golan Heights and the Yom Kippur War” with Rabbi Daniel Schwartz and Israeli tour guide Beni Levin. Learn about Israel’s last “Big War” and the beginning of a new era, “The punishment of arrogance.” There is a charge.

To register: shirshalom.org/ event/israel-5.html or call 248-737-8700.

BIM BOM BABY 10-10:30 AM, FEB. 26 Temple Shir Shalom will host an interactive Shabbat experience with the cantor and rabbis via Zoom. Register at shirshalom.org/event/ bimbom-online.html.

A MUSICAL EVENING 8-9:30 PM, FEB. 27 Together Wherever We Go — U-M Musical Theatre grads Griffin Binnicker, Justin Showell and Isabel Stein — will appear in a virtual presentation courtesy of Cabaret 313. For this performance, Cabaret 313 will continue its Pay-What-You-Can system: Suggested regular ticket price: $40 Suggested under 40 ticket price: $15.

Visit cabaret313.org.

MEDICAL PROS MEET 10:30 AM, FEB. 28 NEXTGen Detroit and JVS present NEXTWork Industry Meetup, a virtual event.

Calling all medical professionals. We’d like to offer a set time to unwind and meet new folks from your field who get what you’ve been going through. Coffee, pajamas and pet photos are encouraged. This online event is intended for medical professionals ages 21 to 45. Register before Feb. 26 at 5 pm. Info: Hannah

Berger at hberger@jvshumanservices.org.

A YIDDISH HARRY POTTER NOON-1 PM, MARCH 1 U-M Frankel Center for Judaic Studies will present a Zoom webinar on “Magic in Mame-Loshn: Translating Harry Potter into Yiddish” with Arun Viswanath. He will address questions and topics such as: Is Harry Potter particularly difficult to translate? The book can be ordered online [harrypotter.olniansky.com].

Registration required: umich. zoom.us/webinar/register/3216061643746/WN_ go1LSrJ4SrecwpRr2wFNGw. PESACH CRAFT 10 AM, MARCH 18 Tikvah Hadassah presents a virtual program, “Create Your Own Matzah Platter in Time for Passover,” with artist Gail Rosenbloom Kaplan.

Join on Zoom to create a beautiful Jerusalem matzah tray using sand art, complete with an acrylic cover and beaded legs. Art project kits will be available for pickup from Hadassah House, 5030 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield, on Sunday, March 7, 10 am to 1 pm.

Register by Tuesday, March 2 at hadassahmidwest. org/TikvahMatzah. There

ISLAM, ROMANTICISM & ANDALUSIA 12:30-1:30 PM, MARCH 2 The U-M Frankel Center for Judaic Studies will present Charles Hirschkind in conversation with Flora Hastings. In today’s world, the lines between Europe and the Middle East, between Christian Europeans and Muslim immigrants in their midst, seem to be hardening. Charles Hirschkind explores the works and lives of writers, thinkers, poets, artists and activists and shows how, taken together, they constitute an Andalusian sensorium. Info: JudaicStudies@ umich.edu.

HEALTH INFO 7 PM, MARCH 4 Hadassah Greater Detroit Nurses Council presents a virtual program “Diabetes: The Sweet ’n’ Lowdown, What Women Need to Know.” Presenter: Dr. Rebecca Simon of Henry Ford Health System, a specialist in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism.

Register by March 2. There is a $10 event fee. Register online: hadassahmidwest. org/GDdiabetes or for info, contact greaterdetroit@ hadassah.org, 248-6835030.

Compiled by Sy Manello/Editorial Assistant. Send items at least 14 days in advance to calendar@thejewishnews. com.

FEBRUARY 25 • 2021

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ARTS&LIFE ART PHOTOS COURTESY OF BBAC

Expressing Their

Creativity Local Jewish artists shine at BBAC mixed media exhibit.

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Steve Rubin’s Vivid

Susan Shlom’s The Diva

Details

Images from BBAC: Current Students Works Competition can be seen through March 4 — 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday-Saturday — at 1516 Cranbrook Road, Birmingham. (248) 644-0866. bbartcenter.org.

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FEBRUARY 25 • 2021

W

hen the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center announced winners of its 2021 BBAC: Current Students Works Competition, it was referring to projects completed by adult artists who value continuing education. Many had earlier works shown — and bought — in galleries and art fairs.

Some of the competitive student works, on view at the BBAC through March 4, already have been sold. They are among 163 varied media pieces — including paintings, prints and jewelry — on display.

Area artist Claudia Shepard served as juror to decide awards that included cash prizes, tuition certificates and gift cards for art supplies totaling more than $3,000.

• One familiar honoree, Patti Tapper of Orchard Lake, shows two paintings with the winner being Peonies, an acrylic on canvas. Her artistic attention has moved through jewelry, ketubahs and quilts.

“Each of my daughters gave me flowers one Mother’s Day,” Tapper explained about the source of her imagery. “I took photos of the bouquets and painted what was shown. I love

the joyful color scheme.”

Tapper, who was a painting major at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, takes satisfaction from her experiences with the professional artists teaching at the BBAC, which she describes as having an “uplifting atmosphere” for “creative professionals.”

• Susan Shlom, of West Bloomfield, was recognized for The Diva, another acrylic on canvas, also colorful but showing an outdoor image with an Impressionist approach.

“This is a fall scene,” said Shlom, who has found it exciting to be able to paint, display and have someone purchase her work during COVID. “I’m very affected by nature, and I paint every day.”

Shlom, who taught English and social studies for 24 years at Hillel Day School, has shown her work at many galleries that have served Oakland County and continues taking classes because she believes “everyone needs to study.”

• Jewelry holds the focus of Jodi Galperin, of Farmington Hills, whose necklace, On the Frontier, is another award winner.

“I call it raw and rustic,” said Galperin, who likes working

with leather, silver and crushed stone.

Galperin always enjoyed art but built her career in business before entering serious metalsmithing studies. She has enrolled in about two BBAC classes at a time and soon will be posting her work on Instagram.

Attention to Judaica has been strictly personal for Galperin, who has designed Star of David necklaces for her two sons and nephew. She calls the group “three-of-a-kind” works.

• Photo transfer techniques enter into the winning lithograph print shown by Jacki Boyer of West Bloomfield. It is titled In the Course of Time. “I love the engineering process of making prints and never quite knowing how something is going to look on paper,” said Boyer, who studied artistry at Colorado Mountain College and whose Jewish interests have been explored through various programs offered by religious organizations.

“I’m a very visual person and always saved images that I’m drawn to. This particular image was from a newspaper years ago. It feels like enclosed or circular energy, almost its own universe of thoughts and feelings, much the same as we have been dealing with in this past unique year.”

• Steve Rubin, who attended the School of Visual Arts in New York, tried his hand in commercial art but found security by building a career in equine dentistry. Maintaining his artistic interests, Rubin has sold paintings through personal contacts and enrolled at the BBAC as an ongoing outlet for his skills.

Vivid, an abstract expressionist painting made of acrylics on canvas, showcases his favored

Jodi Galperin’s On the Frontier

Patti Tapper’s Peonies

style.

“I’m unleashing feelings through the painting, and the dominant color is cadmium red,” said Rubin, of Farmington Hills, who has participated in Jewish Community Center programming apart from his artistry.

• Fran Wolok, of Bloomfield Township, submitted an abstracted landscape, The Winter Stream, another image completed in acrylics. She traces her interest in paintings to being surrounded by a family of artists.

“I studied art at Wayne State University and worked as a technical illustrator,” said this member of Adat Shalom Synagogue who has volunteered at the Soul Center in West Bloomfield. “I’ve done landscapes based on scenes from Israel and last year was a winner in the Michigan Fine Arts Competition.”

Jacki Boyer’s In the Course of Time

Fran Wolok’s Winter Stream

FEBRUARY 25 • 2021

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ARTS&LIFE TV & FILM

Global

ANIKA MOLNAR/NETFLIX

G3old

NATE BLOOM COLUMNIST

Amit Rahav and Shira Haas in Unorthodox

T

he Golden Globe awards, for excellence in TV and film, will be awarded on Sunday, Feb. 28, at 8 p.m. Due to the pandemic, the Globes will be a virtual event. Norman Lear, 98, the creator of many great TV shows, including All in the Family will receive the “Carol Burnett Award” for “outstanding contributions to television.”

Unlike many years, there is no Jewish nominee in the film (drama) actor/actress categories (there are five nominees in all Globe categories). However, Gary Oldman is nominated for a best actor (drama) Globe for playing Jewish screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz in Mank.

The best actor, comedy or musical film category has two Jewish nominees: Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat Subsequent Moviefilm) and Andy Samberg, 42 (Palm Springs). Cohen played star character

34

The most complete Jewish guide to the 2021 Golden Globes.

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FEBRUARY 25 • 2021

Borat, as well as co-writing this “mockumentary.” Samberg played an affable guy who finds himself living the same day over and over.

The best actress (musical/comedy film) nominees include Kate Hudson, 41, who had a star role in Music, a film most critics disliked. She plays a reformed drug dealer who takes care of her autistic half-sister.

Sacha Baron Cohen, 49, is also nominated for best supporting actor (film) for playing 1960s radical Abbie Hoffman in The Trial of the Chicago 7. Aaron Sorkin, 59, who wrote and directed the film is the sole Jewish nominee in the best (film) director and best (film) screenplay categories.

Composer James Newton Howard, 69, is nominated for best original score (News of the World) and Diane Warren,

64, is up for a Globe for co-writing the original song “Seen” for the film The Life Ahead.

One nominee for the best animated film Globe, Over the Moon, has a poignant asterisk. It was written by Audrey Lederer Wells, who died of cancer in 2018, at age 58. The film is dedicated to her. Her late father, Wolfgang Lederer, an Austrian Jew, fled from the Nazis, joined the American army and fought from D-Day until he was severely injured in early 1945. He was highly decorated and left the army as a major. The carnage of war led him to become a psychiatrist and many of his patients were Holocaust survivors.

A Holocaust survivor is the central character of The Life Ahead, a best foreign language film nominee. Sophia Loren plays a retired prostitute who is also a Jewish Holocaust survivor.

She forms an unlikely friendship with a Muslim boy. This film got mixed reviews, unlike the 1977 film Madame Rosa, which was based on the same novel by Romain Gary. It won the Oscar for best foreign film and French actress Simone Signoret (whose father was Jewish) was, frankly, better than Loren in the same role.

The Trial of the Chicago 7 is nominated for best drama film. It competes with Mank, which, as I said, is about a “real” Jew. The director and screenwriter of Mank aren’t Jewish. There are eight important real-life Jewish characters in the film and no Jewish actors or actresses play them (Oy, you say? I agree).

The best film (musical or comedy) category has many more Jewish connections.

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm was, as I’ve noted, co-written by Sacha Baron Cohen.

It was directed by Jason Woliner, 40. Also nominated in this category are Hamilton, directed by Thomas Kail, 43; The Prom, a musical whose songs were co-written by

WIKIPEDIA

hot British actor Jonah Hauer-King, 25. I know these siblings are practicing Jews — so who knows where O’Connor will end up “religion-wise?”

Jane Levy, 31, is nominated for best lead actress, comedy or musical (TV).

She stars in Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist.

I know her father is Jewish and her mother is not. But she never talks about her Jewish ancestry or any religious practice.

A “quite” Jewish actress, Israeli Shira Haas, 25, is nominated for best performance in a mini-series or TV movie. She starred in Unorthodox, a series about a Hasidic woman who leaves her sect for the secular world.

Dan Levy, 37 (Schitt’s Creek) is nominated for best supporting actor in a series and Julia Garner, 27 (Ozark) vies for the same award in the actress category.

Garner’s mother is Jewish, and Garner has described herself as Jewish several times.

She won the 2019 and 2020 Emmy for this role.

The nominees for best mini-series include The Queen’s Gambit. It was written and directed by Scott Frank, 60. This series about a female chess grandmaster was a monster ratings and critical hit

Norman Lear

BY JOELLA MARANO, WIKIPEDIA

OVER THE MOON WAS WRITTEN BY AUDREY LEDERER WELLS, WHO DIED OF CANCER AT AGE 58.

for Netflix. Also in this category are The Undoing, a murder mystery, and Unorthodox. The Undoing is based on a novel by Jean Hanff Korelitz, 59, and it was directed by Susanne Bier, 60, a Danish Jew. Unorthodox was inspired by a memoir by Deborah Feldman, 34, once a member of a Hasidic sect. It was co-written by Anna Winger, 50.

The best TV drama series nominees include The Crown, which was created by, and is written by Peter Morgan, 57.

His Jewish father fled Nazi Germany for England. His mother isn’t Jewish. Also in this category is The Mandalorian, a Disney fantasy series that was created by, and is directed by Jon Favreau, 54.

The best musical or comedy series nominees include Emily in Paris, a light show about a Midwestern young woman who moves to Paris. It was created by Darren Star, 59, who also created Beverly Hills, 90210 and co-created Sex and the City. Emily vies with Schitt’s Creek for this Globe. Perhaps because it was on the little-watched Popcorn channel, Creek languished in relative obscurity during its first four seasons (2015-2019). But critics and viewers eventually found it and it swept the 2020 Emmys. Dan Levy and his father, Eugene Levy, 74, co-star in Creek and they co-created the show.

Sacha Baron Cohen

Ibrahima Gueye and Sophia Loren in The Life Ahead.

REGINE DE LAZZARIS AKA GRETA/NETFLIX

Matthew Sklar; and Palm Springs, directed by Max Barbakow, 35.

There are no Jewish actresses nominated for best lead in a TV series. The best lead actor category has one nominee, Josh O’Connor, with an unusual Jewish backstory. He’s nominated for playing Prince Charles in The Crow. His maternal great-grandmother was Jewish and although he is, in common terms, oneeighth Jewish, he is a “Halachic Jew.” I mention him because his domestic partner is Margot Hauer-King, 30ish, the sister of

FEBRUARY 25 • 2021

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ARTS&LIFE

Soleil Moon Frye as Punky Brewster

CELEBRITY JEWS

PUNKY BREWSTER REBOOT; RASHIDA JONES A reboot of Punky Brewster, the popular ’80s sitcom, will begin streaming on the Peacock Channel Feb. 25. (All 10 episodes will be released at once.) In the original, Punky (Soleil Moon Frye) was a warm and funny 7-year-old who was abandoned by her parents.

Luckily, she met a kind old man who eventually became her legal foster parent. In the new version, Izzy, a young girl, is suffering in the foster system when she chances to meet Punky Brewster (Frye, again), now the harried single mother of three. Izzy reminds Punky of her younger self and she takes Izzy in.

SCREENSHOT FROM TRAILER

NATE BLOOM COLUMNIST

Since the original ended, Frye, now 43, has continued to act, mostly in voice parts.

She also had four children with her TV producer husband, Jason Goldberg, 48.

Sadly, they separated last year. Like their mom, their kids have colorful names (all have the last name Goldberg). Here they are: (daughter) Poet Sienna Rose, 15; (son) Jagger Joseph Blue, 12; (son) Lyric Sonny Roads, 7; and (son) Story, 4.

Actress Rashida Jones, 44, was interviewed (Feb. 11) by

Terry Gross, 69, the host of Fresh Air (NPR). She mostly talked about costarring in the 2020 film On the Rocks and about the birth of her first child (2018) and the death (2019) of her mother, actress Peggy Lipton. (Rashida’s life partner, and the father of her son, is Ezra Koenig, 36, a successful rock musician).

She also talked about her African American father, Quincy Jones, a legendary musician and music producer. Her father, she said, grewup poor, in a rough Chicago

neighborhood. But, she said, he beat the odds and survived and thrived.

Later in the interview, Rashida told Gross that she went to the Latvian village where her Jewish great-grandparents came from while a guest on the ancestry TV show Who Do You Think You Are? Everybody (meaning the Jews), she said, were killed during the war. She then said: “And I just think about how ridiculous it is that I exist because the lineage on both sides, the probability that I would exist, a Black Jew in 2021, and succeed and thrive is a miracle. And it’s something I do not take for granted. I think about it constantly every day. I don’t understand why I was chosen, but I feel like I have to make good on my dad’s survival and my family’s survival.”

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Two Farber seventh-graders chosen for new program.

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FEBRUARY 25 • 2021

DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

F

arber Hebrew Day School has For Phase I in the Winter & Spring been accepted into the inaugu2021, there will be an intensive 10-part ral Truman Scholars program, online seminar taken together with developed by the Tikvah Fund.

Truman Scholars from other particiFarber was one of 18 schools selectpating schools. This phase will introed to participate in this new duce the large theme of initiative that explores the America and Israel as two foundational ideas, key texts nations and then explore and leaders of American civithe Hebraic influence on lization and modern Zionism America.

— including the U.S.-Israel For Phase II in Summer relationship.

2021, students will have the The two-year program is choice between indepenopen to seventh-grade student reading from books dents from selected schools. on America and Israel, or Two Farber students, Oren the opportunity to choose Opperer and Shayna Leib, elective courses in Tikvah Oren Opperer will represent Farber in the Online Academy with program. options in Jewish, Zionist Lizzy Doppelt, assistant and American civilization. principal of Farber’s Sara For Phase III in Fall Rivka Friedman Elementary 2021, the now-eighth-grade & Middle School, was a part Truman Scholars will again of the interview process with choose from Tikvah Online students along with Head of electives.

School Dr. Joshua Levisohn.

For Phase IV in winter Students filled out an applicaand spring 2022, Truman tion and then 10-to-15-minScholars will participate in ute interviews were conduct- Shayna Leib another intensive 10-part ed. online seminar taken with “It was a terribly hard deciTruman Scholars from other sion to the point we asked the actual schools, focusing on the founding of Tikvah Fund if we could have more modern Israel. students,” Doppelt said.

“We hope the students gain an “These two students, in particular, understanding of other people’s views really stood out for us in their dediand beliefs and the ability to engage in cation, work ethic and extracurricuthose types of conversations,” Doppelt lars they’re already participating in,” said.

Doppelt said. “The two of them have “For us as a school to have our wonderful leadership qualities.” name and face out there as leaders in The program itself will have four this type of education, I think it’s just core segments, beginning from the amazing and a testament to the type of middle of seventh grade through the education we are providing and expect eighth grade. of our students.”

OBITUARIES

OF BLESSED MEMORY

ROSLYN FELD, 78, of West Bloomfield, died Feb. 16, 2021.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Samuel Allen Feld; son and daughter-inlaw, Jason and Franci Feld; daughter, Rochelle Feld; grandchildren, Chana Feld, Dani Silverman, Benjamin Feld, Shlomo Feld; many other loving family members and friends.

Interment took place at Adat Shalom Memorial Cemetery in Livonia.

Contributions may be made to Bais Chabad Torah Center of West Bloomfield or the Henry Ford Cancer Institute.

Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.

GOLDALEE GEISZ, 78, of Bloomfield Hills, died Feb. 16, 2021.

She is survived by her son, Rick Geisz; daughter and son-in-law, Dr. Kim and Dr. John Hart; grandchildren, Matthew (Elizabeth) Geisz, John Jacob Hart and Jenna Hart; great-grandchildren, Sterling and Hazel; many other loving family members and friends.

Mrs. Geisz was the beloved wife of the late Duane Geisz.

Interment took place at Machpelah Cemetery in Ferndale. Contributions may be made to the Crohns & Colitis Foundation of America or to the Michigan Humane Society.

Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel. continued on page 40

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W

He Found Joy In Family

olf Gruca, 101, died Feb. 18, 2021.

During his life, Wolf Gruca proudly carried many titles: son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

The title he carried the longest, however, was that of survivor.

When Germany entered Poland in 1939, Wolf Gruca was among the many Jews forced into the ghetto. A tool maker by training, he then served for several years as forced labor in the HASAG plant not far from his home in Wolf Gruca Czestochowa. Before the war came to an end, he labored as well at Buchenwald, including its subcamp Mittelbau-Dora and then Osterode am Harz in Germany.

When the Holocaust ended, Wolf spent time at the displaced persons camp at BergenBelsen and then at FrankfurtMein, where he met and married Regina (nee Waldman) and where the couple welcomed their first child, Joe. Wolf, Regina and Joe immigrated to New York and then came to Detroit. In Detroit, the family grew, adding Mary (“Margie”) and Susane.

Wolf eventually took a position in tool and die with Chrysler, where he worked for 30 years until his retirement. Especially in the first part of his retirement and before Regina’s death in 2000, Wolf took gentle care night and day of his wife, whose physical limitations that resulted from the Holocaust turned into full disabilities.

Wolf was a regular part of the minyan at Congregation Beth Achim and then at Congregation

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FEBRUARY 25 • 2021

Shaarey Zedek, where he joyfully made breakfast every Sunday for the minyan attendees. Then, after the passing of his wife, Wolf found much joy in spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; in shepping nachas over their accomplishments; in receiving phone calls from those closest to him; in dancing with friends; and especially in sitting together with four generations of his family each Shabbat morning at Shaarey Zedek. He was a respected member of the Congregation Shaarey family, where he found lasting friendships and community.

Wolf Gruca was the beloved father of Joseph (Sandra) Gruca, Mary (James) Starr and Susane Yesnick. He was the honored grandfather of Jeffrey Gruca, Terri Gruca, Rabbi Aaron (Rebecca) Starr and David (Dr. Brittany Lakin-Starr) Starr; the cherished zaydie (great-grandfather) to Ryan Gruca, Jacob Gruca, Caleb Starr, Ayal Starr and Eliana Starr.

He was predeceased during the Holocaust by his parents, Joseph and Meryl, as well as five siblings and their respective families. Wolf was also predeceased by daughterin-law, Shelley Gruca and son-inlaw, Aaron Yesnick.

Contributions may be made to Rabbi Aaron Starr Discretionary Fund at Congregation Shaarey Zedek, 27375 Bell Road, Southfield, MI 48034; or Holocaust Memorial Center, 28123 Orchard Lake Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48334. A family graveside service was held at Clover Hill Park Cemetery in Birmingham.

Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.

OBITUARIES

OF BLESSED MEMORY continued from page 39

BETTY GOLDBERG, 92, of Boca Raton, Fla., and Bloomfield Hills, died Feb. 14, 2021.

She was born in Bayonne, N.J., and raised in Detroit.

She graduated from Kingswood School Cranbrook and attended Goucher College and the University of Michigan.

Betty was married to Harry Goldberg Jr. for 60 wonderful years. She enjoyed a career as an interior designer and art dealer. She later developed a passion for the game of bridge, achieving Life Master status.

Betty has shared the last 12 years with her devoted companion, Stuart R. Reichart, former general counsel of the Air Force.

As a cherished matriarch, Betty leaves behind a legacy of adoring family. She is survived by her children, Terry Axelrod (Alan), Nancy Edelstein (Donn Hogan), William Goldberg (Virginia); grandchildren, Sara La Mela (Tom), David Axelrod (Arianne Traurig), Laurel Walters (Bradley), Raleigh Edelstein (Alex Perez), Stephen Goldberg (Letty), and Sophia Goldberg; her great-granddaughter, Ava Betty La Mela; and her loving sister, Dr. Sharon Lynn Kagan.

Mrs. Goldberg was the daughter of the late Louis and Ruth Goldberg.

The funeral was held in Seattle, Wash., at the Butterworth Funeral Home.

SEYMOUR “SY” GOODMAN, 87, of West Bloomfield, died Feb. 14, 2021.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Ruth Brownstein; sons, Henry Takouni, Steve Goodman, Robert Goodman; daughter and son-in-law, Julie and David Schwartz; brother and sister-in-law, Barry and Marilyn Goodman; grandchildren, Ashley Takouni, Aaron (Krystal) Takouni, Annie Goodman, Emma Goodman, Samuel Goodman, Eli Goodman and Jack Goodman; sister-inlaw, Jo Goodman; many other loving family members and friends.

Mr. Goodman was the beloved husband of the late Sara Lillian Goodman; brother of the late Norman Goodman.

Interment took place at Beth Abraham Cemetery in Ferndale. Contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice.

Arrangement by Dorfman Chapel.

MICHAEL G. KOTZEN, 69, of West Bloomfield, died Feb. 1, 2021.

He is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law, Adam Kotzen, Matthew (Julie) Kotzen, Bradley (Lisa) Kotzen; daughter and son-in-law, Heidi (Dan) Crane; grandchildren, Andrew, Avery and Blake Kotzen, Jacob and Tristan Crane. He was also survived by his significant other, Sandra McCormick.

Mr. Kotzen was the son of Selma Kotzen and the late Alan Kotzen; devoted brother of Karon (William) Denniston, and the late John Jakubowski.

Contributions may be made to the American Diabetes

Association, 2451 Crystal Drive, Suite 900, Arlington, VA 22202; 800-342-2383, or to a charity of one’s choice.

five grandchildren; and a wide umbrella of caring relatives and friends: To Sandy, everyone was family.

SANFORD “SANDY” SULKES, 78, of Westland, died Feb. 10, 2021.

He was born in Detroit and graduated from Mumford High and Michigan State and was a proud Spartan.

He retired as the second-generation owner of International Building Products of Livonia.

Mr. Sulkes is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Shirley; his children, Gail (Mark), Adam (Taryn), Joel (Lisa), Toby (Cheryl), Katy;

SAM TOLCHIN, 89, of West Bloomfield, died Feb. 14, 2021.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Esther Tolchin; children, Marsha and Shelly Lustig, Neal Tolchin and Mark Bellino, and Dana Lewis; grandchildren, Kaitlyn Lustig and Peter Kosiarek, Morgan Lustig and Jacob Laser, Alex Lewis and Mahmoud Kamel, Josh Lewis, and Ben Bellino; many loving nieces and nephews.

Mr. Tolchin was the lov-

ing brother of the late Oscar Tolchin and the late Joe Tolchin.

Interment was at Machpelah Cemetery. Contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, stjude.org; or to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

CORRECTION In the obituary for Rochelle “Shelley” Solomon (Feb. 18), it should have indicated that she was survived by her brother, Sandy. continued on page 42

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OBITUARIES

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Harry Antman Hymie Armeland Rex William Berman Ethel Bruseloff Ethel Dworkin Samuel Eisenstadt Max M Fisher Mollie Goldberg Louis Honigman Sarah Karbal Pearl Keller Harry Marwil Anna Pesochinskaya Roy Radner Max Rosenfeld Isaac (Izzy) Sigal Irving Lawrence Stern

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I

Lumber Leader

rving Yale Strickstein, 93, River, Erie Canal, Great of Detroit and Deerfield Lakes, Ohio and Mississippi Beach, Fla., died Feb. 2, rivers, Gulf of Mexico and 2021. the Florida Keys.

He was born Jan. 30, 1928, In service to the comin Toledo, Ohio. A graduate munity, Irv was a generous of Central High School, 1946, benefactor to multiple Irv served his country in the Detroit charities and to U.S. Navy aboard the heavy Congregation B’nai Moshe, cruisers USS Toledo and USS where he was a longtime Oregon City. member and served on the Following naval service, Irv board of directors. entered the lumber industry as Mr. Strickstein is survived a yard man, unloading boxcars by his daughter, Susan J. and driving a forklift, learning Sadley of Royal Oak; son and the construction indusdaughter-in-law, try from the ground up.

Alan W. Strickstein The post-war construcand Deborah Foon tion boom in Michigan of Bloomfield was in full swing. In Hills; son and son1954, he joined National in-law, Robert C. Lumber Company and Strickstein and built it into the leading David Simpatico of lumber supplier for Rhinebeck, N.Y.; Irving Yale Strickstein the Detroit metroson and daughpolitan area; it was a ter-in-law, Scott Crain Detroit Business Top 200.

D. Strickstein and Eve National supplied material for Strickland of Brooklyn, N.Y.; tens-of-thousands of houses, daughter and son-in-law, apartments and condominiTara N. and Matthew Lewis ums, creating homes for of Miami, Fla.; brother and generations of families in the sister-in-law, Jack Strickstein tri-state area. and Paula Stern of Scottsdale, Irv was a dedicated Ariz.; grandchildren, Ian, motor-yachtsman, operating Ryan, Lauren, B, Kai, Bohdi numerous vessels ranging and Wolfe; great-grandchilin size from cruiser (Irv’s dren, Lainie and Gabriella; Pussycat) to motor-yacht his ex-wife, Anna Strickstein (Lady Lumber). Cruising (Lachman) of Miami Beach, in the company of family Fla. and friends was his greatHe was preceded in est pleasure in life. No death by his mother, Edith part of the Great Lakes’ Strickstein (Brodsky); his waterways was unknown stepfather, Isaac Strickstein; his to him and, in later years, father, Samuel Brodsky; his sisthe Bahamas, Caribbean ter, Blanch Rich (Strickstein); and Antilles. Beginning in and his ex-wife, Betty Louise 2000, he achieved a lifelong Strickstein (Lelgant). dream: a voyage of the Great Services were held American Waterway, encom- in Boynton Beach, Fla. passing: the Atlantic coast, Local arrangements by Ira New York Harbor, Hudson Kaufman Chapel.

Video Tribute to Rabbi Sacks JNS

The Orthodox Union, Rabbinical Council of America and Yeshiva University joined together to create a moving video tribute to former Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks that highlights his teachings, impact and influence.

The 22-minute video features political leaders, communal officials, rabbis, educators and students who share personal messages highlighting how Rabbi Sacks impacted and influenced them to “raise the bar” in their own lives and communal work.

“The message of the video highlights Rabbi Sacks’ impact as a profoundly eloquent teacher of Torah and spokesman for Torah values within the Jewish community

and beyond,” said Orthodox Union President Moishe Bane.

“He was an intellectual giant whose unique blend of Torah scholarship, academic achievement, human sensitivity and social awareness allowed him to speak to the issues of our times to the broadest of audiences, and he did so with courage, clarity and optimism.

“Rabbi Sacks was a beacon of Kiddush Hashem, whose thoughtful teachings improved the world and invariably brought honor to the Torah and the Jewish people. Among his prolific writings on a wide variety of subjects, his Torah commentary was studied weekly by tens of thousands.”

To watch the video, go to ou.org/sackstribute/.

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OBITUARY CHARGES The processing fee for obituaries is: $125 for up to 100 words; $1 per word thereafter. A photo counts as 15 words. There is no charge for a Holocaust survivor icon.

The JN reserves the right to edit wording to conform to its style considerations. For information, have your funeral director call the JN or you may call Sy Manello, editorial assistant, at (248) 351-5147 or email him at smanello@ renmedia.us.

FEBRUARY 25 • 2021

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WHITE CASTLE

RASKIN

THE BEST OF EVERYTHING

Guilty Pleasure

Many localites still feel the crave for a White Castle slider — now available frozen.

T

he ever-growing fastfood luncheon has made another big impact on the home or office market for those with microwave ovens or regular stoves.

They are the amazing leap of items like the Danny constant jump Raskin of White Castle’s Senior Columnist frozen Original Slider hamburgers … The family-run business so many remember as America’s first hamburger chain since 1921 has made leaps and bounds in such wonder.

The 100 percent frozen beef patties that can be gotten in boxes have been putting up

Our State. Our Town.

Our Hospice.

hard-to-believe numbers in numerous grocery stores, drug stores, etc., and are available both with or without cheese … Putting the small, two-patty package for 60 seconds in the microwave or 30 seconds if thawed … Another mode is the stove top for 10 or 12 minutes, which hurrying needlessly may take up too much time.

Memories for many are jogged with each bite as folks are chawing on their deliciously once-frozen easy-to-eat White Castle sliders or others, maybe with a side of those small Vlasic Kosher Dill Pickles.

Dr. Alan Silverman recalled eating four yummies at a time loaded with sliced pickles, onions, mustard and ketchup on Blimpie Burgers from Crazy Jim’s in Arbor while attending University of Michigan …

Jackie Kallen used to walk to Greene’s Hamburgers on 7 Mile and Schaefer and eat almost an entire bag full … well almost.

Mickey Bakst, former gen-

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FEBRUARY 25 • 2021

Litchman at Northgate Deli, made sure they never complained about being hungry with his hors d’oeuvres while they waited in line to be seated.

OLDIE BUT GOODIE …

Three old men are talking about their aches and bodily functions … The first man says, “I wake up at 7 a.m. and it takes me 20 minutes to tinkle.”

The second man says, “My case is worse … I get up at 8 and stand there and grunt for a half-hour before I have any movement.”

The third man says, “At 7, I wee-wee like a horse.”

“So, what’s your problem?” ask the others.

“I don’t get up until 9.”

CONGRATS … To Rose Fink Freedman on her 100th birthday … To Dr. Leonard Aronovitz on his birthday …

To Allan Hershman on his 70th birthday … To Michelle Sheridan on her birthday.

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eral manager at both Tribute here and Charleston Grill in Charleston, S.C., says his Greene’s Hamburgers on 7 Mile and Livernois were “the holy grail, and I sure ate a lot of them!” … PR gent Dennis Green ate four every time he went with lots of onions, ketchup and mustard … His wife, Sharon, after school at Vernor Elementary, made every day a constant ritual … Sam Bolen loved the ones he got from White Castle on Grand River and Joy Road.

Photojournalist Linda Solomon also got hers from Greene’s on 7 Mile and Schaefer … Hubby barrister Barry Solomon got everything but the onions … and like Linda, loved every bite.

Those succulent little devils are back in a big way … frozen, too, and making a huge impact on a lot of hidden diets.

Speaking of diets, years ago folks in line at Sam Sandler’s Sammy’s Deli, like Dick

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Looking Back

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

Happy Purim!

P

urim begins tonight, Thursday, Feb. 25, the 14th day of Adar.

This is the really fun holiday that celebrates the survival of the Jews after Queen Esther and Mordechai thwarted a plot by Haman, the royal vizier to the Persian King, to kill all the Jews in ancient Persia in the 4th century BCE. In short, Purim commemorates survival for Jews and a victory over prejudice and antisemitism.

Celebrating Purim includes costumes, readings of the Megillah, booing and hissing at Haman’s Mike Smith name and, of course, after Alene and Graham Landau fasting, munching some Archivist Chair hamantashen and, perhaps, some kreplach. It also mandates acts of charity. It is a joyous holiday.

The William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History offers proof of Purim’s rank as a holiday with 7,464 mentions. Every year, from 1916 to present, the Chronicle and the JN have carried stories and announcements for Purim celebrations. Most of the reading is a lot of fun.

Not all the Purim reports are joyful. In the first mention of Purim in the March 17, 1916, issue of the Jewish Chronicle, the editorial “Purim 5675,” notes a paradox: the suffering of many Jews during WWI while American Jews enjoyed “a period of unprecedented prosperity and progress.”

During World War II, in the March 19, 1943, issue of the JN, read “The Inner Meaning of Purim” by Abraham Burstein, or the more sobering “Our Last Purim” by Judge Louis Levinthal, president of the Zionists of America, speaking about 10 years of Hitler in power in Germany as a contemporary Haman.

But, most of the Purim readings match the holiday’s spirit. On Feb., 27, 1953, the JN published the music and lyrics

for “Purim Time is Fun.” Or see the Feb. 24, 1956, issue that lists all the Purim celebrations across Detroit, from Temple Israel to Young Israel.

Over the years, the JN has also published what can be considered “Purim primers.” For example, see Elizabeth Applebaum’s “Happy Purim” summary of the holiday in the March 9, 2006, JN, or her “Happy Days are Here Again” (Feb. 26, 1999). There are also more practical articles such as “Making a Purim Costume Safe” (March 2, 1990).

Purim celebrations have changed with the impact of modern societal influences such as radio and television, or wars and economic strife and, most recently, the digital world. For example, see “Purim on the Internet” in the March 2, 2001, issue of the JN. This was a very prescient article.

The real fun reading begins when, after the 1980s, the JN began to print more photos as well as add more color to its pages. “Hooray for Purim” features photos of the children from Akiva Hebrew Day School (March 3, 1994) or see Noa and Eitan Pergament in their Purim costumes (Feb. 25, 2010). There are also great photos from celebrations at Beth Shalom (March 31, 2005), Shaarey Zedek (March 24, 2003) and Chabad’s Richardson Center (March 28, 2003).

Perhaps the most colorful of all was Shaarey Zedek’s “Purim Extravaganza” announcement two years ago (Feb. 22, 2018).

I think we all could use a bit of fun after a rough 2020. Happy Purim!

Want to learn more? Go to the DJN Foundation archives, available for free at www.djnfoundation.org.

FEBRUARY 25 • 2021

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