DJN April 1, 2021

THE DETROIT

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thejewishnews.com

The

Levin Legacy Carl Levin’s new memoir chronicles his 36-year Senate career.

Page 12

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contents April 1-7, 2021 / 19-25 Nisan 5781 | VOLUME CLIX, ISSUE 9

31

37 PURELY COMMENTARY 4-10

Essays and viewpoints

OUR COMMUNITY 12

16

The Levin Legacy

Carl Levin’s new memoir chronicles his 36-year Senate career.

The Days of Yom

Federation and community partners plan public events for the holidays.

18

A Return to Worship

20

Globe Zooming

21

How to Cope with Dementia

22 24

26 26

Some shuls have begun limited in-person services; others wait.

Jewish groups hop aboard the growing trend of virtual travel.

JFS Spotlight event looks at caregiver’s options.

Small Businesses Give Back Their hearts and their doors remain open.

27 PASSOVER 27

The Other Side of the Road

30

Breaking Invisible Chains

31

High Honor

CEO of Michigan-Israel business link promoted to general.

To Be Young, Jewish and in Israel

A gap year — even in the pandemic — is time well spent.

MAZEL TOV! 33 33

Moments Here’s To

SPIRIT 33

Torah portion

34

Passover’s Five Lessons

35

Synagogue Directory

ARTS & LIFE 37

Paintings that Pop

BUSINESS 42

High-Tech Shopping

Store offers live video shopping.

SPOTLIGHT 43

Camp Mak-A-Dream

Bat mitzvah girl raises funds for camp.

ETC.

The Exchange Obituaries Raskin Looking Back

44 46 53 54

Shabbat & Holiday Lights

Shabbat & Passover Day 7 starts: Friday, April 2, 7:42 p.m.

Passover Day 8 starts: Saturday, April 3, 8:44 p.m.

Holiday ends: Sunday, April 4, 8:46 p.m. *Times according to Yeshiva Beth Yehudah calendar.

39

Artist Jennifer Kroll makes a statement ON THE COVER: with her bold, colorful creations.

Cover art: President Obama and Sen. Levin The Voice of Detroit’s ’60s at the White House, Oct. 28, 2009.

Counterculture Courtesy of WSU Press.

Harvey Ovshinsky’s memoir retells a Cover design: Michelle Sheridan life of storytelling.

40

Celebrity News

One America

New leadership incubator’s aim is to heal political divides.

Recovering addicts celebrate freedom.

ERETZ

A Gift to Detroit Citizens

Gilbert Family Foundation, Rocket Community Fund announce $500 million commitment to Detroit.

A chicken’s visit to the seder.

22

EVENTS 41

Calendar

thejewishnews.com

Follow Us on Social Media: Facebook @DetroitJewishNews Twitter @JewishNewsDet Instagram @detroitjewishnews APRIL 1 • 2021

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3

PURELY COMMENTARY for openers

The Good, the Bad …

Y

ou are faced with a choice. The stereotypical image of this decision making is the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other.

You do not have to be a believer of either of these “beings” to SY incorporate refMANELLO erences to them Editorial Assistant in your daily conversation.

Here are some examples.

If you speak vehemently for or against an issue, you may be identified as either an

angel’s or a devil’s advocate.

If your argument is emotionally wrought, it could be one that would make the angels weep. If you win, you may be said to have a guardian angel.

Were you aware that a stock that has declined or a company that is now failing has been referred to as a fallen angel?

(Well, now you know.)

The truly charitable person is often said to be on the side of the angels. A good-hearted person is sometimes described as an angel.

Be aware that fools rush in where angels fear to tread; so

if you are thinking of being an angel in a theater venture (a backer of financer), you have been warned.

On a track to being lazy?

Remember that the devil finds work for idle hands. Idleness may then lead to trouble making and you may be full of the devil and addressed as “You devil!” When you are caught, there may be the devil to pay.

When you next appear in

public, someone may remark, “Speak of the devil.” When you do not care what others may think, you are said to have a devil-may-care attitude.

Someone who is on the straight-and-narrow path is fearful of catching the devil otherwise. When faced with a tough decision, such a person may feel he is between the devil and the deep blue sea.

I personally have been known to do a devil of a job making a devil’s food cake and an angels’ food cake. But why not? They’re both sweets — a no-brainer there!

commentary

Ethnic Studies Issues Remain Unresolved

S

ome Jews are declaring victory. Their long battle to alter the draft of the proposed Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum (ESMC) for California public schools ended with an Jonathan S. outcome that Tobin left the Simon JNS.org Wiesenthal Center “encouraged.” The effort to remove overtly antisemitic and anti-Israel content from the document was approved by the California State Board of Education.

Yet, the Wiesenthal Center remains “concerned” about the program. The American Jewish Committee agreed.

It referred to the ESMC as “fundamentally flawed.”

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StandWithUS concurred, calling it “problematic.”

At stake was a new school course requirement for schools from K-12 that would make the study of the histories, struggles and contributions of Asian, African American, Latino and Native American communities an integral part of public edu-

cation in the nation’s most populous state. The fourth and revised draft of the curriculum now includes material about, among others, Jews, Armenians and Sikhs.

The first draft, which provoked a strong protest from Jews, included antisemitic and anti-Israel language. It effectively endorsed the boycott of

Israel by listing it alongside the Black Lives Matter movement and #MeToo protests against sexual harassment as praiseworthy activities.

It referred to the establishment of modern-day Israel by the term nakba, the Palestinian word for “catastrophe.” It spoke of Jews gaining “race privilege” because of their skin color, which makes them part of the oppressive majority grinding down minorities. And it even included a song lyric that spoke of Jews manipulating and controlling the press.

That’s all gone from the final draft that’s been approved and included in it now are lesson plans on American Jews, including one on the Mizrachi Jewish experience that discusses antisemitism. Both contain the widely accepted deficontinued on page 10

APRIL 1 • 2021

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5

PURELY COMMENTARY essay

This Year, I Learned the Beauty of Praying Outside GETTY IMAGES/JTA

F

riday night. We are standing in a paved plaza beside Riverside Drive in Manhattan; the air is crisp, the fresh snow is sparkling like diamond dust in the setting sun. We are 6 feet apart and masked. We Esther join the chazan, Sperber chanting the JTA Friday evening prayer, welcoming the Sabbath as the sun disappears over the Hudson River. “Come my beloved towards your bride to welcome the Sabbath.”

Suddenly, I’m choked up, no longer able to sing. My eyes fill with tears and emotions. I have sung these words almost every week of my life — that’s about 2,500 times — but

A park bench blocked off with barrier tape during the corona lockdown

tonight these very familiar words feel new and deeply moving.

Perhaps it is the beauty of praying outside.

Kabbalat Shabbat, the prayer welcoming, or literally accepting, the Sabbath, is a relatively

new prayer service. It was added in the 16th century by the Jewish mystical Kabbalists (note the repeating root) in the holy city of Tzfat in the Galilee. They got into the habit of leaving the city and walking out to the nearby hills

and orchard. Out in nature, they sang and meditated about God’s glory as manifest in the universe and in history.

This new service was an instant hit and has become part of the prayer book canon.

But for most urban dwellers, it is a rare occasion, maybe on a high school weekend trip, Shabbaton or retreat, to practice it outdoors as the Kabbalists did.

Early in the pandemic, our congregation shifted to outdoor services. We thought this would work during the summer. None of us envisioned the weekly service continuing outside through the bitter New York winter. But it did.

PRAYING TOGETHER I have come to see communal praying as a bit like therapy. continued on page 8

Publisher The Detroit Jewish News Foundation

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PURELY COMMENTARY from the DJN Foundation Board

A New Partnership

A

s our readers know, the ownership of the Detroit Jewish News transitioned to the caring hands of a notfor-profit entity earlier this year: The Detroit Jewish News Foundation.

David The Board Kramer of Directors and leadership of the Detroit Jewish News Foundation is focused on re-engaging and reconnecting with the entire Metro Detroit Jewish community. As part of that focus, we have met with many across our community to discuss ways in which we can better serve Jewish agencies and their constituents.

One of our first discussions

was with Nancy Heinrich, CEO of Jewish Senior Life. In those discussions, we explored how the Detroit Jewish News could best be of service to some of our community’s greatest assets: the residents of JSL facilities. As a result of our discussions, and in the spirit of the Jewish News’ mission of serving the community, we are pleased to report that the Jewish News will be provided to all JSL residents who want it at no cost.

The staff of the Jewish News will drop off the issues each week at the JSL residences, and JSL staff will distribute the copies. Residents will be able to enjoy the JN and keep up with the latest that’s going on in the Jewish community.

“We’re thrilled the JN

JSL

The Jewish News joins with Jewish Senior Life to provide the JN free to JSL residents.

Meer residents Esther Liwazer and Rita Sills enjoy their free copies of the Jewish News.

wants to help us connect our seniors to the community at large, regardless of their ability to afford a subscription,” Heinrich said. “The JN is the binding resource for connecting the younger and older generations, and this partnership is another great way to bring everyone together.”

Mark Davidoff, Senior Advisor to the Board of the Detroit Jewish News Foundation, added, “I could not be more excited about this

new partnership with JSL and the benefit it will bring to our community.”

We at the Detroit Jewish News Foundation look forward to exploring additional community connections in the future as the Foundation works to fulfill its mission to better serve and unify Detroit’s Jewish community.

Stay tuned.

David Kramer is a board member of the Detroit Jewish News Foundation.

THIS YEAR, I LEARNED continued from page 6

In therapy, we learn to hear our feelings, accept our pain and cherish our joys. But it is hard, if not impossible, to do this work alone. We need someone, the therapist, to help us see ourselves better.

Someone who can give us permission to feel sadness and encourage us to celebrate success.

Community can play a similar role. It legitimizes and creates a place for deep emotions. Together, we dare to say that life is fleeting and that the universe is vast, and history has awful moments and humanity can be inspiring.

We can hold these disturbing

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APRIL 1 • 2021

conflicting ideas because we are doing it together, and together we feel safe and accepted. This need for community is so fundamental that our numbers have grown even as the temperature dropped.

Praying on a public New York City sidewalk, I felt exposed and vulnerable at first. Some stared, others took photos on their phone or lingered while their dog sniffed a shrub, to watch us, or even joined us.

Can we do this? I’m sure those who use this spot for yoga on Sunday morning have felt this discomfort, too.

A COMMITTED GROUP The pandemic has stripped our service to its bare basics. We worship without a space, without chairs, with dim light and no heat. I realized that this was all we really needed. A committed group, willing to stand in the snow and sing together.

The chazan sings, “He removes day and brings night, God is his name” in synchrony with the darkening sky. It is getting harder to read the small print in my prayer book, but I know the words by heart.

The lump in my throat loosens, and I breathe in the cold air.

Marc Cousins, the architec-

tural theorist, said in one of his lectures that the sign of truth is that upon hearing it one breaks into tears.

That night I was touched by truth.

Was it the pain and loss of the pandemic? The fragility of life?

The support of togetherness?

I’m not sure, but it was real, and it was worth bundling up for and seeking out on a freezing, snowy Friday evening.

This essay originally appeared in New York Jewish Week.

Esther Sperber writes and lectures about architecture, psychoanalysis and culture. Born and raised in Jerusalem, she lives in New York City.

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PURELY COMMENTARY ETHNIC STUDIES continued from page 4

nition of Jew-hatred, according to the International Holocaust Remembrance Association, as well as material on antisemitism from the Anti-Defamation League.

ONGOING CONCERNS So, why do many Jews remain worried about the implementation of this curriculum?

Part of the reason stems from justified concerns about how it will be implemented in the 1,037 school districts around the state, where local boards of education will have considerable leeway in interpreting the curriculum. That could lead to endless controversies as the various groups seeking to be represented demand that their preferred lesson plans be the ones used, as well as fights over the emphasis that individual teachers and schools may choose in teaching about ethnicity.

But the problems with this curriculum go much deeper than just a matter of implementation. The idea of ethnic studies sounds like an anodyne

concept that everyone should embrace. It’s actually a terrible idea tainted by what even the liberal-leaning American Jewish Committee rightly termed “a rigid ideological worldview.”

For all of the talk about ethnic studies empowering marginalized minority populations and giving children positive role models, the concept at the core of this effort is “critical race theory.” That’s an idea that views all Americans solely as members of racial and ethnic groups, not as individuals. As with other permutations of this toxic idea, the goal of the curriculum isn’t so much to fight racism as it is to enshrine race consciousness at the heart of every discussion and topic.

The Critical Ethnic Studies Association, which was the original driving force behind this program, isn’t really interested in celebrating diversity and adding the stories of different groups to the accepted narrative of American history.

What they want is to replace the old story of America as

WHY DO MANY JEWS REMAIN WORRIED ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS CURRICULUM? born in a fight for liberty and seeking, despite problems and the sins of slavery and racial discrimination, to progress toward freedom for all with one that views it as an irredeemably racist nation.

JEWS PROTECTED? I understand why Jewish groups scrambled to be included in the mix of ethnic, racial and religious narratives that could be taught. The danger, however, is that Jews will not be seen as protected victims.

The trouble with ethnic studies is that even with the more overt symptoms of anti-Jewish prejudice removed, the curriculum is still a political catechism rooted in intersectional ideolo-

gy about Third World nations and people of color locked in a never-ending struggle against white oppression. The subtext is, therefore, still one that puts Jews in the unfortunate position of either denying their own “privilege” or being enlisted in a political struggle that has little to do with a celebration of diversity, let alone the manifold blessings of American liberty.

Instead of Jews demanding their piece of the ethnic pie and begging that the core ideology of intersectionalism that dismisses them as privileged whites be watered down, we should be rejecting the entire edifice of this deplorable curriculum as something that will hurt all Americans.

with delegates conducting, researching and writing position papers on topics to be resolved in their assigned committees.

Delegates debated, caucused and resolved the challenges

facing the world, learning much about their nations and enhancing their skills of debating in a committee using parliamentary procedure, all while meeting students from all over the country.

Farber Students Do Virtual Model U.N. Eleven Farber Hebrew Day School students and high school assistant principal Kathy Sklar gathered in person and by Zoom to celebrate their attendance at this year’s Yeshiva University National Model United Nations (YUNMUN).

The delegates, Lev Ershler, Shlomo Feld, Elana Hochbaum, Jaden Jubas, Yona Kelman, Judah Lopatin, Noa Pergament, Ari Schon, Shira Schon, Eli Schwartz and Aviel Siegel, represented Syria and Bolivia in the Feb. 14 program.

In a non-COVID time,

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APRIL 1 • 2021

Sklar and the team of high schoolers would have traveled to a Stamford, Conn., hotel and encamped with 500 other student delegates from 45 schools, the New York-based Yeshiva University (YU)/Stern College for Women secretaries and undersecretaries general, and 15 committee chairs.

Under the auspices of the YU admissions department, they would have debated and resolved world issues during the three-day-long event, but this year participated instead

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11

OUR COMMUNITY ON THE COVER

The

Levin COURTESY OF WSU PRESS

Legacy

City Council days. Detroit, circa 1970.

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Carl Levin’s new memoir chronicles his 36-year Senate career.

JACK LESSENBERRY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

C

arl Levin, the longest-serving U.S. senator in Michigan’s history, admits he had to be pushed into writing his memoir, Getting to the Heart of the Matter: My 36 Years in the Senate, recently released by Wayne State University Press.

And we should be grateful to his wife, Barbara, and his longtime aide Linda Gustitus for doing just that. Political memoirs are often little more than self-satisfying ego trips; I confess I fell asleep trying to make it through Bill Clinton’s autobiography, and while better written, Barack Obama’s history of his presidential years may threaten to be longer than the Talmud when finally finished.

Not this book. This is the story, in little more than 300 pages, of a good and decent man who never lost an election, and about whom, after more than half a century in public life, there has never been the slightest whiff of personal or professional scandal.

You wouldn’t know from this book that he became the only statewide candidate in Michigan history to get 3 million votes. In fact, except for his first campaign, in which he performed the difficult feat of knocking off a powerful incumbent senator (Robert Griffin) and his second, when he managed to survive the Reagan landslide, Levin barely mentions his elections; and the last two, not at all.

Nor is this a personal tell-all; what details of his early life we get leave us wanting more. I had no idea that Levin was once a motorcycle fiend who broke his kneecap and otherwise smashed up his right leg crashing into a stone wall in Florence, Italy, or that he worked the line in three auto plants in Detroit and Highland Park.

Many readers also may be intrigued to know that his paternal grandparents, Morris and Gittelle Levinson, continued on page 14

APRIL 1 • 2021

Q&A with Sen. Levin JACK LESSENBERRY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

COURTESY OF WSU PRESS

President Obama and Sen. Levin at the White House, Oct. 28, 2009.

I talked with Sen. Levin at length when his book was published. Here are highlights of our conversation.

Did being Jewish influence how you saw your role?

It surely did. I think the values in Judaism are important — the values of being charitable, of thinking of others, the important Jewish values which I learned early in life: To take care of the poor, of each other — to watch out for each other and treat others the way we want to be treated. And thinking about the legacy of generations of antisemitism has made me very sensitive to others who are victims of prejudice and discrimination.

There’s long been a belief that Congress is broken, but people now appear to believe that more than ever.

I agree. There is increased divisiveness — it has gotten worse over the last decade. There are some points where it is totally dysfunctional. This started, I think, with the Tea Party and their leader [former Speaker of the House] Newt Gingrich, and their idea that you should not compromise. We have to understand that unless you are willing to compromise, you aren’t going to reach your goals.

When I was on the City Council, I learned to listen to the other guy, and that he has a point of view.

You don’t have to agree with it, but you darned well better understand it. That’s how you find a way to achieve the common good.

Now it is true that if one party has a majority in both houses and holds the presidency, you can get away with a lot of ideological rigidi-

continued on page 14

APRIL 1 • 2021

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13

“WE NEED LEADERSHIP IN CONGRESS WHO ARE WILLING TO WORK TOGETHER AND LIKE EACH OTHER EVEN IF THEY DISAGREE.” — SEN. CARL LEVIN

Q&A from page 13

ty, but if government is split, you have no choice but to work together. Sometimes in a family, you learn that, too.

You know, Sandy [his older brother, former U.S. Rep. Sander Levin] is my role model. Talk about bringing people together! He did that as leader of the Democrats in the Michigan Senate.

By the way, he is also the one who taught me how to play squash — starting when I was a freshman and he was a senior at Harvard Law School. We calculated a while ago that we’d played something like 15,000 games together over the years.

But we also need leadership in Congress who are willing to work together and like each other even if they disagree. People who can argue but then have a drink together and laugh together. They have to know how to get along.

How can we fix things?

No. 1, elect a president who wants to work together — and we’ve done that.

Trump was the most divisive president in our history. He appealed to racial biases, ethnic biases and set different sections of the country against each other.

How did you feel when you saw the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6?

I was disgusted, obviously.

To witness the central process of our democracy being subject to an attack — a betrayal of so much in this country and what we stand for. But when I see the voters in this country defeating a divider and electing a unifier, it makes me feel confident that nothing will tear down this democracy.

I think we withstood a storm with Trump. That democracy came out stronger than ever. What happened [Jan. 6] was a real lesson for our country, and I think we came out stronger.

Do you think President Biden is the right person for the right time?

I sure do. I think his background is right. Biden is known for bringing people together to look at problems. You need someone who is not anti-government.

We worked together in the Senate for many years. I saw the way he worked with people. He was a big part of always getting things done.

Finally, why did you write this book?

I wanted to share with my family and anyone else who might be interested what I had learned in politics and share it with anyone who might possibly find it an incentive to go into public service.

Public service is an honorable profession, whether elected or appointed or volunteer. Young people need to realize how important it is.

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OUR COMMUNITY LEGACY from page 12

were the first Jews to arrive in Birmingham in the 1890s, where they started a little store at Maple and Woodward that eventually became four stores.

While I found all that fascinating, this is really a book about how government, principally the Senate, works, and what needs to be done to make it work better.

Levin does provide a concise and mostly interesting history of the major issues of our time, especially the ones in which he played a role, from the armed services, his best-known area of expertise, to the Clinton impeachment to the auto industry and financial crises of the Great Recession.

There is a weak point or two; he discussed the emotionally wrenching right-to-die controversy involving a vegetative-state patient, Terri Schiavo, without mentioning that her feeding tube was eventually removed.

Also, if you aren’t an accountant, your eyes may glaze over at the level of detail provided when he recounts the financial abuses his Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations uncovered.

However, the U.S. Senate is divided into show horses and work horses, and this is a good reminder of how hard a good U.S. senator must work to do his job the way it is supposed to be done.

MAN OF THE SENATE Nobody ever accused Carl Levin of being a slacker. The fundamental message of this book is one about governing.

“If you don’t come to elected office willing to compromise, you don’t come wanting to govern,” Levin says in discussing the role of an elected official.

He also has a view on the nature of his job many who are in Congress — or, for that matter, any elected position — ought to hear. “Being an effective

representative, I’ve concluded, doesn’t necessarily mean voting in the way the majority of one’s constituents think best.” Instead, he thought it was his job to “seriously study, without arrogance or certainly” any issue, “being open to and respecting different views,” and then “do what I believed was in the best interests of my constituents in the long run.”

That at times, meant unpopular votes, from opposing our war against Iraq in 2002 to voting against the Reagan tax cuts in 1981, a vote that might have cost him reelection, had his opponent, astronaut Jack Lousma, not been filmed praising Toyota and telling Japanese auto executives how happy he was that his son drove one.

Levin was, and is, thoroughly a man of the Senate, including its rules and traditions. Some reformers may be dismayed to learn, for example, that he stoutly defends the practice of “earmarking” funds for special local projects, something opponents call “pork-barrel” spending.

Levin believes that while there have indeed been some abuses, earmarks are “a legitimate part of the legislative process.”

While all will not agree, he makes a compelling case for his position. He is also adamantly opposed to abolishing the much-maligned filibuster. True, there are times when it has been used to obstruct progress, but Levin also thinks it is a huge mistake for either party to resort to the so-called “nuclear option,” one in which the Senate overrules the rule that you need 60 votes to end debate.

Instead, he recommends that instead of just allowing opponents to stop debate by threatening to filibuster, the majority should call their bluff and force them to do it; in most cases, he thinks those threatening to stage

PHOTO BY JAY MALLIN/THE WASHINGTON POST VIA GETTY IMAGES

HS19604, CARL M. LEVIN PAPERS, BENTLEY HISTORICAL LIBRARY, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

an endless debate would soon back down.

DETROIT ROOTS But though he is a man of the Senate, Carl Levin is, even more so, a man whose roots are firmly in Detroit.

The one incident he cites at the very beginning of this book, something that shaped his career, happened when he was Detroit City Council president in 1975 and incompetent administrators at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development were refusing to tear down blighted homes they owned.

He led the Council to defy HUD and tear down the homes anyway, and dared HUD to sue, saying, “Do you think even one out of 12 jurors would vote to convict?”

They didn’t sue. Levin said HUD’s incompetence “convinced me that our elected members of Congress were not taking responsibility for overseeing the programs they had voted to establish.”

TOP ROW: Conferring with Michigan congressman John Dingell before testifying together. Signing ceremony with President George W. Bush on the FY 2004 National Defense Authorization Act, Nov. 24, 2003.

Left to right: Sen. John Warner, Sen. Levin, Rep. Tom Davis, Sen. Susan Collins, Rep. Duncan Hunter.

BOTTOM ROW: Carl and Sandy Levin at one of dozens of State of the Union addresses where they always sat together. Going after Chinese counterfeit auto parts before the U.S.-China Economic Security Review Commission, June 7, 2006.

That helped lead him to the as chair of the powerful Senate Senate, where he rigorously tried Armed Services Committee. for a third of a century to hold Throughout Michigan, he was those responsible who ran, and widely respected, even loved. sometimes mismanaged, the Republicans had barely fielded country he loved. even token opposition in his The voters clearly felt he did last two races; winning reelecsomething right. tion one more time They reelected would have been a him the most Getting to the Heart virtual certainty. So times in Michigan of the Matter: My 36 why not run again?

— and longer Years in the Senate. Levin smiled. than all but 19

By Carl Levin Yes, he said, he senators in the 338 pages; $29.99. did feel great, physhistory of the Wayne State ically and mentally country; one of University Press, — “Now, yes. But I whom beat him 2021 don’t know how I by a mere 13 days will feel at 86 [the is Joe Biden. (An year his next term interesting bit of trivia: Levin is would have ended]. Besides,” he also the longest-serving Jewish added, “I want to spend more senator in U.S. history.) time with Barbara and get back A few years ago, not long after to Michigan.

Levin announced he would not That was all true — and reflecbe a candidate for a seventh term tive of who Levin is. Few longin 2014, I asked him … why not? time senators or congressmen True, he was going to be 80 return to their home states after that year, but many senators their political careers; they stay serve well past that — and Levin in Washington or retire to the seemed more like a 60-year-old.

Sunbelt.

He was strong, intellectually vigNot Levin; he and Barbara, orous and at the top of his game who will celebrate their 60th

DETAILS

wedding anniversary this year, came back to where his political career began, Detroit, where he served two terms on City Council half a century ago, before his first campaign for the Senate in 1978.

Leaving the Senate hasn’t meant retirement; he joined the Honigman law firm in Detroit and helped establish the Levin Center at Wayne State University Law School, which is designed to focus on, he said, “the essential role that fact-based bipartisan legislative oversight plays in our nation’s constitutional system of government with its emphasis on checks and balances,” which was, in fact, perhaps the main focus of Carl Levin’s career in the Senate.

His thought that nobody can be too sure of their health after 80 turned out, sadly, to be all too true; in 2017, Levin, a former cigar smoker, was diagnosed with lung cancer.

Fortunately, he was able to fight it; today at age 86, although his voice is raspy and no longer as powerful, he says his health is “stable.”

APRIL 1 • 2021

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OUR COMMUNITY

An IDF officer places new flags, each with a black ribbon, on the graves of IDF soldiers for Yom HaZikaron.

The Days of Yom Federation and community partners plan public events for the holidays.

STACY GITTLEMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

IDF FACEBOOK

I

n its efforts to continue to provide Jewish Detroiters a way to virtually connect during the modern Jewish holidays leading up to Israel Independence Day, the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, together with JFamily of the Jewish Community Center and the Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills, invite all to virtually attend “Two Countries. One Family — Days of Memory and Meaning” April 8, 13 and 18. Advance registration is required by going to www. jewishdetroit.org/yom.

Yiftah Leket, senior community shaliach (emissary) for Federation said because of the persistence of the pandemic, most events will be virtual, except for a space-limited socially distanced hike and a take-home picnic in Beverly Park on April 18.

Yiftah Much of the programming Leket has been planned by Detroit’s ShinShinim — young adult Israeli ambassadors who spend a gap year between high school and their service in the Israeli army

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as educators in Jewish communities around the United States. Detroit’s ShinShinim come from the Central Galilee region of Israel, where several attended Camp Tamarack as younger children through the Federation’s Partnership2Gether program.

Leket hopes that the community can shake off Zoom fatigue and virtually attend these events that culminate 3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 18, with a live concert from Tel Aviv by recording artist Kobi Oz in partnership with Milwaukee Jewish Federation and the Jewish Federation of Greater Oklahoma City.

“We wanted all these events to be inclusive as possible,” Leket said. “You do not have to be Israeli to celebrate holidays such as Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut. In the coming months, I along with our ShinShinim, hope to deepen Detroit’s Jewish community with Israel by having conversations about Israel’s complex culture and society.”

YOM HASHOAH The events begin with a Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) event,

7 p.m. Thursday, April 8, on the museum’s website, holocaustcenter.org, where one can register. It will include tributes from Holocaust survivors, 2G and 3G survivors and local clergy. The HMC will also have a social media campaign, where people can post photographs of themselves lighting memorial candles on Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #HMCRemember.

HMC Director of Events Sarah Saltzman said while the physical presence of large gatherings at the museum is missed, having an online forum means that survivors and their children and grandchildren with Detroit roots who live out of town Sarah can participate and rememSaltzman ber the victims.

“Although we are not physically together, we are connected by our shared commitment to memorialize the victims of the Holocaust,” Saltzman said. “Teaching the lessons of the Holocaust is central to our organization … We must each stand up for

one another in the face of hate to prevent acts of violence, and genocide.”

YOM HAZIKARON & YOM HAATZMAUT This year’s Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day) ceremony, 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 13, will focus on stories of the siblings of fallen soldiers or victims of terror attacks.

For American Jews, Leket said Yom HaZikaron provides them an opportunity to support and comfort Israelis on one of the country’s most solemn days.

“Yom HaZikaron is not an easy day for Israelis, and many of us have personally lost friends or loved ones,” Leket said. “We invite the rest of the community to join us in commemorating this day.”

To celebrate Yom HaAtzmaut (Independence Day), JFamily will host an outdoor hike from 10 a.m.noon Sunday, April 18, at Beverly Park in Beverly Hills.

To assure COVID safety, families wishing to attend need to register in advance to reserve one of eight time slots limited to a maximum of six families for each guided 15-minute hike. The community is also invited to come to the park to receive a take-home picnic, complete with a blanket, and a QR code leading to Israeli recipes and a playlist of the latest Israeli tunes.

“Hiking is the classic outdoor Israeli activity, and we could not think of a better way to begin to reconnect in person Shoshana than on the famFain ily-friendly path of Beverly Park,” said JFamily

Outreach Coordinator Shoshana Fain. “This is a great way for families who are excited to get together in person again to celebrate Israel’s independence.”

UNDERSTANDING ISRAEL After the festivities are over, Leket hopes conversations will continue to develop a better understanding about the Jewish state.

“They are the most powerful tool we have in terms of Israeli education,” said Leket. “The ShinShinim not only educate Jewish students here from a peer perspective about Israel, but also help teens become more connected to their community here.”

Before moving to Detroit, Leket was an Israeli educator who taught both Jewish and Arab students. The concepts of these more modern Jewish holidays — which commemorate fallen members of the Israel Defense Forces and then the independence of the Jewish state — were tough for his Arab students.

“These Arab students are a part of our society and want to study and learn with Jews,” said Leket. “But they are never forced to take part in Yom HaZikaron ceremonies and may have challenges with the words of Israel’s national anthem.

“These are the very real and complex topics we have about being Israeli. As emissaries from Israel, I hope the ShinShinim and I can open discussions and conversations about the complexities of Israeli society and culture with teens and adults here in Detroit. Israel goes beyond eating falafel.”

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APRIL 1 • 2021

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OUR COMMUNITY

A Return to

Worship Not everyone plans to bring members back into the sanctuary. B’nai Moshe, Adat Shalom, Temple Kol Ami, Shir Tikvah and T’chiyah are among the congregations that will remain virtual for now. In response to a written request from the Jewish News, congregation leaders outlined their plans. Some statements have been edited for brevity.

Adat Shalom Synagogue: “Adat Shalom has no current plans for a return to a physical presence in the short term. We have held b’nai/ b’not mitzvah in our sanctuary on Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh, and the attendance has been limited to family members with an attendance not to exceed 25 individuals. All of our daily, evening and Shabbat services are Zoomed, and we anticipate that will become part of the new normal. Clergy, members of the professional staff and synagogue members will be meeting in the not too distant future to discuss a timetable for a return to a physical presence in the synagogue.”

— Alan Yost, executive director

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Some shuls have begun limited in-person sevices; others wait.

JENNIFER LOVY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

L

ast March, when COVID forced us to stop gathering publicly, many synagogues transitioned their services to an online format, where they remain today.

One year later, as more people are becoming vaccinated and, for a while, the number of reported cases in Michigan was trending downward, things slowly started opening up. Public schools brought students back into the classrooms, restaurants reopened with capacity limits, and a small number of fans can now attend sporting events.

Event coordinator and logistic manager CBHAM.ORG

Virtual for Now

Stained glass at Congregation Shaarey Zedek

Beth Ahm sanctuary

seem to be the new roles of rabbis since the pandemic started. Rabbi Yechiel Morris of Young Israel of Southfield (YIS) half-jokingly said he used to spend his spare time working on sermons. Now he devotes his extra time to making sure congregants are safe when they come to synagogue.

After a three-month pause, YIS resumed services last June, offering indoor and outdoor options. Each holiday presents a unique set of challenges for shuls like YIS, depending on the time of year and typical crowd size. Purim, for example, took significant planning, resulting in multiple services to accommodate the number of people who wanted to observe the festive holiday at shul.

More congregations are reopening or expanding their number of participants for in-person services but keeping an online presence. Others, however, are choosing to remain virtual.

A SLOW AND SAFE RETURN In January, Congregation Beth Ahm in West Bloomfield started allowing up to 15

Congregation B’nai Moshe: “At this point, we are not holding in-person services other than for b’nai mitzvah. Our medical advisory team is considering allowing in-person services only for people who have been fully vaccinated.

We are reconvening to discuss this opportunity right after Passover. We anticipate holding in-person services by the end of spring. We will continue to livestream our interactive Zoom service, which has been extremely well received by our membership.”

— Steven Fine, executive director

Detail from Noah’s Ark mosaic at Shir Tikvah

people in the sanctuary for Shabbat services. Executive Director David Goodman believes they were one of the first congregations to do so without a bar or bat mitzvah during the service. He said that as more congregants are vaccinated and comfortable getting out, there is an increased interest among members in attending services. That’s why congregation leadership decided to increase the number of participants to 35 after Passover.

Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield was also one of the first to reopen its doors. It began allowing bar and bat mitzvah families back in the sanctuary last May, with limited capacity, and kept services on Zoom.

In February, the synagogue gave its members the option of returning to worship in person by pre-registering.

The process includes a health screen and an agreement to follow health and safety guidelines.

At first, there were limits to the number of in-person worshipers.

Now, all members are welcome under strict safety guidelines, but pre-registering is no longer necessary.

Congregants, however, are not rushing back. Recently, Shabbat morning in-person attendance was 33. Others participated through Zoom.

Because the synagogue is the largest in terms of space, Shaarey Zedek is in the enviable position of safely welcoming back worshipers without limiting numbers. Pre-COVID, the shul could accommodate up to 4,000 worshipers by opening dividers

between the sanctuary and two adjacent social halls.

“We’ve been working hard for a long time to bring people together safely,” said Robert Rich, executive director of Shaarey Zedek. “If members are comfortable, we welcome them. If not, they can still participate online. This pandemic is still going on. I would not push anyone to come.”

Members of Congregation Beth Shalom in Oak Park recently received a three-page letter detailing the syna-

“WE’VE BEEN WORKING HARD FOR A LONG TIME TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER SAFELY” — SHAAREY ZEDEK’S ROBERT RICH

gogue’s plans for reopening for in-person Shabbat morning services.

Beginning March 27, up to 36 members could pre-register to attend a Saturday morning service. However, for now, strict guidelines include the requirement that all attendees be fully vaccinated. Children under 13 are not allowed, and those in attendance are asked to avoid conversations and activities that require close face-toface contact, such as handshakes and hugs. The synagogue will continue offering online services.

Congregation Shir Tikvah: “We will remain virtual for a while, but we do have outdoor, in-person services on occasion. For example, we had a Havdalah service March 20. Come the end of April, we will begin allowing for some very small indoor b’nai mitzvah services only (with Zoom as well for additional attendance), should the family want to go that route.”

— Lorelei Berg, executive director Temple Kol Ami: “Although we are continuously monitoring the health of our community and have a reopening taskforce committee, we have not yet committed to an exact date to have in-person services. We hope as the weather improves, we can provide some outdoor activities and programs and potential indoor gatherings with limited numbers. We remain hopeful and optimistic that things will improve over the next several months while more and more people have access to the vaccine; however, we will remain cautious.”

— Cheryl Chaben Friedman, executive director Congregation T’chiyah: “T’chiyah is continuing to meet only virtually for the time being. Based on the expected vaccination rollout timelines, our religious services committee feels that we should plan again for virtual High Holiday services, as we implemented this past year. This year, however, we will suggest that vaccinated congregants tune-in together in small groups.

We are curious about the possibility of future in-person outdoor gatherings but do not yet have set plans in the works for this. Whatever happens, we’re interested in maintaining the level of accessibility that Zoom-based services provide (especially to homebound, disabled and non-local congregants) by continuing to provide online offerings even once we return to in-person services.”

— Jake Ehrlich, community engagement associate

APRIL 1 • 2021

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OUR COMMUNITY

Globe Zooming

Jewish groups hop aboard the growing trend of virtual travel.

A screen shot of Haifa’s Baha’i Gardens from Beth Ahm's offthe-beaten-path tour

ROBIN SCHWARTZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

E

very night for a week, more than 200 “travelers” from 11 states — including a group from Congregation Beth Ahm in West Bloomfield — experienced Israel like never before. An Israeli guide led them through an “off-the-beaten-path” tour from the Negev to Masada, the Golan to West Galilee, and to Leket, Israel’s national food bank, with many stops in between.

Even more unusual than the sights, sounds and people they met, was their mode of transportation. The Jan. 3-7 trip was virtual, and all of the participants joined by logging in via Zoom from their computers.

“The trip was incredibly successful. It brought us together as a community to experience our Jewish home in a new way,” said David Goodman, executive director of Beth Ahm. “It also brought us together as individuals. At a time when so many were feeling isolated because of the weather and COVID-19 David restrictions, the trip provided an Goodman outlet for personal interaction.

Albeit on the computer, seeing friends and family and meeting new ‘travelers’ to learn, laugh and share a common love of Israel provided human contact that has been missing.”

There was no cost to attend because the trip was sponsored by the Beth Ahm Nancy and Ira Goldberg of Farmington Hills on a previous Israel trip.

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Sisterhood, but participants could give a tip to the guide at their discretion. To supplement each day’s adventure, kosher Israelistyle take-out was available from the congregation’s caterer, Dish Kosher Cuisine.

Nancy Goldberg and her husband, Ira, from Farmington Hills were among those on the weeklong journey.

“We had a June 2020 trip planned to Israel and had to cancel due to COVID. We planned to spend time in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv,” Goldberg said. “While I would have rather been in Israel, attending from home still allowed me to connect to Israel by seeing some familiar sights and some new ones.

“Our guide discussed everything from history to agriculture to technology and art.

When we can go to Israel, I will definitely take this experience with me and appreciate being there so much more.”

VIRTUAL BOOM Virtual travel has been booming since the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of borders around the world. While some travel restrictions have been lifted, there are still countless places people cannot go. But wildlife safaris, virtual reality tours of National Parks, scuba diving tours in Antarctica and Indonesia, museum tours, even views from the peaks of Switzerland’s St. Moritz are all available online. Among many congregations and Jewish groups, virtual Israel trips are popular.

“In 2019, Israel had a record-breaking year of tourism with more than 4 million visitors,” said Naomi Miller, director of Missions and Israel representative for the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. “In 2020, tourism decreased by more than 80% and the ministry of tourism estimates more than $3.6 billion in lost revenue.”

Miller has helped to organize several virtual Israel trips like the one Jewish Federations of North America has planned for March.

It’s called “Forward Focus,” a series that brings experts, religious leaders and change makers together to discuss topics, including the power balance between religion and state, the Naomi evolution of life-cycle events in Miller Israel, the LGBTQ community and Judaism, and more.

Amy Cutler and her husband, Ezra, of West Bloomfield participated in Federation’s Virtual Mission to Israel in October, which included “live guided tours through Israeli cities and landmarks, enlightening looks at history and informative conversations with Israeli partners.”

“Although we have been to Israel several times, this was a whole new and different perspective,” she said. “What was interesting was our Federation’s involvement with our sister region in the Central Galilee area. This was not on the average visitor’s itinerary.”

Cutler said highlights of the trip included a walk through Mahane Yehuda Market in Jerusalem, often called the “shuk,” a recently excavated and newly opened underground walkway from the water tunnel to the Western Wall and fabulous graffiti artwork she saw along the way.

“We’ve been talking about another visit to Israel but with COVID that was out of the question,” she says. “This gave us the opportunity to relax and enjoy a ‘vacation’ that could otherwise not have happened. It was just such a fascinating experience. I can’t wait for another virtual vacation.”

To learn more about virtual Israel tours, visit: jnf.org/ visit-israel/jnf-virtual-tours-to-israel.

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michprobate.com Help in Coping with Dementia JFS’ Spotlight event looks at caregivers’ options.

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n April 6, Jewish Family Service (JFS) will hold its annual Spotlight fundraiser event virtually. It will focus on older adults.

The special guest for the event will be actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley, perhaps best known for her role in the film Father of the Bride.

The event will center around Williams-Paisley’s Kimberly book, Where the WilliamsLight Gets In: Losing Paisley My Mother Only to Find Her Again. The book tells the story of her mother, Linda, following her battle with Primary Progressive Aphasia, a form of dementia where language capabilities become progressively impaired, from her diagnosis up until her death.

The book shares the family’s journey in an effort to help others who are on the same path.

A virtual book club discussion of Williams-Paisley’s book took place on March 10, moderated by Lynn Breuer, JFS’ director of community outreach and wellness.

Breuer believes many experiences touched upon in the book relate to what many members of the community reach out to JFS for and what JFS can assist with.

“The reality is there’s a lot of older adults struggling with cognitive impairment and dementia in our local Jewish community, and their families want to do their very best to help them,” Breuer said. “But it’s so very

Many recognize Kimberly Williams-Paisley from her performances in Nashville and Father of the Bride.

But it was the mother of this bride who prompted Kimberly to step into the spotlight as an author and advocate.

Linda Williams was diagnosed with a rare form of dementia that turned a once passionate and joyful woman into someone unrecognizable. Kimberly’s book, Where The Light Gets In: Losing My Mother Only to Find Her Again, is a love letter to her mother that shares the family’s journey as they held on to humor and hope during the most trying of times in caring for her mother.

challenging to navigate your way through what sounds good on paper versus what can make a tangible difference that somebody feels in their lives.”

One common experience in Williams-Paisley’s book, Breuer explains, is the dilemma of how to approach a loved one when it’s no longer safe for them to drive.

FOCUS ON JFS OPTIONS Other topics in the book cover the stigma of dementia, being a long-distance caregiver and caregiver stress.

“Kimberly’s book shines a light on all the challenges, how you can love someone so fully and want to do all the right things and still feel so in over your head with some of these potential crisis points,” Breuer said.

“Kimberly shines the spotlight on that, and we have services at JFS to help people and families go through that.”

Even though the issues that the book and topic consist of can be uncomfortable, Breuer hopes the event helps people take proper steps.

“I hope people start feeling comfortable having conversations about when our cognitive abilities change,” she said. “I hope people understand the type of help available and feel comfortable reaching out for help.”

The virtual event takes place at 7 p.m. April 6, and admission is $36. For tickets and sponsorship information, visit jfsspotlightevent.org, call (248) 592-2339 or email giving@jfsdetroit.org.

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APRIL 1 • 2021

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OUR COMMUNITY Suit Depot owner Marty Babayov (far right) and staff prepare to ship their donation of socks to Heart to Hart Detroit

Small Businesses

Give Back

Their hearts and their doors remain open.

ROCHEL BURSTYN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

M

any small businesses have been crushed by the pandemic.

According to the marketing firm Womply, more than a third of small businesses in Michigan have closed since January 2020, and many are still struggling. Those that are open are so grateful that they’re making it their mission to give back to the community, especially now. Here are a few.

Amy and Andre Douville, owners of Douglas Cleaners

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DOUGLAS CLEANERS Douglas Cleaners first opened its doors in 1949; Amy and Andre Douville bought the high-end Birmingham dry cleaners on June 1, 2019. “Right in time for the pandemic,” Amy joked.

They had to quickly rethink how to stay afloat at a time when no one needed dry cleaning because they weren’t leaving their homes.

The Douvilles went contactless with free porch pickup and delivery, curbside service, and wash and fold laundry services.

Andre was extremely touched when a customer shared that the only reason he got dressed in the morning, despite working from home, was to support his drycleaners.

Amy said, “We’re a close-knit community; we all need to rely on each other.

We have longtime customers who continue to support us in these hard times, and that has inspired us to give right back to

the community.”

Together with Gleaners, they had a monthlong food drive and donations poured in.

The Douvilles also have a generous offer for anyone seeking new employment. “We’ll clean your interview outfit for free. You don’t have to be a regular customer,” Andre said. “We just want to help people get back on their feet.”

Also in the works for later this year is a suitcase drive for kids in foster homes so they won’t have to transfer their belongings in garbage bags.

Douglas Cleaners: (248) 642-6230.

ELWIN & CO. Elwin & Co., the Berkley-based kitchen and distributor of foods for 30 years, has also been impacted by the pandemic. According to chef/proprietor Elwin Greenwald, costs have gone up, but customers balk at raised prices.

“Three of my customers closed their coffee houses permanently. Distributors are taking less. With schools and casinos closed, everything trickles down, which affects sales. There’s also less foot traffic,” Greenwald said. “But we’re open, thank God. We’re doing OK, and I’m so grateful.”

In an effort to help others, Greenwald packages leftover or imperfectly shaped food items and donates them to churches, homeless shelters and schools. He also provides meals for the Berkley Police Department when shifts falls on holidays — “Even fake holidays, like the Super Bowl!”

Greenwald is also planning to cook and donate lasagnas to families who need the help because they’re ill with COVID or are overwhelmed with kids learning virtually from home.

On why he does this, Greenwald said, “This is the Jewish way; this is how I was raised. My mother and aunt used to always hand-deliver donations to local shuls. Whenever Mother’s Day rolled around and we’d ask what she wanted, my mother always said, ‘Make a donation. Give back.’ So, I do.”

Elwin Greenwald, owner of Elwin & Co.

His mother used to volunteer at Berkley Public Library; in tribute to her, Greenwald recently participated in a Zoom class for the same library, demonstrating how to make his famous mac and cheese.

Elwin & Co: (248) 547-8846.

THE SUIT DEPOT The Suit Depot in Oak Park was likewise hard-hit when everything closed last March; people had no reason to buy new clothes, especially not suits.

Owner Marty Babayov said, “For more than four months we were completely closed while our usual overhead expenses continued to pile up. Industry-wide, men’s suit sales dropped by more than 80%. Now that we’ve reopened, we’re doing much better than most in this industry. Many had to shut their doors permanently.”

Last summer, to raise awareness

“THIS IS ABOUT GIVING BACK, HELPING OUT WHEREVER WE CAN.” — THE SUIT DEPOT’S MARTY BABAYOV

of struggling local small businesses, Babayov manufactured and distributed thousands of reusable cloth masks with the hashtag #MichiganStrong.

The Suit Depot usually hosts an annual coat drive. This year, Babayov instead reached out to Heart to Hart Detroit (H2HD), an organization which supports the homeless, and asked what items were most needed. The answer: warm socks.

Babayov immediately called a supplier and ordered 1,000 pairs of warm, top-ofthe-line diabetic socks and donated them to H2HD. Babayov said, “This isn’t just about socks. It’s our obligation to show up for our local charities, especially in these trying times. This is about giving back, helping out wherever we can and showing up for each other.”

The Suit Depot: (248) 200-7484.

MI SHE-BEI-ROCK Betsy Besl has a few small businesses out of her home in Farmington Hills, including Mi She-Bei-ROCK, a play on the words “Mi Sheberach,” the prayer for healing. Since 2013, Besl has been decorating rocks with different Jewish symbols: the Star of David, chai and the chamzah hand. People started requesting hearts and inspirational quotes, and now Besl has a wide variety of meaningful stones that people can sift through before purchasing the one that speaks to them.

“Some people keep it for themselves, some give it to friends or family who are sick. It’s like a tangible prayer that you’re holding in your hand,” Besl explained.

Betsy Besl

When the pandemic hit, Besl invited anyone who had a friend or relative in the medical field to help themselves to a “healing rock” free of charge. “I wanted to send a little hope to the medical workers, let them know we’re wishing them well and hoping they stay healthy,” Besl said.

Besl, who taught at Temple Israel for 18 years before she became sick with cancer, also runs the Funky Craft Studio for kids out of her house, but the pandemic put a stop to that as well. Instead, she began offering creative activities to families, free of charge. Most fun was her Monster Shoe Contest — families were invited to decorate shoes to look like monsters and she promptly arranged the entries into an online monster shoe show gallery.

“I just wanted to keep families engaged and connected to each other, help build continued on page 25 APRIL 1 • 2021

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OUR COMMUNITY

property taxes owed came from penalties and interest, leaving homeowners in a cycle of debt and uncertainty about their ability to stay in their homes. “The problem was systemic and generational,” he said.

“Everyone deserves to achieve the American dream of homeownership, and that includes the ability to sustainably and permanently enjoy the home you make for yourself, your family and your loved ones,” said Gilbert, who added that home ownership is the main way most Americans build wealth and economic mobility.

ROCKET COMPANIES

Volunteers from Rocket Companies went door to door to canvas for homeowners delinquent on their taxes.

A Gift to Detroit Citizens Gilbert Family Foundation, Rocket Community Fund announce $500 million commitment to Detroit.

JN STAFF

D

an and Jennifer Gilbert announced a pledge of $500 million to aid citizens of Detroit over the next 10 years at a press conference March 25. The Gilbert Family Foundation will contribute $350 million, and the Rocket Community Fund will invest $150 million.

The first allocation of $15 million will pay off the property tax debt of 20,000 low-income Dan Gilbert Detroit homeowners. In doing so, the Foundation will assist in preserving an estimated $400 million in wealth and home equity in Detroit.

The investment will establish the Detroit Tax Relief Fund to Jennifer be administered by Detroit nonGilbert profit Wayne Metro Community Action Agency, which will pay the remaining delinquent tax burden on behalf of programeligible residents.

Along with Dan and Jennifer Gilbert, Rocket Companies CEO Jay Farner, Rocket Community Fund Vice President Laura Grannemann, Gilbert Family Foundation Executive Director Joyce Keller, Detroit Mayor

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Mike Duggan and Wayne County Executive Warren Evans were on hand to announce the good news.

A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM Rocket Companies Chairman Dan Gilbert has been a proponent of addressing housing stability since chairing the Detroit Blight Removal Tax Force in 2013. It was then he realized one of the main causes of blight is home foreclosure.

“This unparalleled commitment builds off of the work we have done over the past several years and scales it in a way that will allow us to continue addressing issues that have been facing Detroiters for generations alongside the Gilbert Family Foundation,” Grannemann of Rocket Community Fund said.

During the Rocket Community Fund’s 2019 citywide canvas of tax delinquent properties through Neighbor to Neighbor — a door-todoor effort — the organization discovered nearly 90% of Detroit homeowners behind on their property taxes should have been able to qualify for relief but were not aware of the programs available to them or were unsure of how to apply.

According to Gilbert, much of the back

‘BIGGER SOLUTIONS’ Over the course of 2020, Gilbert Family Foundation cofounder Jennifer Gilbert held focus groups with Detroit leaders and residents to better understand the challenges they face. Two themes emerged: Detroiters are resilient, and Detroiters need greater access to opportunity.

“Big problems require even bigger solutions that address the symptoms as well as the systems that have contributed to the challenges Detroit continues to face,” Jennifer Gilbert said. “We look forward to working with existing and future partners to drive systemic change in Detroit.”

The Gilberts stressed the important role played by their employees, whose work resulted in the ability to redistribute wealth to make an impact on the lives of others — a mission of Rocket Companies.

When asked why now for announcing the program, the Gilberts said that they were confident the necessary partnerships, policies and programs were in place to make the program a success.

Following the first initiative, Jennifer Gilbert said the Gilbert Family Foundation plans to remain connected to the homeowners supported through the Detroit Tax Relief Fund to help shape future investments in economic opportunity and mobility.

Further investments will be focused on their community priorities and may include digital equity, home repair needs, employment opportunities and other areas.

The Gilbert Family Foundation also remains committed to supporting efforts to cure neurofibromatosis, a nervous system disorder.

“The greatest resource of any community is its people, and we are honored to be able to invest in removing this tax burden, which will build a stronger foundation for Detroit families to thrive,” Dan Gilbert said.

American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science Brian Zifkin, his wife, Anneke, and daughter Raizel of Zalman's Treasures continued from page 23

a sense of community at a time when people couldn’t see each other,” Besl said.

Mi She-Bei-ROCK® and The Funky Craft Studio: (248) 330-8016.

ZALMAN’S TREASURES Brian Zifkin, executive vice president of Zalman’s Treasures, a jewelry store and repair shop in Berkley, said it was painful to close its doors weeks before last

tions,” including schools and synagogues. The store also offers free watch battery changes and minor jewelry repairs for all first responders, and when COVID arrived, it added teachers to that list.

“I consider teachers frontline workers, too,” Zifkin said. “The community takes care of us; we take care of them. Especially those amazing frontline workers who

mourns the passing of

STEPHEN GRAND Steve was a champion of science and the betterment of humanity who will be deeply missed by the Weizmann Institute family. His remarkable legacy at Weizmann will continue through the Nancy and Stephen Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to Nancy Grand and to the entire family. May Steve’s memory be for a blessing.

WEIZMANN-USA.ORG

FREE Y DELIVER

“THE COMMUNITY TAKES CARE OF US; WE TAKE CARE OF THEM ...

IT IS MY HONOR TO GIVE BACK TO THEM IN THIS SMALL WAY.”

10%

SENIOR CITIZ Not Valid on

— ZALMAN’S TREASURES’ BRIAN ZIFKIN

Passover, usually one of their busiest times. Even once they reopened, people were still nervous to come in at first.

Zifkin said, “We’ve always been very health conscious, but we’ve stepped that up, too. Now we even disinfect the entire watch battery changing station in between battery changes, which takes a lot of time.”

Zifkin always gives donations, gift cards and jewelry to “pretty much every organization that calls for dona-

are literally putting their lives on the line to protect and serve and educate. It is my honor to give back to them in this small way.”

In a beautiful display of generosity coming full circle, Zifkin said that many of the first responders and teachers still insist on paying because they know how small businesses have been hurt in the pandemic, are happy to support local and want to give back themselves.

Zalman’s Treasures: (248) 547-8383.

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APRIL 1 • 2021

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High Honor

Michigan-Israel business group’s CEO promoted to Army general.

COURTESY OF SCOTT HIIPAKKA

OUR COMMUNITY

DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

S

cott Hiipakka, CEO of the Michigan Israel Business Accelerator, has received a promotion from the rank of colonel to the rank of brigadier general in the Michigan Army National Guard. The official title of the role is assistant adjutant general.

Hiipakka will continue to be responsible for the majority of units in the Guard and building teams ranging from 30 up to 2,500 people in their respective organizations. There will likely

Scott Hiipakka at his promotion ceremony at Milford High School on March 13.

be additional areas he will be in charge of relative to special projects for the adjutant general.

To Hiipakka, the promotion is a blessing and an honor.

“If you would’ve said to me when I was entering the military that I would’ve made the rank of colonel, I would’ve said, ‘no way,’” Hiipakka said. “But then, if you would’ve said I’d make the rank of brigadier general, I would’ve laughed at you.”

Hiipakka entered military service in June 1993 as an infan-

Goal: One America New leadership incubator’s aim is to heal society’s political divides.

JN STAFF

A

fter a year of isolation, many people are feeling more alone than ever. What can we do to reunite our communities in the aftermath of this pandemic and the toxicity and political division that accompanied it? This is the question Rabbi Sam Englender is workRabbi Sam ing to answer.

Englender, who Englender most recently was the community relations manager for the Jewish Community Relations Council/ AJC, is the new Michigan

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regional outreach manager at the D.C.-based One America Movement, a national nonprofit confronting toxic polarization in our society.

The organization equips faith communities to confront division and work together across political, racial and religious divides to solve problems that matter.

“Michigan is a purple state — purple used to mean moderate, but now, it more and more means that we are polarized to the extreme,” Englender said.

“Political sides are facing off and that means trouble, not

try officer initially assigned to the 10th Mountain Division as a platoon leader. Upon selection to the 75th Ranger Regiment, he served with the 3rd Ranger Battalion until 1997.

Following active duty, Hiipakka entered the Michigan Army National Guard in 2001 and has served in key roles including multiple commands and staff officer positions.

Hiipakka currently serves on the board of directors for Leadership Oakland and was recognized by Crain’s Detroit Business as a 2020 “Notable Veteran.” He also serves as an adviser and former appointee to the Michigan Community Service Commission.

As the CEO of the MIBA, Hiipakka sees a possible synergistic effect between his roles with the MIBA and the Army.

“In the MIBA, we’re respon-

sible for creating opportunities and jobs in Michigan and connecting Israeli innovation to Michigan businesses,” Hiipakka said. “What I see is opportunities to accelerate that, particularly in the defense industry. I’m already connected in that space, and from my initial conversations with Israeli companies, they think it’s pretty cool that the CEO of MIBA is a general.

We’ll see what the outcomes are, but I do see the opportunities to build partnerships.”

Now, more than 25 years into his military career, Hiipakka forges ahead with his willingness to serve.

“What I hope to achieve in this new role is to first and foremost serve the men and women I serve with, serve their families and serve the community,” he said. “As citizen soldiers, that’s what we do, and I’m blessed to be able to continue to do so at this new rank.”

just for Michigan as a whole, but for the communities and congregations trying to navigate these challenging times.

“We know the Jewish community isn’t immune from the political division that has roiled the country,” Englender said.

“It’s incumbent on us to do what we can to heal our own community.”

He said the good news is that more and more of us are realizing there is another way.

“We can come together to heal our divides, to work with people with whom we share much more than we realize to solve the problems that matter to all of us,” he said.

Englender will take the lead here in Michigan, working to bring training, resources and support to help the Michigan Jewish community and other

faith communities to counter the effects of harmful political polarization.

This month, Englender and the One America Movement are opening applications for the inaugural class of campus fellows in their Leadership Incubator, a program designed to support young leaders in their efforts to heal divides on college and university campuses in Michigan. Applications will be accepted throughout April.

“We know we can equip young Jews in our community with the tools necessary to create change,” Englender said.

To learn more and to get involved, visit www.

OneAmericaMovement.org, or reach out to Rabbi Sam Englender at sam@ oneamericamovement.org.

PASSOVER

The Seder on the Other Side of the Road

A chicken’s unexpected answer to an age-old question.

Emma has fun bonding with Marshmallow.

and since her next stop was Grandma and Grandpa’s house, Marshmallow, as she quickly named her, came along.

Because she knew the chicken would not be happily greeted by my parents, Emma discreetly relegated her to the garage that led into the kitchen, where she was to stay during our happily long, entertaining, very late-ending seder.

Quickly the rumor of the chicken circulated and the dozen or so kids and many of the adults took turns leaving the seder table to visit Marshmallow and feed her water and bites of matzah. Even after those in the know heeded the strict warning, “Don’t tell Grandma!” the secret leaked out and Marshmallow was banished to the front porch, guarded by Emma until it was time to go home.

In the meantime, to no avail, Emma’s dad knocked on

SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

F

or my family, 2020’s guest-less seders are thankfully a blur. But memories of one feathered, clucking visitor from 2019’s seder kept us uplifted through that lonely Passover of 2020.

The last time we celebrated the holiday in “regular” mode, an unexpected, not officially invited and, for some, unwanted caller joined the group.

My mom and dad, Ceil and Jerry Liebman, are welcoming of everyone — yearly hosting a crowd of nearly 50 for both seders — with half the guests staying on each night for an extended family slumber party.

But we discovered that their acceptance is apparently for humans only when my then 17-year-old niece, Emma Zdrojewski, showed up at the

first seder with a chicken! And not the kind to serve at the table.

On the way to my parents’ Southfield home that night, Emma saw the lone white bird running from yard to Ceil Liebman displays the egg from her yard through the neighunexpected seder guest. borhood.

With considerable neighbors’ doors in search of knowledge of all-things anithe chicken’s owners. When he mal, reptile and beyond, and and Emma asked a group of caregiver at that time to two neighbors taking a walk if they cats, two hedgehogs, a dog and knew of anyone who owned a a gecko, Emma said, “I knew chicken, they surprisingly said she was lost, so I called to her.”

Then, right out of the classic, they did and directed them to a old joke, she said, “At that point, nearby house. the chicken actually crossed the road and came to me!”

A MORNING EGG Emma said she needed to But when they arrived, no keep it with her so it would one was there so they took be safe from cars and animals, Marshmallow to Emma’s dad’s

West Bloomfield home, where she slept in her own private suite in a giant dog crate, with supervised walking-around-theroom privileges.

The next morning, Marshmallow was fed a breakfast of cornmeal mixed with water and worms Emma dug up outside for her — at the suggestion of Emma’s dad, who raised chickens as a kid. “But then, she kept backing herself into corners and kicking her feet out and clucking almost as if she were annoyed,” Emma said.

“I left her alone for a bit, and when I came back: there was an egg in the cage!”

That afternoon, our large family-group reassembled around the giant cluster of tables in my parents’ family room. Just before lunch was served, Emma presented her grandma with a small, decorative box, which, when opened, revealed the egg, a thank you present from Marshmallow for the hospitality she was shown.

Even with the new-found connection between my mom and the chicken, Marshmallow was not invited back that evening.

But the gifted egg was later hard-boiled and given a coveted spot on that night’s seder plate.

On the third day of Passover, Marshmallow’s owners were reached, and Emma and her dad took her to her “family.”

They had been out of town and Marshmallow and her flock were being cared for by chicken-sitters when she got loose.

But before returning home, Marshmallow produced a gift for Emma and her dad, too.

A second egg. “It was like we were running a bed and breakfast,” Emma said. “We gave Marshmallow a place to sleep, and she left us something to scramble in butter. Our breakfast that day was delicious.”

APRIL 1 • 2021

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Holocaust Remembrance Day

Yom HaShoah Virtual Commemoration Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 7 pm, EDT Please join us at www.holocaustcenter.org to watch our community broadcast

Thank You to Our Generous Supporters We remember the six million and honor our father, Sandor Adler, who persevered and created a loving family.

Nancy & Jeff Adler Sue & Larry Adler Jenifer & Mitch Rosenwasser

In loving memory of Leo Beals.

His children, grandchildren & great-grandchildren

In memory of the six million and in honor of our survivor parents and the lives they made.

Sue & Sandy Birnholtz

In memory of Izaak and Sonia Blechman and Samuel and Sarah Weinberger.

Doris & Frederick Blechman

In memory of our parents, Abe and Hannah Bleiwas, and the six million who perished.

Jean & Howard Bleiwas

Honoring family and others who perished and our deeply loved and missed parents, Saul and Regina Muskovitz.

Sandy & Jim Danto

In memory of our relatives who perished on August 10, 1941 and September 10, 1942.

David Horodoker Organization

In honor of Elizabeth Silver, Sacha Dell z”l and Joseph Silver z”l who survived and remembering all those who perished.

Suzi & Larry Dell

To those who died and to those left behind.

In memory of our parents and grandparents, Belle and Isidor Eisenberg.

Marsha, Harry z”l, Emily & Jennifer Eisenberg

In memory of our parents, Bubbe and Zayde - Belle and Isidor Eisenberg.

Robin, Leo, Max, Anna & Louis Eisenberg

We honor, we remember, we must teach and never forget.

Joan Chernoff-Epstein & Robert Epstein

In memory of those who gave their lives and in honor of our parents and grandparents.

Susan & David Feber and Family

We honor the righteous who jeopardized their families to save lives. We remember those who perished.

Miriam & Fred Ferber

In honor of Fred S. Findling z”l, whose unrelenting joy and love for life was the inheritance he bestowed to each of us.

The Findling Family

We remember those who perished and honor the survivors.

Adrienne Ruby-Fink & Herschel Fink

We have a responsibility to teach the next generation the lessons of the Holocaust.

Linda & Robert Finkel

In loving memory of our Bubbie, Doris (Stern) Friedman. She survived so we could live.

Her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, niece & nephew

To remember those who perished and to honor those who survived the Holocaust.

Patrick Gallagher

In memory of our courageous and resilient fathers, Joseph Berman and Rabbi Hershel Garden.

Helen & Jeffrey Garden

In memory of the Adelsberg, Zycer, Weinberg, and Gildengorin family members who perished in the Holocaust.

Freda & Benjamin Gill

In memory of the six million and in honor of our community’s survivors.

The Grant Family

We honor, we remember, and we vow to never forget.

Nancy & James Grosfeld

To all who perished, honoring parents Brandla and Samuel Small and the survivors who gave life to new generations.

Rose & David Handleman Joe Small

In memory of the six million Jews who were murdered in the Holocaust.

Raina Ernstoff & Sandy Hansell

Dennis Deutsch Linda Deutsch

In blessed memory of Leon and Esther Halpern.

Rebecca & Andrew Hayman

To remember the six million of our people who died in the Shoah.

Doreen Hermelin

Honoring the legacy of our parents, Hermina and Bernard Hirsch, and their contribution to the Jewish community.

Caryn & Henry Hirsch

In honor of the survivors’ strength and in memory of the six million who lost their lives.

Nancy & Joseph Jacobson

Remembering our beloved Jack Pludwinski who survived and his family who did not.

Judy & Sam Jassenoff

We remember our lost family and friends, whose legacies remain strong.

The Karp Family

In memory of our mother, Ruth Kent, who died far too young.

Nina & Bernie Kent

In memory of our father’s entire family who perished.

May they be counted among the righteous.

Susan Kozik & Jeffrey Klein

Honoring the strength of Mania Salinger and all survivors. Remembering the six million. Never forget.

Jackie & Larry Kraft

HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL CENTER • ZEKELMAN FAMILY CAMPUS 28

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APRIL • 2021 281231 Orchard Lake Road • Farmington Hills, MI 48334 • www.holocaustcenter.org

Presented in cooperation with C.H.A.I.M. - Children of Holocaust-Survivors Association in Michigan Hidden Children and Child Survivors Association of Michigan

Honoring our mothers Rosa Krasman and Lisa Dell Silver and remembering our fathers.

Barbara & Manus Krasman

In memory of all who perished and in honor of the survivors.

Myra & Larry Lawson

Never forget.

Judy & Michael Layne

Jews are survivors.

It is our mission.

Karolyn & Arie Leibovitz

Jews die twice, when buried and when their names are forgotten, so it is important to teach about the Holocaust.

Michael Liebowitz

Our young people must be taught to remember.

Loomus, Portney and Zaback Families

In memory of Father, Grandfather and family murdered in the Warsaw Ghetto and Treblinka.

Jolanta & Edward Malinowski

We remember our lost family members and honor those who survived.

Rhodie & Harold Margolis

In memory of our parents and grandparents, Sam and Minnie Berman.

The Mendelson Family

In memory of the Berman and Milgrom family members who perished, and in honor of the survivors.

We vow to Never Forget!

Jacqueline & Myron Milgrom

Lester and Jewell Morris Hillel Jewish Student Center at MSU

The Shaarit Haplaytah Organization

Michigan Jewish Conference

The Voice/Vision Holocaust Survivor Oral History Archive

Program for Holocaust Survivors and Families, a Service of Jewish Senior Life

Our mission to educate our society is never ending.

Mara & Andrew Moss

In memory of the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust and in honor of survivors.

Debby & Bruce Podolsky

In memory of our parents’ families who perished and in honor of the survivors.

Karen & David Propis

In loving memory of George Ohrenstein who survived and built a family and a successful business.

Denise & Peter Rodgers

In loving memory of my beloved father, Joseph Rose and our lost family members.

Andy Rose

Remembering the six million, including dear family members.

Rosalie & Bruce Rosen Julie & Marty Wiener

Honoring Michael, Sarah, and Lauren for helping others in medicine, the law, and Covid-19 testing.

Grandma Beverly & Grandpa Robert C. Rosenfeld

In memory of those who perished, and as defiance to the atrocities of the Holocaust... Never Again!

Mindy & Bruce Ruben

In honor of the survivors who show us what it means to truly live.

In memory of Minka and Abraham Narwa and their children: Henri, Leon, Maurice, Daniel, Charles, Marcel and Suzanne.

Sandy Schreier

Today we remember the six million. We will always strive to repair the world in honor of their memory.

Elaine & Michael Serling and the MSU Serling Institute for Jewish Studies and Modern Israel

The world should never ever forget what happened to the Jewish people in the Holocaust.

Nancy & Sam Shamie and Family

In honor of those who perished in the Holocaust and to those in our family who survived and help us remember.

Susan Malinowski & Gary Shapiro

In memory of the six million and in honor of the survivors.

Lisa & Gary Shiffman

In memory of our parents and all those who perished.

We honor their memory.

Andrea & Ely Tama

In honor of our brave survivors and in memory of those who were lost.

Janelle & Stuart Teger

In loving memory of our parents Harry and Sally.

We will never forget.

In memory of our families who perished in the Holocaust and the two survivors.

Anita & Ken Volk

Numbers 6:25-27 (for the survivors).

Dollie Waters

Honoring the survivors in our community.

Sylvia & Hans Weinmann

In memory of Henrietta Weisberg, who defeated the Nazis by living a Jewish life filled with love and meaning.

Lori & Steven Weisberg

In honor of Jack’s parents who survived and protected him and in memory of the six million who perished.

Adela & Jack Weisman

In honor of our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Gabriela & Walter z”l Weiss

In memory of the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust.

Andi & Larry Wolfe

Remembering the six million and treasuring the courage and resilience of the survivors.

The Zekelman Family

Remembering the Czepelinski family members lost in the Holocaust.

Cathleen Zepelin

Susan & Marvin Tuchklaper

Rina (Hennes) & Josh Sabes

For more information about the virtual Yom HaShoah Commemoration, please call 248.553.2400

APRIL 1 • 2021

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PASSOVER

Liberation from ‘Invisible’ Chains

Recovering addicts celebrate freedom from a different, but powerful form of slavery.

RONELLE GRIER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

M

ost of us are familiar with the traditional meaning of Passover, a commemoration of the Jews’ liberation from slavery in Egypt. During the holiday, we take part in the seder and refrain from eating leavened foods.

For recovering addicts, the holiday takes on an additional dimension, the celebration of a different kind of freedom. And, according to Rabbi Benny Greenwald, director of Daniel B. Sobel Friendship House, there are many similarities between Passover and the ongoing journey of recovery.

“Addicts are tied down to something, enslaved by someRabbi thing they don’t want to be Benny Greenwald tied down to, whether it’s a substance or a self-destructive behavior,” Greenwald said. “They can’t break free by themselves, just like the Jews in Egypt couldn’t free themselves.”

Like the enslaved Jews needed God to help them escape, recovering addicts learn to rely on a power greater than themselves.

Brain chemistry also plays a part in keeping people enslaved to addictions, explains Eleanor Aharoni, certified advanced alcohol and drug counselor.

“With all addictions, the brain dictates and remembers patterns. The pleasure-seeking cells in the frontal part of the brain remind people how good they felt drinking, using drugs, Eleanor gambling, even overeating.

Aharoni When people try to break those patterns, the brain reacts and goes into physical and emotional withdrawal.”

Aharoni adds that while withdrawal is difficult, it is necessary in order to break the pattern of addiction.

Recovery begins when an individual

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admits powerlessness over an addiction that has caused life to become unmanageable.

Rabbi Yarden Blumstein of Friendship Circle draws a parallel between this step and the Egyptian Pharoah’s inability to surrender control, even in the face of 10 plagues.

“No matter how bad it got, he wasn’t willing to let go, to admit his powerlessness and Rabbi recognize a power greater than Yarden Blumstein himself. It destroyed everything around him,” Blumstein said.

In much the same way, holding onto the idea that an addiction can be “managed” wreaks further havoc and prevents the addict from achieving the abstinence necessary for recovery.

“For years, I tried to control my drinking,” said Rachel W. who has been sober for 16 years. “When I finally surrendered to the idea that I was powerless over alcohol, I felt free for the first time.”

Another parallel between Passover and recovery can be found in the traditional search for chametz (bread and other leavened products) prior to the holiday. In Jewish mysticism, according to Greenwald, these foods represent the ego, an inflated

Resources:

sense of self. Matzah, which does not rise, represents humility.

This ties into an important component of a 12-step recovery program, performing “a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.” In the same way, we rid our homes of chametz, recovering addicts identify their character flaws and begin the process of eliminating them.

For Sabrina R., belief in a higher power is a vital part of both the Passover story and the process of recovery.

“The lesson of Pesach is to always be aware of how we are leaving ‘Egypt,’ the things we are enslaved to,” she said.

“Recovery gives me freedom from addiction. In both cases, faith was essential.”

Gratitude is also key to maintaining longterm recovery. This principle is reflected during the seder in the “Dayenu” song, which recounts all the things God did for the Jewish people, from taking them out of Egypt to bringing them to Israel. Each verse ends with the word dayenu, which translates as “it would have been enough.” “‘Dayenu’ is a gratitude list,” Blumstein said. “When you’re in recovery and you’re living in gratitude, you understand why half the list would be good enough.”

Greenwald believes Passover is the perfect occasion to achieve freedom from the various kinds of emotional slavery most people experience.

“Take the opportunity to tap into the message and the energy of Passover, Greenwald said. “It involves something deep that lets us break free from our limitations, and, just like our ancestors left Egypt, we can leave the bondage of our perceived restraints.”

The Daniel B. Sobel Friendship House provides support and guidance to individuals and families struggling with addiction, isolation and other life crises.

Contact Rabbi Benny Greenwald at benny@friendshipcircle.org or (248) 788-8888, ext. 206, or visit friendshipcircle.org/friendshiphouse Alcoholics Anonymous www.aa.org

Narcotics Anonymous www.na.org Al-Anon, support for family members of individuals struggling with addiction www.al-anon.org Overeaters Anonymous www.oa.org Gamblers Anonymous gamblersanonymous.org

ERETZ

To Be Young, Jewish and in Israel

During a hike near Ketura.

A gap year — even in the pandemic — is time well spent.

AMIR SHOAM CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A hike in the Ein Avdat National Park.

I

f you know what animal Arthur Read is, then you have heard the name of a gap year program that might change your life.

Maddie Katz, 19, of Farmington Hills had already known she wanted to take a gap year when she heard about Aardvark Israel in 2019. Having visited Israel the year before, she was excited to live in it for nine months, which became slightly longer due to the pandemic.

Moving from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and back, Katz shared two-bedroom apartments with three or four roommates at a time.

Participants are divided into apartments based on gender and kashrut observance.

(Groceries are not included.)

In addition to mandatory Hebrew classes, participants choose from a variety of classes dealing with Israel’s society and politics, Judaism and general subjects.

The classes take place in Aardvark’s offices, are administered through the American Jewish University and grant academic credit.

Now a student at Michigan State University, Katz said that the program’s classes were not as time-consuming as college classes: “Because it’s a gap year program, they made the classes very easy.

There wasn’t much work we had to do. It was very discussion-based.”

Living in Israel, which held

two elections during Katz’s time in it, has seemingly taught her just as much.

“From being there a long time, I really got to dive into how complex the society is,” she said. “There are a lot of political issues that are similar to the U.S. — a lot of division between groups, or a lot of cooperation that’s interesting. I got a little bit of a standpoint on the conflict.”

During the program, Katz interned in jewelry photography, photo editing, deal-making for documentary productions, the Tower of David Museum and even a coffee shop’s private garden.

Katz also had the opportunity to explore the Volunteering at an orchard near Netanya.

country, from Tzfat and Akko in the north to Ketura in the south. “They really did a good job getting us to a lot of different parts of Israel,” she said. “I think my favorite ones were in the Negev. I love the desert, and I love hiking.”

In their spare time, Katz and her friends from the program explored the cities in which they lived: “When I was in Tel Aviv, we loved to hang out by the beach,” she said. “I checked out different museums and saw different events in the city. I’d go to the market in Jaffa and the Carmel Market.”

When the pandemic arrived, most of the program’s 120 participants returned home, but Katz chose not to.

“I thought I would still be able to make better use of my time staying in Israel,” she said.

LIFE IN LOCKDOWN In March 2020, Israel’s first lockdown marked a turning continued on page 32 APRIL 1 • 2021

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FOCUS

Hate Groups Boost Efforts

ADL reports large increase in white supremacist activity.

DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

T

he Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has recorded 283 incidents of antisemitic language or targeted Jewish institutions in the U.S. in 2020 — a 68% increase from 2019.

A new ADL report also showed nearly double the white supremacist propaganda efforts last year compared to 2019. According to the ADL, white supremacist propaganda efforts consist of the distribution of racist, antisemitic and/or anti-LGBTQ fliers, stickers, banners and posters.

The 2020 data from ADL’s Center on Extremism shows a total of 5,125 cases in 2020 compared to 2,724 in 2019.

Last year produced the highest number of white supremacist propaganda incidents the ADL has ever recorded.

At least 30 white supremacist groups distributed propaganda in 2020, but three groups — Patriot Front, New Jersey European Heritage Association and Nationalist Social Club — were responsible for 92% of the activity.

There were 303 incidents of white supremacist propaganda

distribution on college campuses, a considerable decline from 630 in 2019, most likely because of the pandemic and lack of students on campus.

“They’ve moved to a lot of digital platforms,” Carolyn Normandin, ADL Michigan’s regional director, said. “This is the highest level we’ve ever seen.”

ADL recorded 16 right-wing extremist-related terrorist attacks or plots in 2020 (through November), up from 13 recorded in 2019.

Two of the 16 recorded incidents occurred in Michigan.

In Michigan, ADL recorded 57 incidents of white supremacist propaganda, an increase of 36% from 2019.

Five groups were responsible: Patriot Front, Folks Front, Nationalist Social Club, New Order and the Loyal White Knights, a Ku Klux Klan group. Patriot Front was

responsible for 47 out of the 57 incidents.

Normandin believes white supremacists took advantage of the pandemic and the divisiveness of the election year to further their cause.

While the numbers broke records in 2020, the ADL has been concerned about the steady rise of this propaganda for years.

“This didn’t happen overnight and it’s going to take a long time to get rid of this,” Normandin said. “We must have public officials condemning this kind of propaganda as hate.

“In general, extremists have been emboldened in the last several years,” she continued.

“It’s a charged political climate, and we must not let the complexity of that paralyze us.

“We must stand up and call out hate for what it is.”

ERETZ continued from page 31

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“... GO SOMEWHERE AND MEET PEOPLE THAT HAVE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES. THAT’S REALLY BENEFICIAL — GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE IN ANY WAY.”

COURTESY OF MADDIE KATZ

point for the program: “We could barely leave the apartment besides for groceries,” Katz said. “They thought of a lot of online activities for us to do.

“When things got better, we couldn’t meet as a whole group,” she continued.

“Before COVID, they really encouraged us: ‘Get out of the apartment, go do things, make good use of your time.’

During the pandemic, I had friends living in another building, and I couldn’t see them because it was more than 100 yards away from me.”

Despite all of that, Katz does not regret the timing of her experience.

“If I knew before, it definitely would have affected my decision, but

— MADDIE KATZ

looking back, I’m happy I was there when I was there,” she said. “No matter what happened, I learned a lot.

“It’s given me perspective,” Katz added. “The world can turn upside-down, and you can still figure things out.”

An aspiring filmmaker, Katz said that she was likely to keep visiting Israel in the future, but not for a whole year at once. However, a big

part of her experience has returned to North America with her.

“I still talk to my friends who I was in Israel with. We still have Zoom meetings at least every Sunday, even though we are on different time zones,” she said. “We are trying to reunite somewhere this summer.”

Katz said that regardless of Israel, a gap year would

be the right choice for many people after high school.

“Israel is obviously a really cool place, but it doesn’t even have to be Israel. You don’t have to go right to college — it’s not that important. You can even work for a year, and then go somewhere and meet people that have different perspectives. That’s really beneficial — get out of your comfort zone in any way.”

MAZEL TOV!

Kulek-Mendelson

L

auren and David Mendelson of Huntington Woods are thrilled to announce the engagement of their daughter Faye Mendelson to Andrew Kulek, son of Doug and Tricia Kulek of Grosse Pointe.

Faye earned her bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from the University of Michigan and now works as a research lab specialist in Ann Arbor.

Andrew is an M.D./Ph.D. student at Wayne State University, expected to graduate in spring 2022.

The two live in Plymouth and look forward to planning a fall 2022 wedding.

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

Brave Leap of Faith

T

had to take a leap of faith. his past year has been filled with the need to The Torah portion for the make decision seventh day of Passover after decision in an describes the Israelites uncertain world with leaving Egypt, the miractoo little information. ulous crossing of the Red Parents, educators, Sea and jubilant dancing government officials, led by Miriam once the Jeffrey communal leaders, Israelites made it across.

Lasday According to Midrash, the businesses leaders, all of crossing of the Red Sea us weighing health and Parshat was not solely a miracle, safety concerns while Pesach 7th trying to do the right day: Exodus but a miracle facilitated by thing. All of us feeling 13:17-15:26; a leap of faith.

Numbers As the scene is set, the as if we are in way over 28:19-25; fleeing Israelites are being our heads, drowning II Samuel chased by the Egyptians in uncertainty and yet 22:1-51. and have arrived at the called upon to make difshores of the Red Sea. ficult decisions. Due to There is no way to cross. The the plague of COVID, at some Red Sea looms before them; point or another, we have each

here’s to American Friends of ALYN Hospital (AFAH) has received a bequest from the estate of the late Karen Knoppow, originally from Oak Park.

She was a Detroit Public School teacher for more than 30 years as well as a Jewish educator and USY adviser. She was a founding member and served as treasurer for the Detroit Friends of ALYN. In line with Knoppow’s passion for education, her gift will be earmarked for educational purposes at ALYN Hospital, specifically for use by the SHACHAR Rehabilitation Educational Medical Day Care Center. As a token of appreciation, a plaque will be installed in her memory at ALYN. ALYN Hospital is Israel’s premier rehabilitation facility for children with physical disabilities.

Ryan Gruca, a junior at Troy Athens High School, was selected to the 2020 MHSAA Division 1 All-State Boys Soccer Team. Proud parents are Jeff and Karen. Ryan’s teams have earned a U.S. Youth Soccer National Championship and a Michigan High School State Championship.

with the Egyptian chariots thundering behind them there is no escape. It is then, according to Midrash, that one brave soul, Nachshon, starts walking into the sea chanting the Song at the Sea (found in the Passover Torah reading): Mi chamochah bailim HaShem; Mi chamochah ‘nadar b’kodesh. “Who is like You, oh God? Who is like You in holiness?” The sea does not miraculously part; however, Nachshon bravely keeps moving forward.

The water reaches Nachshon’s knees and no miracle. The water reaches his waist; still no miracle. The water reaches his shoulders and finally his mouth.

But he keeps moving forward.

As the water begins to enter his mouth, Nachshon tries to continue singing “Mi chamochah” but with a mouth full of

Huntington Woods-based Artist Michelle Sider is featured for the first time in the Mosaic Arts International exhibition, a premiere art show for this medium held in the United States, showcasing the finest mosaics from artists around the world. View the exhibition, which is live and free to all, at mosaicartsinternational. americanmosaics.org.

water, he cannot pronounce the “ch” sound and instead sputters out a hard “k.” Mi chamochah becomes Mi kamochah (the way it is read in our daily prayer service) and only then as Nachshon is about to go under, do the waters miraculously part.

Yes, a miracle, but only a miracle that happens following a courageous leap of faith.

Today, we are chased by the fears and demons of how to live safely under the threat of COVID. We need to be a little bit like Nachshon. We need to test the waters, and even if we feel that we are in a little over our heads, keep moving forward.

Jeffrey Lasday is the chief operating officer of the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit and the acting chief operating officer of Farber Hebrew Day School.

APRIL 1 • 2021

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SPIRIT

S

cholars have long wondered why Jews who number less than one-quarter of 1% of the world have had such a profound influence on almost every field of human endeavor.

In the 20th century, Jews, more than any other minority, have been recipients of the Nobel Rabbi Prize, with almost Benjamin Blech one-fifth of all aish.com Nobel laureates being Jewish.

Perhaps, it all goes back to the very beginning of the birth of our people and the Passover holiday.

Passover conveys five major concepts that became our mantras for how to lead successful and productive lives. They are the five most important things to know about Passover, and to incorporate into every day of the rest of the year. Because we’ve absorbed them into our national psyche for the thousands of years since the Exodus, we’ve been privileged to fulfill in great measure our prophetically mandated role to become a light unto the nations.

They are our greatest contributions to the world and can be summarized in five words: memory, optimism, faith, family and responsibility.

IMPORTANCE OF MEMORY The Irish Catholic writer Thomas Cahill was so overwhelmed by how the Jewish people literally transformed the world that he authored the international bestseller, The Gifts of the Jews. One of the major gifts he credits to Jewish genius is the invention of the idea of history.

Remember that you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Remember that the Lord took you out of the bondage of slavery. Remember is a biblical

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redemption. That is what has always motivated us to believe in progress and to participate in tikkun olam, efforts to improve the world.

Passover’s Five Lessons mandate that had never seemed important to anyone else before the Jewish people. It was the Passover story that initiated a commitment to memory.

Memory links our past to our future. It turns history into destiny. Learning to treasure it was the first step in our climb up the ladder of greatness.

IMPORTANCE OF OPTIMISM The true miracle of Passover and its relevance for the ages is the message that with God’s help, no difficulty is insurmountable. A tyrant like Pharaoh could be overthrown.

Slaves could become free men.

It was the biblical record of the Exodus that enabled the spirit of optimism to prevail for the followers of Martin Luther King in their quest for equal rights, because they were stirred

by the vision of Moses leading his people to the Promised Land.

That optimistic spirit, based on our own miraculous history, is the second great gift we have given to mankind and defines our identity.

IMPORTANCE OF FAITH A pessimist, it’s been said, is someone who has no invisible means of support.

Jewish optimism is rooted in a contrary notion, a firmly held belief that we are blessed with support from above by a caring God. And that faith in a personal God gives us faith in ourselves, in our future and in our ability to help change the world.

Faith gives us the certainty that whatever our present-day problems, history moves in the direction of the final messianic

IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY Passover taught us yet another major truth: the way to perfect the world is to begin with our own families.

God built His nation by asking Jews to turn their homes into places of family worship at a seder devoted primarily to answering the questions of children.

Children are our future.

They are the ones who most require our attention. The home is where we first form our identities and discover our values.

At the seder table, the children are encouraged to be the stars and their questions are treated with respect. And that is the first step to developing Jewish genius.

IMPORTANCE OF EMPATHY FOR OTHERS As we celebrate our Divine deliverance from slavery, we may ask why did God allow us to become victims of such terrible mistreatment in the first place?

We were slaves in Egypt, so we have empathy for the downtrodden in every generation.

We experienced oppression, so we can understand the pain of the oppressed.

We began the seder by inviting the hungry and the homeless to join with us. We concluded the seder by opening the door for Elijah. It is our acceptance of responsibility to others that is the key to hastening the arrival of the Messiah.

Rabbi Benjamin Blech is a professor of Talmud at Yeshiva University His website is rabbibenjaminblech.com. For a longer version of this essay, visit aish.com/h/ pes/t/g/The_5_Most_Important_Things_ to_Know_About_Passover.html.

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

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

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

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

Congregation Beth Ahm West Bloomfield (248) 851-6880 cbahm.org

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

Beth Israel Flint (810) 732-6310 cbiflint.org Congregation Beth Shalom Oak Park (248) 547-7970 congbethshalom.org Beth Tephilath Moses Mt. Clemens (586) 996-3138 bethtephilathmoses.com B’nai Israel Synagogue West Bloomfield (248) 432-2729 bnaiisraelwb.org Congregation B’nai Moshe West Bloomfield (248) 788-0600 bnaimoshe.org Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue Detroit (313) 962-4047 downtownsynagogue.org Congregation Shaarey Zedek Southfield (248) 357-5544 shaareyzedek.org Temple B’nai Shalom Benton Harbor (269) 925-8021 tbnaishalom.org

Ahavas Olam Southfield (248) 569-1821 Ahavasolam.com Ahavas Yisroel Oak Park (248) 298-2896 Learntorah.info Aish Hatorah in the Woods Oak Park (248) 327-3579 Aishdetroit.com Bais Chabad of Farmington Hills (248) 855-2910 chabad.org Bais Chabad of North Oak Park (248) 872-8878 chabad.org Bais Haknesses Hagrah Oak Park (248) 542-8737 Balfour Shul – K’Hal Rina U’Tefila Oak Park (732) 693-8457 Beth Tefilo Emanuel Tikvah Southfield (248) 559-5022

Birmingham-Bloomfield Shul Birmingham (248) 996-5818 bbchai.org

First Hebrew Congregation South Haven (269) 637-1603 firsthebrewcongregation.org

B’nai Israel-Beth Yehudah Oak Park (248) 967-3969 bi-by.org

Kehillat Etz Chayim Huntington Woods etzchayim-detroit.org

B’nai Zion Oak Park (248) 968-2414 Chabad House-Lubavitch of Eastern Michigan Flint (810) 230-0770 chabad.org Chabad Jewish Center of Commerce-Walled Lake Commerce Township (248) 363-3644 jewishcommerce.org Chabad Jewish Center of Novi-Northville Novi (248) 790-6075 novijewishcenter.com Chabad-Lubavitch of Bingham Farms Bloomfield Hills (248) 688-6796 chabadbinghamfarms.com Chabad of Western Michigan Grand Rapids (616) 957-0770 chabadwestmichigan.com Dovid Ben Nuchim-Aish Kodesh Oak Park (313) 320-9400 dbndetroit.org Etz Chayim of Toledo Toledo, OH (419) 473-2401 Etzchayimtoledo.org

Kollel Institute of Greater Detroit Oak Park (248) 968-1891 kollel@kolleldetroit.org Mishkan Israel, Nusach H’ari, Lubavitch Center Oak Park (248) 542-4844 theyeshiva.org Ohel Moed Shomrey Emunah West Bloomfield (248) 737-2626 ohelmoed.org Or Chadash Oak Park (248) 819-1721 or-chadash.org Sara & Morris Tugman Bais Chabad Torah Center of West Bloomfield (248) 855-6170 baischabad.com Shaar Hashomayim Windsor (519) 256-3123 Shaarey Zedek Windsor (519) 252-1594 shaareyzedekwindsor.com Shomer Israel Oak Park (248) 542-4014 godaven.com continued on page 36

APRIL 1 • 2021

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SPIRIT SYNAGOGUE DIRECTORY continued from page 35

Shomrey Emunah Southfield (248) 559-1533 congregation-shomreyemunah-105705.square.site The Shul-Chabad Lubavitch West Bloomfield (248) 788-4000 theshul.net Woodward Avenue Shul Royal Oak (248) 414-7485 thewas.net Yagdil Torah Southfield (248) 559-5905 Young Israel of Oak Park (248) 967-3655 yiop.org Young Israel of Southfield (248) 358-0154 yisouthfield.org RECONSTRUCTIONIST Congregation Kehillat Israel Lansing (517) 882-0049 kehillatisrael.net Congregation T’chiyah Oak Park (248) 823-7115 tchiyah.org Reconstructionist Congregation of Detroit (313) 567-0306 reconstructingjudiasm.org REFORM Bet Chaverim Canton (734) 480-8880 betchaverim@yahoo.com Temple Benjamin Mt. Pleasant (989) 773-5086 templebenjamin.com

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Congregation Beth El Windsor (519) 969-2422 bethelwindsor.ca

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

MINYANS Fleischman Residence West Bloomfield (248) 661-2999

Temple Beth El Bloomfield Township (248) 851-1100 tbeonline.org

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

Yeshivat Akivah Southfield (248) 386-1625 farberhds.org

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

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

ANN ARBOR

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

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

Beth Isaac Synagogue Trenton (734) 675-0355 bethisaac.org

REFORM/RENEWAL Congregation Shir Tikvah Troy (248) 649-4418 shirtikvah.org

Temple Beth Israel Bay City (989) 893-7811 tbi-mich.org Temple Beth Israel Jackson (517) 784-3862 tbijackson.org Temple B’nai Israel Kalamazoo (269) 342-9170 Templebnaiisrael.com Temple B’nai Israel Petosky (231) 547-0817 templebnaiisraelofpetosky.org Temple Emanuel Grand Rapids (616) 459-5976 grtemple.org Temple Emanu-El Oak Park (248) 967-4020 emanuel-mich.org

SECULAR/HUMANISTIC The Birmingham Temple Farmington Hills (248) 477-1410 birminghamtemple.com Jewish Parents Institute West Bloomfield (248) 661-1000 jccdet.org Sholem Aleichem Institute Lathrup Village (240 865-0117 secularsaimichigan.org SEPHARDIC Keter Torah Synagogue West Bloomfield (248) 681-3665 rabbisasson.wixsite.com/keter Ohr Hatorah Oak Park (248) 294-0613 Ohrhatorah.us

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

COURTESY OF JENNIFER KROLL

ARTS&LIFE ART

Paintings that

Pop

Artist Jennifer Kroll makes a statement with her bold, colorful creations.

ROBIN SCHWARTZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Clockwise: Jennifer Kroll with a piece from her “Barcode” collection. Four canvases create a “Fair & Square” design. Six of Kroll’s paintings brighten a wall.

S

he brightens the world and lights up room after room with her abstract, geometric paintings. Artist Jennifer Kroll of Birmingham is about as bold as you can get when it comes to color — she’ll put purple next to bright orange or align yellow, hot pink and blue without batting an eye.

And somehow, every color combination works, from pops of neon green to navy to aqua blue.

“I’m fascinated by colors and shapes, and I love experimenting with different combinations of the two,” she says. “My paintings are often the result of these explorations.

Sometimes new ideas happen by accident as I mix colors and move lines.”

Kroll started her business, Jennifer Kroll

Fine Art, in 2018. She was churning out eye-catching acrylic paintings on canvas in her home studio as a hobby when her husband, Todd, urged her to post a picture on social media. She did, and orders and inquiries started pouring in. Her paintings are now in homes and commercial buildings across the world from Australia to California, Florida and Washington, D.C. The Jewish student organization, Hillel, recently commissioned six large paintings that will hang in a new, modern building at George Washington University in D.C., where her oldest daughter, Lilley, attends college. Her younger daughter, Marlee, 17, is graduating from Frankel Jewish Academy this year.

“I can’t believe I’m able to do something I love and make a business doing it,” Kroll says. “I’ve had a lot of commissions during COVID-19. No two paintings [or sets of paintings] are the same.”

Kroll and her family attend Temple Shir Shalom in West Bloomfield. She is a graduate of Groves High School in Beverly Hills and holds a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Eastern Michigan University. In college, she studied fiber arts and tried several other mediums. The one thing she never worked with was acrylic paint. Today, that’s her go-to product for laying color on thick.

“I like solid colors, and I don’t like to see any brush strokes,” she says. “Depending on the design and size of the canvas, it can continued on page 38 APRIL 1 • 2021

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continued from page 37

take 30-60 hours to complete a painting.”

PERFECT PRECISION It takes patience, precision and painstaking work to create each painting. Kroll uses a process called tape blocking to achieve the crisp, clean lines that are part of her signature style. She applies a special tape over parts of each canvas and carefully peels away long strips when the timing is right.

It’s a mesmerizing technique that has little-to-no margin of error. While that might stress some people out, Kroll finds it relaxing.

“I can paint for hours and hours,” she says. “I often listen to music or audio books or podcasts while I paint. I have need for precision and detail in my work.”

Many friends have sent Kroll photos of contemporary artist Jim Lambie’s spectacular floor installations. She says his color-filled tape floors have always influenced and inspired her. While straight lines and geometric shapes may seem limiting, Kroll’s paintings are constantly evolving. She has several different groups of paintings — a “barcode” series

with thick and thin strips and angled lines that resemble a barcode; a “division” series with triangles, rectangles and squares; a “fair and square” series with a small center square framed by various larger squares and stripes; and other designs with zigzags, circles and optical illusions.

Recently, Kroll painted her first ever pair of canvases using neutral colors with hints of silver, gold and shades of grey.

Her fans on social media went wild. “Sometimes the absence of color is exactly what makes the piece so brilliant,” wrote one fan. “These are absolutely stunning,” said another.

Where will the next painting take her? Nobody knows.

But Kroll says each day in the studio is fun and exciting. Her designs are unlimited, and the future is undoubtedly bright.

“When I’m doing a painting — I’ll try a color or move a line and all of a sudden it’s a new design. It really is everchanging,” she says.

“When you’re doing something for yourself because you love it, that shows.”

To learn more or contact Jennifer Kroll, visit jenniferkrollfineart.com

ARTS&LIFE BOOKS

Harvey Ovshinsky

One of the threads holding it all together is his curiosity and determination to dig beneath the surface and, in this memoir, he doesn’t spare himself or his family from scrutiny.

The level of detail about family dynamics is surprising and sometimes painful to read.

Ovshinsky was caught in the middle in several respects. His older brother, Ben, seemed to him to be smarter, better looking and closer to his father. His younger brother, Dale, had serious communication and emotional difficulties — problems that were later diagnosed as autism.

His father, Stanley, originally a machinist and left-wing social activist, later pioneered development of nickel batteries for hybrid vehicles and solar-cell-producing machines.

With only a high school education, he

The Voice of Detroit’s ’60s Counterculture Journalist and TV producer Harvey Ovshinsky’s memoir retells a life of storytelling.

H

SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

arvey Ovshinsky has devoted 50-plus years to telling stories — through newspaper, radio, television and screenwriting. He is an award-winning journalist, director and producer — serving as the catalyst for others to open up and share their life experiences.

Now, at age 72, he decided it was time to “flip this, and connect my dots,” Ovshinsky says. “I’m a little bit of a puzzle — a mystery.”

Scratching the Surface: Adventures in

Storytelling — A Memoir by Harvey Ovshinsky does a thoughtful and entertaining job of fitting the pieces together. Detroiters, especially those of Baby Boomer age and older, will enjoy his accounts of student life at Henry Ford and Mumford high schools in Northwest Detroit, and subsequent college years at Wayne State University. Others will focus on his ups and downs in print and broadcast journalism, especially during the heyday of local television documentaries.

became an internationally known inventor and businessman, founding Energy Conversion Devices. The elder Ovshinsky had a grand vision for the way science and technology could improve civilization, but he was also temperamental and resistant to viewpoints different than his own.

While Harvey was in elementary school, his father left the family to live with Iris Dibner, who became his second wife and business partner. Verbal warfare and turmoil resulted.

Harvey was caught in the crossfire and felt “outnumbered and outgunned. I lost my voice.” He believes that this situation was probably the inspiration for creating stories continued on page 40 APRIL 1 • 2021

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CELEBRITY NEWS

NATE BLOOM COLUMNIST

CROSSING THE SINAI ABC’s annual broadcast of the 1956 film, The Ten Commandments, will air on Saturday, April 3, starting at 7 p.m. It’s been quite some time since I wrote about the film.

So, I am “rerunning” a few fun facts that you may or may not remember — and a couple of facts new to this column.

Most of the cast wasn’t Jewish, including Charlton Heston, a devout Christian (and big Israel supporter), who played Moses. Edward G. Robinson (as the evil Dathan) and Olive Deering (as Moses’s sister, Miriam) were the only Jewish actors with important roles in the film.

The only credited actor still alive is Joanna Merlin, 89.

She played one of Jethro’s THE VOICE OF DETROIT continued from page 39

— “rediscovering his voice during the 1960s and ’70s.” His love of monster movies led him to create Transylvanian Newsletter with a friend while they were in eighth grade. At Mumford, he started a magazine.

LOVE OF WRITING While Ovshinsky was caught in the middle of his parents’ disputes, they each in their own way supported his love of writing. His mother, Norma, gave him a diary to encourage his writing, and when Harvey was 17, Stanley and Iris loaned him money to start The Fifth Estate, Detroit’s first alternative newspaper.

After his father died in 2012, Ovshinsky said he felt a sense of “relief and release and permission to tell my story,” he explains.

“That first part of the book is letting the cat out of the bag. That’s central to the rest. That’s what

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APRIL 1 • 2021

three daughters (not the one who married Moses).

There’s a good chance you’d recognize Merlin from her scores of TV guest shots, including playing Judge Lena Petrovsky in 43 episodes of Law and Order.

Merlin’s sister, Harriet Glickman, died last year, age 93. A retired schoolteacher, she got a big N.Y. Times obit because in April 1968, after the death of Martin Luther King, she wrote Charles Schultz, the creator of Peanuts, and urged him to put a black child character in his comic strip. Schultz wrote back and got her consent to share her letter with black friends and get their input. In July 1968, Schultz introduced Franklin, the strip’s first black character.

On April 2, Hulu will begin streaming a new documentary, WeWork: Or the Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion brought me to the table.”

Once past his rocky childhood, Ovshinsky covers the early days of The Fifth Estate, taking us through the counterculture era of antiwar protests and hippies, including poet and marijuana advocate John Sinclair and the Detroit Police Department’s

Joanna Merlin is the only credited Ten Commandments actor still alive.

NYU/TISCH

ARTS&LIFE

Unicorn. WeWork is an office-sharing company that attracted massive investment and then nearly financially collapsed in 2019. The company is currently valued less than the money that investors poured into it.

The co-founder and former CEO of WeWork is Adam Neumann, 41. For a time, he seemed like a Jewish role model: born in Israel and a ing a production job and most important, how to make stories relevant to viewers.

“Nobody cares about your story unless your story feels like theirs,” he says. The chapters about his less successful efforts to sell several screenplays and television series are less compel-

“NOBODY CARES ABOUT YOUR STORY UNLESS YOUR STORY FEELS LIKE THEIRS.” — HARVEY OVSHINSKY

Red Squad that compiled a thick file on Sinclair’s activities.

Always looking for the next creative challenge, Ovshinsky became a host and then news director at WABX, Detroit’s progressive rock radio station, at a young age.

He devotes considerable space to his television career — providing tips on finding and keep-

ling but perhaps useful to wouldbe screenwriters.

“Detroit was an excellent muse,” he says, looking back on his career. “Nobel prize-winning author Isaac Bashevis Singer wrote that every writer needs an address. For me, living and working in a city like Detroit, so famous for its genetically encoded apocalypse-resistant survival

veteran of the Israeli navy, he permanently settled in the U.S. around 2000. This handsome and charismatic guy is a religious Jew, has a smart Jewish wife (who is a first cousin of Gwyneth Paltrow) and together they have five kids.

WeWork wasn’t quite a scam, but it was way “oversold.” Fortunately, for Neumann, most of its debt was held by a Japanese bank that felt they had too much invested to let WeWork fail.

They “forced” Neumann out in 2019, but he walked away with a $1.7 billion severance package.

The documentary was directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Jed Rothstein, 47.

(A dramatic mini-series about WeWork is in the works. It will co-star Anne Hathaway as Rebekah Neumann and Jared Leto as Adam, her husband). gene, has been great practice for how to endure the tumultuous peaks and valleys and challenges that come from attempting to live a creative life,” he states in the book.

In later life, Ovshinsky and his wife, Catherine, moved to Ann Arbor where they continue to live. “Detroit was my mother planet, and it was time to be in another,” he says.

Education has been the favorite part of his career. Ovshinsky has taught writing and creativity to young people and adults in a variety of schools and settings.

“Nothing compares to helping young people find their own voice.” He describes it as “helping people make good noise.”

Now he does some speaking engagements and says, “This book is my teaching.”

Ovshinsky’s book is available at Book Beat in Oak Park, Literati in Ann Arbor, through the Wayne State University Press website and elsewhere.

ON THE GO

PEOPLE | PLACES | EVENTS

BOOK TALK 1 PM, APRIL 5 The Cohn-Haddow Center for Judaic studies at Wayne State University will present, on Zoom, Dr. Bernice Lerner discussing The Horrors of War. Visit judaicstudies. wayne.edu/events.

EXCELLENCE IN INNOVATION NOON-1 PM, APRIL 6 Hadassah Midwest and the Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest presents “How Israel is Helping Tackle the World’s Challenges with COVID-19.

Register by Sunday, April 4, hadassahmidwest.org/ Innovation, for this free online event featuring Jodie Cohen, author of Tikkun Olam: Israel vs Covid-19, and Dianne Gottlieb, Hadassah Medical Organization chair, moderated by Daniel Aschheim, Ph.D., Consul for Public Diplomacy for the Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest.

RESCUE & RESISTANCE 4-5 PM, APRIL 6 U-M Frankel Center for Judaic Studies will present a Zoom webinar on “History’s Rescue: A Micro-History of Rescue and Resistance in Nazi Germany” with Mark Roseman of Indiana University Bloomington.

Using the archive of the League of Socialist Life, this talk seeks both to understand the wartime experience of helping Jews and to historicize the postwar remembrance of resistance and rescue. Registration required: myumi.ch/Axyly.

REMEMBERING 7 PM, APRIL 8 AUTHOR SPEAKS 7 PM, APRIL 6 Jewish Family Service will present a virtual evening with Kimberly WilliamsPaisley, author, actress and advocate for older adults with mental challenges.

Admission: $36. Register at jfsspotlightevent.org. Info: 248-592-2339.

MICHIGAN HISTORY 7 PM, APRIL 6 The Jewish Historical Society of Michigan will present om Zoom “Ezekiel Solomon: Michigan’s First Jewish Settler” with Craig Wilson of Michigan DNR. Wilson will examine Solomon’s life at Mackinac as modern archaeological and archival work reconstruct his time in northern Michigan 260 years ago.

Cost: $10 for JHSM members; $18 for nonmembers.

Register by 9 pm April 5: michiganjewishhistory.org.

Dr. Jeffrey London

PSYCHIATRY TALK 3:30-4:30 APRIL 7 Jewish Family Service will

present Dr. Jeffrey London who will provide on overview of psychiatric disorders. Register at jfsdetroit. org/drlondon.

CAST REUNION SERIES 8 PM, APRIL 7 Broadway in Detroit will present this 60-minute streaming event: Jersey Boys. This series gives Detroiters a chance to visit “backstage” with the cast and hear personal, hilarious, unscripted stories and gossip — as the cast really lets their hair down. You’ll be able to interact with them and ask questions through the chat feature. Tickets: $15; stellartickets.com.

JEWS & GENTILES 12:30- 2 PM, APRIL 8 The Sterling Institute for Jewish Studies and Modern Israel in East Lansing will present a lecture on “Neighbors in Difficult Times (the Holocaust).” See jewishstudies@link.msu.edu.

REMEMBERING 7 PM, APRIL 8 The Holocaust Memorial Center is hosting its annual community-wide Yom HaShoah commemoration.

The program will be hosted online for community members at holocaustcenter.org.

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

Rachel Slagter

Survivor’s Quest to Thank Rescuers The Men’s Club of Congregation B’nai Moshe welcomes Rachel Slagter, Holocaust survivor and lecturer at the Museum of Tolerance and the Holocaust Museum LA to a virtual talk at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 6.

Rachel will relate her story as a child survivor and highlight the courage of her rescuers.

“I was hidden for two years by some brave Dutch people and transported to them by a young man who saved 33 Jewish children during the years 1943-1945,” she said.

Rachel’s siblings were rescued in a similar fashion after forced separation from their parents who were transported to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.

Rachel’s father survived, however, he would not discuss any aspect his Holocaust experiences, his wife’s death and the children’s survival.

This led to Rachel’s decadeslong search to identify and thank her rescuers.

The community is invited.

Register at www.bnaimoshe. org.

APRIL 1 • 2021

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF REAR ENDS.

BUSINESS

High-Tech Shopping Rear Ends clothing store offers one-on-one video shopping online.

ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A

riana Carps, manager and buyer of Bloomfield Hillsbased clothing store Rear Ends, has joined a new technology platform that offers customers throughout the U.S. virtual shopping experiences.

Selected to be featured in a beta version of Amazon Explore, a new program from e-commerce giant Amazon that offers virtual experiences encompassing travel, cooking, learning and everything in between, Rear Ends can now be shopped by anyone, anywhere in the country.

Customers on Amazon Explore can select to shop

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APRIL 1 • 2021

Rear Ends, getting a live virtual tour of the store and its merchandise.

“It’s a 30-minute session,” Carps, 36, of Berkley, says.

“There’s a $10 fee for the session, but you get it back through purchase credits with anything you buy.”

Carps walks around the store with a one-way video selfie stick provided by Amazon that allows customers to see what’s available.

She can recommend clothing, sizes, custom outfits and more. It’s a fully personalized experience that can help local retail stores like Rear Ends go national.

“It allows customers all over the country to shop

with us,” says Carps. “It’s the same personal shopping experience we’ve offered to our customers for nearly 43 years, but in a totally different, digital way.”

Longtime family-owned Rear Ends launched on Amazon Explore in late February. Prior to that, Amazon reached out to Carps with interest in featuring the store, which she agreed to. It took a little over two months to set up the process and get Rear Ends ready for virtual shopping.

“I’m totally wireless as I walk around,” Carps says. “I start by pulling from a great selection of jeans and just showcasing designs and price ranges.”

From there, she says, customers can guide her toward what they’re looking for and add items like sweaters, tops and more to go with their

jeans, the highlight of the store’s selection.

Carps says Amazon Explore has given the store a new opportunity to reach customers in different states, backed by the safety of Amazon. “I know I’m trustworthy, and my customers know I’m trustworthy,” she explains. “But a stranger in another city might not.”

Having that added layer of security, she describes, helps both customers and retailers feel safe in their transactions.

“This allows people to shop at a store they might not know,” Carps says of Amazon Explore. Working with the retail giant was her first venture into the corporate world, which she says was an enjoyable experience.

“It was eye-opening for me going through the whole process and seeing how they do things. It was really cool.”

Ariana Carps streaming through Amazon Explore.

SPOTLIGHT

Honoring ‘Papa’

Bat mitzvah girl raises funds for Camp Mak-A-Dream.

Sydney and her Papa, Bob Mellen, in 2013

ALAN MUSKOVITZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

W

hen 13-year-old Sydney Michaelson returns to Camp Tanuga for her sixth summer (after a year hiatus because of the pandemic) she’ll go with the satisfaction of knowing she’ll be making a profound difference in the health and well-being of kids at another camp more than 1,645 miles away. That’s how far it is from Kalkaska, Mich., to Gold Creek, Mont., home to Camp Mak-A-Dream.

Sydney launched a fundraising campaign for Camp MakA-Dream’s Michigan chapter as part of her mitzvah project for her bat mitzvah, which she celebrated March 6 at Temple Israel.

The final tally for her efforts is expected to be near $9,000.

Since 1995, Camp MakA-Dream has provided an expense-free, fun summer respite for kids across the U.S., Canada and the globe who are battling or who have survived cancer. It includes all the amenities you’d envision at a full-service camp, plus medical supervision to create a safe haven that nurtures campers’ physical and emotional well-being.

“I love my Tanuga experience so much,” says Sydney, “that I want other kids to be able to experience the same thing, especially because they have cancer, and they can go to camp with other kids that are like them.”

It turns out the love for and support of Camp Mak-ADream is a Michaelson family affair, inspired by Sydney’s grandfather. “My papa told me a lot about it,” Sydney says. “I just

thought it was a really good organization.”

“Papa” is Bob Mellen, of blessed memory, a West Bloomfield CPA who was the camp’s Michigan chapter treasurer. It is his legacy that Sydney is honoring.

Mellen was introduced to the camp by his lifelong friend Hadar Granader, whose brother and sister-in-law, the late Harry and the late Sylvia Granader, donated 87 acres of their

Sydney Michaelson

Montana ranch to make Camp Mak-A-Dream a reality.

Harry, a building contractor by trade, helped build the Ronald McDonald Houses next to Detroit’s Children’s Hospital of Michigan and Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor. The indelible impression left on Harry by his regular visits with children at those hospitals fueled his vision and passion for Camp Mak-A-Dream.

LASTING LEGACIES Hadar carries on his brother’s legacy as president of the Michigan chapter. Mellen’s wife, Margie, is a longtime volun-

teer and board member of the Michigan-based supporters.

Sydney’s mother, Melissa Michaelson, is the daughter of Bob Mellen and principal of Hillel Day School. “Sydney has an innate desire to help others and believes in tikkun olam,” she says. “Her connection to camp, and her papa, made Camp Mak-A-Dream a natural choice.”

Sydney’s father, Jeremy, an endodontist, echoed those sentiments: “Sydney knows how much Camp Mak-A-Dream meant to her papa and she felt strongly about choosing something that would connect to him.”

Sydney’s generous donation will go to the camp’s Robert Mellen Travel Fund, which during a normal year would help offset travel expenses for campers traveling from Michigan. Despite having to go virtual for the second straight summer, the kids will be able to connect with their fellow campers while still enjoying quality programming offered by the Camp Mak-A-Dream staff, all within the comfort of their own homes.

JVS Needs Direct Care Workers JVS Human Services is launching a hiring blitz to secure 45 new employees to work with individuals with disabilities.

Twenty-five will be summer employees to work as job coaches for high school students with disabilities who have internships; these positions could be suitable for college students interested in human services, social work or psychology, or teachers off for the summer.

Other new staff will be employed in positions in Southfield and Detroit where they would be working with participants with disabilities in various skill-development, employment, and engagement programs.

Starting pay begins at $12 an hour with some bonuses.

“If you have the heart for working with people who are on the path to employment and community inclusion, this is an outstanding opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives,” said Aubrey Macfarlane, JVS’ COO. Preliminary interviews on Zoom will be held on at 4 or 4.30 p.m. Thursdays, April 8 and April 15. For the Zoom link, a detailed job description or to complete an application, go to jvshumanservices.org/ DirectCare..

For information, visit the Friends of Camp Mak-A-Dream website at campdreammich.org or call (248) 723-5575.

APRIL 1 • 2021

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OBITUARIES

OF BLESSED MEMORY

JOSEPH W. BLUMENTHAL, 93, of Southfield, died peacefully surrounded by family on March 21, 2021. c. 1972 Born in Pittsburgh, Joe moved to Cleveland, where he grew up and later attended Western Reserve University and graduated from University of Toledo Pharmacy School.

After practicing pharmacy for 10 years, Joe changed careers, moving his family to Detroit and opening his first Lafayette Radio Electronics Associate Store. During the next 20 years, he opened 13 Lafayette stores all over Michigan.

Joe’s love of business and innovation was second only to his love for family. Blessed with an amazing mind, Joe was a voracious reader who could recall all sorts of information. He loved current events and world news.

The world will be a harsher place without his twinkling brown eyes and warm, friendly smile.

Mr. Blumenthal is survived by his beloved wife, Nancy.

They were college sweethearts, sharing more than 69 wonderful years together. He was immensely proud of their children, Barton and Carmel of Adelaide, Australia, Dr. Nina Blumenthal and Dr. Scott Corin of Massachusetts, and Eric and Tricia Blumenthal of Tennessee. He was also proud of his grandchildren, Sam Blumenthal, Emily Blumenthal (fiancé, Colin Atwater), Stephanie Blumenthal, Aron Corin and Sarah Corin (Adam Halvorsen).

Interment was at Beth El Memorial Park. Contributions may be made to American Civil Liberties Union, 2966 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48201, aclu-

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mich.org; or Beaumont Health Foundation, P.O. Box 5802, Troy, MI 48007-9627, beaumont.org/ giving. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

ILENE “TINA” CAPLAN, 78, of Milford died March 18, 2021.

She was the cherished sister of Betty and the late Lawrence Leshman, and the late Shila Morganroth and her husband, Michael; dear sister-in-law of the late Judith (Robert) Strohl; loving aunt of Robin Leshman, Monique Leshman, Tiffany Leshman, Mia Leshman, Scott (Candy) Morganroth, and Lonny (Janette) Morganroth; adored great-aunt of Shane Leshman, Branden (Jessica) Morganroth, Brooke (Jake) Schifko, Brock Morganroth and Bria Morganroth.

Interment was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to COPD Foundation, 3300 Ponce De Leon Blvd., Miami, FL 33134, copdfoundation.org. Arrangements by Kaufman Chapel.

RITA ELKEN, 97, of West Bloomfield, died March 17, 2021.

She is survived by her sons and daughter-in-law, Irving Elken, and Stephen and Melissa Elken; grandchildren, Adam, Seth and Rachel Elken, Brett Elken, Lauren and Ryan Soria, and Lindsey and Mike Mack; great-grandchildren, Madison, Lucas and Molly.

Mrs. Elken was the beloved wife of the late Morris Elken; the loving sister of the late Senta and the late Hy Shenkman; and the dear stepsister of the late Elsie and the late Wilbert Simkowitz.

Interment was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

MARCIE FRISHMAN, 92, of Farmington Hills, died March 15, 2021. She is survived by her daughter, Wanda Frishman of Farmington Hills.

Mrs. Frishman was the beloved wife of the late Benjamin Frishman; loving mother of the late Steven Frishman; dear sister of the late Leo Becker, the late Raymond Becker.

Contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice. A graveside service was held at Adat Shalom Memorial Park in Livonia. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.

IRIS ANN FYNKE, 93, of West Bloomfield, died March 23, 2021.

She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Max and Ilona Fynke, and Tod and Laurie Fink; daughter and son-in-law, Mindi Fynke and Dr. Howard Wright; grandchildren, Nicole and Matt Lester, Alexandra and Joel Browning, Adam Fynke, Julie Fynke, and Rachel and Levi Strauss; great-grandchildren, Elliah and Asa Lester, Neve and Chase Browning, and Leo and Goldie Strauss; her loving friend, companion and caregiver, Mary Taylor; many loving nieces, nephews and friends. Special thanks to Maria Tatu, Louise Prewitt and Jackie Patrick.

Mrs. Fynke was the beloved wife of the late Richard “Dick” Fynke; devoted daughter of the late Max Kerner, the late Flora Kerner Kovan (the late Dr. Dennis Kovan); the loving sister of the late Shirley Kerner, and the late Elaine and the late Cy Seltzer.

Interment was at Beth El Memorial Park. Contributions may be made to Children’s Hospital-Detroit, Attn: Dr. Dennis D. and Flora Kerner Kovan Memorial Fund, 3901

Beaubien, Detroit, MI 48201.

Detroit, MI 48201, yourchildrensfoundation.org/ ways-to-give; or to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

HARVEY GOLDSMITH, 93, of Boca Raton, Fla., and West Bloomfield died March 18, 2021.

Harvey joined his father, Morris, in the bagel business, owning and operating New York Bagel until he passed it on to his son and grandson. He was very proud to see the business reach its 100-year anniversary this year.

He enjoyed life to the fullest and always said that he was “born lucky” but that his life didn’t start until he met his wife. He loved playing golf and spending his winters in Florida; but, most of all, he loved being with his family.

Mr. Goldsmith is survived by his wife of 71 years, Evelyn Goldsmith; son and daughter-in-law, Howard and Carole Goldsmith; daughters and sonsin-law, Susan and Roy Kulick, and Elise and David Schostak; grandchildren, Philip Goldsmith, Andree Goldsmith and Sam Kronthal, Michael Goldsmith, Laura and Josh Goldman, Daniel and Andrea Kulick, Jake and Shelby Schostak, and Dana and Alex Bonda; great-grandchildren, Shay Goldsmith, Ruby and Oliver Kronthal, Hannah and Jonathan Goldman, and Jesse Bonda; brother and sister-in-law, Herman and Barbara Goldsmith; brotherin-law and sister-in-law, Arthur and Gloria Rosenstein.

He was the adoring grandfather of the late Jayne Rudy Schostak; the devoted son of the late Anna and the late Morris Goldsmith; the loving brother of the late Tom and the late Marion Goldsmith; the dear brother-in-law of the late

Melvin Rosenstein.

Interment was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

VITALY GROSSMAN, 60, of West Bloomfield, died March 9, 2021.

He is survived by his wife of c. 1980 24 years, Alisa Grossman; father, Mikhail Nem; sons and daughter-in-law, Max and Anya Khutoryan, Joshua Grossman; daughter and sonin-law, Alexandra and Yechezkel Aharonov of West Bloomfield; a loving uncle and aunt, Genadi and Inna Bilzon; other loving family and friends.

Mr. Grossman was the loving son and son-in-law of the late Maya Nem, the late Melvin Handelzaltz, the late Helen and the late David Friedman.

Contributions may be made to Bais Chabad Torah Center, 5595 W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322; F.R.E.E. (Friends of Refugees of Eastern Europe),15700 W. 10 Mile Road, Suite. 217, Southfield, MI 48075; or Keter Torah Synagogue, 5480 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48323. A family graveside service was held at Hebrew Memorial Park. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.

FRANCES HERMAN, 94, of Oak Park, died March 21, 2021.

She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Samuel and Mindy Herman of Farmington Hills, Ronald and Susan Pitt Herman; daughter and son-inlaw, Leah and Dr. David Ungar of Oak Park; grandchildren, Joshua Herman, Alana and Kyle Wildern, Daniel and Zahava Ungar, Shoshana and Daniel Kohn, Adina and Eli Noff, Tzvi

and Rachelli Ungar, Sara Ungar; great-grandchildren, Nili, Ruby, Alex, Luka, Tamar, Gavriel, Binyoman, Mayer, Eitan, Leora, Yael, Pauly, Yisroel Reuven, Ariella, Miki.

Mrs. Herman was the beloved wife of the late Rubin Herman.

Contributions may be made to Young Israel of Oak Park, 15140 W. 10 Mile Road, Oak Park, MI 48237; Yeshiva Beth Yehudah, P.O. Box 2044, Southfield, MI 48037; Farber Hebrew Day School, 21100 W. 12 Mile Road, Southfield, MI 48076; Holocaust Memorial Center, 28123 Orchard Lake Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48334. A graveside service was held at Hebrew Memorial Park. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.

BEVERLY KANDEL, 85, of West Bloomfield, died March 22, 2021.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Fred Kandel; children, Mark (Cindy) Kandel, Jo-Ellen (Henry) DeNicola and Robin (Ian Everard) Kandel; grandchildren, Alexis (Brandon) Wayne, Shaina Kandel (fiancé, Ben Hart), Michael (Katrina) Morris, Louis DeNicola (fiancée, Dayana AlvaradoEscobedo), Sam DeNicola, Rose DeNicola; great-grandchildren, Juliana, Luke, Emilia and Kiara; sister-in-law, Karen Cooper; many other loving family members and friends.

Mrs. Kandel was the devoted sister of the late Jack Cooper and the late Marc Cooper; grandmother of the late Stephan Kandel.

Interment was held at Machpelah Cemetery. Donations may be made to the Stephan Rosenberger Kandel Fund at Temple Israel or to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.

A Dedicated Family Man

J

erry Laevin sporting events, Weiner, concerts and stage 80, of West productions.

Bloomfield died Above all else, he March 21, 2021. was most engaged as He was born a devoted husband, and raised in East father, grandfather Grand Rapids. Jerry (Papa), brother and embraced opportuuncle. Jerry’s “uncle” nity at every turn duties extended Jerry Laevin Weiner in life. He had a beyond immedi50+ year legal career, was ate family to the countless an accomplished musician friends, clients and associ(trumpet and piano) and ates he touched during his singer, talented bowler (Big lifetime. So full of life, Jerry Ten bowling champion, rarely wasted a day. While MSU ’63) and avid tennis he is now so dearly missed, player. He took multiple his presence will endure in turns in local community the lives he impacted. theater and showed strong Mr. Weiner is survived support of various nonprofit by his soulmate and organizations. beloved wife of 57 years, Jerry had a tremendous Karen; son and daughtersense of humor and put in-law, Joel and Marcella great glee in leaving a room Weiner; daughter, Dori of people laughing following Weinstein; son and daugha story or witty comment. ter-in-law, A.J. and Kara He never shied away from Weiner; grandchildren, Abe a microphone and would Weiner, Noah Weiner, Max quickly volunteer if hosting Weinstein, Asa Weinstein, duties were needed, whether Jesse Weinstein, Charlie the audience was large or Weiner and Mollie Weiner. small.

He was the loving brother Jerry was there to help if of Irving (Fran) Weiner; the called upon by both famdevoted son of the late Jacob ily or friend, from near or Weiner and the late Mollie far. He relished listening (Laevin) Weiner. to someone’s immediate Interment was at challenge and extending his Beth El Memorial Park. advice on a path forward.

Contributions may be made He was dedicated to his to Temple Israel, 5725 clients’ needs and goals, Walnut Lake Road, West putting in whatever the Bloomfield, MI 48323, necessary time required to temple-israel.org/tributes; achieve success. or American Parkinson Jerry beamed with pride Disease Association, P.O. at the accomplishments of Box 61420, Staten Island, his seven grandchildren and NY 10306, apdaparkinson. would be there for religious org/1907d3l. Arrangements and school milestones,

by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

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EDWARD KARABENICK, of Long beach, Calif., died Jan. 3, 2021.

He was born in 1931 in Detroit, the c. 1966 youngest of five, to warm Jewish immigrant parents.

Edward attended Central High, earned a Ph.D. in geography from University of Michigan and was a professor at CSU, Long Beach for more than 40 years.

Mr. Karabenick was an adoring husband for 66 years, an outstanding father and always generous, thoughtful, supportive, funny, full of kindness, with an ever-present twinkle in his eye.

He will be missed greatly by all who knew him.

ANNETTE KUTTNAUER, 90, of Charlevoix, Mich., died March 21, 2021.

She is survived by her daughter and son-inlaw, Dr. Lynn S. Kuttnauer and Dr. Richard A. Lewis; son and daughter-in-law, Curtis D. and Sandi K. Kuttnauer; grandchildren, Briere Kuttnauer-Moore, Nicole E. Kuttnauer, Rachel and Ben Ketai, and Ben Lewis and Julie Wilner; great-grandchildren, Emet, Jonas, Link, Lex and Lock. She is also survived by her beloved dog and companion, Callie.

Mrs. Kuttnauer was the beloved wife of the late Calvin L. Kuttnauer.

Interment was at Beth El Memorial Park. Contributions may be made to Michigan Humane Society, Development Dept., 30300 Telegraph Road, Suite 220, Bingham Farms, MI 48025-4507, michiganhumane. org/tributes; the Pathfinder School, 11930 S. West Bay Shore Drive, Traverse City, MI

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49684, thepathfinderschool. org; or Susan G. Komen for the Cure, 200 Friberg Pkwy., #3020, Westborough, MA 01581, komen.org. Arrangements

by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

STANLEY LITINSKY, 93, of Bloomfield Hills, died March 19, 2021.

He is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law, Marjorie and Michael Mathews, and Michele and Michael Gardynik; grandchildren, Alexandra, Lauren and Meryl; brother-in-law, Dr. Seymour Ziegelman. He is also survived by his companion of the last 10 years, Doris Luria; and many loving nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.

Mr. Litinsky was the beloved husband of the late Shirley Litinsky; brother-n-law of the late Loretta Ziegelman and the late Erwin (late Isabel) Ziegelman.

Contributions may be made to Seedlings Braille Books for Children, Jewish Family Service or the Meer Quality of Life Fund at Jewish Senior Life.

Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.

ROBERT ARTHUR MANGEN, lovingly known as Trebor, 81, of Farmington Hills, passed away on Friday, March 19,

2021.

Bob was in the scrap metal business for 58 years. He was an artist who liked going to the casino and enjoyed kibitzing with friends over a meal.

He had friends of all ages, the gift of gab, a great sense of humor and gave great advice.

Bob and Elayne met at the Avalon show when they were teenagers. He was a loving, caring husband, father and grandfather.

Mr. Mangen is survived by

his wife of 58 years, Elayne Chase Mangen; daughters and sons-in-law, Jodi and Michael Goodwin, Michelle and Dwayne Mrdjenovic; he was the adored “papa” of Zoe Marlee Ellias. He is also survived by his brother-inlaw and sister-in-law, Dr. Sheldon and Hannah Chase; nephews and nieces, Alex and Amber Chase, Ken and Roz Fox, Rick and Ilana Fox, Erika and Steven Freeman; cousins, Judy and Richard Shapiro, Bruce and Gloria Garber, and their families.

He was the devoted son of the late Dorothy and the late Harry Mangen; brother of the late Larry Mangen.

There will be a celebration of his life at a later time, when family and friends can be together. Interment was at Hebrew Memorial Cemetery.

Contributions may be made to Cleveland Clinic Foundation c/o Cleveland Clinic Philanthropy Institute, P.O. Box 93517, Cleveland, OH 44193-1655.

BRIAN MARC MIGDAL, 57, of West Bloomfield, died March 25, 2021.

He was born on July 31, 1963, in Detroit to Gerald and Toby Migdalewicz.

Brian earned his doctor of chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic and his bachelor’s from Michigan State University. He was a flight attendant for Delta Airlines and enjoyed exploring the world.

Brian had a passion for pottery. He also loved the arts, good food and sharing his travels of the world by bringing home treats and stories for his loved ones. He was known for his quick wit, infectious smile and his kind and compassionate spirit.

Mr. Migdal is survived by his mother, Toby Migdalewicz; his siblings, Elyse and Corey Moskovitz, and David Migdal;

nieces and nephews, Leah, Aaron and Shayna Moskovitz, and Rachel, Becky, Danny, Kevin, Nolan and Sarah Kremer.

Brian was preceded in death by his father, Gerald Migdalewicz.

Interment was held at Adat Shalom Memorial Park Cemetery in Livonia.

Contributions may be made to JARC or to the Holocaust Memorial Center. Arrangements

by Dorfman Chapel.

RUSSELL MIRVIS, 90, of Farmington Hills, died March 24, 2021.

He is survived by his nieces and nephews, Glenn (Nancy) Hoffrichter, Bruce (Beverly) Hoffrichter, Lynne Cookson, Lawrence Mirvis, Ilene (Steve) Leff, Ronald Mirvis; many loving great-nieces and great-nephews, other family members and friends.

Mr. Mirvis was the last surviving sibling of seven brothers and sisters; he was the uncle of the late Neal Hoffrichter.

Interment was held at Beth El Memorial Park Cemetery in Livonia. Contributions may be made to the Southern Poverty Law Center or to the World Wildlife Fund. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.

DEBRA LYNN NESSEL, 64, of Walled Lake, died March 23, 2021.

She was the loving life partner of Jeffrey Lutz; cherished sister of Karen Katz and Mark Diem, and Michelle and Robert Shur; proud aunt of Ryan and Julie Katz, Robyn and Jordan Roberts, Matthew Shur, and Erica Shur; adoring great-aunt of Olivia Katz, Tyler Katz, Anne Roberts and Henry Roberts. She is also survived by her beloved cats, Boo Boo and Yogi.

Ms. Nessel was the devoted

daughter of the late Esther and the late Thomas Nessel.

Interment was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Jewish Hospice & Chaplaincy Network, 6555 W. Maple, West Bloomfield, MI 48322, jewishhospice.org; or Hospice of Michigan, 43097 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302, hom.org/donations.

Arrangements were by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

MARILYN ROWENS, 91, of Southfield, died March 24, 2021.

She is survived by her son and daughterin-law, Dr. Bradley (Dr. Julie Finn) Rowens; daughter, Tracey Rowens; granddaughter, Alissa Rowens; many other loving family members and friends Mrs. Rowens was the beloved wife of the late Jack Rowens; sister of the late Arvey Shier and the late Rochelle Cantz.

A private memorial service will be held Friday, April 9, 2021, at noon at the Birmingham Temple.

Contributions may be made to the Birmingham Temple or to the Society for Humanistic Judaism.

Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.

BARRY SINKOFF, 69, of North Las Vegas, Nev., died March 18, 2021.

He was born on April 23, 1951, in Detroit, the first of three children of Mollie and Aaron Sinkoff, descendants of refugees from the First World War. Barry attended Berklee College of Music, and his first job was selling musical instruments, beginning at Grinnell’s, later at Hohner and at Suzuki, bringing the joy of music into peoples’ lives, particularly children.

Later in life, Barry focused on archery and then on trap shooting. He was an expert marksman

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etroitUkraine. born When Stephen philanGrand sold the thropist and business in the early business titan 1980s, he “dedicated Stephen Grand, himself to using the possessed of a proceeds to advance caring nature, science,” said used his bounty Stephen Grand longtime friend Ed to make a difference in the Levy. That was an ambition world. befitting the University of A humble man who Michigan graduate who helmed two successful earned bachelor’s and companies, Mr. Grand, master’s degrees in science.

77, of Belvedere, Calif., In 1990, Mr. Grand’s succumbed to cancer on next chapter was becoming March 21, 2021. president and a partner in He and his dynamic wife, Grand/Sakwa Properties, Nancy J. Grand were a a major developer of “power couple,” said Robert residential and retail Aronson, former CEO of properties in Southeast the Jewish Federation of Michigan.

Metropolitan Detroit. They moved about 15 years ago to AIDED MANY CAUSES the San Francisco Bay area.

Succeeding in business “His generosity went made it possible for the far beyond others in our Grands to indulge their community,” Aronson generous inclination to fund said, mentioning that Mr. projects and institutions Grand matched and even throughout the United States surpassed million-dollarand Israel. The Grands also donations to Federation’s assisted with research into Annual Campaign from cancer and alternative and philanthropists with better renewable energy sources. name recognition. Tamarack They supported arts and Camps was another focus of culture, job training for the the Grands’ local giving. homeless and Jewish needs Mr. Grand first was worldwide. president of DecoCutting-edge biomedical Grand (formerly Grand research is conducted at the Machinery), a large Nancy and Stephen Grand manufacturer of precision Israel National Center of components and assemblies Personalized Medicine for diesel engines in the at Weizmann Institute of automotive industry. The Science in Rehovot, Israel. company’s founder was Other beneficiaries include his father, Sam Grand, an Multiple Myeloma Research engineer from Odessa, Foundation, headquartered LEGACY.COM

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in Connecticut, and Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, Israel.

Mr. Grand received a Technion Honorary Doctorate in 2010 for his “unwavering support” over four decades.

After Levy introduced his friend to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Mr. Grand became “an enthusiastic supporter of AIPAC and Israeli politics.”

Known for having a warm and genuine personality, Mr. Grand also enjoyed enduring friendships with Detroit communal leaders Larry Jackier and Stanley Frankel.

“Steve Grand is one of the finest people I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing,” said Alan S.

Schwartz, his friend since childhood. “I’ve been lucky enough to witness his nearly unrivaled generosity to the great medical and research institutions in Israel and to the Jewish people and was inspired by his commitment to the communities in which he and Nancy lived.”

Stephen Grand is survived by his wife, Nancy; her children, Russell Maddin and Lauren Gaver; her grandchildren, Alexis Maddin, Riley Maddin and Jack Gaver; sisters, Betsy Marcus and Diana Grand; sister-in-law, Susan Spilker; nieces, nephews and a world of friends.

A private family service was held. Contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

Stephen Grand The American Technion Society (ATS) mourns the loss of Stephen Grand.

Together with his beloved wife, Nancy, he was a Technion Guardian. Their decadeslong support includes the Grand Technion Energy Program and the Grand Water Research Institute. He was a member of the Technion Board of Governors, former member of the ATS Board of Directors, and 2010 recipient of a Technion Honorary Doctorate. We extend our sincere condolences to Nancy and the entire family.

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and even trained with the U.S. Olympic Trap Shooting Team.

More than anything else, Barry will be remembered as a loving and dedicated brother, brother-in-law, son, uncle and great uncle. He took joy in his family and will be sorely missed at future family gatherings.

Mr. Sinkoff is survived by his brother, Gordon Sinkoff (Elizabeth Harris Sinkoff) of Solana Beach, Calif.; sister, Brandy Sinco of Ann Arbor; nephews, Jason Sinkoff of Harrisonburg, Va., Adam Sinkoff (Natalie Sinkoff) of Del Mar, Calif.; great-niece, Eloise Sinkoff of Del Mar. He was the loving son of the late Mollie and the late Aaron Sinkoff.

Contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, 20450

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Civic Center Drive, Southfield, MI 48076; American Diabetes Association, 20700 Civic Center Drive, Suite 100, Southfield, MI 48076; Clark County Shooting Complex, 11357 N. Decatur Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89131.

A graveside service was held at Hebrew Memorial Park.

Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.

DR. EDWARD SPILKIN, recovering from cervical surgery at Sharp Memorial, San Diego, passed away on March 10, 2021.

Dr. Spilkin was born in Detroit and graduated from Central High School. He attended University of Michigan in Ann Arbor for his B.A. degree in History (1960) and then went on to U-M Medical School, training as an internist and a nephrologist.

He was a major in the Air Force and, after his medical training, he was stationed at

Edwards Air Force Base before moving to San Diego. Dr. Spilkin went on to join Grossmont Internal Medical Group and then Balboa Nephrology Group before retiring.

Ed enjoyed life, expressing his love for his family and the joy they brought into his life as “his greatest gift.”

Dr. Spilkin leaves his beloved wife of 44+ years, Vicki; his children, Alan (Monica), Stewart (Cheri), Bradley (Amy) and Bradford (Shulamit); his brother, Larry (Susann); sister, Margo (Ken); his beloved grandchildren, Ary, Nathaniel, Claire, Lia and Ella.

ELLEN STERN, 56, of West Bloomfield died March 18, 2021.

She is survived by her parents, Robert and Francine Stern; brother and sister-in-law, Ron and Marla Stern; niece and nephews, Emily, Jonah, Ethan and Noah; uncles and aunts,

Barry and Suzy Lakind, and Arnie and Susie Lekeyn. She is also survived by her devoted caregivers, Christine and Dionne.

Ms. Stern was the cherished granddaughter of the late Sol and the late Ethel Lakind, and the late David and the late Tena Stern; the loving niece of the late Donald Lakind.

Interment was at Machpelah Cemetery. Contributions may be made to New Gateways Inc., 5195 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford, MI 48327, newgateways.net; Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan, 7600 Grand River Ave., Suite 175, Brighton, MI 48114, michigan.wish. org; or Humane Society of Michigan, 30300 Telegraph Road, Suite 220, Bingham Farms, MI 48025, michiganhumane.org.

Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

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Perusing Matzah Pizza

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ccording to the Italian American Historical Society, the pizza is of Jewish origin and its true ancestor is the matzah ... unleavened bread eaten at Passover, this year March 27-April 4 ... Roman soldiers in about 200 B.C. decided to chop up the matzah with a dab of olive oil and some cheese ... Lo the pizza was born.

Danny The pizza went into Raskin decline when Rome fell, but Senior Columnist the custom of having public ovens in the town square kept it alive in Naples and Sicily.

Children always hovered about when the good wives came to bake their daily bread and were rewarded with a slab of pizza made from leftover dough.

Two different styles emerged ... The Sicilians made a crust several inches thick ... The Neapolitans likes it wafer thin.

The pizza fad got started in 1936 when a saloon owner asked a restaurant supply man to develop a small oven capable of generating the 600 degrees needed for pizza ... The first pizza sold like hot cakes in New York’s German neighborhood

because, he said, “the Italians don’t go much for eating out.”

The pizza still jumps ethnic and geographic barriers ... New York and Chicago are said to lead the field, but Boston, Miami and Los Angeles were breathing hot mozzarella fumes down their necks ... with Philadelphia and Detroit close behind.

Jewish neighborhoods were considered the best locations for pizza places, Irish and German came next, with the Italians far in the rear.

WES PIKULA who started as a dishwasher 46 years ago when Buddy’s Pizza was on 6 Mile, is today its chief brand officer ... and also has a small interest in Buddy’s Pizza, now owned by CapitalSpring.

MAIL DEPT. ... “Do you know what it was before becoming the London Chop House? My grandfather in California, Hiram Ackerman, used to tell me that he went to the London Chop House when it first opened and had great perch.” ...

Henry Ackerman.

(It was called Heed’s Chop House that Les Gruber bought around 1939 and opened as the London Chop House in

the Murphy Building on Congress ... His chef then was Eddie Dobler, the onetime “Perch King of America” who used to be at Breitmeyer’s Larned Grill.)

NO, THAT wasn’t Orson Welles at the Mayfield Chophouse on Griswold ... He was Joe Luft, its look-alike owner.

OLDIE BUT GOODIE ... A Jewish man took his Passover lunch to eat outside in the park ... He sat down on a bench and began eating ... Since he did not eat leavened bread during the eightday holiday, he was eating matzah, flat unleavened bread that has dozens of perforations.

A little while later, a blind man came by and sat next to him ... Feeling neighborly, the Jewish man passed a sheet of matzah to the blind man... The blind man handled the matzah for a few minutes, looked puzzled, and finally exclaimed, “Who wrote this junk?”

CONGRATS ... To Dr. Scott Sircus on his birthday ... To Sid Neuman on his birthday ...To Robert Seffinger on his birthday ... To Marilyn and Al Frommer on their anniversary.

Email Danny at: dannyraskin2132@gmail.com.

Keyes Real Estate

In memory of

Stephen (z” l) Grand Yad Ezra’s leadership has been honored and blessed to have Stephen (z” l) Grand as one of the organization’s early champions.

Over the past two dozen years, he and his wife, Nancy, have generously provided the funds needed to support Yad Ezra’s food insecure families. Their commitment has resulted in the distribution of hundreds of thousands of pounds of healthy and desirable groceries.

With our most sincere condolences to the Grand family, Yad Ezra’s Board of Directors and Staff

Throughout South Florida, Including Boca, Boynton, Delray, Broward and Miami-Dade Counties

Let Old Friends be your Michigan-Florida Connection Nina Spinner-Sands

Rita Morse

(954) 290-8293

(305) 609-7559

NinaSpinner-Sands@keyes.com RitaMorse@keyes.com

BUY • SELL • INVEST

Estate Property Sales from Listing to Clean-Out! APRIL 1 • 2021

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53

Looking Back

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

Wikipedia Turns 20

T

here is an anniversary this year, a birthday for a famous, everyday information resource. Wikipedia is 20 years old, and in the two decades since it was launched, it has become ubiquitous.

One would be hard-pressed to find any user of the internet who has not encountered Wikipedia. Indeed, any online search for background information usually generates a Wikipedia entry.

The development of Wikipedia stems from the idea of a “wiki,” or an online publication that is edited and managed by its own readers.

Mike Smith This is what differentiates Alene and Graham Landau Wikipedia from most other Archivist Chair online sources such as the Jewish Virtual Library, a site with internal editors, or online archives for prominent newspapers in the U.S. and Israel, which are static and database-driven. Wikipedia itself is a collaborative project that results in a continually growing and free compendium of knowledge.

I wondered if Wikipedia appeared in the JN. So, I searched the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History, another stellar online resource (not that I’m biased, mind you). As one might imagine, the most common reference to Wikipedia is when it is cited as a source for information.

In other cases, articles are accompanied by photos, such as images of Anne Frank, an IDF soldier wearing tefillin or the Beatles, that JN editors found on “Wikimedia Commons,” a branch of Wikipedia.

For another example, an article about online Passover by former Detroiter and archivist of Judaica at the National Library of Israel, Dr. Yoel Finkelman, in the March 29, 2018, issue of the JN, cited several Haggadahs that could be found on Wikipedia such as the Wolff, Bird’s Head or Copenhagen versions.

The usage of the title “Wikipedia” in JN articles is very interesting. It demonstrates

54

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APRIL 1 • 2021

that Wikipedia is indeed commonly known. In several reports, when referring to someone with great knowledge of a subject, that person is often cited as a “Walking Wikipedia.”

As wonderful a resource as Wikipedia might be, there are caveats to be taken seriously when using it. Although academic studies have shown the Wikipedia is nearly as reliable as the traditionally edited sources like the venerable Encyclopædia Britannica (est.

1768), discretion must be used when reading entries. Since it is user-edited, there can be abuses, especially when the subjects are controversial or involve politics, such as the topic of Israel.

Wikipedia is closely monitored, and a lot of bogus information is removed rather quickly. Nevertheless, false information can still work itself into Wikipedia entries.

For example, an article in the Sept. 7, 2006, issue of the JN, “The Lie that Won’t Die,” discussed the abundance of conspiracy theories after the terrorism on Sept. 11, 2001. In particular, the repeated attempts to inject antisemitic conspiracy theories into the Wikipedia entries related to 9-11.

There were also articles in the JN that mentioned Wikipedia when discussing how we cope with the digital age. In the “Evolution of Learning,” in the Sept. 20, 2002, JN, Daniel Rosenbaum addresses the impact upon educational issues. In “A Return to Simpler Times” in the Nov. 3, 2016, issue of the JN, Rabbi Jason Miller suggests we should pledge to “not run to Google and Wikipedia so quickly.”

So Happy Birthday, Wikipedia. But readers — proceed with caution!

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

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Todah Morim!

Thank you, teachers!

An appreciation of our day school educators during this pandemic.

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