DJN August 6, 2020 by The Detroit Jewish News

200 Aug. 6-12, 2020 / 16-22 Av 5780

SPECIAL REPORT:

The

Future of Shul How declining memberships and COVID-19 could change the way we worship.

See page 14

INSIDE Washtenaw County Starts JCRC, pg. 19 Jewish Studies at MSU, pg. 26 Guy Sternâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New Memoir, pg. 32

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contents Aug. 6-12, 2020/ 16-22 Av 5780 | VOLUME CLVII, ISSUE 27

26 Shabbat Lights

On the cover:

Shabbat starts: Friday, Aug. 7, 8:26 p.m. Shabbat ends: Saturday, Aug. 8, 9:29 p.m.*

Cover photo/credit: An empty sanctuary at Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield. Photo by Alexander Clegg/ Jewish News

Times according to Chabad calendar

Cover design: Kaitlyn Schoen

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Moments

5-12

Moments

Cover Story

The Future of the Synagogue

Spirit

14 How COVID-19 and declining membership could change the way we worship.

Torah portion

Jews in the D Washtenaw County Launches JCRC 19 Group will look to amplify Jewish voices throughout the county.

Arts&Life Invisible Ink: A Memoir 32 Guy Stern’s incredible life story.

Celeb Jews

FOGO: Fear Of Going Out

20 Three therapists advise on “coping” with more freedom.

Online Events 35

New State Caucus Aims To Fight Hate 22 Michigan legislators form Black and Jewish Unity Caucus.

Nosh A New Course Of Meal Kits 36

Jews in the Digital Age 24 Learning new tech can help us connect.

20 thejewishnews.com

Health Steady Sugar

Gabe Leland Confronts New Corruption Charges

37 Breakthrough app helps diabetes patients manage insulin at home.

25 Detroit’s only Jewish City Councilmember is charged with bribery and more.

Etc.

Finding My Jewish Identity At MSU

26 The Serling Institute and its minor allow students to explore their own paths.

Facebook @DetroitJewishNews Twitter @JewishNewsDet Instagram @detroitjewishnews

IfNotNow Protests At Federation Building

The Exchange Soul Raskin Looking Back

38 40 45 46

OUR JN MISSION: We aspire to communicate news and opinion that’s trusted, valued, engaging and distinctive. We strive to reflect diverse community viewpoints while also advocating positions that strengthen Jewish unity and continuity. As an independent, responsible, responsive community member, we actively engage with individuals and organizations dedicated to enhancing the quality of life, and Jewish life, in Southeast Michigan. AUGUST 6 • 2020

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Twins. Gardenhire for manager of the year? Just sayin’. In this asterisk of a season, the Tigers will not be playing Yankees, Red Sox or Orioles, oh my! As a matter of fact, to reduce exposure to COVID-19, they won’t be traveling or playing any American League team outside their own division. By the end of the season, you could be a Minnesota fan. Ten of Detroit’s last 27 games alone are against the Twins. For this abbreviated season, MLB has increased the number of eligible playoff teams from 10 to 16 of the combined 30 American and National League teams. They want to make as many clubs as possible feel like winners. Sort of like when players on your kid’s 0-10 soccer team get a participation trophy at the end of the season. Rumor has it

that major league baseball players’ moms will be handing out orange slices to their sons during the seventh inning stretch. Flicking through TV channels last week, I caught a ball game where the home team had put life-sized cut-outs of fans in the stadium. It was surreal. The commentator made a great observation when a foul ball was hit into the stands. He likened it to being at a fair. Knock down a cutout cardboard fan with a ball, win a prize! Then I discovered that Fox Sports is inserting virtual fans and sound effects into their telecasts using what’s called Pixatope software. The first thought I had was, wouldn’t it be great if, during a lopsided score in a game, virtual fans would leave? Apparently yes! Fox Sports production and operation chief Brad Ziegler recently told Variety magazine: “If it’s an 8-1 game, the crowd can be thinned out.” I have some additional suggestions: Send a strong message by showing virtual fans sitting socially distanced in the stands and all wearing masks. Make the games even more true to life by showing an obnoxious screaming virtual fan getting into an argument with an usher for not wearing one.

Give the virtual fans a welldeserved break by allowing them to buy a hot dog, popcorn and pop for under $100. Just for laughs, allow the Houston Astros to use virtual fans to steal signs. I’m not suggesting this, but I’m betting it won’t take long for some tech-savvy fan to hack into a game and create a virtual streaker running across the field. Finally, in the great movie A League of their Own, Tom Hanks, as manager, indignantly tells one of his female ballplayers that “there’s no crying in baseball.” Can you imagine his indignation if he were told there’s no spitting in baseball? MLB has banned spitting over concerns for coronavirus spread, which begs the question, will the sunflower seed industry be eligible for a government stimulus check? By the way, crotch grabbing when stepping into the batter’s box is still legal. This just in … MLB has agreed to allow telecasts to insert virtual sunflower seed spitting. Oh well, spitting is saliva and well. Play ball!

required, when the mother’s life is in danger. (Note: this can also mean mentally, but an Orthodox rabbi must be consulted.) The fetus is viewed as a human being, according to Judaism. Therefore, if the fetus is endangering the mother, it has the status of “rodef ” — one who is pursuing another with the intent of killing them. It is one thing to support abortion and pro-choice; it is another

thing to twist Judaism to align with your own agenda. I am sure this was meant out of sincere, but misplaced, determination for your cause. Next time, however, I request that if you quote “Jewish tradition” like that, you at least know the truth of the source. In addition, Cutler says that the NCJW is introducing an “Abortion and Jewish Values Toolkit”. Please do not confuse Orthodox Judaism with Reform

Judaism, of which much of the latter’s value system is the antithesis of Orthodox Judaism. Jewish values do not include abortion.

for openers

PIXABAY

Play Pandemic Ball!

aseball is back! Actually, 37% of baseball is back. The delayed start of the season has forced major league baseball (MLB) to concoct an abbreviated schedule reduced from the standard 162 games to 60. Baseball has been making efforts to speed up our national pastime, Al Muskovitz but who could have predicted a pandemic would speed up a season? As I’m writing this column on July 26, our beloved ball club is arguably the league’s biggest surprise. Fasten your seat belts: After three games we are 2-1, tied for first place in the American League Central division! At this time last year the Tigers were 32½ games behind the Minnesota

Alan Muskovitz is a writer, voice-over/ acting talent, speaker and emcee. Visit his website at laughwithbigal.com. Like Al on Facebook and reach him at amuskovitz@renmedia.us.

letters

Abortion and Jewish Values Amy Cutler’s column titled “The Fight For Reproductive Freedom” (July 23, pg. 8) was extremely disappointing. I was upset to see the way she twisted Judaism to fit her own views. She claims, “Jewish tradition views abortion as essential healthcare not only permitted but, in some cases, required when a life is at risk.” Abortion is only permitted, and at that point

— Ina Meyers

Gabi Grossbard I don’t live in Gabi Grossbard’s district, but if I did, he would have lost me at the second sentence of the interview (July 16, pg. 22). He repeats the false narrative that both parties are continued on page 6 AUGUST 6 • 2020

Views essay

LETTERS from page 5

Beating Each Other Up

running in separate directions. When experts studied the data as measured by the legislation actually passed, they found that both parties are moving to the right, but one on a slow drift and the other at breakneck speed. Grossbard says he’s a policy guy. If so, he’s in the wrong party. Republicans campaigned on “repeal and replace” for the ACA, but after seven years, they have been unable to propose any plan of their own other than defaulting back to the corporate feudalism of employer-provided insurance and only unaffordable options. After making replacement one of his key platform issues, an empty-handed Trump lamented, “Who knew it was so complicated?” Every Democrat knew. A few Republicans tried and failed after defecating on their best ideas, and they hid in shame and fear of the unaccountable king they anointed. Frankly, I can’t fathom why anyone would vote for someone who can’t give a definitive answer regarding voting against their party if they went against the interests of his constituents. The job is to represent his district, not surrender their proxy to the national party. And with reference to my charge above of the media’s aversion to taking sides in even the obvious issues, the Jewish News gave us an interview with marshmallow, not even softball, questions. I’m left with no idea what he defines as the political center, just his feelings about his position, and I thought being ruled by feelings was the liberal’s thing. The party of Trump is all or nothing with no survivable center. I’m sure many voters would like to know where this policy guy stands on separating families at the border, green cards or citizenship for the so-called Dreamers or immigration in general, a national response to COVID-19, taxes and progressive taxes, American leadership in the world and the various treaties Trump has abandoned, support of the WHO, women’s rights and many more critical issues of our time.

think it’s safe to say that we Jews are, well, maybe just a tad bit opinionated. We’re quick to speak our minds and certainly not shy to offer our criticism — of just about everything. But there is one area where our criticisms have been especially harsh: ourselves. We are brutal on ourselves. We debate, judge and criticize everything about fellow Mark Jacobs Jews — are they too pious, or not pious enough, too vocal, or not vocal enough, or too pro-Israel or not pro-Israel, etc. In the wake of the murder of George Floyd and the ensuing national discussion about racial injustice, Jews are taking a closer look in the mirror. Once again, we are beating each other up. Fellow Jews, it has been suggested, are either oblivious or insensitive to racial injustice or, worse, are outright racists. The far left, pro-BDS Jewish group, Jewish Voice for Peace, and others advanced the position that American police receive training from the Israeli police and, hence, Israel is partially to blame here (a claim that was debunked and yet the PLO and Palestinian Authority quickly jumped on it). So, the narrative that Israel (Jews) lurks behind this whole issue, not surprisingly, has surfaced. Excuse me, but I’m not jumping on any part of this bandwagon. Of course, there are some Jews who are racially insensitive, and of course

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white Jews enjoy a certain degree of privilege because of their whiteness. I accept that Jews cannot fully grasp what it is to be Black in America, just as no ethnic group can fully grasp what it means to walk in the shoes of another ethnic group. We each have our own visceral and exclusive connection to our ancestors. But let’s not lose perspective. There are 6 million Jews in America. Some of them are insensitive or worse. When it comes to the issue of racial justice, however, I believe the vast number of Jews are extraordinarily empathetic and supportive. That’s been the case for years, as there is a long history of Jewish support for civil rights and racial equality. We know all too well the pain of injustice, and our commitment to justice is, I would argue, a fundamental Jewish principle. Following the George Floyd killing, the Jewish response was swift and unequivocal. Major Jewish organizations immediately issued statements of condemnation. This spanned the full spectrum from liberal to conservative groups, and included all forms of Judaism, from Humanist to Orthodox. Diverse groups like the Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, the JCRC/AJC, the ADL, the Zionist Organization of America, Hadassah, Stand With Us, AIPAC, Zioness and many others were — and continue to be — vociferous on the issue of racial injustice. Our rabbis give sermons on racial justice and write, teach and attend protest marches. There’s a torrent of Jewish-

sponsored webinars, classes, op-ed pieces. The Jewish News, our community’s central news source, has been all over this issue, many times practically devoting entire issues to racial healing and education. So, I have no doubt that our community is deeply moved and committed to racial justice and demonstrating it with words and deeds. A local group I’m with, the Coalition for Black and Jewish Unity, has been relentless in organizing virtual events, writing articles, presenting seminars, pushing for antihate legislation, voter registration, criminal justice reform, and a host of other activities — and each time Jews gain more cultural knowledge and empathy toward the black community. Our commitment preceded the George Floyd case, just as with other Jewish groups. Yes, there’s more work to be done. There is always more work to be done. There are ignorant Jews that need to be educated, and I have no doubt fellow Jews will continue to do so. We are far from perfect, but when it comes to our community’s support and actions for racial justice, we can hold our heads high. That struggle is deep within our Jewish DNA. No need to beat ourselves up over this one. But as to other issues … Mark Jacobs is the AIPAC Michigan chair for African American Outreach, a co-director of the Coalition for Black and Jewish Unity, a board member of the Jewish Community Relations Council-AJC and the director of Jewish Family Service’s Legal Referral Committee.

— Dennis L. Green Farmington Hills

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Washington Should End Involvement in Yemen

ewish Americans, maybe more so than other Americans, have reason to pay close attention to U.S. foreign policy. Were it not for U.S. intervention in World War II, the Nazi genocide of European Jewry may have continued unabated. Without Ethan Kessler Washington’s assistance in the Yom Kippur War, Israel may not have been able to so soundly defeat its Arab neighbors, a precursor to its current regional security and continued occupation of the Palestinian territories. So, Jewish Americans should understand the folly of Washington’s ongoing support for the Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen. We should correspondingly demand from Washington an immediate end to U.S. involvement in the Yemen conflict. While the war in Yemen started in 2014 between the

separatists of the Houthi movement and the central government, it soon grew to include Iran (which backs the former) and Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (which back the latter). Ongoing aerial bombings and blockades have caused widespread maiming and starvation of millions of civilians — the U.N. has called Yemen “the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.” Since Saudi Arabia began aerial strikes in 2015, Washington has provided intelligence and, until 2018, in-flight refueling of Saudi bombers. That Washington is backing unhumanitarian regimes is not in itself wrong; the U.S. actively supported authoritarian regimes, from Turkey to Taiwan, throughout the Cold War because competition with the Soviet Union was preeminent. But to support such immoral actions as the Saudi bombing of Yemeni school buses and weddings for no strategic benefit is as appalling as it is senseless.

Washington should be focused on containing its main great-power rival, China, or addressing international issues such as nuclear proliferation, climate change and disease. Assisting Saudi Arabia (which, despite being a U.S. “strategic partner,” killed and dismembered a U.S. resident in 2018) in its faraway, unproductive expedition drains effort and taxpayer dollars from these more pressing problems. In addition to crowding out higher strategic priorities, the Yemen conflict actively impedes the desirable and long-sought extrication of the U.S. from the Middle East. Supporting Riyadh only makes Tehran more convinced that the U.S. is attempting to tip the scales of power in the region; it turn, Iran acts more aggressively. Thus, by providing essential support to Saudi operations in Yemen, the U.S. sowed the seeds for Iran’s alignment with the Houthis. Some warn that abandoning the Saudis will drive Riyadh to

simply turn to other patrons, eliminating U.S. leverage. But it does not appear U.S. arms sales to Riyadh have translated into any real leverage so far. Of course, the prospect of a Houthi-controlled Yemen may provoke fears of a terrorist haven similar to pre-9/11, Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. But this simple formulation ignores the countless other factors that enabled al-Qaeda’s rise, including Washington’s dual containment strategy and stationing of troops in Saudi Arabia. The supposed alternatives to U.S. involvement in Yemen — a more hostile Iran and a breeding ground for extremists — are in fact products of interventions like the current one. Ending involvement would thus further American security. Given how counterproductive U.S. involvement in Yemen has been, one may wonder how it has managed to persist. The answer can be found in the decline of institutional checks on misuse of power. Congress’s constitutionally-mandated continued on page 10

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It’s Time to Truly Face the Hatred of Henry Ford

ifteen years ago, my family spent a leisurely Sunday at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, perusing the incredible Americana available to enjoy and experience. As we took the time to sit in the Rosa Parks bus, which sits in Reuven the museum on Spolter permanent display, I noticed an African American family sitting near us. I turned to my wife and quipped, “If Henry Ford knew that a Jewish family was sitting together with an African American family in the Rosa Parks bus in the museum that carried his name, he would be rolling in his grave.” My wife responded with a bitter smirk as she recognized the accuracy of my painful joke. But in truth, it was and is painful, and it was not funny. Rather than try and sweep Henry Ford’s virulent racism and antisemitism under the rug, it is time to confront that history head-on. Henry Ford wasn’t just an incredibly successful entrepreneur and industrialist. He was a virulent racist and antisemite. He not only believed and spewed hateful rhetoric about Blacks and Jews; he bought a newspaper and over the course of several years promoted the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, blaming the Jews for a myriad of evils that they ostensibly perpetrated around the globe. As historian Hasia Diner explains, Ford was able to pro-

mote his hatred not only in Dearborn, but throughout every Ford dealership around the country. Due to his status and popularity, his antisemitism carried great influence across American culture. Moreover, Ford’s venom had chilling, deadly real-world consequences. Ford served as a role model to no less than Adolf Hitler, who mentioned Ford favorably in his Mein Kampf, kept a life-sized portrait of Ford in his office in Munich and considered Ford an “inspiration.” In 1938, as the Nazis were preparing to unleash their armies on Europe, which ultimately killed tens of millions of souls, the Nazi regime awarded Henry Ford with the Grand Cross of the German Eagle, the highest honor it could bestow upon a non-German. Testifying at the Nuremberg trials after World War II, convicted Hitler Youth leader Baldur von Schirach — who, in his role as military governor of Vienna, deported 65,000 Jews to camps in Poland — stated: “The decisive antisemitic book I was reading and the book that influenced my comrades was ... that book by Henry Ford, The International Jew. I read it and became antisemitic. The book made a great influence on myself and my friends because we saw in Henry Ford the representative of success and also the representative of a progressive social policy.” Moreover, Ford’s vocal hatred had a chilling effect on the millions of American Jews who undoubtedly felt threatened by

Ford’s hatred and did very little to lobby the U.S. government to stop the mass extinction of European Jewry at the hands of the Nazis. Professor Diner explained, “Their sense of what they could do was tempered by the knowledge of how pervasive antisemitism was in America. If somebody like Henry Ford, with such power and such wealth, could be such an outspoken antisemite … there’s really a limit to what we can do.” There’s no way to know how many Jews, Roma, gays and other civilians perished at the hands of the Nazi regime as a result of Henry Ford’s hatred. But a number in the tens of thousands — if not the hundreds of thousands — would be a conservative estimate. Even the Henry Ford Museum’s website seems to equivocate about Ford’s tarnished past. The page that acknowledges Ford’s antisemitism describes it as a “complex” story: “Seen within the context of the times, they demonstrate the sharp realities and tensions that emerge in societies undergoing profound cultural, economic and political change.” In other words, we have to view Henry Ford as a product of his time and understand the “sharp realities” that led to his hatred of Jews. No, we don’t. Not any longer. The global events of the last

month have prompted many around the world to reevaluate the veneration of historical figures who may have achieved great accomplishments, but whose legacy was tarnished by hatred and racism. Princeton University recently announced that it would remove the name of President Woodrow Wilson from its school of public policy and a residential college. Princeton stated that, “We have taken this extraordinary step because we believe that Wilson’s racist thinking and policies make him an inappropriate namesake for a school whose scholars, students and alumni must be firmly committed to combating the scourge of racism in all its forms.” I do not minimize the great contributions of the Ford family to the United States and its decades-long effort to distance itself from the hatred of the family patriarch. But today, good works are not enough. Henry Ford’s virulent hatred is too damning to allow us to overlook any longer. The Henry Ford Museum must take immediate action to: • Change the name of the museum to the Ford Museum, removing the name of its namesake. • Remove the statue that stands proudly today at the entrance to Greenfield Village. • Construct a permanent display at the museum cataloging Ford’s antisemitism and racism, bringing the truth of Ford’s history into the light of day. If modern society is indeed committed to combatting the scourge of racism in all forms, that commitment must apply to antisemitism as well. Telling the true, full history of Henry Ford will be an important first step. Reuven Spolter served as the rabbi of Young Israel of Oak Park until 2008. AUGUST 6 • 2020

Views essay

Guess What? Not All Jews are the Same

ike many regular readers of the Jewish News, I recently came across what later turned out to be a controversial interview with Rep. Rashida Tlaib published in this very newspaper. Not for a single moment did it Dana Regev cross my mind while reading it that the mere decision to interview her was — in and of its own — problematic, let alone “outrageous” or “shameful,” as some readers suggested. In fact, the more polarizing a topic is — I naively thought — the more important it is to put it on the table, examine it from all possible angles and let unpleasant opinions surface, rather than swipe them under the carpet. This is not to say that freedom of speech shouldn’t have its

limits. Yes, it’s a difficult task to determine where exactly those limits should pass, but allow me to not deteriorate into Godwin’s Law (which states that “as an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches”) by saying straightforwardly: Interviewing Rep. Tlaib falls well within acceptable boundaries.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but Tlaib is serving as the U.S. Representative for Michigan’s 13th Congressional district, which includes the western half of Detroit, along with several of its western suburbs. This means that she, as a politician, has a direct influence on the people living in those areas, among whom are some — you guessed it — Jews, even if they happen to

disagree with her. If you are rolling your eyes now, mumbling to yourself that I must be one of those “self-hating Jews,” allow me to add fuel to your fire. A brief glance at my CV will reveal an Israeli, secular, atheist, left-leaning Jew who willingly chose to relocate to Germany, which means your ready-topull Jew-O-Meter will show a terrible score when grading my Jewishness. Maybe you’ll immediately dismiss my claims. But wait a second, not so fast. I served in an IDF combat unit; volunteered for 1.5 years with Israel’s Shnat Sherut scouting program before my three-year military service; will serve in the army reserves until I’m 45; and was a member of a Zionist youth movement my entire childhood. That must give me some extra points. continued on page 12

YEMEN from page 8

power to declare war has been significantly eroded in the past century. Attempts to reverse this development, such as 1973 War Powers Resolution, have failed to prevent presidential misadventures in Yemen; last year, Congress for the first time fully invoked its powers under this law to roll back support for the Saudis, only to see President Donald Trump veto the measure. With such sparse congressional oversight, it is unsurprising how far America’s Yemen policy has blurred the line between corporate and national interests. Last summer, as part of my work with the Forum on the Arms

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Trade, I watched, first in the House and then the Senate, as members of Congress asked Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs R. Clarke Cooper why the State Department had overridden a legal congressional freeze on sales of laser-guided bombs (for use in Yemen) to Riyadh. It was known at the time that the State Department’s legislative affairs team was led by a former lobbyist from Raytheon, which manufactured much of the bombs sold in the arms deal. It was not at all clear from Cooper’s testimony what Americans gained from the sale of an additional $8.1 billion worth of munitions to

Saudi Arabia, but it was abundantly clear what Raytheon gained from the policy. We should not doubt the danger of America’s Yemen policy simply because it fails to benefit the country as a whole. Some Americans are benefitting handsomely from it. America’s Yemen policy should worry any astute observer of U.S. foreign policy. In addition to compounding the world’s worst ongoing humanitarian crisis, U.S. involvement in Yemen has sapped efforts to address more pressing foreign policy priorities. Far from alleviating concerns over a hostile Iran or terrorist havens, U.S. support

for the Saudi-led coalition has made these outcomes more likely. That such a senseless policy has persevered is unsurprising if we consider the unconstitutional distribution of power and perverse financial incentives at play. Tradition implores Jews to question authority. If American Jews are serious about their country’s behavior abroad, they should reject Washington’s foolish and immoral adventurism in Yemen.

Ethan Kessler is a recent graduate of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He is currently working on a political campaign in Michigan.

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Oh, actually, you know what, never mind. I avoid buying anything produced in settlements, vote for a party which includes Arab lawmakers and have some Palestinian friends with whom — believe it or not — I actually agree on many issues. Guess my Jew-O-Meter grade got lowered again. The point is clear: Much to many bigots’ surprise, it turns out that Jews are, after all, humans, and as such they also have different opinions… even — especially — when it comes to controversial issues, such as the mere existence of Israel, its relationship with the U.S., its settlement policy or the BDS movement, to name but a few. Walking among us are also Jews who seem to be, heaven forbid, socialists. Others are apparently capitalists — even Libertarian. Some support BDS, while others are fiercely against it; some live in settlements, others question their right to exist; some denounce Antifa, others are Antifa protesters themselves; some are proudly Zionist, others refer to themselves as anti-Zionists with the exact same pride. Such diversity! Who would have thought? Indeed, as such diverse individuals, it should come as no

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surprise that some Jewish readers saw the interview with Rep. Tlaib as a “shocking and appalling decision,” as they made sure to clarify in their letters to the editor (July 30, pg. 10). No doubt it is their absolute right to hold such opinion. Others were grateful, however, calling the discussion “necessary” and labeling Tlaib as a “righteous person.” It seems like Jews hold many varying opinions, as numerous as the stars of heaven and the sands on the seashore. You could almost conclude that each Jew is an individual with their own beliefs and values — a revolutionary concept our greatest haters would love to dismiss. Do not give them that pleasure. We are not one layer defined solely by our Judaism. I — and I believe you, too — would rather live in a world where both an article featuring a Muslim woman politician who doesn’t mince words criticizing Israel and the fierce reactions to that article can find a home in a Jewish media outlet, than in a world where neither is possible. Dana Regev is an Israeli-born journalist who reports on global affairs for Deutsche Welle and is an Israel correspondent for the Jewish News.

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Hebrew Free Loan Board member Brett deMarrais describes himself as marginally involved in the Jewish community until he was recruited to join the BeckerMarcus Mission to Israel. Brett says it was â&#x20AC;&#x153;totally life changing. It really got my Judaism going.â&#x20AC;? At a post-Mission overview of Federation agencies, HFL Executive Director David Contorerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s description of the agency captured Brettâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attention. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a partner in a venture capital group, so the aspect of the loan capital recycling and funding the needs of the Jewish community interested me right away,â&#x20AC;? Brett said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What took it from interesting to fascinating was the idea that you see the impact of HFL for yourself. Usually, when you donate or you serve on a Board, you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see the people on the other end of the donation, you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t meet the beneďŹ ciaries of your gala dinner ticket, and you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know how much good youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing. The directness of HFL made me want to be part of it.â&#x20AC;? Brett spoke with current Board members, met with David Contorer, volunteered to be a small business mentor, and put himself in line for a Board vacancy because he felt HFL was his place. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never done anything more meaningful,â&#x20AC;? Brett said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have a deep sense of gratitude in my own life for what I have, and how I can use that to do good for others.â&#x20AC;? Brett said the agencyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission moved him so much that he and his wife established two funds, the Ellen deMarrais Memorial Education Fund, and the Marilyn Berman Memorial Fund, in honor of their late mothers. They also discovered his in-lawsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; family connection to HFL founding member Jacob Lasky. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I guess that means it was meant to be that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m part of such an amazing program,â&#x20AC;? Brett said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I can see a lot of good outcomes here. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very powerful.â&#x20AC;?

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Jews in the D cover story

The Future of the Synagogue Will the pandemic and other challenges change the way we worship communally?

ocal synagogue buildings are mainly empty, due to COVID19, but their congregations are far from dormant. When the Michigan Board of Rabbis decided on March 12, 2020 to close synagogue buildings due to the risk of infection from the coronavirus, they acted in advance of Michigan’s March 23 stayat-home order that prohibited public gatherings. While houses of worship were exempt from state penalties, local synagogues wanted to be cautious. “We saved scores, maybe hundreds, of lives in this community because we closed down,” said Rabbi Paul Yedwab of Temple Israel in West Bloomfield. While their buildings were shuttered, many synagogues made a quick transition to online Shabbat services, seders, classes and other programs. These Zoom Rabbi Paul and other online offerings have attracted thousands Yedwab of Jewish congregants. While Orthodox shuls do not use Zoom on Shabbat or holidays, some Orthodox synagogues, such as the Sara and Morris Tugman Chabad Torah Center of West Bloomfield, offer pre-Shabbat and other religious education programs online. “Synagogues were not just putting things online. They made calls and sent emails and cards to members. It wasn’t easy. It has taken a huge effort on the part of rabbis, cantors and teachers,” said

DETROIT JEWISH POPULATION STUDY INDICATED DECLINING SYNAGOGUE MEMBERSHIP The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit’s 2018 population study included synagogue membership data for four streams of Judaism as well as 18 local tem-

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AUGUST 6 • 2020

Dr. Ron Wolfson, Fingerhut Professor of Education at American Jewish University in Los Angeles. He is co-founder of Synagogue 3000, a nonprofit that trains Jewish leaders, and author of a handbook for Jewish congregations. (See sidebar.) While some congregations have live-streamed Shabbat services for several years, many had no online experience. Converting all programming to online platforms brought new challenges and opportunities. Dr. Ron “The impossibility of singing together in real time is Wolfson a downer for all of us, but we’ve found some creative solutions to allow other modes of interactivity — like having input from congregants via the chat, using breakout rooms for discussion and schmoozing and more,” said Jake Ehrlich, community engagement associate at Congregation T’chiyah, a Reconstructionist synagogue based in Oak Park. Jake Ehrlich Several congregations, such as Shaarey Zedek in Southfield, report higher levels of participation through Zoom than for in-person services. Rabbi Yedwab describes Temple Israel members’ online engagement as “very robust,” including 20,000 individuals participating in an online seder. Synagogue observers cite several possible reasons for this — the convenience of online participation, the increased availability of

ples and synagogues. Membership grew overall only for Orthodox synagogues. From 2005-2018, Orthodox synagogue membership increased 16 percent to 1,900 households. Membership in Conservative synagogues decreased 19 percent from 4,400 households to 3,500 households.

Membership in Reconstructionist synagogues remained approximately the same from 2005 to 2018 — about 60 households. Membership in local Reform congregations declined 13 percent from 7,250 households in 2005 to 6,300 households in 2018. Among the 18 local congregations

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HIGH HOLIDAYS LOOM For months, local congregations have discussed how and when to reopen their facilities. “We consider the governor’s orders and changing science. We’ve gone very cautious,” said Rabbi Bergman. Local churches have also struggled with reopening. Churches in some parts of the country have reopened with few requirements for social distancing and other health precautions, leading to COVID outbreaks. The Michigan Board of Rabbis issued a “Proposal for Re-opening Simchahs” on June 9. This permits small gatherings beginning in August for private, in-person weddings, baby naming ceremonies and b’nei mitzvah at synagogues, but preferably outdoors, with very strict attendance limits and health rules. The Council of Orthodox Rabbis of Greater Detroit has issued stringent guidelines for re-opening synagogues, but allows considerable discretion on the part of individual rabbis and congregations, depending on the demographics of their membership and the nature of their facilities. Some Orthodox synagogues have been holding small minyanim and services in their buildings with pre-registration and other requirements. Young Israel of Southfield has had two hybrid services daily and on Shabbat since mid-June. The hazzan stands in the doorway between the social hall and the adjacent patio, which enables worshipers to choose whether to pray indoors or outside, explains Rabbi Yechiel Morris. “Not everyone is coming back but it’s working pretty well,” he said. A number of other congregations, including Beth Shalom, Shaarey Zedek and Shir Tikvah, have been holding socially distanced outdoor services. Families are seated together at a designated distance

Worshippers at a socially distanced Shabbat service in the parking lot of Congregation Beth Shalom in Oak Park. Middle/bottom: Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield conducts its own masks-on Shabbat service.

ALEXANDER CLEGG/JEWISH NEWS

time due to Michigan’s stay-at-home order and the search for comfort during a difficult time. “The pandemic emphasizes the need to be part of a community,” said Rabbi Aaron Bergman of Congregation Adat Shalom, who chaired the Michigan Board of Rabbis during the early months of the pandemic. However, online programming doesn’t fulfill all Rabbi Aaron needs. “Zooms don’t accomplish the same thing as a Bergman beit knesset — a gathering place,” said Rabbi Schneur Silberberg, community outreach director of the Chabad Torah Center. Dana Patchak, a West Bloomfield resident who is a longtime member and former board member of a local Reform temple, describes Zoom services as “so one-dimensional and flat. It makes me sad for the rabbi. The Rabbi whole feeling of community is sitting in a sanctuary Schneur together. It’s a very scary time for people and they need Silberberg to be together.”

from others. The Chabad Torah Center of West Bloomfield has been holding services using two tents and a sukkah adjacent to their building. Rabbi Silberberg says that there is plenty of space in their parking lot and some individuals choose to sit farther away. However, he says that a “significant percentage has chosen not to return.” At all congregational events, the traditional practices of passing around of the Torah and handing out or sharing prayer books are suspended. Social distancing and masks are required. The High Holidays pose an immense challenge — a reluctance to give up traditional services that are so important to the community but a recognition that the coronavirus continues to be a serious threat, especially for full-scale, indoor gatherings. continued i d on page 16

(Reform, Conservative and Orthodox) included in the survey data, six gained members during this 13-year time span, although increases were small for two congregations. In addition, one new synagogue was established. Membership declined at 11 congregations included in the study. (Some congregations have added members since 2018.)

“The impossibility of singing together in real time is a downer for all of us, but we’ve found some creative solutions.” — JAKE EHRLICH AUGUST 6 • 2020

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Jews in the D cover story continued from page 15

COURTESY OF TEMPLE BETH EL

DR. RON WOLFSON: TEMPLES AND SYNAGOGUES NEED TO “DEEPEN ENGAGEMENT” Prior to the COVID pandemic, Dr. Ron Wolfson, Fingerhut Professor of Education at American Jewish University, said that many synagogues and temples were challenged by flat or declining membership. He is co-founder of Synagogue 3000, a nonprofit organization providing leadership training to enhance synagogues, and author of Relational Judaism — Using the Power of Relationships to Transform the Jewish Community, which he describes as a handbook for Jewish congregations. Dr. Wolfson cites multiple reasons for congregational “retention and recruitment issues.” Typically, families join temples or synagogues when their children are ready for school, but today’s young Jews are marrying at a later age, delaying their potential interest in membership. Also, the millennial generation (for Christians and Jews) is somewhat resistant to affiliations — for religious participation and other aspects of life. Dr. Wolfson believes that congregations must shift from a “transactional/ programmatic focus to a relational model” in order to maintain and increase membership. He cites a failure to “engage adults with clergy, educators, staff and other friends.” Wolfson tells of a temple member who said, “I came to everything and met nobody.” A temple program has to connect people to each other or it’s not a sacred community, he said. These connections can be achieved through religious commitment, social justice activities or friendships. Other tactics include the creation of multiple small groups within a congregation, which is common to mega-churches. Such groups can have a distinct brand and identity. “They provide opportunities to engage a younger generation with no expectation that they become members,” Wolfson said. He also views preschools as supportive of “relational Judaism.” “Preschools are a natural feeder into the life of the congregations. A relationship is being built with adults, including grandparents, and they create a group of kids,” he said.

The Michigan Board of Rabbis approved a policy on July 20 stating that High Holiday services will be online only. According to their statement, this decision is based on a commitment to the Jewish values of pikuah nefesh, “safeguarding life,” and sakanat nefeshot, the prohibition of “endangering life,” as well as a “preponderance of the best scientific and medical advice that we have.” At Young Israel of Southfield, a survey has been sent to members to assess their preferences for the High Holidays. “There is no question that the High Holidays will feel different this year. But whether ‘different’ is good or bad will depend largely, like always, on the intentionality and soulfulness by which one approaches the experience rather than whether the experience is online Rabbi Aaron or in-person,” comments Rabbi Starr Aaron Starr of Congregation Shaarey Zedek. The Conservative Rabbinical Assembly has developed detailed guidelines and legal forms with representatives of other Jewish streams; these are available at cjhighholidays.com/reopening. WILL MEMBERSHIP DECLINE? COVID-19 is also affecting synagogue finances. Revenue from scheduled synagogue events, now canceled, has been lost. In addition, fundraising events have been canceled, although some congregations, such as Young Israel of Oak Park (YIOP) and Young Israel of Southfield, will hold virtual versions of their annual dinners. YIOP’s fundraiser will include a kosher meal, home-delivered, and a virtual comedy show. Membership revenues also may be affected as some individuals question whether dues make sense when on-site services and programs have been curtailed or eliminated. At Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Township, Rabbi Mark Miller said that only a few individuals have raised that issue so far. The temple is a service organization and personnel costs are the biggest part of its budget, he explained, and most people understand that. However, Rabbi Yedwab said that “all

RIVARD STREET Temple Beth El was the first Jewish congregation in Michigan, formed in 1850. After meeting in a home and then a rented space, the congregation purchased this property on Rivard Street in Detroit, which served as its synagogue building from 1861-1867.

congregations are expecting some drop-off because of the economic recession.” ALREADY CHALLENGED While the pandemic has created major new challenges for synagogues, membership trends had been flat or declining for some years. (See sidebar about the Detroit Population Study.) There has been a continuing decline in religious identification among American Protestants, Catholics and Jews, as reported by the Pew Research Center, which regularly conducts surveys about religious attitudes. This disaffiliation is strongest among younger people. There have been new efforts locally and nationally to reach the Jewish community, especially younger people who don’t find synagogue membership particularly appealing, as well as initiatives to engage and retain existing synagogue members. Several years ago, Temple Israel began The Well, an outreach effort for younger Jewish individuals and families that focuses on Shabbat and holiday celebrations, education and social programs, all held in various locations outside the temple. The goal is to develop connections and strengthen Jewish identity and knowledge, which may eventually lead to affiliation with a synagogue. A new director, Rabbi Jeff Stombaugh, joined The Well this summer. In recent years, unrelated to COVID, some Reform and Conservative congregations across the country have been attempting to retain members through small special interest groups. This concept isn’t completely new — there was a chavurah movement years ago and most synagogues have brotherhood and sisterhood groups. However, the current initiative is somewhat different. “People have always had naturally occurring small groups continued on page 18

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AUGUST 6 • 2020

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Jews in the D cover story continued from page 16

but relationships were secondary,â&#x20AC;? explains Rabbi Nicole Auerbach, who is in charge of congregational engagement and small groups at the Central Synagogue in New York. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A synagogue is not a building or a set of programs. We Rabbi Nicole want to make sure Auerbach that everyone feels seen and recognized and has a sense of connection,â&#x20AC;? she said. The congregation has a group for dads with young children, a Jewish cookbook group, a group interested in photography and another focused on social justice. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What is powerful is that people build really deep relationships â&#x20AC;&#x201D; people who are there for them,â&#x20AC;? Rabbi Auerbach said, adding that the goal is for congregants to be co-owners and

co-creators of their community and to feel their Judaism without a rabbi in the room. While groups may be activity-based, discussion groups have â&#x20AC;&#x153;explicitly Jewish content,â&#x20AC;? she said. Group leaders receive training and may later use those skills for other synagogue roles. Locally, prior to the pandemic, Congregation Tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;chiyah was developing a different small group model â&#x20AC;&#x201D; based on groups of individuals who live close to one another with designated point people for check-in and to facilitate connections. These groups are providing lay-led social support and mutual aid, as well as connection, to counteract isolation during this pandemic, Ehrlich explains. A NEW APPRECIATION While synagogues are closed

now, rabbis are encouraged by their congregantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; continued involvement. They believe that synagogues will survive, although perhaps with significant changes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People are now realizing how important synagogues are in their lives. All have been engaging their congregations with new modalities for prayer, education and connection,â&#x20AC;? said Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal, executive director of the Rabbinical Assembly and United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think that a significant impact that this crisis will have on synagogue life will be one of decentralization: synagogues will need to see themselves as facilitators of home-, communityand online-based Judaism, rather than a physical â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;one-stop shopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for Jewish life,â&#x20AC;? Ehrlich said.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Synagogues will be needed more than ever. We want community. We want support. We want validation,â&#x20AC;? said Rabbi Bergman. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is a craving for connection and community. There will be surface changes through technology.â&#x20AC;? He anticipates continued use of Zoom and online programming, social distancing and some form of hybrid services â&#x20AC;&#x153;at least for the next few years, due to the health and age of so many people, until there is a vaccine that works.â&#x20AC;?

YOUR VOICE What can synagogues do to grow their members? Do Jews need shul to stay connected? Let us know at letters@renmedia.us

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AUGUST 6 â&#x20AC;˘ 2020

CONVERSATIONS WITH 7 GRAPHIC RECORDING BY YEN AZZARO

Jews in the D

Washtenaw County Launches JCRC Group will look to amplify Jewish voices throughout the county. CORRIE COLF STAFF WRITER

ashtenaw County now has its own full-fledged local Jewish Community Relations Council, courtesy of the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor. When the Federation welcomed their new executive director Eileen Freed in 2017, they began to explore a JCRC to facilitate relations internally and externally with the community. The beginning phases started by convening a small working group of around 10 people to lay out a mission and a vision. The group also took notes from other JCRCs around the country that resembled the Washtenaw/Ann Arbor community. Now, what used to be a “work group” has developed into a full-fledged local JCRC, with guiding principles and a biweekly newsletter. After studying other JCRCs, Federation realized that they needed to be engaging with members of their community on what they believe their JCRC should look like. So this past year, they began the “Conversations with Seven” series: community-building events with individuals in Washtenaw County. Some participants were affiliated with Federation, and some were not. “We had conversations with seven people who may not know each other and asked them questions on what it means to be a Jew today in Washtenaw County,” Jessica “Decky” Alexander, chair of the JCRC, told the JN. “We also asked them a lot of ques-

Graphic recordings from the JCRC's event, Conversations with 7.

tions on identity, culture and belonging. i As a result of that, we were able to lay out guiding principles and a framework that has allowed the JCRC to realize our potential.” The JCRC’s main focus is on “fostering and building relations both within the Jewish community and beyond with other cultural, civic and ethnic groups and organizations, such as the NAACP, United Way, other religious organizations and more.” Recently, the council held a virtual candidate forum for Washtenaw County Prosecutor with Temple Beth Emeth’s Social Action Committee and Bend the Arc-Ann Arbor. Over 190 community members joined the Zoom conversation with the candidates. The JCRC is also working with Rep. Debbie Dingell’s office on convening a series of roundtables for local faith leaders. “Our JCRC is focused on issues affecting the local community, such as educational funding, race relations, policing and bias and racial/ethnic profiling,” Alexander said. “We aim to remain flexible though, so we can respond to pressing or relevant topics as they may arise. Currently, we are focused on the upcoming election and are working with other organizations around voter registration and engagement.” Alexander was brought in by Federation to serve as the JCRC’s chair. Previously, she worked in partnership with Federation on local and social issues in Washtenaw County, involving educational equity and conversations around policing and bias. In addition to now leading the JCRC, she is also a tenured professor at Eastern Michigan University and sits on the faculty advisory

board b d in i the th school’s h l’ C Center t for f Jewish J ih Studies. “For someone who lived in this area for a long time but wasn’t necessarily part of any kind of more formal or intentional Jewish entity, I recognized that there was a space and a need to do more broad internal relations among our Jewish community, as well as external relations,” Alexander said. Washtenaw’s JCRC is not formally affiliated with the Metro Detroit JCRC/AJC, but the two organizations have a working relationship. Most recently, they participated on a call together with the NAACP to discuss a voter initiative. “Our community is much smaller than Oakland County. Many Jewish individuals who arrive and root (even temporarily) in Washtenaw County are from other places and bring their own understanding, experiences and backgrounds of what it means to be Jewish,” Alexander said. “As a result, we are exposed to a diversity of ideas and experiences, which we hope to harness and validate in and through JCRC programming.” Moving forward, Alexander said the JCRC hopes to be a “collaborator, a convener and a connector” for the Washtenaw community, as well as “be more intentional about making our Jewish voices heard on local issues.” She wants to ensure that the Jewish voices in the community are heard, so she began the biweekly newsletter to ignite the JCRC’s guiding principles and bridge the community to both local and national issues. For information, visit jewishannarbor.org/engagement/jewish-community-relations-committee.

AUGUST 6 • 2020

| 19

Jews in the D

FOGO —

the Fear of Going Out With stay-at-home restrictions lifting, three therapists advise on ‘coping’ with more freedom. ELIZABETH KATZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

ichigan has gone from being a state with some of the largest numbers of coronavirus cases to a state that officials have said is on track to contain the virus. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has slowly begun to reopen the state, although she has indicated in recent weeks that she may reverse course as more COVID-19 cases are detected. While some people regard these gains in liberty as positive, others have coped and continue to cope with great anxiety and fear about going out into a world where the coronavirus still poses a threat. Lori Kanat Edelson, LMSW, ACSW, a psychotherapist and owner of the Birmingham Maple Clinic in Troy, said she has seen about 60 to 65 percent of her clientele express anxiety over the fear of leaving what has essentially been an at-home lockdown. She said her clients felt shocked to go into a “bubble” but within a month seemed to become comfortable living within that bubble. “Now … they are looking at all kinds of opportunities to emerge into the larger world. Knowing they have no control of how other people behave or take precautions scares them,” Edelson said. “Once you introduce options (of going out), then you start facing the fact that people have different reactions and philosophies of going out.” Catherine Frank, M.D., chair of psychiatry and behavioral health services at Henry Ford Health System, said she and her mental health colleagues have counseled many people who are “very, very anxious.” “Anxious as in fearful and anxious as in excited,” she

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AUGUST 6 • 2020

said. She qualifies this by saying that it’s normal to feel this way in such a tumultuous time. “It’s important to realize anxiety doesn’t equal pathology,” she said. “These are anxiety-provoking times. There’s a whole continuum when it comes to anxiety.” Nicole Pollack, MSW, CSW, a therapist with Beaumont Children’s Center, works with kids as young as 5 up through adolescents in high school. She said she has been unable to conduct her in-person group sessions with her young clients, but is staying in touch with them virtually. Although many of her kids don’t or can’t articulate exactly what they feel, she works with them to get in touch with how they are coping with the unknown.

“Don’t focus on the unknown but focus on what you can control.” — NICOLE POLLACK “I work with a lot of my patients on self-awareness and self-care,” she said. “That helps to navigate these uncertain times.” Pollack has listened to kids about the struggles they have faced while being at home and how hard home schooling has been on them and their parents. She said she knows that “a lot” of her young clientele were already socially isolated before the pandemic hit. She encourages them to talk about their feelings. “We talk a lot about negative thought

replacement,” she said. “I tell them, don’t focus on the unknown but focus on what you can control.” All three therapists say there have been good things to come out of the last four months of the stay-at-home order, namely the fact that people have been forced to take a break from the daily grind, focus on family and pursue their own interests. “Some people have actually appreciated the opportunity to slow down, get back to basics and spend time with their families or (spend time) alone and do things they like to do,” Edelson said. “Hopefully, people will learn to appreciate there are some very basic pleasures and basic relationships that are very important. Staying busy and distracted and having an overfilled social calendar is not as desirable as we thought they were.” Pollack encourages her young patients and their parents to take advantage of the summer weather to get out and spend more time in nature. “How many walks and bike rides do we take where we say afterwards, ‘That didn’t make me feel good?’” she said. “It’s important to get out, but to do it safely.” Edelson advises people to respect their own feelings about where they go out now that restrictions are lifting. “Listen to your heart and listen to what your common sense is telling you,” she said. “You have to find your own compass. While you may have to push yourself a little, you push yourself. You re-engage at a pace that is comfortable for you.” Frank said that people need to educate themselves about the coronavirus and use their best judgment in what freedoms they take advantage of. “Social distancing, I think, is an unfortunate choice of words,” she said. She prefers the term “physical distancing.” “We don’t want people to social distance and lose touch with their families and friends,” she said. “Make informed decisions about where you should go or don’t go. There isn’t any evidence that everyone should stay at home and not do anything. It’s about the protection you use, the masks and the hand hygiene. Those are really important.” The state of Michigan has established an online mental health portal called ‘Stay Well,” which lists a variety of resources for those coping with the emotional difficulties of staying safe during the pandemic. Visit Michigan.gov/StayWell.

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jews and racial justice

New State Caucus Aims To Fight Hate

Michigan legislators form Black and Jewish Unity Caucus. CORRIE COLF STAFF WRITER

COURTESY OF MICHIGAN SENATE DEMOCRATS

n July 24, members of the Michigan Legislature announced the formation of the Black and Jewish Unity Caucus at the Michigan State Capitol. The group was spearheaded by Jewish state Sen. Jeremy Moss, Jewish state Rep. Robert Wittenberg, state Sen. Marshall Bullock and state Rep. Sherry Gay-Dagnogo. The group has partnered with the Coalition for Black and Jewish Unity, an initiative of the JCRC/AJC and the Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit and Vicinity. It will serve as the coalition’s “legislative arm,” according to Moss and Wittenberg. “This group came about after Senator Jeremy Moss

22 |

AUGUST 6 • 2020

a conversation I had with the Coalition,” Moss said. “They were looking for a legislative arm to not only talk about what is needed, but actually implement those things into law to help combat hatred in Michigan.” After the conversation, Moss reached out to Wittenberg and then to Bullock, chairman of the Black Caucus in the state legislature, and Gay-Dagnogo, chairwoman of the Detroit Caucus in the legislature, during the height of the recent Black Lives Matter protests in June. Immediately, all of them were on board. But Moss said a key moment for the caucus actually occurred earlier. “The most defining moment in Michigan was April 30, the protest at the capitol where Nazi imagery and Confederate flags were displayed side-by-side,” Moss said. “This was the time to come together as two targeted communities to support one another and team up and build on our efforts to combat the type of rhetoric that leads to hateful actions.”

The caucus hopes to bring more representatives into the group, elect leadership and begin focusing on legislation they want to prioritize. Moss already has two different proposals in mind. “Representative Kyra Harris Bolden out of Southfield has a bill to ban Nazi imagery, the swastika and the Confederate flag from the Capitol grounds,” Moss said. “Senator Sylvia Santana has been very forceful in taking on the Confederate flag because one of our colleagues wore a Confederate flag mask on the Senate floor. So, I would envision that these would be among our first priorities, so we can really display to people who aren’t targeted by those images why they’re so damaging and why they’re so hateful.” Wittenberg hopes that the partnership with the Coalition for Black and Jewish Unity will “bring a lot of community engagement and education so that this is more than just a legislative caucus.” “Education is also really important. There is a lot of peo-

ple who may not understand the issue,” Wittenberg said. “But we really want to get a lot of people in this movement. We want people to speak out when they hear and see things that are blatantly racist and antisemitic.” The caucus will also serve as the state equivalent to the national Congressional Caucus for Black and Jewish Relations, which is co-chaired by U.S. Rep. Brenda Lawrence of Southfield. Moss believes that Lawrence’s work is important on the national level, but that Michigan needs a narrow focus to take on hate in the local community. “We can’t relax and think that COURTESY OF MICHIGAN HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Senator Marshall Bullock

COURTESY OF MICHIGAN SENATE DEMOCRATS

Rep. Robert Wittenberg

COURTESY OF MICHIGAN HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Jewss in tthee D Je

Rep. Sherry Gay-Dagnogo

these types of things happen in history textbooks. They’re happening right now,” Moss said. “The rhetoric is really heated against both of our communities and some people are turning that rhetoric into targeted action against us. It really calls on all of us to band together and to ensure that we are doing everything we can to stop the embers before they flame.”

COURTESY OF MICHIGAN HOUSE DEMOCRATS

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| 23

Jews in the D jews in the digital age

Learning New Tech Can Help Us Connect

OVID-19 has affected people’s lives in tragic ways. The pandemic has also caused us to adjust to new realities like our kids being home from school for the final few months of the school Rabbi Jason year. There have Miller been countless events canceled, including vacations, summer camp, concerts, fundraisers and sporting events. Our children have been disappointed because of commencements and graduation parties that could not take place. However, there are “silver linings.” One of the unintended consequences of working at home for the past few months, in addition to increased family bonding time, has been an increased reliance on technology to stay connected. For many in our local community, that has been a positive, allowing them to learn new skills and become more comfortable with virtual work technology. Some business owners have even questioned why they should continue to pay rent for their office if they can be just as efficient working from home. “I saw firsthand how video conferencing technology like Google Meet was beneficial in

24 |

AUGUST 6 • 2020

enhancing the learning process,” said David Hack of Farmington Hills, whose son recently graduated from Hillel Day School. “Watching my son use Google Meet and Zoom to have virtual interaction with his teachers prompted me to look into using Zoom to meet with my clients in my dental scrap business. When dental offices were closed at the end of March, I was able to connect with my clients and not miss any planned sales meetings. I’ve learned a lot lately about new ways of having meetings.” For Jeff Dwoskin, a local standup comic from West Bloomfield, technology tools like social media and video conferencing have long been part of his communications arsenal. However, he learned new ways of utilizing mobile apps to shop for his family’s groceries. “Our family went all-in on Instacart. At the beginning of the governor’s ‘Stay At Home’ order, it was near impossible to get a time on Instacart, but I became an expert on figuring out the timing of placing our shopping orders online. We literally didn’t go anywhere for months and Instacart was our lifeline.” Dwoskin also used the time away from his office to launch his own podcast. Risha Ring, president of the

Jewish Historical Society of Michigan, said she has been grateful that the pandemic has forced her to push the organization to begin using technology like Zoom. “All of JHSM programming and our meetings (locally and throughout the state) are now on Zoom. That technology has saved our organization. In fact, now people from as far away as Iron Mountain and the Soo [Sault St. Marie], plus the whole west coast of the state, are now our partners in sharing Michigan’s Jewish history. That couldn’t have happened without our quick embrace of video conferencing.” At Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills, the entire catalog of programming and prayer services has become virtually accessible through Zoom. The congregation’s communications director, Susie Steinberg, explained that her unplanned move home from the synagogue office came with many challenges, but it has also expedited her dependence on the internet to do her job. “I was thrown in headfirst to master new skills to effectively do the job at hand, which was to communicate virtually,” Steinberg said. “I learned how to fearlessly (and I started with great trepidation) use AnyDesk to remotely connect to my

office computer, how to multitask with only one computer screen and, most importantly, to Zoom.” Steinberg added that now that the synagogue’s staff has moved back into the office, she and her colleagues have a “new bag of tricks, but, most importantly, a confidence that we can meet challenges and create new and often exciting outcomes.” Some of the new technology adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic is specific to certain industries. Clio Software, a comprehensive case management tool for law firms, has been around for many years, but these months away from the brick-and-mortar office compelled attorney Jamie Ryke of Bloomfield Hills to become dependent on it. Ryke, a partner in the Probate Law Firm of Thav Ryke and Associates, said that he has fallen in love with Clio because it’s a “complete management system for lawyers. It has combined the most important things I use daily to be organized and successful, namely my calendar, email and billing software.” Ryke added that he has never been as organized as he is now. “Learning to maximize the Clio application has made life easier. I also have appreciated being able to attend legal hearings from home on Zoom, since it means I don’t have to drive all over the state anymore.” Technology will continue to make our lives more organized and allow us to feel closer to others, but the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has expedited our adoption of new technology and forced us to put it to use to stay connected. Rabbi Jason Miller is a local educator and entrepreneur. He is president of Access Technology in West Bloomfield (https://access.technology). On Twitter: @RabbiJason.

Jews in the D

Gabe Leland

etroit City Councilmember Gabe Leland is facing a new round of criminal misconduct charges, this time at the state level. Prosecutors in Monroe County allege that Leland, 37, accepted $7,500 in cash campaign payments between 2017 and 2018 to influence how he voted, according to the Associated Press. The state’s mid-July felony charge came a month before Leland was scheduled to stand trial in federal court. Leland was previously indicted by a grand jury in 2018 on three counts of bribery, making him the highest-ranking Detroit politician to be charged on the federal level since former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. Leland’s federal trial was delayed due to COVID-19 and is scheduled to begin Aug. 17. “He did commit an indictable offense at common law, to wit: accepted payments of money to influence his vote on certain city matters over the course of his employment as a city councilman,” Michael Roehrig, Monroe County Prosecuting Attorney, told WXYZ-TV. Roehrig is taking lead of the case after it was re-assigned by the Michigan Attorney General’s office. The charges appear in the Criminal Division of the Wayne County Circuit Court. The case is being handled by Monroe County because Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy cited a conflict of interest due to her involvement in a separate case with Detroit businessman Bob Carmack, who is referred to in Leland’s indictment. According to federal charges, Leland requested $15,000 in cash bribes from Carmack to delay a city sale of a disputed property. A staffer on Leland’s re-election campaign was also charged with bribery conspir-

Gabe Leland

Confronts New Corruption Charges Detroit’s only Jewish City Councilmember is charged with bribery and accepting improper gifts. ELI NEWMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

acy. The federal indictment could be dismissed with the recent allegations levied by the Monroe County prosecutor. Under the state’s misconduct charges, Leland faces up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Federal charges carry up to a 10-year sentence and a $250,000 penalty. “Mr. Leland accepted a cam-

charter, an elected official must forfeit their position if they are convicted of, or plead to, a felony while holding office. Leland’s status on City Council has not been challenged by his colleagues or the city’s Board of Ethics. At press time, Leland has not indicated if and when he’d resign. A plea deal has yet to be submitted.

“I believe people are innocent until proven guilty.” — MIKE DUGGAN paign contribution in cash, which is against Michigan law,” Steve Fishman, Leland’s attorney, told the Jewish News. “I am pleased that the case is being resolved in state court.” According to Detroit’s city

“I believe no matter whether it’s a state legislator or a city councilman or somebody in Congress, people are innocent until proven guilty,” Mayor Mike Duggan said during a press conference last week. “And

if and when any individuals are convicted, they should be out immediately.” Leland’s newest allegations come amid a pivotal vote. Detroit City Council recently passed a bond question for the November ballot that, if approved by voters, would free up $250 million for demolition and rehabilitation work on thousands of the city’s vacant homes. Private companies awarded contracts by City Council would carry out the blight remediation. Leland’s vote for the blight bond measure took place within days of the new misconduct charges. “The United States Constitution has us operate under a presumption of innocence,” City Councilmember Scott Benson added. “Mr. Leland is my colleague. I will continue to support him. He continues to support the residents of Detroit and his constituents. So until that time, I’m not going to speculate on his future.” Leland is Detroit’s only Jewish, and only white, city councilmember. He was first elected in 2013 to represent District 7, which includes much of the city’s west side surrounding Grand River and I-96, and neighborhoods like Russell Woods and Warrendale. His move to city politics followed a five-year stint in Lansing representing Michigan’s 10th District in the State House. Raised in northwest Detroit and the capital, Gabe Leland is the son of Burton Leland, a longtime Democratic politician who served on the Wayne County Commission and both houses of the Michigan Legislature. According to his city council website, Leland attends the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue in Detroit.

AUGUST 6 • 2020

| 25

Jews in the D MSU students pose for a selfie with a Bedouin guide on a study abroad trip to Israel.

Finding My Jewish Identity at MSU

The Serling Institute for Jewish Studies and its unique minor allow students like me to explore our own paths. COURTESY OF MSU

YAEL EICHHORN EDITORIAL INTERN

s someone who has had many different Jewish experiences, it is always reassuring to find a sense of community wherever I am. The Jewish Studies minor at Michigan State University has Yael given me the Eichhorn opportunity to find that and more, making such a big campus easier to navigate. I have gotten to know the staff and program while working as an assistant in the office at the Serling Institute for Jewish Studies and Modern Israel, which oversees the minor. There is no one way to be a Jewish Studies minor; the program is personalized for each student depending on their interests.

“I have gained new perspectives on Judaism in my own life and the world.” — HANNAH MARGOLIS Students choose 20 credits from 39 classes that count toward the minor, with eligible classes going beyond the humanities to include other subject areas like business and entrepreneurship, making the program quite versatile. The minor started as early as the 1980s with classes on anti-Semitism and gradually evolved into a full-fledged minor in the ’90s. Donations from Michael and Elaine Serling over the years have helped MSU

grow the Jewish Studies minor and become the sixth university in the country to have an endowed chair in Israel studies. My own Jewish background is a unique one. I have lived in three countries and several states and have been part of a small Jewish community in Idaho, as well as a Jewish majority in Israel. Therefore, my Jewish identity has been built and borrowed from many different cultures and practices. I didn’t know that MSU even

had a Jewish Studies minor when I first started school, but I happened to take a Jewish Studies class as an elective and had such a positive experience that I decided to add the minor. The Institute has helped me shape my own Jewish identity by showing me how many different aspects of Judaism there are, and that there is always going to be a Jewish topic I find interesting. I’m not alone in feeling this way. “Minoring in Jewish Studies has enhanced my experience at MSU,” said Hannah Margolis, a Jewish Studies minor who is highly involved in the campus Hillel. “Whether it’s the small classes, interesting courses or passionate professors, I have gained new perspectives on Judaism in my own life and continued on page 28

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AUGUST 6 • 2020

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COURTESY OF MSU

Jews in the D

Serling Institute students and faculty in Israel. continued from page 26

the world.” Of the more than 600 students who have gone through the minor, a fair number have been non-Jewish students. Some found their way to the minor through friends, and others through taking a few classes and realizing they were already halfway there. At some points in time, the split between Jewish and non-Jewish students has been almost even. “We prioritize undergraduate education, mentor and advise our students, guide and highlight their research, provide the most generous scholarships in

the country to support multiple faculty-led study abroad opportunities in Israel, as well as research and internships in Israel, and form lasting relationships with students throughout their time at MSU and after graduation,” the director of the program, Yael Aronoff, said. The minor includes courses on Jewish history and Israel, as well as finance and business classes with visiting Israeli scholars who teach topics like “Israel: Startup Nation.” This variety extends into the study abroad programs, which are made accessible to all stu-

dents through scholarships; many students are able to study abroad in places like Israel for free or at a greatly reduced cost, thanks to the support of donors. Cultural and intellectual events held throughout the year are often co-sponsored by other departments at MSU. Jewish Studies alumni work in many different career fields such as law, medicine, social work, teaching and government, and some alumni have pursued rabbinical school. The faculty make an effort to include students in the program itself through focus groups and surveys. I spoke with Alan Shulman, a Jewish MSU student who is the president of SpartyPac, an Israel advocacy group on campus. He told me, “The professors are tremendous and have been incredibly helpful, not just in my own academics, but in the constant

fight against anti-Semitism on campus.” The relationships created within the Jewish Studies minor seem to be a focal point for many students. The switch to online classes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic was quite a surprise to everyone, but I can say that all of my Jewish Studies professors have been incredibly understanding and, like always, the lines of communication have stayed open. Aronoff said the “number of minors continues to be at a historic level and rising, 45, with new minors joining even during the pandemic.” Students can join the minor at any point during the year. I am grateful to be a part of the Jewish Studies minor and would encourage anyone who is interested to contact the office.

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A few dozen protestors spoke out against annexation at the Federation building in Bloomfield Township.

IfNotNow Protests at Federation Building DANNY SCHWARTZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

bout two dozen protesters gathered in Bloomfield Township on Friday evening, July 17, to march to the Max M. Fisher Federation building and demand action from local Jewish leaders in response to the impending Israeli annexation of the West Bank. The protest was organized by IfNotNow (INN), a progressive activist group that opposes the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The protest coincided with

a proposal from U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., signed by dozens of members of Congress, including Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib, to respond to Israeli abuses by conditioning military funding. “We see them as champions of our cause,” INN member Zak Witus said. “We hope that more progressive Jewish leaders like Andy Levin here in Michigan and Jan Schakowsky in Chicago step up to the plate.” Across the country, INN chapters have been protesting

outside of the offices and homes of political leaders, promoting Ocasio-Cortez’s proposal. Other “Day of Rage” protests, led by different pro-Palestinian activist groups, have targeted campus Hillel buildings and other Federation buildings in cities like New York and San Diego. The mask-wearing protesters began in the parking lot of Leo’s Coney Island on Telegraph Road and marched down to the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit headquarters, singing songs and rally cries for solidarity against annexation. Once the group arrived at the Max M. Fisher Federation building, a Shabbat service was held with prayers and songs prior to sundown. “Any politician who is willing to take the risk of incurring the wrath of the Jewish community by standing up against annexation and the Israeli military … I think that’s great,” said protester Elissa Driker, 58.

During INN member Lisa Tencer’s speech shortly after arriving, she was interrupted by a counter-protester. The man, who said he was Jewish, born in Israel and served in the “military,” repeatedly shouted, “What do you know about the state of Israel?” The man left after about 10 minutes and wouldn’t give his name. Rabbi Asher Lopatin, executive director of the JCRC/AJC, an agency of Federation, told the JN his group “respects the diversity of opinions in the Detroit Jewish community regarding the possibility of the Israeli government extending its sovereignty to parts of the West Bank/Judea and Samaria. Therefore, we seek to educate and inform, rather than impose one point of view … As always, we remain committed to the safety and security of the State of Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East and the sole Jewish state.”

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Moments FEB 14, 2020 Ashley (Bellet) and Noah O’Neill of Chicago, Ill., are ecstatic to share the arrival of their Valentine’s Day baby, Tess Parker (Yael Miriam). Tess was welcomed home by her excited big sister and proud big brother, Ryan Elisabeth and Max Dylan. Delighted grandparents are Joanne and Michael Bellet of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Rita and Tom O’Neill of Fort Wayne, Ind. Beloved great-grandparents are the late Mary Jean and David Blau, and the late Jeanne and Louis Bellet. Tess’s Hebrew name is in loving memory of her maternal great-grandmothers, Jeanne Bellet and Mary Jean Blau.

Mia Olivia Bragman will chant from the Torah on the occasion of her bat mitzvah at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020. She will be joined in celebration by her proud parents, Debbie and James Bragman, and brother Jackson. Mia is the loving grandchild of Sofia Chayt, Brigit and Wolf Chayt, and the late Ethel and Paul Bragman. She is a student at Bloomfield Hills Middle School. As part of her most meaningful mitzvah project, Mia raises funds for and participates yearly in the Out of the Darkness Walk for Suicide Prevention.

Brock Louis Vinter (Lotan Shem) will be called to the Torah as a bar mitzvah on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020, at Temple Shir Shalom in West Bloomfield. He is the son of Jill RosenthalVinter and Alex Vinter, the brother of Jenna Vinter and the grandson of Carol and Mathew Rosenthal, and Jessica Vinter. Brock attends Clifford Smart Middle School in Commerce Township. For his mitzvah project, he organized and ran a five-week summer camp to raise money for Project Night Night, an organization that provides homeless children with stuffed animals, books and blankets.

Noah Michael Kaplan, son of Karen and Evan Kaplan, will chant from the Torah on the occasion of his bar mitzvah at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield on Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. He will be joined in celebration by his brothers Isaac and Solomon and proud grandparents Linda and Steve Kaplan. Noah is a student at West Hills Middle School in West Bloomfield. For his mitzvah project, he has been collecting books and toys for Brilliant Detroit.

Jamie Claire Zousmer, daughter of Stacy and Michael Zousmer, will lead the congregation in prayer as she becomes a bat mitzvah at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020. She will be joined in celebration by her siblings Bradley and Lindsey and proud grandparents Arlene and Richard Agree, and Ann and William Zousmer. Jamie is a student at West Hills Middle School in Bloomfield Hills. Among her many mitzvah projects, she found volunteering every Sunday at the Friendship Circle in West Bloomfield to be the most meaningful.

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AUGUST 6 • 2020

Sofen-Soleimani

ndy and Carol Sofen of Waterford are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter Lauren Beth to Daniel Soleimani, son of Davoud and Esther Soleimani of West Bloomfield. Lauren earned her degrees at University of Michigan and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She is employed at Beaumont Hospital as a pediatric physical therapist. Danny earned his degrees at University of Buffalo and Emory School of Law. He is a partner at the law firm of Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer & Weiss. A September wedding is planned in Farmington Hills at their new home.

Pevos 50th

oanne and Larry Pevos of Commerce Township will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Aug. 16, 2020. Love is sent by their children, Eddie and Heidi Pevos, and Julie and Michael Solomon, and their grandchildren, Sarah and Jacob Solomon.

Bloch 90th

olores Bloch turned 90 years old on Aug. 3, 2020. Wishing her love, good health and happiness are her children, Philip and Kathy Bloch, Sandy Golden, and Pam and Randy Watsky. Dolores is also celebrated by her 13 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Due to the pandemic, celebrations will be minimal.

Spirit torah portion

Lest We Forget

emory and recollecto remind us of the loss of tion are fundamental Jerusalem, including the singing of the hauntingly beautiful attributes we depend song “If I forget you Jerusalem” on to live meaningful and (Psalm 137:5, 6). successful lives. We use techIn this week’s Torah portion, niques to remind ourselves of we have, perhaps, the most important tasks, appointments well-known of “reminders” and occasions. From calendars for us as Jews. Moses to sticky notes, shopping instructs the Israelites lists and pill organizers, that the mezuzah should we utilize an array of be placed on our houses tools to remember what and gateways, and tefillin we deem important. placed as a sign on our We adorn walls arms and adornments on and mantels with art, Rabbi our heads. mementos and motivaAzaryah Each of these sacred tional mantras. The clasCohen sic “Home sweet home” Parshat Ekev: and ritual objects contain passages of scripture reminds us that we are Deuteronomy reminding us of fundafortunate to have a roof 7:12-11:25; mental events and our over our heads and a Isaiah responsibilities as Jews. family who supports 49:14-51:3. The mezuzah contains and loves us. Wedding the first two paragraphs of the portraits reaffirm our love and Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 commitment, reminding us and 11:13-21), and the tefillin of the day we celebrated our marriage. An artfully decorated contain four separate paragraphs (Exodus 13:1-10, 11-16, “If not now, when?” (Pirkei Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13Avot 1:14) reaffirms “the day is short, and the work is plentiful” 21). The passages from Exodus (Pirkei Avot 2:15), “don’t put off remind us of our salvation from for later what you can do now.” Egypt by the hand of God and Our Jewish rituals, too, our commitment to acknowlincorporate reminders. During edge God’s providence through shacharit (the daily morning our actions. The passages from service), many recite a collecDeuteronomy remind us of tion of biblical verses referencGod’s sovereignty, our duty to ing the exodus from Egypt, the pass the traditions to our chilreceiving of the Torah, the war dren and His commitment to with Amalek, the golden calf, sustain us as we dedicate ourMiriam’s slander of her brother selves to His service. Moses and the Sabbath day. As we perform the daily rituCollectively these are referred al of donning tefillin and when to as the Shesh Zechirot. the “six we acknowledge a mezuzah as remembrances,” and the Torah we pass through a doorway, we makes special mention that we have an opportunity to recall recall these events. and reaffirm our partnership Some recollections are with God, who took us out of painful but are part of our Egypt and who continues to consciousness as a people. The sustain us today, to do our part Talmud instructs us to leave to ensure the continuity and a portion of the wall near the vibrancy of our faith. door unfinished to remind us of the destruction of the Rabbi Azaryah Cohen is head of Temple. At a Jewish wedding, school at Frankel Jewish Academy in West Bloomfield. there are traditions meant

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Arts&Life

“Ritchie Boys”: 1st Army Headquarters Interrogation Teams, 1944

review

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GUY STERN

Invisible Ink: A Memoir

Meet Guy Stern Aug. 19 in a virtual program of the Holocaust Memorial Center. LOUIS FINKELMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

unther Stern, born in Hildesheim, Germany, in 1922, now lives in West Bloomfield, and works at the Holocaust Memorial Center. Highlights of his activities between then and now provide the material for his new memoir, Invisible Ink, published by Wayne State University Press. Not long after the Nazis came to power in Germany in January 1933, Julius and Hedwig Stern had the foresight to try to get their oldest son, Gunther, official permission to emigrate to St. Louis. Once there, at the home of his aunt and uncle, he was expected to work to bring to the rest of the family — his parents and his younger brother and sister. Julius warned his son to keep a low profile, to make himself unnoticeable “like invisible ink,” until the family could meet again. In 1937, Gunther faced a most fearsome hurdle: getting approval from the American Counsel General in Hamburg, Malcom Burke. Most American officials systematically denied approvals; Burke promptly stamped the forms, and Gunther went to America. In St. Louis, he found a supportive

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AUGUST 6 • 2020

home, an excellent high school and a way to make a living: working in restaurants, first as a busboy and then as a waiter. Also a new first name: A girlfriend called him “Guy,” a name that Americans could pronounce. To rescue his family, the waiter recruited a wealthy restaurant patron to sponsor their immigration. The community’s immigration lawyer, however, explained that the patron’s profession, “gambler”, technically disqualified him as a sponsor. The lawyer would not even try to circumvent the law. The family remained in Germany to be murdered. When the war began, the U.S. Army recruited Guy and other young immigrants who knew the language and culture of enemy countries. They were known as the Ritchie Boys. The Army offered citizenship to the stateless young soldier, now officially Guy Stern. In France, right after the D-Day invasion, Stern interrogated German prisoners of war about the remaining German forces. After the war, Stern earned graduate degrees in German studies, rekindling his love of the language that had also rejected him. He loved the writers of the Enlightenment, such as Lessing, who

Entering the Army at Fort Leavenworth, KS, Fall 1942

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championed reason, science, moderation, optimism and openness to foreign cultures. Stern also worked with, and wrote about, writers who had left or been driven out of the lands of their birth, and still wrote in its language. In Invisible Ink, Stern records highlights (and some less successful moments) from his personal life and from his illustrious career as a scholar, teacher, academic administrator and promoter of culture. Stern helped found the North American Society for Exile Studies. As provost at Wayne State University, Stern was an early lecturer at the Society of Active Retirees, establishing outreach to a neglected population. At the Holocaust Memorial Center, Stern developed a program to recognize Jewish rescuers (Yad Vashem Righteous Among the Nations programs do not include Jewish rescuers). He has periodically returned to Germany to teach seminars. Though Stern has triumphs in each role, one talent comes through this book as his real superpower. Guy Stern has an awe-inspiring ability to make friends. The book abounds with tales of Sternâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s adventures with famous, almost-famous

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and a mind-boggling number of totally obscure people â&#x20AC;&#x201D; followed by stories of meeting them again, decades later, to learn more of their stories â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and of his own. Just a few years ago, Feiga Weiss, archivist and librarian at the Holocaust Memorial Center, tracked down the files at YIVO (Institute for Jewish Research), on the Thousand Children, a hush-hush project in America to bring Jewish children from Europe before World War II â&#x20AC;&#x201D; including the paperwork on the rescue of Gunther Stern. World-renowned Holocaust scholar Dr. Michael Berenbaum will interview Dr. Guy Stern in an online Zoom webinar Wednesday, Aug. 19, about Guyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s remarkable life and his new memoir. To register, visit holocaustcenter.org/August. To purchase Invisible Ink, visit holocaustcenter.org/ BookOrder.

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Arts&Life HOPPER STONE/WARNERMEDIA

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Seth Rogen lives with himself in An American Pickle

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AUGUST 6 â&#x20AC;˘ 2020

A VERY JEWISH MOVIE; A MODERN HUCK FINN; AND A NICE COVID STORY The big-budget Jewish film of the summer is An American Pickle. Seth Rogen, 38, plays the filmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s two major parts. He plays Herschel Greenbaum, a poor Jewish immigrant who comes to America and becomes a pickle maker. One day, Greenbaum falls into a vat of pickle brine. Amazingly, he is revived in the present day and hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t aged at all. He finds out his only descendant is his great-grandson Ben Greenbaum (also Rogen). Ben is a mild computer programmer who doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seem to have much in common with Herschel. The film was written by Simon Rich, 36, a former SNL writer who is the son of well-known columnist and essayist Frank Rich, 71. (Pickle begins streaming on HBO Max on Aug. 6.) Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d call Rogen the â&#x20AC;&#x153;most Jewishâ&#x20AC;? popular actor under 40. This isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t surprising â&#x20AC;&#x201D; he grew up in a very Jewish milieu: His parents met on a kibbutz; his father was an associate director of the Vancouver, Canada Workmenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Circle; Seth went to a Jewish elementary school; his wife, actress/writer Lauren Miller, 38, is Jewish; and heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s frequently played Jewish characters (Knocked Up, The Night Before and Long Shot). Rogen is usually jovial. But heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prepared to defend his people with a cutting remark. Last June, Winona Ryder, 48, told the UK

Sunday Times that Mel Gibson once called her an â&#x20AC;&#x153;oven dodgerâ&#x20AC;? at a party. Rogen tweeted: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m only surprised by Mel Gibsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;oven dodgerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; comment because it acknowledges the Holocaust.â&#x20AC;? The Peanut Butter Falcon begins streaming on Hulu on Aug. 6. It was the highest grossing indie film of 2019. This critically acclaimed movie is a re-working of the Huckleberry Finn story. Shia LaBeouf, 34, plays Tyler, a shady guy who is being pursued by two other shady guys. He meets up with Zak, a young adult with Down syndrome, and they have many adventures. Zac, too, is on the run. He â&#x20AC;&#x153;fledâ&#x20AC;? an assisted living facility to become a pro wrestler. Zac Gottsagen, who really has Down syndrome, plays Zac. Don Black, 81, a British Jew, has penned the lyrics of many famous tunes, including the theme songs for five James Bond flicks. In 1967, he co-won the Oscar for â&#x20AC;&#x153;Born Free,â&#x20AC;? the theme song for the film Born Free. The song was a huge popular hit. In May, he went into the hospital with COVID-19. He recently told the BBC that a kind nurse asked what he did and he said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;A songwriter. Google me.â&#x20AC;? Aided by a caring staff, he pulled through after nine harrowing days in the hospital. Staff members, he said, learned the lyrics of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Born Freeâ&#x20AC;? and serenaded him as he was being discharged. The song, about a lion being released to the wild, sort of fits a COVID survivor. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one very apt line: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Born free and life is worth living.â&#x20AC;?

On The Go virtual events | learnings

STAYING CONNECTED

author and activist Jaclyn Friedman. Detroit Writing Room offers coaching, events, coworking spaces and more to established and aspiring writers. The class will focus on how to use language to inspire, persuade and share messages for social change. Hosted via Zoom, tickets are $35 with registration closing 30 minutes before the event.

At this time of social distancing, the Jewish News will try to bring awareness to events/learning situations offered online by synagogues, temples and community organizations. MOVIES IN THE PARK 9-11 PM, AUG. 7 In real (and reel) time, A Dog’s Purpose will be shown at Wagner Park in Downtown Dearborn. Free movies begin after dusk, with the film starting as soon as the night sky allows. To follow ongoing social distancing guidelines, Downtown Dearborn staff will assist attendees in arranging enjoyable views while remaining socially distant and monitor on-site activity to maintain a safe number of participants. The public is invited to bring a lawn chair or blanket and settle in for a fun night.

9:30 PM, AUG. 7 The first installment in the classic Superman film series will come to life via drive-in at Emagine Novi’s parking lot. Parking will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. Tickets will be sold as parking spaces for $30 per space, and concessions will be available via curbside takeout or car delivery from the Emagine lobby. Like a traditional movie indoors, pizza, nachos, candy, pretzel bites and, of course, popcorn will be up for grabs on the menu.

glass creations. Tickets are $15 to the general public and $10 for Ford House members.

TOUR ISRAEL NOON - 1PM, AUG. 11 Temple Shir Shalom is offering a live, virtual Knesset tour with Rabbi Daniel Schwartz and Israeli tour guide Beni Levin. Learn about Israel’s parliament in Jerusalem, how it works and some of the contemporary issues Israelis face that are being addressed in the Knesset. To register: www.shirshalom. org/form/livefromtheholyland or call 248-737-8700.

SPEAKER SERIES 7 PM, AUG. 11 Congregation B’nai Moshe welcomes Cecilia Muñoz via Zoom. She is vice president for Public Interest Technology and Local Initiatives at New America. Registration is required. For information or to register, visit bnaimoshe.org.

CRAFT YOUR WRITING SKILLS 7-8:30 PM, AUG. 11

BOOK CLUB 7 PM, AUG. 12 The Jewish Historical Society of Michigan Book Club will discuss Replica Dodge by Natalie Ruth Joynton. This is a virtual gathering on Zoom. Read the book and submit questions for the author. Cost: $10 for members, $18 for non-members. Register and submit all questions by Aug. 10 at noon. Send questions to kschuchman@michjewishhistory.org. Instructions for joining the Zoom call will be sent the day before.

COOK THE PERFECT ROAST 5-6:30 PM, AUG. 15

At the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores, a special virtual workshop will explore the art of stained glass history and making. Stained glass artist and preservation specialist Barbara Krueger will share how the glass is made, uncover its roots and give a tour of the Ford House’s own beautiful stained glass windows, including the coats of arms in the Gallery. Held over Zoom, participants will be able to watch demonstrations for two styles of stained

The Detroit-based Cooking with Cocktails will host a Sunday session where roast is the star of the show. Cooking with Cocktails brings interactive cooking experiences to Metro Detroiters with professional chefs and mixologists, currently done virtually. This class will teach participants how to sear and braise a roast that can be paired with gravy and mashed potatoes. Tickets are $29.99 and will include a list of ingredients so participants can cook along.

Those interested in practicing or learning persuasive writing skills can tune in to a virtual workshop held by Detroit Writing Room in partnership with

NEXTGen Detroit will help adults 21-45 design their very own candy boards with Jamie Amster and Marni Cohen of Candy Overboard. Master the art of building a beautiful candy board that is fun to show off and even more fun to eat. Register before Aug. 12. Cost is $15 per person and includes candy kit with the board and all the candy. Note, certified kosher versions of the candy kit are available upon request. Kit pickup options are: Bloomfield Hills on Aug. 16 between 6-7 pm; Birmingham on Aug., 20 between 9 am-3 pm. Exact addresses will be sent after you register. Info: lrubin@jfmd.org.

YIDDISH SHORT STORY 7:30-9 PM, AUG. 25

THE ART OF STAINED GLASS 1-2:30 PM, AUG. 8

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SUGAR RUSH 7:30 PM, AUG. 20

Hosted by Congregation Beth Ahm, Yiddish lecturer, educator and translator Beth Ahmer Daniella HarPaz Mechnikov will recite a Yiddish short story by classic Yiddish storyteller Moyshe Nadir. Told in both Yiddish and English, knowledge of Yiddish won’t be necessary to enjoy the experience. The online virtual event is free to attend with registration. Compiled by Sy Manello/Editorial Assistant and Ashley Zlapotosky/ Contributing Writer. Send items at least 14 days in advance to calendar@ thejewishnews.com.

AUGUST 6 • 2020

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Nosh

eats | drinks | sweets

A New Course of

or those who enjoy cooking, home-delivered meal kits offer convenience plus creativity. The many companies specializing in meal kits send boxes filled with highquality and often organic food, plus recipe cards. Each week, customers choose from a variety of chef-developed meals to fit their appetite or dietary preferences. The dinners are refrigerated Esther — never frozen — and Allweiss box packaging is mostly Ingber recyclable. Contributing Writer An advantage of homedelivered meals during the pandemic is eliminating some food shopping. With a bounty of apportioned ingredients and pre-measured seasonings, and instructions for using them, subscribers never have to wonder what’s for dinner. Payment is taken with a credit card on file, but customers may skip weeks or cancel without penalty. Consult websites for pricing. The Ingbers ate very well with these five meal kit companies:

MARTHA + MARLEY SPOON marleyspoon.com Very professional. Top-quality food and photography.

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AUGUST 6 • 2020

Roasted Chicken & Broccoli with Cheddar Rice Casserole. Chicken seasoned with flavorful Tam-pico de gallo spice pack. Steakhouse Dinner. Wonderful sirloin and cottage fries. A Hearty Steak Shepherd’s Pie from EveryPlate.

MEEZ MEALS meezmeals.com Least work. Instead of prepping a sweet potato, chunks of sweet potato came ready for use. Sweet Asian BBQ Salmon. Very tasty with a tangy-sweet sauce and cabbagecarrot combo. Argentinian Black Beans & Rice Bowl. Updated beans and brown rice featured sweet potatoes, queso fresco and delectable parsley sauce. Bistro Steak with Pesto Penne. “Italian classic” had creamy basil pesto, sautéed spinach and mushrooms. Must order again. EVERYPLATE everyplate.com Most affordable. Proteins and produce were excellent. Recipe directions had color pictures. Cooking took longer than listed — not unusual. Sweet ‘n’ Tangy Cherry Meatballs with roasted zucchini & garlic mashed potatoes. Easy to prepare using cherry jam. Winner.

Beef Banh Mi Bowls with sriracha mayo, carrot & pickled cucumbers. Rice was missing; substituted mine. Sriracha wasn’t too spicy. Sticky-Sweet Chili Chicken with scallion rice & zesty carrots. Very good. Moo Shu Beef Bowls with cabbage & white rice. Fresh ginger added great taste. Tuscan Herbed Chicken over creamy tomato linguine. Kind of spicy but good. Needed more sauce.

SUN BASKET sunbasket.com Uneven meals. Malaysian stir-fried Hawker Noodles with Shrimp. Really outstanding flavors. Southeast Asian chicken salad with sesame-lime dressing. Disappointing. All-Spice was missing. Persian cucumber was too soft. Allotted sesame oil oversaturated Romaine lettuce.

ESTHER ALLWEISS INGBER

Meal Kits

Health

Steady Sugar HOMECHEF homechef.com Overall favorite. Binder holds colorful recipe cards. Clear directions. Appreciated being told the cooking difficulty and spice levels. A “storage timeframe” provided guidance to make more perishable kits sooner. Meat and produce were first-rate. Cornbread-crusted Mahi-Mahi and HoneyBBQ Aioli with corn on the cob and sweet potato wedges. Loved the fish and sides. Beef Meatloaf Marinara with red pepper pesto cauliflower. An easy comfort meal. Chicken Teriyaki Bowl with bok choy and edamame. Only “ovenready” dinner satisfied and came together effortlessly. Coq au Vin with BoneIn Chicken. Classic French dish included red wine and mushrooms. Sticky Honey Garlic Sesame Steak Strips with jasmine rice and baby bok choy. Enjoyed cooking with bok choy. Chicken Piccata with crispy onion-topped tomatoes and zucchini. Another delicious meal.

Local inventors’ breakthrough app helps diabetes patients manage insulin at home. ROBIN SCHWARTZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

t’s one of those things most of us take for granted. Every day, without realizing it, our bodies make insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels and helps keep them from getting too high or too low. But the body’s insulin requirements change constantly — and that’s where things get tricky for millions of people with Type 2 diabetes who don’t produce enough insulin on their own. It’s hard for them to know from one day to the next how much insulin to take. “The more insulin-deficient we are, the sicker we are,” explains inventor Eran Bashan of Ann Arbor. “If you can bring your blood sugar levels to the normal range, your Eran Bashan risk is no different than someone without diabetes.” The Israeli-born engineer co-founded Hygieia (the Greek word for Dr. Israel health) with his Hodish friend, endocrinologist Dr. Israel Hodish, who is also Israeli. The duo first came up with the idea while chatting during a Shabbat dinner in 2007.

They spent years developing and perfecting a high-tech insulin management system called d-Nav — an app that interprets blood sugar readings and acts like an “artificial physician” to make clinical decisions uabout how much insulin a person should take. The system is the first FDAcleared technology that does this. “Studies have shown 90 percent of our users have improved their blood sugar levels within 90 days of starting the program,” Dr. Hodish said. “We help people get the right insulin dose when they need it.” Typically, diabetes patients who take insulin visit their doctor and are given a specific dose until their next appointment. In an ideal world, they’d have their blood work analyzed every week — but that’s not practical or economical. So, the amount of insulin they really need will likely fluctuate before that next visit. What d-Nav does is provide on-the-spot information to make the necessary adjustments from home. That comes

in especially handy now during COVID-19 and the need for social distancing and staying home to stay safe. “If you have diabetes, you’re at a high risk for COVID-19 complications,” Bashan points out. To use d-Nav, patients can install the app on their phone or get a device that has the app pre-loaded. They use a finger prick or another type of monitor to measure blood sugar, which the program uses to determine the proper insulin dose. The company offers a virtual (telehealth) clinic or a physical clinic in Livonia to take part in an insulin management program, but patients continue to see their regular doctor for overall diabetes management. The app became available last year through a pilot program with Blue Cross Blue Shield o of Michigan. It is now a benefit that’s covered by health insurance. “Our goal is to make insulin therapy simpler and a lot more successful,” Bashan says. “There is so much you can do today with technology.” Bashan, a husband and father of a teenage daughter, does not have diabetes, but he recalls seeing his greatgrandmother using insulin in the 1970s. Today, his mother and grandmother both have diabetes. “If I live long enough, I’ll have diabetes,” he predicts. According to the American Diabetes Association, in 2018, 34.2 million Americans, or more than 10 percent of the population had diabetes; 1.5 million new cases are diagnosed every year. To use the d-Nav program, patients will need a referral from their physician. For more information, visit hygieia.com. AUGUST 6 • 2020

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Soul

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ELLA BAKER, 95, of West Bloomfield, died July 29, 2020. Ella was a very keen gardener for most of her life and particularly loved flowers (never fake, always real and seasonal). She was instrumental in creating the garden at Hechtman Apartments. Ella had a very inquisitive mind and was well-informed as to what was happening in the world. She never shied away from expressing with conviction her points of view. She was always thinking of ways to improve the lives of those she knew and she made a positive impact on everyone she met. She will be dearly missed. Mrs. Baker is survived by her daughter and sonin-law, Esther Salamon and David Stephenson. She will be lovingly remembered by many friends. She was the beloved wife of the late Willard G. Baker. Interment was at Adat Shalom Memorial Park. Contributions may be made to Heart to Heart Hospice, 30800 Telegraph Road, Suite 1850, Bingham Farms, MI 48025, hearttohearthospice. com; or Jewish Senior Life of Metropolitan Detroit, 6710 W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322, jslmi. org. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. SHARON JOY BROWN, 71, of Los Angeles, Calif., formerly of Chicago, Ill., and Bloomfield Hills,

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died July 25, 2020. Sheri brightened the lives of all those who knew her and will forever be remembered in their hearts. Her zest for life was eclipsed only by her love of her family. She embodied unconditional love and set an example of what it means to be a mother and caring soul. She was an avid skier, lover of the arts, teacher, chef, entertainer, traveler and devoted friend who loved sharing her joy and memories of a life well lived. She was the beloved mother of Justin (Robin) Brown, Michael (Courtney) Brown, Eric (Alexandra) Brown, Allison (Zach) Weisman; stepmother of Aaron (Maud) Brown; loving sister of Susan (Stuart) Kaufman and David (Craig Trompeter) Rice; cherished grandmother of Benjamin, Jonathan and Peter Brown, Harper, Parker and Samantha Brown, Emi Brown, Liv and Noah Weisman; loving aunt of Scott Kaufman, Robin (Lee) Trepeck, Adria (Andy Kryshak) Rice, Jordan (Greg Schweizer) Rice, Jamie and Andy Trepeck; cousin of Dr. Sandy and Joan Weitzbuch; other caring relatives and many wonderful friends. Mrs. Brown was the daughter of the late Faye and the late Howard Rice; sisterin-law of the late Nancy Weisman Rice. To keep everyone safe and healthy, the graveside service was for the family only. Funeral services and interment were held at Shalom Memorial Park, Arlington Heights, Ill. To honor the memory of

Sheri Rice Brown and to support her passion for Jewish camping, scholarship and the arts, consider a contribution to: Tamarack Camps, tamarackcamps.com/ tributes.Arrangements by Chicago Jewish FuneralsBuffalo Grove Chapel, 847229-0822, cjfinfo.com. Local arrangements by Kaufman Chapel. DOROTHY DISKIN, 88, of Farmington Hills, died July 28, 2020. She was a warm and loving wife, mother and grandmother whose greatest joy was taking care of her family and others. Mrs. Diskin is survived by her beloved husband of 69 years, Marty; sons, Jeffrey (Sharon), Stuart (Carol) and Robert (Hillary); grandchildren, Daniel, Rachel, Jodi, Joshua, Ryan and Tyler; greatgrandchildren, Isaiah and Coreyon; many loving nieces, nephews, other family members and friends. Interment took place at Adat Shalom Memorial Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Jewish National Fund or to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel. ALLEN M. GREENSTEIN passed away peacefully in Miami, Fla., on July 9, 2020. c. 1982 He had resided at nursing homes in Broward and Miami

Dade counties for the last eight years after suffering a stroke; throughout his life, he had taken up residences in the Metro Detroit area, Miami and Longwood, Fla., Houston area and Boca Raton, Fla. He was born in Ann Arbor on April 30, 1945, to Sidney Greenstein (born in Kherson, Ukraine, on April 22, 1910, and passed in Houston, Texas, on Jan. 6, 2000) and Ethel (Green) (born in Bay City, Mich., on Dec. 11, 1911, and passed on Oct. 4, 2005, in Houston). He grew up on Cherrylawn in Detroit and attended Mumford High School class of 1963. Allen married his first wife, Donna Rader, daughter of Herman and Rose Rader, in 1965; they divorced in 1988. Mr. Greenstein is survived by seven children: Robert Rader of Santa Monica, Calif., State Sen. Kevin (Rabbi Amy) Rader of Delray Beach, Fla., Dr. Kerry (Rabbi David) Bar-Cohn (better known as Rebbetzin Tap) of Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel, and from his second marriage, Drew, Jordan, Paige and Drake Greenstein; 10 grandchildren, Dashiel and Zora Rader, Caleb, Ruby, Yael and Ezra Rader, and Daniel, Ilan, Ben Tzion and Yeshaya Bar-Cohn; an older sister, Barbara (Dr. Martin) Schwartz of Nashua, N.H. Funeral arrangements were handled by Beth Israel Chapel of Delray Beach; he was laid to rest at Eternal Light Memorial Gardens in Boynton Beach, Fla.

LORI LOBER KLOSKY, 62, of Novi, died July 26, 2020. She is survived by c. 1979 her husband of 41 years, Gary Klosky; children, Ryan Klosky, Sean Klosky and Teri Klosky; brother, Richard Lober; sister, Donna Lober. Mrs. Klosky was the devoted daughter of the late Harold “Hy” and the late Mary Lober. Interment was at Beth El Memorial Park. Contributions may be made to Save the Music Foundation, 1515 Broadway, 21st Floor, New York, NY 10036, savethemusic. org. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. DR. IRWIN “IRV” LUTWIN, 81, of West Bloomfield, died July 25, 2020. A longtime and active member of Temple Israel, Dr. Lutwin was an usher and a member of the Temple Israel Brotherhood. He was easygoing, compassionate and he cared about everyone. He loved his family, friends and patients. Dr. Lutwin is survived by his wife of 51 years, Cheryle Lutwin; daughter and son-in-law, Melanie and Scott Chismody of Waterford; sons and spouses, Darin and Matthew Lutwin of West

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Bloomfield, Sean and Juliana Lutwin of Lakewood, Fla.; sister, Fran Waldman of New Jersey; sister-in-law, Lesley Lavens; grandchildren, Jacob Lutwin, Emma Lutwin, Shay Chismody, Chad Chismody, Lexi Chismody; many loving nieces, nephews and cousins. Dr. Lutwin was the brother-in-law of the late Howard Waldman. Contributions may be made to Temple Israel, 5725 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322; Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Association, 25200 Telegraph Road, Suite 100, Southfield, MI 48033; or to a charity of oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s choice. Graveside service was held at Beth El Memorial Park Cemetery in Livonia. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.

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GREGORY MALTZ, 64, of Oak Park, died July 24, 2020. He is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Nancy and Dr. David Schindler; niece and nephews, Lisa Schindler-Murray and Matthew Murray, and Michael Schindler; uncle and aunts, Gordon and Betty Maltz, and Janet Schindler; other loving relatives and many close friends. Mr. Maltz was the cherished brother of the late Richard Maltz; the devoted son of the late Jack and the late Helen Maltz. Interment was at Adat Shalom Memorial Park. Contributions may be made toÂ Yad Ezra,Â 2850 W. 11 Mile Road,Â Berkley,

MI 48072,Â yadezra. org;Â Jewish Family Service,Â 6555 W. Maple Road,Â West Bloomfield, MI 48322,Â jfsdetroit. org; orÂ Meals on Wheels,Â National Council of Jewish Women,Â 26400 Lahser Road, Suite 306,Â Southfield, MI 48033,Â ncjwgds.org. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. FLORENCE MARS, 92, of West Bloomfield, died July 28, 2020.Â She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Barbara and Gary Pollack, Jill and Juergen Wiesenberger; son and daughter-in-law, Nicholas and Kelly Sol; grandchildren, Marla Pollack, Seth Pollack, Devon Pollack, Spencer Sol, Ethan Friedman, Allie Friedman and Beth (Peter) Nagy; great-grandchildren, Owen, Jonah, Caitlyn, Zander, Jack and Adam; greatgreat-grandchild, Penelope; brother and sister-in-law, Stephen and Susan Adler; sister and brother-in-law, Francine and Robert Levine; many other loving family members and friends. Mrs. Mars was the beloved wife of the late Albert Mars. Interment took place at Clover Hill Park Cemetery in Birmingham. Contributions may be made to Michigan Parkinsons Foundation or to the Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy Network. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.

DR. RICHARD MENCZER, 85, of Bloomfield Hills, died suddenly on July 24, 2020. He was born on Dec. 25, 1935, truly a gift and gifted. He was a dedicated physician, fine violinist and a life master bridge player. As a teen, he performed with the All-City Orchestra and while stationed in Alaska, played with the Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra. Apart from his many accomplishments, Richard was generous, caring and, above all, loving and deeply loved. He will be thought of with affection by all those who had the pleasure of knowing him.

Dr. Menczer is survived by his wife of 60 years, Marion; his children, Mark (Tracey) Menczer, Jody (Tom) Oslund, Julie Menczer; his adoring grandchildren, Jordan, Alexa and Allison. His humor and wisdom were enjoyed and will be dearly missed by his brother-in-law and sisters-inlaw, Ron Gunsberg and Karen Gruskin, Faye Menczer; dear nieces, nephews, cousins and countless friends. He was the brother of the late Edward Menczer. A private service was held in the garden at Temple Shir Shalom. Contributions may be made to Autism Speaks. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.

CHARLOTTE ROSNER, 87, of Keego Harbor, died July 30, 2020. She is survived by her beloved husband, Dr. Saul Rosner; daughters and sons-in-law, Linda and Richard Valentine, Karen and Jeffrey Cantor; son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Unise Rosner; grandchildren, Max Cantor, Steven Cantor (fiancĂŠe, Shira Orlowek) and Dr. Zachary Cantor; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Elaine and Earl Meyers; many loving nieces, nephews, other family members and friends. Mrs. Rosner was the sister of the late Gertrude Zeron

and the late Evelyn Felsenfeld. Interment took place at Adat Shalom Memorial Park Cemetery in Livonia. Contributions may be made to the Michigan Humane Society or the Holocaust Memorial Center. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel. ARNOLD JACOB STONE, 92, of West Bloomfield, died July 27, 2020. He is survived by hisÂ daughters and son-in-law,Â Nancy Strauss, Wendy and Don Puckett; son and daughterin-law, Howard and Wendy Stone; grandchildren, Adam Strauss and Joshua continued on page 44

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(Melissa) Strauss, Lauren Stone, Stephanie (Shane) Mones, Rachel (Bill White) Puckett, David (Alissa) Puckett, Stacey (William) Martell; great-grandchildren, Aria White, Wade White, Madison Puckett, Joseph Anthony Martell and Jesse Strauss. Mr. Stone was the beloved husband of the late Barbara Joyce Stone; the father-in-law of the late David Strauss. Interment took place at Nusach Hari Cemetery in Ferndale. Contributions may be made to the Jewish War Veterans or Hospice of Michigan. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.

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JEROME WEISMAN, 78, of West Bloomfield, died July 23, 2020. He is survived by his wife, Nanci Weisman; children, Neal Howard and Nimmi Weisman, Elisa Robyn and Alfie Vick, Cary Evan and Julie Weisman, Lisa Jennifer Squarcia, Sean Squarcia; grandchildren, Mia Manjit Weisman, Ben Sehaj Weisman, Mackinley Walker Vick, Neko Riley Vick, Jessica Squarcia, Jacquelyn Squarcia, Derrick and Anya Hoffner, Zachary Squarcia Brevard; greatgrandchildren, Aidan, Austin, Joseph, Sophia, Madelina Squarcia, Syren Hoffner. He is also survived

by Judith Weisman. Mr. Weisman was the dear brother and brother-in-law of the late Florrine and the late Joseph Dorn and the late Steven Horowitz. Contributions may be made to Muscular Dystrophy Association, 11 E. 44th St., 17th floor, New York, NY

10017; American Kidney Foundation, 6110 Executive Blvd., Suite 1010, Rockville, MD 20852. Family graveside service was held at Clover Hill Park Cemetery in Birmingham. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.

OBITUARY CHARGES The processing fee for obituaries is: $125 for up to 100 words; $1 per word thereafter. A photo counts as 15 words. There is no charge for a Holocaust survivor icon. The JN reserves the right to edit wording to conform to its style considerations. For information, have your funeral director call the JN or you may call Sy Manello, editorial assistant, at (248) 3515147 or email him at smanello@renmedia.us.

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new restaurant that opened a short while ago in Boynton Beach, Florida, is named Detroit Eats ... and already making favorable culinary waves as it satisfies the palates of many. Located on Danny Raskin Boynton Beach Senior Columnist Blvd. West, it has spread its pride along the areas just short miles away like Boca Raton and Delray Beach. More pride among these

regions is gathered by these close-by sectors with opening of a restaurant which brings to mind a beloved city. Two former Detroiters ... Dennis and Debbie Silber write about “Marc Tocco, whose father, Phil Tocco, serviced wholesalers at Eastern Market, and Marc’s daughter Ella, opening a great new restaurant with all Detroit nostalgia at 1313 Boynton Beach Blvd., Boynton Beach, and has called it Detroit Eats. From the moment former Detroiters like us walked in, we saw Detroit trappings in sports and memorabilia all around. Debbie and I had the wonderful opportunity of meeting long-time Detroiters Marvin and Adria Aronovits and Sherwin and Harriet Wilner, who have been frequenting Detroit Eats for several weeks. The entire menu takes you back. Starters such as the J.L. Hudson Co. Maurice Salad, Detroit Chili, Detroit-style deep-dish square pizza, Coney Dogs, Greektown Gyros and, of course, ending with Sanders Hot Fudge Sundae

made our experience a most memorable one. Full meals are available. Visit Detroit Eats, meet other Detroiters and enjoy great back-home food. Seating and full meals are now available as is the carry-out section. Yes, Detroit Eats is a wonderful experience.” Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week ... Dinners are a la carte ... Items like nachos, beef barley soup, Greek salad, Sy Ginsberg corned beef, Detroit Style Reubens, slim Jims, Greektown gyros, fish and chips, popcorn shrimp, Faygo, Vernors, etc. Detroit signs and artifacts are everywhere ... Detroit Eats in Boynton Beach. WONDERING DEPT ... Where barrister supreme Henry “Hank” Baskin gets his stayyoung pills. MAIL DEPT ... From Rachel Kapen ... “My son Avi and I went to Val’s Deli in Crosswinds Mall, owned by Val Izrailov and Carey Gerchak. Many diners seemed to know each other, and it was almost filled to capacity and very

satisfied with the varied menu and staff. Avi had Val’s delicious hamburger and I the tasty patty melt with grilled onion rings.” DID YOU KNOW DEPT ... Did you know that Buddy’s Pizza is not owned anymore by the Jacobs family ... The need for expansion money was too great for son Robert, who took over when dad Billy passed on, remained as president, and sold it to Capital Sprngs and is now just an adviser ... Thankfully, the new owners didn’t remove Wes Pikula, responsible for the pizza variations, who has worked for Buddy’s over 45 years, or Lara Radke and others who have made Buddy’s a winner. OLDIE BUT GOODIE FAVORITE ... “Waiter, this soup tastes funny” ... “Then why aren’t you laughing?” CONGRATS ... To Lila Lazarus on her birthday ... To Marilyn Schuster on her birthday. Danny’s email address is dannyraskin2132@gmail.com.

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

Michigan’s Jewish Suffragette

he Michigan primary elections were held this week. There were 20 women seeking an opportunity to run for Congress in November. Hundreds of women ran for local and state offices. And many of these women, now and over the years, are Jewish. I mention this fact in the context of an anniversary. This month marks 100 years since the ratification of the Nineteenth Mike Smith Alene and Amendment to the United States Graham Landau Constitution. When it was ratArchivist Chair ified on Aug. 18, 1920, women finally gained the right to vote. The struggle for women’s suffrage was a long one. When the Constitution was itself ratified in 1788, many American citizens could not vote, including women, white males without property and African Americans. The 1848 Seneca Falls Woman’s Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, New York, is often cited as the beginning of the Women’s Suffrage movement; that is, an organized effort to gain women the right to vote. There were activists before this time, but the Seneca Falls Convention was a landmark meeting organized by Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. From this point in time until 1920, women organized, held parades, hunger strikes and other activities. By doing so, they often faced ridicule and verbal abuse, sometimes physical attacks, and arrest and jail terms. In Michigan, the first prominent suffragette was Jewish. In March 1846, two years before the Seneca Falls Convention, Ernestine Rose made two speeches in the State Capital. Granted, Rose spoke after the House Sessions had ended for the day so no one knows how many male representatives attended, but Rose is due great credit for her courage and determination. I found a number of stories about Rose in the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History. For example, she is

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AUGUST 6 • 2020

cited, along with Uriah Levy, Louis uis Brandeis and Lillian Wald, in the Aug. 27, 1976, issue of the JN in a storyy titled “Four Great Personalities in n U.S. Jewish History.” The Polishborn Rose was also a dedicated abolitionist before the Civil War and is often considered the first “Jewish feminist.” From the 1840s to the early years of the 20th century, women’s suffrage grew into a formidable ble force. Thousands upon thousands of women, omen n, n famous and unknown, would contribute to the movement. By 1912, nine western states had passed laws allowing women to vote, but Michigan still lagged behind. Gov. Chase Osborn took a bold step in 1912 and asked that the Michigan House and Senate work on an amendment to the state constitution “for giving and insuring the rightt of [full] suffrage to the women….” But ut the effort failed. In 1918, however, Michigan’s voterss decided upon the issue. I found somee interesting pages regarding the election on in the Archive, including an editorial in the Nov. 1, 1918, issue of the Jewish h Chronicle that promoted women’s suffrage. It concluded that “He who opposed the movement has not sensed the true meaning of American democracy.” Well, the Chronicle and Michigan voters were on the right side of history, and the state amendment passed. Since then, women have voted, run for office and helped shape Michigan and America. This is indeed an anniversary to celebrate.

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

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