DJN December 23, 2021 by The Detroit Jewish News

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JEWISH NEWS 200 Dec. 23-29, 2021 / 19-25 Tevet 5782

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‘No Jew Should Be Alone’ Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy expands services to enrich life and help the bereaved. See page 12

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contents Dec. 23-29, 2021 / 19-25 Tevet 5782| VOLUME CLX, ISSUE 20

20 22

PURELY COMMENTARY

SPORTS

OUR COMMUNITY

4-10

Essays and viewpoints.

‘No Jew Should Be Alone’

Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy expands services to enrich life and help the bereaved.

Living On Edge

Threats of violence cause school closures and lockdowns.

Nine Jewish players help Falcons soar to first team state championship.

MAZEL TOV

32 Moments

SPIRIT 33

Torah portion

34 Synagogue Directory 36

“The World Was Created for Me” — Now What?

Turning Curses into Blessings

Volunteers ‘Kneaded’

ARTS&LIFE

Local nonprofit looking for volunteer bread bakers.

Reclaiming History

Local woman works to help restore Egypt’s Jewish cemeteries.

Motown History

Detroit History Podcasts showcase Hammerin’ Hank Greenberg and other local Jewish history.

FACES&PLACES 26

Time for a Tennis Title for Groves

Local gun owners’ group hopes to gain members in the wake of the Oxford High shooting.

Responsible Gun Ownership

Interfaith Celebration

28 Holidays at JARC

The Real Cokie Roberts

Her husband’s new book shares stories of their interfaith marriage and life together.

Book Review: Bugsy Siegel: The Dark Side of the American Dream

Celebrity News

Shabbat Lights

Shabbat starts: Friday, Dec. 24: 4:46 p.m. Shabbat ends: Saturday, Dec. 25: 5:53 p.m.* Times according to Yeshiva Beth Yehudah calendar.

ON THE COVER: Cover photo/credit: Gladys Sampson of West Bloomfield sits with Rabbi Joseph H. Krakoff. Photo by Jerry Zolynsky Cover design: Kelly Kosek

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EVENTS 45

Community Calendar

ETC.

The Exchange 46 Obituaries 48 Looking Back 54 DECEMBER 23 • 2021

PURELY COMMENTARY essay

For the Birds

DECEMBER 23 • 2021

Migrating birds at Hula Valley.

PHOTO BY FLASH90

y the light of a rising moon, we watched as thousands of birds appeared across the sky. Before we saw them, we heard the cacophony of bird voices, loud and insistent — here we come, make way for us, let us through. And then the Judy Mars awesome sight Kupchan of the soaring, magnificent wings joined the sound through the hazy sky. The flocks of bird families arrived, making use of the winds to find their way, to rest their weary feet in the tiny land mass for which they were searching over continents and oceans. That the destination for these noble flyers from Siberia and Europe and Scandinavia on their way south to Africa is a waystation at Argamon Hula in Israel is a welldocumented annual phenomenon. But to witness this event in all its noisy, graceful reality was breathtaking. And, as darkness came and the moonlight became more prominent, the shadows of the arriving bird families and flocks continued to dazzle the night sky. I cried first at the sound, when I realized that the spectacle we anticipated was beginning. And my emotion deepened at the sight of the birds. I’m not

a “birder,” just an ordinary fan of the birdsongs we hear in our day-to-day lives, just a sucker for our colorful feathered friends. “Why do you like birds so much?” my granddaughter asked me with not a little sass. “They are like flying flowers,” I said, “God’s miraculous creation in so many colors and forms.” How can you not love a goofy pelican, a delicate flamingo? Still, my emotion at the Hula caught me by surprise. Now I think it was the sight of so much life asserting itself in a most wondrous way. We came north for the event following a few weeks of losses, of death in our small human world. We lost two dear friends, and our community suffered yet another great loss. My mind was full of questions about death, of where their souls dwell, of how we will

cope as we age and our losses continue to come closer. If not answers, the birds gave me overpowering joy, and the persistence of their flying mission gave me hope. And perhaps the sheer numbers of birds coming from the heavens gave me a conscious image of what lies beyond, of what happens when our souls join the ultimate Oneness. Scientists seem to know a great deal about how animals and birds migrate. I don’t understand much of it, and I prefer seeing the mystery unfolding in real time. I realized that the birds gave me yet another reason to be grateful for this country. The Hula swamps were famously the source of malaria and death for the early pioneers who came with hope of taming the land and building it. But the draining of the swamps, while it solved one

problem, created another. One generation’s heroes created a catastrophe for the ecosystem. Over the years, the remarkable process of “re-swamping” was begun, and the earth was nourished with seeds and other necessities for the flora and fauna. The arrival of the birds, half a billion of them, is a testament to that process. It’s still in process. But with no concern for geopolitics or pandemics, these birds really want to be here! Like so many aspects of life in this country, there is much that needs fixing and much that is so inspiringly right. Judy Mars Kupchan is an olah to Israel from Chicago. She is a retired CEO of the Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning and a Jewish educator for more than 40 years in the U.S. This essay first appeared in Times of Israel.

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PURELY COMMENTARY essay

The Rise of Privatized Judaism: What It Is and What It Means

The Jewish Studio Project is a platform encouraging art projects.

ERIN TARICA STEVEN WINDMUELLER, PH.D.

ews are a communal people, with a collective set of rituals and traditions. Ours has been a culture of assembly, as symbolized by the centrality of the synagogue and the shared focus around celebrated holidays and festivals of Passover, Yom Kippur and Chanukah. We gather, we pray with a minyan, we eat, we learn, we celebrate simchahs and we mourn, all in a communal way. As COVID-19 took hold in the U.S. in March 2020, our home life became more grooved

and separated us more than ever — children in the home, single, partnered with no children, young adulthood, older adulthood. In many ways, we were no longer geographically bound; we had lost the casual nature of our social interactions and most of our regular Jewish activities outside the home ceased. Pushed toward isolation, our response has been to reach for connection. Within weeks of this pandemic shutdown, Jews with access and ability to use

the internet found themselves gathering in virtual spaces. With bountiful entry to all things virtual — lectures, classes, gatherings, prayer, children’s programming, etc. — we were able to sample and explore the creative array of online opportunities. This imaginative response builds on a three-decades-long renaissance in Jewish life. While COVID-19 did not launch this

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DECEMBER 23 • 2021

creative Jewish moment, it most certainly accelerated both its pace and substance. Still amidst the pandemic, Judaism remains a communal experience. As the height of the pandemic in the U.S. receded, affording more opportunities to once again be together in person, many Jews remain increasingly drawn to virtual connection. This abundant opportunity to hold a fundamentally 1942 - 2021 Covering and Connecting Jewish Detroit Every Week

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michprobate.com strong Jewish identity and virtually gather with other Jews serves as a conduit for a high degree of independent learning and engagement. We believe that the emergence of these online platforms has personalized in many ways one’s Jewish encounter. The climate is now primed for a decentralized membership structure making way for a communal yet individualized model. In this essay, we examine a number of individualized Jewish platforms. Indeed, there are today hundreds of such extraordinary and innovative websites available to an inquiring audience of seekers. Among these myriad activities, we focus on: • Sites that encourage onetime virtual learnings/gatherings. • Sites that provide information (i.e. Jewish texts, shivah ritual information) that then lead to communal experiences. • Sites that provide some or all of the above and have developed membership models or other paths to ongoing consistent interaction. A SAMPLING OF WHAT’S OUT THERE Judaism Unbound, a digitally driven, radically open center for education, has been actively grappling with larger paradigm shifts and experimenting with an array of communal offerings. At the Well provides, among other learning and gathering opportunities, tools for women to create Well Circles, independently run groups of 6-12 women, based on the rituals of Rosh Chodesh. Remote Shiva helps mourners who are not able to

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have a traditional in-person shivah, to recreate this experience as easily as possible online. The Yiddish Book Center offers access to all avenues of Yiddish materials, permitting the individual to explore the richness of Eastern European culture. Jewish Studio Project combines creative practices from the field of art therapy with Jewish learning techniques and spiritual community building. Custom & Craft is a platform for DIY Jewish life and ritual. One can create and publish one’s holiday service or lifecycle event to craft an experience that reflects one’s Jewish values and spiritual practice. Institute for Jewish Spirituality offers programs and resources to cultivate mindfulness, deepen connection and enliven Jewish life. Hadar empowers Jews to create and sustain vibrant, practicing, egalitarian communities of Torah, Avodah and Hesed. Maor Intelligent Solutions, a technology firm, provides online resource materials for Jewish study and exchange. Two particular examples of this format are Knowledge Source and Tikun Teacher. My Jewish Learning provides resources for life-cycle events and Jewish study for all continued on page 8

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PURELY COMMENTARY continued from page 7

ages. The site also provides a daily guide to Zoom events, livestreams and other online resources. Truvie enhances and complements Jewish education for children across the globe by enabling one to create an online Jewish learning experience. Jewish Music Stream is one of a number of platforms offering a broad choice of Jewish musical selections, artists and performances. Foundation for Jewish Camping serves as a repository and resource for the Jewish camping field by providing interested parents and kids with an array of information about camping, the options and types of Jewish camps. Hazon’s website affords individuals access to Jewish resources, texts and ways to become involved in addressing environmental issues. Beyond these particular platforms, consumers have the opportunity to virtually tour Jewish museums, attend Jewish film festivals and participate in cooking classes, among hundreds of other learning opportunities. UNDERSTANDING THE RISE OF INDIVIDUALISM COVID-19 accelerated a long-existing trend toward individualized engagement. Every demographic study on American Jews over the past 30 years confirms the growing diversity of our community, contributing to changes associated with personalized consumer selections. Already in 1987, Stephen Hart, in his article on “Privatization in American Religion and Society” advanced this concept on privatization in connection with American religion. Hart writes, “That is, within a privatized religious context, people can still have a vital inner spiritual life, can still attend church faithfully, and can even contribute money generously and participate in the organizational life of the church. Societal levels of religious belief and practice can be high. So, what we are talking about is not that privatization undermines religion, but that it empties religion of meanings which connect us to each other or to our collective life in non-instrumental ways and deprives

DECEMBER 23 • 2021

COVID had made online learning and gathering more comfortable for many Jews.

American society of the resources such meanings provide.” A 2017 study on spirituality vs. religious affiliation conducted by the Pew Research Center offers some interesting insights. It affirms that more informal, personalized forms of spiritual practice increasingly reflect the choices people are making. The rise of “radical individualism” within American culture and practice contributes to these diverse and personalized expressions of Judaism, especially during this pandemic. The study highlights, “Most new offerings are built on the strong foundation of great innovations like artificial intelligence and smartphones. So, this time around, an innovative force with several times the impact of the printing press is rapidly ushering in an all-new age of the individual.” Similarly, Thomas Talhelm, associate professor of behavioral science, University of Chicago, observed: “The enormous geographic footprint of the U.S. lends itself to the ideals of an individualistic society.” Charles Lippy also posits in his book, Being Religious, American Style, that the movement to individualized religious and cultural practices is American in character and has been developing for some time, especially among women. The idea of “private devotion and home-based ritual” represents another derivative of this growing phenomenon of personalized religion.

Judaism has not been immune to these trends. As Steven Windmueller notes, “The new American Jew will cast a fundamentally different image: highly individualized, with distinctive loyalties and discrete sets of interests. Individuality will be the defining characteristic of this new species.” Elsewhere, Windmueller has argued, “We are no longer one community but rather can be described as multiple pods or communities. Where once there was a shared consensus about the Jewish story, today each individual is constructing their own Jewish storyline. The collective mythology has given way to a variety of communal narratives.” Choice and diversity are dominant themes in 21st-century American Jewry. Choice is reflected in the broader cultural behaviors of this generation of Americans. How one defines or describes one’s Jewishness reflects the imprint of these various social forces and the existing consumer mindset. Although holding as a steady, albeit struggling, collective, we have also seen a growing diversity of our community. This diversity of Jewish identity has played out via engagement with particular slices of identity and interest. People are drawn to film, arts, youth groups, education, the Holocaust and antisemitism, IsraelPalestinian issues, the Hillel movement, culinary, environment, history, music,

Remote Shiva is a platform for virtual shivahs.

among other areas. A recent report, “Jewish Chicago: Who We Are: A 2020 Population Study,” reinforces this movement toward privatized Judaism. It states, “Jewish life extends beyond organizational boundaries to activities that take place in the home, with friends and online. Examples of individual activities include discussing Jewish topics with family or friends; reading Jewish publications; eating Jewish foods; and participating in Jewish-focused culture and entertainment such as movies, TV, books or music. Almost all Jewish adults (91%) discussed a Jewish topic in the past year with family or friends, and just under one third (31%) discussed a Jewish topic frequently. Almost as many Jewish adults (88%) ate Jewish food in the past year. More than 82% of Jewish adults engaged in Jewish-focused culture. Just under three quarters of Jewish adults (73%) read at least one Jewish publication. Individuals in the personal engagement group tend not to be members of Jewish organizations or attend Jewish organization-sponsored programs but did engage in Jewish personal activities. Eighty-two percent of those in the ‘personal engagement’ group discussed a Jewish topic with friends or family, 74% ate a Jewish food, 59% engaged in Jewish culture, and 41% read at least one Jewish publication.”

THE GENERATIONAL FACTOR The current structural shifts taking place within Jewish life are driven by two primary factors: New generations of American Jews and the availability of new funding streams. The direction of philanthropic funds has always made clear the priorities of the individual. Millennials, too, are joining these alternative models of Jewish social expression, and new philanthropic investments are being directed toward supporting this appetite of choice. Due in part to their comfort and accessibility with technology, younger Jews are able to practice this type of privatized Judaism with ease. With the absence of in-person gatherings during COVID-19, these behaviors and practices have only accelerated. A new Jewish ecology of websites, organizations and movements has emerged, as a result, in response to the changing generational landscape. Much is about distinctive generational behaviors and practices, suggesting a fundamental shift now in the Jewish community. THE COLLECTIVE VS. THE PERSONAL The boom in online engagement during COVID-19 was not the impetus for this privatized Judaism moment; however, it added significant momentum. Without our physical communal connections, we were forced to rely and reflect on our individual, personal relationship with Jewish life and our respective Jewish identities. The ques-

tion is where does that leave us as we head into a post-pandemic world? We affirm that Judaism is about peoplehood. As Jews, our rituals, observances and identities are impacted by an abundance of factors, life stages, geography, social circles, individual interests and opportunities for engagement. The COVID-19 pandemic, similar to other large cultural and historical events, has shifted the way these elements affect and influence our individual and collective Jewish lives. In this moment where the sovereign-self continues to influence and shape many of the choices we are making around cultural and religious preferences, we are identifying a number of individuals and families who are opting to create personalized, autonomous selections. The layer of virtual vs. in-person experience brings even more complexity to how our communal expectations and individual aspirations remain in tension. As our existential situation altered, the average engaged Jew now faces a familiar choice — apathy or intention. For those of us who choose intention, it means being honest with ourselves. What are we doing out of obligation? What brings us personal meaning? What brings us joy? And where and how do we find connection? This then leads us to our next challenge — how has our sense of belonging in the Jewish community altered? What does it mean at this time to be “with” other Jews? How do we blend these online, individualized opportunities for engagement with a sense of in-person connection? Could our paradigm for Jewish connection and thus identity be changing? How do we encourage the greater good in a polarized society at a time where there exists a heightened focus on every-personfor-themselves mantra? We believe that this will require all of us to understand the better angels and worse demons of human nature. Erin Tarica, LCSW, MAJCS is the former director of the Jewish Care Program of the Jewish Federation of New Mexico, and Steven Windmueller, Ph.D. is an emeritus professor of Jewish communal studies at the Jack H. Skirball Campus of Hebrew Union CollegeJewish Institute of Religion, Los Angeles. This essay first appeared on ejewishphilanthropy.com on Dec. 9. DECEMBER 23 • 2021

PURELY COMMENTARY essay

Ohio Governor Takes Initiative to Protect Jewish College Students

magine sending your Jewish son or daughter off to college with high hopes for intellectual development, self-discovery and growth in a healthy environment because you believe in the school and that its promotion of diversity and inclusion Tony Katz will ensure a jns.org safe space for young people. Only then do you learn that Jewish students are being made to feel so insecure that they need to hide their Jewish identity. Statistics on campus antisemitism cannot be ignored. According to a fall survey by the American Jewish Committee (the State of Antisemitism in America 2021), close to seven out of every 10 Jewish students on campus feel unsafe, and 50 percent hide their Jewish identity. The ADL-Hillel Campus Antisemitism Study: 2021 supports these findings: 43 percent of Jewish students report having personally experienced or witnessed antisemitic activities on campus. For those experiencing in-person offensive comments or slurs, 79 percent say it happened more than once.

DECEMBER 23 • 2021

These percentages are likely low, as 75 percent of those experiencing antisemitism say they did not report it. If you think this is outlier data, the overall situation for Jews in this country, regardless of age, is shockingly bad and getting worse. The New York City Police Department has just reported a 50 percent spike in antisemitic hate crimes so far in 2021. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has decided to address on-campus antisemitism in his state. He reached out directly to 111 presidents of colleges and universities, and publicly suggested a series of specific recommendations to them on what to do, thus creating visible public pressure on the colleges and universities to actually follow through with concrete actions. DeWine’s suggestions are far-reaching and encompass every key constituency to effect positive change on this problem. They include: • Identifying and contacting the Jewish community in each college location to work with the institution on specific plans to ensure a safe environment, online and off. • Directly reaching the highest-ranking officer at each institution to secure their personal commitment

to address the scourge of Jew-hatred as a priority and to speak out publicly against it, while urging only free, open, civil and respectful debate from all on-campus communities. • Contacting campus chiefs of police and public safety directors to work with the Jewish communities and coordinate with local and state law enforcement to develop and refine specific plans to increase safety, protect the Jewish community, and work to ensure that services and other celebrations of Jewish life are safe and uninterrupted. These recommended steps can and should be a model for every other governor to follow in every state across the union. The safety and well-being of our Jewish students in colleges across America require nothing less than forceful action against surging Jew-hatred. Some may ask, “Why are Jewish students being singled out for special protections or given a higher priority than others? Won’t this ostensible ‘preference’ present political challenges for governors?” It is true that too many on campus today are subjected to derision, intimidation, hate speech or even violence due to their race, religion, political beliefs or other personal preferences.

Colleges have started to take steps to address some of these through increased and more focused policing as well as through diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs. Too often on campus, hostility and intimidation of Jewish students are related to their support of Israel. This is excused as a free speech issue, a political matter. Yet no one would excuse hostility toward any group of students because of actions or policies of nations they come from or support. Jew-hatred is not limited to universities. The FBI’s 2020 statistics show that of all hate crimes in America, targeting Jews comprised 57.5 percent, far more than people of any other religious group. DeWine’s actions represent an important step in the equal treatment of Jews on campus and are consistent with how other minorities are protected. His actions provide a model framework for all governors. Jewish civil rights, especially for our Jewish youth, deserve the support of all those who really care about equality, inclusion and a safe learning environment on campus. Tony Katz is the founder of the Confronting Anti-Semitism Network (CAN) in South Florida, Atlanta, New York City/Long Island, Boston and Indianapolis.

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DECEMBER 23 • 2021

Rabbi Joey Krakoff and Gladys Sampson hold hands.

Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy expands services to enrich life and help the bereaved. SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER JERRY ZOLYNSKY PHOTOGRAPHY

he diagnosis of a severe or life-threatening illness can be overwhelming. Since 1999, Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy Network (JHCN) has helped thousands of Detroit-area Jewish patients and their families cope with spiritual and medical needs during a vulnerable time. With the commitment that “No Jew Is Alone,” Jewish Hospice has provided spiritual guidance, medical coordination and, more recently, life enrichment to those with severe and terminal illnesses. The idea for a Jewish hospice originated when David Techner, funeral director of Ira Kaufman Chapel, was serving as the only Jewish member of the Hospice of Michigan board. Hospice of Michigan was starting to work with more Jewish families and asked Techner to recommend a rabbi who could assist them. He recommended Rabbi E. B. “Bunny” Freedman, who began working with Hospice of Michigan. The hospice movement was growing in the late 1980s and early 1990s, but it had a Christian orientation, Freedman explains. “There was nothing for Jewish people. At the end of life, people start contemplating spiritual issues.” Techner saw “a gap and need,” and Freedman responded by developing a program for Jewish patients at Hospice of Michigan. Over time, Freedman began helping other hospice organizations with Jewish patients and decided that the Jewish community should organize its own hospice services. It began with a “soft start” in 1989-90, he says. Then, in 1991, a nonprofit organization was established to provide supportive and spiritual care to Jewish patients and families. Jewish Hospice is not a medical hospice but has strong connections with medical hospices, home health agencies, and a variety of other medical and supportive services. AN ARRAY OF SERVICES “With one phone call, a patient or family member can access a basket of services. Natalie Rosenfield, director of patient care, will help them find a hospice that will do a medical assessment. A rabbi will visit within 72 hours, unless declined. Patients are asked if there is a rabbi in their lives and, if so, we provide backup, if desired,” explains Rabbi Joseph “Joey” Krakoff, senior director at JHCN. “JHCN helps with end-of-life conversations and surrounds people with love,” he says. In addition, the staff helps with management of continued on page 14 DECEMBER 23 • 2021

OUR COMMUNITY continued from page 13

pain and other symptoms, as well as spiritual needs. Patients include both those receiving palliative and hospice care. Palliative care patients may be severely ill with Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, MS, cancer or heart disease. These patients may be in a pre-hospice situation and bringing them into the agency sooner through its LifeLinks program provides a more seamless transition when they become hospice patients, Krakoff explains. Rosenfield explains that the term hospice generally refers to individuals whose life spans are expected to be six months or less. Some patients don’t meet the criteria for hospice or may not be emotionally ready for it, and some patients improve enough to move off of hospice care. Regardless of their diagnosis, patients receive individualized services, including spiritual guidance appropriate for their personal beliefs, and social work navigation to help with home health care, insurance or medical issues. “Our goal is to see patients every two weeks, but it can be every day depending on their needs. We are always asking what more we can do,” Krakoff says. JHCN also helps educate caregivers with an annual conference — the Caring Coalition Conference. For several years, JHCN has provided enrichment programs — bringing music, art, salon services, pet visits, tai chi and the opportunity to create legacy books to patients. This program “changed the face of the organization. It made us an organization more about life and less about death,” Krakoff says. With the exception of the COVID lockdown period, JHCN staff visit and help patients wherever they are — at home, in assisted living facilities, a nursing home or hospital. During the COVID lockdown, virtual visits and Zoom meetings were used to connect patients, families, staff and volunteers to maintain vital support and connections. “We reached out more, including providing an opportunity for out-of-town family members to join in end-of-life prayers online,” Rosenfield says. NO-FEE MODEL From its inception, Freedman chose not to bill government agencies, insurance plans, other hospices or patients for JHCN services. “We had a wonderful staff, and if you create goodwill, it will come back to you,” he says. Freedman’s funding model of reliance on philanthropy has continued. Krakoff says that it relies on the “kindness and philanthropy of this Jewish community.” He says that about 30 percent of patients

DECEMBER 23 • 2021

Rabbi Davey Rosen of Ann Arbor, Natalie Rosenfield of Walled Lake, Rabbi Joseph “Joey” Krakoff of West Bloomfield, Rabbi E.B. “Bunny” Freedman of Oak Park, Rabbi Rachel Lawson Shere of West Bloomfield and Rabbi Shalom Freedman of Oak Park.

Gladys Sampson of West Bloomfield sits with Rabbi Joey Krakoff in her apartment and talks about their past and friends they have known.

MONNI MUST

and their families contribute to Jewish Hospice and the remainder of its budget — just over $2 million annually — is covered by other donors and foundations, including the Jewish Fund. Jewish Fund Executive Director Margo Pernick says the Jewish Fund has provided more than $1.5 million in grants over the years to Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy, mainly for programs and capacity building. A recent grant will be used for training rabbis. Pernick says that Jewish Hospice “aligned super well with the Jewish Fund’s goal of focusing on the health and welfare he Jewish community. The

Carole Lasser enjoyed JHCN’s music enrichment program. Here she is in the 20162017 JHCN Annual Campaign brochure.

organization is healthy and Shere, representing a range of well-run. They don’t charge Jewish movements, will join for services, which is not its staff. Freedman will help typical, but they’ve been suctrain the new rabbis and focus cessful.” on building an endowment Krakoff is especially proud for JHCN. In addition, he will that the Jewish Fund has seek ways to spread the JHCN twice honored JHCN with model to other Jewish commuits Robert Sosnick Award nities. Rabbi Joseph H. of Excellence, most recently Shalom Freedman will focus Krakoff with its 2021 Award for its on operations, marketing and LifeLinks and enrichment development. Rosen will conprograms. Jewish Hospice is the only centrate on education and outreach with Jewish agency to receive this award community members — expanding parttwice. nerships with synagogues, and temples, Pernick concurs with Krakoff ’s clergy and Jewish communal organizadescription of Jewish Hospice services — tions, and others. that it’s about achieving the highest qualShere will be starting a bereavement ity of life regardless of the stage a patient program, conducting several different is experiencing — not about dying. types of bereavement groups for JHCN. She will also lead study sessions UPCOMING TRANSITION focused on Jewish belief and practice Now Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy is surrounding death and escorting the going through a transition and expansoul. sion. This January, Freedman will retire Krakoff believes these changes — from his CEO position and serve as CEO dubbed the JHCN 2.0 Model — will emeritus and senior advisor. Three other help ensure the organization’s successful JHCN rabbis — David Nelson, Avie future for the next 20 years and beyond. Shapiro and A. Irving Schipper — are Techner, JHCN’s founding retiring as well. president, who continues as a board Krakoff will become CEO of JHCN member, describes Jewish Hospice and three new rabbis — Shalom as a “wonderful organization with an Freedman, Davey Rosen and Rachel amazing team.”

Family Members are Grateful for Jewish Hospice Services at a Difficult Time When an individual learns of a severe or terminal illness, the patient and family members may be overwhelmed with anxiety and sadness about the future, as well as the potential need to arrange specialized care, medical equipment and other supportive services. Ellen Kirshenbaum of Farmington Hills and her parents connected with

Jewish Hospice when her parents, both in their 90s, had terminal diagnoses. She needed advice and help. “They came right out — they were so responsive, so helpful at the end of life. They offered a better quality of life and more time,” she says. Initially her parents were part of Hospice’s palliative care program. They received help at home, including

music therapy, which they both enjoyed. Pastoral care was provided weekly or every other week. “We were very grateful for their great response.” Mitchell Bleznak of Birmingham contacted Jewish Hospice to help him with his late father, Richard, who lived in Arizona and had “significant dementia issues.” The distance made it difficult to manage his

care. Bleznak says Jewish Hospice staff provided “emotional support to make good decisions and provide dignified care” for his father. “Family members want to think they’re doing what their parents would want. The beauty is that (Jewish Hospice) they are able to help the family satisfy their needs by providing resources in the community.” DECEMBER DECEMBER 23 23 •• 2021 2021

15 15

OUR COMMUNITY

Living On Edge

Threats of violence cause school closures and lockdowns. STACY GITTLEMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

WBHS

hreats of violence to schools continue to put Oakland County law enforcement and school officials on high alert and parents on edge. The latest: Early Monday morning Dec. 13, West Bloomfield High School, West Bloomfield Middle School and the Transition Center went into lockdown after threats on social media surfaced on platforms like Instagram. No one was permitted to enter or exit the buildings. According to West Bloomfield Deputy Police Chief Curt Lawson, police were notified of the threat around 7:40 a.m. Monday by district administrators who had become aware of a post circulating on social media that said, “Warning: I’m coming to shoot up West Bloomfield tomorrow. I’m coming for Oakside and some more schools.” In a statement released by West Bloomfield Schools to district families, the district urged: “Please do not come and pick up your children as they will not be released from school until the threat is cleared. West Bloomfield Police Department is investigating a social media threat directed toward West Bloomfield. We will not be passing classes or allowing students in or out of the building until we get further updates from WBPD.” The statement continued that school would be canceled “in abundance of caution” for Roosevelt, Scotch and Gretchko elementary schools. Doherty

and Shieko, whose students were arriving to school at the time of the reported threat, went into lockdown once students were in school, where no one was to be permitted into or out of the building for any reason. All preschools in the district that had yet to begin were closed that day by 8:30 a.m. Since the fatal Nov. 30 Oxford High School mass shooting, over a dozen people, some minors, have been charged in Metro Detroit in connection to school threats or bringing weapons to school. The common charge after a threat is “false report or threat of terrorism” and carries a 20-year felony. School officials in Oakland County are urging students to use Michigan’s OK2SAY initiative to confidentially report potential harm or criminal activities aimed at students, teachers,

OK2SAY Tips can be submitted 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week in the following ways: • Telephone: 8-555-OK2SAY (855-565-2729) • Text: 652729 (OK2SAY) • Email: ok2say@mi.gov • Website: ok2say.com • OK2SAY Mobile app: Available in the Apple Store or Google Play.

DECEMBER 23 • 2021

staff or other school employees. Tips go to schools, local law enforcement agencies, community mental health agencies or the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. On Dec. 9, the Bloomfield Township Police Department received an OK2SAY tip regarding a threat to the high school that included the name of a student that allegedly made the threat. The township’s police department school security officer and school liaison officer launched an investigation that resulted in the arrest of a 15-year-old Bloomfield Hills High School student. No weapons were found during a search of the student’s home. On Dec. 10, the student was arraigned on the charge of threatening to commit violence against students or employees on school property. The charge is a one-year misdemeanor. Noah Arbit, 26, a West Bloomfield resident running for state representative, said if elected to serve in Lansing, he would work “relentlessly” to secure increased resources dedicated to school safety. Arbit said that lockdown drills and threats of school violence for his generation and beyond have become a way of life and little has been done at

governmental levels to create laws that will lessen the threat of gun violence. “It is unconscionable that this is how the situation has devolved,” Arbit said. “We have been able to protect airports and other public institutions, and schools have not been prioritized.” POSSIBLE FALSE ALARM On Monday afternoon, West Bloomfield Deputy Chief Curt Lawson said the image of the threat was created on SnapChat, at first in a closed group, and then shared multiple times and spread over Instagram. It is not clear from where the image originated or even if the threatening message was intended for West Bloomfield High School or Oakdale

Academy in Waterford or other schools with similar names in another part of the country. Two individuals are currently being investigated and they are both juveniles, Lawson added. “We don’t know where that threat originated from, and it’s going to be somewhat difficult to find out,” Lawson told the JN. “But we do know someone who shared it within a closed group and that’s how we found two individuals. We will determine if they are going to be prosecuted or not, but we do not believe at this time there is a threat that we know of to West Bloomfield Schools.” Lawson said West Bloomfield Police will continue to remain a visible presence on school grounds,

and his investigation teams will also continue to work with school administrators to identify future potential threats. As of now, Lawson said more than 30 different cases in Oakland County have been forwarded to the Oakland County prosecutor’s office that involve threats of violence to schools. Ilanit Atias, whose son attends Seaholm High School in Birmingham, said she has taught him to be in “highalert mode” while in school and to pay attention to his surroundings when passing in the hall “just in case.” “I tell him, ‘You can check your phone in class, but when you are walking between classes, be alert,’” said Atias, an Israeli who has lived in the

United States for the past two years. She added that she never thought she would have to utilize her training learned in the Israeli Defense Forces now that she lives in the United States. “I have to take all my soldier skills and teach them to my son, even though we don’t live in the Middle East, and that is just sad. There needs to be a way to allow for the creation of an executive order that expels children or prevents them from ever learning in an in-person classroom setting if there are continued threats that terrorize the lives of our children.” All West Bloomfield schools will be going virtual and will resume in-person instruction on Jan. 3.

This past year has given us a lot of . We’ll give you somewhere to turn.

tsuris

You don’t have to know Yiddish to know Jewish Family Service. We’re here to serve the whole community by connecting people to our wide range of services including counseling, transportation, financial assistance and services that meet the needs of older adults. To see all the ways we can help, visit jfsdetroit.org or call our Resource Center at 248.592.2313.

DECEMBER 23 • 2021

OUR COMMUNITY

Gun Ownership Local gun owners’ group hopes to gain members in the wake of the Oxford High shooting.

Locking guns before storing them can keep children safer.

STACY GITTLEMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

T GAGE SKIDMORE VIA WIKIPEDIA

hough it faced obstacles gaining a foothold with in-person meetings, seminars and training opportunities due to the pandemic, the Michigan chapter of Giffords Gun Owners for Safety (Giffords) — in the aftermath of the horrific Oxford High School mass shooting — hopes to grow its membership of gun owners in 2022. The goal is to teach them the responsibilities of gun safety and handling while advocating for sensible gun control policy changes at the local and national level. Giffords is growing and has chapters in seven states. Giffords was founded by former Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, a lifelong gun owner, who in 2011 was shot in the Gabrielle head by a mass shooter while Giffords greeting constituents in an Arizona shopping center parking lot. Six people died in the attack and 13 were

DECEMBER 23 • 2021

wounded. Giffords built her organization around its mission of valuing gun ownership and the Second Amendment as well as pushing for reforms in gun control to save the thousands of lives that are lost in the United States each year to gun violence. Giffords spent years relearning how to walk, talk and regain her mobility and cognitive skills. Recently, she celebrated becoming a bat mitzvah at her hometown synagogue in Tucson. “My heart breaks knowing three high school students in Michigan will never receive their diplomas because their lives were taken in a senseless act of gun violence,” Giffords told the JN in a released statement regarding Oxford. (Since then, another student died.) “Their families and their community will never be the same.” Giffords added that all the outrage and heartbreak over mass shooting deaths will make no difference if politicians at state and federal levels refuse to act to instate stricter

gun control measures. “Every day that our country does not pass lifesaving gun laws is another day that we fail our children. This tragedy didn’t have to happen. It’s long past time for our elected leaders to stand up to the gun lobby and pass commonsense gun safety laws. Our children’s lives — all of our lives — depend on it,” she wrote. REFORMS PROPOSED IN STATE LEGISLATURE The Michigan chapter is headed by newspaper journalist-turned-privateinvestigator Jonathan Gold. A gun owner and firearms instructor with more than 25 years of experience, Gold has used his activism calling Jonathan for gun control reform ever Gold since the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. A member of Moms Demand Action

before beginning the Michigan Giffords chapter, the Novi resident was the victim of a shooting while investigating a drug sale, has lost friends to self-inflicted gunshots and knew victims in the 2016 Orlando Pulse nightclub mass shooting. He said most of the country’s gun owners want to see common sense gun control reform to avoid yet another mass or school shooting as witnessed in Oxford, but Republicans in Lansing are impeding legislation from moving forward. “The Republicans in Lansing will not let policy reform on guns get out of committee,” said Gold, 51, of Novi. “They will not let them be heard on the state floor, and we are talking about common sense things like making sure weapons are locked and kept away, and those who are convicted of a domestic violence felony should not be allowed to purchase a gun.” Examples of such legislation, which have been proposed by the Michigan Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention Caucus since 2016, include requiring guns to be properly stowed and locked, barring those convicted of domestic abuse from purchasing a gun, and implementing in Michigan the Red Flag law, which allows courts or law enforcement to confiscate guns from owners if there is proof the gun owner could be of danger to themselves or others. Red Flag laws exist in civil courts to temporarily take away the firearms of a loved one in a mental health crisis who may harm themselves or others. According to Pew Charitable Trusts, as of 2021, 19 states and the District of Columbia have adopted Red Flag laws. Fourteen of those laws came after the 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Florida. In further efforts, the Michigan Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention, chaired by Sen. Rosemary Bayer (D–Beverly Hills) and Rep. Brenda Carter (D-Pontiac), announced the introduction of more bills that might help prevent future gun violence and tragedies on Dec. 9. Senate Bills 785 and 786, introduced by Sens. Bayer and Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield), respectively, and House Bills 5627 and 5628, introduced by Reps. Cynthia A. Johnson (D-Detroit) and Carter, would prohibit selling or possessing a magazine capable of holding more than 10

rounds of ammunition, beginning on Jan. 1, 2023. Currently in Michigan, semiautomatic firearms with high-capacity magazines can be purchased without any background check or sale record. GUN OWNERS SPEAK OUT According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 2020 more than 45,000 people were killed by guns, a 15 percent increase from 2019. In 2019, the CDC reported 38,826 gun-related deaths nationwide; in Michigan in 2019, there were 1,187 gun deaths. About 60 percent of these deaths were suicides. “Responsible gun owners have to come out and come to the table to clean up the mess that has been created by irresponsible gun culture,” Gold said. “As responsible gun owners, we believe that the public safety is just as important as our Second Amendment rights, and that means handling and storing guns in a safe responsible manner. It also means that it is not acceptable to open carry a weapon to the grounds of a state capitol or to a protest to intimidate politicians or those expressing their First Amendment rights. That’s not what it is

about.” Gold said he is averse to gun rights advocates who believe that the Second Amendment cannot be infringed upon, though it is written as such in the Constitution. “There is not one Amendment in the Constitution that has not been interpreted or regulated,” said Gold. “For example, one cannot practice their freedom of speech by yelling fire in a crowded theater. No child should fear for their lives when they are at school. The tragedy in Oxford, Michigan, was preventable. As responsible gun owners, we must stand up to protect children from the devastating effects of gun violence. “Giving a child access to guns, without proper supervision, endangers that child and those around them and possibly the entire community. Responsible gun owners must fight for comprehensive gun safety laws that save lives. Michigan deserves better, our children deserve better and America deserves better.” For more information on upcoming events in Michigan with Giffords, go to www.giffords.org. or email gunowners@giffords.org.

DECEMBER 23 • 2021

OUR COMMUNITY

Denise Kalt, Barbara Wallace and Mindy Salzberg-Siegel, founders of Kneaded with Love.

‘Kneaded’

LAURIE TENNENT

Volunteers

Local nonprofit looks for volunteer bread bakers.

say this with the utmost respect, admiration and, perhaps most importantly, the permission of bakers Mindy Salzberg-Siegel, Denise Kalt and Barbara Wallace, when I suggest that they are three “kneady” women. They’ve earned that distinction having just spent the last 10 months in their own kitchens kneading dough, baking, packaging and donating healthy breads to Alan Detroit-area food pantries Muskovitz through their nonprofit Contributing Writer Kneaded with Love. The women though, along with more than 70 area volunteer bakers of homemade breads, are

DECEMBER 23 • 2021

fulfilling a much-needed need of needing more kneaders. OK, enough of this half-baked word play. I’ll tell you how you can be of help (see sidebar), but first, some back story. Mindy, Denise and Barbara — of Birmingham, Franklin and Huntington Woods respectively — have always enjoyed baking and cooking. Like for so many, the pandemic and resulting shutdowns in early 2020 found them preparing more meals at home. The three further honed their culinary skills by participating in Zingerman’s Bakehouse online baking and cooking classes. Also, Salzberg-Siegel, Kalt and Wallace are members of Congregation Shaarey

Zedek (CSZ) and took advantage of Zoom challah baking classes offered by Rebecca Starr, CSZ’s rebbetzin and director of regional programs of the Shalom Hartman Institute, a leading center of Jewish thought and education serving Israel and North America. Starr has donated her baking skills, as well, to the Kneaded with Love cause. After months of feeding family and friends, with plenty extra loaves to spare, the three women were struck by the desperation they were witnessing on pandemic news reports and began thinking about how their skill sets could contribute to the greater good of the community. “Every day on the news, we’re seeing people out of work and car lines backed up at food pantries,” Mindy said. Then, in January 2021, she caught a segment on NBC’s Today Show about food insecurity in our country that changed everything. The network morning show featured a Seattle-based nonprofit called Community Loaves, “a grassroots bread brigade, baking and delivering homemade honey oat sandwich loaves in support of our overstretched food pantries.” The inspiration for Kneaded with Love was born. GETTING IT OFF THE GROUND In a matter of days, a letter of introduction about their charitable efforts and an appeal for volunteer bakers was sent to their personal contacts. Thanks to a robust response, Kneaded with Love was able to begin delivering fresh baked breads by the end of March and, twice a month there after, to two area food pantries — Open

Hands Food Pantry in Royal Oak and Second New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Royal Oak Township. The goal is to greatly expand the number of food pantries benefiting from the bread deliveries, but first things first. While the list of volunteers has grown to more than 70, the consistency of participation can wane, leaving holes in the schedules for committed bakers. “We have one core group of people,” Barbara said, “and it really hasn’t grown. Everybody wants to donate money, but we’re not set up for charitable giving at this time.” In other words, this grassroots effort can’t except “dough,” but they sure could use help kneading it. Licensing issues, certification and lack of commercial kitchen accessibility because of COVID has truly made this a homemade effort. “All it really only takes is about a four-hour commitment, once or twice a month, from the comfort of one’s own kitchen,” Denise said. Through research and tweaking of existing recipes found on the internet, Kneaded with Love has created two breads that are uniquely theirs. Volunteer bakers are provided a specific list of ingredients to purchase while the three founders of Kneaded with Love cover the cost of bags, labels and decorative ribbon for packaging. And they’ve gone to great lengths to make the whole process, from start to finish, as easy and simple as possible. Written recipes on their website are accompanied by video presentations, providing step-by-step instructions, from preparation to packaging, for the hearty, whole grain/whole wheat, no sugar added, high-protein bread choices.

Here’s the recipe to volunteer your time: 1. Go to https:// kneadedwithlove.com. 2. Click on the “Baking Dates” dropdown tab to commit to one or both of the Fridays offered per month. You can bake two or four loaves per date. 3. A designated Kneaded by Love home in the area will

be provided for bread dropoffs. 4. To ensure freshness, breads are delivered to pantries the next day (Saturday). 5. Email questions to: kneadedwithlove1@gmail. com. Follow Kneaded with Love on Facebook and Instagram.

Kneaded with Love volunteer baker Jennifer LoPatin

ALAN MUSKOVITZ

Lots of loaves made with lots of love

KNEADED WITH LOVE

How to Volunteer

Said Barbara of the final product, “Open Hands Food Pantry once told me that people are so appreciative of how wonderful our breads are that they choose our loaves over the storebought manufactured brands also made available to them.”

They say life is easier when you don’t have “too many cooks in the kitchen,” but too many bakers? “Kneadless” to say, that’s a problem Kneaded with Love will gladly welcome, especially at this giving time of year. DECEMBER 23 • 2021

Just a small part of the Bassatine cemetery that has been unearthed after decades of neglect.

Reclaiming History Local woman works to help restore Egypt’s Jewish cemeteries.

STACY GITTLEMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

hen Nancy Berman of Huntington Woods travels, she puts visiting Jewish historical sites on her itinerary. On a 2018 trip to Spain, she was hard pressed, however, to find any historical markers of Spanish Jewry. There was no mention or physical reminder of the persecution of Jews during the Inquisition. Nothing to mark the expulsion of all the country’s Jews in 1492. “It saddened me that there was not a single memorial or plaque that gave any indication that a Jewish community in Spain once existed,” said Berman, 47, who has spent decades in Jewish Detroit leadership roles, most notably being past president for Yad Ezra. “When I returned home, I thought there must be something I can do

to get involved to change this. But I was told I would need to have connections in the government, which I did not, so I felt in some ways I hit a dead end.” Though her efforts to preserve the presence of Jewish history in Spain have yet to be fulfilled, her tenacity did lead her in 2019 to connect with Joseph Douek, a New York City businessman and philanthropist of Egyptian Jewish descent who, in May 2020, was appointed by the Trump Administration as commissioner of the United States Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad. Now, Berman is working with Douek and the remaining two Jews in Egypt to raise more than $1 million to preserve and restore the Jewish cemeteries of Cairo. Before (left) and after the cleanup

DECEMBER 23 • 2021

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NANCY BERMAN

OUR COMMUNITY On Oct. 18-21, Berman traveled to Egypt with Douek to meet with high-level government officials there and to see the cemeteries for herself, and document them with photographs and video for her fundraising efforts. She also met with Jonathan Cohen, U.S. Ambassador to Egypt, toured Cairo, met other Egyptians and explored ancient Jewish sites in Alexandria where the Egyptian government had restored an ancient synagogue. “My trip to Egypt was like walking through Jewish history,” Berman said. “There is a high educational value in learning about Jewish communities that once flourished and existed, such as the ones in Egypt and Spain. Many of the older people I met remembered the times when there was Jewish life in Egypt. They are heartbroken that all that are left of their Jewish friends and neighbors are the beautiful synagogues and cemeteries. PRESERVING HISTORY “There are things we can do as individuals to make an impact to preserve Jewish history so future generations can come one day and learn and see for themselves about the Jewish community that was once there.” Berman said much could be learned from wandering the Jewish burial grounds — there are three in Cairo — and learning about the prominent Jews interred there. The world’s second oldest Jewish cemetery, only to the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, the Bassatine cemetery of Cairo was established in the late ninth century by the Sultan Ahmed ibn Touloun. At the time, it was located on a remote desert 50 miles east of the city and spanned 145 acres. Visitors still come to visit the grave

of the 15th-century Torah scholar Rabbi Kapusi and the tomb of the Mosseri family, a prominent clan that came to Egypt from Italy in the 1700s. Its members founded the country’s Zionist Organization chapter in 1917 and financed the building of Jerusalem’s King David Hotel. Through time, Cairo’s footprint and population rapidly ballooned. In 1950, the city had 2 million people, compared to its present-day population of 21 million. In the 1930s and 1940s, the years leading up to the creation of the modern State of Israel, the Jewish community in Cairo was 80,000 strong and Jews were involved in every part of Egyptian culture and society. But, after 1948, most of Egypt’s Jews left or were driven out. Cairo’s neighborhoods expanded around and even encroached into the land of the Jewish cemeteries with roads and makeshift buildings. The marble gravestones of Jewish graves were looted, and the cemeteries became dumping grounds for Cairo’s garbage and sewerage. Of the hundreds of acres that were once

the cemetery, only 38 acres remain. And there are just two Jews left in all of Egypt to look after and care for the Bassatine, Fostat and Karaite cemeteries. There have been past efforts of diplomacy and work to restore and preserve the burial grounds dating back to the 1970s. But rapid progress took hold when Douek in February 2019 was invited as part of a delegation of two dozen American Jewish leaders to visit Egypt and have a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Douek can trace his family roots back many generations in Egypt. His great-uncle was the last chief rabbi of Egypt. Of the issues brought up to el-Sisi that were of concern to the Jewish American delegation, one was the disrepair and neglect of the cemeteries. In a JN interview with Douek, now New York City planning commissioner, he said within hours of his bequest, el-Sisi had ordered a fleet of trucks to remove the garbage and workers to delicately unearth the

graves. “I was so fortunate to be able to speak personally to el-Sisi and impress upon him why preserving Egypt’s Jewish cemeteries was so important to the Sephardic community in New York, which is made of about 80,000 Jews,” he said. Douek said whether a Jew can trace his or her heritage back to Ashkenazic or Sephardic lineage, every Jew today has a historical connection to the Jewish community that once thrived in Egypt. “There is no doubt that whether you are an Ashkenazi or Sephardi or Mizrachi Jew, somewhere you have an ancestor who lived in Egypt because, centuries ago, that’s how the world was,” Douek said. “Over the centuries, Jews wandered the world for work, for trade or for safety. So, there’s no doubt that every Ashkenazi Jew most likely has an ancestor buried in Egypt, and that’s why this preservation project is so important.” For more information about the Cairo Jewish cemetery project, send an email to contact@atzmotyosef.org.

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DECEMBER 23 • 2021

OUR COMMUNITY

Motown History Detroit History Podcasts showcase Hammerin’ Hank Greenberg and other local Jewish history.

re you a baseball fan? Or interested in Detroit Jewish history? If so, then you will love the latest episode of the Detroit History Podcasts: “Hammerin’ Hank Greenberg. How a Jewish Kid from the Bronx became a Tiger Great.” The Detroit History Podcasts (detroithistorypodcast.com) are the brainchild of Tim Kiska, a professor at the University of MichiganMike Smith Dearborn. Kiska earned his Alene and Ph.D. in history at Wayne Graham Landau Archivist Chair State University in 2003 and specializes in the history of Detroit. Prior to entering academia, he worked in journalism for many years at the Detroit Free Press, Detroit News and WWJ-AM radio. Kiska decided to create the Detroit History Podcasts to “mine this city’s history, telling its story through this town’s cultural, social, political, musical and automotive heritage. Our chosen tool is the podcast.” As Kiska tells it, he “fell in love with this medium after listening to one of Malcolm

DECEMBER 23 • 2021

Tim Kiska and son, Eric, interviewing Detroit Red Wing Hall of Famer Ted Lindsay.

Gladwell’s Revisionist History podcasts. I immediately said: ‘I’ve got to do this. This is an enormously exciting way of telling history.’ My hero is Edward R. Murrow, who once did a program, Hear It Now.” The production of the Detroit History Podcasts is also a family affair. Kiska is the host of each episode, and son, Eric, along with daughter-in-law, Kelley, work on the podcast. Kiska’s good friends also contribute: Bob Koski as associate producer/ audio specialist and Tom Ferguson as copy editor. Kiska launched the Detroit History Podcasts on Dec. 10, 2017. The first episode was “When the Beatles Came to Town,” the story of the Beatles’ two appearances in Detroit in 1964 and 1966. Both shows were wild affairs at Olympia Stadium. The first episode set the audio standard for the podcasts. The introduction to the Beatles episode nicely sums up the Kiska approach to telling history. Along with a solid historical narrative, as he states it: “We’ll listen to the screams when the Fab Four took the stage. We’ll hear Detroit’s intense reaction to the group. And what

Tim Kiska

was up with the jelly beans raining down on stage?” In short, the podcasts relate historically accurate and compelling stories, greatly enhanced with thoughtful and entertaining additions of voices, music and sounds. Because of this formula, the Detroit History Podcast won the “best media” award from the Historical Society of Michigan in 2021. HAMMERIN’ HANK The latest episode of the Detroit History Podcasts about Hank Greenberg is, like

its subject, another winner. It provides the fundamental facts about Greenberg’s life for a solid history of the person, but the audio clips are the major reward for listening to this 23-minute podcast. Listeners will hear contemporary sports announcers call a Greenberg home run during a game, and comment on his character and accomplishments in baseball. Moreover, hear Greenberg himself speak about his feelings for and loyalty toward the Detroit Tigers Baseball Club and the city from a CBS radio broadcast in 1947. As a bonus, you will be treated to Groucho Marx and Bing Crosby singing “Goodbye, Mr. Baseball, Goodbye,” a song to celebrate and anticipate all the home runs Greenberg would hit for the Pittsburgh Pirates after he

was traded from the Tigers in 1947, and hear John Sinclair read the Edgar E. Guest poem “Speaking of Greenberg.” In addition, local sportscaster Eli Zaret and Detroit writer Bill Dow share their Greenberg insights. Why do a podcast on Greenberg? Kiska tells his story: “I initially thought about doing the 1945 Tigers. The more I looked at the 1945 Tigers, the more I realized that the real story was Hank Greenberg. It really hit me how this guy came up in such an era of antisemitism in the 1930s, from Charles Coughlin to Hitler’s rise in Germany. And the more I found out about Greenberg, the more I felt that he deserved recognition. I also figured there may be a number of younger folks — who are the biggest

Hank Greenberg

consumers of podcasts — who would wonder who this guy is.” Several other episodes of Detroit History Podcasts feature Jewish Detroit history. One is about Ossip Gabrilowitsch, who built the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

There are others about Henry Ford and antisemitism, Jonas Salk and the polio vaccine, and Harry Houdini. The Detroit History Podcasts are a real multimedia treat for history lovers. I highly recommend them.

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DECEMBER 23 • 2021

faces&places

State Reps. Padma Kuppa and Samantha Steckloff in discussion with WJBK’s Roop Raj

Interfaith Celebration In December, the Jewish Community Relations Council/American Jewish Committee joined with the Hindu Community Relations Council to host a celebration and discussion exploring the similarities and differences between Chanukah and Diwali. Moderated by WJBK-TV’s Roop Raj, “An Interfaith Festival of Lights: Coming Together for Chanukah and Diwali” featured a conversation

between State Reps. Padma Kuppa (D-41) and Samantha Steckloff (D-37) as they also addressed their experiences and identity as Hindu and Jewish legislators, respectively. Guests at the program, which took place at Sri Sri Radha Gopijana Vallabha Temple in Farmington Hills, enjoyed traditional holiday fare and lit the menorah and diyas, small clay oil lamps lit at festivals, including Diwali.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF JCRC/AJC

JCRC/AJC Board Director Teri Weingarden and Executive Board Member Carol Ogusky

DECEMBER 23 • 2021

JCRC/AJC’s Advocacy Associate Michael Kuper with JCRC/AJC Executive Board Member Carol Ogusky and WJBK-TV’s Roop Raj

JCRC/AJC Executive Director Rabbi Asher Lopatin, State Rep. Padma Kuppa, JCRC/AJC Advocacy Associate Michael Kuper, WJBK-TV’s Roop Raj, State Rep. Samantha Steckloff and Hindu Community Relations Council’s Nasy Sankagiri

SOME WAYNE STATE STUDENTS HAVE A HARD TIME GOING TO SLEEP AT NIGHT. Not because they’re not tired. It’s because they don’t have a place to sleep. When President M. Roy Wilson and his wife, Jacqueline, arrived at Wayne State University, the first lady had a chance encounter with a medical student who was living out of her car. It was then that she decided something had to be done. Mrs. Wilson founded the Helping Individuals Go Higher (HIGH) Program to combat homelessness among Wayne State University students. “Students shouldn’t feel trapped into making a choice of survival or success,” she said. “The HIGH Program was established to provide resources that assist students facing challenges as they pursue their education.” Today, the HIGH Program provides resources like housing support, transportation, child care assistance, textbooks and school supplies, which help students stay on track to graduate. The HIGH Program’s success hasn’t gone unnoticed. It was just recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for its efforts. Thanks to this program, earning a degree is within any student’s grasp. Sometimes, all we need is a little help. To learn more about the HIGH Program and to make a contribution — of any size — visit highprogram.wayne.edu.

DECEMBER 23 • 2021

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DECEMBER 23 • 2021

JARC resident Brian showcases his personalized Chanukah cookies.

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Time for a Tennis Title for Groves

Nine Jewish players help Falcons soar to first team state championship. STEVE STEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

t takes a team effort to win a high school team state championship in tennis. The Birmingham Groves boys tennis team lived up to that statement at the Division 2 state tournament this fall at Hope College. “We had awesome balance. Quality singles and doubles players. Normally a team is weighted one way or the other,” said Groves coach Dave Farmer. Groves singles players scored 14 points at the state tournament. Groves doubles

DECEMBER 23 • 2021

players scored 13 points. Those 27 points were just enough for the Falcons to edge out runner-up Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, the two-time defending state champion, which had 26 points, and give Groves its first team state championship. Groves came close to winning a team state championship in 2017 and 2018, finishing second both years. Nine of the 12 players who filled out Groves’ lineup in this year’s state tournament

ABOVE LEFT: Drew Weitzman (left) and Gabe Klein played No. 4 doubles for the Birmingham Groves boys tennis team. Klein is holding the team’s state championship trophy. ABOVE RIGHT: The Birmingham Groves boys tennis team’s singles lineup included (from left) Nolen Kovan, Michael Liss, RJ Carrel and Jake Rosenwasser. Liss is holding the team’s regional championship trophy.

are Jewish, including all four singles players. Freshman Michael Liss won a state championship at No. 3 singles and later was named All-State by the Michigan High School Tennis Coaches Association. Junior Nolen Kovan (No. 1 singles) and senior RJ Carrel (No. 2 singles) also were named All-State. They were two of Groves’ three team captains. Kovan was a state finalist and Carrel was a state semifinalist. Sophomore Jake Rosenwasser (No. 4 singles) was a state quarterfinalist. Senior Gabe Klein and junior Drew Weitzman were state finalists at No. 4 doubles. The other three Jewish players in Groves’ state tournament lineup each made

up one-half of a doubles team. Senior Mitchell Greenberger teamed with senior Dylan Brown at No. 1 doubles. They were state quarterfinalists and All-State selections. Junior Dylan Wolf teamed with senior Alexandras Abarius at No. 2 doubles. They were state finalists even though they weren’t seeded in the tournament. Senior Logan Edelheit teamed with senior Marc Canellas at No. 3 doubles. They were state semifinalists. This was a battle-tested Groves team that went to the state tournament. “We were fortunate to have a lot of juniors and seniors who already had state tournament experience,” Farmer said. “It was a good group of guys. Good tennis

players and good people. “There also was a good group of parents. I haven’t had one issue with parents in my 11 years as the (Groves boys tennis) coach.” Not many freshmen win a flight championship at a high school state tennis tournament. Liss broke that mold. “It’s tough to win a state championship in singles or doubles no matter what grade you’re in,” Farmer said. “I was a little concerned during the regular season because Michael wasn’t being challenged much by his opponents, but he had some quality opponents toward the end of the regular season and

FROM LEFT: Mitchell Greenberger, Logan Edelheit and Dylan Wolf.

that sharpened him up for state.” Liss said he enjoyed his first season on the Groves boys tennis team. “I loved hanging out with my teammates and watching

them play,” the 14-year-old said. Groves qualified for the state tournament by winning a regional tournament that it hosted. All four singles players and Greenberger/

Brown won regional titles. Wolf/Abarius, Edelheit/ Canellas and Klein/Weitzman were regional finalists. Please send sports news to stevestein502004@yahoo.com.

CALL FOR NOMINEES

2022 Mandell L. (z"l) and Madeleine H. (z"l)

Berman Award for Outstanding Professional in Jewish Communal Service

ELIGIBILITY FOR NOMINATION All Jewish communal professionals employed by the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit (JFMD) or local constituent agencies of JFMD who have been working in the Detroit Jewish community a minimum of five consecutive years may be nominated for the Berman Award.

NOMINATION PROCESS We encourage community members to submit nominations no later than January 14, 2022. Names of the nominees will remain confidential and may be re-nominated in subsequent years.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION The recipient of the Berman Award shall manifest the highest professional standards in his/her chosen field. The professional must have made a contribution to and for the general good of the Jewish community, demonstrated creativity, dedication, knowledge and care in the provision of services of the Jewish community. Moreover, in awarding the Berman Award, consideration shall be given to special professional innovation which reflects quality professionalism. First consideration is given to agency professionals, followed by JFMD staff and agency executive directors. The CEO of JFMD is not eligible to win this award. Past Berman Award winners and selection committee members may nominate candidates for the award, but must recuse themselves from the conversation during the selection meeting. Those past winners and selection committee members who have submitted nominations may vote in the final selection.

DEADLINE FOR NOMINATIONS: JANUARY 14, 2022 Questions? Contact Rabbi Ari Witkin at witkin@jfmd.org or 248-203-1460.

Nominate online: jewishdetroit.org/bermanaward

DECEMBER 23 • 2021

MAZEL TOV!

Manello 61st

y and Pearl Manello of West Bloomfield will mark their 61st wedding anniversary on Dec. 25, 2021. Love and best wishes are sent by their children, Carl and Julie Manello, and Sharon Manello Borstein, and their grandchildren, Sam and Ed Borstein, Jake and Becca Manello.

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DECEMBER 23 • 2021

arren and Jay Richard of Commerce Township are delighted to announce the engagement of their daughter Sarah Jayne to Daniel Patrick, son of Jacqui and Gary Yeatman of Easton, Md. Sarah earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Michigan State University. Daniel earned his bachelor’s degree in commerce from the University of Virginia and is pursuing his master’s in accounting at American University. Sarah is the granddaughter of Ruth Goldstein, the late David Goldstein, and Barbara and Donald Richard. Daniel is the grandson of Patsy and John Sheehan, and the late Lillian and George Yeatman. A summertime wedding is planned on Kent Island in Maryland.

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

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SPIRIT

TORAH PORTION

Embrace Yourself

o, they set We have all met people taskmasters over that seem to dislike us them to oppress off the bat for no reason them with forced labor; whatsoever. Is it something and they built storage that should bother us? cities” for Pharaoh Pithom The answer in this and Raamses. “But week’s portion is no. the more they were Being self-critical is oppressed, the more a positive idea but they increased being needlessly selfand spread out, so conscious is not. The that the Egyptians Egyptian mentality came to dread the was to demean and Rabbi Israelites.” belittle those that Yaacov Lasson The last phrase were different. The can be also be Jewish mentality is to Parshat translated as: “and either say, “Yes, I am Shemot: the Egyptians became Exodus 1:1-6:1; different; and that’s disgusted with actually pretty neat. Isaiah themselves due to 27:6-28:13, Why don’t you get the Israelites.” Why to know me and my 29:22-23. were the Egyptians lifestyle a little better” so intimidated or or, alternatively, “No, annoyed by the Jewish we are actually all similar people? After all, we were to each other deep down. contributing members There is no need to target of Egyptian society me.” and economy, harmless Love your neighbor as newcomers who simply yourself means that we have wanted to live in peace. to come to a place of selfWhy did the Egyptians feel confidence and security that we would “join their with who we are. We do enemies and overtake them not need to look over our in war?” shoulders at what we are The answer is that it is, missing; we can look inside indeed, irrational. People ourselves and see what we that have intense dislike can contribute to the world. for others seem not to need We have to love ourselves justifiable reasons for doing even if others find fault so. Their hatred extends with us. far and wide; their fears Let us reject the pettiness are without basis, but they of the Egyptian way of make it seem that a basis thinking and, instead, is obvious. The Egyptians baselessly love ourselves, saw a new people coming our fellow Jews and our up and immediately were fellow human beings. turned off by them, but Shabbat Shalom. they could not explain why Rabbi Yaacov Lasson is chaplain at so they created all sorts of Ascension Providence Hospitals. far-fetched rationales.

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SPIRIT

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

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

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

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

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

DECEMBER 23 • 2021

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shomrey Emunah Southfield (248) 559-1533 congregation-shomreyemunah-105705.square.site The Shul-Chabad Lubavitch West Bloomfield (248) 788-4000 theshul.net Woodward Avenue Shul Royal Oak (248) 414-7485 thewas.net

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

Temple Emanu-El Oak Park (248) 967-4020 emanuel-mich.org

Temple Beth El Battle Creek (269) 963-4921

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

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

Temple Jacob Hancock templejacobhancock.org

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ohr Hatorah Oak Park (248) 294-0613 Ohrhatorah.us MINYANS Fleischman Residence West Bloomfield (248) 661-2999 Yeshivat Akivah Southfield (248) 386-1625 farberhds.org

ANN ARBOR

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

DECEMBER 23 • 2021

SPIRIT

A WORD OF TORAH

“The World Was

Created for Me” — Now What?

eing a witness in a criminal trial is a serious responsibility. What that witness says, or doesn’t say, has a decisive impact on the life of the person who stands accused. When the case is a capital trial, the weight of the witness’ words becomes enormous. Given these high stakes, the Talmud teaches that the court needs to make a declaration to the witnesses to inspire them to tell the Chief Rabbi truth. This declaration Warren includes reminding the Goldstein witnesses that every human being’s life is precious. It is pointed out to the witnesses that when God created humanity, He did so by fashioning a single man and woman, to give us an appreciation for the preciousness of human life — to teach us that one life is an entire

DECEMBER 23 • 2021

world, and that “whoever destroys one life, destroys a world,” and “whoever saves one life, saves a world.” The witnesses are also told to reflect on the statement from the Talmud that every person should have an awareness that “the world was created for me” (Sanhedrin 37a). Think about that for a minute; it’s an extraordinary declaration — that God created the world for you, and that if you were the only person on Earth, the entire creation of the cosmos would nevertheless be justified. It’s not just an astounding statement, it also gives us pause for thought. Surely, thinking of ourselves in these terms leads to extreme arrogance and literal selfcenteredness, which are antithetical to Torah? Indeed, we know that humility is one of the Torah’s core values. The Rambam points out that while, with other

character traits, a person should follow the middle path, when it comes to humility, a person should go to the extreme and be extremely humble. Rashi, in his commentary to the Talmud, has an answer to this problem. He explains that the statement: “The world was created for me” is to instill within the witnesses an awareness of their own greatness and preciousness before God, which, in turn, will inspire them to tell the truth, because to lie and perjure themselves in court is beneath them. Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz applies this lesson more generally. He says one of the most important ways to inspire ourselves to do good in the world and be better people is to believe in our own inherent greatness and our own preciousness in the eyes of God. An awareness of our own greatness inspires us to become even greater and to hold ourselves to the highest standards of ethical behavior. From such a perspective, wrongdoing is simply beneath our dignity. Rav Shmuelevitz connects this idea to this week’s Torah portion, Shemot, which describes how Egyptian slavery began only after the death of Joseph. As viceroy, while he was alive, Joseph’s position and status in Egypt would have protected the Jewish people from oppression. Once he passed away, however, that barrier was removed, and the mass enslavement could commence. Interestingly, though, the Torah seems to imply that it wasn’t just Joseph that averted the onset of enslavement. The verse says: “And Joseph died and all his brothers and all of that generation.” (Shemot 1:6) The Ohr HaChaim points out that Joseph’s brothers, and in fact that entire generation of great leaders, were held in such high regard by the Egyptians that enslaving the Jewish people at that time wasn’t an option. But, Rav Shmuelevitz takes it one step further. He says the Jewish people themselves were their own bulwark against enslavement. They had in their midst people of greatness who inspired them with a sense of their own self-worth, their own inner greatness and, therefore, made them invulnerable to subjugation. The connection to Rashi’s comment about charging the witnesses with a sense

of self-worth as a bulwark against false testimony and corruption is clear. A person who says to himself: “The world was created for me” is aware of his own inner greatness, his God-given potential; and this awareness becomes a protective shield — whether it’s protection against subjugation at the hands of others or protection against stumbling into wrongdoing. This deep, internal selfesteem rouses a person to achieve things that would otherwise be unattainable. We have a dramatic illustration of this in the Torah. The Jewish people in the desert were instructed by God to build a magnificent edifice called the Mishkan — a sanctuary for God’s presence. The Mishkan was a complex structure, made of all kinds of precious metals, and requiring a very high degree of skill to assemble. Remember, this was a nation of newly freed slaves who seemingly had none of the skills or experience necessary to build such an edifice. And yet people came forward in droves to volunteer their services. The verse describes how “every person was lifted up by his heart,” (Shemot 35:21) which the Ramban takes to mean they were inspired by a feeling of confidence — by the unshakeable conviction that they could perform this task even though they didn’t know how to. And indeed, they rose to the occasion, taught themselves the art of Mishkan-making, and assembled the Mishkan in all its beauty and all its complexity. Their sense of self-worth and of their own limitless potential helped

them pull through. The Torah says we are created in God’s image; that our souls are in some way a reflection of the Divine. The Midrash on Psalms makes this connection more explicit, drawing a number of connections between the soul and its Creator. The Midrash says the soul fills the body the way God fills the universe; that the soul sustains the body in the same way God sustains the universe; that the soul perceives yet cannot be seen, just as God perceives but cannot be seen. And so we have within us this God-given greatness, this infinite potential, this Divine dignity that comes with being created in our Creator’s image. We hold within us the reason not just for our own existence, but for all existence. And we need to be acutely aware of this fact, because being aware of it will inspire us to do good, to be great, to reach heights we couldn’t previously imagine. And being awake to our own Divine potential, to our own preciousness in the eyes of the One who created us, will help us avoid the pitfalls that so often obscure our own inner greatness, to ourselves and to others. There’s a light within us that’s alive, that we can turn on and shine out to the world. And we need to know it’s there. That awareness that “the world was created for me” can, with a healthy dose of humility, be the driving force for good in every aspect of our lives. Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein, who has a PhD. in Human Rights Law, is the chief rabbi of South Africa. This article first appeared on aish.com.

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DECEMBER 23 • 2021

SPIRIT

A WORD OF TORAH

Turning Curses into

Blessings G

enesis ends on an almost serene note. Jacob has found his long-lost son. The family has been reunited. Joseph has forgiven his brothers. Under his protection and influence, the family has settled in Goshen, one of the most prosperous regions of Egypt. They now have homes, property, food, the protection of Joseph and the favor of Pharaoh. It must have seemed one of the golden moments of Rabbi Lord Abraham’s family’s history. Jonathan Then, as has happened so Sacks often since, “There arose a new Pharaoh who did not know Joseph.” There was a political climate change. The family fell out of favor. Pharaoh told his advisers: “Look, the Israelite people are becoming too numerous and strong for us” — the first time the word “people” is used in the Torah with reference to the children of Israel. “Let us deal shrewdly

DECEMBER 23 • 2021

with them, so that they may not increase.” And so, the whole mechanism of oppression moves into operation: forced labor that turns into slavery that becomes attempted genocide. The story is engraved in our memory. We tell it every year, and in summaryform in our prayers, every day. It is part of what it is to be a Jew. Yet there is one phrase that shines out from the narrative: “But the more they were oppressed, the more they increased and the more they spread.” That, no less than oppression itself, is part of what it means to be a Jew. The worse things get, the stronger we become. Jews are the people who not only survive but thrive in adversity. Jewish history is not merely a story of Jews enduring catastrophes that might have spelled the end to less tenacious groups. It is that after every disaster, Jews renewed themselves. They discovered some hitherto hidden reservoir of spirit

that fueled new forms of collective self-expression as the carriers of God’s message to the world. DEALING WITH ADVERSITY Every tragedy begat new creativity. After the division of the kingdom following the death of Solomon came the great literary prophets, Amos and Hosea, Isaiah and Jeremiah. Out of the destruction of the First Temple and the Babylonian exile came the renewal of Torah in the life of the nation, beginning with Ezekiel and culminating in the vast educational program brought back to Israel by Ezra and Nehemiah. From the destruction of the Second Temple came the immense literature of rabbinic Judaism, until then preserved mostly in the form of an oral tradition: Mishnah, Midrash and Gemara. From the Crusades came the Hassidei Ashkenaz, the North European school of piety and spirituality. Following the

Spanish expulsion came the mystic circle of Tzefat: Lurianic Kabbalah and all it inspired by way of poetry and prayer. From East European persecution and poverty came the Chasidic movement and its revival of grassroots Judaism through a seemingly endless flow of story and song. And from the worst tragedy of all in human terms, the Holocaust, came the rebirth of the state of Israel, the greatest collective Jewish affirmation of life in more than 2,000 years. TURNING WEAKNESS INTO STRENGTH It is well known that the Chinese ideogram for “crisis” also means “opportunity.” Any civilization that can see the blessing within the curse, the fragment of light within the heart of darkness, has within it the capacity to endure. Hebrew goes one better. The word for crisis, mashber, also means “a childbirth chair.” Written into the semantics of Jewish consciousness is the idea that the pain of hard times is a collective form of the contractions of a woman giving birth. Something new is being born. That is the mindset of a people of whom it can be said that “the more they were oppressed, the more they increased and the more they spread.” Where did it come from, this Jewish ability to turn weakness into strength, adversity into advantage, darkness into light? It goes back to the moment in which our people received its name, Israel. It was then, as Jacob wrestled alone at night with an angel, that as dawn broke his adversary begged him to let him go. “I will not let you go until you bless me,” said Jacob. That is the source of our peculiar, distinctive obstinacy. We may have fought all night. We may be tired and on the brink of exhaustion. We may find ourselves limping, as did Jacob. Yet we will not let our adversary go until we have extracted a blessing from the encounter. This turned out to be not a minor and temporary concession. It became the basis of his new name and our identity. Israel, the people who “wrestled with God and man and prevailed,” is the nation that

grows stronger with each conflict and catastrophe. I was reminded of this unusual national characteristic by an article that appeared in the British press in October 2015. Israel, at the time, was suffering from a wave of terrorist attacks that saw Palestinians murdering innocent civilians in streets and bus stations throughout the country. It began with these words: “Israel is an astonishing country, buzzing with energy and confidence, a magnet for talent and investment — a cauldron of innovation.” It spoke of its worldclass excellence in aerospace, clean-tech, irrigation systems, software, cybersecurity, pharmaceuticals and defense systems. “All this,” the writer went on to say, “derives from brainpower, for Israel has no natural resources and is surrounded by hostile neighbors.” The country is living proof of “the power of technical education, immigration and the benefits of the right sort of military service.” Yet this cannot be all, since Jews have consistently overachieved, wherever they were and whenever they were given the chance. He goes through the various suggested explanations: the strength of Jewish families, their passion for education, a desire for self-employment, risk-taking as a way of life and even ancient history. The Levant was home to the world’s first agricultural societies and earliest traders. Perhaps, then, the disposition to enterprise was written, thousands of years ago, into Jewish DNA. Ultimately, though, he concludes that it has to do with “culture and communities.” RESPONSE TO CRISIS A key element of that culture has to do with the Jewish response to crisis. To every adverse circumstance, those who have inherited Jacob’s sensibilities insist: “I will not let you go until you bless me.” That is how Jews, encountering the Negev, found ways of making the desert bloom. Seeing a barren, neglected landscape elsewhere, they planted trees and forests. Faced with hostile armies on all their borders, they developed

military technologies they then turned to peaceful use. War and terror forced them to develop medical expertise and world-leading skills in dealing with the aftermath of trauma. They found ways of turning every curse into a blessing. The historian Paul Johnson, as always, put it eloquently: “Over 4,000 years, the Jews proved themselves not only great survivors but extraordinarily skillful in adapting to the societies among which fate had thrust them, and in gathering whatever human comforts they had to offer. No people has been more fertile in enriching poverty or humanizing wealth, or in turning misfortune to creative account.” There is something profoundly spiritual as well as robustly practical about this ability to transform the bad moments of life into a spur to creativity. It is as if, deep within us, was a voice saying, “You are in this situation, bad though it is, because there is a task to perform, a skill to acquire, a strength to develop, a lesson to learn, an evil to redeem, a shard of light to be rescued, a blessing to be uncovered, for I have chosen you to give testimony to humankind that out of suffering can come great blessings if you wrestle with it for long enough and with unshakeable faith.” In an age in which people of violence are committing acts of brutality in the name of the God of compassion, the people of Israel are proving daily that this is not the way of the God of Abraham, the God of life and the sanctity of life. And whenever we who are a part of that people lose heart, and wonder when it will ever end, we should recall the words: “The more they were oppressed, the more they increased and the more they spread.” A people of whom that can be said can be injured but can never be defeated. God’s way is the way of life. The late Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks served as the chief rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, 1991-2013. His teachings have been made available to all at rabbisacks.org. This essay was written in 2015.

DECEMBER 23 • 2021

ARTS&LIFE BOOKS

The Real

COKIE ROBERTS Her husband’s new book shares stories of their interfaith marriage and life together. SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

okie Roberts, television commentator and nonfiction author, valued the observance of Catholic ritual while also adding Jewish traditions into the lives of her family and friends — all along exploring the celebratory possibilities of her interfaith marriage. Husband Steven Roberts, also a journalist as well as a media professor, wrote and delivered her 2019 eulogy and filled it with personal stories — way beyond religion — that were not widely Steven Roberts

known. Soon afterwards, hearing positive comments from those who heard the remembrance, he decided that her dramatic public achievements joined with her caring private actions merited a book. Cokie: A Life Well Lived (HarperCollins) is divided into anecdote-filled chapters with comments from those who knew her best — the famous and those in the background. While there are sections covering her television work and nonfiction

book projects (including Founding Mothers, From This Day Forward, Our Haggadah), there is considerable space recalling enduring people connections, philanthropic commitments and cross-cultural religious observances.

“NOT EVERYBODY CAN BE A TV OR RADIO STAR, BUT EVERYBODY CAN BE A GOOD PERSON, AND EVERYBODY CAN LEARN SOMETHING FROM THE WAY SHE LIVED HER LIFE AND THE PRIORITIES SHE SET.” — STEVEN ROBERTS

DECEMBER 23 • 2021

“The public Cokie has been well known for many years and was, for generations, a marvelous role model for young women and girls who could hear her on the radio and watch her on TV and say [they could be that smart and strong],” said Roberts, often her co-author and still teaching at George Washington University, serving as chief political analyst for ABC radio and writing book reviews for the Washington Post. “That was a great legacy in and of itself. “What was not known before this book, I think, was the private Cokie and the fact that this was a woman who, despite her eminence and time demands, found time every single day to do

something good for somebody else. Those stories of private generosity, friendship and charity, to my mind, are just as important, if not more important, than the public role she played. “Not everybody can be a TV or radio star, but everybody can be a good person, and everybody can learn something from the way she lived her life and the priorities she set. That’s the most important thing I tried to accomplish [with this book].” DEVOTION TO JEWISH RITUAL A life member of Hadassah, Cokie can be especially remembered by those in the Michigan Jewish community who attended her local speaking appearances, including one at Temple Beth El and another for the Jewish Community Center of Washtenaw County. In the private realm, the book recalls how she determined to take her young children to Jewish services during her husband’s New York Times assignments in Greece, hosted seders for interfaith families and even made a chuppah for the civil marriage ceremony of journalist and longtime friend Nina Totenberg as officiated by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. How Cokie brought ritual into her husband’s family is described as an important element of their 53-year marriage, which devoted them to their two children and six grandchildren. He asked his children to read the memoir manuscript for pre-publication approval. Steven Roberts, who also

accepted Michigan speaking engagements with his wife and once separately for the National Council of Jewish Women, explained how Cokie grew up in a family that instilled a devotion to ritual. She was the daughter of Congress members Hale and Lindy Boggs. “Ritual was not central to my identity as a Jew,” Roberts offered as contrast and referred to his early attachments to Judaism coming from tribal and historic points of view. “My father and grandfathers were never bar mitzvahed; I was because I asked to be, much to the surprise of my parents. “One of the ways which my attitude toward Judaism changed through Cokie was a return to ritual as a part of identity because that’s what she brought to the marriage. My mother often said the first Passover seder she ever attended was organized by her Catholic daughter-inlaw.” A VALUED FRIEND Writing the biography helped Roberts gain insight into the meaningful moments her friends do not forget. He interviewed 50 of them, and the interview that stands out for him involves her prioritizing — in the midst of a hectic day — the comforting of a friend devastated by the loss of a brother. “I knew how deeply Cokie valued her female friendships and how much time she spent on them, but I was not there when she visited [maternity wards] in the Washington area,” he explained. “I was not there when she went to the funerals of her friends’

BY JOHN MATHEW SMITH VIA WIKIPEDIA

Cokie Roberts

parents. I was not there at her office at NPR (National Public Radio), where there were literally lines of young women out the door waiting to talk to her. “While I made this decision to write the book based on what I knew two years ago, my belief in the value of the stories strengthened enormously as I heard stories that I never heard before. It was a fascinating process because it was my determination that this was the story worth telling.” One question stands out in the book as a measure of the sensibility and soundness that Cokie represented for so many, whether in front of a camera or privately to encourage women to further their ambitions. Under stress, people would ask themselves: “What would Cokie do?” That question continues for Roberts as he communicates the partnership aspect of their marriage and moves along with important elements they had shared.

He continues maintaining close connections with children and grandchildren, glad to be present at their special activities. He continues the syndicated column they long wrote together. He continues hosting seders — recently on Zoom but hopefully soon in person. And what does he think Cokie would do if he had asked her about writing a biography? “I think she would have been embarrassed about me writing the book in the first place,” he said. “I think she would have agreed that the private Cokie and the choices she made as the private person were enormously significant. “I’m quite confident she would have shared with me the idea that the most important lesson here was the very day-to-day, ordinary choices that every single person makes matter and that you have to make time to be a friend.”

DECEMBER 23 • 2021

ARTS&LIFE BOOK REVIEW

“Bugsy Siegel: The Dark Side of the American Dream”

enjamin “Bugsy” Seigel was not a Siegel became a petty crook by age 14. good Jewish boy. Siegel led the life Hot-tempered and fearless, he was the of a “bootlegger, racketeer, gambler “toughest kid on the street;” hence, the and murderer.” To paraphrase journalist nickname “Bugsy.” As a teenager, Siegel James Traub, he “does not deserve our admi- also became a lifelong friend and accomration; but like some other plice of another highly successful Jewish figures who have yoked their gangster, Meyer Lansky. lives to deplorable causes, Siegel hated the nickname “Bugsy.” he nevertheless deserves our Only the most foolish or incredibly brave attention.” called him “Bugsy” to his face. Siegel preIn his new book, Bugsy ferred “Ben.” Mike Smith Siegel: The Dark Side of the A “gangster capitalist,” Siegel chose an Alene and alternative career path to rise above poverty. Graham Landau American Dream, author Archivist Chair Michael Beahan Shnayerson He made a fortune as a young bootlegger presents a splendid hisduring Prohibition, quickly achieving a tory about, arguably, the most famous dream that he shared with other Jewish Jewish gangster in history, who is indeed immigrants — prosperity and materiworth “our attention.” It is a story of early al well-being. Siegel’s ultimate goal was 20th-century Jewish immithe attainment of “class.” He grant life in America; of declared: “That’s the only thing bootlegging and the “Roaring that counts in life … without Twenties;” and of dreams in class and style, a man’s a bum.” Hollywood and Las Vegas. The end of Prohibition sigSiegel is a fascinating product naled the next phase of Siegel’s of all the above. career. Lansky and Siegel Shnayerson is an American became partners with Jewish, journalist and contributing Italian, Irish and other gangeditor for Vanity Fair magsters to form a national crime azine. The author of eight organization: the Syndicate. books and more than 75 To expand the Syndicate’s Vanity Fair stories, his book operations, Siegel was sent to about Siegel is published California, where he became Beahan under Yale University Press’ Michael enamored of Hollywood. Shnayerson prestigious Jewish Lives series. Calling himself a “sportsman,” As Shnayerson notes, those biographies “are Siegel spent much of his time at local racing all of admirable figures … Until now.” tracks and entertaining Hollywood’s leading Siegel was the son of Jewish immigrants actors and actresses at his mansion. For a from Galicia. Max and Jennie arrived in brief time, he even fancied a career as an America in 1900 amidst a wave of 1 million actor — all while doing his best to control Jewish immigrants. Like thousands of their as many illegal enterprises in California as compatriots, they settled in New York City’s possible. impoverished lower east side. Benjamin was Although married for many years with born there in 1906. two children — his wife and family were Shnayerson relates Siegel’s life in three always well-provided for — Siegel was a overarching eras. During the first phase, womanizer. He eventually developed a long

DECEMBER 23 • 2021

and tumultuous relationship with Virginia Hill. For a few years, Siegel was a celebrity … until he was prosecuted in a well-publicized murder trial. Eventually cleared of the crime (in which he likely participated), his glory days among the Hollywood set were over. Siegel’s final phase was an obsession. He envisioned building a new, Monte Carlo-style luxury casino among the small “sawdust-on-the-floor” gambling houses of sleepy 1940s Las Vegas. His Flamingo Casino eventually became the first such casino in modern Las Vegas. The 1981 movie, Bugsy, visually captures this era, as well as Siegel’s California days. Siegel did not live to see its final success. Cost overruns, chaotic project management and, worst of all, rumors that he was skimming money — a sin of high magnitude among his gangster financial supporters — led to his demise. Siegel was assassinated on June 20, 1947. The case remains unsolved, but Shnayerson provides his best guess as to the culprit. Shnayerson has written an excellent biography, the best on Siegel to date. His research includes the extensive literature about Seigel, as well as new sources such as FBI files and his personal interviews with Siegel’s living family and acquaintances. Most important, Shnayerson thoughtfully explores the historical, cultural and Jewish context of the era that produced Benjamin Siegel. The result is a well-written, insightful narrative. It is a bona fide page-turner.

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DECEMBER 23 • 2021

ARTS&LIFE CELEBRITY NEWS

DECEMBER 23 • 2021

but it’s unclear whether any other major media outlet will air/stream it in America. This all said, I found the new Globe film nominations to be useful as a reasonably good guide as to “what to watch” over the upcoming holiday week. All five best film (comedy/ musical) nominees have a Jewish connection. Don’t Look Up is a satirical sci-fiction film. It opened in a few theaters on Dec. 10 and will begin streaming on Netflix on Dec. 25. Here’s the basic plot: Two low-level astronomers (Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence) must go on a giant media tour to warn mankind of an approaching comet that will destroy our planet. This film is really a thinly disguised attack on all those who deny climate change is happening. In Don’t, the sky is literally falling but all sorts of people, for various reasons, deny the science. Reviews are mixed, with many critics saying that the film makes some good points but is frequently disjointed and heavy-handed. The big ensemble cast has been widely praised. Jonah Hill, 37, has a big part as the chief of staff to the president, who just

happens to be his mother (Meryl Streep). Appearing in much smaller roles are Timothee Chalamet, 25; Sarah Silverman, 51; Liev Schreiber, 54; and Ron Perlman, 71. Adam McKay (Anchorman) directed and co-wrote the film. (His children were raised in the Jewish faith of his wife, Shira Piven, 60, sister of actor Jeremy Piven). McKay is an ardent Bernie Sanders supporter. The film’s co-writer, David Sirota, 43, was a senior adviser to the 2020 Sanders’ campaign. The other four nominees are Cyrano, Licorice Pizza, Tick Tick Boom and West Side Story. I have previously discussed all but Cyrano, which doesn’t open widely until Jan. 22, 2022. It’s a musical based on the famous play Cyrano DeBergerac. Peter Dinklage plays the title role. Cyrano played off-Broadway (2018) and got good, if not great reviews. The score was composed by twin brothers, Aaron and Bryce Dessner, 46. They are members of The National, a wellknown arty rock group. Tick Tick Boom, about Rent composer Jonathan Larson, is now streaming Marlee Matlin

ANGELA GEORGE VIA WIKIMEDIA

RIFFING ON THE GOLDEN GLOBES FOR HOLIDAY ENTERTAINMENT The Golden Globe nominations were announced last week, but the future of the Globes is unclear. The organization that runs the Golden Globes, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), has always been a dubious organization. HFPA members are the only voters for the Globes. Only a handful of its 100 or so members are “serious” journalists who write for respected media outlets. Most are not more than bloggers. But the big studios have long played “footsie” with the HPFA because the Golden Globe nominations, and “fun” awards ceremony bring media publicity that helps at the box office. The HPFA long weathered minor scandals, but the coup de grace came last March when the LA Times reported that the HFPA had no black members and hasn’t had one since 2002. The HPFA went into overdrive with a proposed “reform” plan, but critics and studios didn’t think it could be implemented (add diverse members, etc.) in time to make the 2022 Globe awards acceptable. In May, major studios announced they wouldn’t work with the HPFA (provide special screenings of their films, etc.) until major reforms were in place and, in June, NBC announced that they wouldn’t broadcast the Globes ceremony. The HPFA said it will go ahead with the ceremony (Jan. 9, 2022),

Jonah Hill

HARALD KRICHEL VIA WIKIMEDIA

NATE BLOOM COLUMNIST

on Netflix (Andrew Garfield, 38, is Globe-nominated for playing Larson); West Side Story, directed by Steven Spielberg, 74, (a Globe nominee) is in theaters; and Licorice Pizza, co-starring musician Alana Haim, 29, opens wide in theaters, including the Maple Theater in Bloomfield Township, on Dec. 25. Haim got a best actress (comedy) Globe nomination and Licorice got great reviews. Over in the best drama film category, you’ll find three films with a Jewish connection: Coda, King Richard and Dune. I previously noted that Dune stars Timothee Chalamet. The musical score was written by Hans Zimmer, 64. He got a Globe nomination for best score. Dune was a huge box office hit and a sequel is now in the works. Its available on pay-for-view. Likewise, I previously wrote that King Richard, about the father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams, featured Jon Berenthal, 45, as the sisters’ coach. I recently “dug-out” that the film’s screenwriter — Zac Baylin, 42, is the son of a Jewish father. I liked this HBO film more than I thought I would. Somehow, Coda, which began streaming on Apple+ last August, wasn’t on my radar then. Coda centers on Emily Rossi, the only member of her family who isn’t deaf. The drama: Will Emily stay home and be the family’s essential communication helper or pursue collegiate musical studies? Marlee Matlin, 56, co-stars as Emily’s mother.

ON THE GO

PEOPLE | PLACES | EVENTS

Car Design exhibition

CAR DESIGN NOW-JAN. 9 Free with general admission to the Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit. This exhibition highlights the artistry and influence of Detroit car designers working between 1950 and the present day. It brings together 12 coupes and sedans designed across that 70-year period to highlight significant achievements in style and technology. Design drawings and photographs allow you to imagine the creative and innovative processes that bring a vehicle from the drawing board to the street. A selection of paintings and sculptures highlight the conversation between the American art world and the car culture from the 1950s to the present day. NOURISH AT THE WELL 8:30 AM, DEC. 23 On Thursday mornings, we start the day by nourishing our bodies and souls. Join us for mindful morning learning and music that will leave you energized, connected and ready to start the day. Info: meetyouatthewell.org.

LOW-IMPACT EXERCISES 10:30-11:30 AM, DEC. 27 Jim Berk hosts participants in person at Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield for gentle stretching and exercises. Cost: $5 per person per session, payable directly to Jim Berk at the conclusion of each class. For additional information, call the synagogue office at 248357-5544. WISDOM STORIES 2 PM, DEC. 29 & 30 At the Detroit Film Theatre

Auditorium, 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit. For nearly three decades, Doug Berky has brought classic solo physical theater performances to stages all over the world, transcending age, race and culture. Using the illusion of the mime, the antics of the clown, the transformation of his own handmade, original and exquisite masks, the suspense of a good story and the excitement of improv, Doug inspires both laughter and reflection as he presents stories from around the world. Program is free and registration is required: dia.org/events.

mitten will drop 80 feet at 6:30 pm. There will be family-friendly activities: live entertainment, kids’ karaoke, kids’ trivia competition, friendly characters, a fire show, horse-drawn carriage rides, fire pits to make s’mores, hot chocolate and adult beverages, food trucks and more. Tickets: $7 per person; children under 2, military and veterans are free. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit MichiganMittenDrop.com. Compiled by Sy Manello/Editorial Assistant. Send items at least 14 days in advance to calendar@ thejewishnews.com.

MITTEN DROP 4-7 PM, DEC. 31 The Annual Michigan Mitten Drop, presented by Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers, is a memorable outdoor event for families to celebrate the new year. Hosted at Canterbury Village in Lake Orion, 2325 Joslyn Court. The 6-foot illuminated

Doug Berky

DECEMBER 23 • 2021

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

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Detroit Writing Room Partners with WSU Press for 2022 Book Club The Detroit Writing Room and Wayne State University Press have teamed up to offer a virtual 2022 Book Club where members get to meet the authors of the books they read. At each event they’ll enjoy a virtual meet-andgreet with the author, book discussion, reading and Q&A. They’ll also receive promo codes for special book discounts and be entered to win copies of each book. The talks will be held January through June 2022 on the last Tuesday of every month from 7-8 p.m. on Zoom. Members will also receive a video recap. Featured authors include: • Jan. 25 - Harvey Ovshinsky, Scratching the Surface: Adventures in Storytelling • Feb. 22 - Jean Alicia Elster, How It Happens • March 29 - Emita Hill, Northern Harvest: Twenty Michigan Women in Food and Farming • April 26 - Peter Markus, When Our Fathers Return to Us as Birds, and Cindy Hunter Morgan, Far Company • May 31 - Frances KaiHwa Wang, You Cannot Resist Me When My Hair Is In Braids • June 28 - W.S. Penn, Raising Bean: Essays on Laughing and Living

DECEMBER 23 • 2021

When the pandemic began, The Detroit Writing Room shifted to host virtual writing workshops, coaching sessions and more. The virtual book club kicked off in 2021 with top authors and public figures, including former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer, Desiree Cooper, Rochelle Riley and others. Readers from Detroit and across the country joined in for the experience. Detroit Writing Room founder and CEO Stephanie Steinberg said she’s excited to partner with the Wayne State University Press to continue to uplift local authors and books through the 2022 Book Club. “The Detroit Writing Room Book Club provides a unique opportunity for readers everywhere to connect with Michigan’s top authors and get to know them on a personal level during meet-and-greets and Q&A sessions,” Steinberg said. “The experience has also brought much joy during the pandemic, as members can safely attend the events from the comfort of their living room.” A book club membership is $60. Sign up and read more about each author at www.detroitwritingroom. com/2022-book-club.

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WANTED. / BUYING / ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLESCOINS, STAMPS, WATCHES, CAMERASPlease Call (248) 259-8088 or Text (313)395-8599Website= a.airsite.coEmail= wevexgotxstuff@aol.com MISCELLANEOUS WANTED Seeking Female Live-in Caregiver, Southfield Based. Full Time Hours. Please Contact Family 908-783-2131 Seeking live in housekeeper with drivers license. Light cooking, cleaning and laundry. 2 person household, full time hours. Call 248-681-1011.

DECEMBER 23 • 2021

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OBITUARIES

OF BLESSED MEMORY

Theater Director with a Generous Spirit

efore David Magidson established a longtime career in theater and film, he performed comedy routines at a Wisconsin resort. Keeping his sense of humor, Dr. Magidson moved into serious realms, acting a bit but most often fulfilling behindthe-scenes responsibilities — whether as playwright, professor, founding director of the Lenore Marwil Detroit Jewish Film Festival or artistic director of the Jewish Ensemble Theatre (JET). Two days before he died, on Dec. 10, 2021, at age 80, Magidson, of Bloomfield Hills, leased a new car, an act in line with his Motor City passion for timely vehicles. “Think not of his heart condition as the ultimate cause of his death but rather as the cause and purpose of his life,” said Rabbi Brent Gutmann of Temple Kol Ami, where the Magidson family worshipped. Both daughters, Adriane and Laura, pointed out their dad’s heartfelt commitments. During the memorial service, they told of ways he steered family closeness, reaching from a marriage of 53 years and continuing with grandchildren. Adriane voiced his lessons of surrounding oneself with the right people and being the best one can be. Laura told of how he advised having confidence in personal choices. “I never missed one of his plays,” said wife, Leslee Magidson, former Jewish Community Center assistant executive director. “The one

DECEMBER 23 • 2021

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

production [out of more than 100] that holds special memories occurred when he was writing and directing Benchley Inside Himself, which was about columnist and actor Robert Benchley.” Magidson, department chair at the University of New Hampshire for most of the 1970s-80s, visited the son of the columnist-actor who was the subject of his play and, to everyone’s surprise, Magidson shaved what seemed his everpresent beard to take on the title role when the main cast member had to drop out. “David did whatever he had to do to make productions right and authentic,” Leslee said. Dr. Magidson, who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Wisconsin and a doctoral degree at the University of Utah, handled his last directorial assignment at the Hilberry Theatre in 2017, when he worked on A Streetcar Named Desire. Moving between the classics and new productions, Magidson directed the prizewinning My Name Is Asher Lev for JET. Christopher Bremer, now JET executive director and then managing director, remembered Magidson’s production intensity regarding the drama about a free-thinking artist at odds with an observant family. “David was a wonderful director because he was very honest in his comments while offering a joke when the mood needed it,” Bremer recalled. “He added to JET’s

Dr. David Magidson

repertoire by bringing in name performers to present one-person shows and collaborating productions with other local theater companies. “David was optimistic in his pursuit of the arts, especially involving Jewish culture. He cared so much and encouraged everyone. He was a wonderful person to be around.” Dr. Magidson served as dean of the College of Arts at the University of Colorado in Denver for two years before joining Wayne State University (WSU) in 1991 as dean of the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts and later settling into the responsibilities of a theater professor. During the turbulent 1960s, he taught at Virginia’s Hampton University, a school serving the Black community. “He won over his students because he thought it was important to break some barriers,” Leslee said. “It was something he felt very strongly about for his whole life.”

Mary Elizabeth Anderson, chair of the WSU Department of Theatre and Dance, described Magidson as a beloved teacher proud of the success attained by his students, most recently George Abud, a Drama Desk nominee for his role in the musical Emojiland. “When I think of David, I think of his generous spirit,” Anderson said. “I worked with him for 13 years and knew him as a mentor and advocate for faculty. He valued the arts as communicating the power of a story to transform consciousness.” The family recalls Magidson pointing out TV appearances of former students, such as Thorston Kaye, a soap actor in The Bold and the Beautiful. Seventeen years ago, Dr. Magidson launched the Lenore Marwil Jewish Film Festival, tapping into volunteer skills of people he knew. Accountant Terry Hollander, a member of the JCC executive committee, sold tickets and tracked funds. “Each year, the festival got bigger and better, and I attribute that to David,” said Hollander, who estimates watching 90% of films shown over the years. Mark Chessler, co-chairman of that first festival, described how it affected his future. “Through David, I learned the importance of helping creators with unique perspectives tell their stories,” Chessler said. “That led to my film and television post-production career at Dolby Technologies and my involvement with the

NO ONE LIKES TO PLAN A FUNERAL.

ReelAbilities Film Festival, which focuses on films by and about people with disabilities.” Ever the director, Dr. Magidson once told Rabbi Norman Roman to save a poem recited at a memorial service. Rabbi Roman got the message, and passed the poem along to Rabbi Gutmann. It defined what can bring greatness to life and included dreams, truths, worth earned and help given — qualities attributed to Magidson by those closest to him. Dr. David Magidson is survived by wife, Leslee Magidson; daughters and daughter-in-law, Laura and Meredith Griffith and Adriane Magidson; grandchildren, Violet, Asher, Levi and Hazel Reeves; sisters and brothers, Isabel Magidson, Robert and Anne Magidson, Edward Magidson and Jessy Gonzales De Magidson; brothers-in-laws and sisters-in-law, Bruce Lustig and Cathy Marrs, and Gregg and Dr. Lili Lustig; nieces, Leah BrennanMagidson, Mara BrennanMagidson, Elisa Lustig and Mariel Lustig. He was the loving brother of the late Judith Herman; the devoted son of the late Arthur and the late Lottie Magidson. Interment was at Beth El Memorial Park. Contributions may be made to Temple Kol Ami, 5085 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48323, tkolami.org; or to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

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DECEMBER 23 • 2021

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During the coming week, Kaddish will be said for these departed souls during the daily minyan at Yeshiva Beth Yehudah. Your support of the Torah learning of our children and our Kollel’s Torah Scholars brings immeasurable heavenly merit. Please call us at 248-557-6750 for more information.

22 Teves Dec. 26 Miriam Berris Ida Boesky Elek H. Cern Herman Eizen Leya Griner Rachel Kaiman Jacob Lieberman Max Linovitz Robert Margolis Jacob Poss Myron Rosenthal Bella Rubin Ann Gross Starr Beatrice Vaccara 23 Teves Dec. 27 Herman K. Cohen Allen M Dinkin Jacob Gormezano David Hess Harry Horowitz Joseph Hyman Rebecca Levin Anna Lichtenstein Beckie Mason Sarah Repitor Joe Scherr Rosa Schloss Celia Weingarden Sarah Yunis

24 Teves Dec. 28 Eva Alpert Ann Bard Ida Blum David Drazin Kopel Dworkin Esther Flayer Charles (Tobias) Gellman Steven David Gross Isaac Henig Archie Hoffman Solomon Lumberg Dr. Grant Lewis Mitchell Harry Morrison Marcus Rothbart Hedwig Schloss Samuel Weber Jeanette Weiss Sam Yuster 25 Teves Dec. 29 Louis Berman Rebecca Colby Rose Feldman Allen Lawrence Leach Jack Pasman Barbara Pollack Babette Protetch Joseph Spiegelman Alfred Traurig Fannie Weingarden

26 Teves Dec. 30 Sarah Lapinsky Sadie Maltzman Dr Jerry G. Margolis Julius Nachman Minnie Pechensky Zelda Schwartz Ruth Shapiro Jacob Sukenic Ruth Ungerleider Issie Wrotslavsky 27 Teves Dec. 31 Harriet Jean Beale Sophie Berman Jerome Saul Coleman Eleanor Greenwald Stella Helfrand Isaac Lewis Snider 28 Teves Jan. 1, 2022 Betty Barcus Leah Bello Ivan S. Bloch Benjamin Danzer Bernard Barney Limond Sigmund Littman Helen Mandell Ann Mitteldorf Rita Lynn Roth Mollie Weingarden Alma Derin Yaffe

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DECEMBER 23 • 2021

OBITUARIES

OF BLESSED MEMORY

BRONCHA ALTUS, 95, of West Bloomfield, died Dec. 13, 2021. She is survived by her sons and daughtersin-law, Mark and Brenda Altus, Joel and Cathy Altus, Harvey and Nancy Altus; grandchildren, Staci Andrade Altus (fiancé, KC Limback), Kari (Kevin) Miller, Julie Altus, Jordan (Lori) Altus, Angela Altus (Michael Egbert) and Shana Altus; great-grandchildren, Matti, Lia, Ella and Ava; many other family members and friends. Mrs. Altus was the beloved wife of the late Irving Altus; the mother of the late Sydney Altus. Interment took place at Clover Hill Park Cemetery in Birmingham. Contributions may be made to IDF or Jewish Senior Life. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel. RUTH E. BECKER, 62, of Kalamazoo, passed away Dec. 8, 2021. Ruth loved her family and enjoyed keeping up with everyone’s lives. She held a master of social work degree and worked for many years for agencies serving the needs of seniors. Holding a special passion for the elderly, this work suited her perfectly. She loved animals, especially cats, always trying to find a way to help ones in need. Ruth was born in Detroit, but after living in Kalamazoo during college, she made it her permanent home. She was an avid sports fan, with the Detroit

Tigers first and foremost; but she enjoyed football and basketball, too. Ruth enjoyed the Jewish holidays, especially Chanukah, and looked forward to lighting candles, sending cards and giving small gifts. Mrs. Becker is survived by her daughter, Leah Rose Becker of Kalamazoo; her father, Allan Becker of Washington, D.C.; three sisters, Barbara (Jonathan Bilmes) Becker of Connecticut and Israel, Julie (Alan Silverlieb) Becker of Washington, D.C., and Rebecca (Rabbi Aaron) Starr of Southfield; several nieces and nephews; four grandnephews. A funeral service took place at Joldersma & Klein Funeral Home in Kalamazoo; Rabbi Simone Schicker officiated. Interment followed at Mountain Home Cemetery in Kalamazoo. Contributions may be made to Kalamazoo Animal Rescue. Friends and family may share a condolence message online at www.joldersma-klein.com. DAVID L. DOW, 72, of Bloomfield Hills, died Dec. 13, 2021. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Andria Jacobson Dow; son, David Maxwell Dow; daughter, Hannah Allison Dow; brother, Robert Cadwell Dow; mother, Francis Larsen Dow; other family and friends. Mr. Dow was the devoted son of the late Robert Barnes Dow. Contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice.

Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. CLAIRE FINN, 96, of Rockville, Md., died Dec. 15, 2021. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Gayle Finn; daughter and son-in-law, Debi and Ken Greene; grandchildren, Erika Finn, Courtney (Brad) Elson, Lindsey Finn, Robyn Greene (Jason Bellamy), Samantha Greene (Peter Dudley), Shayna and Benjamin Finn; greatgrandchildren, Haylie and Brooklyn Elson; many other loving family members and friends. Mrs. Finn was the beloved

wife of the late Daniel Finn; the mother of the late Raymond Finn. Interment took place at Clover Hill Park Cemetery in Birmingham. Contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel ARTHUR HARRIS, 92, of West Bloomfield, died Dec. 9, 2021. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Suzy and Sonny Modiano; daughterin-law, Denise Harris; grandchildren, Jeremy and Melissa Wolf, Katie and Kevin Cerne, Steven and Julia Harris; nine great-grandchildren.

Mr. Harris was the beloved husband of the late Ferne Harris; the cherished father of the late Alan Harris; the loving brother of the late Bernard Harris and the late Bette Wexler. Contributions may be made to Lighthouse of Oakland County, 46156 Woodward Ave., P.O. Box 430508, Pontiac, MI 48342, lighthousemi.org; or to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. SALLY KATZ, 87, of Bloomfield Hills, died Dec. 14, 2021. She is survived by her sons and daughter-in-law, Avery Katz and Dr. Wendy Weiner-

Katz, and Michael Katz; grandchildren, Batia Katz and Margalit Katz; sistersin-law, Ann Katz and Rena Uviller; cousins, Marvin Dubrinsky and Innis Joswick, and Seymour and Carol Dubrinsky; loving nieces, nephews, cousins; her devoted caregivers, Angela Black and Janet Nieman. Mrs. Katz was the beloved wife of the late Dr. Sidney F. Katz; the devoted daughter of the late Erwin and the late Bess Kornwise; the loving sister-inlaw of the late Norman Katz and the late Richard Uviller; and the dear cousin of the late Shirley and the late Joseph Barenholtz. Interment was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Contributions continued on page 52

We believe that every Jew has a portion in the world to come. Trust us to prepare your loved one for that journey.

DECEMBER 23 • 2021

OBITUARIES

OF BLESSED MEMORY continued from page 51

may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. RICHARD LULKIN, 84, of Farmington Hills, died Dec. 11, 2021. He is survived by his wife, Linda Lulkin; son and daughterin-law, Sam and Jill Lulkin; daughter, Jennifer LulkinBartlett; grandchildren, Emily Lulkin, Ethan Lulkin and Merrick Bartlett; sister, Renee Ettinger; sister-in-law, Joann Shecter; loving nieces and nephews, Shellee Gordon, Michael and Kitty Shecter, Kenny Shecter and his fiancee, Elyse Hoffman, Sandy Shecter, Ronald Ettinger and Lisa

DECEMBER 23 • 2021

Benjamin Gottlieb, Elaine Ettinger and Tom Greenberg, and Laurie and Joel Volk; many great-nieces and great-nephews whom he adored. Mr. Lulkin was the dear brother-in-law of the late Jerome Ettinger and the late Ronald Smiler. Interment was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, 999 17th St., Suite 200, Denver, CO 80202, iaslc.org; Jewish National Fund, 42 E. 69th St., New York, NY 10021, jnf.org; Gleaners Community Food Bank, Oakland Distribution Center, P.O. Box 33321, Detroit, MI 48232-5321, gcfb.org; or to a charity of one’s choice.

Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. RICHARD MOSS, 88, of West Bloomfield, died Nov. 17, 2021. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Judie Moss; son and daughter-in-law, David and Jenni Moss; daughter and son-in-law, Sue and Michael Barash; grandchildren, Amanda Moss, Isabel Moss, Xinsheng Moss, Peninah Barash, Moshe Barash, Yoni Barash; sister-in-law, Sue Donahue; many loving nieces and nephews. Mr. Moss was the dear brother and brother-in-law of the late Arthur Moss, the

late Samuel and the late Edith Moss, the late Adelle and the late Sy Robbins. Contributions may be made to Na’amat Midwest, 10024 Skokie Blvd., #226, Skokie, IL 60077; or American Cancer Society, 20450 Civic Center Drive, Southfield, MI 48076. A graveside service took place at Oakview Cemetery in Royal Oak. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel. COLEMAN VERONA, 88, of Farmington Hills, died Dec. 15, 2021. He is survived by his wife of 65 c.1998 years, Judy Verona; son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Julie Verona; daughter,

Transformers Toys Inventor, Holocaust Survivor and Poker Star Henry Orenstein Dies at 98 SHIRA HANAU JTA

Henry Orenstein, a Holocaust survivor who went on to invent the Transformers toys and became a major donor to Jewish and Israeli causes, died Dec. 14, 2021, at the age of 98. Orenstein became a bestselling toy maker with his Transformers line, which he first created in the early 1980s. He followed up on that success with numerous other inventions and over 100 patents before eventually becoming a star poker player and being inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2008. Born in Poland to a Jewish family in 1923, Orenstein managed to survive the war due to a gamble he made in 1944, the first of several that would shape his life. While imprisoned at Budzyn, a German labor camp in Poland, in 1944, the Nazis running the camp ordered all scientists and mathematicians to register with the camp administration. Despite not

STEPHEN LOVEKIN/FILMMAGIC/GETTY IMAGES

Rhonda Verona; grandchildren, Bradley Verona, Brandon Verona and Jessica Verona; sister-in-law, Paula Polan; several adored nieces, nephews and wonderful, lifelong friends. Mr. Verona was the dear brother-in-law of the late John Polan; the devoted son of the late Florence and the late Abe Verona; the loving son-in-law of the late Ruth Trivax Waxer; the cherished brother of the late Eleanor and the late Dr. Louis Heyman. Interment was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Run4Papa, secure.ard.northwestern. edu (all options will support Alzheimer’s and other related dementia research for Run4Papa). If you would prefer to send a check, please mail to: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Attn: Jordan Sund, 420 E. Superior St., Rubloff Building, 9th Floor, Chicago, IL 60611, Memo: Run4Papa-Coleman Verona; or send to a charity of your choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

Henry Orenstein, second from left, at the launch of the Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament in 2004.

knowing if the scientists and mathematicians would be given better conditions or killed immediately, and despite the fact that Orenstein himself was neither a scientist nor a mathematician, he signed himself up along with his brothers who were interned there with him. That decision may have been the difference between life and death. The Nazis were organizing a special unit of prisoners to develop a weapon to help the Nazis win the war, and the prisoners assigned to the unit were spared execution. Luckily for Orenstein,

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who was only 16 when the war broke out, the math problems he was required to solve were simple and he, along with two of the three brothers with him, survived the war. His parents, a sister and one brother were killed. Orenstein was a longtime donor to Jewish causes, including the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty in New York and the Orenstein Project, an Israeli nonprofit he founded in 2017 that focused on food insecurity with special attention to Holocaust survivors. Orenstein is survived by his wife, Susie Orenstein.

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Looking Back

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

Oh, Christmas Tree

r. Jeff London’s essay in the recent Dec. 2 issue of the JN, “The Most Chanukah Time of the Year … Making Peace with Christmas,” intrigued me. London provided a personal review of growing up Jewish and dealing with a non-Jewish religious holiday that dominates America every December of the calendar year, as well as how he approaches the celebration of Chanukah. London also raises important questions and concerns about religious assimilation in America. It is likely that many in Detroit’s Jewish community have also considered these Mike Smith same issues. Alene and Graham Landau Then, after reading London’s Archivist Chair thoughtful essay, it was reported that a national TV news host, when speaking about Christmas trees, declared: “It’s a tree that unites us, that brings us together. It is about the Christmas spirit, it is about the holiday season, it is about Jesus, it is about Chanukah.” Perhaps this is not seriously offensive, but this person doesn’t seem to understand much about Chanukah and, with a bit of holiday chauvinism, decided that our national — and religious — spirit is embodied in a tree with lights and ornaments. And I wondered — what stories would I find in the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History about Chanukah and Christmas; in particular, Christmas trees and Jewish Detroit. I found 381 entries just by searching the Archive for “Christmas Tree.” The first lesson from my search is that “Chanukah and Christmas,” or sometimes, “Chanukah vs. Christmas,” is a topic of many essays and editorials over the past 100 years. This annual tradition began in 1918. For one example, see Rabbi Leo Franklin’s essay, “Christmas and the Jew,” in the Dec. 20, 1918, issue of the Detroit Jewish Chronicle. Franklin advocated that, apart from religion, celebrations of “joy, cheerfulness and good fellowship” with their “higher meanings of peace and good will” were a good thing. However, Jews were not “justified in the introduction of

DECEMBER 23 • 2021

the Christmas tree and other non-Jewish symbols into their homes.” The Chronicle endorsed this general perspective throughout its publishing life. Celebrating good wishes with gentiles was OK, but the answer to the Chanukah-Christmas issue is a good Jewish education for children … and no Christmas trees in Jewish homes. Ironically, however, the Chronicle did print various Christmas advertisements. In the Dec. 20, 1946, Chronicle, for example, there is an advertisement from the Detroit Edison Company extolling the Christmas tree (and, of course, use of electric lights for trees as modern and safe). Over the years, the notion of Jews and Christmas trees has evolved. The 2018 survey of Detroit’s Jewish community showed that 63.3% of households always or usually light Chanukah candles and 25% always or usually have a Christmas tree. Likewise, many cities since the 1980s now display menorahs along with Christmas trees on public properties. Essays in the JN also discuss these trends (see the Dec. 15 and 22, 2016, JN), as well as “Chanukah Bushes” as a substitute name for a tree (Dec. 10, 2009, JN). To be sure, Christmas lights and trees can be overwhelming when one drives around the city in December. But the positive is that, after a century of debate, there is now a giant menorah in Downtown Detroit, along with a Christmas tree, and they seem to get along well. Want to learn more? Go to the DJN Foundation archives, available for free at www.djnfoundation.org.

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DJN December 23, 2021

Articles inside

Looking Back

Obituaries

Community Calendar

Torah portion

The Exchange

Turning Curses into Blessings

Moments

Book Review: Bugsy Siegel

Essays and viewpoints

Responsible Gun Ownership

‘No Jew Should Be Alone’

Volunteers ‘Kneaded’

Reclaiming History

Interfaith Celebration

Motown History

Holidays at JARC