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Good-Bye to Some All-Time Greats
In the May 7 JN, I paid tribute to the late, Show in June 2008 while shooting a film in awe.” great Detroit Tiger Al Kaline. Since then, Detroit, Youth in Revolt. During that conUnfortunately, Larry provided some we’ve lost two more legendary all-stars versation, we learned the Cleveland-born unintentional improvisational comedy of his … all-star comedians. comedian was a huge Indians baseball fan. own when, upon leaving Tiger Stadium for
In a May 11 tweet, comedic actor Fred Guess who the Tigers were playing that Comerica Park, he took a wrong turn and Willard paid respects to Jerry Stiller, the night? got lost zigzagging for several minutes. The incomparable, hilarious, Jewish character That evening, Dick Purtan, his late wife, upside was Larry and Myra got more quality actor who died that day at 92. Stiller, arguGail, daughter Jackie Purtan, plus myself time with Fred and Fred, well, let’s just say ably best known for his role on Seinfeld, rose and retired radiologist Larry Lawson, my he got a bonus tour of Eastern Market. to stardom as one half of the dear friend and longtime cast member of Once at the game, Fred took time to enjoy husband/wife comedy team Purtan’s People, were taking in the Tigersthe historical markers at the ballpark, which of Stiller and Meara. Indians game with Fred. Gracious hosts included a photo-op with Larry in front of
“A bad time!” Fred tweeted. that we were, we treated Fred to a Cleveland the Hank Greenberg display. “On our way “Just getting over the loss victory. to our seats, Fred accommodated fans who of Little Richard, and now Larry was lucky enough to enjoy an wanted photographs and autographs,” Larry
Alan I learn my old friend Jerry encore evening with Fred when he returned said. Muskovitz Stiller has passed away. He to Detroit a month later for more shoot“He was so gracious. Unlike his onscreen was a good friend and a very ing. The baseball gods were smiling down persona, he was soft-spoken, unpretentious funny man.” upon us once again, as Cleveland was back and down to earth. I only met him twice,
In a second tweet he added: “I met him in town to face the Tigers. This time Larry but I feel like I lost a friend.” (Stiller) in the ’60s when we played in the was the only one available from the Purtan Fred remained in town and on July 11 same clubs in the Village as he and Anne Show, so he and his wife, Myra, chaperoned agreed to make a surprise appearance as our Meara. Unfortunately for us, they were Fred to the July 9 game. special Purtan’s People guest announcer at a much funnier! We couldn’t be jealous, so we “On the drive down. Fred asked if they sold-out Royal Oak Music Theater Comedy became good friends instead.” had torn down old Tiger Stadium yet,” Night fundraiser for the Gail Purtan
Now I’m just trying to wrap my brain recalled Larry. “When I told him it was half Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. I had the around the fact that on May 15, just four demolished he asked, if it was on the way, privilege and terror of writing Fred’s script. days after his farewell messages to Jerry, could we swing by and see it. We did. We sat What a relief knowing that his iconic deadFred Willard died. A statement released by at the site for a few minutes, then Fred asked pan delivery would guarantee laughs. his daughter, Hope Willard Mulbarger, read: if I could drive around our beloved relic of Former Detroiter Hanna Lopatin is “My father passed away very peacefully last a stadium for just one more look. He was in mourning the loss of Fred Willard. She’s the night at the fantastic age of 86 years old. He continued on page 6 kept moving, working and making us happy until the very end. We loved him so very TK much! We will miss him forever.”
When I got the once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet and work with Fred Willard in 2008, I thought I had gone to heaven. More on that later.
For my money, Fred Willard was the most original comedic character actor of the last six decades and easily the best improvisational performer. A Second City alum, star of television’s Fernwood 2 Night, roles in Everybody Loves Raymond, Modern Family, sketch comedy on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Jimmy Kimmel Live, classic movie roles in Waiting for Guffman, Best in n Show and Anchorman, are only the tip of his his Fred Willard and Larry Lawson in gigantic comedy iceberg. front of the Hank Greenberg display
Fred called into the Dick Purtan Radio at Comerica Park in 2008.
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commentary Coronavirus vs. Democracy
Israel’s Supreme Court needs to hold Netanyahu accountable in a time of crisis. W hile some Israelis are breathing a sigh of relief as their never-ending elections finally came to an end, I am filled with fear. The pandemic is being weaponized as a tool to fast-forward charges, Bibi is still in power. It's an abuse of power amidst a crisis. To put it in an American context, it’s an anti-FDR decision.
While the high court is usually progressive, during this time of crisis they gave Netanyahu the go-ahead to form a government and stay Peres when the outcome of the 1984 elections left the Knesset in a stalemate.
Due to becomes premier, despite While I am not in favor of COVID-19, Netanyahu’s many indictactivist courts, Israel’s high
An incumbent leader — Bibi — can argue that experience and knowledge of minutia is a good reason to stay in power. A neophyte — Gantz — cast adrift in the craziness will not be able the erosion of on as prime minister while to respond properly to the democracy. challenger Benny Gantz crises.
Eli Reiter Israel’s Supreme Court ruled ments. Bibi promised that they will swap roles in 18 court has often provided balance to a more politically May 6 that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is allowed to form a new government even while under indictment for corruption charges. At the end of three inconclusive elections and three criminal corruption months. It would surprise no one if “King Bibi” made a power play that forced Gantz to the sidelines with diminished power. Israelis of a certain age will remember when Yitzchak Shamir did not withhold his side of the deal made with Shimon right-wing agenda in the Knesset. For instance, as West Bank settlements continued to be built in 2014, the high court ruled to close the Amona outpost and evacuate it. This was during a time when the Obama/ Netanyahu relationship was continued on page 8
continued from page 5
daughter of my good friends and neighbors Jennifer and Mark LoPatin, who’s carved out a career for herself as a comedian, actress and copywriter in LA for the past 11 years.
I knew improv was one of Hanna’s strong suits and mentioned that to Fred who agreed to meet with her upon his return home to California. Hanna, a recent transplant to LA, went to that first meeting with original writing samples in hand.
Before the evening was over, Hanna had an amazing new mentor in Fred. He made her an official member that night of his sketch-writing workshop, the MoHo Group, who she performed with for two years.
“As a writer, I never got over the feeling of exhilaration every time Fred would perform my words on stage,” she said.
Over time, Fred and his late wife of 50 years, Mary, a playwright and TV writer, became like family to Hanna. “I think they saw themselves as like grandparents to young people trying to make their way in Hollywood,” she said. “They liked to shield people and guide them. For that I will be forever grateful.”
Jimmy Kimmel said it best in his tribute to Fred during his May 19 show. “Fred played basically the same character in everything; he was the same guy because it always worked. So why would you change it? It didn’t matter if the movie or show was good, bad, terrible or great, Fred was always funny. And he was more than just funny, he had a light inside of him. You could see a glint of it in his eyes, and it made everyone around him happy.”
How lucky I was, and all of Purtan’s People, that we got to experience that joy firsthand during the summer of 2008.
Alan Muskovitz is a writer, voice-over/ acting talent, speaker, and emcee. Visit his website at laughwithbigal. com,“Like” Al on Facebook and reach him at amuskovitz@renmedia.us.
letters
Don’t Forget About Cats I greatly enjoyed your article on the dogs who are being fostered in homes throughout our area (May 7, page 12).
But let’s not forget the many cats and kittens who have brought their own brand of love to many of us around Michigan.
As the Humane Society and others aim to empty their houses temporarily so that their staff and other workers can rest and stay safe, people like myself are lucky enough to have boarders such as Timothy, my household guest cat.
I am hoping that many other people will continue to foster and, perhaps, adopt our wonderful animals.
— Diane Pliskow Oak Park
Kudos to FJA I was so happy to see your coverage of Rabbi Cohen from FJA delivering signs to the Class of 2020 (May 14, page 19). It was just a small sample of how hard Rabbi Cohen, the teachers, administration and staff have been working to make this unusual year special for the students and especially the seniors. They have all been going above and beyond to listen to the students and the parents and collaborate on programs that might have gone by the wayside. As this year comes to an end for my son, and for my husband me as an FJA family, we want to express our thanks to FJA for taking such good care of our kids and us through the years. Especially this most challenging year. We will miss being part of Frankel Jewish Academy.
— Marianne Bloomberg Farmington Hills
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dicey and the Israeli government acted with less oversight from its ally.
In another recent example, in 2017 the court ruled in favor of a female plaintiff who had been asked to move her seat because an ultraOrthodox man had refused to sit next to her on an El Al flight from Newark to Tel Aviv, thereby helping to offset the Rabbinate’s outsized power over an otherwise largely secular society.
Israel has responded to the coronavirus relatively well compared to other nations. Following strict lockdown orders, the country is flattening its curve and has not had an exponential growth, signaling it has the situation under control. To the relief of parents, the country is reopening many schools. Foreign college students will be let in soon.
The positive news is an easy selling point to keep the leadership in place come the proposed swap in 18 months. There have been only 281 fatalities in a country with the population of New York City, and buses and museums are open with minor restrictions. Still, there might be a second increase in cases as social distancing rules ease up.
If the situation becomes dramatically worse, fear is a tactic to hypnotize the masses and maintain the status quo, shutting down movement for a second time and allowing the Bibi government to keep a tight hold on things. But if the situation continues to improve, Netanyahu can take credit for it. It’s almost a winwin for him.
Let’s look at Hungary as an example of what could come: Prime Minister Victor Orbán’s government revised the criminal code in the wake of the outbreak, allowing for up to five years in prison for those who spread “fake news” about the virus. That could easily be extended to any voice of dissent; Orbán has a history of violently quashing political speech in his country.
On the home front, there is concern about the U.S. election, which seems likely to take place largely via mailin voting ballots. President Trump helped choose the new postmaster general, a political donor and outsider with no postal experience. The general is appointed by a board of nine members chosen by the president with the consent of the Senate. As states decide to opt for mailin voting, the postmaster general might move to defund these projects, seriously inhibiting voting in rural areas and states with older populations who don’t want to risk their health visiting a voting booth. The president recently threatened to cut funding to Michigan after the Michigan Secretary of State sent mail-in ballot applications to registered voters, a growing practice among election officials. He baselessly accused the Secretary of State, Jocelyn Benson, of engaging in fraud. Already, we can see the election and voters’ power in jeopardy.
As concerns grow about the impact on global democracy, with individual voting rights weakening and governments using the balagan [chaos] to their advantage by furthering their agendas, Israel is no different. Leaders now have carte blanche to carry on as they wish. We should all be worried.
Eli Reiter is a Global Activist Fellow for the New Israel Fund.
LIOR MIZRAHI/GETTY IMAGES VIA JTA
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seen at a menorah lighting at the start of Chanukah in Ramat Gan, Dec. 2, 2018.
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Fighting Anti-Semitism in Sweatpants and Slippers
No one who has seen the classic film Casablanca can forget the scene. Humphrey Bogart shoots a Nazi officer and the only witness is his new friend, the Nazi Captain Renault, played by Claude Rains. When soldiers arrive just moments after the shooting, Captain Renault looks at Bogie, and then instructs the soldiers, “Major Strasser Mark has been shot. Round up the Jacobs usual suspects.” The “usual suspects” are, presumably, the unfortunate lot of innocent scapegoats who always get targeted for crimes they didn’t commit.
In case you hadn’t noticed, some anti-Semites around the world are already blaming the Jews for the coronavirus. To them, Jews are always the “usual suspects,” this time accused of a truly epic crime: creating a global pandemic. It’s actually • In Germany, anti-Semites distributed not the first time this has happened. In yellow stickers shaped like Stars of David the 14th century, in the midst of the Black with anti-Semitic slurs linking Jews to the Plague in Europe that killed an estimated virus. 50 million people, many people blamed • In New York, there are people calling the Jews, which led to the slaughter of for virus-carrying Jews to wear a patch numerous Jewish communities throughout with the letter “C” for coronavirus. the continent, particularly in Germany. This modern-day version of Jewish
A variation of that sad theme has played scapegoating comes at an extraordinarily out many times throughout history, volatile time. We have economic calamity, including the Holocaust. There’s a crisis of a killer virus, profound political divisions some sort and the Jews — history’s “usual and the technology for anti-Semites to suspects” — will invariably get blamed. So easily spread their hateful message. The it should come as no surprise that this is anger and rhetoric of far-right hate groups happening during this horrific coronavirus is exploding, and they clearly feel increaspandemic. ingly emboldened to come out from the
In recent weeks: shadows. • A member of Iran’s parliament recentNeedless to say, this is all a recipe for a ly tweeted that this pandemic “is a kind powder keg of trouble for Jews and other of biological attack by the U.S. and the minority groups, and one would have to be Zionist regime.” oblivious to history to not recognize it. • At a recent Ohio rally, people were But good people who wish to do someseen carrying signs of a rat wearing a yarthing about it are not powerless, even mulke and a Star of David, with the words while we are mostly staying home during “the real plague.” this pandemic. There are still a remarkable amount of things that people are doing to fight hate.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has created an initiative named #FightingHateFromHome, which is a series of webinars that educate and provide practical ways for people to be activists during the pandemic crisis (see adl.org).
The ADL’s Michigan Regional Director, Carolyn Normandin, says that far-right hate groups are seeing the coronavirus crisis as an opportunity to spread their message: “Hateful opportunists are using the fear and uncertainty of the current crisis to promote anti-Semitism and other forms of hate. If you hear anyone promoting violence or hate, report the incident.”
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has been monitoring hate groups in America for the last 50 years. Lately, during this crisis, the group has been using its “Hate Watch Blog” to expose the activities of right-wing activists who use social media to protest “Stay At Home” orders in various states (see splcenter.org). At the
protest in Lansing in April, we will recall, many of the signage was openly antiSemitic and racist, and included Nazi swastikas and Confederate flags.
The SPLC has published a practical resource manual, “10 Ways to Fight Hate: A Community Resource Guide.” Many of the tips can be done from home, including making phone calls, sending emails, educating oneself, pressuring leaders, supporting victims and joining forces with others. As the Resource Guide states: “Do something. In the face of hatred, apathy will be interpreted as acceptance by the perpetrators, the public and — worse — the victims. If we don’t, hate persists.”
Locally, the Jewish Community Relations Council/AJC offers a variety of opportunities for volunteers to engage in fighting anti-Semitism, racism and bigotry, even during the coronavirus crisis. (See jcrcajc.org.)
“In order to fight anti-Semitism, racism and bigotry,” says Executive Director Rabbi Asher Lopatin, “we have to both advocate for stronger No Hate laws and model respect and civility amongst our diverse communities. So we bring together many different communities — Jewish, Muslim, African American, Hindu, Catholic and others — to be a strong voice against hatred.”
For the past three years, the JCRC/AJC has partnered with the Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit and Vicinity in operating the Coalition for Black and Jewish Unity. During the time of this pandemic, both the JCRC/AJC and the Coalition have been particularly active in programming and events on Facebook and Zoom webinars that promote solidarity and speak out against anti-Semitism, racism and bigotry (full disclosure — I’m on the board of the JCRC/ AJC and a co-director of the Coalition).
At the 1963 March on Washington, Rabbi Joachim Prinz, with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. standing beside him, told the massive crowd that when he was a rabbi in Berlin under Hitler, he “learned many things. The most important … was that bigotry and hatred are not the most urgent problem. The most urgent, the most disgraceful, the most shameful and the most tragic problem is silence.”
During the time of this pandemic, even though we’re avoiding public gatherings, we don’t need to be silent in the struggle against hate. We don’t need to sit back and powerlessly watch the haters spread their garbage. We can shine a spotlight on who they are, what they say and where they’re going. We can combat their hate with truth. We can mobilize others to join the effort. We can support victims. We can pressure do-nothing politicians. We can and must be a loud, steady and strong voice for good in this world.
And we can easily do it all in our sweatpants and slippers from the comfort of our couches.
Mark Jacobs is the AIPAC Michigan chair for African American Outreach, a co-director of the Coalition for Black and Jewish Unity, a board member of the Jewish Community Relations Council-AJC and the director of Jewish Family Service’s Legal Referral Committee.
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Jews in the D
Friendship Circle Unbroken
PHOTOS COURTESY OF FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE
Friendship
Circle in West
In a pandemic, the nonprofi t’s Soul Studio brings the “joy of art” to JARC residents port services for people with developmental disabilities. Bloomfield, a nonprofit that offers support and program
SARAH WILLIAMS CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The organization has conlessons and more. Nearly 2,000 residential group homes eagerverted nearly all of its programpeople, including new individly awaited weekend visits with ming into virtual experiences, uals and families, are accessing family and friends, said Jessica including Soul Studio, its art its online resources as well as Tierney, JARC’s community program that supports adult its Facebook classes, says Sara engagement manager. They artists with disabilities. SixtyDaniels, director of marketing. relied on the consistency of six artists currently create and Soul Studio’s virtual workvocational programs, employexhibit through the studio and shops have brought a learnment and the encouragement gallery. In addition to supporting curve to both staff and and support given by a variety ing these artists virtually, Soul participants, said Anthony of volunteers. This has dissiStudio is offering free weekly Marcellini, programs and exhipated during shelter- in-place art classes to persons served by bitions manager at the studio. when JARC homes are restrictJARC, all who are stuck in their Yet a variety of experiences, ed to essential staff. homes during COVID-19. from one-on-one meetings to Keeping people they served
“It was very painful for small group workshops, have mentally and physically active, us to close,” said Friendship evolved, he said. Tierney says, is her top priority Circle co-founder Rabbi Levi Amid isolation, Shemtov right now. When invited, 14 Shemtov about the decision prompted staff to bring the JARC homes totaling 39 parhis organization made on joy of art to others in the ticipants signed up for weekly March 13 to temporarily shut Jewish community. In addiart classes, including all those down during the pandemic. tion to his executive role at living in JARC’s deaf homes. “All the activities we do, all the Friendship Circle, he serves as “We have an interpreter to programs we have, are just a a board member to JARC, a help with instruction,” said setting for creating friendship. Farmington-based nonprofit Tierney. “You can tell how It’s the opposite of isolation. We providing residential and supeager and excited people are. continued on page 13 12 | JUNE 4 • 2020
“I believe that
JARC is really on the front line of this,” Shemtov ming to 3,000 individuals said. “Residents usually get — primarily children and teens out during the day to different with special needs and their knew we had to do whatever activities or to employment. families — has been working we could to help continue They [normally] have a lot of hard to bolster its vulnerable these connections.” socialization and now they’re community amid the pandemFriendship Circle’s virtual just shut down.” ic while expanding care to new offerings include workshops, Before the pandemic, indipopulations. playdates, social circles, life viduals served at the nonprofit’s
Soul Studio’s JARC participants show off their artwork.
Jewish-Owned Auto Garage Moves Locations During Coronavirus Pandemic
PHOTO COURTESY OF ZACK GLAZIER
Zack Glazier believes the rewards of moving outweigh the risks.
CORRIE COLF STAFF WRITER F or four years, 33-year-old Zack Glazier has been working at the Alpha Automotive repair shop in Royal Oak. However, the shop was not able to renew its lease, which ended May 31, and was on the hunt for a new location during the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
continued from page 12
I think it’s not only good for our persons served, but I think it’s been a great experience for Soul Studio, too.”
Forty tablets were donated to Friendship Circle by Jay Feldman from Feldman Automotive and Mark Wahlberg to help in this endeavor, Daniels said. Many JARC residents don’t have computers or phones, so this increased access to the free instruction.
Classes with JARC, which began April 14, are divided between eight groups, four on Tuesdays and four on Thursdays. They run 45 minutes. Art projects have included drawing, collage and will soon be moving into painting. Marcellini says he and facilitating artists Nick Kramer and Vickie Shaheen are experiencing joy and enthusiasm right along with JARC participants.
Alpha Automotive has been around for almost 38 years. Glazier and the owner of the shop, Tim Siterlet, couldn’t stand the thought of the shop closing for good.
“The owner of the shop has about 2½ years left before retirement. So, I said, ‘Listen, why don’t I take over? I’ll sign the
He describes how the four women living at Samuels Home in Beverly Hills are always excited for class and willing to try anything. “Their shyness, and maybe their fears about their own artistic ability, has fallen away,” he says. “They’re getting much more creative and expressive. It’s really great to see.”
Nancy Alpert, age 58, lives at Samuels Home. She looks forward to art class each week, especially since she hasn’t been able to attend her regular day program at Judson Center, an organization in Oakland County helping individuals with special needs build skills and prepare for employment.
Art classes are new to Alpert’s routine but, she says, Soul Studio instructor Nick Kramer is a good new lease, I’ll front the money and you can work for me as long as you want,’” Glazier told the JN. “I told him, ‘Don’t touch your retirement fund’ because that’s what he was going to do to make this work. I thought that was silly.”
With the deal in place, Glazier began looking for a new place to house the repair shop about a month ago. He found the perfect location just two miles up the road in Berkley. Glazier’s new location opened June 1.
“It is an adventure, to say the least. Trying to coordinate workers to get stuff done and get the shop up and running has been hectic,” Glazier said. “Since everybody is just beginning to start working again, it has been hard to get on schedule.”
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced on May 21 that automotive shops could reopen by appointment only, but Alpha Automotive has been an outlier in that order because it was already allowed to operate during the shutdown.
teacher who’s “patient” and “nice” to students. Creating collage art has been her favorite project so far, and she’s excited by the prospect of painting.
Tierney, who attends each virtual class, says it’s a lot of fun to see how participants are coming out of their shells and taking in art differently than they may have before. Part of that comes from learning to embrace their individuality and unique approaches to the projects, she said.
Each home’s direct support staff also play a role in helping classes go well, Marcellini points out. When projects are a success, it’s because that staff has made sure the right materials are there and is supporting each participant in a hands-on way.
“Some of the support staff are deaf themselves, but they all sign,” he explains. “They’re interpreting what’s going on to their participants, sometimes from Abigail, who’s the deaf interpreter. It’s a complex and fascinating process to be a part of… We’re learning a lot.”
“We have always been essential workers because we are contractors for a government account. Right now, 70% of our customers are in that government account,” Glazier said. “So it hasn’t actually affected us too much.”
With the new, larger shop in Berkley, Glazier will be able to set up appointment times instead of just having people drop off their cars and wait to hear back about when they’ll be done.
“My goal and vision for this new shop is to have a dealership feel and look, but with momand-pop prices,” Glazier said.
Glazier is awaiting more lifts for the garage. For now, he will be continuing to only service the government account but hopes to have the shop finished and opened to the public in two weeks.
“We pride ourselves on delivering excellent service, and now I want to move that forward even more and make it a place that people actually want to come to,” Glazier said.
Virtual classes don’t replace the studio experience, Marcellini adds, but it may groom new artists. “When this is all over, there may be people who are excited to come to the studio who wouldn’t have come before.”
For the future of Friendship Circle and those they support, Marcellini and Shemtov agree that some continuation of online programing will likely continue long term. Even after life settles down, virtual classes will offer a way for Friendship Circle to access communities who they aren’t normally able to reach. JUNE 4 • 2020 | 13
Jews in the D
Midland temple deals with aftermath; Flint Jewish community offers help.
MAYA GOLDMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Mid-Michigan Floods
Historic flooding has devastated several cities in midMichigan after two dams in Midland County broke.
The flooding displaced about 10,000 people from their homes. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency May 20, urging people to evacuate from the affected areas.
The eastern Michigan Jewish community has jumped in to offer assistance to those who’ve been affected by the floods. Steven Low, president of the Flint Jewish Federation, said his organization has had a connection to the tri-cities’ Jewish community for years.
When Low heard about the floods, he immediately began to contact people he knew in the area, including members and leaders of Midland’s small synagogue, Temple Beth El.
Low said it’s still too early to know exactly what the needs of the Midland-area Jewish community will be, but the Flint Jewish Federation may be able to provide temporary housing, food or financial assistance and grants. They also have a bus and van that they could send to help transport displaced residents.
“It’s a little trickier to offer volunteers, given the COVID crisis, but to any extent that we can do that and maintain
— RABBI YISROEL WEINGARTEN
ABOVE: Rabbi Weingarten and his sons delivered food and Shabbat supplies to the people affected by the flood. FACING: People photograph the floodwaters of the Tittabawassee River that encroached on downtown Midland, Mich., Wednesday, May 20, 2020. Floodwaters have overtaken dams and forced the evacuation of about 10,000 people from communities in central Michigan. Families living along the Tittabawassee River and connected lakes in Midland County were ordered to leave home May 19, the second time in less than 24 hours.
social distancing and proper health precautions, we’re prepared to provide some sort of volunteers or manpower to assist them as well,” Low said.
Chabad of Eastern Michigan, which is based in Flint but also services the tri-cities area, is offering
CHABAD OF EASTERN MICHIGAN
assistance to people impacted by the floods, too.
“The good news is that all the people we know, they’ve conveyed to us that everybody is safe. Their homes may not be safe, but they’re safe,” said Rabbi Yisroel Weingarten, director of Chabad of Eastern Michigan.
Weingarten and his sons went to the tri-cities area May 22 to check in and deliver food and Shabbat supplies to over 35 people. The day before, he worried the bridges and roads he had to take to get there would be blocked, but water had receded enough for him to get through.
In an email to the Detroit Jewish News on May 20, Temple Beth El President Sheldon Messing said the synagogue’s members seemed to be doing all right.
Currently, Temple Beth El has suspended programming until September due to the coronavirus pandemic.
CALL FOR NOMINEES Berman Award 2020 Mandell L. (z"l) and Madeleine H. (z"l) 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.
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 yearly committee members may nominate candidates for the award, but must recuse themselves from the conversation during the selection meeting. Those past winners and yearly committee members who have submitted nominations may vote in the final selection.
NOMINATION PROCESS
We encourage each agency to submit a nominee no later than July 6, 2020. Names of the nominees will remain confidential and may be re-nominated in subsequent years.
Nominate online: jewishdetroit.org/bermanaward
DEADLINE FOR NOMINATIONS: JULY 6, 2020
Questions? Contact Rabbi Ari Witkin at witkin@jfmd.org or 248-203-1460.
Jews in the D
COURTESY OF KATE SALER
Parking Lot Bar Mitzvah Some Jewish families get creative during lockdown rules.
TOP LEFT: Daniel Michaelson is hoisted in the air during a horah at his modified bar mitzvah party. TOP RIGHT: Over 50 cars rolled into the Shaarey Zedek parking lot to celebrate Daniel Michaelson. BOTTOM LEFT: The Wittenberg family smiles outside of their Bloomfield Hills home. BOTTOM RIGHT: Waffle Way handed out waffles on a stick to guests as they drove by the Wittenberg house to celebrate Jonah’s bar mitzvah.
MAYA GOLDMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER J odi Michaelson’s youngest son was scheduled to have his bar mitzvah on May 16, and even when the COVID19 pandemic hit this spring, Michaelson knew she didn’t want to reschedule it.
“From day one, I said, ‘We’re Jews. We can do this somehow,’” the Huntington Woods resident said.
But with social distancing precautions in place, she had to get creative to make the day special for her son, Daniel, and the rest of their family.
After finding out they could have Daniel’s service in the Congregation Shaarey Zedek sanctuary — Michaelson is a member of the synagogue’s board of trustees — she decided to make use of the synagogue’s large parking lot and throw a surprise drive-in bar mitzvah party for her son.
Daniel didn’t know about the party until he walked out of the synagogue after finishing his service, which was only attended by his immediate family and grandparents but broadcast to friends and family over Zoom.
“I’m walking out; I’ve got my mask down because I just got out and I see this huge amount of cars that are honking and … I am speechless,” Daniel said.
In an effort to mimic the Shaarey Zedek kiddush luncheons, Jodi ordered individual kiddush boxes from Bake Station for each car with a challah, some small beverage bottles and an assortment of Bake Station’s signature treats. She also hired Star Trax to control traffic in the parking lot and make sure each car was parked far enough apart.
The Michaelson family weaved through the parked cars, making sure to maintain a safe distance from all the guests, and hoisted Daniel up on a chair to do a parking lot horah.
“It was just a wonderful, marvelous, unbelievable celebration,” she said. “Everybody was just ready to sort of celebrate life again and celebrate good things, even if it’s socially distant.”
The Michaelsons weren’t the only family figuring out how to celebrate a bar mitzvah that
weekend. Over in Bloomfield Hills, the Wittenberg family worked with party planner Julie Yaker to organize a driveby party for their son Jonah’s bar mitzvah, also on May 16.
Yaker said they sent out invitations to Jonah’s bar mitzvah in mid-March, but by April it became clear that a party wouldn’t be possible. When the family found out that Jonah’s service had to be held at home instead of in person at Adat Shalom in Farmington Hills, they decided to look for alternative ways to celebrate.
After looking at birthday party trends and seeing what people were doing for bar and bat mitzvahs in other states, Yaker and the Wittenbergs decided to do a drive-by party at the Wittenberg home with music, a balloon arch and even a company that handed out waffles on a stick to attendees as they drove by. Over 100 cars came through to celebrate Jonah.
“We wanted people to feel comfortable — if people wanted to keep their windows up and drive by, that was totally acceptable. If people wanted to jump out their sunroof and hold out a sign, that was great too,” Yaker said.
Stacey Wittenberg, Jonah’s mom, said she was grateful they were able to find a way to mark the occasion.
“It was a little bit of a letdown, especially for him, because it’s not how the day was supposed to look like,” she said. “But I think under the circumstances, it was really the best-case scenario.”
Yaker, who runs party-planning company EyeCatching Consulting, said she’s worked with many clients this spring to re-work their celebrations for these unprecedented times — she recently worked on a Zoom engagement party. But several of her clients who had spring bar and bat mitzvahs decided to postpone their parties to the fall, and Yaker isn’t sure what those parties will look like yet.
Her advice to people who need to alter their celebrations due to the pandemic? Take time to mourn the original event and then focus on how you can still make it meaningful.
“I think we’re just all going to have to get really creative,” she said. “Find ways to stay safe and celebrate.”
Shannon McConnell, senior event director at Star Trax, helped with both the Michaelson and Wittenberg parties. She said they were the first two non-virtual events the company has worked on since Michigan’s stay-at-home order began in March, though they’ve been hosting events over Zoom.
“People enjoy celebrating so much, and it’s such a warm feeling for the friends and the families to be able to celebrate these big milestones. I can only envision and hope that sooner or later we’ll be back up and running in some capacity,” McConnell said of the future of party-planning.
In the meantime, though, any bit of celebration seems to go a long way.
“I think the thing I’ll remember most is … how special it is that I actually have people all over the place come to see me,” Daniel Michaelson said. “In the end, I feel like this was maybe better than a party. It was definitely more special than one.”
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Jews in the D
West Bloomfield School District Plans Tentative Fall Re-Opening
Blended learning may become the new norm as other schools begin to develop their COVID-19 plans.
As summer begins to roll in, schools throughout Michigan are beginning to plan for what the fall will bring for their students, families and faculty members. With the effects of the coronavirus pandemic still looming, school districts are trying to find a new “norm.”
For the past two months, schools have been involved with distance learning. Students and teachers alike have been faced with new challenges and are eager to get back into the classroom. Unfortunately, that may not be a possibility.
One school district, West Bloomfield, rolled out a plan May 18 for the upcoming school year. The district is believed to be the first in the state to do so. Its plan, called “Classroom to Cloud,” provides a roadmap of three potential instructional methods for the fall.
“We’re awaiting guidance from Gov. Whitmer, who set up a task force that is going to be looking at the opening of schools,” said West Bloomfield Superintendent Gerald Hill. “They are just starting their work right now, but we thought we needed to get planning in advance of that.”
The first plan, “Plan A,” is a blended instruction approach combining both online and in-person instruction. This plan will split the student body in half and allow for 50% of students to come into the classroom on Mondays and Tuesdays and the other 50% to come in on Thursdays and Fridays.
There will be a cleaning day on Wednesdays, when no one is in the schools, to provide a safe environment for
CORRIE COLF STAFF WRITER
students and faculty. When the students are not in the classroom, they will participate in remote learning.
“Plan B” is a continuation of the remote learning that they have been participating in since March. This plan is strictly for if there is a continuation of a stay-at-home order and they need to be compliant with those guidelines.
The other option, “Plan C,” provides the option of online instruction to students, parents and faculty. It would be provided as an option for students and parents in the event some do not feel comfortable returning to the classroom.
“We want to make sure our families who we are serving have some options,” Hill said. “Everyone has different situations, different needs and different concerns so we want to make sure we can satisfy whatever their concerns are, and that they can select a plan that best fits their situation.”
Instructional plans are still under development. The three plans will also be a more competency-based instructional model, as opposed to more traditional methods.
Hill and the rest of the district also need to begin forming class schedules for students and implementing social distancing techniques within the classroom.
“Schools are not built or designed for social distancing. It is quite the opposite, in fact,” Hill said. “Our classrooms that traditionally house 20-30 students will now have 12-15 students in them. The furniture will now also be socially distanced, and we will have to develop a plan for the cafeteria as well.”
West Bloomfield shared its plan with the West Bloomfield Board of Education on May 18 and has held two Zoom community presentations to address questions and concerns of family members.
Although fall seems far away, Hill wanted to begin developing plans sooner rather than later to ensure that families were informed and to also build budgets, which are due June 30.
Ann Arbor Public Schools also recently announced its plan for the upcoming school year. According to MLive, the school district is planning for a start date of Aug. 31. Its instruction plan is similarly structured to that of West Bloomfield’s, where it will implement a combination of faceto-face instruction and continued virtual learning.
As for Hillel Day School, no final decisions have been made yet for the new school year. However, three internal task forces, Campus Reopening, Academic Continuity and Excellence, and Financial Planning, have begun the planning process.
“We are planning for several possibilities for the 2020–2021 academic year that will be consistent with local, state, and federal guidelines and regulations,” Hillel’s statement to parents read. “While life at Hillel might not return to exactly as it was before COVID-19, we are certain our community will bring ingenuity, passion and determination to answering questions of how to adapt to our new normal that preserves the neshama (soul) of Hillel Day School.”
Frankel Jewish Academy is also currently developing its plans for the upcoming school year and hopes to have more information by mid-June.
Opening for Business
Jewish retailers, religious leaders react to Whitmer’s new relaxed guidelines. CORRIE COLF AND YAEL EICHHORN G ov. Gretchen Whitmer vigilant and ensure we’re doing signed an executive order everything we can to protect ourMay 21 allowing retail selves and our families from the businesses and auto dealerships to spread of COVID-19,” Whitmer reopen statewide by appointment said in a statement. May 26. The order also allowed This executive order comes just nonessential medical, dental and days after Whitmer announced veterinary procedures to begin the partial reopening of Northern May 29. Michigan, allowing the reopening
Small gatherings of 10 people of retail businesses, office work or less are also allowed immedithat cannot be done remotely, and ately, as long as participants pracrestaurants and bars with limited tice social distancing. Retail busiseating. nesses and auto showrooms are All businesses that will reopen limited to 10 people inside at a must adopt adequate safety meatime. Salons, restaurants, bars and sures by providing COVID-19 other industries not mentioned training to workers that cover in this order were not authorized workplace infection-control practo open. tices, the proper use of PPE, noti
“The data shows that Michigan fying the business or operation of is ready to phase in these sectors any symptoms of COVID-19 or of our economy, but we must stay a suspected/confirmed diagnosis
of COVID-19 and how to report unsafe working conditions.
Julie Feldman, owner of Guys N Gals, a clothing boutique in West Bloomfield, told the Jewish News that they “are hiring a cleaning crew to come in.” They planned to reopen May 28. COURTESY OF PIXABAY
Feldman plans to have only two people working in the store once it reopens and will only allow two customers in the store at a time, by appointment only.
Brian Klayman, owner of the Perfect Trading Company in Bloomfield Hills, has been selling KN95 masks but has kept its doors locked. Klayman told the JN that the company will slowly begin to reopen by bringing in one employee per day, conducting deep cleaning and allowing customers in on an appointment basis starting June 1.
Whitmer signed another executive order enforcing reopened outpatient health-care facilities, including clinics, primary care
physician offices and dental offices, to adopt strict protocols to prevent infection.
Rabbi Shneur Silberberg of Bais Chabad in West Bloomfield has currently no plans to start services, including minyans that technically could happen due to Whitmer allowing gatherings of 10 people.
“We are beginning the process of planning to reopen in some form or another,” Silberberg told the Jewish News. “We are looking at all sorts of options and one thing we would like to do is to try to move things outdoors. We have nothing set in stone yet but are shifting to plan for a safe and cautious reopening.”
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Jews in the D
Schostak speaking at One Thing I Wish You Knew event in 2019.
When Lauren Schostak was a sophomore in high school, she had coffee with Rabbi Yarden Blumstein, a teen mentor at UMatter, and he knew something wasn’t right.
“He could tell I wasn’t myself,” she said.
A year later, after going to an inpatient program for anxiety and depression, Schostak, now 18, shared her story of recovery at UMatter’s One Thing I Wish You Knew event in 2019. UMatter is a program focused on empowering teens to shatter the stigmas surrounding mental health challenges.
Schostak started experiencing panic attacks when she was 10 years old.
“I didn’t know what to call it,” she said. “I had this overwhelming physical and mental feeling, especially in social situations.”
She had been a perfectionist from an early age, which caused her anxiety because, without realizing it, she was also struggling with an undiagnosed learning disability.
“It was very challenging for me,” she said. “When things weren’t clicking for me in school, it was even more frustrating.”
Teasing for her petite frame added to her childhood struggles.
“I felt very targeted,” she said.
The transition to high school at Frankel Jewish Academy was hard for Schostak. She was thankful to receive support after being diagnosed with social anxiety and a learn
The Power to Help Yourself How one young adult found peace with anxiety and depression.
JENNA ANDERSON CONTRIBUTING WRITER
ing disability, but it didn’t help her mental state. Schostak found herself not wanting to do anything.
“I was afraid it wasn’t going to be perfect,” she said. “I ended up isolating myself. I got into this very depressive state. Anxiety and depression went hand in hand for me.”
Schostak was admitted to an inpatient program in February 2018. She stayed for about two weeks and was treated with a team of doctors and new therapies.
“I look back on it and think about its benefits but, in the moment, it was very hard for me,” Schostak said. “I felt like it was an intervention. Honestly, I just wanted to go home.”
Schostak’s biggest takeaway from treatment was the courage to advocate for herself.
“I was sick and tired of being depressed and anxious all the time. If you don’t want to get better yourself, nothing’s going to change,” she said. “That was a breakthrough moment for me. I was the one who had the power to help myself.”
Schostak used this strength to make a major change in her life. She told her parents FJA was not the right school for her. They listened and, in the fall of 2018, she started her junior year at Berkley High School.
“I have nothing bad to say about FJA,” she added. “It was just a little too small for me.”
After starting to advocate for herself, Schostak found a passion for mental health. She spoke out about her experience with mental illness and became involved with UMatter.
“It has brought a purpose to my life,” she said. “I might be little and quiet, but I’m more than that. I’m not afraid to speak up.”
With the help of a friend, Schostak brought a UMatter club to Berkley High School in 2020, which she considers to be one of her biggest accomplishments. Only five schools in Metro Detroit have clubs.
“We really just wanted to create a community at our school that was open to talking about mental health because it shouldn’t be stigmatized,” she added.
Schostak will be attending Lyman Briggs College at Michigan State University to study neuroscience in the fall. She said her experience with mental illness has given her a passion for the brain and how it works.
“I definitely wanted to be an advocate for mental health in college and for the rest of my life,” she said. “Dealing with mental illness is a process. Nothing’s going to change overnight. I still deal with anxious thoughts on a daily basis. I’ve learned ways to cope with that.”
This is the second in a four-part series on teens who’ve triumphed over mental health issues.
