Detroit boutique owner talks about small

Jews in the D

COURTESY OF RACHEL LUTZ

with Rachel One on One Lutz

Detroit boutique owner talks about small business survival in the pandemic and her passion for social justice.

ADAM FINKEL CONTRIBUTING WRITER

On a typical day before the coronavirus epidemic hit, you could easily find entrepreneur Rachel Lutz at one of her three Detroitbased women’s boutiques. These days, with her locations operating by appointment only, we caught up with her about how she’s been impacted and her plans for the future.

In May, you were featured alongside Gov. Whitmer at her press conference to discuss the “MI Safe Start” Plan. How did that engagement come to be?

I had written the governor a letter, expressing support for her stay-at-home order. But knowing that she also deeply cares about Michigan small businesses, I gave feedback on what might help us safely serve our customers as we reemerge back into an open economy.

What is the current state of the Peacock Room and where do you see the business going as Michigan reopens?

The Peacock Room, Frida and Yama are currently closed to the public, but I’ve been doing some appointments. We’ve had some wildly successful Facebook Live Every small business out there is in a true fi ght for survival. Some of us won’t make it, some of us will hang on, and I’m confi dent some of us will actually thrive — it all depends on how much our community supports us and how willing each owner is to adapt to the new world around us.

— RACHEL LUTZ

events, which have taken us into online sales, something we hadn’t really touched before. It’s a completely different business model, so it’s taken some adjusting to. I will reopen my shops to the public when I reach a point of more confidence in the environment around us. The safety of my staff and customers is my top priority, so any decision I make will be based on what I’m hearing from the scientific community.

What would be your message to friends and family on the best way to help others that have businesses impacted?

Every small business out there is in a true fight for survival. Some of us won’t make it, some of us will hang on, and I’m confident some of us will actually thrive — it all depends on how much our community supports us and how willing each owner is to adapt to the new world around us.

Rachel Lutz

One of your earliest mentions in the Jewish News was in 1996. At Berkley High School, during studies to remember the Holocaust, you and other students educated students on modern-day atrocities in Rwanda, the persecution of Armenians and American Indians, and the forced relocation of Japanese Americans. A quarter-century later, if you were to think about the challenges in our society today, what is at the top of your mind today?

The most urgent and important matter in my mind in the continued fight for justice is for the black community. As a Detroit resident and business owner, it’s impossible to ignore the pain and injustice experienced here on a regular basis, from the school system to the corrections system. Even the topography of Detroit exposes the pockmarks of institutionalized racism that we’ve failed to address for generations — just look at our sharply segregated regional census map from as recently as 2010. It doesn’t resemble a metro area that’s learned the lessons of the past continued on page 27

Spirit

torah portion

Fear Causes Misdirection

Sometimes fear is our sending a plague to eradicate attacks on innocent African friend. Without fear, we’d the fearmongering scouts, then Americans, attacks promptwalk blindly into dangerproclaiming that the conseed by prejudice, ignorance ous situations oblivious to the quence of the people’s lack of and fear. Sometimes even the consequences. But misdirected faith in everything except their well-intentioned resort to lethal fear is dangerous. Fear’s emoown terror is to wander force out of fear. tional pull does not lend itself aimlessly through the Fear can be like lightto cool, thoughtful reflection. desert for 40 years. An ning, seeking to diffuse

In this week’s portion, misentire generation would its charge at the nearest directed fear leads to disaster. need to die out before target: the Chinese stuGod tells Moses to appoint a their children could dent on the street blamed blue-ribbon team to scout the land. The party returns after 40 days unharmed. finally enter the land. Now, one thing as bad as fearing when Rabbi Michael Zimmerman for COVID-19; the black physician pulled off the highway for no reason; Yet, on their return, they terrify the Israelites with bone-chilling reports of fierce giants who would crush them like grasshoppers. Once fear is there’s nothing to fear is foolhardy recklessness when the danger is real. So, when people learned their fate, they attemptParshat Shelach Lecha: Numbers 13:1-15:41; the synagogue whose support of HIAS feeds into a nativist conspiracy theory that Jews are masterminding the demographic triggered, even by “fake news,” ed to demonstrate their Joshua shift toward a non-white all common sense disappears. courage by marching 2:1-24. majority. So, when Caleb and Joshua on a rogue skirmish Foolhardy recklesstry to give a more accurate into hill country, only to be ness is fear’s twin sibling, an account, admonishing the massacred by Amalekites and equal and opposite reaction as people not to fear, the Israelites Canaanites. demonstrated by the desperate threaten to pelt the truth tellers This story is relevant today. Israelite attack on the hill counwith stones. The brutal murder of George try. Ignoring sensible health

Finally, God intervenes, Floyd was one of countless precautions during a pandemic

continued from page 26 and has made a meaningful effort toward progress. We must do better.

That same year, you were the youngest campaign worker for the Detroit field office of the Clinton/Gore campaign — even taking off election day from school to hold a giant campaign sign at 9 Mile and Greenfield. What was it about your upbringing that guided your early perspectives about politics?

Oh goodness, that was a long time ago. I was 16 years old that year, and I had been stuffing envelopes for campaigns since I was 8. I grew up with parents who did such an important thing — contrary to what many kids are taught, they raised us to actively talk about religion and politics at the dinner table. Kids need to be able to engage, form opinions, be able to defend them and be open to evolve their views.

Your business resides entirely in the city of Detroit. What do you think is most misunderstood about being an entrepreneur in Detroit?

Although it’s not as frequent as it used to be, I’m often asked “is it safe” to visit my shop. I’ve always felt safe and, more importantly, like part of the community here. I actually felt less safe in the suburbs.

Another common misconception about doing business in Detroit: Folks think the streets are paved with gold. I wish I could report that’s true! But just like anywhere else, you have to work hard and know your market.

You have also been a student in Detroit and a resident of the city. What perspective would you share with a younger member of the community interested in living and being more involved in Detroit?

If you’re new here, be intentional about forming relationships with longtime residents. Listen to them. Respect the context you’re moving into. And despite the tired narratives, you’ll then realize this is one of the richest cities in America that you can have the privilege of living in.

If you were to make a best guess, how long do you envision the COVID-19 situation will have the state government restrict some aspect of business activity?

We need to really move is also a prime example.

How do we know whether to believe the scouts’ account of potential dangers or the optimistic report of Joshua and Caleb? In our media-overloaded world, we need to cultivate the skill to scrutinize our information channels and evaluate their reliability. We also need to calm our emotional reactions so we can hear the still, small voice of our inner wisdom. On today’s major issues of racism, climate change and virulent new strains of disease, we have already wandered in the wilderness for more than 40 years.

Now is the time to act wisely and compassionately so that both we and our children can enjoy the promise of caring and healthy society.

Rabbi Michael Zimmerman recently retired after 17 years as rabbi of Reconstructionist Congregation Kehillat Israel in Lansing.

beyond the orthodoxies of how we see our businesses and how we ran them before. If there are restrictions in the name of giving us communities to come back to, we should try to figure out how to evolve our businesses alongside them. COVID-19 has really redefined how we will have to live in the coming months and years (with masks, distanced, avoiding large gatherings, etc.). The more we do now to stop the spread and stay safe, the less time we will have to worry about restrictions.

What do you most look forward to doing as more businesses open their doors for customers?

Sorry, I couldn’t hear your question over my overwhelming need to get a pedicure from Rouge in Ferndale.

Moments

MAY 29, 2020

Anne (Dovitz) Canvasser and Jason Canvasser of Birmingham are thrilled to announce the birth of their son, Jack Dylan. Proud grandparents are Debbie and Eric Canvasser, and Susan and Steven Dovitz. Jonah, 5, and Brynn,3, are the proud older siblings. Proud great-grandparents are Robert Canvasser and Pauline Markman. Jack is also the great-grandson of the late Sol and the late Lorraine Dovitz, the late Julius Markman, the late Jerry and the late Irma Wald, and the late Beverly Canvasser. Jack was named in loving memory his greatgrandparents Julius Markman and Irma Wald.

APRIL 14, 2020

Benjamin and Erica (Karp) Auslander of Birmingham are pleased to announce the birth of their precious son, Henry Bryan Auslander, brother to big sister Ava. Proud grandparents are Ira and Marcia Auslander of Farmington Hills, and Martin and Deborah Karp of West Bloomfield. Great-grandmother is Rose Bohm of West Bloomfield. Henry is named in loving memory of his great-grandfathers Henry Auslander and Benjamin Bohm.

Eliana Lillian Reiter of Huntington Woods will become a bat mitzvah on Saturday, June 20,2020, with Adat Shalom Synagogue. Joining Eliana will be her parents, Kelley and Alan Reiter, sister Danielle and grandparents Marilynn and Richard Emmer, and Naomi and Amnon Reiter.

Eliana is a student at Norup International School in Oak Park. She enjoys volunteering with her family at Yad Ezra in Berkley.

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@renmedia.us or (248) 351-5147 for information or for a mailed or emailed copy of guidelines.

Fox 105th

Rachel Fox of West Bloomfield marked her 105th birthday on June 11, 2020. Best wishes and lots of love are sent by her son, Michael Fox; grandchildren, Francine Newman (Marc), Carolyn Fox; and great-grandchildren, Marlee Newman, Mackenzie Newman, Morgan Berg and Matthew Berg.

Silverman 90th

Raymond Silverman of West Bloomfield will mark his 90th birthday on June 28, 2020. He will celebrate with his family: wife, Nancy of 60 years; children, Dr. Alan and Dr. Suzie (Merkle) Silverman, Linda and Aaron Rosberg; and grandchildren, Brittany Bradley and Jenna, Emily and Jacob.

Kay-Lapin

The parents of Michelle Lapin and Stephen Kay are thrilled to announce their May 2019 marriage at Polo Fields Golf & Country Club in Ann Arbor. The wedding was officiated by Rabbi Matthew Zerwekh of Temple Emanu-El in Oak Park.

The bride is the daughter of Glenn and Natalie Lapin of Huntington Woods. The groom is the son of Jeffrey and Rebecca Kay of St. John’s.

Michelle and Stephen met in St. Louis, where both were attending graduate school at Washington University.

Stephen is employed as a research analyst at University of Michigan Medicine. Michelle works at St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor Hospital as a physical therapist. The couple reside in Ann Arbor.

cap&gown 2020

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Berkley High School Summa cum laude, National Honor Society, Varsity Hockey Team Captain, Scholar-Athlete, Honorable Mention All-State Hockey.

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ADAM KARP

Frankel Jewish Academy Beaumont Hospital ER volunteer.

George Washington University

ELI HARRIS RIBIAT

West Bloomfield High School National Honor Society, Health Occupations Students of America, Michigan Interscholastic Forensics Association, International Thespian Society, Honors Choir, Earth Club, Greenberg AZA.

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‘There’s Only So Much You Can Do’

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguer David Vinsky keeping busy during lost season.

STEVE STEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

This was supposed to be David Vinsky’s first full season as a professional baseball player.

Instead, the 21-year-old St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect has been home in Northville staying in shape, hitting in an indoor batting cage and working on his defense on outdoor diamonds with other grounded baseball players.

“There’s only so much you can do,” Vinsky said.

What Vinsky should be doing this summer is playing for the Cardinals’ low-Class A Midwest League team in Peoria, Illinois.

Vinsky was selected by the Cardinals in

David Vinsky

June 2019 in the 15th round of the Major League Baseball draft after outstanding careers at Farmington Hills Harrison High School and Northwood University.

After signing a minor-league contract and receiving a $100,000 signing bonus from the Cardinals shortly after he was drafted, Vinsky played for the Johnson City (Tenn.) Cardinals in the Rookie Appalachian League and State College (Pa.) Spikes in the short-season Class A New York-Penn League.

He hit a combined .284 in 56 games.

Vinsky was on the Peoria Chiefs roster in mid-March when the COVID-19 pandemic

shut down the Cardinals’ spring training facility in Jupiter, Florida.

“I was at spring training for one day. They sent us (the minor leaguers) home quickly,” Vinsky said. “We didn’t do any baseball activities before we left. I had two plane flights in 24 hours.”

For the first time since he started playing travel baseball when he was 7, there isn’t a baseball season for Vinsky. And for the first time since he left for Northwood, he’s home during the baseball season.

Those anomalies don’t look like they’re going to rectify themselves.

Vinsky doubts there will be a 2020 season

quick hits BY STEVE STEIN

There may be a Michigan Jewish Sports Hall of Fame induction banquet this year. Then again, there may not. Everything depends upon when gathering restrictions are lifted by the state as Michigan slowly recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Hall of Fame banquet is normally held in the fall at the Sari Cicurel MICHIGAN JEWISH SPORTS FOUNDATION Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit in West Bloomfield. From 250 to 280 people usually attend the event.

“We’re a ways off on making a decision whether or not to hold the banquet,” said Sari Cicurel, executive director of the Michigan Jewish Sports Foundation.

“It could be held in October or maybe in November or later. We’re just not sure right now,” Cicurel said.

This year’s Hall of Fame inductees have not been selected, but that process is expected to begin soon.

Tickets remain in the Michigan Jewish Sports Foundation’s raffle for a 2021 Masters tournament prize package that includes two tickets for a round at Augusta National Golf Club.

Each raffle ticket is $100. No more than 200 will be sold. Tickets can be purchased at www. michiganjewishsports.org.

The Masters prize package, valued at $6,500, includes tickets for the third or fourth round of the 2021 tournament (April 10 or April 11), lodging for one night, valet parking and complimentary shuttle service.

Transportation to and from Georgia is not included. The raffle winner must be at least age 21. The drawing for the Masters Jeff Riger prize package will be Sept. 14 on Facebook Live on the foundation’s website.

Jeff Riger has joined Bob Wojnowski as co-host of 97.1 The Ticket’s weekday evening sports talk show.

Riger, 44, has been with the radio station since 2002, but this is his first permanent gig there.

“I’ve done pretty much everything at the station, from running a board to getting kicked out of (former Detroit Tigers manager) Jim Leyland’s office several times, so it’s exciting to take on this new role,” Riger told the Detroit News. 97.1 THE TICKET “Wojo’s the best. He’s a staple in Detroit sports radio. It’s awesome getting a chance to work with him every day,” Riger said. The show with Riger and Wojnowski airs from 6-8 p.m. Monday through Friday. It’s shorter when there’s a Tigers, Detroit Pistons or Detroit Red Wings game on the station. Riger, a Canton resident, replaced Kyle Bogenschutz on the show with Wojnowski. Bogenschutz’s contract wasn’t renewed after three years of working with Wojnowski.

Riger has spoken at Congregation B’nai Moshe as part of the West Bloomfield synagogue’s Spectacular Speaker Series.

for minor league baseball teams.

“If fans aren’t allowed in the stands, minor league teams can’t make money,” Vinsky said. “They don’t have television and radio contracts like Major League Baseball teams.” There have been slivers of good news for Vinsky in this lost season. Hundreds of ST. LOUIS CARDINALS minor league players were cut by their parent club in cost-saving moves.

Vinsky wasn’t among them. And he’ll be continue to be paid by the Cardinals through at least June.

“I also know I’m not alone when it comes to losing a minor league season, and I think I’m doing more to stay sharp than some other guys,” he said. “And you always have to remember why we’re not playing. So many people have lost family members because of the pandemic.”

Vinsky, who throws left-handed, played all three outfield positions last season at Johnson City and State College. He was strictly a centerfielder at State College.

“I assume I would have David Vinsky been playing centerfield for Peoria,” the 6-foot, 198-pounder said. “But I don’t care where I play. I’ll play wherever they put me.”

Vinsky played only three seasons at Northwood, but the right-handed batter left as the program’s all-time leader in hits (274), batting average (.411), doubles (66), runs (189) and RBIs (160).

When he was selected by the Cardinals, Vinsky became Northwood’s first Major League Baseball draftee in this century.

Vinsky will turn 22 on July 9.

The team of Gary Klinger and Dale Taub held the lead in the B’nai B’rith golf league through three weeks of the 16-week season at the Links of Novi.

Klinger and Taub had scored 40 points with a record of 15-7-5 on the 27 holes and 2.5 matches won.

Behind them in the team standings were Marc Ruskin/Jeff Novick (38), Jeff Vieder/Mitch Cohen (38), Lyle Schaefer/Ryan Stone (37), Josh Baker/Josh Harvith (36), Aaron Herskovic/Brad Friedman-Gabe Rubin (29), Larry Shapiro/ Bob Shapiro-Chuck Houmaian (27), David Swimmer-Jody Mendelson (26), Mike Klinger/Kerry Chaben (25), Mitch Lefton/Stu Zorn (23), Ryan Vieder/Adam Vieder (21) and Rich Luger/Richard Spalter (19).

Mike Klinger had the lead in the league’s individual standings through three rounds with 19.5 points. His record was 16-8-3 on the 27 holes, and he had won all three of his matches. GARY KLINGER Mendelson (18.5), Ruskin (18.5), Jeff Vieder (18), Herskovic (18) Schaefer (17.5) and Gary Klinger (17.5) were nipping at Mike Klinger’s heels in the individual standings.

David Swimmer and Jody Mendelson are masked and ready to play a round in the B’nai B’rith golf league.

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sports HIGHlights

Play Ball! Summer Softball League Season Starts Sunday

Fewer teams and games, but “we’re looking forward to getting together again.”

STEVE STEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

There will be a 25th Inter-Congregational Men’s Club Summer Softball League season after all.

And with 15 teams, just two fewer than last season.

“We’re looking forward to getting together again,” said Steve Achtman, one of the league’s organizers.

“I didn’t know if we were going to have a season this summer and, if we did, would it have to be like our fall season with teams mixed and matched from the summer teams,” Achtman said.

The re-opening this month of West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation Department diamonds during the COVID-19 pandemic opened the door for a summer league season.

League games will be played starting Sunday, June 21, and continuing each Sunday through Aug. 30 on two diamonds at Drake Sports Park and three diamonds at Keith Sports Park.

Nine weeks of regular-season games, with teams perhaps playing a doubleheader each week, will be followed by two weeks of playoffs. Rained out regular-season games will not be made up.

The league season was supposed to begin May 3, with no games played during the Mother’s Day, Memorial Day and July 4 weekends, and end Aug. 23. Games now will be played July 5.

The “new normal” caused by the pandemic will make this a league season like no other.

There will be social dis

Post-game high fives will look much different this season. This photo shows players from Adat Shalom Synagogue No. 1 and Bais Chabad Torah Center congratulating each other after a game last season.

tancing measures, a limited number of spectators, wearing a mask will be optional for players and umpires, and hand sanitizer will be available.

The umpire and catcher will position themselves farther away from the batter than they normally do, the usual post-game high fives between teams will be done with no physical contact, and there will be a pre-game moment of silence to pray for the victims of the pandemic and for peace and racial harmony in a turbulent world.

There will be free substitution during games. If a team is short on players, it can borrow players from the opposing team to fill spots in the field.

“We don’t want to have any forfeits,” Achtman said.

Congregation Shaarey Zedek, Congregation B’nai Moshe and Temple Kol Ami/ Congregation B’nai Israel will not field teams this season, but Temple Shir Shalom has added a third team.

The 15 remaining teams are in three five-team divisions.

The Greenberg Division is made up of five teams from Temple Israel: No. 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6.

In the Koufax Division are Temple Israel No. 4, Temple Shir Shalom No. 1 and No. 2, Temple Beth El and Congregation Shir Tikvah.

Temple Shir Shalom No. 3, Adat Shalom Synagogue No. 1 and No. 2, Congregation Beth Ahm and Bais Chabad Torah Center are in the Rosen Division.

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