Kids Kicking Cancer’s virtual classes lead

Jews in the D

LEFT: 6-year-old Camila of Pontiac, in her KKC T-shirt, holds onto her new yellow belt at the drive-through. CENTER: 10-year-old Leah of Highland, with her artistic Power, Peace, Purpose sign. RIGHT: 6-year-old Amanuel of Detroit gives a big two-thumbs up.

JOSH SCHWARTZ /ARJO PHOTOGRAPHY

Driving Through with Power, Peace and Purpose

Kids Kicking Cancer’s virtual classes lead to in-person belting ceremony for young martial artists.

SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

This summer, just like in years past, celebrants of the Kids Kicking Cancer’s (KKC) belting ceremony were treated to dinner, laughter and special gifts.

Unlike in year’s past, the July 22 honorees enjoyed the revamped aspects of the annual event from inside their vehicles at a stop-and-go pace, pausing at various outdoor stations. More than 100 children and their parents were greeted by waves, cheers, horn blasts and the presentation of merited martial arts belts.

The kids are participants of the KKC’s Heroes Circle, created for pain management in children with chronic or acute life-threatening illnesses. The program strives to empower them to heal physically, spiritually and emotionally, through martial arts therapy.

They are taught traditional karate moves along with the mind-body techniques of meditation, breathing, relaxation and visualization to lower pain levels.

A unique element in the program is the inclusion of siblings, both in classes and in the earning of the belts, which are distributed based on KKC’s individual grading system.

“They participate equally, right alongside each other and support one another,” said Cindy Cohen, KKC’s global program director. “In turn, they teach the techniques to other children with challenging illnesses, and even to adults.”

For the past 10 years, belting ceremonies took place in donated space at Cranbrook Institute of Science in Bloomfield Hills.

This year’s pandemic variation, organized by the KKC program team, took place in the parking lot of the Charach KKC Global Center in Southfield. Along with their belts and belting certificates, the children received ice cream sandwiches donated by Cool Jacks, a pizza dinner to-go and KKC Heroes Circle T-shirts to wear as part of their martial arts uniforms.

The drive-through followed months of online martial arts classes that began this past March after in-person programs were canceled.

“We already had digital Zoom in place because of our programs around the world,” Cohen said. “We also do camps and other cross-programming in our various regions. One of our local senseis, Michael Hunt, even woke up to be a guest teacher at 4 a.m. in our South African KKC program, alongside our South African instructors.”

Hunt was present, in person, to boisterously greet children with pride at the belting ceremony.

“The day we started our

face-to-face program online the kids all showed up — in uniform,” Cohen said. “All of our programs are now virtual, including those our martial artists had been conducting in schools and hospitals.”

Individual Zoom support is provided for those who need it and videos are recorded for kids to take with them during medical procedures.

READY AND WAITING

Thirty minutes before the start of the drive-through, carloads of kids — some in their uniforms — were already lined up in anticipation. On hand were KKC staff, including martial artists and a slew of volunteers wearing gloves and face masks. “We created a real party celebration and even had students from Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine tie balloons onto each car,” Cohen said.

Some of the vehicles were colorfully decorated with messages of congratulations and gratitude drawn with car markers supplied in “summer in a bag” packages, distributed at an earlier curbside pickup.

Many of the kids called out the KKC mantra, “power, peace, purpose,” from their open car windows.

“Every belt is a sign of continued on page 30

Jews in the D

For information

on KKC, go to: www.kidskickingcancer.org. To join the Heroes Circle program, access KKC’s social media links on the website.

continued from page 28

power, but (the kids) are not just powerful martial artists,” said Rabbi Elimelech Goldberg, the founder and global director of KKC known to kids as “Rabbi G”. “They are breathing in light, pushing out darkness.

JOSH SCHWARTZ /ARJO PHOTOGRAPHY

So that’s peace. And what’s purpose? Ask any kid here and they’ll tell you: to teach you to teach the world.”

The international nonprofit KKC, serves more than 7,000 children, some as young as 3, in seven countries. Here in Michigan, approximately

Food Baskets Were a Hit

On Aug. 23, 170 Hazon baskets, created in lieu of the canceled Jewish Food Festival, were picked up by happy foodies, raising $22,000 for the organization.

The event also gave much needed support to local small businesses.

“Thank you so much for supporting us small businesses!” said Kirsten Marie. “Dillicious Canned Goods would have struggled without your help!”

The people on the receiving end of the baskets were pleased as well. “The basket exceeds expectations! Fantastic array and so many delicious goodies,” said Kari Grosinger Alterman.

Judy Front added, “This was an amazing event. I tasted things in my basket that I never would have tried at the festival! Thank you, Hazon, for supporting local food makers and making us foodies more aware of what’s in our own neighborhood!” 2,100 children are served by the organization. Worldwide, kids are involved at 93 hospitals, and through community classes, family support involvement, illness-based camps and school-based teaching programs, including at Farber Hebrew Day School.

Funded by private donations, there is no cost for KKC martial arts classes and uniforms along with other programs, events, healthcare-professional workshops, and individual and family counseling.

In a collaboration with KKC’s new virtually shared programming, the drivethrough was recorded on video with Ned Specktor, the organization’s on-the-spot digital reporter, leaping from car to car, individually encouraging, chanting with and acknowledging the achievements of the kids.

In his role as social media and digital content director, Specktor has created new creative content that is shared online. “This is especially important during this time of COVID-19 where so many of us need ways to reduce stress and find ways to calm ourselves,” Cohen said. “Our Heroes Circle content can help anyone with breathing and relaxation techniques.”

Even with the benefits of KKC’s virtual component — including podcasts, video interviews with kids, sensei and Rabbi G., and a TikTok presence — the staff found great value in the face-to-face drive-through.

“Knowing the kids were dealing with Zoom fatigue, we wanted to make the connection in person,” Cohen said.

“The kids overcome a lot dayto-day. They were excited and really, really wanted to be there to celebrate each other.

“The event exceeded all of our expectations. This is a really strong community with really strong connections, and seeing them all come together was heartwarming.”

Antiracism Challenge

The Jewish Emergent Network, in partnership with Yavilah McCoy and Dimensions, launched Confessions of the Heart — Antiracism in Practice, a 30-Day Racial Equity Challenge for Elul.

Based on an adaptation of the Al Chet liturgy by McCoy, the challenge is open to the public and engages participants with a full month of antiracism reflection, discovery, action and transformation.

Through weekly emails and web posts, a daily regimen of readings, videos, podcasts and calls to action will aim to open hearts and deepen practices around dismantling racism. Across diverse entry points, the racial equity challenge will move folks to re-engage their emotions, inspire their belief, expand their mindset and recover their connections to the infinite.

This journey offers four weekly emails, 20 daily prompts and two virtual communal conversations co-facilitated by McCoy and Jewish Emergent Network rabbis. To take the challenge, logon to jewishemergentnetwork.org/confessions-of-the-heart

COURTESY OF LAUREN LESSON

Drive-By Birthday

Faye Jacobs enjoyed a two-day, drive-by celebration to mark her 96th birthday. Organized by her three children, family and friends signed up for 15-minute time slots when they could drive up to Faye and talk with her while she sat in the shade wearing her rhinestone mask. People came from as far away as Chicago to help her celebrate.

Iconic Museum Asks for Public Help

Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum opens GoFundMe page to help with expenses.

MAYA GOLDMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Marvin’s Marvelous 1,500 people had donated as of Mechanical Museum that time. has opened a “It is our goal to reopen GoFundMe page to help cover Marvin’s once it is safe to do expenses incurred while the so and without risk to patrons arcade has remained closed due and staff. However, financially to the COVID-19 pandemic. speaking, we cannot afford to

The GoFundMe was startwait that long,” Yagoda wrote on ed by Jeremy Yagoda, current the page, also mentioning that “Ringmaster, Grand Poobah the arcade’s expenses — includ& Self-Designated Adult ing rent, insurance, electrical In-Charge” at Marvelous and general maintenance — are Marvin’s and the son of founder currently over $10,000 a month. Marvin Yagoda, who passed As an arcade, Marvelous away in 2017. Over $62,000 out Marvin’s cannot reopen until of a goal of $75,000 has been Michigan moves into Phase 5 of raised as of Aug. 31. More than coronavirus containment.

Jeremy Yagoda (left) and his father Marvin stand in the arcade.

In an interview with the Jewish News last month, Yagoda said he was hesitant about creating a GoFundMe page. His family was used to giving to others, not taking from them, he said.

“It just doesn’t feel right asking for help to keep a business to survive when there’s people who are literally starving because of this, and even before this — people who really need help to live every day, not to keep their business open,” he told JN.

But Yagoda also told JN he was hopeful that Marvelous Synagogue • JCRC/AJC of Detroit • Jewish Communal Leadership Program, University of Michigan • Jewish Community Center of Greater Ann Arbor • Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor • Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus • National Council of Jewish Women — Michigan

Some Jews have disavowed the Black Lives Matter movement for ties between its leaders and the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions (BDS) movement, as well as for repeated instances of synagogue vandalism and anti-Israel

JEREMY YAGODA

Marvin’s would make it past this pandemic. On the GoFundMe page, he wrote, “All of us at Marvin’s are grateful for the memories and pictures you shared, and we hope to build lots of MARVELOUS new memories with all of you soon! #smallbusinessrelief.”

The GoFundMe page for Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum can be found at this link: www.gofundme.com/f/ marvins-marvelous-mechanical-museum?utm_source=face

Michigan Jewish Groups Sign Ad in Support of Black Lives Matter

The New York Times ad calls the BLM movement “our best chance at equity and justice.”

MAYA GOLDMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER M ore than 600 Jewish organizations — including at least 12 “We support the Black-led movement in this country that is calling for accountability and transparency from the governMichigan groups — signed onto ment and law enforcement. We a message supporting the Black know that freedom and safety for Lives Matter movement, pubany of us depends on the freedom lished as a full-page ad in the New and safety of all of us,” the mesYork Times on Friday, Aug. 28. Protests in support of Black lives have erupted throughout the nation this summer in response to continued racism and police violence against Black people in the United States. The message from Jewish organizations comes days after Jacob Blake, a Black man, was paralyzed following being shot seven times by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin. sage reads. The Michigan groups that signed onto the ad include: • Bend the Arc: Jewish Action Greater Ann Arbor • Beth Israel Congregation (Ann Arbor, MI) • Detroit Jews for Justice • Habonim Dror Camp Tavor • Hebrew Day School of Ann Arbor • Isaac Agree Downtown

book. rhetoric that has accompanied several BLM marches (including graffiti targeting a synagogue in Kenosha). But the message in the Times calls for Jews to support the movement, saying “when Black movements are undermined, it leads to more violence against Black people, including Black Jews.”

“The Black Lives Matter movement is the current day Civil Rights movement in this country, and it is our best chance at equity and justice. By supporting this movement, we can build a country that fulfills the promise of freedom, unity, and safety for all of us, no exceptions,” it concludes.