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On a (Food)

Rescue Mission

Local funeral director’s organization helps Hazon rescue food around Metro Detroit.

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contents Sept. 10-16, 2020 / 21-27 Elul 5780 | VOLUME CLVIII, ISSUE 6

Views 5-8

Jews in the D Former Oak Park Rabbi to Head Up FIDF 10

On a (Food) Rescue Mission 12 Local funeral director’s organization works with Hazon to rescue food around Metro Detroit.

Hillel Opens Its Doors After COVID Scare 16 One staffer tested positive last week and is quarantining at home.

Creative Ways to Celebrate

18

30

18 Families innovate to make the holidays meaningful during COVID 19.

Shabbat Lights

On the cover:

Arts&Life

Shabbat starts: Friday, Sept. 11, 7:30 p.m.

Shabbat ends: Saturday, Sept. 12, 8:30 p.m.

Cover photo/credit: Metro Detroit Food Rescue/Photo by Jerry Zolynsky Cover design: Michelle Sheridan

Wooden Judaica

* Times according to Yeshiva Beth Yehudah calendar.

30 Rochester Hills artist transforms wood into usable Jewish art.

Techno Torchbearer 32 Rebecca Goldberg talks techno and about the release of her latest album.

Celeb Jews 34

Online Events

22 Protester Lawsuit Not Over Yet 20 Lawyers file motion for reconsideration in case involving Ann Arbor anti-Israel group.

JCC Moves Forward 20 Some staffers return to lead new activities.

Kid Entrepreneurs 22 Pandemic propels kids to start businesses that help others.

32 thejewishnews.com Follow Us on Social Media: Facebook @DetroitJewishNews Twitter @JewishNewsDet Instagram @detroitjewishnews

Moments Moments 26

Spirit

35

Business A Jewish Approach to Planning and Investing 36

Here’s To 36

‘End of a Chapter’ 37 Pandemic results in closure for Joe Dumars Fieldhouse.

Etc. The Exchange Soul Danny Raskin Looking Back

39 41

45 46

Torah portion 28

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

SEPTEMBER 10 • 2020

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TOGETHER

EVEN WHEN WE’RE NOT

WISHING YOU A HEALTHY AND PEACEFUL NEW YEAR!

CELEBRATE WITH US! The High Holy Days at Congregation Shaarey Zedek are like none other. Our services will be here for you as always - this year with a twist.

We are infusing the same spirituality, renewal and sense of awe in new and differently-inspired ways. Don’t miss this year’s unforgettable holidays at CSZ. Go to www.shaareyzedek.org and join the CSZ family.

WWW.SHAAREYZEDEK.ORG 248.357.5544

WHERE TRADITION MEETS INNOVATION

Views

letters

for openers

Post Office Feedback

Watch Out!

D

ear Readers, if you saw the title and immediately thought that I was requesting you to check your timepieces then I have you too conditioned for puns; I am sorry.

Rather, I would like Sy Manello Editorial Assistant to draw your attention to precarious situations that have led to colorful expressions in our daily talk.

If you have ever just gotten by in a situation, then you have done so by the skin of your teeth. You had to watch your step because you realized you were on shaky ground.

Dealing with people who you know are overly sensitive may make you feel that you are walking on eggshells to

interact with them.

Been living dangerously?

Then you have experienced many a close call or close shave. You may wonder what caused you to stick your neck out, but you made it and lived to tell the tale.

There are many situations in which the outcomes may be touch and go. You may have found yourself on the edge of your seat or worse, playing with fire. Was it too late to remember to look before you leap?

Sometimes you find yourself walking a thin line or skating on thin ice. Do not add fuel to the fire by interacting with someone known to be armed and dangerous,

or your life may hang by a thread.

This does not mean that you must approach life afraid of your own shadow. You can bite the bullet and try to be more adventurous. If you come out unscathed, then you have dodged the bullet and can live to fight another day.

In situations where you are hanging on for dear life, there is little consolation in knowing that only fools rush in where angels fear to tread.

Take strength from the words of Franklin Roosevelt: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Just do not forget that I warned you to watch out!

guest column

It’s Time to Show Up

I

was a sensitive child.

After I learned about the Holocaust as a young child growing up in Israel, thoughts and images of people being tortured and murdered by the Nazis because of their race, religion, sexual Yifat Clein orientation and political beliefs kept me up at night. I felt deep horror at these thoughts and was

consumed by them to the point where it seemed like I could almost feel their terror, their pain. As I lay awake, my father would try to reassure me by saying, “These things happened a long time ago, in a land far away.”

Today, I lay awake at night again. This time, I am horrified by thoughts about the Black lives injured and lost to racism and police violence every day. The words of my father, “a long time ago, in a land far away,” do not com-

fort me as they no longer apply. This is happening here.

Now. The systems of American society continue to normalize and justify the brutal killing, systemic imprisonment, and structural disadvantage of Black and brown people. And up until recently, many of us, including myself, chose silence. Instead of struggling to find the “right” words to express my deep sorrow and horror about those horrifying, infuriating, senseless killcontinued on page 6

One paragraph stands out in Andrew Lapin’s column “The JN and the Post Office” (Aug. 27). Lapin noted, “On Aug. 12, President Trump confirmed in a TV interview that he was deliberately seeking to underfund the agency in order to sabotage mail-in voting this November.”

And so I ask our Jewish Trump supporters, how can they support someone who boasts of this egregious act?

No need to list Trump’s many flaws. This ridiculous scheme shows he is immoral and unethical. What a pathetic role model for our children and grandchildren.

Regardless of your allegiance to the Republican party, please rethink your vote for president.

— Edith Broida Farmington Hills

Regarding two Aug. 27 articles: “The JN And the Post Office” and “Protecting Postal Services Is a Mitzvah,” the Post Office is losing billions of dollars of your tax money every year and the Postmaster General is looking for ways to stop the hemorrhaging of your tax dollars.

Is that how you manage your personal finances — running a deficit every month?

More than 14,000 mailboxes were removed by the Obama administration to save the Post Office money.

Where was your “gutting” and “dismantling” then?

Regarding: “Find out what you can do locally to help people get their absentee ballots to their clerk’s offices” — I suggest every one of us contact JSL and other elder care continued on page 8 SEPTEMBER 10 • 2020

|5

Views IT’S TIME continued from page 5

most read on the web ings of Black people, I chose my own comfort and said nothing at all. But no more.

I am empowered by the huge uprising happening around the country. As a new mother, I am more invested in the future of humanity than ever before. I am happy to finally be here. I wish I had gotten here sooner. Now, I prefer to piss someone off by saying the wrong thing than to stay silent in the face of what is happening to our brothers and sisters at the hands of systems we all implicitly uphold.

As Jews, we know all too well what it is like to be victimized by other human beings while the rest of humanity stands still and silent. We know this pain. We carry this trauma for generations. We say, “never again.”

Our generational trauma, which can sometimes feel like a heavy load to carry, can be our asset. It can empower us to show up, to speak up. Not only against discrimination directed at us, but against discrimination and hate that systematically make the everyday lives of our Black and brown brothers and sisters difficult, frightening and exhausting.

Our trauma may lead us to seek to blend in, assimilate and hibernate in our privilege. Let’s not let it.

We can do so much more.

Remember, our liberation is bound with the liberation of our entire human family.

We do not all have to agree about politics, but I do think it is important that we all agree that being alive and, furthermore, not being targeted or persecuted by your

6 |

SEPTEMBER 10 • 2020

government, is a basic human right for all people. Until that is reflected in our policies and our systems, we need to show up and challenge these systems.

HERE ARE SOME IDEAS FOR THINGS YOU CAN DO TO SHOW UP: • Support antiracist organizations, such as EJI, NAACP, ACLU and The Bail Project.

• Contribute your time and skills to antiracist grassroots organizations such as DJJ and Detroit Will Breathe.

• Educate yourself. A good place to start is the book So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo.

• Support Black-owned businesses. Ima, Detroit Vegan Soul and Good Cakes and Bakes are three of my favorites.

• Think before you speak.

When you meet someone who lives in the city, ask them, “How do you like your neighborhood?” instead of, “Do you feel safe?” You may not mean it that way, but this question perpetuates a very racist idea of a “dangerous Black neighborhood,” according to Ibram X. Kendi.

• Adopt antiracist policies and attitudes. For example, if a visitor to your synagogue says that s/he is Jewish (regardless of the color of their skin), believe them.

Don’t ask further questions.

• Encourage your employer to be antiracist in its policies — hiring, retention and more. Don’t be silent. Show up.

Yifat Clein is a social worker and mom living in the city of Detroit.

She was born and raised in Kibbutz Sasa, Israel.

Each month, the JN will let you know the stories that were read most often online. If you missed any, you can go to the jewishnews.com and search for them by title. Here’s what was most popular in August.

TOP 10 ON THE WEB 1. ‘Rewind’: Jewish Filmmaker Confronts his Traumatic Childhood (from May) 2. Johnny Pomodoro’s New Owners Plan Improvements Along with more Gourmet Items 3. The Future of Shul: How Declining Memberships and COVID-19 Could Change the Way We Worship 4. Danny Raskin: Detroit Eats 5. Jewish Surgical Oncologist Fulfills his Dream of Aliyah, Securing New Job 6. Rabbi Lauren Berkun Delivers Benediction at the Democratic National Convention 7. A New Jewish Leader: Michigan Native is Changing Millennial Jewish Life in Brooklyn 8. Meet Gabi Grossbard, an Orthodox Jew Running for Congress (from July) 9. New Heads of Schools on the Block 10. Teaching Resiliency

TOPS ON FACEBOOK 1. Johnny Pomodoro’s New Owners Plan Improvements Along with more Gourmet Items 2. 2 Detroit Delis Now Offer Meatless Vegan Corn Beef 3. Danny Raskin: Detroit-Themed Restaurant Opens in Florida 4. Kids Kicking Cancer’s Virtual Classes Lead to In-Person Belting Ceremony for Young Marital Artists 5. Podcast FedRadioDetroit Aims to Share Standout Stories in the Jewish Community

TOP 5 ON INSTAGRAM: 1. Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum Misses its Visitors 2. A New Jewish Leader: Michigan Native is Changing Millennial Jewish Life in Brooklyn 3. Johnny Pomodoro’s New Owners Plan Improvements Along with more Gourmet Items 4. Newlyweds Separated by Canada-US Border Closure 5. Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum Opens GoFundMe Page to Help with Expenses

=PKLV 7YLZLU[H[PVU 4VUKH` :LW[LTILY Z[ Join us in recognizing a class of extraordinary women ^OV OH]L ILJVTL PUZWPYH[PVUHS ÄN\YLZ by excelling in their professional and personal work.

They are setting examples for future generations.

Although we cannot celebrate in person this year, we will be honoring these women in a video presentation.

Your absence is requested—your support is VITAL!

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Fay Beydoun

Debra Bonde

Judy DeSteiger

Dr. Kate Gowans

Jennifer Granger

Dr. Corey Gut

Kimberly Hurst

Gina Kell Spehn

Dr. Emily Shwedel Levin

Mona Makki

Jane Sherman

Representative Elissa Slotkin

Shannon Striebich

Dr. Caroline Trapp

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Eaton Steel Michelle & Davis Carroll ,SP[L :[HɉUN Peterson Family Foundation Huntington Bank Salzeider Inc. 1HɈL 9HP[[ /L\LY >LPZZ :JOLJO[LY >LHS[O 1LɈYL` -HYILY UHY Jenny & Andy Friedman

Steven & Joyce Shwedel +H]PK 3H\YLU >LPUILYN 2HYLU 1LɈ :JOVLUILYN :\ZHU >HNULY David Cramer Lisa & Robert Verdun The Jenkins Organization .PUV 2H[O` >PJRTHU Michael & Catherine Haugh The Stamell Family Todd & Linda Maurer

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Views LETTERS continued from page 5

facilities as soon as the Nov. 3 absentee ballots are issued and offer to drive/assist the residents by taking them to drop their applications and later, their ballots to the their city halls.

I suggest the Jewish Federation, Boy Scouts, every other well-meaning organization and family members see to it that every application and ballot are delivered to their city halls.

A list of volunteer drivers provided to the facilities would be in their best interest.

— Ed Kohl Michigan Jewish Action Council West Bloomfield

No. 42 Thank you for publishing the wonderful article on Jackie Robinson and the Jews written by Irwin Cohen. It points out to all of us what a great man that Jackie Robinson was. He was decades ahead of his time.

— Harvey Bronstein Southfield

Arthur M. Horwitz Publisher ahorwitz@renmedia.us F. Kevin Browett Chief Operating Officer kbrowett@renmedia.us | Editorial Editor: Andrew Lapin alapin@thejewishnews.com Associate Editor: Jackie Headapohl jheadapohl@renmedia.us Social Media and Digital Producer: Nathan Vicar nvicar@renmedia.us Multimedia Reporter: Danny Schwartz dschwartz@renmedia.us

Volunteers needed at Focus: HOPE

Great Memories of Chai Flyers

Focus: HOPE distribute food packages to over 42,000 seniors throughout Southeast Michigan each month.

During the pandemic, we’ve had over 3,000 people sign up to receive food, and at the same time, our volunteer pool has become much smaller.

We rely on hundreds of monthly volunteer hours to assemble food packages for low-income seniors and deliver food to homebound older adults in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Washtenaw counties.

I’m hoping you will be willing to share our need for volunteers to pack and deliver food boxes to seniors across Southeast Michigan.

Folks can find more information at focushope.galaxydigital.com.

I just read “Looking Back” in the Aug. 27 issue of the Jewish News. It brought so many memories. My husband, George Copper, who just passed away in May, would have loved reading it.

We knew so many friends at the Great Lake Yacht Club and spent much time there.

That’s when George wrote to Danny Raskin. George flew a small airplane and had Jewish friends that also flew but never had a place to meet as a group (just coffee on Saturday in Jackson).

After Danny Raskin wrote a small article in 1981, we received many phone calls

SEPTEMBER 10 • 2020

— Rose Cooper West Bloomfield

— Stephanie Maurice Focus: HOPE Detroit

Editorial Assistant: Sy Manello smanello@renmedia.us Senior Columnist: Danny Raskin dannyraskin2132@gmail.com Copy Editor: David Sachs dsachs@renmedia.us Contributing Writers: Nate Bloom, Suzanne Chessler, Shari S. Cohen, Maya Goldman, Madeline Halpert, Esther Allweiss Ingber, Barbara Lewis Jennifer Lovy, Reisa Shanaman, Mike Smith

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and made plans to meet at our house. After two meetings, it became the Chai Flyers (I can’t remember who named it)!

Thank you for sharing a story from the archives that will bring back memories to those who are still with us.

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SEPTEMBER 10 • 2020

Steven Weil will assume the role of national director and CEO of Friends of the IDF in September.

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FIDF

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Former Oak Park Rabbi to Head Up FIDF

MAYA GOLDMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

F

riends of the Israeli Defense Forces has appointed Steven Weil, a former Oak Park rabbi, as the organization’s new national director and CEO. Weil will assume leadership of FIDF, a charitable organization dedicated to supporting IDF soldiers across the United States and Panama, on Sept. 16, 2020.

He will take over for current FIDF leader Maj. Gen. (Res.) Meir Klifi-Amir.

Weil comes to the FIDF after 11 years of working at the Orthodox Union, where he most recently served as senior managing director.

He received his rabbinical ordination at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary and a master’s degree in business administration at New York University.

His first rabbinical job was as a rabbi at Young Israel of Oak Park here in

Michigan from 1995 to 2001. He then worked as a rabbi in Beverly Hills, California, for eight years.

“We are thrilled to welcome Steven Weil to the FIDF family as National Director and CEO, where he will channel his skills in institutional advancement as well as his vast experience in the Jewish community to support Israel and its heroic guardians, the men and women of the IDF,” Rabbi Peter Weintraub, FIDF’s national chairman, said in a press release.

Weil currently lives in New Jersey with his family.

He is also a public speaker and educator, and a passionate advocate of Israel and its soldiers, according to the release.

“It is the greatest honor to join the FIDF family of lay leaders and professionals who have committed their lives to looking after the IDF soldiers,” Weil said.

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Jews in the D cover story

On a (Food)

Rescue Mission Local funeral director’s organization helps Hazon rescue food around Metro Detroit.

MADELINE HALPERT CONTRIBUTING WRITER PHOTOGRAPHY BY JERRY ZOLYNSKY

I

n early June, City Covenant Church’s food pantry in Detroit found themselves with 20 pounds of excess Italian sausage crumbles. So Chad Techner, a funeral director at the Ira Kaufman Chapel, picked up the sausage, paired it with another donation of ground beef and made pasta sauce in a 15-gallon Chad Techner pot. Together with the help of his 3-year-old son, Eli, they packaged the pasta and sauce into quart containers, and helped Hazon, a nonprofit Jewish organization in Detroit dedicated to environmental sustainability, deliver it to local pantries to serve to their clients.

“There’s all of this excess food and also all of these people who need it,” Techner said. “In today’s day and age, the demand is more extreme than ever.”

The pasta sauce is one of several cooking projects that Techner has taken on since he founded a partner organization, Metro Food Rescue, to assist Hazon in its food

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SEPTEMBER 10 • 2020

rescue initiative. With the help of Metro Food Rescue and Hazon’s dedicated volunteers, Hazon has serviced a network of more than 45 Detroit-area pantries and saved more than 115,000 pounds of food since June 24, when they began tracking.

Techner, who attended Western Culinary Institute in Portland, Ore., says his inspiration for Metro Food Rescue and a partnership with Hazon comes from a longterm concern about food waste and insecurity. His experience in the culinary industry has also given him a unique ability to understand food distribution on a large scale and the cooking skills necessary to get creative with food rescue.

Wren Hack “He’s made gallons of spaghetti sauce from rescued food that we can take to our pantries and they can feed people with,” said Wren Hack, the executive director of Hazon.

“His passion and dedication have come through so strongly.”

AN ORIGINAL PLAN ADAPTED TO A TIME OF NEED Techner said he initially met with Hack in early February to discuss a different idea for a food rescue mission: saving leftover catered food from large events.

“People would call us saying they had tons of extra food from shivah, and we never had a good answer for what to do with it,” Techner said.

In early March, Metro Food Rescue helped Hazon salvage more than 250 pounds of excess catered food from an event at the JCC of Metro Detroit. Then the pandemic hit. Events were canceled, excess food went into storage and more people struggled to put meals on the table.

“There was a lot of waste due to the shutdown from COVID,” Hack said. “And at the same time, the need for food has gone up tremendously.”

Hack said that this greater need has even led several people to start food pantries on their front lawns.

And while food banks are stepping up during this time to provide meals to those who are struggling, Techner and Hack say there tends to be a misallocation of food between pantries.

“There are some gaps in the system,” Techner said. “We found that one pantry will have way too much of this but not enough of that.”

Hack said Hazon helps fill these gaps. Using Hazon’s database of more than 45 pantries, Hack is able to determine which food banks need what. If one pantry has too much of a certain food, Hazon picks up the items and redistributes them to another in need, all while ensuring that the food is culturally sensitive to the faith-based organization receiving it. At a time where larger food banks are overburdened, Hack says that Hazon’s allocation efforts are crucial to ensuring that no extra pantry food goes to waste. continued on page 14

There’s all of this excess food and also all of these people who need it.

— CHAD TECHNER

TOP: Rabbi Josh Bennett, Rabbi Nate DeGroot of Detroit, Wren Hack of Milford and Chad Techner of West Bloomfield with donated food. FAR LEFT: Wren Hack stacks food in front of the synagogue. LEFT: Chad Techner unloads the truck.

SEPTEMBER 10 • 2020

| 13

Jews in the D continued from page 12

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SEPTEMBER 10 • 2020

COMMUNITY SUPPORT Techner and Hack said the community has been instrumental in assisting Hazon in its redistribution mission.

“Every time we’ve needed help with something, someone in the community has stepped up,” he said.

In July, Hazon received 17,000 pounds of chicken to distribute to pantries, with no place to store it. So Techner called Temple Shir Shalom in West Bloomfield for help.

Rabbi Michael Moskowitz of Shir Shalom then referred Hack to one of his temple members, Ken Popper, the owner of Empire Packing, a meat storage company in Detroit. Popper volunteered to store 10 palettes of chicken, and Geoff Kretchmer, the president of Star Trax, an event planning company, volunteered a box truck for transportation of the meat.

Now, Techner said, Metro Food Rescue can help Hazon gradually distribute the donated chicken through the winter, and even possibly the spring.

“This project takes a community,” Hack said. “It’s far bigger than a village.”

In the fall, Metro Food Rescue is hoping to continue fostering community involvement through its fruit tree rescue project. Through the program, volunteers will pick up excess fruit from people’s backyard trees, so it doesn’t go to waste on the ground.

“It’s also just a really great family-friendly way to volunteer safely in these times,” Techner said.

LONG-TERM PLANS Though Metro Food Rescue has shifted course during the time of lockdown, Techner

hopes to eventually be able to come back to his original inspiration for the project: rescuing food from catered events. When these celebrations resume, he plans to restart this mission, in addition to all the other food rescue avenues he and Hazon have contributed to along the way.

Hack, whose full-time role includes both food rescue redistribution efforts and many other executive director duties, said she is excited to see Techner take on the food rescue project with increased time. By the end of July 2021, Hack says their partnership will lean more heavily on Techner. Meanwhile, she’s happy to be a part of an organization providing an essential service during a time of extreme need.

“I’m grateful that we are able to do this work,” Hack said. “It’s mission-aligned for us because we know we’re diverting food from the landfills, and we’re getting people fed.”

For Techner, too, the initiative comes back to a thought that keeps him up at night: hungry people and families. His goal is to keep expanding Metro Food Rescue’s reach to help serve even more communities members in need.

“It is just so frustrating to know that nearly 40% of food gets thrown out when there are so many people who don’t know where dinner is coming from,” Techner said.

“So, it’s been really rewarding to see all these other avenues that we’ve found through the project and to be making a dent in food insecurity in our local area.”

5781 NEW YEAR. NEW CHALLENGES. SAME INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY. Our doors might be closed, but our hearts remain open and ready to welcome everyone to worship virtually with us for the High Holy Days.

Visit our website www.temple-israel.org/HHD for more information.

EREV ROSH HASHANAH:

KOL NIDRE:

Friday, September 18

Sunday, September 27

5:30 pm | Service for Adults and Families

5:30 pm | Live Virtual Candle Lighting w/Clergy

7:30 pm | Service for Adults and Families

7:00 pm | Adult Service

(re-broadcast)

ROSH HASHANAH DAY: Saturday, September 19 10:30 am | Service for Adults and Families 11:30 am | Children’s Service 1:00 pm | Adult Education Class 2:30 pm | Service for Adults and Families (re-broadcast)

2:30 pm | Adult Education Class 4:00 pm | Children’s Service (re-broadcast)

SECOND DAY ROSH HASHANAH: Sunday, September 20 10:00 am - 5:00 pm | Tashlich at Temple

8:30 pm | Adult Service (re-broadcast)

YOM KIPPUR DAY: Monday, September 28 10:30 am | Adult Service 11:30 am | Yizkor 1:00 pm | YFTI-led Family Service 2:00 pm | Adult Education Class 3:00 pm | Children’s Service 3:30 pm | Mincha Moments 4:30 pm | Adult Experience/Meditation 6:30 pm | The Well Young Adult Experience 6:30 pm | Havdalah/Neilah

5725 WALNUT LAKE ROAD, WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI 48323 248-661-5700 TEMPLE-ISRAEL.ORG

HILLEL

Jews in the D

Hillel Opens Its Doors After COVID Scare One staffer tested positive last week and is quarantining at home.

DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

16 |

SEPTEMBER 10 • 2020

son learning on Wednesday, Sept. 2, as scheduled.

Staff #1, who was in the building on Tuesday, Aug. 25, was said to have maintained a six-foot distance from other staff members, was masked inside the building and presumed to have had no contact with students or parents at that day’s Meet and Greets.

“Per our school protocols, school nurse Gail Chynoweth conducted extensive contact tracing for this staff member, and also contacted the Oakland County Health Division,” the letter stated.

Six teachers who span all across the Hillel K-8 communities were known or presumed to have come into contact with Staff #2 for more than 15 minutes. Dr. Katz’s second letter said that the Oakland County Health Division had confirmed these six staff members no longer needed to quarantine after the negative COVID test results were revealed.

All Hillel students have a choice between an in-person and flexible learning model, which allows any student who wants to learn from home to do so.

Hillel also reiterated that Staff #1, who tested positive for COVID-19, has been out of the building since the previous

Wednesday. “We have no concerns of exposure following our extensive contact tracing and confirmation from the Oakland County Health Department.

This staff member continues to convalesce at home and we wish this staff member a full recovery,” the letter said.

“The health and safety of our entire community is paramount every year, and especially this year,” Dr. Katz wrote in a statement to the JN on Tuesday.

“We are grateful that our staff member is feeling better and are excited to welcome students to school tomorrow. We are going to have a great year!”

FAMILIES DECIDE Glen Schwartz, parent of a Hillel 1st- and 4th-grader who are both using the virtual flexible learning model, has been following the school’s updates and thinks everyone has the best intentions in mind.

“I thought Hillel did a great job of communicating what was going on,” Schwartz said.

“It was certainly disappointing to hear that someone had tested positive, not because of what Hillel had been doing, but just in general. Obviously, that’s scary for everybody, but I thought it was handled well.”

Schwartz is electing to keep

his kids virtual learning at home because he said there are immunocompromised individuals in his family.

“At the end of the day, my wife’s family is older, so we were concerned there, and on my side of the family I’ve got someone that’s immunocompromised,” Schwartz said.

“For us, it just made more sense to keep them home, thinking that if they went to school — not even considering that it would be unsafe, just that in the event something did happen or even didn’t for that matter — we wouldn’t be able to be around those family members as a precautionary measure. We didn’t want to do that, so we made the decision to keep them out.

“This is just such an unknown, and I think people are trying to deal with the cards that they’ve been dealt, and frankly not be political about it on either side,” Schwartz continued. “I don’t think anyone is wrong for the way they feel, and I don’t know that there’s a solution that’s right or wrong.

“I don’t think anyone is not putting the kids interests at heart or not putting the parents’ interests at heart, I just think everyone’s trying to do the best they can.”

FACING PAGE IS SPONSORED CONTENT

H

illel Day School welcomed students back for in-person classes on Wednesday, Sept. 2, three days after sending a letter notifying parents that one of its staff had tested positive for COVID-19.

In a pair of letters to families last week, Dr. Darin S. Katz, head of school at Hillel, said the school had been made aware that one Hillel staff member (referred to as Staff #1) had been diagnosed with COVID-19 and that another staff member (referred to as Staff #2) had symptoms consistent with COVID-19, but ultimately tested negative for the virus.

The first letter, sent Sunday, Aug. 30, stated that both cases were presumed to be unrelated to each other, that the cases were presumed to not have been contracted at school and that both individuals previously tested negative when all staff members were tested at Hillel on Tuesday, Aug. 18. A follow-up letter sent Monday, Aug. 31, stated that Staff #2, who had previously tested negative on a rapid COVID test, had also tested negative on a molecular nasal PCR test, and that the school would indeed begin in-per-

Hillel Day School

FACING PAGE IS SPONSORED CONTENT

ȱ ȱ ȱę ȱ ȱ ȱ ¡ ȱ ȱǭȱ ǯ Stephanie Angelyn Casola | Sponsored by Oxford Harriman & Co.

O

xford Harriman & Co. may be a new name in wealth management for metro Detroit, but the Cleveland-based practice has already solidly established itself nationally across the East Coast.

The company initially opened the doors to its Michigan office in 2019 and is growing steadily. By October 1, 2020 Oxford Harriman partners Albert Berger, Michael Finkelstein and David Gallina will move from Troy to a new, larger location at 2550 S. Telegraph Road in Bloomfield Hills.

The new location will offer more capacity to handle the Company's growing client base. Oxford Harriman will also be looking to add financial advisors to their team over the next two years to manage this growth.

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Likewise, Berger finds it rewarding to guide people as they accumulate wealth or prepare for retirement.

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Oxford Harriman specializes in investment management, investment planning, retirement guidance, college savings strategies and insurance products. By having professionals in seven offices with a wide variety of experience, advisors have the distinct ability to consult a team member to find the best solution for their clients.

When clients choose to work with Oxford Harriman they receive access to professionals with varied and complementary experience in wealth management. “The team approach gives our clients the ability to reach an associate to address an issue or help with an order at all times,” Gallina says.

Berger earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from Michigan State

University and his MBA from Wayne State University. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ™ professional with 15 years of experience. Finkelstein received his bachelor’s degree in accounting as well as his MBA from the University of Michigan. He was formerly a CPA and is a Chartered Financial Analyst with 20 years of experience managing stock portfolios for individuals and institutions. Gallina is a specialist in corporate retirement plans and investment planning with 30 years of proven experience.

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Rosh Hashanah 5781

Creative Ways to Celebrate Families innovate to make the holidays meaningful during COVID 19.

JENNIFER LOVY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

KELLI DADE-HAINES

COURTESY OF THE BOCKNEK FAMILY

T

TOP: Harry Feber of West Bloomfield blowing shofar, with Shaarey Zedek director of youth and family learning, Ari Reis, looking on.

MIDDLE: The Bocknek Family, Erica, Andy, Ethan, Lielle and Kefira, celebrating the holidays last year with The Well on the Detroit Princess River Boat.

BOTTOM: Leaders Rabbi Aaron Starr, Rabbi Yoni Dahlen and Ari Reis.

18 |

SEPTEMBER 10 • 2020

eshuvah (repentance), tefillah (prayer) and tzedakah (charity) constitute the three central themes of the High Holidays. This year, families especially may need to add a new theme — creativity — into their New Year observances.

Temples and conservative synagogues will mostly hold Zoom services because the ongoing implications of COVID prevent them from hosting indoor gatherings.

However, some parents worry that worshiping in this way will not be as meaningful for their children as attending services.

A few weeks before Rosh Hashanah, Amy Brody, a West Bloomfield mom of three girls ages 3, 5 and 7, started contacting a few friends and proposed the idea of holding their own outdoor service. While she understands and supports the notion that congregational services have to be online, she doesn’t want her children’s High Holiday experience to be in front of a screen. The Brodys are members of Temple Israel and Shaarey Zedek and often go to services at both places.

“I want them to participate in communal prayer, and I know that with my girls that won’t happen on a screen.”

Many congregations and religious organizations are modifying and expanding holiday offerings and providing programming beyond the internet to address such concerns. For example, small

outdoor Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services, tashlich services and shofar services are among the options available, and many are geared toward families.

POP-UP PRAYER To make it easier for families looking for a way to pray without being in front of a screen, Rabbi Simcha Tolwin of Aish HaTorah launched a national initiative that helps families host a service. Called PopUp Shul (popupshul.com), the idea is to provide all the materials needed for a Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur service, including online training before the holidays.

Participants can choose from one of four services; a traditional one, a family service, a meditative one, and one designed for families with teens and college kids, which includes tools for engaging those who are reluctant to participate.

“There are so many great ways to mark these holidays, but parents are going to have to dial in and learn something new,” said Rebecca Starr, a community educator, Hartman Institute staff member and wife of Congregation Shaarey Zedek’s rabbi, Aaron Starr.

“It’s going to be a significant responsibility because it’s more than just attending services. I think people are going to do some creative things in terms of fun family mitzvah projects and how they’ll approach prayer in a way that’s meaningful to them.”

Starr went on to say that “par-

ents need to be OK with whatever they decided to do because these holidays are about being joyful and celebratory, not about missing something or feeling stressed out.”

CREATIVITY REIGNS Erika Bocknek, a Farmington Hills mom of three young kids and a Temple Israel member, agrees.

“We will need to be creative about creating a sense of community and connection to our temple since that’s what will be missing,” she said. “But, I know that our temple is also thinking about that, and there will be ways to keep families connected.”

The Bockneks plan to start a new holiday tradition of sending New Year’s cards to the family and friends whom they will not see this year because of the current pandemic.

One novel approach to the holiday is participating in a Rosh Hashanah seder. At least two congregations, Beth Ahm and B’nai Moshe, are hosting them.

“We are offering a box of blessings with many Rosh Hashanah items in it for a Zoom Rosh Hashanah seder with Rabbi Kantor and his family,” said Steve Fine, executive director of Congregation B’nai Moshe.

“There are several different foods, each of which is con-

nected to a specific blessing for the new year and often based on puns for that food.

We’ll create some new and creative blessings like putting raisins in celery and then saying, ‘May it be your will, O Lord our God, that we all have a raise in salary.’”

Rachel Lopatin and her husband, Rabbi Asher Lopatin, have four children between the ages of 13 and 19. One way they are encouraging their teens to get excited about this year is by asking them to reach out and connect with others, wishing old friends and acquaintances a happy New Year.

Their family will be attending outdoor services at Rabbi Lopatin’s congregation, Kehillat Etz Chayim in Huntington Woods. The services will be shorter and social distancing practices put in place. Because of COVID, there will be less socializing than usual.

“If you can go to synagogue, that’s ideal,” Rabbi Lopatin said. “But if your synagogue is on Zoom and if you would use technology on the holidays, then go to synagogue on Zoom. Dress up and attend services on a shared device.

“Your presence means a lot to those who are putting together the service. A lot of rabbis are being much more deliberate in what they are planning for this year.”

The Jewish News reached out to congregations and organizations to see what options they will be offering for families during the High Holidays. Below are links from those who responded.

• Congregation Shaarey Zedek: https://tinyurl.com/y3r4g4wq • Adat Shalom: https://adatshalom.org/youth-hhd/ • The Shul: https://tinyurl.com/y2nav9bq https://www.shofarintheparkmi.com/ • B’nai Moshe: https://www.bnaimoshe.org/hi-holidays.html • Aish: https://www.aishdetroit.com/

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Please Join Us as We Celebrate the 30th Anniversary of

Yad Ezra, The Kosher Food Pantry

Feeding Vulnerable Families in Our Community

WED., SEPT 30 2020 th

in the parking lot of Adat Shalom Synagogue, Yad Ezra presents 7:30 p.m.

H NGER Snacks, brief video, drive-by reception line

To register or for more information please call 248.548.3663 or go to www.yadezra.org “U” ARE THE MISSINGLucinda INGREDIENT & Sandy Rosen

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SEPTEMBER 10 • 2020

Jews in the D

Protester Lawsuit Not Over Yet Lawyers file motion for reconsideration in case involving Ann Arbor anti-Israel group.

DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

A

fter a judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging anti-Israel protesters outside of Ann Arbor’s Beth Israel Congregation, lawyers for the plaintiffs look to keep the case alive.

U.S. District Judge Victoria Roberts dismissed the lawsuit brought by a congregant against the protesters on Aug. 19, on the grounds that the plaintiffs did not prove they suffered concrete injury as a result of the protests.

In response, the plaintiff ’s counsel filed a motion for reconsideration on Thursday, Aug. 27.

The motion states that the

court’s decision “contains several palpable defects, including errors of fact and law,” including one believed defect described as a mischaracterization of the equitable relief being sought by the plaintiffs.

The original court decision reads, “Plaintiffs … ask the Court to enjoin these Defendants from engaging in peaceful political speech in public areas. The Constitution simply does not tolerate such restraint.”

The motion responds, “By using the plural, ‘public areas,’ the statement suggests that Plaintiffs were seeking to bar the

JCC Moves Forward Some staffers return to lead new activities.

SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

I

n May, most staff members at the Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Metropolitan Detroit were temporarily laid off, as COVID19 restrictions kept many of its facilities closed. Now, many staff members are returning to work.

“We are bringing people back as programs come back,” said Brian Siegel, the JCC’s CEO. He added that there were no permanent job cuts.

According to Heidi Budaj, assistant executive director, a small number of staff members continued to work from home, because some programs continued virtually.

Several months ago, “we made the heartbreaking decision not to open the day camp,” Budaj said. However, the outdoor pool reopened in July after changes in state guidelines.

“The feedback has been incredibly positive,” she said.

Opening other sports and recreational facilities will depend on changes in state regulations. The JCC is not planning to reopen basketball leagues, according to Budaj.

However, the Center is planning to restart some other activities, giving a high priority to family programs. The child development center will open

Defendants from engaging in their anti-Israel and anti-Semitic speech in every possible public area. This is not true ... Plaintiffs were only seeking reasonable time, place and manner restrictions on the Defendants use of their anti-Israel and anti-Semitic speech in proximity to their house of worship.”

Regarding a timeline to hear back from the court on the motion for reconsideration, Marc Susselman, lead counsel to the plaintiffs, told the JN there’s no way of knowing, but probably before the end of September.

Susselman is handling the case along with The Lawfare Project, a New York-based legal fund with a focus on Jewish and pro-Israel cases.

If the motion is denied, the plaintiff ’s counsel plans to file an appeal with the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

“I expect [Judge Roberts] to deny [the motion], just judging from her reasoning and her attitude demonstrated in her order to dismiss the case,” Susselman said. “But she may be concerned

about that because I think we’ve made very strong arguments that her decision is contrary to so many precedents on so many levels that she’s clearly risking it being overturned, and no judge wants to be overturned.”

Ann Arbor resident Henry Herskovitz, leader and founder of a group called Witness for Peace, began protesting outside of the synagogue in 2003.

The group has protested there every Saturday morning since then, timed to the congregation’s Shabbat services. The protesters have held signs with messages including “Jewish Power Corrupts” and “Resist Jewish Power.” Some supporters have exhibited sympathy with neo-Nazis and other antisemitic groups.

The December 2019 lawsuit was filed by Marvin Gerber, a Beth Israel member. Dr. Miriam Brysk, a Holocaust survivor and member of Pardes Hannah Congregation, which is located in an annex next to Beth Israel, is a part of the lawsuit as a co-plaintiff.

in early September with a much reduced capacity, using a pod format to limit close interaction to small groups of children, as well as other safety measures.

Budaj said teen programs will be running soon.

JFamily, which provides support and education to Jewish families, has been all-virtual since March. Mikki Frank, senior director of JFamily, said that JBaby and PJ Library programs quickly transitioned online.

The JCC’s popular PJ Library program has continued online and with some new additions.

It is part of a national program that provides Jewish-themed, age-appropriate books to 2,300 local children at no cost.

This September, participating families can pick up “It’s in the Bag” to “help families do Jewish

in their homes for the high holidays.” Also, PJ Library recently launched “Good Night Zoom” for children, a 15-minute program of bedtime stories and songs available on Facebook.

A small scale in-person program is being held in September for babies up to 1 year old, separated by their placement on blankets to a safe distance.

Budaj says that the JCC is offering a “robust catalogue” of educational and senior programming. Its extensive JLearn adult education program, now online, has partnered with communities throughout the state, supported by the Ravitz Foundation.

The JCC’s Institute for Retired Professional now has fewer in-person discussions and relies more on Zoom and online programs.

Virtual Program

FRANCI’S WAR Helen Epstein will discuss the memoir of her mother, a seamstress who survived Auschwitz by lying about being an electrician.

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| 21

Jews in the D

Kid

Entrepreneurs

LEFT: Alex Gross biscuits and dog toys.

BELOW: Emma and Brendyn Tischler with chains.

Pandemic propels kids to start businesses that help others.

BARBARA LEWIS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A

lthough the pandemic has presented many challenges to the community, it has inspired young people to create businesses that also help the community. Here are some of these young people making a difference.

“TWIN TREASURES” RAISES FUNDS FOR CAMP COVID-19 dashed Brendyn and Emma Tischler’s plans for their first trip to sleepaway camp when Camp Tamarack stayed closed this summer. The nearly 8-year-old twins needed something else fun to do.

They thought about a lemonade stand outside their West Bloomfield home, but that didn’t seem practical in the pandemic era. Since they enjoy creative arts, they settled on making beaded chains for face masks.

They had made beaded necklaces and bracelets in the past, and Brendyn thought it would be cool to clip chains onto the face masks everyone now has to wear.

The twins were inspired by their father, Jeff, a senior vice president at Fifth Third Bank.

There was always lots of money talk at home, said their mom, Elissa, a kindergarten teacher at Hillel Day School, where the twins will enter second grade this year.

They each have a college fund, and they knew whenever money came their way, they had to save some of it.

They asked their father lots of questions about building a business and what to do with their earnings. Because tzedakah has

22 |

SEPTEMBER 10 • 2020

been a strong family value, they wanted to give some of the money from sales to a worthy cause. They settled on the Send a Kid to Tamarack fund, which provides scholarships for campers.

The chains are made to order, with customers describing the colors and/or style they prefer. Their dad created an Excel spreadsheet for them to keep track of their orders and sales.

Brendyn and Emma named their enterprise Twin Treasures. Their mom started a Facebook page for them — EmmaBrendyn Tischler — where customers can see their products and order chains. Sales boomed through word of mouth. To date, the twins have raised more than $130 for Tamarack.

Elissa Tischler says there have been a lot of little lessons along the way, including

“At first I thought having a business was easy, but it’s really hard work.”

— BRENDYN TISCHLER pricing and profit margins. The twins sold their first creations to family members for $5 apiece, and soon discovered that after accounting for their expenses, they’d have only $1 per piece left to donate. So they raised their price to $8, with $2 from every

sale going to help needy campers.

They enjoyed working together and doing something creative, said Elissa Tischler. But they also learned that business owners have to put in an effort even when they’d rather be doing something else because their customers are relying on them.

“At first I thought having a business was easy, but it’s really hard work,” Brendyn said. “It’s not about just making money for ourselves. It’s about giving money to other people, too.”

Emma said it makes her feel good to give people something they want. “It makes me happy that people are using our product,” she said.

DANDY DOG BISCUITS RAISES FUNDS FOR ANIMAL WELFARE Two summers ago, Alex Gross, then 8, learned to make dog biscuits while attend-

Alex Gross making dog biscuits

Jews in the D

ing the Jewish Community Center’s day camp; it was a way to demonstrate the Jewish value of caring for animals.

Even though Alex has no pets of his own, he loves animals, especially dogs. Before Rosh Hashanah that year, he started his own company, Dandy Dog Biscuits, with the idea of raising funds for animal welfare.

He found a recipe online with only three ingredients — baby food, whole wheat flour and water — and mixed up his first batch in the family kitchen.

He used his great-great-grandmother’s rolling pin to roll the dough and a Jewish star cookie cutter for shapes.

Alex since expanded his vision: He’d sell the biscuits at the Novi Memorial Day parade so he could raise even more to help animals.

“He came up with the idea on his own,” said his mother, Jodi, who does marketing, adult education and youth engagement at Adat Shalom Synagogue. “He said, ‘We have to go big.’”

Alex, then finishing third grade, made up a sign to advertise the dog treats. He decided how many biscuits to put in each bag (four) and how much to charge ($2). At the parade, he approached people with dogs.

Within an hour he had sold his 25 bags.

Soon after the parade, he made his first donation to the World Wildlife Foundation.

With his mom’s help, Alex

made up some business cards that he handed to people walking dogs in the neighborhood.

In the spring, Alex started deliveries to help people and their dogs get through COVID lockdowns. “It feels good to make them smile,” he said. His dad Danny, an attorney, and older brother Mickey, 12, support his efforts.

He doesn’t venture far beyond his Novi neighborhood, though his grandfather, Lester Berger of Farmington Hills, promoted the biscuits among his colleagues. Alex quickly sold a large batch of biscuits he made in April, and another batch of 180, his biggest ever, that he made in July.

Over the summer, Alex, now 10, started making dog tug-toys from fleece, trying out his prototype on a puppy he met while delivering biscuits (the dog loved it).

So far, Alex, whose parents have donated all the dog biscuit ingredients and supplies,

“He came up with the idea on his own.”

— MOM JODI GROSS has raised $400 for the World Wildlife Foundation.

The venture has been a great way for Alex to develop self-confidence and improve his math skills, said his mother.

He’s not really looking for more business right now — one big batch of biscuits a month is about all he and his mom can handle — and he doesn’t have a website yet. But interested customers can email him at dandydogbiscuits@gmail.com.

Know of other local kid entrepreneurs for JN to spotlight? Let us know at letters@renmedia.us.

SEPTEMBER 10 • 2020

| 23

Moments Benjamin Bak of West Bloomfield (Binyamin Zohar) became a bar mitzvah at Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills on Sept. 7, 2020. Parents Erica Bak and Phil Bak; siblings Nathan (11) and Ella (7); grandparents Janice and Loren Young, Mike and Mary Ellen Davis, and Hertzie and Lolly Bak celebrated the simchah.

Benjy attends West Hills Middle School in Bloomfield Hills. He chose Yad Ezra in Berkley for his mitzvah project, making weekly food deliveries to clients and donating food.

Trudy Leigh Gechter will chant from the Torah as she becomes a bat mitzvah at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield on Saturday, Sept.

12, 2020. She will be joined in celebration by her proud parents, Merrily and Kenneth Gechter, and brother Evrett.

Trudy is the loving grandchild of Sharie and Al Gladner, and Zelda and the late Lawrence Gechter.

She is a student at Royal Oak Middle School. Among her many mitzvah projects, Trudy found it most meaningful to organize a donation drive for the Catfé Lounge, part of the Ferndale Cat Shelter.

Sloane Lily Jaffe, daughter of Hallie and Ryan Jaffe, will become a bat mitzvah at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield on Friday, Sept. 11, 2020. She will be joined in celebration by her sister Brooke and her proud grandparents Leah and Jeffrey Fox, and Ellen and Michael Jaffe.

Sloane attends West Hills Middle School in Bloomfield Hills. Among her many mitzvah projects, she found it most meaningful to collect clothing and personal items for donation to abused women and their children that seek a safe shelter at the Haven in Oakland County.

Eve Neumann Kutinsky will lead the service and chant from the Torah as she celebrates her bat mitzvah at Temple Shir Shalom in West Bloomfield on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020. She will be joined in celebration by her proud parents, Michael Neumann and Brian Kutinsky, along with her siblings Ari and Leah. She is the loving granddaughter of Brenda Neumann and the late LeRoy Neumann, Donna Kutinsky and the late Leslie Kutinsky.

Eve attends Berkshire Middle School in Beverly Hills. As part of her mitzvah project, she raised money for the World Wildlife Foundation.

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.

26 |

SEPTEMBER 10 • 2020

Brandon Ezra Levine was called to the Torah and lead the congregation in prayer as he became a bar mitzvah at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield on Monday, Sept. 7, 2020. He was joined in celebration by his proud parents, Shayna and Josh Levine, and his sisters Marni, Cailey and Mia. Brandon is the loving grandchild of Susan and Rabbi Harold Loss, and Berna and Noah Levine.

He is a student at Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit in Farmington Hills. As part of his mitzvah project, Brandon organized a basketball challenge to raise money for the Friendship Circle in West Bloomfield.

Preston Harley Lumberg, son of Amy and Adam Lumberg and brother of Harrison, chanted from the Torah on the occasion for his bar mitzvah at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020. He is the loving grandchild of Pam and Gene Lumberg, and the late Vivian and Heinz Seiferheld; and great-grandchild of the late Helen and Dr. Phillip Sherman, and the late Marian and Howard Guttman.

Preston is a student at West Hills Middle School in Bloomfield Hills. For his most meaningful mitzvah project, he takes part yearly in the LUNGevity Walk – Breathe Deep Event. This walk series is the nation’s largest network of local events for lung cancer fundraising and awareness.

Carly Frances Orman, daughter of Robin and Peter Orman, will lead the congregation in prayer as she becomes a bat mitzvah at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield on Saturday, Sept.

12, 2020. She will be joined in celebration by her brother Aiden. Carly is the loving grandchild of Alan and the late Susan Bolton, and Ceci Stone and the great-granddaughter of the late Juanita Victor.

She is a student at West Hills Middle School in Bloomfield Hills. As part of her mitzvah project, Carly, who cares deeply for animals, baked and sold cookies, donating all proceeds to the Humane Society.

Danielle Ashleigh Sandler, daughter of Brook and Dr. Fredric Sandler, will read from the Torah as she becomes a bat mitzvah on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield. She will be joined in celebration by her siblings Samantha, Morgan and Brandon. Danielle is the loving grandchild of Bernice “Elaine” Ackerman, Andrea and Stan Bank, and the late Rubin Sandler.

She attends Hillside Middle School in Northville. As part of her mitzvah project experience, Danielle raised funds for donation to both the American Cancer Society and the American Diabetes Association.

Dr. Craig Singer Jack Victor (Yonatan Binyamin) will be called to the Torah as a bar mitzvah at Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield on Saturday, Sept. 12. He will be celebrating with his proud parents, Kelly and David Victor, brothers George and Robert, and sister Adin. Jack is the beloved grandson of Marilyn and the late Steven Victor, Frances and Ronald Rogers, and the late Arlene Victor.

Jack attends Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit in Farmington Hills. For his mitzvah project he is working with Kids Kicking Cancer to learn how to teach children breathing techniques to reduce anxiety and pain.

Leah Rose Wine, daughter of Dr. Tarin Gitlin and Robert Wine, was called to the Torah in honor of her bat mitzvah at Temple Shir Shalom on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. She was joined in celebration by her brother Ben. Leah is the loving grandchild of Hadley and Beverly Wine, and Roslyne and the late Dr. Kenneth Gitlin.

Leah is a student at Norup International School in Oak Park. For her most meaningful mitzvah project, she volunteered at JServe.

Statfield-Gilliatt

L

eslee and Terry Statfield are delighted to announce the marriage of their daughter Ashley Elizabeth Statfield to Bradley Lawrence Gilliatt, son of Audrey Gilliatt and the late R. Gordon Gilliatt.

The beautiful wedding took place with immediate family at the Rattlesnake Club in Detroit off the scenic Detroit River.

Rabbi Jen Lader of Temple Israel officiated.

Ashley is the granddaughter of Celia Goldberg, the late Fred Goldberg, the late Marilyn Freedland and the late Murray Statfield. She graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree in music therapy and from Wayne State University with a master’s degree in social work.

Brad graduated from Oakland University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

Ashley is a social worker at the Walled Lake Consolidated School District. Brad is a corporate controller of a global manufacturing company.

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Spirit torah portion

The Need To Reflect

W

sages tell us in the Talmud e are but a week (Yoma 86b) that one test is away from the Jewish new year of when we are confronted by 5781, simultaneously observ- the same temptation on two future occasions, and we ing Shabbat and the 19th choose to act properly. anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001.

In the process of doing Since we are in the this self-reflection, this midst of a pandemic heshbon hanefesh, we and at the height may often find a disconof the presidential nect between our concampaign, we have so science and our conduct, many thoughts and between the image we feelings colliding. I project and our actual Rabbi Dorit think we need this Edut behavior. Here is where Shabbat to reflect on we must not despair; we where we are going Parshat must begin to take the and where we have Nitzavim/ first steps to bridge the been these past few Vayelekh: gap and to know that months.

Deuteronomy God is pushing us in 29:9-31:30; Our Torah portion this direction, cheering Isaiah relates to such a time us on. “Make an open61:10-63:9. as Moses prepared to ing for repentance as leave this earth and large as the eye of a neepass the leadership to Joshua; dle, and I will make it large the people are preparing enough for wagons and carto leave their wilderness riages to pass”(Song of Songs existence and move into the Rabbah 5:2.).

Promised Land. What awaits Maimonides cautions us them and us? that there are things that can While we never know the get in the way of the process exact answer to this, (or as of turning — such as acting the Israeli song says Ke she out of anger, elevating onenavo nimtza teshuvah — self at the expense of others, When we get there we will condemning others with find the answer) we do know suspicions instead of proof that what we have done or and standing aloof from the not done in the past year community. (Mishneh Torah, does matter in determining Teshuvah). But once we are where we will be going. It is ready to admit our shortcomincumbent on us to reflect on ings, repentance can become our actions, our words, our a motivating force to not only thoughts — to do teshuvah, grow in awareness but also to a returning and a turning to go forward to make permaour best selves. nent changes for good in our But teshuvah is not a lives. quick fix — just saying a As Moses said to Joshua on few prayers for forgiveness, taking this new role: Hazak apologizing to someone v’ematz — be strong and have and then being done. It is a courage! process which takes time; it is a change in our behavior, Rabbi Dorit Edut is the head of the in our thoughts and in our Detroit Interfaith Outreach Network, hearts. When have we really serves Temple Beth Israel in Bay achieved this change? Our City and teaches privately.

28 |

SEPTEMBER 10 • 2020

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woodworking

Wooden Judaica

COURTESY OF DANIEL BUCKSBAUM

Arts&Life

Rochester Hills artist transforms wood into usable Jewish art.

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

D

aniel Bucksbaum did not know much about his late great-grandfather until he started transforming wood into art objects. Then, he remembered learning about the artistry of Louis Sher, a tool and die artisan whose woodworking hobby brought about the ark still displayed at Congregation Shir Tikvah in Troy.

In a family of known fabric and print artists, Bucksbaum ventured into woodcarving last fall, when he wanted to make a commemorative gift for his grandmother, Barbara Gash, who had recently traveled to Israel for the first time. He carved a menorah in the shape of Israel.

“We have a few of my great-grandfather’s pieces, bowls and cutting boards, around the house,” said Bucksbaum, 24, of Rochester Hills. “After I got into woodworking, I started to appreciate his abilities more, and my grandma has since taught me a lot about him and loves that I’ve inherited his interest.”

Bucksbaum, a political science graduate of Western Michigan University, had been looking for a job that reflected his academic studies when he found temporary work with a handyman who taught him carpentry. With that training and a home workroom of repair tools used by his dad, David Bucksbaum, he decided to try building the menorah.

“I soon got the idea to make more of those kinds of meno-

30 |

SEPTEMBER 10 • 2020

rahs, thinking I could sell them,” said Bucksbaum, whose artistic instruction came through area wood artists and YouTube videos. “Then I added Shabbat candlesticks to what I was doing because I thought there could always be a demand if I played it right.”

After buying precision tools from internet sellers and finding unique woods through local traders, Bucksbaum established a customer base by displaying his projects on social media and opening a store on Etsy.

“I’ve been focusing on menorahs of exotic woods and more interesting designs,” Bucksbaum explained. “I love using my saw to make Hebrew letters out of wood, and I’m trying wall art.

I’ve been making cutting boards lately, and I’m going to be doing them in larger numbers.

Another project I’m getting into is challah serving boards with Hebrew words.”

Mezuzahs and seder plates will be next on his creative list.

Bucksbaum’s interest in Judaism developed in college.

Although his family celebrated Jewish holidays and involved themselves with Jewish culture, they did not attend synagogue or become active with religious organizations. He did not have a bar mitzvah.

“I got involved with a Hillel chapter immediately after entering college and loved having Jewish friends,” said Bucksbaum, who was elected to various Hillel offices and chosen chapter president in his senior year. “I

joined Hillel to have a sense of community.”

Those feelings of community directed his political attention to Middle East studies with Israeli interactions at the center of his curriculum.

“I became more serious about selling my work in February and March,” said Bucksbaum, a Stoney Creek High School graduate. “In March, when I was forced to stop working for the contractor because of the pandemic, I tried to put as much time as possible into what I thought I should do when everyone was forced to stay home.

“That’s when I was able to get my Etsy store up and provide myself a small income, but this is becoming my main source of income. As I expanded my products with more diversity, I got to see what my customers liked and what routinely sold, and I focused on those.”

Bucksbaum roams the web looking at various kinds of woodworking approaches and creatively adapts them using Jewish themes and ritual objects. He saw some beautiful candlesticks with crosses and decided to carve very different candlesticks with Stars of David.

He also accommodates custom orders, religious or not.

“I like creating things that other people can enjoy,” he said.

“For example, when people buy my candlesticks, use them for Shabbat and say they love them, I have great satisfaction knowing that something I made is part of someone’s home.”

Daniel Bucksbaum

details Daniel Bucksbaum’s wooden artistry is available through Etsy at WoodcraftingByDaniel.

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Arts&Life music

Techno

Rebecca Goldberg

Torchbearer Rebecca Goldberg talks techno and about the release of her latest album.

REISA SHANAMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A

touring DJ and active music producer who has worked at Detroit Threads record store and was featured in the 2016 French documentary Music on the Road, it’s easy to see Rebecca Goldberg as a torchbearer of Detroit techno.

“I have devoted myself to it. It’s not just the music, but the culture of it,” she said. “It’s very much a culture, and I think I’m a good representative of that.”

Goldberg grew up in Bloomfield Township in the ’80s and ’90s, where her mother played piano and accordion and sang. Her father, more interested in the technological side of music, kept a consistent collection of vintage radios and stereos at home.

“You don’t realize until much later, but looking back it makes perfect sense,” she said about the way these two aspects of her

childhood have shaped her own approach to music.

In addition to the sounds her parents exposed her to, including disco, Phil Collins, The Doors and Madonna, Goldberg vividly recalls hearing the DJ mixes of Stacey “Hotwaxx” Hale and live recordings from Club X pumping through Detroit’s airwaves.

“Stacey was playing freestyle music, and I had never heard anything like that before,” she said. “The club music was techno, trance, stuff that my parents didn’t have in their CD collection, and I wasn’t hearing on the school bus on the way home,” she laughed.

Though she attended the University of Michigan to study American culture and got a job after graduating, it was not her passion to work in that environment.

“I didn’t know if there was a way I could make music and create a career for myself. It

took a few years to hone that in. Once I realized that could be my livelihood, I definitely went all in,” she said.

She began producing her own music, took a job at famed local record store Detroit Threads, and got booked to DJ Detroit nightclubs like TV Lounge and the Works.

And after growing up listening to Hale, Goldberg and her hero wound up being booked to DJ many of the same events over the years. Hale later gifted Goldberg her first piece of music production equipment: an MPC. This combination drum machine and sampler that allows its user to upload sounds and manipulate them the same way a percussionist would “changed everything,” she said.

Having once rode 10 airplanes and six trains in a single week while touring, Goldberg calls the effects of COVID-19 on continued on page 34

PHOTOS COURTESY OF REBECCA GOLDBERG

UNITED PHOTO WORKS

32 |

SEPTEMBER 10 • 2020

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YOM KIPPUR BREAK THE FAST TRAYS Yom Kippur Trays will be available for pick up at Three Cats Restaurant on Monday, September 28 ĨƌŽŵ Ϯ͗ϬϬͲϱ͗ϬϬƉŵ͘ ůů ĮƐŚ ƵƐĞĚ ĨŽƌ ŽƵƌ ƚƌĂLJ ŝƐ ĐƵƌĞĚ or smoked in house, not sent in from New York. dŚĞ ĮƐŚ ĂƌĞ ŚĂŶĚ ďƵƚĐŚĞƌĞĚ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ůŽdž ŝƐ Ăůů ŚĂŶĚ sliced. The bagels are baked just prior to pick up and ŽƵƌ ĐŽīĞĞ ĐĂŬĞ ŝƐ ůĞŐĞŶĚĂƌLJ͘ KƌĚĞƌƐ ǁŝůů ďĞ ĂĐĐĞƉƚĞĚ ƵŶƟů dŚƵƌƐĚĂLJ ^ĞƉƚĞŵďĞƌ ϮϰƚŚ͘ Call (248)288-4858 to reserve a tray.

THREE CATS BREAK THE FAST TRAY • ,ĂŶĚ ƐůŝĐĞĚ͕ ŚŽƵƐĞ ĐƵƌĞĚ͕ EŽƌƚŚ ƚůĂŶƟĐ ůŽdž͘ • Hot smoked kippered salmon with Michigan ĐŚĞƌƌLJ ǁŽŽĚ͘ • >ĂŬĞ ^ƵƉĞƌŝŽƌ ŚŽƵƐĞ ƐŵŽŬĞĚ ǁŚŝƚĞĮƐŚ ƐĂůĂĚ ǁŝƚŚ ĐŚŝǀĞƐ͕ ŚŽƌƐĞƌĂĚŝƐŚ ĂŶĚ ƐŽƵƌ ĐƌĞĂŵ͘ • Simply the best white albacore line caught tuna ƐĂůĂĚ͘ • Sliced red onions, Michigan heirloom tomatoes, ůŽĐĂů ĐƵĐƵŵďĞƌƐ͕ ŽůŝǀĞƐ͕ ƌĂĚŝƐŚ ĂŶĚ ĐƌƵĚŝƚĠ͘ • Sliced Swiss and Vermont cheddar, Three Cats’ ƐƉĞĐŝĂů ŚĞƌď ǁŚŝƉƉĞĚ ĐƌĞĂŵ ĐŚĞĞƐĞ͘ • House baked egg, onion, plain and everything ďĂŐĞůƐ ;ƚǁŽ ƉĞƌ WĞƌƐŽŶͿ͘ • Fresh fruit and berries, My Mom’s sour cream ĐŽīĞĞ ĐĂŬĞ͘ $29.95 Per Person (Minimum of 5 per Tray Order)

Rebecca Goldberg

Arts&Life celebrity jews

It’s very much a culture, and I think I’m a good representative of that.

— REBECCA GOLDBERG

continued from page 32

the electronic music community “devastating.”

“Obviously, we want this [virus] to go away, and everyone needs to do their part to make sure that we’re back safe, so it’s OK that everything’s on hold,” she said. “But it’s pretty devastating.”

Though many DJs have turned to live-streaming on various internet platforms and phone apps, Goldberg acknowledges, “I don’t think any of us got into this to play for a camera.” She personally feels weird being the “visual focus.”

Though she doesn’t know what the future will look like for her beloved music community, “Detroit’s always been able to adapt,” she said.

Quarantine hasn’t been all bad, though.

“It was like forced downtime that I might not make for myself otherwise to do more administrative things,” she shared. “Like doing my taxes on time and updating my website.”

Seeing it as a metaphor for the circumstances that first birthed techno, she said, “You have to be in a [tough] situation, more or less, to get inspired to do new and innovative things. Even designing or producing music related to

34 |

SEPTEMBER 10 • 2020

WIKIPEDIA

music

UNITED PHOTO WORKS

Arts&Life

the experience you’re going through. It’s all a reflection of that.”

In addition to music, Goldberg is a digital graphic designer. Inspired by vintage propaganda, travel and gig posters, as well as typography and pop art, her bold designs have been printed on posters, postcards, stickers, apparel … and now face masks.

Something of a premonition, Goldberg’s most recent album, Synthetic World, was completed before COVID-19. “It’s so reflective of everything that happened, culturally,” she said.

“Everyone’s online and plugged in on social media. It ended up being the best way for everyone to stay in touch with each other during this crazy global catastrophe. I’ve got this record about the world being synthetic, or not totally organic, [while] we’re relying on this technology to stay connected as humans.”

Though she is anxious to travel and play music out in public again, Goldberg admits she is happy to enjoy the rest of her summer with less stress than usual.

Rebecca Goldberg’s music and designs are available on her website www.rebecca-goldberg.com.

NATE BLOOM COLUMNIST

KARATE KID BAD GUY IS REALLY A GOOD GUY AND TWO GOOD MOVIES Chemical Hearts is an original Amazon film that’s now streaming. Austin Abrams, 23, co-stars as Henry, a sensitive young man who meets Grace (Lili Reinhart), when they are selected to co-edit their high school paper. Grace is smart, beautiful and, for quite a while, hard to figure out. I won’t spoil it for you by saying more.

But this film is much smarter than almost all teen dramas. It got good reviews from most, if not all, respected critics.

Abrams, a very cute guy, grew up in Sarasota, Fla., the child of two doctors. He’s had recurring roles on The Walking Dead and Euphoria. Veteran actor Bruce Altman, 65, a practicing Jew, has a smallish role as Henry’s father. He makes the most of his screen time. You’ll probably recognize him from scores of TV guest shots.

Cobra Kai, a sort of reboot of The Karate Kid movies, got little attention when the first two seasons streamed on the little-watched Youtube Red channel. However, it got huge viewing numbers when Netflix started streaming the first two seasons on Aug. 28. (A third season will appear “sometime” on Netflix).

The original film opened with teen Daniel (Ralph Macchio) being bullied by high school classmates who study karate at Cobra Kai, an “evil” karate school run by the nasty John Kreese (Martin Kove, 74). Daniel responds by studying karate with a Japanese American expert.

In the film’s climactic scene, Daniel faces Johnny, Cobra Kai’s top student, in a match and defeats him. The reboot is set in

Martin Kove

the present. Johnny re-founds Cobra Kai, but he runs it more humanely than Kreese did, and Daniel runs a school based on his mentor’s teachings.

Reprising their film roles are Macchio, Randee Heller, 73 (she played/plays Daniel’s mother), and Kove. Kove is not like Kreese.

He travels the country giving anti-bullying lectures. In 2017, he told a rabbi that he tries to be as observant as he can and that his two children (twin boy and girl) were b’nai mitzvah.

I just saw The Boy Downstairs, a 2017 film I liked a great deal.

I am amazed that this very good film, that got mostly good reviews, only played film festivals (including a few Jewish ones).

The good news is that you can watch it on Hulu Plus, or for free on YouTube (with some ads).

As the film opens, Diana (Zosia Mamet, 32) is just back in Brooklyn after three years abroad and discovers that her ex-boyfriend, Ben (Matthew Shear, 36), is renting the apartment below the one she’s just rented. Most of the film is about their re-meet, and possibly getting back together. Their romance and breakup are told in short flashbacks, including one in which Ben takes Diana to his family’s Chanukah celebration (it’s left unclear if Diana is Jewish, too). Boy is much lighter than Chemical Hearts, but equally smartly written and directed (the writer/ director is Sophie Brooks, 35ish, an English Jew).

On The Go people | places | events

GERSHWIN STORY

FAMILY ROOM CONCERT

8 PM, SEPT. 13

SOAR PROGRAMS/CLASSES REGISTRATION NOW OPEN The Society of Active Retirees has announced its fall lineup of more than 50 classes and special events.

Registration began Sept. 9 for new and existing members. Classes begin Oct. 12. All classes will be delivered virtually through Zoom and will be taped for on-demand viewing.

A nonprofit, non-denominational, lifelong learning program, SOAR is offering classes in art, current events, film, health, history, literature, legal issues, politics, science, sports, travel and more this fall. SOAR is affiliated with Wayne State University.

For 17 years, it has served adults of all ages who want to learn. Visit soarexplore.com or call (248) 6260296 for information.

GERSHWIN STORY 8 PM, SEPT. 13 Internationally acclaimed artist Hershey Felder’s new arts broadcasting company announced its next production, Hershey Felder as George Gershwin Alone. The show will stream live from Teatro della Pergola, which was built in 1656 shortly after the invention of opera in Florence.

Tickets are $55 per household and are available for purchase online.

Patrons will receive a link and password on Friday, Sept. 11, which will

enable them to view the livestream and an on-demand version of the performance for one week following the event. For information, visit hersheyfelder.net.

IRON MOUNTAIN JEWS 2 PM, SEPT. 14 “The Life (and Death) of Congregation Anshe Knesseth Israel in Iron Mountain, Mich.” will be a virtual gathering on Zoom presented by the Jewish Historical Society of Michigan. The congregation existed in Iron Mountain from 1882 to 2020.

Members of the congregation over different time periods will describe the experiences of small-town Jewry.

Cost: $10 for members and $18 for non-members. Register by 9 pm on Sunday, Sept. 13; instructions for joining the Zoom call will be sent the day before.

JLEARN CLASSES MANY START SEPT. 14 To register for any class: 248-2052557 or jlearn.online. Full catalog can be found at jccdet.org/jlearn.

BRAIN HEALTH 1-2:30 PM, SEPT. 16 Jewish Family Service will host Ellen Yashinsky Chute, LMSW, ACSW, who will tackle celebrating the holidays in

a very different way. She will discuss ways to maximize brain health and use the power of our brains to help us instead of hurt us during this unique holiday season. RSVP: 248788-6463; MindU@jfs detroit.org for Zoom meeting details.

FAMILY ROOM CONCERT 8 PM, SEPT. 16 The Ark in Ann Arbor will present Nadim Azzam from Michigan with hip-hop, alt-rock and jazz. Ticket info: the ark.org.

WELCOMING WEEK SEPT. 14-17 Hosted by Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County. Register at: jfsannarbor.org/welcoming-week — it’s when cities, towns and organizations across the nation bring together immigrants, refugees and longtime residents to build strong connections that make their communities a more welcoming place for all. Dina Nayeri, author of The Ungrateful Refugee, will read an excerpt of her book and take audience questions. Books will be available to purchase online.

SHOFAR SOUNDING CLASS ON DEMAND

THE ARK

HERSHEY FELDER

8 PM, SEPT. 16

a kosher shofar and how to produce a pleasant sound as well as some of the laws and mystical intentions to keep in mind while blowing. After taking this course, you’ll be all set to feel the holidays come alive and ignite your soul from the safety of your home. View at Chabad.org. Free.

HEALTH NOTE ONGOING The American Technion Society is making available a viral lab tour.

Professor Ido Kaminer brings you inside the Robert and Ruth Magid Electron Beam Quantum Dynamics Lab, which houses an ultrafast transmission electron microscope. He discusses using the microscope, among the latest and most versatile of its kind in the scientific world, to see for the first time ever how light flows inside a tiny photonic crystal. In response to the pandemic, he is also developing methods to use ultraviolet and laser light to kill SARS-CoV-2.

View at ats.org.

Compiled by Sy Manello/Editorial Assistant. Send items at least 14 days in advance to calendar@ thejewishnews.com.

If you will be blowing shofar for yourself or others, learn how to pick

SEPTEMBER 10 • 2020

| 35

business SPOTlight brought to you in partnership with

BIRMIN GH A M

A Jewish Approach to Planning and Investing

T

raditional Judaism is a religion based on rules. There are 613 commandments in the Torah, which means there are a lot of ways Jewish people can make mistakes.

But of all the 613 commandments, we are unaware of any Jewish-based philanthropic and investment guidelines. To be sure, rabbis and scholars have opined on the topic, but, for example, there is no Jewish equivalent to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Investment Guidelines. There are also Baptist guidelines and leaders of Muslim sects have released their own Shariabased rules, but there is nothing directly on point in Judaism.

Nevertheless, Jews who want to invest, make financial plans and give to charities based on Jewish values would not be without guidance. Perhaps your rabbi

to buy Facebook versus Apple, or to donate to a particular charity, but they will provide the basis upon which informed investors can make their own decisions.

So, what are these mitzvot KYLE T. ZWIREN, REUBEN RASHTY AND JACOB RASHTY and what do they tell us about SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS making financial decisions?

The first is tzedakah, which is won’t provide any pithy stock picks, but literally translated to “righteousness.”

Jewish values can provide the foundaJudaism places an emphasis on the tion upon which financial decisions are importance of charity. Tithing (maaser made. in Hebrew) is referenced throughout the Any discussion of Jewish-based finanTorah, and in most other major world cial decisions begins with the Torah. In religions for that matter. The Torah this case, we would be guided by five states the obligation to donate 10% of particular mitzvot: tzedakah, tikkun olam, one’s crops to members of the commutzedek, g’milut chasadim and tikya. These nity in need. Tzedakah also refers to the five foundational mitzvot won’t tell us

here’s to Mark Silberstein, former Detroiter and son of the late Rabbi Noah M. Gamze, spiritual leader of the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue, has been named senior director of Local Media Content at KRIS-TV in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Jews Choose Trump announced that Ronna H. Ross of Bloomfield Township is the Michigan Director of JCT, which supports the re-election of President Donald Trump and is a nationwide clearinghouse of information particularly interesting to Jewish Americans.

36 |

SEPTEMBER 10 • 2020

Tonya Allen

Robert Schostak

The Oakland University Board of Trustees recently voted to appoint Tonya Allen as chair and Robert “Bobby” Schostak as vice chair of the board. Allen serves as president and chief executive officer of the Skillman Foundation, a Detroit-based organization dedicated to improving the lives of Detroit children by helping to create pathways to high school graduation, college, successful careers and fulfilling lives.

Schostak is the president and CEO of the Templar Baker Group, a multi-disciplined consulting firm, and serves as the co-chief executive officer of Schostak Brothers & Company, a leading commercial real estate business in Michigan, where they operate properties in 24 states.

Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature honored recipients of its 2020 award for nonfiction in an online ceremony. Among the recipients is Sarah Hurwitz, author of In Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life – in Judaism. Writing in her own voice, Hurwitz invites us to share her journey toward fulfillment as she rediscovers the beauty and timeless lessons of Judaism.

BRIAN SIEGEL

intention of giving. No act of charity is bad, but it is most meaningful when given willingly, proactively and anonymously.

According to Maimonides, the highest level of charity is when the donor gives the recipient the wherewithal to become self-supporting.

Tikkun olam is the Jewish directive to “repair the world.” Similar to tzedakah, tikkun olam creates the duty to serve those in need. In more recent times, it has come to be seen as a responsibility to mitigate the worst effects of a warming planet. Tikkun olam may direct us to invest and/or give to socially or environmentally conscious organizations, or at least to avoid those that operate to the contrary.

Tzedek is the call to justice and fairness.

It is similar to the American value that all are entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We are directed to combat injustice wherever we see it and to be conscientious of our own biases. This has obvious implications in today’s social climate and how we, as Jews, are supposed to respond. Tzedek establishes that we should understand the social impact of companies in which we invest, and to

The Joe Dumars Detroit facility will remain open, but its Shelby Township location will close.

‘End of a Chapter’

Pandemic results in closure for Joe Dumars Fieldhouse.

SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

L

ike many other businesses in Michigan, Joe Dumars Fieldhouse closed in March to comply with state regulations counteracting the spread of COVID-19. The large sports and entertainment facility in Shelby Township has been a popular venue for bar and bat mitzvahs, as well as many other events, since it opened 25 years ago. The 100,000-square-foot

continued on page 38

facility offered basketball courts, miniature golf, trampolines, laser tag and bumper cars, and has hosted many basketball, volleyball and roller hockey teams.

But with events limited to a small number of attendees to reduce coronavirus transmission, the days of big indoor parties and sporting events are over for now with an uncertain future.

“There is no clear opening for athcontinued on page 38

We can’t help you hang a painting perfectly level.

But we can help you bank from home.

B I R M I N G H A M Member FDIC

SEPTEMBER 10 • 2020

| 37

business SPOTlight A JEWISH APPROACH continued from page 37

favor those with diversity in race, age and gender.

The fourth mitzvah is g’milut chasadim, translated as lovingkindness.

This is the Jewish call for caring and compassion. It encourages us to give our time and resources and to do it with genuineness. In particular, we are to support the sick and elderly.

The fifth and final of these mitzvot is tikya, translated as “hope.” We are guided to remain optimistic for the future. As David Arnow said, “Judaism’s profound conviction is that many of the tragic elements of the everyday world are not immutable, that little by little, the world can and must be improved.” Not only should we live with hope and drive, but we should consider how to inspire others to do the same.

Tikya, of course, is particularly relevant in light of COVID-19.

The five mitzvot discussed here provide a firm foundation upon which financial decisions can be made. Some Jewish customs are specifically rules-driven and others are subject to interpretation.

It is curious that making Jewishbased financial decisions is not rules-driven and contains considerable flexibility. Why that is the case is not something we feel qualified to opine upon. At the end of the day, how one spends, saves and gives away money is an expression of that person, and Judaism provides ample guidance on doing so within our religious values.

Reuben Rashty is managing director and wealth management advisor in the Bloomfield Hills office of the Rashty Group at Morgan Stanley. Jacob Rashty is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley.

Kyle Zwiren is a former practicing attorney and supports the Rashty Group and its clients with financial planning and wealth management solutions. Contact them at reuben.rashty@morganstanley.com and kyle.zwiren@morganstanley.com.

38 |

SEPTEMBER 10 • 2020

Free Online Computer Proficiency Skills Webinars JVS Human Services is launching a new, free online training program to help job seekers to increase their computer proficiency necessary for securing employment both in the office or remotely. Titled “Modern Toolkit,” the prerecorded classes will be uploaded every week beginning Sept. 10 on JVS Human Services’ Facebook. The webinars will help job seekers with tips, tools and techniques to improve confidence and skills on the computer. Topics are: • Sept. 10 - SharePoint vs OneDrive Fundamentals; understand these file management platforms with similarities and differences in file saving and storage to help boost business efficiencies.

• Sept. 17 – LinkedIn Basics; learn to create a LinkedIn profile with your professional brand.

• Sept. 24 – Electronic File Organization; file management tips to keep your electronic files organized on your computer.

• Oct. 1 – LinkedIn Advance for Job Seekers; learn how to make valuable connections,

increase knowledge and visibility in a field, and open new career opportunities with LinkedIn tools.

• Oct. 8 – Intro to Google Apps; the basics of working with web-based Google Apps such as Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, Sheets and Forms.

• Oct. 15 – Ribbon Essentials and Beyond in MS Word; learn about the components of the Ribbon and how to easily navigate for quick access and increased productivity.

Access to “Modern Toolkit” is free and the Facebook page will be monitored by instructors who will respond to questions.

For jobseekers wanting more detailed computer instruction, online classes are available for a nominal fee. Sign up for classes at www.ed2go.com/hermelinORT. More information can be obtained at hermelinORT@ jvshumanservices.org.

JOE DUMARS continued from page 37

letics and activities of that nature. This is the end of a very wonderful chapter,” says Brian Siegel, one of the owners of Joe Dumars Fieldhouse. He also serves as the CEO of the Jewish Community Center. A sale of furniture, equipment and sports memorabilia took place Aug. 29-30.

He and his partners, who include Joe Dumars, former NBA star, and Scott Kaufman, former CEO of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, rent the facility on Mound Road. Without a current income stream, ongoing rent payments weren’t sustainable.

West Bloomfield wedding and event planner Andrea

Solomon worked on many large bar and bat mitzvah parties held at Joe Dumars Fieldhouse in Shelby Township.

“It’s a good facility, really nice,” she said, because it offered games and sports from puttputt to trampolines, along with catering services and space for dancing.

Another Joe Dumars Fieldhouse, located in Detroit on the site of the former Michigan State Fair, is being used for the city of Detroit’s COVID-19 testing. Siegel explained that the state is their landlord there and that he and his partners are “pleased to provide this space for testing.”

He anticipates reopening this facility for sports in the

future. A new Amazon warehouse will be built at the former fair grounds and a transit center is planned as well — both providing potential users of the Fieldhouse athletic facilities.

Siegel is an owner of other entertainment venues including Detroit Axe, which features axe-throwing, at locations in Ferndale and Partridge Creek, although both are temporarily closed because of the coronavirus. A third location is planned for Corktown in Detroit.

“We believe in entertainment, in providing energy for people. We are looking forward to future iterations,” he said.

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Soul

of blessed memory

SUSAN BOLTON, 77, of West Bloomfield, died Aug. 28, 2020.

She is survived by her husband, Dr. Alan Bolton; children, David and Karen Bolton, Cary and Brittany Bolton, Robin and Pete Orman, and Dr. Brett and Dragana Bolton; grandchildren, Dylan, Dean, Carly, Aiden, Niko, Niki and Luca; sisters and brother-in-law, Linda Brodsky, and Leslie and Richard Kates; many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Mrs. Bolton was the loving sister of the late Alan Victor; the dear sister-inlaw of the late Dr. Easton Brodsky; the devoted daughter of the late Juanita and the late George Victor; the adoring granddaughter of the late Frances Chason.

Interment was at Beth El Memorial Park.

Contributions may be made to Humane Society of Michigan, 30300 Telegraph Road, Suite 220, Bingham Farms, MI 48025, michiganhumane.org; or to a charity of one’s choice.

Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

RICHARD H. BREUER, 95, formerly of Oak Park, West Bloomfield and Commerce Township, of Novi, died Aug. 29, 2020.

He was born in Toledo, Ohio, and moved with his family to Detroit in 1928. A veteran of World War II, he

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continued on page 42 SEPTEMBER 10 • 2020

| 41

Obituary Charges

Soul

of blessed memory continued from page 41

The processing fee for obituaries is: $125 for up to 100 words; $1 per word thereafter. A photo counts as 15 words. There is no charge for a Holocaust survivor icon.

The JN reserves the right to edit wording to conform to its style considerations. For information, have your funeral director call the JN or you may call Sy Manello, editorial assistant, at (248) 351-5147 or email him at smanello@renmedia.us.

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(OXO 6HSW Gwendolyn Marks 29 Elul Sept. 18, 2020 Nathan Rosenberg Dora Chaben Minnie Dinkin Isadore Rosenbloom Peter S. Goldstein Gertrude Ernst Ida Schlafman Ronald Bruce Grant Sam Feldman Bernard Waltman Anne H. Helfman Eva Glaser Sara Wool Viola Kappy Abraham Libowsky Anna Libowsky 27 Elul Sept. 16, 2020 Jacob Migdal Regina Rubinstein Ida Nosanchuk William Adler Max Schneider Jessie Novitz Nissi Herman Dzialowski Harry Thav Harry Shulman Sol Lewinter Meyer Harry Surowitz 25 Elul Sept. 14, 2020 Harold Metler Marshall Hirsch Reichstein Saul Tarnopol Morris Albert Barbara Schubiner Max Averbach 1 Tishrei Sept. 19, 2020 Malka Yampolsky Burton Burnstein Brocho Burkow Hilda Pauline Yorke Meyer Levy Fayga Burkow Jacob Miller 28 Elul Sept. 17, 2020 Nochum Burkow Jacob Must Mary Cohen Michael Goldman Naomi Esther Portnoy Morris Eizen Alice Zack Karp Sophie Scherr Tillie Feldman Seymour Katcher Donald J. Levitin 26 Elul Sept. 15, 2020 Chernia Knoppow Shirley Ann Nachman Tom Mandel Ida Cohen Samuel Pearlstein Ruth Moskovitz Dave Gooze Sarah Rubinstein Elias Rosenthal Shirley Gruber Norma Aida Shoemaker Solomon Sidder Eugene Klein Abraham Z. Tugman Anna Wrotslavsky Harry Krohner Jacob Zack Margaret Yellin Fay Margolis School for Boys • Beth Jacob School for Girls • Bais Yehudah Preschool Weiss Family Partners Detroit • Kollel Bais Yehudah • Maalot Detroit P.O. Box 2044 • 6RXWKoHOG 0, • 248-557-6750 • www.YBY.org

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SEPTEMBER 10 • 2020

graduated from Wayne State University where he was a member and president of the Mackenzie Honor Society and the Mu Beta Chi fraternity.

He became a 42-year employee of Ford Motor Company. After retirement, he volunteered at both Henry Ford Hospital West Bloomfield and Channel 56 Public Television for more than 25 years.

Mr. Breuer is survived by his wife of 70 years, Phyllis Breuer; his son and daughter-in-law, Gerald Breuer and Diane Cupps; daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Charles Orenstein; grandchildren, Elizabeth (Corey) Cohen and Stephanie Orenstein; great-grandchildren, Abigail and Miles Cohen.

He was the brother of the late Emily (Eli) Cutler and the late Morris “Toby� (Naomi) Breuer.

Interment took place at Adat Shalom Memorial Park Cemetery in Livonia.

Contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice.

Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.

MARC COHEN, 52, of Madison Heights, died Aug. 27, 2020.

He is survived by his children, Hannah Cohen and Samuel Cohen; parents, Jerry and Rena Cohen; brother and sister-in-law, Dr. Yale Cohen and Dr. Heather Hersh; sister and brother-in-law, Heather and Douglas Levy; niece and nephew, Celia and William Levy.

Interment was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to a charity of

one’s choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

BEATRICE ELKIN, 92, of Farmington Hills, died Aug. 31, 2020.

She is survived c. 2003 by her daughter, Diane Elkin; sons and daughter-in-law, Daniel Elkin and Jacquelyn Segal, and David Elkin; grandchildren, Ellie Elkin and Ben Elkin; nephews and nieces, Ray and Jan Storch, Larry and Sandra Jacobs, Yana and Bob Jacobs, Robbie and Ann Jacobs, and Laurel Hefner.

Mrs. Elkin was the beloved wife of the late Elliott Elkin; the loving sister of the late Michael and the late Grace Jacobs, the late Jack and the late Evelyn Jacobs, and the late June and the late Harry Storch; the dear aunt of the late Kim Storch.

Interment was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Association Greater Michigan Chapter, 25200 Telegraph Road, Suite 100, Southfield, MI 48033, alz.org/gmc; or Temple Shir Shalom 3999 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48323, shirshalom.org.

Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

MARLENE GROSS, 72, of Oak Park, died Aug. 21, 2020.

She is survived by her husband, David Gross; daughters and sons-in-law, Beth and Michael Fink, and Heather and Javier Barrera; grandchildren, Zoey Fink, Kevin

Barrera and Victoria Barrera; sister-in-law, Eileen Cohen; niece and nephew, Kayla and Zachary Cohen.

Interment was held at Hebrew Memorial Park Cemetery in Clinton Township.

Contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.

JACK KEIL, 94, of West Bloomfield, died Aug. 29, 2020.

A World War II Navy veteran, he was a pharmacist, active with B’nai B’rith and was a devoted family man and a loyal friend.

Mr. Keil is survived by his daughters and sons-in-

law, Laurie and Fred Leeb of Orchard Lake, Debbie and Mark Landau of West Bloomfield; grandchildren, Jessica and Jonathon Triest, Adam and Kacee Leeb, Andrew and Judy Landau, Ryan and Margot Landau; great-grandchildren, Shayna, Aryeh, Eliana and Talya Triest, Emma Landau; nieces, nephews and special friends.

He was the beloved husband for more than 62 years of the late Evelyn Keil; dear brother of the late Martin Keil and the late Fay Salinsky.

Contributions may be made to Friendship Circle, 6892 W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322; Yad Ezra, 2850 W. 11 Mile, Berkley, MI 48072; Tamarack Camps, Fresh Air

Society Scholarships, 6735 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301; or to a charity of one’s choice. A private graveside service was held at Adat Shalom Memorial Park in Livonia. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.

MARIA KHAKHAM, 86, of West Bloomfield, died Aug. 27, 2020.

She was very active at the Jewish Community Center, taught Yiddish and loved to sing Jewish songs.

Mrs. Khakham is survived by her son and daughter-inlaw, Ilya and Nina Khakham of West Bloomfield; daughter and son-in-law, Marina and Yuri

Davelman of West Bloomfield; grandchildren, Michael and Rachel Khakham, Luba Khakham; great-grandchildren, Lincoln Khakham, Emerson Khakham.

She was the beloved wife of the late Ruvin Khakham.

Contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice. A private graveside service was held at Machpelah Cemetery in Ferndale. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.

BEVERLY PETERMAN, 91, of West Bloomfield, died Sept. 1, 2020.

Beverly, a proud University of Michigan alumni, is survived by her continued on page 44

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Soul

of blessed memory continued from page 43

daughter and son-in-law, Cathy and Mark Segel; sons and daughter-in-law, Jeffrey Peterman, Michael and Lori Radner Peterman; grandchildren, Daniel (Amanda) Peterman, Joshua (Bora) Segel, Rebecca Segel, Amanda Peterman (fiancé, Jonathan), Jack Peterman and Aaron Radner; great-grandchild, Elijah Peterman. Beverly’s family is forever grateful for the loving care given to her over the years

by Lynette and her team of angels.

Mrs. Peterman was the loving wife of the late Nathan S. Peterman.

Contributions may be made to Temple Beth El or to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements

by Dorfman Chapel.

44 |

SEPTEMBER 10 • 2020

CLAIRE ROBERTS, 90, of West Bloomfield, died Sept. 1, 2020.

She loved working at a bank and volunteered for a multitude of charitable organizations. She also adored playing maj with her dear friends.

Mrs. Roberts is survived by her daughter-in-law, Gina Roberts of West Bloomfield; grandchildren, Jason and Lisa Kassay, Samantha Kassay, Zachariah Roberts, Elisheva Roberts, Caleb Roberts, Hannah Roberts; great-grandchildren, Eliana, Noah, Abigail; nieces and nephews who were very helpful; Gina’s family; the family and staff at American House who made

her life much easier.

She was the beloved wife of the late Elliot Roberts; loving mother of the late Dr. Andrew Roberts and the late Eileen Kassay.

Contributions may be made to Jewish National Fund, 24100 Chagrin Blvd., Suite 430, Cleveland, OH 44122.

A private graveside service was held at Hebrew Memorial Park. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.

JEROME WEISMAN, 78, of West Bloomfield, died July 23, 2020.

He is survived by his wife, Nanci Weisman; children, Neal Howard and Nimmi Weisman, Elisa Robyn and Alfie Vick, Cary Evan and Julie Weisman, Lisa Jennifer Squarcia and Sean Squarcia; grandchildren, Mia

Manjit Weisman, Ben Sehaj Weisman, Mackinley Walker Vick, Neko Riley Vick, Jessica Squarcia, Jacquelyn Squarcia, Derrick and Anya Hoffner, and Zachary Squarcia Brevard; great-grandchildren, Aidan, Austin, Joseph, Sophia and Madelina Squarcia and Syren Hoffner; brother-inlaw, Steven Horowitz. He is also survived by Judith Weisman.

Mr. Weisman was the dear brother and brother-in-law of the late Florrine and the late Joseph Dorn.

Contributions may be made to Muscular Dystrophy Association, 11 E. 44th St., 17th floor, New York, NY 10017; or American Kidney Foundation, 6110 Executive Blvd., Suite 1010, Rockville, MD 20852. Interment was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery.

Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.

Raskin DETROIT CITY CLUB FACEBOOK

the best of everything

Looking forward to the Statler Bistro, opening next year in Detroit.

W

hen the doors open in 2021 to another Joe Vicari restaurant ‌ the Statler Bistro ‌ in the new apartments of Jonathan Holtzman ‌ Detroit City Club ‌ at the same locale on Washington Danny Raskin Boulevard, Senior Columnist Detroit, at the former Statler Hotel site, it will bring many memories.

Within the Statler Bistro’s 175 seats will be a bar much like the one at the previous location, which will also serve food.

The previous Lounge Bar was a big favorite of the past as a meeting place for weary shoppers in search of an energizing cocktail while awaiting the arrival of their mates.

Time was when chances were very good that you would

JOE VICARI

Coming Soon!

LEFT TO RIGHT: Jonathan Holtzman and Joe Vicari. The historic Statler Building, circa 1915.

Detroit City Club Apartments will host the Statler Bistro in 2021

meet at least one or two persons or groups with whom you were friendly and that made it all very congenial.

Unlike Joe’s and Jonathan’s 100 seats outside, however ‌ but only 30 for dining ‌ the rest will be an outdoor bar and holding area when needed.

The previous Statler Hotel years ago had a prime rib buffet too, a logical choice in those days.

If perchance you or others were in the Lounge Bar during a Friday, or another day, you would find that Lobster Newburg was also on the buffet.

And if neither were satisfied, your yearnings were assured by ordering from the Terrace Room’s dinner menu ‌ where you could get just about anything in the house.

In addition to the Lounge Bar, the Hotel Statler then had a dining place for more leisurely table service, and of course,

the Terrace Room for elegant dining with impeccable service.

A reservation was practically a necessity.

THE WORLD KEEPS changing so much that it many times is quite difficult to catch up ‌ This is particularly true in the restaurant business ‌ where diners are so desirous of something different ‌ Now people are asking if there are restaurants coming up like those we used to have years ago ‌ perhaps along the lines of one that Marvin Chin never could get off the ground floor ‌ Too bad, because his Ports O’ Call dining spot was a wonderful concept ‌ Beautiful and different ‌ Three restaurants at a single location ‌ A complete seafood only, a Polynesian eatery and a Japanese spot ‌ It was at Maple and Telegraph, but never seemed to take off ‌ and quietly closed ‌ Evidently too much before its time ‌ but sure a wonderful idea ‌ and

one that although not immediately with the same styles or kinds of dining ‌ or amount of eateries ‌ is something that might someday be in a similar like presentation for this prestigious togetherness.

OLDIE BUT GOODIE ‌ (repeated on request) The man moaned about the doctor’s fee. “I can’t pay that much,â€? he said, so the new doctor made a compromise and set a lower fee. The patient said it was still too much and the doctor asked why he was there to see him when he couldn’t afford the price ‌ “Listen, Doc,â€? said the man, “when it comes to my health, money is no object!â€?

CONGRATS ‌ To Paul Gross on his birthday ‌ To Karrie Slominsky on her birthday ‌ To Pamela Smith on her birthday.

Danny’s email address is dannyraskin2132@gmail.com.

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| 45

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

A Summer Mainstay

46 |

SEPTEMBER 10 • 2020

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

Charlevoix

the Beautiful

Up North getaway Detroiters for gen has attracted erations — here

26

July 18 • 2019

JENNIFER LOVY

’s why.

JENNIFER LOVY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A

sk Michiganders what they most frequently children, he and associate with a his wife, Ellen, en, along a Michigan summ their three kids, with er and likely the spent answer will be an sum ers in Charlevoix and movedmany summ Up North vac vacation. Ask a there 13 years Jewish Detroiter y ago.

Despite what was and a once a seven-hour welll be time spent the answer could very drive, Jewish familie in Charle s have been vvacatio The number of Jewish voix. ing nin Charlevoix for at least 100 yyears. In those who own proper visitors, especially 1916, the year the ty in Charlevoix, Detroit Jewish C so significant that Chronicle was founded, the it’s nearly impossible is paper’s community spend a summer to un gossip page began mentio weekend in this ning it as a trav picturesque town withou travel destination. t seeing a familia r face.

And Charlevoix, Wachler’s father, unlike any other Jeff, 91, started going vacation destination in the g to Charlevoix in state, is a getawa 1932. Eventually, y location that transcends he h purchased ased a condominiu the m ations of local familie memories of gener- (Glenn father lenn’s’s grandfather) there. His fa s. also Those who spent pr in this ty his northern Michig owned proper time there when an town. Gle they were young now Glenn still findss it amusing bring their childre that at one time his grandn and even grandchildren fatherr rented an to this charming cit apartment known and loved y owned d a home in Charle in Detroit but for voix. quaint downtown, its pristine beaches, There re was a period memo and iconic red lightho rable drawbridge his where openly anti-Se in the city’s history use. mitic sentim “This is where we ment ents, entts, such as deed restric re t i tions always went on vacai in a few neighborhoo tion to spend quality orrhood were hard ds, s, d to ignore time together as ignore.. However, family,” recalled Jews were w not deterred from Glenn Wachler, origina vacationing orr own from West Bloom ally ownin ningg homes in field but now a perma Charlevoix. nent Charlevoix Rick Berman, a Charle residen voix aficionado, Wachler, 54, thinks t. has a postca his childhood, recallinback with fondness to that says: rd from a now-defunct hotel “Having a great time, g time he spent with his family, particu beautiful hotel. They do not larly his dad. Togeth allow Jews or dogs. they would fish, er one of approximatel ” It’s search for Petosk y ey stones and watch the sun collection from the 1,500 postcards in his set over Lake Michig city and surrounding Wanting to create an. areas. These days, similar memories blatant displays of for his disTOP TO BOTTOM crimination are gone. : Todd and Jennife r Kroll

jn

with their daughters, Marlee and Lilley, Charlev oix Apple Fest; Paul Hooberman with his granddaughters , 2010, Kilwin’s tour.

COURTESY KROLL FAMILY

Yes, Charlevoix had something for everybody, including gangs of hoodlums that attacked Jews … Wait a minute? What’s this? Gangs attacking Jews in Charlevoix, such a vacation paradise?

This is a story I had never heard before, but as I was conducting research ch for a recent “Looking Back” on VJ day, I saw a headline on the front page on the Aug. 31, 1945, issue of the Chronicle: “Charlevoix Acts to Curb Attacks Against Jews.” The report was about tensions between local young men and boys and the Jewish vacationers that summer. The culminating event was an attack on Jewish youth at the beach on Aug. 23.

The story notes that the authorities in Charlevoix were appalled and acted swiftly. Police patrols were beefed up and a citizens’ committee was formed to deal with the issue, which included a rabbi from Hillel at Ohio State University, the director of the Detroit Jewish Community Council and other prominent people. Rabbi Leo Franklin n of Temple Beth El also consulted with the mayor of Charlevoix.

In the end, as reported in the Sept.

14, 1945, issue of the JN, 10 young men from Charlevoix pled guilty to disturbing the peace and assaulting the “Detroiters,” and were given a year’s probation. By this time, the Jewish vacationers had returned to thee city and school, and the incident was over.

While we have — sad to say — witnessed a recent rise in antisemtism, Charlevoix has only grown as a great destination for Jewish vacationers.

Hoodlums no longer attack Jews in “Charlevoix the Beautiful” today.

COURTESY HOOBERM AN FAMILY

T

he summer is winding down. It’s been an unusual season for most of us, with fewer trips Up North and more staycations. It seems a long time ago — but it has only been a little over year — since the July 11, 2019, issue of JN had an excellent feature story, “Charlevoix the Beautiful,”

by Jennifer Lovy.

Lovy made the point Mike Smith that Charlevoix, in the Alene and Graham Landau northwest part of the state Archivist Chair on the shores of Lake Michigan, has been a summer destination for generations of Detroit Jews. A search in the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History certainly supports this conclusion. A search for “Charlevoix” in the Archive showed 3,577 pages that mentioned this name. To be sure, some pages referred to Charlevoix Street in Detroit, but the bulk of the pages had stories or advertisements about Charlevoix, the summer vacation spot.

I found announcements from the 1920s and 1930s in the Jewish Chronicle’s “Activities in Society” columns (the “social media” of the day) that noted who was visiting who in Charlevoix to stories of Camp Sea-Gull on Lake Charlevoix with its song: “North, south and east and west, our camp has always been the best” (June 8, 2017, JN).

One can also find lots of advertisements for resorts in Charlevoix, like the Hilltop Hotel, the Tower Hotel and Bern’s Guest House with “Kosher Style Cooking” (Bern’s ad is a little confusing — is it kosher or just sort of like kosher?). Speaking of food, Danny Raskin’s columns over the years often included readers’ mini-reviews of restaurants in and near Charlevoix and other stores in the area.

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