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Pandemic propels kids to start
Jews in the D
Kid Entrepreneurs
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Pandemic propels kids to start businesses that help others.
LEFT: Alex Gross biscuits and dog toys. BELOW: Emma and Brendyn Tischler with chains.
BARBARA LEWIS CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Although 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 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
— 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
Jews in the D Alex Gross making dog biscuits
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,
— 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.
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.
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.
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
Leslee 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
We are but a week sages tell us in the Talmud away from the (Yoma 86b) that one test is Jewish new year of 5781, simultaneously observing Shabbat and the 19th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001. Since we are in the midst of a pandemic and at the height of the presidential campaign, we have so many thoughts and feelings colliding. I think we need this Shabbat to reflect on where we are going and where we have been these past few months. Our Torah portion relates to such a time as Moses prepared to leave this earth and pass the leadership to Joshua; the people are preparing to leave their wilderness existence and move into the Promised Land. What awaits them and us? While we never know the exact answer to this, (or as the Israeli song says Ke she navo nimtza teshuvah — When we get there we will find the answer)we do know that what we have done or not done in the past year does matter in determining where we will be going. It is incumbent on us to reflect on our actions, our words, our thoughts — to do teshuvah, a returning and a turning to our best selves. But teshuvah is not a quick fix — just saying a few prayers for forgiveness, apologizing to someone and then being done. It is a process which takes time; it when we are confronted by the same temptation on two future occasions, and we choose to act properly. In the process of doing this self-reflection, this heshbon hanefesh, we may often find a disconnect between our conscience and our conduct, between the image we project and our actual behavior. Here is where we must not despair; we must begin to take the first steps to bridge the gap and to know that God is pushing us in this direction, cheering us on. “Make an opening for repentance as large as the eye of a needle, and I will make it large enough for wagons and carriages to pass”(Song of Songs Rabbah 5:2.). Maimonides cautions us that there are things that can get in the way of the process of turning — such as acting out of anger, elevating oneself at the expense of others, condemning others with suspicions instead of proof and standing aloof from the community. (Mishneh Torah, Teshuvah). But once we are ready to admit our shortcomings, repentance can become a motivating force to not only grow in awareness but also to go forward to make permanent changes for good in our lives. As Moses said to Joshua on taking this new role: Hazak v’ematz — be strong and have courage! Parshat Nitzavim/ Vayelekh: Deuteronomy 29:9-31:30; Isaiah 61:10-63:9. Rabbi Dorit Edut is a change in our behavior, in our thoughts and in our Rabbi Dorit Edut is the head of the Detroit Interfaith Outreach Network, hearts. When have we really serves Temple Beth Israel in Bay achieved this change? Our City and teaches privately.
