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INSIDE COVID Blood Drive: 18 Summer Bummer: 20 Let’s Go Nuts: 30
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contents May 14-20, 2020 / 20-26 Iyar 5780| VOLUME CLVII, ISSUE 15
Views 5-13
Jews in the D Fundraising During a Pandemic 14 Nonprofit organizations scramble to raise emergency funds, replace canceled events.
How to Save a Life 18 Blood drive is held in hopes of helping COVID-19 patients.
Is That a Jaguar on Your Porch? 19 FJA’s head of school surprises graduates.
Summer Bummer 20 Camps, parks, fairs cancel due to COVID-19.
19
Attention on Seniors
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21 Oakland County begins COVID-19 testing at senior living centers.
Business
Shabbat Lights
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Shabbat starts: Friday, May 15, 8:30 p.m. Shabbat ends: Saturday, May 16, 9:39 p.m.
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Cover design: Michelle Sheridan
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* Times according to Yeshiva Beth Yehudah calendar.
30 New snack is alternative to high-fat, highsodium choices.
Here’s To 30
Life in the Gaza Envelope 33 Between rockets, elections and coronavirus, life on the Gaza border must go on.
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30 Highway to Challah 22 Cousins ensure families can enjoy fresh challah on Shabbat.
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The Art of a Handwritten Note 34 Artistic notecards keep people connected and fight COVID-19.
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27 Building community through Zoom workouts.
35 San Francisco opera musicians join forces to offer online music.
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You Animal, You!
P
uppies are adorable. My wife fears cats. Canaries are messy. I’ve buried too many hamsters to continue a love of them. We all have our likes and dislikes in the animal kingdom. This fact, however, does not preclude us from drawing on our Sy Manello animal “friends” to help us make our conversations more vivid. Have you ever warned an extremely inquisitive child that curiosity killed the cat? If he gets too curious about certain party plans, he may end up letting the cat out of the bag.
As an explanation, he may say the information came straight from the horse’s mouth. Investigations may lead one to bark up the wrong tree, and you would be better to let sleeping dogs lie. Have you experienced neighborhood decay and felt that things were going to the dogs? Well, in the dog-eat-dog world, that is not uncommon. Trying to revitalize an area may lead you to feel that you cannot teach an old dog new tricks. Never get so optimistic that you count your chickens before they hatch. In fact, there is danger in putting all your eggs in one basket. If you desire to stop a bad habit, maybe you should consider
working on more than one and kill two birds with one stone. Remember, of course, that it hard to do anything like that cold turkey. If you feel awkward in a situation, like a fish out of water, then do something about it (without opening a whole can of worms). Don’t be easily misled by a red herring.
Conquering your fears may be like shooting fish in a barrel. You can do anything when the world is your oyster. Yes, I have written about animals before, but few of the above references were reused. So, do not develop a pig-headed attitude and start to think that I am only a one-trick pony.
ence. President Trump’s call to “Liberate Michigan” was directed at her overreach. Operation Gridlock protested the governor’s trampling on Constitutional liberties. Matthews sympathizes with those who lost businesses, those who lost the means to support a family and with those who have forgone necessary medical care. Also deserving mention are increasing depression, suicide and child and spousal abuse. People are suffering. Operation Gridlock members stayed in their cars. (The report that they blocked a hospital entrance was rebutted by State Police.) People who were not members disobeyed distancing limits and some non-members carried offensive signs. Jews rightly object to Nazi imagery, believing it diminishes
the real horror of the Holocaust. Why, then, was it acceptable last summer for Jews and rabbis to use the Holocaust Memorial Center as a backdrop, comparing illegal-immigrant detention centers with Nazi concentration camps?
letters MISSED OPPORTUNITY Your April 23rd article on Operation Gridlock missed the opportunity of providing empathy for all those who are in the process of losing their businesses, for those who lost the means to sustain their family and for those who have forgone necessary medical care. What about the increasing level of depression, suicide and child and spousal abuse that doesn’t make the headlines, which is happening and will happen? Let’s not forget the increased demand on and needs of local Jewish agencies due to the above suffering. People are hurting and you focused on the poor choice of wording on a minority of the signs and assumed that the small group holding the Nazi imaged/worded signs were
anti-Semites. It could be some were. The inappropriate messaging was criticizing the governor’s handling of the shutdown and its impact on people’s ability to survive. You ignored the majority who were in their cars and following the safety rules of the rally with appropriate signage expressing their concerns and personal trauma. — Eugene Greenstein Farmington Hills
PROTESTS WERE VALID The opinion piece (April 30, pg. 10) by Bob Matthews about Operation Gridlock missed a few important observations. Gov. Whitmer’s restraints on personal freedom were among the most severe measures in all 50 states. Her choices exercised her power rather than sci-
— Ronna Ross, Secretary Michigan Jewish Action Council
THE JIG IS UP For years I escaped housework by claiming that making a living exempted me from helping around the house. My wife, exceptionally kind and a little naive, went along without complaint. This quarantine, unfortunately, has opened her eyes. With real estate all but closed down, my standby excuse has fallen on deaf ears. On Monday, my wife sat me down for a talk I continued on page 6 MAY 14 • 2020
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How We Covered the Lansing Protests Our response to the Michigan Conservative Coalition and other criticisms of our stories about “Operation Gridlock.”
I
n our coverage of the April 15 Lansing protests to “re-open” Michigan, we at the Jewish News chose to highlight the fact that several of these protesters carried signs and props equating Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and her policies to those of Andrew Lapin Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime. This has prompted a fair amount of reader response, much of it negative. The most prominent criticism of our coverage has come from Marian Sheridan, co-founder of the Michigan Conservative Coalition (MCC), which organized that day’s protests. We had interviewed Sheridan for our story. On April 30, the same day a new crowd of demonstrators (unconnected to the MCC) went to the state capitol building to protest Whitmer’s latest extension of statewide COVID-19 restrictions, we received a letter from Sheridan objecting to how we framed the April 15 events. The JN’s coverage, Sheridan said, “highlight[ed] a small fraction of outliers who had nothing to do with the organizers and what the entire protest was about … It’s unfortunate that the Jewish News chose to dwell on a couple of people carrying controversial flags and ignored the thousands there to
voice their concerns over their agonizing losses. “It was obvious your article’s true intent was to disparage the legitimate protesters and the Michigan Conservative Coalition,” she continued. “The attention given to these sign carriers actually rewards and encourages this type of behavior.” Sheridan concludes, “Shame on the Jewish News.” She wasn’t the only one who felt this way. Commenters on our website and several letters to the editor from our regular readers accused us of ignoring the protesters who obeyed social distancing protocol and did not carry inflammatory signage; of ignoring the fact that the protesters themselves were not supporting Nazism; and of not applying the same standards when figures on “the left” make similar analogies to President Trump and other right-wing figures in power. (You can see some of these letters in this week’s issue; we published the MCC’s letter in full on our website.) As it happens, the discussion prompted by our Lansing coverage fits into one of our larger JN editorial goals for the year: The Anti-Semitism Project, in which we seek to understand and contextualize what constitutes anti-Semitism in the modern age. And that, in fact, is our “true intent.” In this case, the questions at hand are: Were the Lansing protests anti-Semitic? And
were we right to report on them? Reader concerns are important to us, so this is a good opportunity to explain our own thinking on these matters, and to respond to the MCC and to others who have objected to our work. You don’t have to agree with our perspective, but I’d ask that you take the time to read it.
THE JN’S ROLE IN REPORTING ANTI-SEMITISM As the largest Jewish news organization in the state of Michigan, we have a responsibility to report on notable instances of anti-Semitism and its associated evils within our community. These include, yes, trivializing or mocking the horrors of the Holocaust, or equating any person or policy one does not like to Nazism. Such a comparison is not only crass and ugly; it’s also ahistorical, ignoring the unique, genocidal inhumanity of the Third Reich and weakening our ability to educate future generations about the Holocaust. Some Holocaust survivors have spoken publicly about how our current lockdown makes them recall the darkest chapters of their own lives. We can and should honor their struggles and their valid psycontinued on page 10
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had been dreading for 37 years. She wanted help. I didn’t realize that a certain amount of resentment (rightly so) had built up over these many years. Yes, she was right. My work excuse was a bunch of bunk. I had been lazy and selfish. I was determined to try to make amends. I woke up early Tuesday and ran downstairs. I opened the dishwasher to a full load of dishes. I proudly proceeded to put the dishes away in their proper place. This took some doing because I’d never helped before, so I didn’t know their proper place. I did the best I could and put the last dish away. I hadn’t really been paying attention to this task, but glanced at the last dish in horror. There was food and crumbs caked on the plate. I quickly looked at the other dishes. They were also filthy. In my effort to help, I had once again solidified my title of house moron. The dishes were not washed. In a noble effort to help my wife I had put away dirty dishes. Fortunately, some good has come out of this. My wife has now reevaluated her position and will no longer require me to help. She is now of the opinion that no quarantine or deadly virus is reason enough to give a moron access to such a sacred space as a woman’s kitchen. Some cynics may say I screwed up on purpose to disqualify myself from any future chores. To them, I say, that is an insult to my honor and shows you don’t really know me. My true friends would tell you that I would never do anything so deceitful and, in fact, am a true moron. — Steve Cash Novi
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Views opinion
Chasidic Jews Need an Outlet for Their Mourning After Chasidic funerals caused an uproar in New York, we need to pause and look at the importance of mourning in observant communities.
O
n Thursday, April 30, two days after New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted words that many denounced as anti-Semitic, the NYPD gave tickets out to men attending another funeral processional, and one Chasidic citizen was arrested for disorderly conduct. De Blasio’s threatening tweets came after Eli Reiter a large funeral for a Chasidic rabbi occurred in Williamsburg, Brooklyn on Tuesday, April 28. The community had obtained permission and support from the local police precinct to host the funeral. It was a warning and an optic nightmare – no wonder community members were upset at De Blasio’s tweet. It would be easy and intellec-
tually lazy to write off the more insular Chasidic community as anti-science, honing in on a minority of anti-vaxxers or seeing images of the congregants standing less than 6 feet apart in Brooklyn streets. They are treated like outsiders and primitive people. One needs to watch only One of Us and Unorthodox to see the popular opinion of “those people.” I have been sent pictures of the funeral via Facebook message asking me to explain the behavior of attendees. The implicit phrase was about “you people.” But it’s not the truth. Not far from Thursday’s funeral in Borough Park, Brooklyn, sits my old pediatrician’s office. My parents have lost more than two dozen friends and relatives to the novel coronavirus in the last month. Because of travel restrictions and social distancing, community members can’t partake in ritual. The loss of
each individual compounds, and there is a communal mourning. The largest Jewish community outside Israel is in New York, one of the epicenters of the epidemic. How does one find comfort in these times of mass loss? Everyday rituals provide comfort and solace. For some, it’s their morning coffee routine with precise grinds to water ration. For others, it’s the art of rolling a cigarette. Important ritualized aspects of traditional observant Jewish life provide guidance and comfort in so-called life cycle events – birth, marriage and eventually the end. For Chasidim, as well as many Orthodox Jews, a focus on ritual is a focus on breath. It’s an embodied practice. The most embodied practice is using one’s body for something holy. Levaya, the Hebrew word for funeral, comes from the word for escorting or accompanying. The most
cathartic experience is physically following the departed. After the funeral service, before heading to the cemetery, people pass the dead and ask for forgiveness. Then the mourning pass the visitors and hear words of consolation. It is commonplace to attend a funeral that is not one’s own loved one, to honor the dead. This act of charity comes out of an obligation and a sense of community. The departed merit a respectful sendoff. It’s often an act of kindness to a stranger, chesed shel emes, a good deed that will not be repaid. Other times, it’s an act of communal support, as someone might attend the gravesite service of a member of their synagogue that they have never interacted with before. There is a communal sadness associated with death, and ritual provides comfort for the community. Funerals are heavcontinued on page 12
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chological reactions to COVID19. And we can do that while still being clear about one thing: Not even the worst, most devastating outcome of our state’s current policies — a long-term economic collapse resulting in widespread job losses — is an appropriate comparison for the goals and tactics of the Nazis and their systematic efforts to round up and exterminate European Jewry. The intentionality is not even on the same playing field through which one might employ a “slippery slope” argument. Such an analogy comes from a place of ignorance, which is the same place where more overt anti-Semitism emerges from. If such a comparison is being made in the public square and is reaching enough people, we must speak out about it so that our readers understand the tenor of dialogue that is being employed in the current moment, and how that may impact us and our shared history. So now we turn to the second part of the criticisms: Was this component of the protests worth drawing attention to? Here it’s worth noting that Sheridan’s letter did not express support for the protesters who held signs reading “Heil Whitmer” or displayed blow-up dolls dressing up the governor as Hitler, to name two examples spotted at Operation Gridlock. But nor did she or the MCC outright condemn such messages in their letter to us. Their position, instead, is that these protesters were “a small fraction of outliers” holding “controversial signs” and they did not reflect the larger goal of the demonstration. And on this point, we disagree. Though small in number, the individuals brandishing overt references to Nazism were not on the fringes of the crowd that day. They were right in the
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MAY 14 • 2020
thick of it, sometimes on the capitol steps themselves, and being cheered, not sidelined, by the protesters around them. More importantly, the Nazi allusions were part and parcel of the dark, inflammatory tone being employed throughout the event, with words like “tyrant,” Confederate flags and firearms visible among the crowds. Those firearms, incidentally, are part of why we took this “small fraction” of the protests so seriously. The overt specter of violence in the public square
of a state senator compared the actions of the state’s health director Dr. Amy Acton, who is Jewish, to those of Nazi Germany, earning a strong rebuke from Mike DeWine, the state’s Republican governor. “The comments showed a complete lack of understanding of the Holocaust,” DeWine said, demonstrating that this should not have to be a partisan issue. Yes, these are a few people out of thousands. But yes, it is assuredly our responsibility to report on them. The sight of a “small
should always warrant serious concern for the health of our community. Case in point: On Sunday, May 3, a security guard at a Flint dollar store was fatally shot by family of a customer after doing his job by refusing to allow them to enter the store without a face mask. Nazi allusions have also emerged at similar protests in other states, often directed at Jewish officials. There is a clear pattern at play. A sign reading “Arbeit macht frei,” repeating the infamous “Work Makes You Free” message emblazoned on the gates of Auschwitz in its original German, was spotted at a rally protesting Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is Jewish, and prompted an official condemnation from the Auschwitz Museum and Memorial in Poland. And in Ohio, the wife
fraction” of particularly vocal and angry citizens pushing or attempting to push a large body toward an extreme conclusion has its roots in historical precedence that the JN cannot ignore. To put it another way: Because they fit right into the goals and tactics of the larger movement, these were, in fact, “legitimate” protesters. And they may not be a small fraction for much longer. This fanning of such violent, conspiratorial flames — not only as they relate to the Jewish people, but also to the public citizenry at large — has been “rewarded and encouraged” by groups like the MCC itself over the last few weeks. Following Operation Gridlock, the MCC’s Facebook page has shared partisan articles and memes casting Whitmer as exactly the sort of Hitler-like fig-
ure these protesters declared her to be (“Tyrannical,” “Pure Evil”).
AP PHOTO/PAUL SANCYA
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A BIG TENT Our readership includes many Holocaust survivors in the Detroit area, and many more descendants of survivors, as well as Jews from across the entire political spectrum. Indeed, the JN is the rare media outlet where it is still possible to find people of wildly different political ideologies congregating together, and it is our full intention to do this kind of reporting no matter who is on the receiving end. In this current moment, the Lansing protests are the most pressing story for us to cover. Another time, there will be different movements with different goals, and we will cover those fairly and responsibly, too. If you are wondering why we are “not covering” something related to anti-Semitism, there is a good chance we do, in fact, have a story in the works about it. But we also appreciate your tips, as always. We can and do often disagree with one another about policies, and about the proper government response to the linked tragedies of a global pandemic and recession. But we must do so without the histrionics that compel us or our neighbors to reach for the metaphor of Nazism with no historical context, simply because it is a convenient evil to brandish in an argument. The JN will continue to cover the COVID-19 crises within the state: both the medical and economic ones. And we will continue to cover any signs of anti-Semitism and bigotry that emerge from this moment in time. We welcome your thoughts on all of this in the meantime, even (and especially) if you disagree. It’s why we’re here in the first place.
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ily prescribed in Judaism, a solace for those in a fog of grief. We bury the dead, rip our garments, say the kaddish, and are in forced exile in our homes for seven days. This dual purpose of ritual – comfort and something to do – is a key aspect of shivah. In the midst of great sadness, heavily prescribed activities give the mourner tasks to in their paralyzed state. In a time of self-quarantine for medical reasons, we are in exile in a different setting. We have lost ones who we cannot accompany. The next time I attend a funeral in person, I will mourn my cousin who died in his mid-50s and my brother’s neighbor who was a doctor. Communal loss was felt when I recently opened a local newspaper, the Flatbush Jewish Journal, and saw 50 pages of obituaries. I envy my Midwestern classmates who have not lost a single loved one. Every member of the wider Orthodox community feels like family. As the world at large settles in for the long haul in solitude, we seek methods to cope with the abject loss and loneliness. The attendees are not intellectually prioritizing a
ritual over their health. They might rationalize dangerous behavior, and it is somewhat unjustifiable. They might be caught into the idea that they are doing a good deed. At times of loss, we return to our old habits and behaviors. Especially for a traditional community that is more resistant to change. As we are stuck at home, we should empathize and seek connection with the other, with those who are far away from us physically and culturally. And as I contemplate the problematic images of funeral attendees not socially distancing, I hear the pitter-patter of Yiddish between mothers and their children in the waiting room of my pediatrician three blocks away. Those mothers, too, cared about the community’s health. They wanted to protect their families from harm, just like everyone else.
Eli Reiter is a former Yeshiva teacher and Brooklynite who has written for the New York Times, Washington Post, Slate and other outlets. He can be reached at elireiter@gmail.com
Most Read on the Web 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 April.
Top 10 on the Web 1. Lansing Demonstrators Protest Whitmer with Hitler Signs 2. Kippah Masks You Can Make at Home During COVID19 (from March) 3. Gay and Jewish Jokes (From 2018) 4. Israeli Airline Brings Precious COVID Cargo to Detroit 5. Oakland County Creates Interactive Map of COVID-19 Cases by ZIP Code (from March) 6. Hillel Day School Memorializes Beloved Coach and Gym Teacher 7. A Showdown in Ann Arbor: Behind the New Lawsuit Challenging Longtime Synagogue Protesters 8. ‘I’m a Very Lucky Man’: 80-Year-Old Commerce Township Man, 74-Year-Old Wife Survive COVID-19 9. Friends, Neighbors Show Love for Berkley Judge Recovering from Brain Cancer 10. Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Trade Mission to Israel (from November 2019) Tops on Facebook 1. Danny Raskin: A Dining Favorite (Pepino’s) 2. Israeli Airline Brings Precious COVID Cargo to Detroit 3. Remembering Dr. Jeffrey Forman, a Dedicated Man of Medicine 4. Former Detroit Rabbi Recovers from Coronavirus, Donates Blood Plasma to Experimental Treatment 5. A DIY Thanksgiving Wedding: West Bloomfield Man Officiates His Own Mother’s Nuptials During the Holiday Top 5 on Instagram: 1. Longtime Brody’s Owners and Couple of 70 Years, Separated By COVID-19, Die Just Hours Apart 2. Makeup Artist Builds Business that Empowers Women After Devastating Injury 3. Three Cats Offering Quality Carry-Out and Delivery 4. DIY Thanksgiving Wedding 5. Hillel Day School Memorializes Beloved Coach and Gym Teacher
Our STORY Has your business or personal ďŹ nancial situation been impacted by the Coronavirus outbreak? Have you been concerned about meeting your expenses during the shutdown? Thanks to remote technologies, Hebrew Free Loan (HFL) is here and available to help Michigan’s Jewish residents with a no fee and interestfree loan of a maximum of $10,000 to cover: • Small business losses. • Lost wages because you can’t go in to work. • Child-care costs when schools are closed. • Funds lost due to cancelled travel plans. • Life challenges where your cash ow won’t cover your costs. HFL promises and provides: • ConďŹ dential, Interest-free loans up to $10,000 • Our application is available online at https://application.hdetroit.org/ • The HFL loan interview process will be expedited remotely to help Michigan Jewish community members who need help – safely and socially distant. • Co-signer rules will be reviewed on a case by case basis - (HFL typically requires two co-signers for each loan). Contact HFL at info@hdetroit.org or leave a voice message at 248.723.8184 for application assistance. Please share this information with any Jewish resident in Michigan who may need assistance. Also, if you are in a postition to donate to help Michigan Jews thrive during these stressful times, please go to hdetroit.org/donate/.
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MAY 14 • 2020
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COURTESY OF MICHIGAN JEWISH SPORTS FOUNDATION
Jews in the D
Fundraising During A Pandemic Nonprofit organizations scramble to raise emergency funds, replace cancelled events.
COURTESY OF YAD EZRA
ROBIN SCHWARTZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER
TOP: Golfers Nate Forbes, Jeff Cohen, Steve Rosenthal, Jeff Cohen and Mike Stone at last year’s Hank Greenberg golf outing. ABOVE: Yad Ezra makes deliveries with help from Jewish Family Service.
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MAY 14 • 2020
C
OVID-19 and the need for social distancing abruptly cancelled a slew of spring and summer fundraisers for local nonprofits — from golf outings to community walks — wiping out the anticipated revenue from those events and leaving organizations scrambling. Many virtual events are popping up along with emergency fundraising campaigns that have raised millions of dollars, but organizations that help feed the hungry, award college scholarships, support medical research and provide a host of other critical services have been thrown for a loop since the COVID-19 crisis began. Take the Michigan Jewish Sports Foundation, which raises money for annual college scholarships, the Karmanos Cancer Institute, Camp Mak-A-Dream and the Jewish Community
Center. The foundation is reeling after being forced to cancel its 30th Annual Hank Greenberg Golf and Tennis Memorial Invitational, one of the premier golf outings of the summer. The event was set to take place June 8 at Franklin Hills Country Club. Last year’s outing raised $80,000. “This is the first time in 30 years we’ve had to cancel the outing. This is devastating to our foundation and our operating budget,” said Sari Cicurel, the Michigan Jewish Sports Foundation’s executive director. “For the organizations we support, the need is still there.” The foundation is still selling raffle tickets for the chance to attend the 2021 Masters and hosting a free virtual sports talk event May 20 with ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Mike Stone (aka Stoney), but it’s safe to say the coronavirus has thrown the organization off its game. FEEDING A NEED Pontiac-based Lighthouse, which provides emergency food, shelter and other support services for thousands of children, families and individuals in need across southeast Michigan, postponed its annual Rent Party scheduled for June and set a tentative date for August. A walk/run scheduled for fall and its annual Dancing With the Detroit Stars event are still up in the air. “We raise close to $500,000 a year just from events,” said Lighthouse CEO Ryan Hertz. “Our events are also friend-raisers. They connect us with new donors — having to cancel prevents us from building those relationships.” On top of the cancellations, COVID-19 created an urgent continued on page 16
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COURTESY OF DAVID PAULL
Jews in the D
COURTESY OF LIGHTHOUSE
TOP: David Paull’s Take Steps team that raises funds for the Michigan Chapter of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. LEFT: A Lighthouse volunteer packs and sorts food.
pantry, switched to deliveries only and is now providing approximately 1,100 deliveries a month. Two grants from the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit helped get the organization through Passover. A virtual magic show continued from page 14 took place May 3 supported by a long list of sponsors. The next major hurdle is Yad Ezra’s need for Lighthouse to ramp up its emergency annual dinner, which raises $600,000 a year. food distribution efforts and find alternatives It’s scheduled for Sept. 30. to its rotating shelter, which moves from var“We don’t know if we’ll be able to raise the ious religious congregations money,” said Yad Ezra’s each week. The nonprofit executive director Lea Luger. launched a crowdfunding “But I’m confident that the campaign on its platform, community recognizes and HandUp, and raised more ● Federation: respects the work we do and than $1 million toward a $1.5 jewishdetroit.org won’t let us run out of food. million goal in less than eight ● Lighthouse: I have faith in the Jewish weeks. lighthousemi.org/covid19 community. They’ve been “The community’s response on this journey with us for ● Michigan Jewish Sports has been absolutely beautiful,” 30 years.” Foundation: Hertz said. “For us, profit is michiganjewishsports.org social impact. The fact that WALKING THE WALK ● Yad Ezra: yadezra.org we’ve been able to serve so “We’re struggling,” said ● Crohn’s & Colitis many more people safely and David Paull, board president Foundation: successfully speaks to the genof the Michigan Chapter crohnscolitisfoundation.org/ erosity and compassion of our of the Crohn’s & Colitis chapters/Michigan community.” Foundation (CCF). As a result of the pandemic, The organization supLighthouse went from serving ports more than 100,000 10,000 people a year to 5,000 a week. The Michigan patients annually and raises awareorganization continues to fundraise to meet ness and critical research dollars for Crohn’s the ongoing need. A 12-hour live streaming disease and ulcerative colitis. The chapter’s concert called Lighthouse LIVE, featuring spring fashion event at the Townsend Hotel performances from more than 50 Michigan has been pushed to August. The annual Take musicians and entertainers, including Alice Steps Walk in June is cancelled nationwide Cooper and Lily Tomlin, took place May 9. and will now be held virtually. Ryan’s father, entertainment attorney Howard “We are coming in significantly below our Hertz, helped organize the online event. projected budget,” Paull explained. “It’s tough Yad Ezra, Michigan’s only kosher food to ask people for money right now.”
You Can Help
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MAY 14 • 2020
He says his Take Steps team, which has been steadily growing since 2015, usually raises $15,000-$20,000 each year. Right now, they’re at $2,000. The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit is feeling it, too. Forty-five employees were furloughed as a result of the crisis, and a COVID-19 emergency task force was formed. The task force is being led by incoming Federation president Matt Lester and Dennis Bernard, president-elect of the United Jewish Foundation. An emergency campaign was also launched to meet the needs of the community and Federation’s agencies. It raised more than $7 million in four weeks. “It’s been a heavy lift,” Lester said. “But it’s probably the finest example I’ve seen of people coming together completely selflessly on behalf of the community and making a difference. We’ve had the strongest response in the country in terms of the emergency campaign. People were eager to help, and they still are.” Lester acknowledged that much of the hard work is still ahead as this public health and economic crisis continues, but he commended Federation’s partner agencies, including the Jewish Community Center, Jewish Senior Life, Tamarack and the day schools, for initiating their own self-help programs. He also praised Federation’s staff for its exceptional capabilities during this tumultuous time. “The rise to the occasion mentality among staff, agency professionals and lay leadership is unprecedented, and I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said. “It makes me very proud to be Jewish and a member of the Detroit Jewish community. This could be our finest moment.”
essay
Planning a
COURTESY OF SUSAN HILLMAN
Jews in the D
Virtual Funeral During COVID-19
SUSAN HILLMAN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
M
y 89-year-old mom, Florence Ackerman, was lively and fun. She loved people, parties and playing mah-jongg. Live theater was her favorite form of entertainment, which she passed on to me. She could tell a funny story like no one I knew. I saw her at least once a week, and we would always laugh about the silliest things. One recent Saturday, she wasn’t answering the phone. I called all day. There was only a skeleton crew at the independent senior residence where she lived. When I called and asked for help, two employees went to check on her and informed me that she was in bed because she said she was tired. I tried calling again. No answer. I was aware that one case of COVID-19 had been reported in her building. My instinct was to go see her anyway. When I arrived (with my gloves on), she was in bed, somewhat incoherent, but she knew it was me. A full day’s worth of food (that had been delivered to her door by staff) was stacked in the kitchen. She had a fever, was shaking and had not taken her diabetic medication. I got her up and dressed and called 911. It felt like a movie when the EMTs came decked out in masks and gloves. As they wheeled her out, I threw some of her clothes in a suitcase, hoping she would come back to my house after being released from the hospital. My husband and I were not allowed in the hospital, so we went home. Later that night she was diagnosed with pneumonia and then COVID-19. I got a chance to speak with her twice. The first time she
Susan Hillman and her late mother, Florence Ackerman.
complained about the staff constantly asking her name. She then asked the next person, “What’s your name?” That was indicative of her feisty personality. One of the doctors later told me he was glad to have seen that side of her. The second time she asked me to get things from her apartment. I sadly told her I couldn’t go back. “Because of the virus?” she asked. “Yes,” I replied. She knew that she had it. Two days later she was unresponsive. After 10 days in hospice, she passed away. My husband and I planned her graveside service. Her family’s plots were in Elmont, New York, on Long Island, and she wanted to be buried next to my father. We knew we couldn’t attend the service. Even my brother, who lives in New Jersey, knew it wasn’t safe to go. Jonathan Dorfman of the Dorfman Chapel professionally and caringly helped with the arrangements. Her body would be flown to New York and a local funeral home would transport her to the cemetery. My husband Mal’s cousins (who live near the cemetery) were gracious enough to ask their rabbi to perform the service. The rabbi and I spoke over the phone for 30 minutes about my mother. She said she would be happy to use Zoom so we could see the service and burial, and she would also record it. Whoever knew about Zoom before our
current crisis? Not me. Our cousins agreed to go to the cemetery to help the rabbi. A friend also surprised us and attended in person. We sent Zoom invitations to many family members and friends around the country. Twenty-three families participated from California, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Montana, Michigan and Ohio. Many of them would not have been able to attend if the funeral had been held during healthier days. I read a favorite poem of my mother’s. Seeing her casket lowered into the ground and the traditional dirt shoveled in made her death a reality for me. I’m grateful we live in this technological age to make a virtual burial possible, considering our current circumstances. The families and friends who “attended” were a blessing. I also did a virtual shivah. It does sadden me that I couldn’t be there in person or have a “real” shivah, but I would recommend making use of the technology to those in my situation. I watched the recorded service and sent it to those not able to be there. They appreciated that. When this virus is under control, my family will go in person to the cemetery, hopefully for her unveiling. Until then, I would like to thank the creators of Zoom. Rest in peace, Mom. MAY 14 • 2020
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Jews in the D
PHOTOS BY SHALOM KORN
How to Save a Life
Blood drives held in hopes of helping COVID-19 patients. SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
O
n May 3, 220 individuals waited their turn to be part of a five-hourlong momentous blood drive in hopes of being eligible to donate plasma to help those suffering from COVID-19. Hatzalah of Michigan-Emergency Medical Services, in partnership with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., held the drive to identify those whose blood shows antibody levels high enough to allow them to donate plasma for scientific trials and treatment of individuals who have the virus. The drive, which took place in an outdoor, tented area at Yeshiva Beth Yehudah in Oak Park, was so well-attended, a second one was scheduled for Sunday, May 10. Ensuring social distancing, potential donors remained in their cars until called,
with testers maintaining minimal contact. Volunteer medics from the Oak Parkbased Hatzalah, along with area doctors and nurses, drew blood at the May 3rd drive. The Convalescent Plasma Drive was organized by Hatzalah, in conjunction with Lev Rochel Bikur Cholim of Lakewood, N.J., with the assistance of Dr. Nigel Paneth, a professor of epidemiology, biostatistics and pediatrics at Michigan State University and part of the leadership of the National COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Project. The drive was sponsored by TCF Bank in collaboration with Hatzalah nationwide, Ascension Providence Hospital in Southfield and the American Red Cross, with support from the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit.
TOP: Tents and volunteers are ready for donors. BOTTOM: A volunteer gets ready to draw blood from a donor.
BLOOD TESTING Blood drawn was sent to the Mayo Clinic to be tested. Names of those whose tests show probable useful antibodies will be shared with Hatzalah, whose staff will work with Ascension to direct donors to blood banks and help with screening and registration. The process of harvesting — or removing — the plasma from the blood takes place at the blood banks. “It begins with a standard blood draw,” according to Hatzalah’s volunteer director, Dr. Steve McGraw, who is medical director of Oakland County Medical Control Authority and Emergency Department Chief at Providence Hospital. He and blood drive volunteer, hematologist and oncologist Dr. Daniel Lebovic oversaw the outdoor testing site.
LEFT: Blood plasma donation site parking lot. CENTER: Tents set up for blood donations. RIGHT: A volunteer checks donors’ paperwork.
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MAY 14 • 2020
or.
Is That a Jaguar on Your Porch? FJA’s head of school surprises graduates. A donor is prepared for a blood draw.
ways. Locally, much of it is quieter, like Detroit Chesed Project — whose volunteers provide programs like respite for families with children with special needs and school lunches for families in crisis — and Detroit Chaverim — who offer non-emergency volunteer help, like fixing flat tires — who provided traffic control for the blood drive. But it is something we do all the time. This one just happens to be a loud, vocal one.” The blood testing was held as part of the Yitzchok Lebovits COVID Plasma Initiative
“This is yet another demonstration of how volunteers can impact communities in the most meaningful of ways.” — GARY TORGOW attention, augmenting existing emergency medical services with community-based state-certified EMT volunteer responders. “The community EMS work that Hatzalah does saves lives daily,” said Gary Torgow, chairman of TCF Financial Corporation, in a press release. “This is yet another demonstration of how volunteers can impact communities in the most meaningful of ways.” VOLUNTEER CORP Volunteer and drive organizer Nachy Soloff of Southfield said, “So many people within the Orthodox community really care about helping in so many
Foundation, a grassroots effort formed in New York early April with a mission of making convalescent COVID-19 plasma accessible to as many patients as possible by recruiting donors. With the support of the Orthodox Union and Agudath Israel of America, they also assist blood banks with donor screening and scheduling and facilitate partnerships between hospitals and blood banks. “Many of us know someone who has been affected by the virus and we feel so powerless,” Soloff said. “People who came out to the drive did so because of a sense of knowing that this could be their way to have the potential to help.”
CORRIE COLF STAFF WRITER
I
COURTESY OF NANCY KLEINFELDT
“The blood is then run through a machine that extracts the plasma,” McGraw said. “Then all blood components, minus the plasma, are returned to the donor along with a saline solution that replaces the plasma that was removed.” Each session supplies enough plasma to benefit three patients and donations may be made every seven days. Hatzalah’s volunteer-based units are present in Orthodox communities throughout the country, providing rapid response to medical emergencies, life support and medical
n an effort to maintain the sense of the community during virtual learning, Rabbi Azaryah Cohen, Frankel Jewish Academy head of school, is supporting graduating seniors by dropping off lawn signs dressed up as the school’s mascot. With the help of Seth Korelitz, FJA director of Jewish Studies, and Randall Gawel, FJA’s principal, Cohen suited up as the Jag, FJA’s jaguar mascot, and began delivering personalized lawn signs on April 30. Through FJA’s campaign, families of the 34 graduating seniors had the opportunity to order personalized senior signs congratulating their 2020 grads. Cohen has also been dropping off “Proud FJA Family” signs to anyone who would like one for their front lawns. “Originally, people were going to pick up the signs because that was going to be the most convenient way to do it,” Cohen said. “But one of the things that is so difficult for our families and students is maintaining the sense of community. We pride ourselves on the community and the relationships we share with our students, so we thought, wouldn’t it be great to provide our students and families with a nice personal touch by dropping off their signs at their houses?” They decided to begin doing the senior sign drop-offs on Thursday in the middle of the school day so seniors, with their classmates by their virtual side, would be able to experience this moment together. “We thought, imagine the
FJA Head of School Rabbi Azaryah Cohen dropped off signs to seniors dressed as the Jag.
student coming to the door to check out what was going on and they happen to be in the middle of class,” Cohen said. “Not only is it exciting for the students, but it is exciting for their classmates as well.” Cohen, who is no stranger to dressing up as the Jag, volunteered to wear the costume to most of the drop-offs to deliver that extra burst of joy to FJA students. Adin Kleinfeldt, who resides in Huntington Woods, was one of the seniors who Cohen visited. While he knew that something like this was certainly coming, he said he was still surprised and appreciated the dedication the administration has toward their graduating seniors and families. “Obviously for seniors, there are a lot of things we thought we would be able to do to finish off our high school careers, but unfortunately these are unprecedented times,” Kleinfeldt said. “But, it’s really nice that our teachers and administration have been going that extra mile and trying to do their best with the circumstances to make sure we have a good ending to our senior year.”
MAY 14 • 2020
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WIKIPEDIA
Jews in the D
Summer Bummer Camps, parks, fairs cancel due to COVID-19. MAYA GOLDMAN AND CORRIE COLF STAFF WRITERS
A
s summer draws nearer, communities around the country are continuing to feel the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and social distancing. While children are still grappling with the loss of the school year, their summer experience is now facing the same pressure. Many local families suddenly have large holes in their schedules. First, Tamarack Camps announced their closure; then others followed. Here are some of the organizations that have canceled their summer plans.
The camp offers 10 different sessions tailored for children grades 1-10. They also offer the Tikvah Program, an overnight summer camping experience for Jewish children ages 12-21 with special needs. Camp Ramah in Wisconsin, located in Conover, still plans on opening but has delayed the start of its summer session to June 30.
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
HUNTINGTON WOODS CANCELS CAMPS AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS On May 1, the city of Huntington Woods announced it would cancel its summer camps and recreational programming, all Fourth of July festivities and its summer Concert in the Park series. The city’s pool will also not open this summer. The Parks and Recreation Department plans to create virtual activities for families, and the Huntington Woods library has digital programming already put in place.
UNION FOR REFORM JUDAISM CANCELS ALL SUMMER PROGRAMS URJ announced the cancellation of their 2020 summer programming on April 30. URJ runs 15 summer camps spread throughout the country, as well as teen travel programs to Israel and other locations around the globe. They are also the parent organization for NFTY youth groups, which run their own summer events and activities. There are 12 NFTY youth groups centered around Michigan congregations. While children cannot physically come to camp, URJ plans to host virtual programming and events throughout the summer. Families who have already paid for URJ summer programs will have the option to choose a refund, credit fees forward to future programs or convert program tuition into a donation. CAMP RAMAH IN CANADA CLOSES FIRST SUMMER SESSION Camp Ramah in Canada, a sleepaway destination in Ontario that attracts many Michigander campers, has canceled its first summer session and is waiting until June to decide on the rest of summer. The camp is run through the Ramah Camping Network, a large group of summer camps affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism that have locations throughout the United States, Canada and Israel.
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MAY 14 • 2020
ANN ARBOR ART FAIR CANCELS ANNUAL EVENT The Ann Arbor Art Fair, which was scheduled July 16-19, was canceled on May 7. This is the first time the art fair has been canceled in 60 years. Fair organizers plan to promote each of the artists online. (Jewish News parent company Renaissance Media produces the fair’s annual print guide.) OTHER SUMMER PLANS Southfield has canceled all city events until May 15 or further notice. The West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation Department has canceled all activities until May 31, and their Recreation Activities Center is currently closed through June 8. West Bloomfield’s summer camp registration has been postponed until May 18. The Jewish Community Center Day Camps, powered by Tamarack, released a statement May 4 saying they are "cautiously planning” on proceeding with their summer.
Jews in the D
Focusing on Seniors Oakland County begins COVID-19 testing at senior living centers. CORRIE COLF STAFF WRITER
I
n a partnership with local medics, Oakland County has begun implementing novel coronavirus testing for all residents and staff members at senior independent living facilities throughout the county. Oakland County Executive David Coulter announced this initiative during a press conference April 30. According to Kathy Forzley, Director of Oakland County Health and Human Services, 137 senior living facilities in the county have been impacted by COVID-19. Across these facilities, there have been 1,377 reported cases among residents, 373 additional cases among staff members and 346 cases had resulted in fatalities as of April 29. “Testing is really critical in our senior living facilities. We know this is one of the most vulnerable populations,” Coulter said during the press conference. “We have formed a partnership with our local EMS workers to test every resident and staff member in our priority facilities.” Throughout the course of the pandemic, Oakland County has remained in constant con-
tact with all senior living facilities throughout the area. The health division has a staff task force that contacts each facility twice a week to gather information and resource requests. The county has already begun testing at facilities in West Bloomfield, Southfield and Birmingham. The initiative will continue throughout the coming weeks to other areas throughout Oakland County. “We have made our focus for comprehensive testing efforts on independent living facilities first. These are senior communities with apartment-style living,” Forzley said during the press conference. “Unlike other facilities such as skilled care or nursing homes, they don’t have the same capabilities in terms of medical staffing or capabilities to conduct large scale testing on site.” If residents test positive for the virus, they will be isolated and receive medical care. The health division will also conduct contact tracing on anyone who tests positive to determine who they have been in contact with. Those close contacts will also be asked to self-isolate and monitor symptoms for 14 days.
“The bottom line for this testing is that it is so important for our senior care living facilities to identify the presence of asymptomatic residents and staff that may be unknowingly carrying a risk of exposure through their communities,” Forzley said. On April 29, All Seasons of West Bloomfield had the health department onsite performing the tests on all residents, staff members and private caregivers/resident assistants. The facility reported their first case of COVID-19 in mid-March. “Oakland County has graciously offered to provide testing for all residents, team members and private duty caregivers/resident assistants,” Adam Snyder, Vice President of Senior Living at All Seasons, said in a statement. “We, of course, accepted this offer and felt this would be a monumental step in reopening our community over the next few weeks.” Jewish Senior Life of Metropolitan Detroit did not respond to requests for comment, but they notified residents and family members on April 30 of Oakland County’s
announcement and told them that they “will update you when we have more information.” Hechtman and Meer apartments both reported cases of the virus in mid-April. As the county moves forward with testing, they will also be looking at practices that may require broader action. The county continues to remain in contact with facilities and ensure that they are taking the correct steps to keep their residents and staff members safe. “We are asking the facilities if they are communicating well enough with their residents and their family members — that is a critical component of what needs to happen,” Coulter said. “Are they testing all staff and requiring third-party vendors to provide notification about positive tests? We are going to continue to aggressively reach out to our senior population because we know how vulnerable they are and we are going to make sure they have the resources and the testing that they need to make sure that we can contain that virus in that population.” MAY 14 • 2020
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Jews in the D
Highway to Challah Cousins ensure families can enjoy fresh challah on Shabbat. JACKIE HEADAPOHL ASSOCIATE EDITOR
R We are here for you and any of your legal needs during the COVID-19 outbreak.
michprobate.com 24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110 Southfield, MI 48034
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MAY 14 • 2020
esidents of Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Farmington Hills, Franklin and West Bloomfield can have fresh challah from Johnny Pomodoro’s delivered to their doors Friday morning. This is thanks to Isaac Mintz, 18, graduating from West Bloomfield High School, and his younger cousins Avery Gach, 13, a student at Berkshire Middle School, and Eli Gach, 10, who attends West Maple. Mintz lives in West Bloomfield; his cousins live in Bloomfield Hills. It was Avery’s idea. “I know a lot of Jews don’t want to go into stores, especially older people,” he said. “My family has always loved celebrating Shabbat, and we understand the joy of challah on Friday evenings. So I thought about a challah delivery service.” Last month, Avery reached out to his cousin Isaac for advice. “He is a very passionate, kind and hardworking young man — an entrepreneur who saw a need in the market,” Isaac said. “We began bouncing some ideas around.” They came up with Door to Door Family Challah, a streamlined service to the community. Here’s how it works: Customers fill out an order via a Google Form, then pay their total through Venmo. Once the payment has been finalized
COURTESY OF AVERY GACH
The Probate Law Firm of
Eden and Isaac Mintz, and Avery and Eli Gach deliver challahs to customers on Friday morning in time for Shabbat.
on Thursday afternoon before 2 p.m., they can expect their order on Friday morning. The charge is $6 for one challah or $10 for two. Isaac, who plans on attending the University of Michigan this fall, is the delivery driver, helped by his sister Eden, 15, a student at West Bloomfield High School. “She has been invaluable in helping deliver the challahs,” Isaac said. The challah comes freshly baked from Johnny Pomodoro’s in Farmington Hills. The cousins conferred with general manager Joe Montgomery, who was very receptive to working with the young people. “We also wanted to do some good,” Isaac said. “Ten percent of earnings go toward coronavirus relief efforts.” Their first week, Door to Door Family Challah served 22 families and made its first donation to FLAG of Metro Detroit. One customer wanted to take a picture with the boys. “We were thrilled,” Isaac said. “We treat our customers like family and hope to have even more satisfied customers in the future.” For more information, email doortodoorfamilychallah@gmail.com.
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MICHIGAN STATE
U N I V E R S I T Y M AY 1 4 , 2 0 2 0
GRADUATING MSU HEALTH CARE STUDENTS AID IN COVID-19 RESPONSE As Michigan works swiftly to expand its health care workforce to battle the COVID19 pandemic, Michigan State University has made available hundreds of health care students who have successfully completed their program requirements to Michigan health care systems earlier than usual. As a result of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s efforts to increase the speed at which health care professionals can enter the workforce, these health care systems will have access to 87 baccalaureate-prepared nurses, 61 medical doctors and 213 osteopathic physicians. MSU is working with the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs in expediting the licensure of these health care workers. “MSU has one of the largest training programs of health professionals in the nation,” says MSU Executive Vice President for Health Sciences Norman J. Beauchamp Jr. “We recognized early in the pandemic that additional providers would be needed. We actively pursued a pathway to make it possible. Adding more than 350 medical professionals to the health care workforce at this critical juncture will make a substantive difference in combating this virus. Together, everything is possible.” Students in the colleges of Human Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine normally start their residencies July 1. With this licensing option, graduates could enter
Hundreds of MSU health care students who have successfully completed their program requirements are entering the workforce earlier than usual to help with Michigan’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
the workforce ahead of their scheduled residency — before the end of April. Each graduating student has completed eight years of college education and thousands of hours of clinical activity. “The College of Osteopathic Medicine has been a leader among Michigan medical schools in the number of graduates that go on to practice medicine in the state,” says Andrea Amalfitano, dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine. “Around 65% to 70% of our osteopathic medical students stay in Michigan to practice. The decision to expedite our graduates entering the physician workforce sooner in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic is something that furthers our long-standing goal, namely, to
provide the state of Michigan great doctors who provide quality care for its residents.” “Our newly licensed MDs are clinically experienced and well prepared to serve the needs of Michigan hospitals in this unprecedented health crisis,” says Aron Sousa, interim dean of the College of Human Medicine. “This initiative of rapidly increasing the number of physicians in our hospitals is a core part of MSU’s contribution to the COVID-19 effort in our communities throughout the state.” Early licensing is also available for nursing students across Michigan. Before entering the workforce, nursing students normally are required to pass the National Council Continued on page 2
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GRADUATING MSU HEALTH CARE STUDENTS continued
Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses. However, LARA has set up a temporary license for students preparing to become registered nurses to allow MSU’s nursing students to become available as practicing registered nurses before taking the exam. At the end of their program in May, these graduating nursing students will have completed 740 contact hours through the nursing program.
Spartans collaborate to create 3D-printed medical face shields MSU is helping local health professionals on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus by making 3D-printed personal protective equipment. To address the critical need for donations, medical face shields are being jointly produced with colleges across MSU’s campus, including Osteopathic Medicine, Engineering, Natural Science, Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Arts and Letters. While MSU departments and labs already were donating existing supplies, one faculty member wondered whether new protective equipment could be created from scratch. “This all stems from the Office of Environmental Health and Safety effort to bring together any and all PPE supplies that were unused in our labs to help local hospitals,” says Nathan Tykocki, assistant professor of pharmacology and toxicology in the College of Osteopathic Medicine. With access to a 3D printer and time at home instead of at his lab, Tykocki was
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“Nurses are on the front lines of this pandemic, so it makes sense that the governor would create this opportunity for new nursing graduates to enter the workforce during this time of desperate need,” says Randolph F. R. Rasch, dean of the College of Nursing. “We need all the help we can get to provide the necessary and increasing amount of care for Michigan residents, and this is a bold first step by the governor.” e
inspired to act. After searching the 3D-printing community online, Tykocki discovered a group in the Czech Republic that made a medical face shield validated by its government. The group’s design has been shared globally online. “I just started emailing,” Tykocki says. “Brian Smith of EHS put me in contact with other professors and technicians from a myriad of different colleges and departments. I suggested that we should do these shields. The nice thing is these shields are reusable — the plastic can be disinfected without harming it in any way — so the shields are by no means a ‘one and done.’” While the frame of the medical shields can be created with a 3D printer, the devices still require other components, including the clear plastic shield itself. Aaron Walworth, laboratory manager in the School of Packaging, had just the thing — a laser cutter to make the clear plastic pieces. Walworth says he cut 132 shields one afternoon while others on the team with laser cutters were purchasing more of the plastic sheeting used to make the shields. Brian Wright and John Papapolymerou of the College of Engineering have coordinated with Tykocki to use their 3D printers to create the frames. Tykocki also heard from the MSU Library, where someone suggested using the clear plastic covers for binders as one of the materials.
MSU has one of the largest training programs for health professionals in the nation.
MSU St. Andrews, a STEM education center in Midland, also stepped up with a daily capacity to print about 60 frames a day. A final and crucial component needed for medical face shields is the elastic strap. Enter the Department of Theatre in the College of Arts and Letters. When Tykocki shared the need with his wife, Abigail Tykocki, theatre communications specialist in the college, she suggested contacting the MSU Costume Shop. “We had a ton of elastic, because we buy stock to keep for whenever we need it,” says Angie Wendelberger, the costume shop supervisor. “I had four industrial rolls of elastic just hanging there that no one really could use.” Wendelberger retrieved the elastic from the costume shop and brought it to the Tykockis’ home. “I was just glad that I could help in any way,” she says. “I’m not scientific, and I can’t make face shields with a 3D printer, but I can provide elastic.” Tykocki is pleased with the collaboration. He says everyone involved in the production hopes to eventually make the shields available to health care providers statewide. “This really shows me that collaboration is not limited at all to research,” says Tykocki. “It expands to every aspect of the university, and the willingness of people to work together to help when it’s needed. This is a true example of ‘Spartans Will.’” e
MSU Hillel creates virtual programming to support students While Michigan State University’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has required students to adjust to virtual classes and extracurricular activities, MSU Hillel also has created virtual programming so students can remain connected to Hillel staff and to one another. MSU Hillel Associate Director Robyn Hughey has led the transition to online programming. “Upon learning about the seriousness of the pandemic, our staff quickly worked to create a number of innovative online experiences and gatherings to help students across the state stay connected to Jewish life while at home,” says Hughey. “Since the creation of our online calendar in mid-March, we have pivoted some programming based on interest, but our dedication to supporting students has remained strong and is at the core of all that we are doing.” Hughey and her team’s quick pivot helped students feel tuned in to everything the organization offers. Programs include online Jewish learning,
making Jewish baked goods, engaging in mindful meditation, maintaining physical and mental well-being, and more. “In addition to these programs, our staff has been working hard on personal outreach to students, and we have been scheduling virtual coffee dates,” says Hughey. As far as formats go, Hughey and her colleagues have been using Zoom, Instagram’s IGTV, Instagram Live and Facebook Live to reach students around Michigan and across the country. “Staff members are still available for phone and Zoom calls during regular hours so they could be there for students,” says Julia Levy, a junior and former executive member of the
Students participate via Zoom in MSU Hillel’s virtual book club.
MSU epidemiologist part of national team pursuing COVID-19 treatment
COVID-19 infection, the National Convalescent Plasma Project has launched a website for health care providers, patients who have recovered from COVID-19 infection and want to donate plasma, and those considering the treatment.
Finding a treatment for COVID-19 is urgent, and a new effort coordinated by an MSU epidemiologist and colleagues around the country aims to use convalescent plasma, which is plasma from recovered patients, to treat the infection.
Last month, the Food and Drug Administration expedited the compassionate use of convalescent plasma for care of seriously ill patients infected with coronavirus that causes COVID-19 disease. The use of convalescent serum involves taking the antibodies of those who have recovered and giving them to someone else who is fighting the virus.
As part of the next step to advance the use of convalescent plasma for the treatment of
Jewish Student Union. Levy also mentions that to try to make things interesting, staff members have gone on MSU Hillel’s Instagram account to talk about their time in quarantine. Another way students are staying connected to one another and to their faith is through a virtual book club, which is reading “Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor” by Yossi Klein Halevi. “The book club has allowed me to connect not only with MSU students, but also with students from different schools and campuses across Michigan,” says Cooper Myers, a junior and former vice president of community programming at MSU Hillel. “These new connections bring new thoughts, ideas and perspectives that I did not have prior to reading the book.” MSU Hillel’s goal is to maintain a sense of community during difficult times. The organization also hosted a virtual Passover Seder via Zoom. While the shift to virtual settings during the pandemic has temporarily disrupted daily life, MSU Hillel will continue to help students feel they have a home away from home and a connection to MSU. e
Epidemiologist Nigel Paneth, an MSU professor and member of the project’s leadership team, along with colleagues from Johns Hopkins University and the Mayo Clinic, led the development of the National Convalescent Plasma Project. The project includes 170 physician-scientists from 50 universities and hospitals across the nation studying the use of convalescent plasma in COVID-19 treatment and prevention. Continued on page 4
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MSU EPIDEMIOLOGIST continued
Paneth also spearheaded the group’s website, ccpp19.org, which is hosted by MSU. “We need to inform health care providers about the use of convalescent plasma and also reach recovered patients with an urgent plea to donate plasma,” Paneth says. “Additionally, doctors will use the site to input data on how their patients respond to the plasma treatment. The hope is that we can move this potentially lifesaving therapy to controlled clinical trials and then to wider use if effectiveness is demonstrated as quickly as possible. “As of April 1, more than 1,100 plasma donors have registered, but we need more,” Paneth says. “Small studies in China during the recent outbreak of COVID-19 suggest, but do not prove, that convalescent plasma improved outcomes. Until randomized trials are completed in the future, we will not know for sure that it works, in what circumstances and for whom, but we’re hopeful.” e
Eleven MSU graduate programs rank in the top 15 nationally, according to 2021 U.S. News & World Report rankings.
MSU community bands together to help students in need As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt daily life, hundreds of Michigan State University students and families are relying on the MSU Student Food Bank for sustenance and emotional support. Unsurprisingly, the MSU community has rallied. Contributions of time and resources from across campus resulted in serving more than 750 MSU students and families and an additional 150 community members in local shelters during a single weekend in March. Chefs from MSU Culinary Services and the Spartan Hospitality Group helped with preparation and distribution plans after Residential and Hospitality Services stepped in with surplus food from cafeterias. “There was no reason to let that food go to waste when it could be given to people in need,” says Vennie Gore, vice president for MSU Auxiliary Enterprises. “We recognize many students rely on the university for more than just education. For some, we also represent a safe space to live with reliable meal service. Taking measures to keep our community healthy and safe during an outbreak doesn’t mean we stop being a resource for our students.”
Advancement to ask how to help those in the MSU community who may be struggling during the pandemic. The Support Our Spartans Student Emergency Needs Fund is one of several ongoing funds providing critical support for students. Right now, it is helping students who have lost jobs, who are unable to return home or who face other financial challenges because of the pandemic. As of early April, more than 1,100 donors have contributed nearly $79,000 to emergency assistance funds for students in need. “It is impressive and gratifying to see how Spartans are looking out for one another,” says President Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D. “Many in our community are experiencing financial difficulties, and your support is providing a lifeline when they need it most.”
HOW TO HELP For a list of MSU emergency funds and places in need on campus, visit go.msu.edu/safety-net. e
“
Due to the need for increased social distancing, food bank services are now being offered through 20-minute appointments. As a result, the food bank is continuing to serve about 24 individuals and families daily.
J
Catch up on the latest from MSU
msutoday.msu.edu Explore giving opportunities
givingto.msu.edu Learn more about alumni participation
alumni.msu.edu Your comments are welcome. Write to Michigan State University, 408 W. Circle Drive, Room 302, East Lansing, MI 48824 or call (517) 355-7505.
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CREATING A SPARTAN SAFETY NET Meanwhile, many Spartans are reaching out to University
Spartans on campus and around the country are volunteering at food banks to meet the food needs of their communities, including at an alumni service day in Denver.
Jews in the D
Zoom Crew Building community through Zoom workouts. CORRIE COLF STAFF WRITER
O
ver the past six weeks, Bloomfield resident Allison Kaplan has grown her “Zoom Crew” workout sessions from 10 to more than 659 subscribers. The workouts not only provide participants with an outlet to release stress and anxiety, but also give a new sense of community. Kaplan started teaching fitness classes when she was 22
and has been a fitness instructor for more than 40 years. She has taught at the Jewish Community Center and at different gyms around Metro Detroit. “I learned early on that it wasn’t just about exercise and teaching people how to move their bodies and get strong,” Kaplan said. “It became more evident to me as I got older that I was developing these wonder-
ful relationships with people, especially women.” The idea to start these Zoom workouts came to Kaplan when COVID-19 began to hit Michigan. Due to her compromised immune system, Kaplan was one of the first instructors sent home from the fitness clubs she was teaching at. “I knew I was going to miss all my friends and the people I exercised with. I knew I had to do something,” Kaplan said. “I didn’t want to workout by myself because it is so much better feeding off each other’s energies.” Kaplan enlisted the help of her two lifelong friends, Marni Stone and Nancy Powell, to help her grow the “Zoom Crew” and teach some classes. Stone and Powell have also been fitness instructors for more than 40 years. Once she began the workouts, she decided to send out the Zoom link to a couple of her close friends and students that
she knew would want to participate. From there, her classes grew tremendously from just 10 people to over 659 subscribers, some from different states. Kaplan’s “Zoom Crew” simply spread from word of mouth. People interested in joining this workout crew simply send Kaplan an email (askaplanpt@ gmail.com) to get put on her subscriber list so they can receive each day’s workout schedules. Participants can also directly sign up using a MailChimp form. Her classes are completely free and there is also no fee to join. Kaplan offers anywhere from 12-15 classes a week, giving options for participants to choose from morning, mid-day or late afternoon classes. Classes vary from strength, pilates, cardio, yoga, barre fusion, dance classes and much more. Most classes last around 30 minutes, and Kaplan makes sure that all classes appeal to her crew members.
ing ideas off them and soon we figured out our plan. On April 21, we had a virtual JARC Bingo over GoToMeeting, where Ruach volunteers wrote down and called out a letter and number, then showed it to the camera for the residents to see and mark down. To our surprise, we had 14 homes and a ton of people playing. During that hour, we played three games, and nobody wanted it to end! In this time of isolation where our only gatherings and events are done virtually or 6 feet apart, we can still smile, laugh and enjoy an evening together. I’m glad that all the hard work
Jessica and I did to make sure this wasn’t postponed or worse, cancelled, turned out perfectly. The winners had their prizes dropped off at their homes, and we all closed the event feeling a sense of pride. Being able to do community events, like Bingo or a simple game night with family and friends, help keeps us connected. As blogger Many Hale said, “To make a difference in someone’s life, you don’t have to be brilliant, rich, beautiful or perfect. You just have to care.”
Game Night! Local BBYO organizes a virtual Bingo night for JARC residents. SHAYLA MOSTYN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
S
ometimes plans change due to things out of our control. My name is Shayla Mostyn. I’m a 10th grader at Frankel Jewish Academy and shlicha of my chapter Ruach BBG of BBYO. As shlicha, I am in charge of Jewish programming and community service for my chapter. After putting together ideas for upcoming events in the New Year 2020, it became harder and harder to keep or to plan for these events due to COVID-19. There was one planned event I couldn’t let go of and wanted to see through. Back in September 2019, I saw a flyer for JARC with dates available. I did not waste any time. I immediately got in contact with my chapter’s president and worked out a date that would be best for us to plan an event. I then emailed Jessica Tierney,
JARC’s community engagement manager, that Ruach would like to volunteer for JARC bingo on April 21, 2020. For seven months I stayed in contact with Jessica, making sure that this event would go off without a hitch. I collected prizes and kept in contact with everyone, letting everyone know this event wasn’t going to be cancelled. I invited Jessica to one of our chapter meetings to talk about what to expect and how we could make this event enjoyable for JARC residents. As the date was getting closer and COVID-19 was putting everyone in quarantine, I asked Jessica if our bingo event was cancelled. Luckily, she said it wasn’t, but if we wanted it to continue, we needed to figure out how to make it work. I got to talking with my chapter, bounc-
To plan future events with JARC, contact Jessicatierney@Jarc.org.
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Moments
APRIL 14, 2020 Kourtney Spaulding, formerly of Farmington Hills, and Cory Duchesneau, of Oxford, Ohio, are overjoyed to announce the birth of their daughter, Arya Leora Duchesneau. Sharing in the long-distance excitement are grandparents Shelley and Ray Spaulding of Farmington Hills, and Stephanie Duchesneau and Shawn Duchesneau of West Hartford, Conn. Excited are maternal great-grandmother Claire Raminick of Southfield, and paternal great-grandparents Earleen and Jerry Duchesneau of Connecticut. Arya Leora is named in loving memory of her maternal great-grandfather Leo Raminick Daniel Michaelson of Huntington Woods will become bar mitzvah at Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield on May 16, 2020. Participating in the ceremony will be his parents, Jodi and Jefferey Michaelson, and siblings Connor, Dalia and Noah. Proud grandparents are Lois and Cyril Levenson, and Jackie and Ronald Michaelson. Daniel is a student at Cranbrook in Bloomfield Hills. His mitzvah project is volunteering at PeerCorps.
Jonah David Wittenberg will become a bar mitzvah on Saturday, May 16, 2020, at home through Zoom with Adat Shalom clergy. Joining him in his celebration will be his parents, Marc and Stacey Wittenberg; brothers, Sam and Zachary; and grandparents, Ronald and Anita Taylor, and Eileen and Sidney Bradley. Jonah is a seventh-grade student at West Hills Middle School. One of his favorite mitzvah projects was his annual participation in the JARC Chanukah party with his team of volunteers.
Pasman 100th
M
yra Frank Pasman, formerly of West Bloomfield, turned 100 years young on May 1, 2020. She often entertains friends with her piano playing and beats them regularly at bridge. She is living in Scottsdale, Ariz., with her daughter and son-in-law, Sheila and Larry Landau. Myra has a close and loving relationship with her daughter-in-law, Hulya Erol-Garvett; grandchildren, Amy Schaeffer of Arizona, Julie Landau Young of San Francisco; great-grandchildren, Maddy Sheafer of Arizona, Jacob and Eve Young of San Francisco and Michael Garvett of Illinois; her stepchildren, Nora Pasman-Green, JoEllen Warner, Daniel Pasman, Eric Pasman and Molly Pasman; and as well as her nieces, Nancy Pasman Satovsky, Barbara Saltz and Dolores Harris.
Babayov-Safran
Epstein 50th
M
arjory and Donald Epstein of Bloomfield Hills will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on May 23, 2020. They were married at Franklin Hills Country Club in Franklin. The couple is deeply loved and cherished by all who know them, especially their adoring children, Lena Epstein, Lilly and Alex Stotland; and grandchildren, Nathan Stotland, Elise Stotland and Emma Medwed. In spending the last five decades of their lives together, they feel incredibly blessed to continue to have each other and to have built a rich and meaningful life.
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T
he intermediate days of Passover were filled with happiness as we celebrated our freedom and redemption and we commemorated our new lives post slavery. Our beautiful tradition teaches that one’s “cup should overflow.” So it is with immense gratitude, excitement and pure happiness that we share that our cup is indeed overflowing with joy and extraordinary enthusiasm. Esther Babayov and Hy Safran are blessed to announce they are engaged to be married. The kallah (bride) is the daughter of Rabbi Sander and Sarah Babayov. The chattan (groom) is the son of Diane Steinman and Jim Safran. The couple intend to celebrate their marriage this summer and will then reside together in Greater Detroit as active members of our Jewish community.
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hat kind of world of the broken matzah and our will exist “at the end advancement to the spiritual, of the days,” the peri- all-embracing redemption of od of the Messiah and human the Torah we received at Sinai. redemption? The cĥametz (leavening) is the The opening of the symbol of raw emotions Torah portion harkens the and physical instincts; messianic dream, the goal it “ceases to exist” by of human history. God destruction on Passover. promises the Israelites On Shavuot, however, that if they maintain His it will be sanctified. What laws and commandments, Rabbi Shlomo was evil seven weeks ago their physical needs will has now been redeemed. Riskin be taken care of. “I will If anything, Shavuot is Parshat cause evil beasts to cease a manifestation of the Behar/ (v’hishbati) from the land; Bechukotai: redemption of evil, of our neither shall the sword go vision of the possibility of Leviticus 25:1-27:34; dedicating every aspect of through your land.” Jeremiah How are we to our existence to God. 16:19-17:14. understand “cause to Rabbi Yehuda insists cease”? Rabbi Yehuda on a time when all that is defines v’hishbati as God causing evil will be obliterated from the these “evil beasts” to disappear Earth; Rabbi Shimon maintains from the world, that God will the fundamental nature of the destroy them. However, Rabbi world will not change, wild aniShimon interprets the word to mals will still roam the forests, mean that God will cause their but their force and vigor will be evil nature to be destroyed. utilized positively. How does Judaism deal with Rabbi Yehuda sees the millenthe problem of evil in the world? nium as devoid of Amalek, the Is it an objective force which nation bent on the destruction must be destroyed, or can even of Israel; our Bible commands evil be uplifted and redeemed if us to “destroy the memory of we perceive the positive essence Amalek.” Perhaps Rabbi Shimon of every aspect of creation would see the millennium as and utilize it for good? Rabbi being devoid of the memory of Shimon truly believes that the the ancient Amalek, for Amalek task of the individual is to sancat that time will repent and contify everything; he maintains vir- vert to Judaism. tually everything can be brought Does our Talmud not record within the domain of the sacred. that the grandchildren of On the other hand, Rabbi Haman (the Amalekite) taught Yehuda is not so optimistic Torah in Bnei Brak? I pray for and recognizes evil. Hence he the vision of Rabbi Shimon and emphasizes the biblical comfor the sanctification of every mand “and you shall burn out aspect of our lives and our the evil from their midst.” nature. The period between Passover and Shavuot is the count of Rabbi Shlomo Riskin is chancellor of Ohr days between the physical Torah Stone and chief rabbi of Efrat, and incomplete redemption Israel.
Let Old Friends be your Michigan-Florida Connection Nina Spinner-Sands
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Let’s Go Nuts!
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Diane Orley and her niece, Laurel Orley
New snack is alternative to high-fat, high-sodium choices. RONELLE GRIER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
I
f you’re noshing more frequently as a result of staying home, you’re not alone. While we want to provide satisfying and nutritious snacks for our families, it can be challenging to find healthy alternatives to traditional high-fat, high-sodium munchies. A new sprouted nut option is now available from Daily Crunch Snacks, a new business by local community leader and mental health advocate Diane Orley and her niece, Laurel Orley, a marketing professional living in Nashville. “It started as a fluke,” said Diane, who began making sprouted nut snacks years earlier, after learning the process from her sister, Cynthia Reynolds of Austin, Texas. Family and friends who sampled Diane’s creations encouraged her to market them to the public. Under the name The Health Nut, she began selling nuts to customers across the country.
here’s to Larry J. Glanz, a private wealth advisor with Glanz Wealth Advisors, a financial/private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services Inc. in Farmington Hills, has qualified for the company’s Circle of Success annual recognition program and will be honored for this achievement in 2020. He has 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, including six years with Ameriprise Financial.
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Laurel Orley was on maternity leave from her job in the consumer-packaged goods industry when she realized she was not eager to return to the corporate culture. “I’ve been inspired by people who start their own companies,” she said. “I wanted something that was my own, a brand identity and a story that reflected me.” She kept coming back to her aunt’s sprouted nut snacks, which her family enjoyed during their visits to Metro Detroit. “We would inhale them, finish a whole bag before we got back home,” recalls Laurel, who is married to former Detroiter Ethan Orley. “There was nothing like this in the marketplace.”
The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan welcomed Mark Davidoff as its newest board member. He currently serves as the president and CEO of the Fisher Group, the central office of the family of Max M. Fisher, overseeing strategy, operations and investments for one of Detroit’s most prominent families. He also serves as the chair of the board of both the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the Michigan Israel Business Accelerator.
Laurel called her aunt and proposed taking the business to the next level. It was the impetus Diane had been waiting for. “I had this business for 17 years,” Diane said. “I always knew it would work as a bigger business, but I needed that push.” The new partners moved quickly to put their plan into action. Using Laurel’s marketing background, they chose packaging geared toward their primary market: busy moms and millennials. They created pastel-colored pouches with bright lettering; the back shares information about the sprouting process and why it enhances the taste, texture and nutritional value. The nuts are made using Diane’s original
The Serling Institute for Jewish Studies and Modern Israel announced that Prof. Kenneth “Ken” Waltzer has been selected as a recipient of the MSU Faculty Emeriti Association “Outstanding Contributions by an Individual Award” for 2019-2020 in recognition of his extensive contributions to the Serling Institute for Jewish Studies and Modern Israel, the College of Arts and Letters, James Madison College and MSU as a whole. The Holocaust Memorial Center Zekelman Family Campus was selected as one of 17 Jewish organizations in Metropolitan Detroit to receive an OnBoard Sustainability Challenge Grant. The Holocaust Memorial Center was awarded the grant based upon its exceptional performance as a member of the fifth cohort of the OnBoard Program in 2018-19. The program is a 15-month program designed to strengthen and develop the skills of board members of Jewish organizations through targeted mentorship, skills-based workshops and personalized Jewish learning. The goal of the program is to nurture effective and dynamic lay leadership for the Jewish community.
peer-to-peer mental health support system on college campuses in Michigan and elsewhere. The organization is an outgrowth of University of Michigan’s Wolverine Support Network, which Diane and her son Sam were instrumental in creating. There are currently three varieties of Daily Crunch snacks: Just Sprouted Almonds, Coffee-Soaked Sprouted Almonds and a Cherry Berry Nut Medley comprised of sprouted mixed nuts, blueberries and cherries. All varieties are sold in 5-ounce pantry bags and 12 packs of 1.5-ounce grab-and-go pouches. All ingredients are natural, vegan, paleo, Non-GMO Project Verified and contain no oils or added salt. The company is in the process of obtaining kosher certification. “Trying is believing — people who try the product love it and don’t want to go back to raw or roasted nuts,” Diane says. To order Daily Crunch Snacks, visit dailycrunchsnacks. com. Delivery is available throughout the U.S. with free shipping on orders over $49. JN readers receive $10 off their first online order of $30 or more by using the coupon code MYFIRSTCRUNCH at checkout.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAILY CRUNCH SNACKS
recipe, which involves a multi-step soaking and dehydration process. This increases the natural nutritional value of the nuts and adds an airy crunch that is missing from traditional roasted nuts. In addition, sprouting removes phytic acid from the nuts, which can aid digestion. “Sprouted nuts will help make your pantry staples a little more interesting right now,” Laurel said. “They’re also a great supplement to meals like salads, sauteed veggies and grain bowls.” The original marketing strategy incorporated retail sales in Nashville and Metro Detroit, with plans for future national expansion. Local retailers included Fuse45 exercise studios in West Bloomfield and Royal Oak, Equilibrium Pilates Studio in Bloomfield Hills and Peter’s Palate Pleaser, also in Bloomfield Hills; however, the coronavirus has put a temporary damper on the company’s retail business. Providing a healthy snack alternative is a reflection of the partners’ shared belief that mental health and physical well-being go hand-in-hand. A portion of Daily Crunch proceeds go to the Support Network, a
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here’s to Debra Zivian of West Bloomfield has been elected to the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan volunteer Board of Directors. She is a teacher consultant for the hearing-impaired and a longtime NKFM volunteer. She has been involved with the NKFM, specifically the Kidney Walk at the Detroit Zoo, for over 10 years. Inspired by her son Danny, who has chronic kidney disease, she has been a steadfast supporter of the NKFM. Hygieia, a Livonia-based health tech company for insulin management, is adding to its roster as the population of people with Type 2 diabetes who need insulin grows. Hygieia’s d-Nav Insulin Management System uses artificial intelligence and patented technology to help people manage blood sugar levels. Veteran local health care executive Robert Frank, M.D., has joined Hygieia as chief medical officer where he
will help connect the d-Nav system with physicians, health plans and health systems, both locally and nationally. Dr. Frank is a cardiac surgeon. The d-Nav clinic sites are in Livonia, Sterling Heights, Allen Park or Sylvan Lake. A fifth site in the Detroit Medical Center will open this spring. Hillel of Metro Detroit announced that Sarah Timlin has been chosen as the recipient of the 2020 Direnfeld Family Scholarship. She is in her junior year at Wayne State University studying economics. Sarah is an Applebaum Family Engagement Intern at Hillel of Metro Detroit. The Direnfeld Family Scholarship is awarded annually to an undergraduate or graduate student currently enrolled in a Metropolitan Detroit university on the basis of academic strength, need, service to the community, and Hillel of Metro Detroit involvement.
Benjamin Francis has been named a recipient of the Serling Institute for Jewish Studies and Modern Israel Student Achievement Award for 2020. He is working on a dual major in political theory and constitutional democracy at James Madison College, as well as finance at the Broad College of Business as he minors in Jewish studies. Although only a junior, he has already completed the minor with 28 credits of JS content courses and plans to have 31 such credits after next fall. Alan Reinstein’s paper “SelfRegulatory Peer Review as a Mechanism for Audit Quality: A Synthesis of the Literature” earned the Best Paper Award [out of more than 50 submitted papers] at the 2020 annual meeting of the North
American Accounting Society, held recently in Chicago. Jessica Goldberg, 18, of Farmington Hills is one of Michigan’s top youth volunteers for 2020. She was recognized for outstanding volunteer service during the 25th annual and first-ever virtual Prudential Spirit of Community Awards national recognition celebration. She has been given $2,500 to donate toward the local COVID-19 response efforts of a nonprofit organization of her choice. These funds come in addition to a $1,000 scholarship and engraved silver medallion. Goldberg, a senior at North Farmington High School, is the founder of Sib4Sib, a support network for the siblings of people who struggle with mental health or have developmental or cognitive differences.
The Jewish Fund Awards New Grants
D
uring this critical time of crisis for nonprofit organizations and Metro Detroit, the Jewish Fund recently approved $600,000 in new urgent needs grants addressing the impact of COVID-19 on the community. The Fund is supporting the Jewish Federation’s Emergency COVID-19 campaign with a grant of $500,000. Funds will support physical and mental health, food access, emergency financial support, in-home
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MAY 14 • 2020
support and necessary transportation. The Fund will consider additional financial support of urgent and recovery needs in the coming months. Additionally, the Jewish Fund approved grants for food access to Project Healthy Community, Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Lighthouse and Forgotten Harvest and grants for personal protective equipment and tele-health to Freedom House, Hope
Recuperative Care Center and Covenant Community Care. The Jewish Fund’s Teen Board approved an additional $100,000 to support urgent and ongoing needs for nonprofits throughout the community. Multi-year grants to continue needed human service programs continue to be supported through approved grants of more than $925,000.
DANA REGEV
Eretz
Life in the Gaza Envelope
Dana Regev
Between rockets, elections and coronavirus, life on the Gaza border must go on. Adi Batan-Meiri
DANA REGEV CONTRIBUTING WRITER
N
What has become clearer amid the global pandemic, she claims, is that people living in the Gaza Envelope communities have lost hope completely. “Even before this outbreak — namely after March’s election — it was obvious that the government has accepted the absurd situation in Israel’s South. That every few months we will suffer from rockets, accept it and move on,” she says. “And as if this wasn’t bad enough, the corona came.” MENTALLY EXHAUSTED With more than 15,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and over 200 deaths in Israel as of April 30, Israelis living within Hamas’ missile range are afraid the coronavirus will be the last straw that would break their otherwise-ingrained sturdiness. Yam Braude-Amitai and her DANA REGEV
obody in Israel’s Gaza Envelope communities can quite remember when the last escalation round with Hamas occurred. “Was it last August…? No, we’ve had some rockets falling later than that. December? Yes. It was December,” Adi Batan-Meiri recalls. The 32-year-old has been living near the Gaza border for over a decade, climbing all the way from a first-year student studying media at Sapir College in the Negev, to her current, sleepdeprived role as the spokesperson of Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council. “People think that because we are so-called ‘used’ to lockdowns, then we are somehow more immune to this new situation that was imposed on us with the coronavirus. This couldn’t be further from the truth,” she says.
Yam Braude-Amitai, at home in Kibbutz Erez, with daughters Guy (5) and Yuval (3).
husband have been living near the Gaza border their entire lives. Born in a kibbutz under constant security threat, Braude-Amitai never doubted wanting to build a home in the area. Until now. “People keep asking why we just don’t get up and leave. It’s not that simple,” she explains. After living and working in various countries around the world, changing location is no threat to the 33-year-old community relations manager. But it’s not the move she’s afraid of. “A stranger won’t understand. Even if we leave, our parents are here, our friends are here. It’s not like the concerns will magically vanish. Our entire lives are rooted in this place, and if it’s not us who are under threat, then it’s all of our loved ones,” she explains. The election results, however, which came weeks after the area was shelled with rockets yet again, sowed doubt in her mind. “We don’t have to live here,” she says. “It’s an active choice, and one that I get more and more hesitant about with time.” Even before the coronavirus outbreak, the sense of communal strength was starting to crack. “People are just exhausted,” Batan-Meiri shares. “We don’t know what to tell our kids anymore, which excuses to pull from the hat this time. Even we have our mental limits.” NO ALERTING SIRENS Roughly 65,000 people live in the Gaza Envelope communities,
according to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. But hundreds of thousands more live within the missile range, including more than 220,000 in the coastal city of Ashdod, and over 145,000 in the city of Ashkelon, located merely 10 miles from the Gaza Strip border. “You could almost say that the corona crisis has added insult to injury,” says Sapir Fischer, who moved from Sderot to Ashkelon a few years ago. Not seeing many people on the street is one thing, she says, “but at least during escalation times we can still hang out with friends or visit our families.” Her 5-year-old daughter understands why she can’t go outside to play. “She’s used to it,” Fischer says with a smile, “but now I also have to explain to her why we can’t see grandma or go to kindergarten.” Batan-Meiri shares the same feelings. The coronavirus outbreak was able to catch even her off-guard. “Give me rockets over corona any day,” she laughs. “At least that’s a crisis we’ve learned how to masterfully manage.” While neither Fischer nor Batan-Meiri have plans to leave the area, Braude-Amitai is more hesitant. Today, with two small daughters, she’s no longer certain of the life she chose for them and herself. “We grew up on the notion that what we’re doing is, in fact, the new Zionism,” she says. “But when my partner tells me none of this is worth my fear, my anxiety, I don’t know what to answer him. Could be that he’s right? “We’ve built our home here; our daughters were born here,” she adds, as a tear starts running down her cheek. “But if another siren goes off now, in the midst of all this, I don’t know what I’ll do. I love this area to death — but I wouldn’t want this metaphor to become reality.” MAY 14 • 2020
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Arts&Life art
The Art of a
Handwritten Note Artistic notecards keep people connected and fight COVID-19. SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
J Jodi Beals
“I’m reconnecting with people I haven’t talked to in a long time, and I’m so glad that they want to support this project.” — JODI BEALS
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MAY 14 • 2020
PHOTOS COURTESY OF JODI BEALS
odi Beals describes herself as an energetic people person with a commitment to career, community and hands-on artistry. That explains how she came up with the idea for her latest project — note cards. “I love art, and I painted a colorful heart design with acrylics on canvas,” Beales told the Jewish News. Although Beals has lived in Chicago for almost eight years and works as a business development director for Groupon, she decided to return to West Bloomfield to social distance near family, remotely completing full-time job responsibilities. At the same time, she decided to turn her colorful painting of heart designs into stationery that can connect others one-to-one, bring in extra income and raise funds for the CDC Foundation, which supports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in combating COVID-19. “I had the design transferred to cardstock to be used for postcards or multi-purpose cards to be mailed on birthdays, as invitations or simply notes that send messages of love at a time when we can’t be together,” she said. Beals will donate 20 percent of proceeds to the CDC Foundation. “My interest in art began when I was a little girl visiting my great-grandfather Abraham Lack,” Beals, 36, recalled. “He was a wonderful artist who began this hobby in his 80s, and his walls were covered with landscapes and still lifes.”
Impressed with what he’d done, Beals tried artistry of her own. “I turned to the abstract for some different kinds of images, and my downtown apartment walls display my designs that I think provide a contemporary decor.” Beals attended Hillel Day School and West Bloomfield High School before going on to graduate from Michigan State University, where she majored in communication. She had her bat mitzvah at the synagogue now known as Congregation Beth Ahm and joined in activities with the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. “I have almost 3,000 friends on Facebook, and so many have been responsive to my postings about these cards,” Beals said. “I’m reconnecting with people I haven’t talked to in a long time, and I’m so glad that they want to support this project.” The cards come in packages of 50 without envelopes and cost $30. They can be ordered by calling Beals at her customized phone number, 866.REDHAIR, or sending her an email at 866.REDHAIR@gmail.com. Payments can be made through PayPal or Venmo. “Orders for these cards have brought me a special bonus,” Beals said. “Delivering nearby orders allows me some fresh air. I leave the packages on porches so there’s no person-to-person contact. The person-to-person connections are meant for the handwritten cards.”
Ronny Greenberg
DARIO ACOSTA
COURTESY OF RONNY GREENBERG
music
DEAR WEST BLOOMFIELD COMMUNITY,
This is not how we thought we would be
Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen
Virtual Kaddish San Francisco opera musicians join forces to offer online music. JULIE SMITH YOLLES CONTRIBUTING WRITER
A
few days before Passover, Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen and Ronny Michael Greenberg were talking on the phone about gluten-free matzah, charoset and brisket recipes for their upcoming remote seders. The two friends live near each other in San Francisco and met through the San Francisco Opera’s Adler Fellowship. Greenberg, 31, is a pianist and opera coach with the San Francisco Opera. Cohen, 26, is a freelance opera singer. Both say their Jewish upbringings forged their career paths and led to their most recent collaboration — a virtual performance of French composer Maurice Ravel’s “Kaddish.” “When Aryeh and I first met, we just bonded musically and culturally, and this collaboration is embracing who we are as Jews right now,” says Greenberg, who attended Jewish elementary school in Montreal. He grew up speaking fluent Hebrew, French and English, and he took classes in Italian and German in high school. “That and learning songs and prayers taught by my Hebrew teachers were an integral component to my vocal coaching and collaborative
piano performances.” The Kaddish piece is the second in a new virtual series he created during the pandemic called “Songs from a Distance.” “Because it’s a very somber piece, we thought it would fit the tone of the world we’re living in right now,” said Cohen, a countertenor whose fiancée grew up in Kalamazoo, while he grew up in Brooklyn and aspired to be a cantor/rabbi. “It’s a complicated piece, and it’s a whole new process of figuring out this new ‘normal’ medium of putting together an electronic performance while not being in the same physical space.” Cohen and Greenberg rehearsed over Zoom. Cohen recorded his vocals a capella in his apartment and sent it to Greenberg, who played the accompaniment on his baby grand piano in his home recording studio. Greenberg then edited the two parts together. “This piece is very improvisatory, in line with the cantorial tradition of having a flow and cadence,” said Cohen, who sang the Kaddish at his grandfather’s funeral last year. To view their performance, search for “Kaddish by Maurice Ravel” on YouTube.
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Arts&Life NATE BLOOM COLUMNIST
MORE BROADCAST AND STREAMING SHOWS TO EASE THE QUARANTINE The Wrong Missy, an original Netflix film, began streaming on May 13. Capsule plot: A man (David Spade) accidentally invites a crazy blind date from his past (Lauren Lapkus) who shares the same name as the woman of his dreams to his work retreat. Missy was made by Adam Sandler’s production company and Sandler’s wife, Jackie Sandler, 45, has a small role in the film. The director is Tyler Spindel, 30ish. A little research disclosed that Spindel is Sandler’s nephew. Sad to say, Spindel, a Harvard grad, doesn’t have a great track record. He directed the universally panned Father of the Year, a 2018 Netflix comedy (also starring David Spade). He also directed Deported, a 2020 comedy that went straight
to video. Maybe he’ll make Uncle Adam proud with Missy. Seberg is an Amazon Prime original film that had a short theater run in 2019. It received mixed reviews. It will begin streaming on Amazon Prime on May 15. It stars Kristen Stewart as actress Jean Seberg (1938-1979). In 1957, director Otto Preminger plucked her from obscurity (a small city Iowa girl) and cast her as Joan of Arc in the film St. Joan. She got bad reviews as Joan, but re-established her career in France, where she was praised for her film work, especially in the “New Wave” classic Breathless (1960). In 1962, she wed Romain Gary (1914-80), a very important writer (novels, essays) who was also a WWII hero and a diplomat (He’s played by Yvan Attal, 55). The film focuses on the well-documented campaign by the FBI (c.1970-75) to destroy her career because she supported African
NETFLIX
celebrity jews
American organizations, including the Black Panthers. ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox will “join hands” and broadcast a onehour special program on May 16 (starts 8 p.m.). It’s called Graduate Together: America Honors the Class of 2020. The COVID-19 virus has forced the cancellation of most high school graduation ceremonies. This ad-free special will honor the new graduates. It will include videos from students and teachers as well as video greetings by many famous people (including Broadway and film star Ben Platt, 26). President Obama will deliver a commencement
message. You’ll see a lot more of Platt in his Netflix special, Ben Platt Live From Radio City Music Hall. It was filmed last year and begins streaming on May 20. Platt, a Grammy, Emmy and Tony winner, performs before a full orchestra. His guest stars include two actresses who can really sing: Beanie Feldstein, 26, and Zoey Deutch, also 26. Check out, on YouTube, Platt and Deutch singing together a “Yom Kippur theme song” that Platt wrote (James Corden show, 2019. Just search for “Yom Kippur theme song”).
Ryan Landau, Jason Charnas and Johannah Schiffer, for a discussion and Q&A moderated by Jess Katz. Register at jewishdetroit.org.
episodes at nytf.org/live. Each episode is also broadcast on Folksbiene’s Facebook page at facebook.com/folksbiene.
On The Go virtual events | learnings
STAYING CONNECTED At this time of social distancing, the Jewish News will try to bring awareness to events/learning situations offered online by synagogues, temples and community organizations. JEWISH WORKING WOMEN’S NETWORK NOON, MAY 15 “Navigating Uncharted Times: Marketing During and After the COVID-19 Crisis.” Join this special lunch-and-shmooze online event with Ellyn Davidson, owner and CEO of Brogan & Partners, a Birmingham-based advertising agency, who will discuss new challenges, tactics and factors to consider while crafting marketing plans, for both your business and personal brands, during this unprecedented time. Register on the site of Jewish Working Women’s Network.
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MAY 14 • 2020
FJA 20TH ANNIVERSARY GALA 8 PM, MAY 18 Virtual event to celebrate 20 years of Frankel Jewish Academy and 18 graduating years of students. Ross and Samantha Partrich will be honored. Live on Facebook at 8 p.m. More information at frankelja.org/gala.
TOUR MASADA NOON-1PM, MAY 19 Temple Shir Shalom offers a live, virtual tour of Israel with Rabbi Daniel Schwartz and Israeli tour guide Beni Levin. Learn the history and stories of Masada on this one-hour guided tour on Zoom. To learn more or register, call 248-737-8700 or email audrey@shirshalom.org.
EMPLOYMENT TRENDS 8 PM, MAY 19 Jewish Working Women’s Network and NEXTGen Detroit present “NEXTWork: Employment Trends During and After COVID-19” on Zoom at 8 p.m. Join a panel of young adult employment experts,
PUBLIC PROGRAMMING MAY AT THE WELL MAY 20 “Fireside Chat with Professor Barbara McQuade.” She is going to chat about legal COVID-19-related questions and federal vs. state laws as well as what happens with elections. Details will be posted on The Well’s Facebook page.
YIDDISH PROGRAMMING National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene brings the stage to global audiences throughout May with virtual programming. Audiences can learn Yiddish in weekly lessons on Tuesday afternoons, starting on May 19. Launched in May with Zalmen Mlotek’s Living Room Concert, Folksbiene! LIVE is an online celebration of Yiddish culture, featuring livestreamed theater, American Jewish performers, concerts, lectures, talks and other events. Catch up on past
Yiddish Book Center is online with virtual public programming: talks, presentations and readings, accessible through Facebook and Zoom and posted on the center’s website. For more information and links to register for specific events, visit yiddishbookcenter.org/events.
CHAMBER MUSIC The Chamber Music Society makes available a broadcast on YouTube of a concert by pianist Aaron Diehl (originally done on May 1). Go to youtube.com/ watch?v=1hlOWJ5650. Compiled by Sy Manello/Editorial Assistant Send items at least 14 days in advance to calendar@ thejewishnews.com.
the exchange community bulletin board | professional services
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the exchange community bulletin board | professional services
For information regarding advertising please call 248-351-5116 Deadline for ad insertion is 10am on Friday prior to publication.
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RANDY BALAMUT, 51 formerly of Southfield, passed away on April 3, 2020, at his home in Scottsdale, Ariz. He leaves behind his wife, Jenny; three children, Hannah, Marni and Zane (Daisy); and a granddaughter, Alexcia. Randy was the loved son of Sharon (Dave Moran) Balamut and the late Michael Balamut. He is survived by his brothers, David and Todd; nieces and nephews, Jacob, Casey, Noah, Jordan and Shayna; aunts and uncles, Madeline Rosenfield, Lois (Nat) Fishman, Nate (Nancy) Goldberg; and many loving cousins and friends. MORRIS “MORREY” BEIDER, 97, a longtime resident of Oak Park and Waterford, died c. 1943 May 6, 2020, in Traverse City. He proudly served in the United States Navy, enlisting in 1943. He taught industrial arts and drivers’ training at Ferndale High School for 28 years and continued serving as the golf coach for some years after his retirement in 1983. As a strong advocate for teachers and the teaching profession, he was active for many years in the Ferndale and National Education Associations. He was the devoted husband and, ultimately, caregiver of Shirley Harriet Greenspan Beider, his wife of 72 years. Mr. Beider is survived by sons and daughters-in-law, Andy and Libby Beider, and
Perry and Alida DeCoster Beider; daughter and sonin-law, Felica and Dennis Barnes; grandchildren, Cantor Marla (Newell) Bentley, Rachel (David Woolston), Shoshana (Aaron) Freedman, Brittany (Brandon) Morgan, Christopher, Brandon and Louis Beider, Calvin, Sakara and William Barnes; great-grandchildren, Milani, Hannah, Jared, Matthew, Ariana, Raejean, Jamal and Noah; sisters-in-law, Lorraine Levin and Rosalie Greenspan; a host of close relatives and friends. HAROLD “HAL” CHERNY, 82, of West Bloomfield, died on April 24, 2020. FLORA “FLO” CHERNY, 79, of West Bloomfield died April 27, 2020. A love story on another level involves 55 years of marriage and being each other’s soulmates. Two hearts beat as one. Within three days of Harold’s passing, Flora, who suffered from dementia and was completely unaware of his passing, also passed away. She could not live in this world without him. She knew they had to be together. Harold “Hal” Cherny was born on March 10, 1938, in Sokolow Podlaski, Poland, as Hersz Czerniewicz. His parents were Chaja Hochberg Czerniewicz and Sigmund Czerniewicz. When WWII started, Sigmund was recalled for active army duty and the Germans entered the city on Sept. 8, 1939.
After the men in the town over age 14 were shot (including one of Chaja’s brothers), Chaja took her 1-year-old son and ran into the forest to hide. She tried to bring her mother and sister (who had twins) along, but they decided to stay and were murdered on Sept. 22, 1942, at Treblinka, when the ghetto was liquidated. Remembering what her husband told her about the Germans, she traveled east to seek refuge in the Soviet Union. After a month dodging bombs, the Germans and trying to avoid starvation, they were captured by the Soviet army. They were sent to a series of forced labor camps in Siberia, where Chaja worked hard and gave her rations to her young son. Their nightmare ended in May 1945 when Chaja and Hal were expatriated to Poland. Finding no family left in their hometown and fearing her husband was dead, they were placed in Reichenbach, East Germany, where Chaja obtained work in a restaurant and was able to keep an eye on Hal (who spoke Yiddish and Russian). Unbeknownst to them, Sigmund survived the war and hired a private investigator, using information from the International Red Cross, to smuggle Chaja and Hal out of East Germany in 1946. A series of displaced persons camps followed until the family, along with new brother, Seymour, born in West Germany in 1948, were able to emigrate to the United States in 1949. At Ellis Island, the name was changed to Cherny and the family moved to Detroit.
The couple are survived by their daughters, Terri (Mark) Rotenberg, Marci (Jeff) Graff, Lauri (Dr. Jeffrey) Schwalb; grandchildren, Dr. Chad, Cameron and Chloe Schwalb, Jared and Olivia Rotenberg, Ryan, Rachel (Walter) Calle Guerrero; sisters and brothers-in-law, Sandi (Cherny) and Dr. Joel Felsenfeld, Fran (Cherny) and Jeff Israel; sisters-in-law, Barbara Snitz and Karen Cherny; brother-inlaw, Aaron “Butch” Stern. They were preceded in death by brothers/brothersin-law, Seymour “Sy” Cherny and Stan Snitz; sister/sisterin-law, Roz Stern. A private graveside service was held. Contributions may be made to the Holocaust Memorial Center, Parkinson’s Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation or the Alzheimer’s Association. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. ROBERT MITCHELL CUTLER, 93, of Southfield, died May 2, 2020. Born in New York City and formerly of Philadelphia and Novi, Mr. Cutler was a successful engineer in aerospace and hospital management engineering. Mr. Cutler was the beloved husband of the late Jean Cutler. He is survived by his daughters and son-in-law, Ardith Cutler, and Jodi Lyn Cutler and Kip Foley; Jean’s children, Mark Dubrinsky and Barbara Maxwell, Susan and Tim Mcallister, and Shari and Larry Friedman; 10 grandchildren; one great-grandchild. continued on page 40 MAY 14 • 2020
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Interment was at Beth El Memorial Park. Contributions may be made to American Heart Association, 27777 Franklin Road, Suite 1150, Southfield, MI 48034, heart.org. For more information, visit irakaufman.com. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. FLORENCE DAVIDSON, 86, of West Bloomfield, died May 7, 2020. She is survived by her children, Nancy Lewis, Martin (Helene) Davidson and Julie (Brian) Papo; grandchildren, Marla (Mike Koenigsberg) Lewis, Jaymie Lewis, Jennifer Davidson, Laura Davidson, Amanda Papo and Josh Papo; sister, Betty (Louis) Chernoff; special friend, Richard Zirkin; nieces, Cathy (the late Rick) Slavik, Joan (Robert) Epstein; many other loving nieces, nephews, family members and friends, and her team of wonderful caregivers. Mrs. Davidson was the beloved wife of the late Paul Davidson; daughter of the late George and the late Bessie Spector; sister of the late Ronald (Heather) Spector; sister-in-law of the late Rose (Sanford) Rubin. Interment was held at Adat Shalom Memorial Park Cemetery in Livonia. Contributions may be made to Hadassah, to the Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy Network or to the Henry Ford Hospice. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.
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JOAN ERMAN, 69, of Farmington Hills, died May 4, 2020. She is survived by her beloved husband, Michael “Mickey” Erman; daughter, Elissa Erman; sister and brotherin-law, Madeline “Maddie” (Sidney) Forbes; many loving nieces, nephews, other family members and friends. She was the sister of the late Anita Rogers. Interment was held at Adat Shalom Memorial Park Cemetery in Livonia. Contributions may be made to the Michigan Humane Society or to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel. DR. IRA J. FIRESTONE, 78, of Bloomfield Hills, died May 7, 2020. He was a professor of psychology at Wayne State University for almost 50 years. He was also an avid stamp collector, an opera lover and a dedicated volunteer at the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Bloomfield Township Public Library. Dr. Firestone is survived by his wife of 46 years, Joan Firestone; daughters and son-in-law, Beatrix and Steven Stern, and Liana Lane; son and daughter-in-law, Ari Firestone and Delquin Gong; grandchildren, Abigail and Helen Stern, Taryn and Bryce Lane, and Fenix and Helix Firestone. He was the loving brother of the late Helene Salzman. Interment was at Clover
Hill Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48202, dia. org; Gleaners Community Food Bank, Oakland Distribution Center, P.O. Box 33321, Detroit, MI 48232-5321, gcfb.org; or to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. GEORGE J. FULKERSON, of Bloomfield Hills, died May 3, 2020. He was the beloved husband of the late Ruth Jean Fulkerson; son of the late George and the late Octavia Fulkerson; dear father of Tavi Fulkerson-Hampton and Derek Joseph Fulkerson; loving grandfather of Jeffrey Allen Fulkerson and Georgia Ruth Hampton; devoted brother of seven brothers and four sisters. Obituary and condolences may be found at lynchfuneraldirectors.com. JONATHAN GOURWITZ, 39, of Birmingham, died May 2, 2020. He is survived by his beloved wife, Sarah Gourwitz; loving parents, Donna (Dr. Glenn) Gradis and David (Pam) Gourwitz; sisters and brothers-in-law, Jennifer Sisk, Jillian and Jeremy Livingstone, and Michael Gradis; adoring nephews and nieces, Devon Sisk, Dylan Sisk, Dalton Sisk, Olivia Livingstone, Cashton Livingstone,
Caelan Livingstone, Kolton Livingstone and Kyler Livingstone. Contributions may be made to the Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy Network or to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Association. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel. FRIEDELL KERT-WOLSON, 91, of West Bloomfield, died May 3, 2020. She was an eighth-grade English literature teacher in Detroit for her entire career. Mrs. Kert-Wolson was very involved with her children and grandchildren. She also volunteered for many years at the Holocaust Memorial Center and the Waterford Historical Society. She is survived by her children, Merritt Wolson, Toby (Julie) Wolson and Charlene Wolson; grandchildren, Rachel Wolson Stone, Erin Wolson, Max Wolson (fiancée, Sarah Friedman), Sam (Christina) Wolson, Juleigh Wolson and Adam Wolson; great-grandchild, Fern Stone; sister and brother-in-law, Glorine (Norman) Katanick; sister-in-law, Corrine Kert; many loving nieces, nephews, other family members and friends. Mrs. Kert-Wolson was the beloved wife of the late Leonard Wolson; dear daughter of the late Charles and the late Fern Kert; sister of the late Harry Kert; daughter-in-law of the late Sam Wolson, the late Helen Wolson, the late Minnie Wolson; sister-in-law of the
late Rosaline and the late Alex Zimmerman, the late Dorothy Pleasant. The family would like to thank Claude and Daniela Marit of Ahava Senior Care for the excellent love and care given. Interment was held at Machpelah Cemetery in Ferndale. Contributions may be made to the Holocaust Memorial Center, Ahava Senior Care, Elizabeth Lake Animal Rescue or to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel. BLAKE KING, 27, of West Bloomfield, died May 3, 2020. He is survived by his parents, Eric King and Loren King. He was the devoted and caring brother of Sean King and Jaden King; loving grandson of Marcia King (the late Isadore King) and Peg Stacey; uncle extraordinaire to Anais King. He is also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins and countless friends, including Melissa, Chandler and Camryn Strong. Interment was held at Machpelah Cemetery in Ferndale. Contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.
continued on page 42
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DR. DAVID LEVADI, 88, of West Bloomfield, died May 7, 2020. He was a longtime member of Keter Torah Synagogue. A dedicated and compassionate psychiatrist, Dr. Levadi was loved by his patients. He was also a nationally ranked chess player, and he loved gardening and dogs. Dr. Levadi is survived by his wife of more than 54 years, Laurette Levadi; daughter and son-in-law, Kadima and Isaac Benezra of West Bloomfield; brother and sister-in-law, Victor and Barbara Levadi; grandchildren, Solomon Benezra, Rebecca Benezra, Jonathan Benezra, Lauren and Ron Tritt, Michael and Sophia Benezra; great-grandchildren, Milo, Eve, Yitzhak, Sarah, Shoshana, Esther, Adina; treasured in-laws, loving nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends from Michigan, Atlanta, Montreal, Paris and Maryland. He was the loving father of the late Ari Levadi. Contributions may be made to Keter Torah Synagogue, 5480 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48323. Service and interment were held at Hebrew Memorial Park. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel. DEBORAH LEVENSON, 68, of Delray Beach, Fla., died April 28, 2020. She is survived by her daughters and son-in-law, Sara Thomson, and Rebecca and Noel Rollins; grandchildren, Lily Thomson and Mikayala Thomson; sister and brother-in-law, Stephanie and Bruce Rudolph; nieces, Nichole and Rochelle Kaplan-
Rudolph; great-nephew and great-niece, Jaxson and Vivian Kaplan-Rudolph. Mrs. Levenson was the devoted daughter of the late Roslyn and the late Meyer Kravitz. A memorial service will be held in Detroit at a later date. Contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. IRVING LOPATIN, 94, of West Bloomfield, died May 3, 2020. He was born in Kremenets, Ukraine (then a part of Poland), the youngest of three children; he emigrated to Canada at the age of 3. He grew up in Windsor, Ontario, and served in the Canadian army in WWII. After his marriage in 1952 to his wife of 67 years, Dorothy Simon, he moved to Detroit. Irv was a respected architect and owned his own firm for many years. His gregarious nature and wit served him well in both his professional life and volunteer activities. He was a past president of both B’nai B’rith Oak Woods Lodge and Congregation B’nai Moshe. In addition to his loving wife, Dorothy, Mr. Lopatin will be sorely missed by his children, Judy, Donna and Jerry (MJ); his granddaughters, Rachel, Jennifer and Anna; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Beverly and Tom Klimko, Bitsy and Rabbi Milton Simon, and Rene Lopatin; his nieces and nephews; his dedicated care-
givers over the past year. He was the brother of the late Leonard Lopatin and the late Charlotte (the late Gordon) Strosberg. Interment was at Adat Shalom Memorial Park. Contributions may be made to Congregation B’nai Moshe, 6800 Drake Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322, bnaimoshe.org; or to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. AUDREY MORRIS, 91, of Huntington Woods, died May 5, 2020. She is survived by her daughter, Lynn
Beckerman; son and daughterin-law, Jon and Cyndy Morris; grandchildren, David Shogan and Sarah Kubacki, Robert and Rasna Beckerman, Emily Beckerman and Ryan Decker, Adam and Betsy Seltzer, Rachel Morris and Braden Leier, and Jennifer Morris; great-grandchildren, Greyson Seltzer, Ari Beckerman and Elliott Decker; sister, Maxine Brickman; many loving nieces and nephews. Mrs. Morris was the beloved wife for 62 years of the late Kenneth Morris; the cherished mother of the late Robert Morris; the loving mother-in-law of the late Arnold Beckerman; the dear sister-in-law of the late Frank
Brickman, and the late Evelyn and the late Milton London. Interment was at Beth El Memorial Park. Contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Association Greater Michigan Chapter, 25200 Telegraph Road, Suite 100, Southfield, MI 48033, alz. org/gmc; Yad Ezra, 2850 W. 11 Mile Road, Berkley, MI 48072, yadezra.org; or to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. SHERWIN NEWMAN, 77, of Farmington Hills, died April 30, 2020. He is survived
by his brothers and sisters-inlaw, Joel and Shelly Newman, and Neal and Esther Zalenko; sister and brother-in-law, Susan and Benson Barr; many loving nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews; other loving family members and dear friends. Mr. Newman was the beloved son of the late Charles J. Newman and the late Libbie Newman Zalenko; the loving brother of the late Sanford and the late Miriam Newman. Interment was at Adat Shalom Memorial Park. Contributions may be made to Adat Shalom Synagogue, 29901 Middlebelt, Farmington Hills, MI 48334, continued on page 44
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adatshalom.org/tributesmake-a-donation-in-honoror-in-memory; B’nai B’rith International, 1120 20th St. NW, Suite 300 N, Washington, DC 20036, bnaibrith.org; or Recovery International, 1415 W. 22nd St., Tower Floor, Oak Brook, IL 60502, recovery international.org. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. BENJAMIN SCHECTER, 94, of West Bloomfield, died May 4, 2020. A World War II veteran of the Army Air Corps, Mr. Schecter was the last surviving member of the
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Display Guild. He started at the age of 25 and worked up till his retirement at age 88. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Lenny Brett of West Bloomfield; sons and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Sandra Schecter, Steve Schecter; sister-in-law, Vivian Schecter; grandchildren, Rachel Brett and fiancé, Alex Rabin, Sara Brett; many dear nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Mr. Schecter was the dear brother and brother-in-law of the late Nate and the late Bernice Schecter, the late Bernice and the late Jack Tomarin, and the late Larry Schecter.
Contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Service and interment were held at Hebrew Memorial Park. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel. CORRECTIONS The obituary for Sara Bilander (April 23) should have indicated that she was a Holocaust survivor. The obituary for Miriam Konstantin (April 16) should have indicated that she was the dear sister-in-law of th late Sylvia (the late Maurice “Red”) Stotzky.
OBITUARY CHARGES 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.
Raskin the best of everything
An Esteemed Name On third anniversary, Caucus Club is looking forward to reopening when it can. VIA CAUCUSCLUB.COM
T
he third anniversary of a restaurant in many instances is usually, in my reasoning, only a two-year step away from a five-year successful endeavor … with all the major holdbacks taken care of. However, in the case of the new Caucus Club in Downtown Danny Raskin Senior Columnist Detroit’s Penobscot Building on Congress Avenue, it might not have been necessary … with its third owners, George and Alicia Sboukis, ahead of the game by being previous partners in another dining venture and knowing what to look for. Intelligence also plays a large role in a successful takeover of an eatery … In the case of the Caucus Club, it may not be needed because its highly prestigious presence is still considered among the dining jewels of Downtown Detroit dining.
And George being his own executive chef plays a major role in the keeping and, if needed, even betterment of those menu items that might be even more enjoyed, although this may not be necessary … The Caucus Club has always been held with so much high esteem. Its dining items have never been with anything but simple ingredients, and prepared and presented with only high acclaim … Modest entrees such as pan-seared halibut, osso bucco, prime rib, baby back ribs, beautiful steaks, etc. have always been of the highest quality and much elegant esteem, together with other Caucus Club dining notables … French onion soup, tableside Caesar salad, special steak cuts, etc. Caucus Club hours when open again are seven days … Monday through Thursday, lunch menu 11 a.m.-10 p.m., cocktail hours, 3-6 p.m., dinner menu 6-10 p.m.; Friday, lunch
menu 11 a.m.-10 p.m., cocktail hours, 3-6, dinner menu 6-11 p.m.; Saturday, private events 11 a.m.-4 p.m., dinner menu 5-11 p.m.; Sunday dinner menu, 3-7 p.m. …Live music entertainment is Friday and Saturday from 7 p.m. REARVIEW MIRROR … Harry Harris’ rendition of his tune, “Put On A Smile,” at the 24 Karat Club was worth the price of the entire evening … When Harry was off stage, the first partner that Jimmy Durante ever had went around the club selling greeting cards to customers. OLDIE BUT GOODIE … Two fellows, one old and one young, are pushing their cart around the supermarket and collide … The elder gent says to the young man, “Sorry, just looking for my wife and paying no attention to where I was going.” The young gent says, “That’s OK. I’m looking for my wife too and getting a little desperate.”
George and Alicia Sboukis
The old fellow says, “Well, maybe I can help you find her. What does she look like?” The young man says, “Well, she is 27 years old, tall, with long red hair, long legs and wearing shorts. What does your wife look like?” “It doesn’t matter,” says the old gent. “Let’s look for yours!” CONGRATS … To Michael Hermanoff on his birthday … To Warren Pierce on his birthday.
Email dannyraskin2132@gmail.com.
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Looking Back From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History accessible at www.djnfoundation.org
Walter Reuther: A Friend to Jews
F
ifty years ago, legendary president of the United Automobile Workers of America (UAW) Walter P. Reuther died in a plane crash near Pellston, Michigan, on May 9, 1970. Reuther’s funeral in Detroit was a massive event, attended by thousands of people, including UAW members, American labor leaders, officials from nations around the world, U.S. conMike Smith gressmen and senators and Alene and Graham Landau many other dignitaries. Archivist Chair In Metro Detroit today, the name of Walter Reuther refers to an expressway in the northern suburbs, an academic library at Wayne State University and a middle school in Rochester. There are schools named after Reuther in Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Most people will not, however, know anything about the man behind the name, or that Reuther was a friend to Detroit Jews. In the 1950s and 1960s, Reuther was the most prominent labor leader in America and an influential statesman. Reuther led the UAW when it boasted 1.5 million members, during an era when nearly four of every 10 American workers belonged to a union. Under his leadership, UAW members became the elite of the world’s industrial workers, and the union was a powerful force for social justice, civil rights and the fight against anti-Semitism. Moreover, unlike the recent history of the UAW, during the Reuther era, there was never the slightest hint of scandal among the top officials of the UAW. Reuther himself was known to be incorruptible. Reuther is cited on 196 pages in the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History. He was first mentioned in 1937, just as he was beginning his career in the UAW. By this time,
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Reuther had married a Jewish Detroiter, May Wolf, who was a teacher and labor activist in her own right (May died in the hee plane crash with Walter). As president, Reuther appointed manyy Jews to important positions within the UAW. For example, one of his closest advisors and friends was Vice President Irving Bluestone. For another, Reuther asked the esteemed Shaarey Zedek Rabbi Morris Addler to head the UAW W Public Review Board, which is a nonpartisan, independent citizen organization that serves as a mediator for disputes between UAW members and their administrators. In Metro Detroit, t, Reuther was often a guest speaker at local Jewish organizations, such as thee Workman’s Circle, the Jewish Federation ion and various synagogues. Reuther was also a staunch supportter of Israel and provided substantial support for Histadrut and the Jewish iaNational Fund, to name only two initiatives. As reported in the Sept. 2, 1955,, 55. issue of the JN, he visited Israel in 1955. When asked for comment upon his o arrival, Reuther immediately spoke to oIsrael’s right to defend itself: “The people of Israel have a right and a moral obligation to stand up and fight for it [the nation].” In 1968, the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel honored Reuther with the Weizmann Award in the Sciences and Humanities and established the Walter P. Reuther Chair es of of Research in the Peaceful Uses Atomic Energy in his honor. The Chair still exists today. By his death, Walter Reutherr was a famous American. The next time you drive on the Reuther Expressway, you’ll know why it bears his name. Want to learn more? Go to the DJN Foundation archives, available for free at www.djnfoundation.org.
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thejewishnews.com/contribute In addition to contributing online, you may also send a contribution to: The Jewish News, 29200 Northwestern Highway #110, Southfield, MI 48034 APRIL 9 • 2020
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