Rockin' The D

Jewish 'urban pioneers' help rejuvenate Detroit.

Jon Rosenthal sees the opportunity to rebuild a city.

hoods and creating community bonds with the less
Bar and Snug across from his loft in midtown
fortunate.
Detroit, near Wayne State University. He says this
Too young to remember. the 1967 Detroit riots and year's festival had record attendance of 500,000 peo-
the mass exodus from the city that followed, these
unday morning at the trendy Atlas Global
ple and revenue up 10 percent over last year, the
Bistro on Woodward Avenue in Detroit, Jon
mostly 30-somethings see another side of that story.
highest it's been in the festival's 16-year history. The
Rosenthal, 32, is digging into a bowl of gra-
While some of their parents throw up their hands at
event was voted Detroit's best festival by the Detroit
nola, yogurt and fresh fruit.
Detroit, pointing to the decay and crime — these
Free Press.
folks see opportunity and life experiences that far
Through high arched windows he can see Ruby's
Fogelman, with his droll sense of humor, says he
Kitchen, a smart new restaurant across the street, next outweigh the problems.
fought his way off the streets of West Bloomfield to
to a boarded-up theater. The domed top of the
Why should the suburban Jewish community care?
get to Detroit 11 years ago.
David Gad-Harf, executive director of the Jewish
Bonstelle Theatre, once Temple Beth El, looms in the
"There was a lot of energy and excitement in
distance.
Community Council of
Detroit when [Dennis] Archer was
Rosenthal is making his mark a few
Metropolitan Detroit, predicts
elected mayor," says Fogelman,
Some think Jon that, in the next 10 years, hun-
blocks down across from Orchestra
"I don't like this who also keeps busy with his busi-
Hall as Ram Realty Services' project
dreds of young Jewish profes-
ness ventures that include his
Rosenthal is an
`city versus the
coordinator for the Ellington — a
sionals seeking a vibrant urban
Detroit Spice Co. and an art
five-story building with shops and 55
life
will
move
to
Detroit.
gallery
he's opening in the Pure
urban pioneer,
suburbs' thing.
loft-style condos. It's one of the first
"These Jewish Detroiters are
Detroit store in the Fisher
new mixed-use retail and residential
Building.
others see him as our emissaries though they
They're inter-
buildings going up in Detroit.
never enlisted for that job," he
While he's excited about the city,
part of the next
"In college, I thought Detroit was
says. "So often Jews are per-
dependent, and
he sees no reason to dis the sub-
the last place I'd go," says Rosenthal,
ceived as outsiders and having a
urbs. "I don't like this 'city versus
wave of settlers
the success of
who grew up in Dayton, Ohio, and
sense of noblesse oblige when,
the suburbs' thing," Fogelman says.
now lives in the Millender Center in
in
fact,
we
want
to
be
partners
"They're interdependent and the
discovering great with people in Detroit."
one depends
downtown Detroit. "But all the devel-
success of one depends on the
opment sparked my excitement and
There are no better people to on the other."
other."
opportunities —
interest."
reflect Jewish concerns and atti-
Not only the opportunities, but
along with diffi- tudes, he says, than those living
Randall Fogelman the challenges attract some to the
Some think Rosenthal is an urban
pioneer, a young white professional
in Detroit. And like the genera-
city — a kind of tikkun olam
culties — living
living in Detroit. Others see him as
tion before them who shaped
(repair of the world), says
part of the next wave of settlers dis-
the
city,
these
young
Jewish
pro-
Michigan
State Rep. Steve
in the city.
covering great opportunities — along
fessionals are showing they can
Tobocman, D-Detroit, who set
make a difference in Detroit.
with difficulties — living in the city. He is part of a
down roots in southwest Detroit, joined by his recent
small but growing group of young Jewish profession-
bride, Sharon Dolente.
als heading to Detroit for three main reasons:
Tobocman, a member of the Birmingham Temple
Detroit's Honor Roll
• The opportunity to rebuild a city.
with his wife, came to Detroit in 1997 as a new
• The diversity of people and experiences a city
Making a difference as marketing director of the New lawyer to start a free, nonprofit, legal assistance
offers.
Center Council and director of Comerica TasteFest,
organization. Two years later, he won a seat in the
Randall Fogelman, 31, is relaxing at the Traffic Jam
• The chance to participate in renewing neighbor-
State House of Representatives.

SHARON LUCKERMAN
StaffWriter

ITN

7/30
2004

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