Business & Professional

The Rosh Rush

Coby's Judaica opens for business
just in time for the High Holidays.

0

nce more, the Jewish
Community Center in West
Bloomfield has a gift shop.
Israeli American Coby Goutkovitch
moved his Judaica store, known as
Esther's Judaica Gift World, from Sugar
Tree Plaza in West Bloomfield to the JCC
and renamed it Coby's Judaica Center.
Since August, the rush has been on to
open for the High Holidays.
The grand opening took place Sept. 21;
Rosh Hashanah began Monday night.
Israeli stock and Jewish culture is a
specialty in support of the Jewish state.
Goutkovitch has brought from Israel
cosmetics containing minerals from
the Dead Sea, kosher chocolates, hala-
vah, and books for children and adults.
Photography services as well as photo-
graphs are available.
Israeli chatchkes and snacks are a sta-
ple, but Coby's also is filled with mezuzot;
menorot including a holidays cast made
from Jerusalem stone and two kinds of
glass; tallit; dreidels; and bar and bat
mitzvah gifts. Jewelry includes green-
and-blue opalite gemstones. Tapestries
are embroidered with "Shalom" and
home blessings.

At the higher end, a silver
and gold wine fountain is
priced at $898 and a "Song of
Songs" by King Solomon print
on animal skin sells for $2,000.
A $700 Frank Kaizler piece
made from gold and silver
depicts the hills of Jerusalem;
the larger real artwork was
given by the Israeli government
to Jordan's King Hussein when
the Israeli capital was moved to
Owner Coby Goutkovitch and manager Carole Master at Coby's Judaica Center
Jerusalem.
Shofars are plentiful and cus-
tomers can converse in Hebrew
"It has been at least 12 years since the
munity in particular with integrity and
or English.
JCC has had a gift shop. Coby's sure has
distinction.
"Being a Jewish mother finally pays
a plethora of Judaica gifts and needs;'
"There certainly is a great need for a
off:' says store manager Carole Master,
said Morton Plotnick, past JCC executive
Judaica store in this area. I pray that he
mother-in-law of Goutkovitch.
director.
succeeds at his new venue?'
"It's so much easier for me to come and
"We need a place like this in our com-
shop here because I'm here everyday:'
munity," said customer Renee Simon, a
Coby's Judaica Center is at 6600 Maple
says Ella Moskovitz, a teacher at Frankel
member of Congregation Shaarey Zedek
Road in the D. Dan and Betty Kahn
Jewish Academy, located inside the JCC.
of Oakland County.
Building of the West Bloomfield JCC,
"We've heard this from JCC members
Said Rabbi Elimelech Silberberg of
Maple at Drake. Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
as well as from many of the residents
Sara Tugman Bais Chabad Torah Center
Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday,
of the Jewish apartments close by who
in West Bloomfield, "Throughout his
10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. JCC offers free
utilize the transportation offered by the
years in West Bloomfield, Coby has
valet parking Tuesday-Thursday, 9:30 a.m.
JCC and Henry Ford Hospital on Maple
served the West Bloomfield community
to 4 p.m. (248) 661-6800.
Road."
in general and the Bais Chabad com-
www.cobysjudaics.com.

❑

West Coast Draw

A-listers turn out for
Hollywood's Israel bash.

Tom Tugend
Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Los Angeles

T

here were Hollywood stars and
powerful studio heads, politicians
and multinational rappers, Israeli
Cabinet ministers and dancers, two dozen
Israeli Scouts, a 3-D film segment, a tennis
legend, comedians, resounding shofars,
electronic fireworks and tables groaning
with biblical fruits.
They all came out for the Sept. 18 festiv-
ities marking Israel's 60th anniversary and
honoring Israeli-born Arnon Milchan, the
producer of some 120 movies, including

Pretty Woman, L.A. Confidential
and Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
The venue was the Paramount Movie producer Arnon Milchan and tennis star
Serena Williams
Studio — complete with red
carpet, an array of TV news
cameras, entertainment reporters thrust-
Each of the 740 guests paid $1,000 to
ing microphones into the faces of the
attend a gala saluting Israel and Milchan,
famous and not-so-famous, and lovely
an ex-Israeli soldier, soccer star, shadowy
ladies wearing designer dresses and an
arms consultant, international business
occasional tattoo.
entrepreneur and big-time Hollywood
Among the A-listers in attendance:
producer.
Warren Beatty and Annette Bening, Kiefer
Milchan does not lack confidence. His
Sutherland, U.S. Open Tennis champion
next ambition, he said, is to make peace
Serena Williams, Seal, Shaun Toub, studio
between Arabs and Jews and take care of
chiefs Sumner Redstone and Terry Semel,
the Iranian situation.
music producer David Foster and Los
But first came this bit of gossip about
Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

"Arafat told me that he had seen my
movie Pretty Woman at least 20 times;'
Milchan said. "A bodyguard took me to
Arafat's bedroom, and there was a cassette
of the movie."
Milchan said he normally disdains
glitzy Hollywood parties — "I don't even
go to my own premieres" — but deemed
the event to be for a good cause, the
Citizens' Empowerment Center in Israel,
or CECI. The center and the Consulate
General of Israel served as hosts for the
gala.
Israel was well represented by rap-
per Subliminal and such dignitaries as
Education Minister Yuli Tamir, Knesset
Speaker Dalia Itzik, former Foreign
Minister Silvan Shalom and, via video,
Tzipi Livni, the Kaduna Party leader and
prime minister-designate.
Milchan provided his own surprise
when, after accepting the Legacy of
Citizens Lifetime Achievement Award, he
called Serena Williams to the stage and
shared the award with her. ❑

October 2 • 2008 Cl