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The Insider

Support The Arts

No Beef Shortage

"Art washes away from the soul
the dust of everyday life,' the
painter Pablo Picasso once said.
In these times of economic tur-
moil, we need the arts — in all
their myriad forms — to inspire
us, enlighten us, give us hope, lift
our spirits and bring us together.
We are fortunate in the Detroit
Jewish community to have
Jewish institutions that value the
place of art in our lives.
Special kudos go to the Jewish
Community Center and its
executive director, Mark Lit, who,
despite the financial challenges,
continues with his dedicated
staff and loyal volunteers to
bring us such annual events
as the Stephen Gottlieb Jewish
MusicFest, which runs with a full
slate of local and national tal-
ent through March 8 at the JCC
buildings in West Bloomfield and
Oak Park; the Lenore Marwil
Jewish Film Festival, held at mul-
tiple venues throughout Metro
Detroit and beyond, April 26-
May 7; and the JCC Jewish
Book Fair, which will bring
renowned authors to town
Nov. 4-15. The JCC's Janice
Charach Gallery contin-
ues to delight our eyes; its
current exhibit on Haggadot
runs through March 15, and its
annual glass show is planned for
March 28-May 17.
With its home in the Aaron
DeRoy Theatre in the lower level
of the JCC in West Bloomfield
and under the direction of
Artistic Director Evelyn Orbach,
the Jewish Ensemble Theatre has
brought its audiences outstand-
ing productions of Jewish inter-
est for 20 years. Due to severe
financial constraints, JET has
replaced a planned play this sea-
son with its perennial produc-
tion The Diary of Anne Frank,
a captivating experience for
children and adults. The perfor-
mances, which include student
matinees, run through April 3.
JET is offering all seats for every
show at reduced prices.
The arts have given the Detroit
Jewish community much. They
deserve our utmost support,
especially during a time when
corporate, government and phil-
anthropic funding is shrinking.

The reduction in supplies of
kosher beef started last spring
with the federal immigration
raid on the Agriprocessors plant
in Postville, Iowa, the largest
kosher slaughter house in the
world.
Looking around area markets,
supplies have gone down and
prices have gone up. But one
manufacturer's problem can be
another's opportunity.
Entering the scene is the
Golden West Cattle Company of
Commerce City, Colo. It is now
marketing "premium Angus
beef" as the Golden West Glatt
Cattle Company of Denver.
Certified kosher by the
Union of Orthodox Jewish
Congregations of America since
last September, Golden West
will ship "humanely raised, veg-
etarian fed, no preservatives, no
added hormones, no antibiot-
ics" beef anywhere in the world.
Of course, there is a
price to be paid.
Last week,
Golden
West's kosher
boneless
ribeye steaks
were sell-
ing at $15.99 a
pound (5.35 pounds per box,
or $85.55). Kosher dry-aged
rib steaks were $19.99 a pound
(3.6 pounds per box, or $71.96).
Middle chuck roast was $8.49
per pound (6.55 pounds per
box, or $55.61).
Of course, then you have to
add shipping and handling
— and this is where a nice beef
dinner can get real pricey in a
hurry.
For that middle chuck roast,
add $20.63 for three-day ship-
ping to Detroit; or $35.99 for
two-day delivery; or $56.43 for
next-day afternoon delivery; or
$63.09 for next morning.
Taking the cheap way out,
6.55 pounds of middle chuck
will only cost you $76.24, or
$11.64 a pound. Could be a deal
for that Passover seder — and
you don't have to drive to the
few remaining kosher butchers
left in town, who certainly could
use your business and would be
happy supply the main course.

The Detroit Jewish community was still centered in
Detroit in the 1960s. But over the next 20 years, it
gravitated north into Oakland County. But make no
mistake: The city of Detroit still resonates for Jews
throughout the region. It's an important anchor.
When out-of-towners ask us what Jewish commu-
nity we're from, we inevitably reply, "Detroit," then
specify which suburb. Jews, led by Fred Butzel,
helped build the city. Jews, led by Max Fisher,
helped rebuild it after the 1967 riots.
Jews continue to be involved in the city's politi-
cal, investment and development orbits, all aimed
at spurring its rebirth. Wayne State University, one
of the nation's great urban campuses of higher
education, boasts Jewish students, professors,
leaders and donors. It's a rallying point for pull-
ing Detroit from its socioeconomic doldrums. The
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, Jewish
Community Relations Council, Anti-Defamation
League and American Jewish Committee are
among the communal groups actively engaged in
improving the city, so rich with Jewish roots and
where Jews still live, work, pray and meet.
Against this backdrop, Detroit voters this week
narrowed the field of 15 contenders for mayor to
two finalists, who will square off in the May 5 spe-
cial mayoral election. The winner will have a leg up
in the regular August primary and November gen-
eral elections to ultimately replace the discredited
Kwame Kilpatrick. Voter issues are daunting: crime,
corruption, a budget crisis, reeling neighborhoods,
schools in disarray. At the same time, the enter-
tainment and cultural districts, the development
of residential lofts to attract young professionals
as well as new businesses, hotels and restaurants
downtown provide a glimmer of hope. Jews are
involved at every turn.
The new mayor will look to the Jewish community
for support - and will get it. A Jewish presence in
Detroit goes back to Abraham Chapman in 1762. It's
in transition now, but it's still vibrant. To succeed,
the mayor of Michigan's biggest city must embrace
Jewish Detroit. The Jewish community brings influ-
ence and money, but also - and equally important
- abiding concern.
Detroit still matters to us because we still care
about it. Besides, how the city goes affects the
entire region. Its residents are standard bearers for
everyone who calls themselves a Detroiter.

- Gail Zimmerman, arts editor

- Alan Hitsky, associate editor

- Robert Sklar, editor

"NOW

t, IS, "rtAfi,P"

When volunteer
Julie Hertzberg

was matched with JARC

resident Mary Roy five

Why Detroit Matters

years ago, she hoped she

would find a meaningful

volunteer commitment.

She never dreamed she

would find a life-long

friend. And now, the

addition of Julie's new baby

brings a special shine to

"Aunt Mary's" eyes.

JARC volunteers
do more than
give time and talent.
They form
relationships
that can change the
lives of everyone
involved in
remarkable ways.).

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•

I arc

www.jarr.org

Helping People with Disabilities
Be included in Our Community
— All Through Their Lives —

To find out more about
volunteer opportunities,
please contact Alissa Pianin

248.538.6610 x349

alissapianin@jarc.org

1460590

February 26 2009

A5

