$2.00 JULY 18-24, 2013 / 11-17 AV 5773
A JEWISH RENAISSANCE MEDIA PUBLICATION

theJEWISHNEWS.com

» 40 Days Off Facebook Hiatus from social
media gives local author clarity in his life.
See page 18.

Businessman, high-

» Perpetual Motion

profile volunteer Robb Lippitt still finds time to be
a family man. See page 34.

» Cooperative Divorce

DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

Lawyer finds her
niche in working toward collaborative divorces.
See page 40.

arts & entertainment

>> cover story

Robb Lippitt juggles home, business, volunteering.

Field Of
Dreams

Former Detroiter lives out his

lifelong wish at Comerica Park.

Jackie Headapohl I Managing Editor

JET perseveres, offering thought-provoking productions.

Suzanne Chessler I Contributing Writer

he Jewish Ensemble Theatre soon will be entering its 25th anniver-
sary season, but longtime supporters won't be spending a lot of time
looking back.
They are interested in building toward the future, already selecting plays
for the 26th year and working on programs that enlarge funding and audienc-
es — collegial associations, special events and partnerships with community
organizations not directly related to the stage.
JET, among a group of some 30 professional Jewish theaters in North America,
has been energized by this summer's announcement of company nominations for
Wilde Awards recognizing theater excellence (see sidebar on page 45).

JET's board of directors
includes: (back row)
Lewis Tann and Tom
August; (center row) Elaine
Sturman, Elizabeth "Betty"
Pernick and Gail Mayer;
and (front row) Mary Lou
Zieve and Suzanne Curtis.
Not pictured: Dr. Phoebe
Mainster.

ometimes dreams really do come true, even if
you have to wait a lifetime to realize them.
That's what happened to former Detroiter
Benny Wasserman, 79, when his lifelong wish of being on
the field with the Detroit Tigers came true. Wasserman,
now living in La Palma, Calif., got to don a Tigers uniform
and take the field with the team during batting and field
practice, thanks to the Wish of a Lifetime Foundation,
which grants wishes to senior citizens.
On June 26, he and his family arrived at the administra-
tive office of the Detroit Tigers, where he was led to the
playing field where the Tigers were taking batting practice.
"For someone like myself who has had a lifelong passion
for baseball, I couldn't have asked for anything more than
to be on the field with the pros," he said.
Wasserman was just a kid when his love of the game
bloomed. After high school, he saved up and borrowed
money to go to Florida for the Tigers baseball camp. He
gave it his best shot but came up short and did not make
the team. After that, he gave up on the idea of playing pro-
fessionally. "It was the biggest regret of my life — one that
forever lived inside my heart:' he said.
Some of those regrets faded away on a sunny June day
at Comerica Park.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

CONTINUED ON PAGE 45

Covering and
Connecting
Jewish Detroit
Every Week

Fernie and Benny Wasserman with sons Michael, left,

and Craig

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