Joshua Chynoweth, 13, of Livonia lights a candle on the anniversary cake. Staying Close Huge Savings on Ink and Toner Supplies For all of your Printers, Copiers, and Fax Machines Levin Family Club celebrates 65 years of togetherness. $7.00 off the purchase of one inkjet cartridge 91.00 off the purchase of one toner cartridge Stacy Gittleman Special to the Jewish News Printer Model # Printer Cartridge(s) # F Offer expires October 31st RAPID REFILLTM PRINTING. SMARTER. 27601 Southfield Road, Lathru• Villa•e, MI 48076 When you need it now Servicing all of Metro Detroit Area Free Delivery on all orders over $50 27601 Southfield Road Lathrup Village 248-423-1231 www.rapidrefill128.com email: 128@rapidrefillink.net KVI M-F Sam-7pm Sat 9am-5pm Sun 10am-3pm Follow us on Facebook f Rapid Refill-Lathrup-Village KOSHER MICHIGAN KOSHER CERTIFICATION AGENCY Now Hiring! Kosher Michigan is hiring a New Business Account Manager Send a resume & cover letter to jobs@koshermichigan.com koshermichigan.com 1110: 1868876 Inkoshermichigan Keep your company top of mind with our readers. ADVERTISE WITH US! CALL 248.351.5107 Visit theJEWISHNEWS.com 22 October 17 • 2013 JN amilies come in many sizes. Then there are families like the Levins that are so large and tightly knit that they have their own anthem. And a custom-designed logo. Last Sunday, Oct 13, the Levin clan, with most of its 200 members residing in Metro Detroit, sang their anthem and performed an original variety show in their logo T-shirts as they celebrated the 65th anniversary of the Levin Family Club at Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield. "We have lots of writers and perform- ers, but no directors:' joked Adele Levin Nodler, 72, of Oak Park, who has been treasurer of the club for 48 years. The Levin story is familiar to many Jewish American families. They are descendants of immigrants who fled persecution in Eastern Europe and wove themselves into the fabric of American society. What is unique about the Levins is how strongly they held onto family ties and Jewish traditions for seven gen- erations. "Family togetherness is a legacy that was given to us by our grandparents and is one we will pass onto our grandchil- dren and beyond:' said Nodler, as she sat with her husband of 49 years, Alvin, brother Seymour, 81, and her cousin Gladys Zate, 87, in her Oak Park home. The love of kin was evident on the walls and bookcases adorned with family photos from every generation. The Levins can trace their Detroit roots back to 1905 when Adele's father, Morris Yellen, escaped Poland at age 16 to avoid the Polish draft. Yellen changed to Levin at Ellis Island. Working for years as a baker, he saved enough money to return to Poland and bring the rest of his family to Detroit. The Levins became established bakers and grocers and had stores on Chene Street. The family would often gather on Saturday nights after Shabbat to play cards. In 1948, those casual card games evolved into the Levin Cousin Club. Early Detroit Memories Adele and Gladys also recall living upstairs from one another in the same big house on Elmhurst Street. Adele was the oldest of five siblings; Gladys had three sisters. It was there the cousins started writing and performing shows about the funny antics that went on in their family. The cousins recall fond memories of celebrating Jewish holidays in Detroit. On Simchat Torah, they danced with flags toped with apples in Beth Jacob synagogue on Pingree Street and dined at kosher restaurants on 12th Street after Shabbat. They also remember having large family seders — as many as 75 people — at the home of their uncle, Meyer Levin. As a kid, you'd have to sit very still at my Uncle Meyer's seder. If you moved, you would get a knibble, or a pinch on the cheek:' said Gladys, who recalls her mother making gefilte fish for the seder from fish she kept in her bathtub. The pace of life — and the state of Detroit — has changed since 1948. Parts of the family live out of town. The bak- ery on Chene Street and the old house on Elmhurst Street are no longer there. To compensate for the distance, Adele and her siblings and their descendants chat on a weekly Thursday teleconfer- ence call to "catch up and wish each other a good Shabbos:' "No matter what anyone is doing, Staying Close on page 24