metro » o n the cover

Fun In The Sun

Detroiters find South Florida alluring, especially in winter.

David Steinberg Photography

I

f an exciting perk of being in another city
is a surprise encounter with someone from
back home, imagine doing it surrounded
by palm trees and in the warmth of near-
forgotten sunshine in the midst of winter.
While temperatures are frigid here at
home, slews of Detroiters are vacation-
ing, “wintering” and even settling in South
Florida, where this time of year it is difficult
to find a mall, restaurant, airport gate or park
not frequented by Jewish Michiganders.
For Harry Plonskier, the more the better.
The former Oak Parker and his wife,
Cindy, purchased a vacation home in Delray
Beach in 2005 “to enjoy the lifestyle and
weather.” They became full-time residents six
years later.
“I stay very con-
nected to my friends from
Michigan — and some
who have moved away,”
he says. “I will have three
Raphi Wald and son Joey, 3, and Rick Dorfman and son Nathan, 20 months, all of Boca
sets of Michigan friends
Raton; former Detroiter Stephanie Beneson of Passaic, N.J., and daughter, Elisheva, 9
visit us during the first few months; and Dayna Wald and daughter Layla, 5, of Boca Raton enjoy the Florida weather.
Harry Plonskier months of 2016.”
Holding an M.B.A.
from the University of
Michigan, Plonskier says, “I am an avid
Wolverine fan, with my house, golf clubs and
attire generally considerably blue and gold.
I am notorious for my deep blue-and-gold
heritage, wearing blue-and-gold attire for
golf, tennis, parties, etc. I am known for put-
ting a Michigan logo ball and am frequently
accosted with a ‘Go Blue’ salutation.”
Plonskier spends much of his time wel-
coming neighbors new to Mizner Country
Club, where he serves on the membership
committee. For five years, he has organized
the twice-weekly Mizner Golf Buddies, rotat-
ing team participants from a roster of 56
players, making sure they get a chance to
meet and play golf with other members.

SNOWFLAKES AND SNOWBIRDS
Detroiters are attracted to South Florida
by everything from year-round sunshine,
beaches, golf courses and job opportunities to
Florida-based family, reasonable cost of liv-
ing, cruise ports, restaurants, warm-weather
health benefits — and largely, by other
Detroiters.
Some choose to retire and relocate perma-
nently. Some rent or time share for part of the
season. “Snowbirds” purchase a second home
and stay through the winter months, often
driving or transporting cars that mark park-

Ariella Shaffren and Rivka Jacobs after
completing the Miami Half Marathon.

ing spaces with Michigan license plates.
“Snowflakes” travel back and forth
between their northern and southern resi-
dences. In both groups are individuals who
work remotely or take a 2.5-hour flight to and
from Detroit-based jobs, as well as those who
create new employment opportunities while
in Florida.

Jonah, Ethan and Eden Gilan

In a 2014 JNS.org story, Jewish demogra-
pher Dr. Ira M. Sheskin estimated 555,000
Jews live in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm
Beach counties, whose cities include Miami,
Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach,
Jupiter, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale,
Pompano Beach and Palm Beach Gardens.
Half are 65 years and older, with more Jews

Shelli Liebman Dorfman

Shelli Liebman Dorfman | Contributing Writer

retiring to Florida than ever before.
Sheskin says Jews started to relocate to
South Florida in the 1920s and 1930s. Friends
and family would visit and then decide to
join them in what he refers to as a “chain
migration,” with the initial settlers providing
guidance to the next wave.
South Florida is home to 20 Jewish day
schools and three major Jewish federations
and 200 synagogues, with full- and part-time
residents holding membership.
For the past several years, some Detroiters
have flocked to Miami for Passover, including
Rivka Jacobs and her family.
“We usually stay at the Marco Polo, which
has an exclusive Passover program, right on
the beach, with all the necessities needed,
including meals, camp for the kids and a
great atmosphere,” she says.
In January, Jacobs and Ariella Shaffren,
both from Southfield, traveled there as
first-time participants in the Miami Half
Marathon, running and walking 13.1 miles
and fundraising for Chai Lifeline.
“We both had to raise at least $3,600, and
actually raised more for this special organiza-
tion that does amazing work with very sick or
challenged children through Camp Simcha,”
Jacobs says.

TRAVELING WITH A LIST
Some South Florida visitors prefer to be
spontaneous: boating, scuba diving, snorkel-
ing and even taking short cruises on a whim.
But Lisa and Ethan Gilan’s family travels
with a system. Spending winter break in
Boynton Beach since 2001, first at Ethan’s
parents’ condo and now at Lisa’s parents’
winter home.
In time, the West Bloomfield family,
including Eden, 15, and Jonah, 13, has nar-
rowed down their favorite sites and restau-
rants, following a basic schedule for repeat
visits to these places.
“We have been ordering kosher Chinese
carryout from Orchids Garden in Boca for a
number of years on Christmas Eve,” Lisa says.
“We love to go to Festival Flea Market Mall
[in Pompano Beach] each year on Dec. 25,
where we always run into other Detroiters.
“When the kids were younger, Lion
Country Safari, the Palm Beach Zoo and local
parks and playgrounds were favorites. We
also regularly visit Delray Beach, go to mov-
ies, Green Cay nature preserve, Super Target,
Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood and the pool
in my parents’ development. Eden, especially,

continued on page 12

10 February 18 • 2016