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SAJE In The Sun
Arthur M. Horwitz
Publisher / Executive Editor
ahorwitz@renmedia.us
Detroiters in Florida reconnect while hearing about city’s renewal.
F. Kevin Browett
Chief Operating Officer
kbrowett@renmedia.us
| Editorial
Delray Beach, Fla.
Managing Editor: Jackie Headapohl
jheadapohl@renmedia.us
Story Development Editor: Keri Guten Cohen
kcohen@thejewishnews.com
Arts & Life Editor: Lynne Konstantin
lkonstantin@renmedia.us
Senior Copy Editor: David Sachs
dsachs@renmedia.us
Editorial Assistant: Sy Manello
smanello@renmedia.us
Senior Columnist: Danny Raskin
dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net
Contributing Editor: Robert Sklar
rsklar@renmedia.us
A
n encouraging discussion about
Detroit’s emergence as a come-
back city, while acknowledging
its struggles, provided the backdrop for
snowbirds and former residents to mix
and mingle in South Florida.
The draw not only was the chance to
enjoy refreshments while reconnecting
with friends at Seagate Country Club, but
also to hear three young professionals
active in Detroit’s rebirth share their nar-
rative about what’s going right in the city
that climbed back from
bankruptcy in 2014.
That’s not to say
Detroit has cleared away
such haunting issues
as crime, blight, drugs,
a staggered industrial
core, retail flight, public
transit, underfunded
Robert Sklar schools, a stubborn
Contributing school-dropout rate and
Editor
a population decline
since the city’s heyday.
Still, new businesses, investments, jobs
and residents are helping steady the
course.
More than 200 people attended the
Jan. 25 presentation of SAJE in the Sun, a
spinoff of the Jewish Community Center
of Metropolitan Detroit’s long-popular
Seminars for Adult Jewish Enrichment
(SAJE). All three presenters are Detroit
Jewish News contributing writers.
UPBEAT ABOUT DETROIT
Presenter Ben Falik is director of Jewish-
oriented Repair the World: Detroit and
co-founder of the secular Summer in the
City, both Detroit nonprofits dedicated to
community organizing and service. Young
people have flocked to the call of both
organizations.
Falik, a tireless champion for why
Detroit matters, gave a panoramic
perspective on Motor City successes,
Jewish and secular — from Isaac Agree
Downtown Synagogue, Chabad in the D,
J-Cycle and Rabbi Dan Horwitz’s The Well
to Eden Gardens Block Club and Beth El
Community Transformation Center.
“For the longest time,” he said, “it felt
like the premise of conversations about
Detroit was, ‘Is anything all right?’ That
was particularly true with people who
knew Detroit in its sepia-toned and
Kodachrome days of Hudson’s, Sander’s,
Central, Mumford and Dexter and
Davison.
“So is anything all right? Yes. Things are
6 February 18 • 2016
Panelists Robin Schwartz, Adam Finkel and Ben Falik, all
Metro Detroit residents
really dynamic. We know
She told the JN that
Detroit has some extraor-
Gilbert’s business operations
dinary challenges. They’re
and Ilitch Holdings Inc., for
not new, but cumulative
example, have been synergis-
and compounding. But as
tic in their pursuit of rejuve-
evidenced by folks in this
nating Detroit.
room, at home in Detroit,
“We want others to invest
in the suburbs and else-
in the city,” the former broad-
where, there’s optimism
cast journalist said. “Detroit's
— and a sense of good-
ongoing resurgence requires
will, grit, perseverance
innovation and collaboration
Event co-chairs Cheri Victor
and resilience.”
from a variety of stakehold-
Presenter Adam Finkel and Nancy Finkel
ers. We love to see others get
is a partner at Orfin
involved.”
Ventures, which incubates
A COLLECTIVE EFFORT
and funds deep-tech ventures. He’s also
SAJE in the Sun is a joint project of the
a member of ROI Networks for global
Jewish innovation. He was the catalyst for Detroit JCC, Wayne State University’s
Cohn-Haddow Center for Judaic Studies
Moishe House, a national grassroots resi-
and the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
dential and Jewish engagement initiative
Detroit. It is endowed by a generous gift
for young adults, moving into Detroit.
from Detroiter Cis Maisel Kellman.
“The Jewish community has had a
Pearlena Bodzin of West Bloomfield
collaborative approach to building rela-
loved the panelists’ passion for the mitz-
tionships with outside groups, so it’s not
vah of tikkun olam and their enthusiasm
just people from the suburbs coming
for “a vibrant, successful Detroit.”
in or people from one ethnicity leading
“The added bonus of the afternoon,”
the way,” the spirited ambassador for all
she said, “was seeing friends who are
things Detroit said.
“The biggest successes have come when from Detroit and who could relate to the
issues of the city.”
we’ve seen the Jewish community form
Irwin Cohen of Oak Park suggested,
early strong partnerships and let our work
“Dan Gilbert has fast-forwarded the prog-
speak for itself. At the end of the day, we,
the Jewish community, succeed by helping ress of Detroit by 20 years or more.” He
urged Detroit business leaders to push for
others succeed — by advancing tikkun
five-hour parking meters so visitors have
olam, repair of the world, and by inspir-
enough time to shop, dine and otherwise
ing more of the Jewish community to be
a part of what’s happening without neces- “enjoy the Downtown experience.”
Nancy Finkel of Bloomfield Hills and
sarily needing to have the headlines in
Cheri Victor of Farmington Hills co-
favor of the Jewish community.”
Presenter Robin Schwartz is public rela- chaired SAJE in the Sun 2016.
“SAJE in the Sun is all about connec-
tions director for Dan Gilbert’s Bedrock
tions among Detroiters living in vari-
Real Estate Services. Since 2011, Bedrock
ous parts of Florida and between them
and its affiliates have invested more
and the Detroit JCC,” Finkel said. “It’s a
than $2.2 billion in more than 85 prop-
Florida enrichment component on behalf
erties in Downtown Detroit. Schwartz
of the JCC.”
told Bedrock’s high-octane story and
stressed that many different organiza-
See related cover story, page 10.
tions and individuals are working togeth-
er on Detroit’s comeback.
Contributing Writers:
Ruthan Brodsky, Suzanne Chessler, Annabel Cohen,
Don Cohen, Shari S. Cohen, Shelli Liebman Dorfman,
Ryan Fishman, Stacy Gittleman, Judy Greenwald,
Ronelle Grier, Esther Allweiss Ingber, Harry Kirsbaum,
Barbara Lewis, Rabbi Jason Miller, Alan Muskovitz,
Steve Stein
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