viewpoints » S end letters to: letters@thejewishnews.com DETROIT JEWISH NEWS essay theJEWISHNEWS.com 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. 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