contents
Feb. 25-March 2, 2016 | 16-22 Adar I 5776 | Vol. CXLIX, No. 4
SHABBAT LIGHTS
Shabbat: Friday, Feb. 26, 6 p.m.
Shabbat Ends: Saturday, Feb. 27, 7:02 p.m.*
Shabbat: Friday, March 4, 6:08 p.m.
Shabbat Ends: Saturday, March 5, 7:10 p.m.*
* Times according to Yeshiva Beth Yehudah calendar.
Cover design: Michelle Sheridan
The Detroit Jewish News
(USPS 275-520) is published every Thursday at
29200 Northwestern Highway, #110, Southfield,
Michigan. Periodical postage paid
at Southfield, Michigan, and
additional mailing offices. Postmaster: send
changes to: Detroit Jewish News, 29200
Northwestern Highway, #110, Southfield, MI
48034.
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A United Hatzalah “ambucycle” races to an emergency in Israel. Detroit may have a version
of Israel’s volunteer rescue organization soon.
Around Town ......... 22, 24
Arts & Life .................... 53
Auto .............................. 32
Calendar....................... 28
Editor’s Picks ............... 57
Health ........................... 44
Israel ........... 8, 10, 20, 24,
.................... 40, 48, 52, 74
jewish@edu ................ 36
Jews in Digital Age .... 48
Life Cycles .................... 62
Marketplace ................ 65
Metro ............................ 10
Obituaries .................... 69
Sports ........................... 61
Synagogue List ........... 42
Torah Portion .............. 43
Viewpoints......................5
World ............................ 40
Columnists
Ryan Fishman ............. 59
Karin Katz ................... 58
Sy Manello ......................5
Norman Prady ................6
Danny Raskin ............. 60
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You can search through history on the
Michigan Jewish Cemetery Index.
OUR JN MISSION
The Jewish News aspires to communicate news and opinion that ’s useful, engaging, enjoyable and unique. It strives to reflec t the full range of diverse viewpoints while
also advocating positions that strengthen Jewish unit y and continuit y. We desire to create and maintain a challenging, caring, enjoyable work environment that encourages
creativit y and innovation. We acknowledge our role as a responsible, responsive member of the communit y. Being competitive, we must always strive to be the most respec ted,
outstanding Jewish communit y publication in the nation. Our rewards are informed, educated readers, ver y satisfied adver tisers, contented employees and profitable growth.
Our Story
On November 11, 1895, ten Jewish
businessmen met in the back room of
a Detroit shoe store to establish the
Gmiluth Chasudim Society, which
would later become Hebrew Free
Loan. Created in the face of glaring
anti-Semitism, the founding members
pledged varying amounts of money to
be put into a central loan fund and used
to help keep Jewish businesses and
families solvent. It was a place to go
when there was nowhere else to turn.
The shoe store where the Society
met belonged to Selig Koploy, and
his store’s back room remained the
group’s home until 1907. Selig Koploy
was the Society’s second president,
serving 1901-1907, and 1908-1913.
Fast forward to the 21st Century,
when Nancy Grand, as Federation
Campaign chair, concluded a meeting
with then-HFL Executive Director
Mary Keane. As they walked toward
the HFL office door, Nancy paused
to look at the photos of the agency’s
Past Presidents.
“The second picture looked totally
familiar to me,” Nancy said. “The
name under the picture was Selig
Koploy, and I had seen the picture in
my grandmother’s house. He was her
father, and my sister, Susan, was
named for him. Our family never
spoke of the past, so I knew
absolutely nothing about him, or
Hebrew Free Loan.”
That chance family connection
compelled Nancy to learn more
about Selig Koploy, about the agency
he helped found, and to become
involved with HFL herself.
“Some of Selig’s quality informs
who I am today,” Nancy said, “including
dedication to communal service. And
a love of shoes.”
Quick Click … From the William Davidson Digital
Archive of Jewish Detroit History
Become an HFL Donor.
Click. Call. Give Now.
www.hfldetroit.org
248.723.8184
Mike Smith
Detroit Jewish News Foundation Archivist
Health. A fresh start.
A good education.
The next great business idea.
W
hen reading the pages of
the digital Jewish News, one
often sees a name of great
importance to Israel — Magen David
Adom (MDA). This Israeli equivalent of
the Red Cross — the name means “Red
Star of Israel” — was founded in Tel Aviv
in 1930 as Israel’s first aid organization.
By 1958, it had 50 branches and had
first aid stations in about half of Israel’s
villages. But, as another illustration of
the difficulties Israel has faced since
its founding, MDA was not officially
recognized by the International Red
Cross until 2006. Today, the Red Star of
Israel has 1,200 employees, 10,000 vol-
unteers and a fleet of 700 ambulances.
Every day, it helps those in need who
call its dedicated “101” phone number.
One story from the July 30, 1971,
issue caught my eye this week. It is
about Detroit support for a MDA unit
at Ashrod, Israel, and the ambulance
provided by Louis and Ida Sherman.
More recently, in 2007, a MDA station
in Ashrod was dedicated in honor of
Natalie and Manny Charach.
These donations are just a small exam-
ple of the tremendous support Detroit’s
Jewish community and the Dr. John J.
Mames Chapter-Michigan Region of the
American Friends of MDA have given to
Hebrew Free Loan gives interest-
free loans to members of our
community for a variety of
personal and small business
needs. HFL loans are funded
entirely through community
donations which continually
recycle to others, generating
many times the original value
to help maintain the lives of
local Jews.
this important Israeli organization that
saves lives every day.
*
Celebrating 120 Years
6735 Telegraph Road, Suite 300 • Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301
Want to learn more? Go to the DJN Foundation
archives, available for free at www.djnfoundation.org.
Hebrew Free Loan Detroit
@HFLDetroit
2069620
February 25 • 2016
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