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. 10 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 12 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 3