viewpoints » S end letters to: letters@thejewishnews.com Jewfro The Day After E lection Day hurt. And as Secretary rience a loss, Judaism doesn’t just allow Clinton said, it will be painful for us to mourn; it expects that we will a long time. So I sought out art and that we will take our time and do it — not to escape the pain, but for coping together. and for context. Oh, the gravitational pull of the Rivera Detroit Institute of Arts Court. Diego seems to welcome (outside). The millage that me back and tell me something lived! Why we can support a different every time I’m there. Picassoriffic museum (and a Yesterday, he told me that we penguintastic zoo) with our are defined by our contradic- tax dollars and can’t get behind tions — labor and capital, buses to get people there is a diversity and white privilege, mystery to me. If, even in a physical and spiritual, solidar- national election, all politics ity and inclusion, particular- Ben Falik are local, the failure of the RTA ism and pluralism, individual, shows we still lack some combination of local, social, global, universal, human — trust in our public institutions and com- and how radically reconcilable they are. passion for our neighbors to invest in The arc of the moral universe is long, something bigger than ourselves. but it bends toward justice. Dr. King’s Perhaps the trains running up and words live colorfully on the walls of the down Woodward will help people to museum and the faces of elementary believe it when they see it and then see school students walking past. it when they believe it; I’m not sure. To boot, the Detroit After Dark photo Detroit Institute of Arts (inside). A exhibit reminded me of the work it takes powerful woman soars directly inside to see light and love in a city where oth- the Woodward entrance. Thalassa by ers see blight and fear. New York street artist Caledonia Curry Sing for Your Life. By the time you is 20 feet tall and weighs 400 pounds. As read this, I will have escorted author if there to both comfort and condemn, Daniel Bergner to and from the Jewish this literal woman of color drapes the Book Fair, and it will have been lovely. whole space in diverse, flowing materi- Meanwhile, I’m reading and recom- als while looking off to a distant horizon mending his book. Like so many works — past the patriarchy, perhaps. Make at the DIA (and perhaps the electoral sure to visit before she leaves us on map), Sing for Your Life tells the story March 19, 2017, lest you end up on her of power derived from pain. Beyond bad side. the conceit — Ryan Speedo Green’s In the Kresge Court, I stumbled upon journey from juvenile detention to sing- the staff of the Downtown Synagogue ing at New York’s Metropolitan Opera (a group of powerful women known — are all the daily details and decisions to soar) struggling. Rabbi Ariana that bridge and blur the ordinary and Silverman suggested that when we expe- extraordinary. My Story Thalassa by New York street artist Caledonia Curry 2.5 Mile Ride. Every day, I look across the street from Repair the World at the Matrix Theatre and — as someone who once wanted to go into theater and set- tled for being theatrical — have come to take for granted that we have a profes- sional performance space that is steeped in social justice right under our nose. 2.5 Mile Ride is a one-woman show from Tony Award-winner and Lansing native Lisa Kron. If a tragic flaw of this election was our failure to understand the fears and frustrations of those around us, 2.5 Mile Ride offers a vivid, vulnerable look at the compounded experiences of a recurring large fam- ily trip to Cedar Point and a belated small family trip to Auschwitz. Go see it before Dec. 4. Tickets and showtimes at matrixtheatre.org. From today’s pain, tomorrow’s power. * Jewish Tweets Sarah Silverman @SarahKSilverman I am now a Pistons fan @BleacherReport Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy doesn’t hold back regarding the election. Dave Coulier @DaveCoulier After this election I’m moving deep in to the woods and only turning my TV on to watch hockey. @NHL Irene Slobin describes herself as a true “people person.” “I’m very outgoing, and I really love people,” Irene says. “I like hearing what they think, what they have to say, and I enjoy making them happy.” Those qualities helped give Irene a boost over the years as she worked as a bank teller, jewelry salesperson, and other jobs that brought her in contact with the public each day. Irene finally settled into a long career as a matchmaker, to great success. However, her welcoming smile became an issue when Irene needed dental work. “I grind my teeth,” she said. “I needed a root canal. And my hearing became a problem, requiring a hearing aid. I went to Hebrew Free Loan for help with the costs, and they couldn’t have been nicer.” Irene received a loan through HFL’s Project HEAL, Health Emergency Assistance Loans, made possible by grants from The Jewish Fund. “We are lucky we have such great resources in our community,” Irene said. “I don’t drive right now, but my synagogue will come pick me up for services. There are also wonderful agencies like Hebrew Free Loan. They have been so kind to me, supportive and compassionate. The loan I received is interest-free, and they worked with me on a payment I could afford. “If you are Jewish and need any help at all, you should look into it. The process was great, and I tell people about HFL all the time.” Become an HFL Donor. Click. Call. Give Now. www.hfldetroit.org 248.723.8184 Health. A fresh start. A good education. The next great business idea. 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. Rabbi Jason Miller @RabbiJason Mazel Tov to Alec Baldwin on your 4-year contract with SNL. 6735 Telegraph Road, Suite 300 • Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301 Hebrew Free Loan Detroit @HFLDetroit 2098360 November 17 • 2016 5