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Th e Genius Of Jerry

I

Jerry Lewis was one of my earliest
t’s the evening of Aug. 29, and I’m
comedic influences. I was imitating his
attempting to write a “humor-
Nutty Professor persona as far back as
ous” column on the same day
elementary school. I loved impersonat-
North Korea fired a missile over Japan.
ing him for friends, and I thought it
I’m searching my brain for comedic
might attract the attention
nuggets having spent part of
of the girls, especially when
my night watching the heart-
I would channel my inner
wrenching stories coming out
Jerry Lewis and yell “Oh,
of Houston. Even the Tigers
Laaaaady!” Well, at least my
lost again tonight. But, at least I
friends liked it.
saw that coming. My computer
Lewis’ influence carried
screen remains blank.
over into my radio career
Fear not; I can salvage this
with Dick Purtan. I created
column after all and even cheer
Alan Muskovitz
a character named Professor
myself up. I’m going to talk
Stanley Horkman from
about Jerry Lewis.
Wayne State and used Lewis’
Me: “Oh, good, Al; cheer
Nutty Professor voice to give
everybody up by talking about a
him life. It was one of the
man who just died.”
most enjoyable characters I ever stole,
Me: “Oh, come on. Jerry had an
wrote for, sorry.
incomparable, fulfilling life. He lived to
If you think I got joy out of imper-
91. His memory will be of a blessing, not
sonating Lewis, imagine how I felt
a sad one.”
when I got a chance to interview
Me: “Well, maybe you’re right.”
him during a press conference at the
Me: “Of course, I’m right. And besides,
Townsend Hotel on the afternoon of
Jerry’s humor will hold up forever. Now,
my birthday, Feb. 11, 1997. Lewis was
may I continue with my memories of
portraying the Devil to rave reviews in
Jerry Lewis?”
Me: “By all means. Besides I’m freak- the touring revival of Damn Yankees at
the Fisher Theatre.
ing myself out with this weird running
While his philanthropic work was
dialogue with myself. So, move on, Al.”
legendary, Lewis was known to occa-
Me: “Thank you.”
sionally be rough around the edges
Me: “You’re welcome.”
and he wasn’t afraid to show it. Prior to
Me: “My pleasure.”
arriving in Detroit, he walked out in a
Me: “Quiet!”
rage from a Grand Rapids press confer-
Me: “Sorry.”

ence. I grew apprehensive about asking
my usual offbeat questions. It was for
naught. He was a perfect gentleman.
Ironically, I asked the then-70-year
old Lewis who would be the first per-
son he’d like to talk with when he got
to Heaven. “That’s a hell of a question,”
he responded. “I never thought about
that before. I’ve got so many wonderful
people up there.” He eventually settled
on his dad and Dean Martin. “It would
be a wash,” he said.
I asked him, who should star in the
Jerry Lewis story? With a smirk on
his face, he responded to a room full
of laughs, “Gregory Peck! Who would
you want?” I told him I should get the
part. “You?! You’ve taken off too much
height,” he deadpanned. Height? Wait a
minute; was it possible that Jerry Lewis
was making a “thinly” veiled reference
to my girth? Nah.
Find the documentary Jerry Lewis:
Method to the Madness. It’s a fascinat-
ing look at the genius that he was.
With the High Holidays fast approach-
ing, it would be a great way to end your
year and jumpstart what I wish for
you and your family will be a healthy,
peaceful and more lighthearted New
Year. Shanah tovah. •

Alan Muskovitz is a writer, voiceover/acting tal-
ent, speaker, emcee and a regular guest host
on the Mitch Albom Show on WJR AM 760.
Visit his website at laughwithbigal.com and
“Like” Al on Facebook.

essay

JOIN, JARC And Jewish Identity

T

a unique experience that was both
informative and rewarding.
As a recent social work graduate
of Michigan State University, and
soon-to-be graduate student at the
University of Michigan, my placement
at JARC aligned perfectly with my
career goal of working with the spe-
cial needs population. I was thrilled
with the opportunity to work with the
Rosen RRR program (Relationships,
Relaxation and Recreation) at a JARC
home every Tuesday and the Summer
LinkUp program every Thursday.
The RRR program promotes social-
ization of residents of JARC homes
while Summer LinkUp allows young
adults living at home the chance to

Jake Leider gives the credit for
his business, Meditation Works, to
his mother.
“My mom had been into yoga
and meditation for a long time, and
she suggested I try it,” Jake said.
“At that point, I was working hard
all the time, stressed, and willing to
try anything to feel better. I wasn’t
very good at first, but I kept at it,
and it helped. Then she said, ‘I wish
I could bring [teacher] Justin Barnes
to more people, he’s amazing.’ That
sparked the whole concept of
mobile meditation for the stressed
worker. Who doesn’t like having
services come to you? Meditation
Works is like a food truck that
comes to a workplace but offers a
mental health break, 15 minutes at
a time. It’s like any other work
break, but healthier.”
Jake and his mom partnered with
Justin Barnes as the meditation
teacher, and cousin Josh Leider,
and launched their first meditation
truck. The program was so popular,
the truck’s schedule was soon very
full. “We looked into another truck,”
Josh said, “because people
responded to our service, and
looked forward to it. We wanted to
do more.”
Jake turned to Hebrew Free
Loan’s Marvin I. Danto Small
Business Loan Program after a
chance discussion with another
HFL borrower, who suggested it.
“HFL is helping us make a living
out of something we love, and
making it accessible to others,”
said Jake. “The loan is interest-
free, the staff are supportive, and it
feels like they want us to succeed.
It’s such a great resource.”

Click. Call. Give Now.
www.hfldetroit.org
248.723.8184

SHELBY LONNERSTATER

his summer, I had the incred-
ible experience of participat-
ing in the Jeanette and Oscar
Cook Jewish Occupational Internship
Program (JOIN). This program allows
college students the opportunity to
spend their summer gaining experi-
ence in a field they may choose to
enter professionally.
Interns work at their assigned
agencies Monday through Thursday
and gather as a group every Friday
to visit Jewish organizations in the
community. Our Friday seminar days
included activities such as touring the
Holocaust Museum and participating
in the Yad Ezra Food Stamp Shopping
Challenge. Every Friday provided

My
Story

Shelby
Lonnerstater
at the JARC
barbecue

explore the community while simul-
taneously forming meaningful rela-
tionships. Our trips included visiting
the Henry Ford Museum, Kensington
Metro Park and attending a cooking
class from Quality Kosher Cooking.
At these programs, I was able to help
promote positive social skills, rela-
tionship building and creativity.
Another highlight of my summer
was the planning of a barbeque that
took place at a JARC home. Residents
and staff of two homes, along with

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.

6735 Telegraph Road, Suite 300 • Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301

Hebrew Free Loan Detroit

continued on page 10

@HFLDetroit

2147650

jn

September 7 • 2017

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