A

ri Katz of West Bloomfield,
nominated as a “36 under 36”
candidate for his charitable
work in fighting ALS, is a true a car
nut. He has attended the Detroit Grand
Prix every year since 1992. He marvels
over the cutting-edge technology her-
alded each year at the Detroit
auto show while still babying
a rare 1970’
s muscle car in his
garage.
Katz, a financial planner,
knows there are other car
enthusiasts out there in the
Jewish community and within
the Temple Israel family.
That is why, with the help of
Rabbi Jennifer Kaluzny, Katz
will be revving up a new group
called Cars and Kibitz, an auto-
motive enthusiast club to bring
Metro Detroit Jews together to
enjoy all things cars, including
panel discussions with automotive
experts, car shows for the community
and family-friendly car-themed events.
Cars and Kibitz will hold its kick-
off event in April with David Zenlea,
deputy editor of Road and Track mag-
azine, who will speak about how the
Jewish community has impacted the
automotive industry. One interesting
issue to be discussed is the fate of the
19th-century Beth Olem Cemetery,
which rests on the grounds of the
Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant,
should the plant shutter this year.
Katz also plans to interview local
rabbis for their perspective on how
Jewish law will be interpreted in
regards to riding in automated vehicles
on Shabbat and holidays.
Katz said he’
d like the group to bring
car shows to Jewish Senior Life and
possibly to other Jewish organizations,
such as Friendship Circle and Kadima.
“Cars are produced for the masses;
but, in many ways, owners can style
the cars of their choosing to their
individual styles and tastes — even the
noise level they make when you rev
the engine,
” Katz said. “Detroiters see
themselves as part of the automotive
industry. They see and identify them-
selves when they spot that favorite
model driving along the road.
”
The car that tugs the most at his
heartstrings: the 1978 Datsun 280z

“Black Pearl.
” Katz remembers when
his late father, Steven Katz, drove it
home, one of only about 1,500 ever
produced, in the summer of that year.
Forty years later, Katz still has the
Black Pearl and keeps it in pristine
condition. Over the years, the Katz

family has displayed it at many car
shows, including the Concours d’
Ele-
gance of America and EyesOn Design,
held each year at Grosse Point Shores.
Most importantly, the car is a
constant reminder of his father, who
passed away from ALS in 2003. Ever
since, Katz has been an active member
of the ALS Michigan chapter, partici-
pating in walks and other fundraisers.
“That Black Pearl is the closest con-
nection I have to hang onto the memo-
ries of my father,
” Katz said.
Katz enjoys taking in the cutting-
edge automotive technology at the
Detroit auto show. But he may skip it
this year, as it is hard to do with very
small children.
“It may be a bit of a challenge to
maneuver the crowds with a toddler
and a baby,
” Katz said. “But I do look
forward to the possibility of the show
being moved to the summer, where
it will be timed with other local car
events.
“The show in the summer will allow
for outdoor as well as indoor exhibits
(and maybe even opportunities for test
drives), which will attract more tour-
ism and industry enthusiasts and exec-
utives who would prefer warm weather
over the cold. Let’
s face it: Why would
an automotive exec from Los Angeles
want to visit Detroit in January?” ■

20 January 17 • 2019
jn

A Jewish Gearhead

Ari Katz plans ‘
Cars
and Kibitz’
for car nuts like him.

jews d
in
the

STACY GITTLEMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Ari Katz with his late father’
s 1978 Datsun 280z “Black Pearl”

2211420

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