14 | NOVEMBER 21 • 2019
Jews in the D
Connecting
Past and Future
JHSM Traveling Trunk show introduces
students to Detroit’
s Jewish roots.
STACY GITTLEMAN
CONTRIBUTING WRITER T
he Jewish Historical Society of
Michigan invited congregational
educators to take a walk back in
time just as their students will as about
25 attended a Traveling Trunk tour of
Jewish historical Detroit.
The hands-on trip, which has been
enhanced and improved upon over
the last several years, will teach today’
s
Jewish schoolchildren to take pride in
their ancestors’
contributions to the
past and look forward to how they
can contribute to the city’
s future,
according to JHSM staff.
The tour was led by docent and
historian Dr. Cheryl Blau, who
also wrote and conceptualized the
accompanying Traveling Trunk
workbook with a team of historians,
educators and volunteers. The book
has elements of a journal, scrapbook
and textbook so by the end of the
lessons — taught in the winter to
prepare for a spring trip — the student
has a keepsake that includes a section
for recording their family history and
a listing of Jewish agencies to help
them stay connected to the Jewish
community.
According to Blau, enhancements to
this project have been six years in the
making, meeting with the community’
s
education directors and area historical
resources to make the experience as
hands-on as possible.
“We want our students to take pride
in how Michigan’
s Jewish history
came about,” said Blau as she guided
TOP: Meeting a pioneer fur
trader at the Detroit River.
RIGHT: Rabbi Josh Bennett
makes Shabbat candles at
William G. Milliken State Park
after learning about Detroit’
s
first Jewish settlers.
continued on page 16
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
ELAYNE GROSS