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