Jews in the D

14 | FEBRUARY 27 • 2020 

moms, but not for Jewish moms 
specifically. 
Having led classes in the area 
for babies and toddlers, Mall 
said she enjoyed connecting 
moms in person, but that this 
seemed like a way to reach so 
many more.
Moms can post under their 
own names or anonymously 
through one of the admins, 
Mall said. “That was the goal, 
to get the taboo questions, the 
questions that were hard to ask,
” 
she said of topics that include 
divorce, therapists, schools — 
and menstrual cups. “That’
s 
pretty profound for me, being 
able to help somebody who 
might not have been comfort-
able getting the help before.
”
The fact that the dialogue is 
online means people are more 
willing to be vulnerable and 
frank in their discussions, she 
said, adding that some moms 
take their friendships offline and 
meet in person. “It’
s meant to be 
a jumping-off point,
” she noted. 
“It’
s kind of like a dating site for 
moms.
” 
Moms can also find mentors 
through the group via a new 
Facebook feature, as another 
way to help one another. 
The Facebook page also is a 
welcome option for new moth-
ers seeking a community of 
like-minded moms, but who 

don’
t necessarily look for that 
community today in more tradi-
tional places like synagogues. 

WORD SPREADS FAST
Jewish Moms Of Metro Detroit, 
which includes anyone who 
defines themselves as a Jewish 
mom, Jewish mom-to-be or who 
is raising Jewish children, reach-
es to Ann Arbor and Flint, from 
communities filled with Jewish 
mothers to ones where people 
post as the only Jewish mom in 
town. 
It also supports Jewish wom-
en-owned businesses, as moms 
use the page to promote services 
they provide in the community.
In the last month, the group has 
seen some 13,100 posts, com-
ments and reactions, according 
to Facebook statistics. And Mall 
said she hopes Jewish Moms Of 
Metro Detroit keeps on growing. 
“I can’
t believe how many peo-
ple are touched or how useful 
they find it in so many different 
ways,
” she said, adding that the 
group has additionally begun 
partnering with other orga-
nizations, such as Hazon, for 
tikkun olam projects. She aims 
to continue in her role with the 
group and then, when her three 
young children are teenagers, 
find moms willing to step into 
the spot. 
Lindsay Cox remembers word 

I just love that everybody’s 
supporting each other, even if 
it’s not people you know.

— BROOKE LEIBERMAN

TOP: The Leiberman family: 
Brooke and Chaim, with 
children Naomi, Talia and 
Matan. ABOVE: The Cox 
family: Nathan, Lindsay, 
Jason and Sydney.

ROBIN TREPECK

KATIE ANTON PHOTOGRAPHY 2019

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