SEPTEMBER 3 • 2020 | 31 Iconic Museum Asks for Public Help Marvin’ s Marvelous Mechanical Museum opens GoFundMe page to help with expenses. MAYA GOLDMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER M arvin’ s Marvelous Mechanical Museum has opened a GoFundMe page to help cover expenses incurred while the arcade has remained closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The GoFundMe was start- ed by Jeremy Yagoda, current “Ringmaster, Grand Poobah & Self-Designated Adult In-Charge” at Marvelous Marvin’ s and the son of founder Marvin Yagoda, who passed away in 2017. Over $62,000 out of a goal of $75,000 has been raised as of Aug. 31. More than 1,500 people had donated as of that time. “It is our goal to reopen Marvin’ s once it is safe to do so and without risk to patrons and staff. However, financially speaking, we cannot afford to wait that long,” Yagoda wrote on the page, also mentioning that the arcade’ s expenses — includ- ing rent, insurance, electrical and general maintenance — are currently over $10,000 a month. As an arcade, Marvelous Marvin’ s cannot reopen until Michigan moves into Phase 5 of coronavirus containment. In an interview with the Jewish News last month, Yagoda said he was hesitant about creating a GoFundMe page. His family was used to giving to others, not taking from them, he said. “It just doesn’ t feel right ask- ing for help to keep a business to survive when there’ s peo- ple who are literally starving because of this, and even before this — people who really need help to live every day, not to keep their business open,” he told JN. But Yagoda also told JN he was hopeful that Marvelous Marvin’ s would make it past this pandemic. On the GoFundMe page, he wrote, “All of us at Marvin’ s are grateful for the memories and pictures you shared, and we hope to build lots of MARVELOUS new memories with all of you soon! #smallbusinessrelief.” The GoFundMe page for Marvin’ s Marvelous Mechanical Museum can be found at this link: www.gofundme.com/f/ marvins-marvelous-mechani- cal-museum?utm_source=face- book. Jeremy Yagoda (left) and his father Marvin stand in the arcade. JEREMY YAGODA Michigan Jewish Groups Sign Ad in Support of Black Lives Matter MAYA GOLDMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER The New York Times ad calls the BLM movement “our best chance at equity and justice.” M ore than 600 Jewish organizations — including at least 12 Michigan groups — signed onto a message supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, pub- lished as a full-page ad in the New York Times on Friday, Aug. 28. Protests in support of Black lives have erupted throughout the nation this summer in response to continued racism and police violence against Black people in the United States. The message from Jewish organizations comes days after Jacob Blake, a Black man, was paralyzed following being shot seven times by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin. “We support the Black-led movement in this country that is calling for accountability and transparency from the govern- ment and law enforcement. We know that freedom and safety for any of us depends on the freedom and safety of all of us, ” the mes- sage reads. The Michigan groups that signed onto the ad include: • Bend the Arc: Jewish Action Greater Ann Arbor • Beth Israel Congregation (Ann Arbor, MI) • Detroit Jews for Justice • Habonim Dror Camp Tavor • Hebrew Day School of Ann Arbor • Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue • JCRC/AJC of Detroit • Jewish Communal Leadership Program, University of Michigan • Jewish Community Center of Greater Ann Arbor • Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor • Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus • National Council of Jewish Women — Michigan Some Jews have disavowed the Black Lives Matter movement for ties between its leaders and the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions (BDS) movement, as well as for repeated instances of syna- gogue vandalism and anti-Israel rhetoric that has accompanied several BLM marches (including graffiti targeting a synagogue in Kenosha). But the message in the Times calls for Jews to support the movement, saying “when Black movements are undermined, it leads to more violence against Black people, including Black Jews. ” “The Black Lives Matter movement is the current day Civil Rights movement in this country, and it is our best chance at equity and justice. By supporting this movement, we can build a country that fulfills the promise of freedom, unity, and safety for all of us, no exceptions,” it concludes.