FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 | 25

(author Susanna) ‘writer-
in-residence,’ docents, 
volunteers, guards — you 
name them.” Many he 
spoke of were in attendance.
“Some had flattered me 
by telling me that they 
learned something from 
the dubious sagacity of this 
oldster. Well, that learning 
process is two-fold,” Stern 
said. “In fact, I was more 
often the beneficiary of 
their generational wisdom. 
I drew a conclusion from 
that: Do not let hubris or 
false pride stand in the way 
of learning from that young 
woman or fellow one desk 
removed who could, by 
every reckoning, easily be 
your granddaughter or son, 
nay your great-grandchild!”
On Jan. 14, the day 
of his 100th birthday, 
Stern was celebrated by 
a small gathering of his 
fellow Michigan Jewish 
War Veterans (JWV). Ted 
Gittleman, commander of 
the Lt. Raymond Zussman 
Post 135, of which Stern 
is a member, presented 
him with a Certificate of 
Significant Achievement 

from JWV National 
Commander Alan D. Paley.
Stern’s remarkable life 
journey is chronicled in 
his memoir, Invisible Ink, 
published in 2020. The title 
was inspired by his father’s 
foreboding words shared 
to him as Nazism began to 
take hold. “You have to be 
like invisible ink,” Julius 
said. “You will leave traces 
of your existence when, in 
better times, we can emerge 
again and show ourselves as 
the individuals we are.” 

With those words, Stern’s 
father must have known 
that even at just 15, his son 
Guy had the courage and 
intestinal fortitude to survive 
and emerge anew from 
their family’s bleakest hour. 
They are the same attributes 
that we all have come to 
learn about this remarkable 
man and his life’s journey. 
That he, under impossible 
odds, not only emerged, but 
even on the occasion of his 
100th birthday, continues 
to engage, inform and 
inspire. It is his legacy to 
his family and his gift to our 
community. 

Guy Stern honored by the 
JWV on the occasion of 
his 100th birthday by JWV 
Post 135 Commander Ted 
Gittleman and Rabbi Eli 
Mayerfeld, CEO of The HC.

ART FISHMAN

The JN Welcomes 
Rachel Sweet 
as Associate Editor

JEWISH NEWS

THE DETROIT

The Jewish News is pleased 
Rachel is joining our team! A 
lifelong Metro Detroiter, Rachel 
comes to the JN after working as 
an on-air TV reporter in Flint.
 
As associate editor, Rachel will 
help in guiding the JN’s news 
and feature coverage. 
Please share story ideas with her 
(or just send her a “welcome”) to 
rsweet@thejewishnews.com or 
give her a call at (248) 351-5108.

AMANDA SWEET