MAY 5 • 2022 | 33

was sold to Farber families 
and some families from Young 
Israel of Oak Park.
About 30-35 Farber high 
school students and five 
Farber teachers from the 
Hebrew department did the 
cooking. The youth organi-
zation Bnei Akiva also joined 
them. The cooking was done 
in stages and took place over 
two weeks. The food was 
cooked out of Farber’s school 
kitchen and the Young Israel 
of Oak Park kitchen. Rabbi 
Sharly Digedker also spent 
many hours in the kitchen 
helping out.
“We felt our students should 
be engaged in something like 
this, and they should learn 
when our fellow Jews are 
in trouble, we need to help 
them,” Feldman said. “
And 
rather than just go and ask 
them to bring me a certain 
amount of money from home, 
I wanted them involved in 
doing something and feel 
they’re actually doing some-
thing to help the kids.” 
The five-course enhance-
ments included Yerushalmi 
Kugel, seasoned rice, puff 
pastry filled with mushrooms, 
Salatim (Israeli salad) and 
chocolate cake.

More than 50 families 
ordered the meals and around 
$3,000 was raised for the 
orphans. Feldman said some 
families donated money. Some 
families sponsored the fund-
raiser, giving them a bigger 
amount of money to help 
cover their expenses. 
Feldman says the students 
were truly engaged in the 
fundraiser, which she hoped 
would be the case.
“I really wanted to stress to 
them that if we don’t help our 
fellow Jews wherever they are 
in trouble, then who is going 
to help them?” Feldman said. 
“Indifference is something we 
don’t live by. We have to show 
we care, and if we could just 
put a smile on these Jewish 
orphans’ faces for Passover, 
if they can get something 
new for Passover, that would 
be nice. I think it’s a very 
important lesson to teach our 
students.”
Feldman would like to see 
other schools do the same 
thing or something similar to 
help the cause. 
“I’m hoping if other schools 
read about it, they’ll do some-
thing too,” Feldman said. 
“We need to take care of each 
other.” 

Daphna Feldman, 
fundraiser organizer, 
helping prepare the 
food.

A Conversation with Bernie Smilovitz

CHAIM, Children of 
Holocaust Survivors in 
Michigan, welcomes WDIV 
sports anchor Bernie 
Smilovitz for a communi-
ty conversation Thursday, 
May 12, at 7 p.m. at The 
Zekelman Holocause Center 
in Farmington Hills.
Bernie will share stories 
about his mother, survivor 
Rita Smilovitz. Channel 4 
anchor Devin Scillian will be 
host.
Attendance is free, but 
space is limited. Please RSVP 

by Tuesday, May 10, to 
chaim2gen@gmail.com. 

Rita and Bernie Smilovitz

SOAR to Hold Mock Trial
The SOAR Mock Trial, a recurring program offered by SOAR 
Lifelong Learning Institute (formerly the Society of Active 
Retirees) is back. Produced by Stephen Steinhardt, this popular 
event puts audience members in the jury box as they listen 
to a cast of real-life expert witnesses and attorneys who offer 
testimony as to whether President Gerald Ford was justified 
in his decision to pardon his predecessor Richard Nixon. At 
the conclusion of the event, the “jury” will render its deci-
sion. This free event will take place attThe Hawk Community 
Center Auditorium, 29995 W. 12 Mile Road, Farmington Hills, 
on Friday, May 6, at 1 p.m.
The two-hour event is structured like a real trial in which 
the “jury” hears arguments from attorneys and expert wit-
nesses. Attorney Chris Nesi will serve as the prosecutor/
plaintiff and argue that Ford was not justified: the central core 
of his argument being that whatever other circumstances were 
involved, the President of the United States must be held to the 
same or better legal, mora, and ethical standards. Pardoning 
Nixon when others were convicted and served time set a poor 
precedent for future presidents and their behavior. 
The defense, led by Professor Robert Sedler, Distinguished 
Professor of Law Emeritus at Wayne State University, will 
argue that by accepting a pardon, there was an admission of 
guilt: the system worked, Nixon stepped down, it was time to 
let the country heal. Richard Nixon, played by Judge Michael 
Warren, will take the stand to attest to the accomplishments 
of his time in office and that his resignation allowed the coun-
try to move on without impeachment hearings. And the final 
witness, Gerald Ford, played by journalist Jack Lessenberry, 
will testify his actions were in the best interest of the country, 
that by accepting the pardon, Nixon admitted guilt. Other 
witnesses include Other Joe Kosmala, Dana Warnez and John 
Chmura.
Reservations are required. SOAR follows current CDC 
COVID guidelines. For more information and tickets, go to 
www.soarexplore.com or call, (248) 626-0296. 

