6 | MAY 5 • 2022 essay Israel and Me: Birthday Twins M y Israeli husband, Mickey, and I are on our way to Israel. We will be celebrating Yom Ha’ Atzmaut, Israel’s 74th birth- day in the “hatzar, ” the yard, of the home where Mickey grew up and his family has lived continuously since 1934. Independence Day celebrations in Israel, in the yard, are a long-held tra- dition. It is a festive gathering for the extended family and friends. Israeli flags decorate the entrance gate, the home, and the yard. The barbecue continuously produces displays of a variety of delicious meats. Visitors bring salads and accompaniments from pitas to desserts. The day is highlighted by stories, sing-alongs and even dancing. We excitedly board our plane anticipating the joyous day to be with Mickey’s family. Israel and I will both be celebrat- ing birthday number 74. I am a post-World War II baby. I, too, was born in the spring of 1948. Growing up in Detroit, my mother made sure our joint des- tiny of birth dates was a fact that I was keenly aware of with each passing year. We, Israel and I, were new, exciting entities hoped for by my mother: I, the gift from my father’s recovery from severe World War II wounds; Israel, the hoped-for Jewish state that arose from the ashes of the Holocaust. My mother was a passionate, proud Zionistic Jew. Each year, she announced, “You and Israel are celebrating your 10th, 16th, 21st birthday (whichever one it happened to be). Little did she know then that our joint destinies would become more firmly tied. When I graduated from college, free to go anywhere, I decided that this was the time to visit the mysterious place that shared my birthday. I signed up for an ulpan (Hebrew immersion program) in Israel on Kibbutz Mayan Tzvi. My college room- mate, Debbie, prepared me for my forthcoming adventure. She taught me important words in Hebrew: ice cream, bathroom, please and thank you. I have now visited Israel many times, yet the initial impressions of awe of actually seeing the land and places that I learned about, heard about and studied can never be forgotten. The phrase “So, this is …?” repeatedly played in my mind. “So, this is a kib- butz?” “So, this is Jerusalem?” “So, this is the Western Wall?” Where Jesus walked? The bloom- ing desert? The “Skadia” (almond tree) that we sang about on Tu Beverly Kent Goldenberg PURELY COMMENTARY continued on page 12 1942 - 2022 Covering and Connecting Jewish Detroit Every Week To make a donation to the DETROIT JEWISH NEWS FOUNDATION go to the website www.djnfoundation.org The Detroit Jewish News (USPS 275-520) is published every Thursday at 32255 Northwestern Highway, #205, Farmington Hills, Michigan. Periodical postage paid at Southfield, Michigan, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: send changes to: Detroit Jewish News, 32255 Northwestern Highway, #205, Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334 MISSION STATEMENT The Detroit Jewish News will be of service to the Jewish community. The Detroit Jewish News will inform and educate the Jewish and general community to preserve, protect and sustain the Jewish people of greater Detroit and beyond, and the State of Israel. VISION STATEMENT The Detroit Jewish News will operate to appeal to the broadest segments of the greater Detroit Jewish community, reflecting the diverse views and interests of the Jewish community while advancing the morale and spirit of the community and advocating Jewish unity, identity and continuity. DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 32255 Northwestern Hwy. Suite 205, Farmington Hills, MI 48334 248-354-6060 thejewishnews.com Publisher The Detroit Jewish News Foundation | Board of Directors: Chair: Gary Torgow Vice President: David Kramer Secretary: Robin Axelrod Treasurer: Max Berlin Board members: Larry Jackier, Jeffrey Schlussel, Mark Zausmer Senior Advisor to the Board: Mark Davidoff Alene and Graham Landau Archivist Chair: Mike Smith Founding President & Publisher Emeritus: Arthur Horwitz Founding Publisher Philip Slomovitz, of blessed memory | Editorial DIrector of Editorial: Jackie Headapohl jheadapohl@thejewishnews.com Associate Editor: Rachel Sweet rsweet@thejewishnews.com Associate Editor: David Sachs dsachs@thejewishnews.com Social Media and Digital Producer: Nathan Vicar nvicar@thejewishnews.com Staff Reporter: Danny Schwartz dschwartz@thejewishnews.com Editorial Assistant: Sy Manello smanello@thejewishnews.com Contributing Writers: Nate Bloom, Rochel Burstyn, Suzanne Chessler, Annabel Cohen, Keri Guten Cohen, Shari S. Cohen, Shelli Liebman Dorfman, Louis Finkelman, Stacy Gittleman, Esther Allweiss Ingber, Barbara Lewis, Jennifer Lovy, Rabbi Jason Miller, Alan Muskovitz, Robin Schwartz, Mike Smith, Steve Stein, Julie Smith Yolles, Ashley Zlatopolsky | Advertising Sales Director of Advertising: Keith Farber kfarber@thejewishnews.com Senior Account Executive: Kathy Harvey-Mitton kmitton@thejewishnews.com | Business Office Director of Operations: Amy Gill agill@thejewishnews.com Operations Manager: Andrea Gusho agusho@thejewishnews.com Operations Assistant: Ashlee Szabo Circulation: Danielle Smith Billing Coordinator: Pamela Turner | Production By Farago & Associates Manager: Scott Drzewiecki Designers: Kelly Kosek, Kaitlyn Schoen, Deborah Schultz, Michelle Sheridan A Family Tradition Since 1964 Antipasto Salad Our Famous Baked Bread Lamb Chops Spaghetti Carbonara “Alla Bocelli” Steak and Cheese Calzoni Linguini with White Clam Sauce Veal Ossobuco Alle Verdure Dad’s Pizza Pie Recipe Farmington Hills (Corner of Halsted) 37646 W . 12 Mile Rd. 248.994.4000 Canton (Corner of Ford Road) 2220 N. Canton Ctr. Rd. 734.981.9800 Dearborn Heights Shopping Center 26356 Ford R. 313.248.6000 Dearborn (Between Miller and Lonyo) 9924 Dix Ave. 313.842.2100 No Banquets Livonia (West of Merriman) 31735 Plymouth Rd. 734.513.8000 Like us on Facebook www.antoniosrestaurants.com Follow us on Instagram @antoniosrestaurants Thank you for voting us "Best Italian Restaurant"! Come break bread with us at Antonio’s and Roman Village where we do Italian right! Mom deserves the best on Mother’s Day! Make it... Mom deserves the best on Mother’s Day! Make it... Mom deserves the best on Mother ’s Day! Make it... Thank you for voting us “Best Italian Restaurant” and “Best All-Around Restaurant” 313.278.6000