36 | MAY 19 • 2022 

OUR COMMUNITY

N

ationally recognized 
storytellers Corinne 
Stavish and Rev. 
Robert Jones Sr. provided an 
evening of stories and songs 
on the theme of freedom 
while drawing on Jewish and 
Black experiences on April 20 
at Temple Kol Ami in West 
Bloomfield. 
The program was a fund-
raiser for refugees displaced in 
the current fight for freedom 
in Ukraine. The artists waived 
their fees, and all proceeds, 
more than $10,000, have been 
donated to HIAS, an interna-
tional refugee relief organiza-
tion. 
Stavish performs nation-
ally and specializes in per-
sonal, historical and biblical 
narratives. She was named 
the Detroit Jewish Woman 
Artist of the Year in 2001 and 
has received the National 
Storytelling Network’s Circle of 
Excellence Award. 
Jones is a singer, songwriter, 
storyteller and self-taught on 
many instruments, which he 
uses to play folk, blues, spiritu-
als and other American Roots 
music. He has performed 
professionally throughout the 
United States, Canada and 
Europe.
The program was spear-
headed by Temple Kol Ami 
and co-sponsored by 21 
organizations, including the 
Interfaith Leadership Council 
of Metropolitan Detroit, 
Detroit Interfaith Outreach 
Network, Jewish Community 
Relations Council (JCRC)/AJC 

and many other synagogues 
and other Jewish and Black 
organizations.
Gathering during the holy 
week of Passover, everyone 
involved said it was only fitting 
to tell the stories of Jewish and 
Black struggles for freedom 
while keeping in mind the 
ongoing struggle for freedom 
in Ukraine. 
Stavish told the story of vis-
iting the now-closed Friheds 
Museum on a trip to Denmark 
and learning about how the 
majority of Denmark’s Jews 
escaped being captured by the 
Nazis during the Holocaust. 
Although Sweden’s king had 
originally aligned the country 
with Nazi Germany, Danish 
physicist Niels Bohr persuaded 
him to allow Denmark’s Jews 
to find refuge in his coun-
try. As Nazi forces took over 
Denmark in 1943, about 7,200 

Night of stories from the Jewish and 
Black Experience raises over $10K 
for Ukrainian relief.

“Freedom Stories”

DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

Storytellers Corinne Stavish 
and Rev. Robert Jones Sr. 
along with event organizer 
Steve Merritt.

To schedule a personal tour and

inquire about move-in specials,

contact Tracey 248-661-1836 TTY# 711

or email: tproghovnick@jslmi.org

