4 | JUNE 2 • 2022 

for openers
A Busy Body
A

goal for us all is to 
remain as active as 
possible. Doing so 
has many positive physical 
and mental ramifications. 
If, however, 
you find your 
mind is willing, 
in this instance, 
but the flesh is 
weak, you may 
want to hone 
your language 
skills to include 
as much of your body as you 
can. Lend me your ear.
Do not keep your head in 
the clouds; that is not practical 
either literally or figuratively. 
Doing so may find you in over 
your head in situations.
To have a really good time, 

you may be requested to let 
your hair down. (These days, 
I wish I could!) Caution: Try 
not to get in someone’s hair. 
Off the top of my head, that is 
the best advice I could come 
up with.
Being a sight for sore eyes 
means you are bringing joy to 
someone; good way to go. If 
they let you in on a secret, be 
sure to keep your lips sealed. 
It is not usually a sound 
idea to stick your neck out for 
a cause or person. In return, 
you may get the cold shoulder, 
especially if money is 
involved. Then you may have 
to cry your heart out just to 
get it off your chest. Finding 
a shoulder to cry on may be 
a difficult task if folks are not 

sympathetic and that may eat 
your heart out.
Someone really bothering 
you? Ask him to get off your 
back. Don’t get involved in 
anything that will cost you 
an arm and a leg. When 

confronted, say your hands 
are tied. Making a promise of 
financial aid can sometimes 
have you put your foot in your 
mouth.
Always remember to play it 
by ear. 

Sy Manello
Editorial
Assistant

PURELY COMMENTARY

The Scourge of Hate
I am a 72-year-old Jewish 
woman whose heart is broken 
for Sofia Bat Sarah (“Detroit’s 
Youngest Tichel-Maker,
” May 
19, page 38). I am very sad 
that that she was attacked by 
antisemitic people and took her 
site down. What is happening 
to our country and world? It is 
such a scary place. 
Growing up in the ’50s 
and ’60s, our family lived in 
northwest Detroit. My schools 
were very integrated. We 
Blacks and Jews stuck together. 
I still have many of my Black 
and Jewish friends from my 
early years. I grew up in the 
shadow of the Holocaust, which 
frightened me along with 
the lynchings down South. I 
personally experienced hateful 
people when I was out of my 

realm. 
Sofia, who sounds like a 
wonderful young woman, I 
am so sorry that you had to 
experience hate. All this hate 
in our country and world is 
horrifying. This is not how 
I grew up. We are going 
backwards, and it is terrifying. 
The white supremacists march 
at night like the nazis did and 
look how that turned out. I 
refuse to capitalize their names. 
It’s an assault on humankind. 
Some people will never learn, 
and I say never again. 

— Gaye Tischler

Via the web

Our Teachers 
Deserve Respect
As you mention in your 
introduction (“Educators of the 
Year,
” May 19, page 22), teachers 

are often not recognized for the 
vital contribution they provide 
to our students and, in turn, the 
culture at large. 
As a retired teacher in the 
arts field, the return on my 
efforts came in light of the 
transformation of the middle 
school student from day one 
through graduation. This alone 
was often a sufficient personal 
reward.
It is apparent that there 
are many educators in the 
Jewish community that are 
commended for their skills. 
Thank you for reporting on 
this usually invisible effort! 
What a great resource! What 
encouragement! 

— Laura Gumina 

Via the web

Bill Cohodas’ Legacy

As daughters of Willard 
and Lois Cohodas, we were 
particularly grateful to see your 
recent article about our father, 
Bill, in the William Davidson 
Digital Archive column (“‘The 
UP’s Jewish Soul’
,
” May 19, page 
118). How proud my dad would 
be to read of your appreciation 
of his dedication and efforts! 
Our mother, who is 104, was 
deeply touched by this article. 
We both agree that Dad 
would have been thrilled 
with the Governor’s Council 
on Genocide and Holocaust 
Education that was passed a 
mere four months after his 
death. 
Thank you for continuing my 
father’s sterling legacy.

— Lynn Cohodas Stahl

Nancy Cohodas Oberman

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