104 | JULY 14 • 2022 BUSINESS know, however, that he would fall in love with architecture. “I really enjoyed the scale of it and the focus,” he says. Yet before diving into architecture, Forta finished high school in 11th grade and spent the next year-and-a-half in Israel, studying at a yeshivah outside Jerusalem. “I wasn’t really sure where I stood after high school as far as religion and Judaism, ” he says. “While I was there, I found how [Modern Orthodox Judaism] could relate to my life. ” With a renewed perspective on Judaism in his pocket and after spending time volunteering at Shalva National Center for Children with Disabilities, Forta felt ready to take the next step in life back in Michigan at Lawrence Technological University. There, he worked with Hillel of Metro Detroit to build a Jewish community at the school. However, as COVID-19 impacted both onsite programming and student organizations, Forta instead helped direct people toward other Hillel college programming in the area. Now busy with graduate school and building his career in architectural design, Forta is looking forward to continuing to positively impact the community through his work. His goal is “to raise the quality of life and the quality of neighborhoods without necessarily raising the prices of the neighborhoods, ” Forta says. “That’s where my interest landed. ” Because the government no longer holds regular auctions, Jeff relies on two big surplus shows held annually in Las Vegas and a worldwide distributors’ network. According to Jeff, many people collect World War II items such as canteens and leather goods, and there is also a market for reproductions of gear used in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. In addition, Joe’s Army Navy stocks extensive name-brand cold weather and camping equipment, including items for Camp Tamarack, as well as specialized shoes and boots. The store has “80 feet of specialized bags to transport stuff,” Jeff says. He enjoys the search for unusual merchandise, such as reverse osmosis cylinders, used in treating water. (Three out of 15 have sold.) “There is a lot of detailed, computer work. I’m constantly looking for new and oddball stuff. I truly enjoy the business,” Jeff says. According to the Gold- smiths, many army surplus stores have closed. “We have a tremendous number of returning customers,” Jeff says. His father adds that some of them are second- generation customers. Joe’s Army Navy celebrated its 50th earlier this month with sales, refreshments and gifts at both store locations. 50 YEARS from page 103 LIVES AND NEIGHBORHOODS from page 102 See Our Improved Features to Help Manage Your Account! • Online Account Access for Immediate Updates • Submit Address Changes, Starts and Stops • Easy Renewal Payments • Manage Gift Subscriptions • More ways to get in touch Email Us: subscriptions@thejewishnews.com Reach Out Through Our Website: https://thejewishnews.com/contact/ Or Call 248.351.5108 Subscribe Today! 1 Year In State $85 2 Year In State $153 1 Year Out of State $125 2 Year Out of State $225 Name: Address: City: State: Zip Code: Phone Number: Credit Card Number: Exp. Date: Security Code: We Accept: Check or Money Order SEND TO: DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 32255 NORTHWESTERN HWY. SUITE 205, FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48334 $200 July 7-13, 2022 / 8-14 Tammuz 5782 JEWISH NEWS THE DETROIT thejewishnews.com Detroit Teen Mission returns to Israel in force. See page 34 Promised Land Back to the $200 June 16-22, 2022 / 17-23 Sivan 5782 JEWISH NEWS THE DETROIT thejewishnews.com Hands in the Dirt … Heart with Nature Oak Park herbalist’s Sunny Squirrel Farm is a healing and sharing place. See page 12 $200 June 9-15, 2022 / 10-16 Sivan 5782 JEWISH NEWS JEWISH NEWS THE DETROIT thejewishnews.com They’re ‘Beaming’ Over Their Trip to Israel Former U-M gymnastics teammates will compete for Team USA at the Maccabiah Games. See page 34