6 | AUGUST 25 • 2022

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
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: Kaitlyn Iezzi, Kelly Kosek,
Deborah Schultz, Michelle Sheridan


PURELY COMMENTARY

essay
Saying Goodbye
S

ix months ago, we opened our
home to one of our community’s
shinshinim.
Itay Schwartz joined the Starr family
in March and instantly became just like
our own. My heart is aching
after taking him to the
airport today, but we know
this is just תוארתהל (“until
we see each other again”)
and not goodbye because,
b”h, we will see him soon in
our other home across the
ocean.
Not only was it inspiring to watch
Itay (and Noa, Amit and Ron) work to
bring understanding, love and education
about Israel to the Jewish community
of Detroit and Camp Tamarack, but we
were also honored and grateful to watch
him connect with our own children, our
parents, our synagogue community and
our friends.
Our community is blessed to have
four shinshinim each year, and each

one of them brings great leadership,
commitment and wisdom to their work.
When we originally agreed to serve as a
host family, we thought we were doing
the mitzvah. In fact, in turned out that
Itay was the one doing the mitzvah. He

gave us so much love and honored us by
being part of our family. We were really
the ones who benefited from his presence.
Our sons added a brother, and we added
a son. Itay left his home and his country
one year ago. He also left his family to
come to this community and not only did
he serve it well, he also added to the size
and strength of our family.
My heart is so sad today and yes there
were many tears. His shoes are not by the
door, his room is empty, his car is not in
the garage, and the basketball hoop lays
quiet, there is an empty seat at our table,
but I’m also so grateful for this gift of the
last 6 months. Hila and Miron Schwartz,
from the bottom of our hearts, thank you
for sharing your son with us and please
know he is forever in our hearts with love
and gratitude. We send him home to you
but also know that he will always have a
home with us as well.

Rebecca Starr is Midwest Manager of the Shalom

Hartman Institute.

Rebecca
Starr

Rebecca Starr and
Itay Schwartz