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

