6 | NOVEMBER 24 • 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
Contributing Editors:
David Sachs, Keri Guten Cohen
Staff Reporter:
Danny Schwartz
dschwartz@thejewishnews.com
Editorial Assistant:
Sy Manello
smanello@thejewishnews.com
Digital Manager:
Elizabeth King
eking@thejewishnews.com

Contributing Writers:
Nate Bloom, Rochel Burstyn, Suzanne
Chessler, Annabel 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

Students’ Corner
My Jewish Identity
B

eing a part of a
community is an
incredible joy that
many people have the privilege
of experiencing. There are
countless
opportunities for
individuals to
showcase their
unique talents
and express
their creativity,
whether in the
classroom or
outside of it. For me, it is being
a Jew.
At first glance, some could
say “Judaism is a religion, how
can that be so dear to your
heart, and how can that create
community?” I have frequently
asked myself those questions.
For me, I go to a Jewish
school (Frankel Jewish
Academy), I participate in
United Synagogue Youth
(USY), Camp Ramah and I

even work at Jewish Senior
Life. I view these engagements
as a privilege. At this point
in my Jewish journey, my
focus is toward being Central
Region USY’s Israel Affairs vice
president.
This title sounds rigorous
and commands a lot of
responsibility, however, I have
found that the creativity and
fun actually trumps all of the
stressful deadlines that are
necessary to be a productive
board member.
My USY journey began
way back when I was a
freshman, and two sophomores
encouraged me to join the
organization. At first, the
answer was always “maybe”
although I thought at the time
that I would never consider
joining. I thought it was too
outside of my comfort zone
to participate. Looking back
throughout my life, I have

found that it is actually in
these moments of engaging
something new which allows
me to grow the most.
After much pressure and
coaxing from these friends,
I went to a convention and
never looked back. USY is the
space that allows me to fully
be myself: silly, serious and
creative, all at the same time!
From that point on, USY
involvement has been an
essential part of my life. I
started on the local board and
this past spring, was elected
to the regional board. For the
past four years, being a part
of the USY community has
not only been an amazing
thing to experience, but it has
helped me grow as a leader
and person. This role keeps me
honest and humble, too. I am
thrilled to be able to lead in my
role in USY and participate in
a community that has given so

much to me.
Working at Jewish Senior Life
can be challenging at times but
also quite rewarding. I enjoy
engaging with the residents
while serving them dinner. In
one instance, I was serving a
man wearing a University of
Michigan hat, which started a
brief conversation about the
Michigan State vs. Michigan
football game. I felt like I was
in my element. I could see the
joy on his face while talking
about sports, which for me
is a passion. This is often a
common denominator for
bridging age gaps.
I am grateful for the Detroit
Jewish community and all of
its opportunities, which have
helped me find my place and
now seek out “outside-my-
comfort-zone” experiences.

Caleb Robbins is a senior at Frankel

Jewish Academy

Caleb
Robbins