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

