those who are there for us. 
Any time an opportunity to 
say thank you is presented, 
I’m always going to be 
interested!”
This year was the first time 
Bloomfield Township police 
benefited from the program. 
Director of the Jewish Values 
Institute at the Blumenstein 
Jewish Learning Center Rabbi 
Tzvi Muller said that as the 
holiday approached, a few 
members of his Birmingham 
Bloomfield Shul congregation 
independently discussed 
showing appreciation for the 
police. Muller remembered 
hearing about Feed the Force 
and contacted Klein, who said 
he could order the food and 
other paraphernalia, if Muller 
and his community raised the 
money for it, which they did. 

Muller shared, “On 
Thanksgiving, we met Noach 
at the Farmington Hills police 
station, watched how they 
set up, heard what they said, 
then took the food to the 
Bloomfield Township police 
department and copied it 
there.” 
He was thrilled to be part of 
the program. “I’m so grateful 
to have the opportunity 
to express the regard and 
gratitude that so many in 
the community feel for 
Bloomfield Township’s finest.”
In each city, police officers 
were overwhelmed; many 
snapped pictures to share with 
their families and excitedly 
said things like, “I can’t believe 
this!”

“The officers were so 
thankful,” said Silberberg, who 
knows of at least two Jewish 
police officers in the West 
Bloomfield police department 
and was thrilled that one was 
on-duty on Thanksgiving. 
Bloomfield Township’s 
Sergeant Anthony Woycehoski 
said how grateful he and 
his department were for the 
Jewish community’s support. 
“The meal was very much 
appreciated and we’re still 
enjoying it today,” he said on 
Nov 25. 
Huntington Woods Deputy 
Director of Public Safety Bill 
Cudney was also touched; 
he said this program fits in 
perfectly with the values 
that he knows the Jewish 
community holds dear. He 
said, “Fortunately, I wasn’t 

working this Thanksgiving 
… or maybe I should say 
unfortunately! We just 
couldn’t be more grateful that 
people spent so much time 
and effort to put together this 
beautiful meal for our officers 
who are away from their 
families on the holiday. It’s not 
just the incredible food that’s 
appreciated, but the gesture of 
appreciation. It’s really just a 
wonderful thing.”
Royal Oak and Birmingham 
also have sizable Jewish 
communities and Feed the 
Force is hoping to expand 
to those police departments 
for Thanksgiving 2023. For 
further information on how to 
help, check out https://gofund.
me/10f15067. 

“I WAS EXCITED ABOUT THIS IDEA 
BECAUSE IT’S SUCH A GREAT 
OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE BACK TO 

THOSE WHO HELP PROTECT US.”

— RABBI SHNEUR SILBERBERG

T

he Jewish Historical 
Society of Michigan 
(JHSM) has 
announced the creation of 
the Judith Levin 
Cantor Legacy 
Fund, which 
furthers their 
commitment 
to pursuing 
high-quality, 
mission-driven 
undertakings — 
just like Judy did.
Cantor was a noted Jewish 
historian, curator, author, 
inspirational community 
leader and more. A fourth-
generation Detroiter, Judy 
passed away on July 26, 2022, 
at 93 years old. 
Cantor was the bedrock of 
JHSM, a president, constant 
cheerleader and supporter, 
the person behind the historic 
markers across the state of 
Michigan and the power 
behind JHSM’s endowment. 
She was the author of Jews 
in Michigan (2001), JHSM’s 
much-used reference book. 
She brought new life to 
the organization and was 
instrumental in developing 
the award-winning youth 
bus tours of historic Jewish 
Detroit.
Contributions to the fund 
will help underwrite the kinds 
of high-caliber programs 
about Michigan’s Jewish 
history (including exhibits, 
speakers and tours) that were 
close to Cantor’s heart.

“Judy Cantor was the 
organization. She did it all,” 
said Catherine Cangany, 
executive director of JHSM. 
“When she passed, the family 
and JHSM decided jointly 
that we really wanted to do 
something to honor her and 
the commitment she made 
to the organization because 
we truly would not exist 
without Judy. She took the 
organization from a tiny 
grassroots group of people 
to make it a sustainable, 
impactful organization. 
She was out pounding the 
pavement and knocking on 
doors and telling everyone 
about the organization 
and why its mission is so 
important. 
“This fund is designed to 
support the kinds of initiatives 
she was so passionate about,” 
Cangany explained. 
“She was such a special 
lady. If she cared about a 
cause, if she cared about an 
organization, she was ‘all 
in,’ and we want to not only 
acknowledge that but also 
keep that going and be ‘all in’ 
the way Judy Cantor was.”
JHSM’s inaugural event 
with the Judith Levin Cantor 
Legacy Fund will be in spring 
2023, with more details 
coming soon. 

To donate to the fund, visit 

www.jhsmichigan.org/donate and 

choose to direct your contribution to 

the Judith Levin Cantor Legacy Fund 

specifically. 

JHSM Announces 
Judith Levin Cantor 
Legacy Fund

The late 
Judy Cantor

JHSM’s inaugural event with the 
Judith Levin Cantor Legacy Fund 
will be in spring 2023.

DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

DECEMBER 15 • 2022 | 25

