34 | DECEMBER 7 • 2023
Jewish activities in Detroit.
Stan became active in Brandeis
AZA and Bernie spent time
at sponsored clubs at the old
JCC at Meyers and Curtis.
These affiliations would have
profound impacts on both boys
that over the years nurtured
their shared love for, dedication
to and eventual trips together
as adults to Israel. More on that
in a moment.
Even as they got busy with
their adult lives — college,
getting married, starting fam-
ilies establishing careers and
traveling in separate social
circles — phone conversations
continued to provide a lifeline
to their friendship. Plus, there
was always the knowledge that
life’s milestones would always
find a way to bring Bernie and
Stan back together.
That being said, it should
come as no surprise that Stan,
who’s now single but twice
married, included his lifelong
friend in each of his nuptials.
“Bernie stood up for me at my
first wedding and officiated in
his capacity as a judge during
my second. Plus, I, in turn,
stood up in his wedding. We’re
even godparents to each oth-
er’s kids.” Bernie and his wife,
Rozanne, recently celebrated
their 53rd wedding anniver-
sary.
LIFELONG LOVE
FOR ISRAEL
Bernie and Stan’s affection for
Israel was woven throughout
our conversation over lunch.
The stories they shared came
just weeks in advance of the
horror that would unfold on
Oct. 7.
“I was 18 and won a schol-
arship through B’nai B’rith
Youth Organization to spend
a summer in Israel,
” Stan said.
“It literally set me on my whole
Jewish course of life.
”
So strong is Friedman’s devo-
tion to Israel that for the last
several years he has personally
chaperoned several of his law
clerks on trips there at his
expense.
So, it only makes sense that
these two lifelong adventur-
ers would find a way to share
unique experiences together
in Israel. Two of their trips, in
particular, are made even more
memorable today within the
context of the current war.
In 2011 and 2015, Bernie
and Stan signed up with Sar-El,
the project to send volunteers
for Israel that takes place on
IDF bases throughout Israel.
Sar-El is the Hebrew acronym
meaning “Service for Israel.
”
As stated on its website: “The
work of Sar-El is to assist Israel
with the incredible burden that
is placed on active and reserve
citizen soldiers, with work
centered on logistical support.
”
During their two stints with
Sar-El, Bernie and Stan would
wear uniforms, be present for
morning reveille and follow
the official IDF schedule.
They recalled recycling
ammunition cans that housed
bullets and preparing duffle
bags with clothing for the
troops to be among the many
responsibilities that made up
their daily routine. In a manner
of speaking, Friedman and
Meretsky were in the Army
now.
In a subsequent conversa-
tion since our lunch, the two
shared their sentiments about
the current strife in Israel. “I’m
distressed every single day,
”
Bernie said. “It is my total focus
of both concentration and
prayers.
”
That same overwhelming
emotion could be heard in
Stan’s voice. “When I hear
‘Hatikvah,
”’ he said, “I tend to
almost cry every time. When
I hear ‘The Star-Spangled
Banner,
’ I swell with pride. And
these days hearing both has
been very tough.
”
TODAY’S ADVENTURES
Seventy-five years later, the
same sense of wonder and
adventure that Bernie and Stan
had when riding the Dexter
bus still burns within them, but
perhaps the excursions are a bit
more modest.
Today, you might find the
two traveling together to
antique shows or flea market
destinations where they
search for materials to support
Bernie’s woodworking hobby
and Stan’s love for making
metal sculptures.
The phone calls still come
on a daily basis, often to
invite each other on errands or
simply just to check in to see
how each other is doing.
Several days ago, I happened
to bump into Stan in the
parking lot of a grocery store.
After exchanging greetings,
he said to me: “If you stick
around for a few minutes,
you’ll see Bernie. He’s meeting
me to do some shopping.”
Meretsky and Friedman.
Every time I say or write it,
I can’t help but think that it
sounds like an old-time Jewish
double play combination in
baseball. But then I recalled
Bernie and Stan didn’t like
sports; they liked riding their
bicycles. And knowing their
love for collecting years’ worth
of “tchotchkes,” I wouldn’t
be surprised if their childhood
bikes are still in their garages
today.
OUR COMMUNITY
continued from page 33
A recent photo of Bernie and Stan at his judicial office in Detroit
where you can see some of the “stuff” Bernie likes to collect.
ALAN MUSKOVITZ