“THE BEAUTY OF BOOKSTOCK 
IS THAT WE GET BOOKS OUT OF 
BASEMENTS AND BACK INTO 
PEOPLE’S LAPS.”

— NEAL RUBIN, DETROIT FREE PRESS COLUMNIST 
AND HONORARY CO-CHAIR OF BOOKSTOCK

continued from page 13

OUR COMMUNITY
ON THE COVER

14 | MARCH 28 • 2024 
J
N

Mall. 
According to Bookstock 
co-founder Jodi Goodman, 
“Roz had read in the Jewish 
News that the Brandeis 
ladies wanted to retire.” At 
the time, Roz Blanck and 
Jodi Goodman, both moth-
ers of Hillel Day School students, were 
looking for a volunteer project, so they 
met with the Brandeis Women’s orga-
nization leaders. “They gave us a lot of 

guidance,” Goodman said.
It took a few years of plan-
ning, Blanck explained, and 
initially they worked through 
the Hillel PTO, which was 
then the beneficiary of the 
sale. “It was a lot of fun and 
work. We branched out over 
the years,” she said. 
When Bookstock was extended to 
eight days from Sunday through Sunday, 
several secular organizations (Oakland 

Literacy Council, Storytime Guild and 
DKG — a teacher’s sorority) agreed to 
staff the sale during the Sabbath.
After a few years, Bookstock shift-
ed from the Hillel PTO to the Jewish 
Community Council (now JCRC/AJC) 
for its organizational mantle. Years later, 
Gesher (formerly JVS) took over that 
role. Now it provides accounting and 
financial services for Bookstock, which 
has its own 501c 3 nonprofit organiza-
tion status.

Neal Rubin pictured at 
the 2019 Grand Opening.

 JEFF AISEN

JAMIE FELDMAN

Pictured are Bookstock 
leadership group members 
Judy Robinson, Carol Dmitruk, 
Susi Schoenberger, Bobbi 
Gutman, Jane Steinger, 
Beverly Phillips, Janet Berman, 
and Natalie Newman, Other 
members include Roz Blanck, 
Jodi Goodman, Sharon 
Resnick, Melissa Weisberger, 
Ruth Beitner and Neal Rubin.

Roz Blanck

JEFF AISEN

Jodi 
Goodman

BOOKSTOCK