…$200 April 15-21, 2021 / 3-9 Iyar 5781 $200 April 15-21, 2021 / 3-9 Iyar 5781 JEWISH NEWS JEWISH NEWS THE DETROIT thejewishnews.com 60-Year Run 60-Year Run 60-Year Run The Nederlanders sell the Fisher Theatre to a U.K. theater group. Page 35 A Glorious …
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…APRIL 15 • 2021 | 3 20 contents PURELY COMMENTARY 4-11 Essays and viewpoints. OUR COMMUNITY 12 Living Jewishly in the Heights Madison Heights Jews are not so isolated as one might think. 16 Art in a Box Preschool educator creates craft boxes to build skills for kids. 18 Faces & Places: From Our Day Schools 20 Hebrew Free Loan Partners with Black Leaders Detroit HFL helps new nonprofit get off the ground. 22 ‘Project ...…
…4 | APRIL 15 • 2021 essay The Working Definition of Antisemitism Needs No Rewrite S ince 2005, government and nonprofit profes- sionals tasked with combating antisemitism have championed the widespread recognition of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism. Prior to 2017, the IHRA Working Definition was largely uncontroversial in the United States except among pro-Palesti...…
…APRIL 15 • 2021 | 5 Whether it’s 2 a.m. on the weekend or a routine appointment, Blue Cross is here to help you access the care you need. Call our 24-Hour Nurse Line with questions or see a doctor from home with Blue Cross Online Visits. Plus, our Blue Cross mobile app gives you on-demand access to the resources you need so no matter where life takes you, you’ll always be connected with your coverage anytime, anywhere. We’re here for it a...…
…6 | APRIL 15 • 2021 N ot long after the grue- some reality of the Holocaust had burst onto the world’s consciousness, the philosopher and social theorist Theodor Adorno famous- ly observed in 1949 that writing poetry after Auschwitz was barbaric — “nach Auschwitz ein Gedicht zu schreiben, ist bar- barisch. ” Less well known but equally insightful was Adorno’s sub- sequent conclusion, expressed in a 1966 radio address in Germa...…
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…8 | APRIL 15 • 2021 guest column Let’s Heal the Jewish- Arab Rift in Israel H ealing occurs only when we look at the other face-to-face. — The Zohar. Do we Jews in Israel truly wish for coexistence and mutual respect among all of Israel’s varied communities? If we do, we would do well to craft an appropriate response to MK Mansour Abbas’ groundbreaking April 1 speech. As head of the Islamic Movement’s Ra’am Party, Abbas reac...…
…APRIL 15 • 2021 | 9 INNOVATIVE. ENGAGING. ENLIVENING. TOTALLY CAPTIVATING. An expansive menu of freshly prepared meals and daily chef specials Fine arts performances A variety of thoughtfully planned, engaging activities Individual chauffeured transportation A host of technology- based enrichment Family engagement app All Seasons emboldens you to discover a dynamic range of enlightening perspectives and experiences e...…
…10 | APRIL 15 • 2021 PURELY COMMENTARY GIVING VOICE TO THE DEAD And yet, despite all these flashing yel- low lights, I, the son of two survivors of Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen who was born three years after the end of World War II in the displaced per- sons camp of Bergen-Belsen, long ago turned to expressing myself in poetry. Over the decades, I have tried to give voice to the dead in my poems, to com- fort ghosts and to provide a mem...…
…APRIL 15 • 2021 | 11 tackle today’s challenges. I believe that among both Jews and Arabs, “partners” do exist, people who believe that despite our differences and our disagreements we can forge a path to coexistence and mutual respect. But we need more such people, many more. Join us! Yakov Nagen is director of Ohr Torah Stone’s Blickle Institute for Interfaith Dialogue and the Beit Midrash for Judaism and Humanity. oppressors...…
…12 | APRIL 15 • 2021 I spent the week before Rosh Hashanah in a bit of a funk, ” says Madison Heights Mayor Roslyn Grafstein, who last August was appointed to the city’s top posi- tion. “I was missing my mom and my fami- ly a bit more than usual. ” Her non-Jewish neighbors didn’t have any firsthand knowledge of Rosh Hashanah. Yet, they figured out a way to help Grafstein celebrate her most memorable Jewish New Year. Before COVID,...…
…APRIL 15 • 2021 | 13 more than $30,000, and distributed roughly 25 tons of food, hygiene and cleaning items. Over the last year, Stein and a team of volunteers turned what was supposed to be a temporary endeavor into a permanent, nonprofit organization. Stein no longer serves as the executive director because of the time commitment but is still very involved. She also sits on the city’s Human Relations and Equity Commission, a newly ...…
…14 | APRIL 15 • 2021 OUR COMMUNITY When the Schechters were looking to buy a home three years ago, they searched in Oak Park, Farmington Hills and Birmingham. Madison Heights really wasn’t on their radar, but the young couple looked there anyway. They were swayed by Moses, their 60-plus pound red standard poodle. The dog went house hunting with them and loved the backyard. At first, his owners weren’t crazy about living further away...…
…APRIL 15 • 2021 | 15 Since 1996, we have been guiding and supporting individuals and families through life’s most difficult moments. Whether your faced with a challenging injury, illness, or complex health crisis, our team is here to provide the care solutions and peace of mind you and your family deserve. our team is here to provide the care solutions and peace of mind our team is here to provide the care solutions and peace of mind ...…
…16 | APRIL 15 • 2021 W hile so many pan- demic educators turned to computer platforms, one early childhood specialist began thinking out- side the digital box and devel- oped learning experiences that fit inside a plastic box. Jamie Gans, who grew up in Michigan and taught pre- school classes in New York for 11 years, returned home to Franklin for isolation and came up with activities she packaged together according to different t...…
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…18 | APRIL 15 • 2021 faces&places Students at Metro Detroit Jewish day schools are keeping busy and doing all sorts of great things. Here’s just a sample. From Our Day Schools Chidon Ziyonut at Farber Farber Hebrew Day School students recent- ly enjoyed Chidon Ziyonut, a program run by the school’s Bnei Akiva Shlichim. Over the weeks leading up to Yom HaAtzmaut, Farber students have learned about the State of Israel by interactive a...…
…APRIL 15 • 2021 | 19 Hillel Day School’s Battle of the Books Fifth graders at Hillel competed in a digital “Battle of the Books” last month. Each team created a digital poster, a team motto in both English and Hebrew, and established team colors. Students had four weeks to collectively read 21 books. Several students read more than 10, some read 15 and some students even read all 21. COURTESY OF HILLEL Fifth-graders at Hillel particip...…
…20 | APRIL 15 • 2021 I n a showing of cross-community col- laboration, Hebrew Free Loan (HFL) is helping Black Leaders Detroit (BLD) create a no-interest loan program to help Detroit’s Black com- munity in ways it’s helped Detroit’s Jewish community for more than 100 years. David Contorer, executive director of HFL, and Dwan Dandridge, CEO of BLD, met each other in late 2019 at Durfee Innovation Society, a Detroit opportunity h...…
…APRIL 15 • 2021 | 21 them a pattern to follow. “We don’t have to recreate the wheel. There’s a wheel that already exists,” Dandridge said. Noticing the burgeon- ing partnership, the Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation gave a grant to support the BLD and HFL partnership. Doug Bitonti Stewart, executive director of the foundation and a mutual friend of Contorer and Dandridge, was key in the process. Contorer recalled, “As I...…
…P ick a card, any card. Part of a magic trick? Nope, but it is part of the magic being gener- ated by a wonderful new program by FRIENDS of Jewish Senior Life (JSL) to support both local restaurants and the senior residents who reside on the JSL ’s Oak Park and West Bloomfield campuses. The program coincides with April National Volunteer Month. “Project Take- Out” is the brain- child of FRIENDS of Jewish Senior Life Directo...…
…APRIL 15 • 2021 | 23 HMD Has Fun at Road Rally In the past year, figuring out how to create engaging programs for college students like me has been difficult. Safely getting together con- tinues to be a challenge due to COVID-19. This winter, the staff at Hillel of Metro Detroit (HMD) came up with a creative idea to get outside while being safe. On Feb. 28, HMD host- ed a Road Rally Scavenger Hunt in the Ferndale area. Students ...…
…24 | APRIL 15 • 2021 E ric Israel is back on the ice. The 26-year- old Rapid City (S.D.) Rush defenseman from Huntington Woods suffered a torn MCL in his left knee Dec. 12 in the Rush’s sec- ond game of the season, but he returned to action Feb. 13 for the ECHL team. “I put in lots of hours of rehab at our physical therapy place,” Israel said. “The knee feels good. I tweak it once in a while — my knee lets me know it doesn’t li...…
…APRIL 15 • 2021 | 25 the first and once in the sec- ond. West Bloomfield scored twice in the first. The game stayed tied 2-2 until Weiss’ timely hit ended the non- league battle. Weiss would have been on the West Bloomfield junior varsity baseball team to start last season. Instead of being angry about losing the season to the pandemic, the right-handed thrower and batter went to work. “I trained hard and this past winter, I got in...…
…26 | APRIL 15 • 2021 MAZEL TOV! Cooper Bishop, son of proud par- ents, Jacalyn and Ken Bishop, will chant from the Torah and lead the Temple Kol Ami congre- gation as he becomes a bar mitzvah on Saturday, April 17, 2021. He is the grandson of Joani and James Lesser, and Rosemarie Bishop. Cooper is the younger brother of Jace and older brother of Addelyn. Cooper is a seventh-grad- er at Berkshire Middle School in Birmingham. F...…
…APRIL 15 • 2021 | 27 Brodsky-Frieder S tacy and Jeffrey Brodsky of West Bloomfield and Loren and Andrew Frieder of Cleveland, Ohio, are thrilled to announce the upcoming mar- riage of their children Danielle Brodsky and Austin Frieder. Danielle received her B.A. from the University of Michigan, and her Psy.D. from Adler University. She is a clinical psychologist at Lakeshore Psychotherapy Group, a private practice in downtown Chi...…
…HOST COMMITTEE HOST COMMITTEE Dorothy & Eddy Barak Dorothy & Eddy Barak Lisa & Andrew Barbas Lisa & Andrew Barbas Linda & Michael Berke Linda & Michael Berke Nancy & Lawrence Bluth Nancy & Lawrence Bluth Paul D. Borman Paul D. Borman Joan Brawer Joan Brawer Rhonda & Morris Brown Rhonda & Morris Brown Suzan & Michael Curhan Suzan & Michael Curhan Gail Danto & Art Roffey Gail Danto & Art Roffey Joanne Danto & Arnold Weingarden Joanne Danto & Arn...…
…Linda Dresner Levy & Ed Levy Jr. Linda Dresner Levy & Ed Levy Jr. Nancy & John Levy Nancy & John Levy Ted Lewis Ted Lewis Cis Maisel Cis Maisel Judy & John Marx Judy & John Marx Liz & J.J. Modell Liz & J.J. Modell Mara & Andrew Moss Mara & Andrew Moss Anita & Robert H. Naftaly Anita & Robert H. Naftaly Helene & Tom Ohren Helene & Tom Ohren Rachel & Joshua Opperer Rachel & Joshua Opperer Harriet & Gregg Orley Harriet & Gregg Orley Marcie & Rob ...…
…30 | APRIL 15 • 2021 THE CORE IDEA 1. Lashon hara can destroy lives, but not just the life of the subject of the hateful speech. The person who speaks it and the person who listens are both negatively impacted by engaging in this behavior. Their reputations may well be affected, too, and the way they perceive the subject will change from discussing them. There is no such thing as a passive, innocent bystander when it comes to evil...…
…APRIL 15 • 2021 | 31 “Time is not a series of moments traced on the face of a watch, always moving yet always the same. Instead, it is a jour- ney with a starting point and a destination, or a story with a beginning, middle and end. Each moment has a mean- ing, which can only be grasped if we understand where we have come from and where we are going to. This is time not as it is in nature but as it is in history.” The Rabbi Sac...…
…32 | APRIL 15 • 2021 Synagogue Directory CONSERVATIVE Adat Shalom Synagogue Farmington Hills (248) 851-5100 adatshalom.org Ahavas Israel Grand Rapids (616) 949-2840 ahavasisraelgr.org Congregation Beth Ahm West Bloomfield (248) 851-6880 cbahm.org Beth Israel Flint (810) 732-6310 cbiflint.org Congregation Beth Shalom Oak Park (248) 547-7970 congbethshalom.org Beth Tephilath Moses Mt. Clemens (586) 996-3138 bethtephilathmoses.com B’nai...…
…APRIL 15 • 2021 | 33 Shomrey Emunah Southfield (248) 559-1533 congregation-shomrey- emunah-105705.square.site The Shul-Chabad Lubavitch West Bloomfield (248) 788-4000 theshul.net Woodward Avenue Shul Royal Oak (248) 414-7485 thewas.net Yagdil Torah Southfield (248) 559-5905 Young Israel of Oak Park (248) 967-3655 yiop.org Young Israel of Southfield (248) 358-0154 yisouthfield.org RECONSTRUCTIONIST Congregation Kehillat Isr...…
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…APRIL 15 • 2021 | 35 ARTS&LIFE ON THE COVER A s the lights are being turned up again at the Fisher Theatre for the 2021-22 season — launching its 60th anniversary — The Nederlander Company turns over its storied produc- tion space to International Entertainment Holdings Limited, parent company of Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG), a live theater and tick- eting organization out of the United Kingdom. Stories surround the fam- ily th...…
…36 | APRIL 15 • 2021 ARTS&LIFE ON THE COVER TOP: View from the Balcony, 1970. BOTTOM: Fiddler on the Roof touring cast from the production that was here in March 2020, Pretty Woman comes to the Fisher Theatre in November. ThIs photo is from the Hamburg production. Jeffrey Seller accepts the 2019 Apple Award. continued from page 35 also announcing its sale of programming opera- tions at the Detroit Opera House and Music Hall ...…
…APRIL 15 • 2021 | 37 1995. “We thought of it as something that was aiming for the universal values we had found in the Sholem Aleichem story ‘Tevye’s Daughters. ’ “Nevertheless, we knew in many ways it was a Jewish show. We knew that it was a serious show, and we knew that it was a long show. With all those things, we were worried that it might not be accepted, and we were very nervous about the show’s Detroit premiere. “By the fourth w...…
…38 | APRIL 15 • 2021 M ay and June are marked by modern Jewish holidays. Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Memorial Day. Next, there’s Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day, followed by Yom HaAztmaut, Israel’s Independence Day and, of course Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day. As with other modern holidays, this is a time for rejoicing in Israel. The weather is fine, and it is the height of the growing season. Not surprisingly, durin...…
…APRIL 15 • 2021 | 39 ing and pour over the cau- liflower. Toss well. Makes 6 servings. EGGPLANT AND BULGUR PILAF Ingredients 1 cup medium or coarse bulgur Boiling water ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil 1 cup chopped red or Bermuda onion 1 cup chopped red or yellow bell pepper 1 cup ¼-inch diced carrots 2 tsp. chopped garlic 1 medium (about a pound) egg- plant, peeled or unpeeled 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved (any color) 1 cup chopped scallio...…
…40 | APRIL 15 • 2021 NEW DISNEY SERIES, GAL GADOT ON COURAGEOUS WOMEN, EDITOR TO RETIRE Big Shot begins streaming on the Disney+ channel on April 16. Created by Brad Garrett (Everybody Loves Raymond), the series stars John Stamos, 57, as Marvyn Korn, a hothead- ed men’s college basketball coach who gets ousted by the NCAA and takes a job at a pri- vate, all-girls high school. This is Disney — so the previously stoic Korn quickly ...…
…APRIL 15 • 2021 | 41 PIRKEI AVOT 11 AM, APRIL 16 Adat Shalom Synagogue invites adults of all ages to join Rabbi Aaron Bergman for this weekly discussion of one of the most beloved and wise books of our people, which was written long ago but is even more relevant today. Free and open to the community. To RSVP and receive a Zoom link, contact Jodi Gross, jgross@ adatshlaom.org. END OF LIFE CARE 2 PM, APRIL 16 Jewish Family Servic...…
…42 | APRIL 15 • 2021 CHALLAH BAKING 10 AM, APRIL 23 The Adat Shalom Sisterhood invites you to join them on Zoom to bake and braid challah with talented baker Ruth Zerin. Zoom begins at 10 am, noon to braid the dough, and 1:15 pm to learn the final steps before baking. There is no fee to attend. Advanced registra- tion required by April 21 at adatshalom/sisterhoodchal- lah. Easy Challah recipe and Zoom link provided after registr...…
…the exchange community bulletin board | professional services For information regarding advertising please call 248-351-5116 or 248-234-9057 or email salessupport@thejewishnews.com Deadline for ad insertion is 9 a.m. on Friday prior to publication. APRIL 15 • 2021 | 43 BASED Painting and Coatings LLC BASEMENT AND GARAGE EPOXY FLOORING Great Deals & Friendly Service Call Tony (586) 506-6741 basedpaintingcoatingsllc@gmail.com Call tod...…
…44 | APRIL 15 • 2021 OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY HEALTHCARE A1 CAREGIVER/COMPANION. Experienced, excellent references. 248-991-4944 Private Duty / Live-in Nursing Direct Care Worker for the Elderly. Please call Amen at (313) 478-1374. Caregiver Needs Clients! Affordable Rates. Please Call Safe Keeping 313-510-2355 Army of Angels Caregiving Services 313-610-7651Our services offer highly trained staff and ensures comprehensive ...…
…APRIL 15 • 2021 | 45 DR. JEFFREY L BRUDNEY , of Wilmington, N.C., passed away sur- rounded by family on April 4, 2021, after a brief and sudden illness. He was born May 2, 1950, in Oakland, Calif., to Lillian and Alfred Miller. After Alfred’s passing, Jeff was raised by Ernest Alexander, his uncle who lived next door, and later by stepfather David Brudney. Jeff’s undergraduate degree was from the University of California Berkele...…
…continued on page XX 46 | APRIL 15 • 2021 OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY M att Prentice, a renowned local chef and restaurant entrepre- neur, died April 8, 2021, after a short illness not related to COVID. He was 62. Although not Jewish, Matt “catered” extensively to the Jewish community. At various times, he was the in-house caterer at several synagogues, including Temple Israel, Temple Shir Shalom, Temple Emanu-El and Adat Shalom ...…
…APRIL 15 • 2021 | 47 continued on page 48 exuded the self-discipline and ambition of a man who is not afraid of hard work. Among his many awards and successes, his biggest accom- plishment was his family. He was a proud father and grand- father, and his happiest times were spent with his wife, chil- dren and grandchildren. He was a kind, loving man and will be greatly missed. He is survived by his wife, Halina Bykat; his children, Er...…
…48 | APRIL 15 • 2021 OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY SUSAN FISHMAN, 84, of West Bloomfield, died April 4, 2021. She is survived by her hus- band, Stephen N. Fishman; daughters and son-in-law, Debbi Fishman, and Lyn and David Kaufman; grandchil- dren, Aaron and Danielle Kaufman; brother and sister- in-law, Dr. Arthur and Rhoda Friedman; nephews and nieces, Dr. David and Ellen Friedman, and Lauri and David Carey. Interment was at ...…
…APRIL 15 • 2021 | 49 continued on page 50 Manluo Huang; daughter and son-in-law, Judy and Dr. Paul Lipson; grandchildren, Brian Lipson and Sianna Misheva, Rachel Lipson and Kamali Robinson, and Dr. Stacey and Dr. Tabish Shamsi; great-grandchildren, Stella Lipson, Marielle Lipson, Maxwell Robinson, Henry Robinson and Zara Shamsi. He is also survived by his former wife and Judy’s moth- er, Nancy (Manny) Kalef; Manluo’s daughter, C...…
…OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY 50 | APRIL 15 • 2021 continued from page 49 Wildern, Daniel and Zahava Ungar, Shoshana and Daniel Kohn, Adina and Eli Noff, Tzvi and Rachelli Ungar, Sara Ungar; great-grandchildren, Nili, Ruby, Alex, Luka, Tamar, Gavriel, Binyoman, Mayer, Eitan, Leora, Yael, Pauly, Yisroel Reuven, Ariella, Miki. Mrs. Herman was the beloved wife of the late Rubin Herman. Contributions may be made to Young Israel of O...…
