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…DECEMBER 30 • 2021 | 3 contents PURELY COMMENTARY 4-9 Essays and viewpoints. OUR COMMUNITY 10 Jewish Detroit: Year in Review — 2021 24 In Memoria 31 Help for Caregivers JFS/JSL offers joint caregiver series beginning in January. 32 House Hunters Local twin sisters are featured on HGTV. FACES & PLACES 33 Eighth Crazy Night of Chanukah 34 Wine and Cheese in Windsor 35 JCRC/AJC Hosts Media BUSINESS 36 West Bloom...…
…4 | DECEMBER 30 • 2021 PURELY COMMENTARY column When Will We Become an Exemplary Society? E very year at the beginning of December comes “International Day of Persons with Disabilities” (Dec. 3), an awareness day created by the United Nations to promote the rights and enhance the well-being of people with disabilities. While I applaud this important initiative, I am troubled by the implication that just one day a year s...…
…DECEMBER 30 • 2021 | 5 essay Praying in a Holy Place A round two weeks ago, the Heavens blessed us with our first grandchild. Our grandson surprised his parents by coming seven weeks early. Thank God, he is strong and getting stronger by the day. He remains in the NICU at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, until such time that the medical staff deems him healthy enough to go to his new home. I spent this Shabbat in my yesh...…
…6 | DECEMBER 30 • 2021 1942 - 2021 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: D...…
…DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 32255 Northwestern Hwy. Suite 205, Farmington Hills, MI 48334 248-354-6060 thejewishnews.com DECEMBER 30 • 2021 | 7 eration that it was through school (and the “good debt” of student loans) that we would reach financial sta- bility. Yet the White House announced that a pandem- ic-induced moratorium on loan repayment will end in February. While it’s never a good idea to claim that Jewish text has a single opinion o...…
…8 | DECEMBER 30 • 2021 L ooking back at 2021 in the hope of having something sensible to say about the past year, I found myself musing on a perennial question: Is history a story of progress, in which greater numbers of human beings become healthier, happier, more affluent, more tolerant and more educated with each year? Is it a story in which we learn from our past errors and those of our predecessors in order to not repe...…
…DECEMBER 30 • 2021 | 9 In his new documentary The Will to See, the French philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy observes that the pandemic has made the human race more insular and parochial. That is sobering news for those, like Lévy himself, who treasure the idea of solidarity across borders in the service of opening up closed societies and securing freedom for those weighed down by tyrants. It is also sobering for those who believe ...…
…10 | DECEMBER 30 • 2021 2021 YEAR IN REVIEW A s the clock ticks toward 2022, we look back at the year that was. 2021 might be remembered for an attempted coup on our government, the continuing COVID pandemic and the challenges it presents, or the year one of Jewish Detroit’s own was taken prisoner halfway across the world. It might also be remembered for the way the community came together to meet every challenge and support each othe...…
…DECEMBER 30 • 2021 | 11 FEB. 4. YAD EZRA’S LEA LUGER ANNOUNCES HER RETIREMENT Lea Luger announced her retire- ment from Yad Ezra after 28 years as executive director. Her last day was in September. FEB. 13 – NEW JEWISH LIBRARY OPENS IN OAK PARK The 900-square-foot Detroit Jewish Library, begun by Rabbi Ari Kostelitz of Congregation Dovid ben Nuchim, opens in Oak Park. FEBRUARY Lea Luger The Detroit Jewish Library COURTESY O...…
…12 | DECEMBER 30 • 2021 MARCH 25 – DAN GILBERT ANNOUNCE $500 MILLION COMMITMENT TO DETROIT The Gilbert Family Foundation will con- tribute $350 million, and the Rocket Community Fund will invest $150 million over the next 10 years to aid Detroit citizens, including low-in- come homeowners who have property tax debt. MARCH YEAR IN REVIEW MARCH 1 – JN MOVES TO NEW OFFICES The JN moved from Southfield to its new offices at 32255 ...…
…DECEMBER 30 • 2021 | 13 Huntington Woods journalist Danny Fenster was — without a doubt — this year’s Newsmaker of the Year. From the time he was detained on May 24 at Yangon International Airport in Myanmar until his return home on Nov. 16, Detroit’s Jewish community was galvanized to do all they could to support his family and see that he came home safely. Fenster, 37, managing editor of Frontier Myanmar, was one of many journali...…
…14 | DECEMBER 30 • 2021 YEAR IN REVIEW APRIL APRIL 1 – JN PARTNERS WITH JSL TO PROVIDE JEWISH NEWS TO SENIORS The staff of the Jewish News began dropping off issues each week at the JSL residences for JSL staff to distribute. Residents can enjoy the JN and keep up with the latest news about the Jewish community at no cost to them. APRIL 8 – FLORINE MARK SELLS WEIGHT WATCHERS GROUP Florine Mark, pioneering Michigan businesswom...…
…DECEMBER 30 • 2021 | 15 MAY MAY – JN PUBLISHER EMERITUS ARTHUR HORWITZ ENTERS JOURNALISM HALL OF FAME Arthur Horwitz, publisher emeritus and former executive editor of the Detroit Jewish News, has officially been induct- ed into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame. Horwitz was supposed to be inducted in 2020, but the ceremony was canceled due to COVID. This year, the ceremony was virtual. MAY — HEBREW FREE LOAN CELEBRATES 125 YEA...…
…16 | DECEMBER 30 • 2021 YEAR IN REVIEW JUNE JUNE – NCJW CELEBRATES 130TH ANNIVERSARY Beginning in 1891, Rabbi Louis Grossman of Temple Beth El called on the women of the com- munity to form a Jewish Women’s Club to “better the conditions of girls, and women, to promote friendly fellowship and mutu- al helpfulness among Jewish Women of Detroit, to elevate their mental, moral and social status, and to foster cultivating influences ...…
…DECEMBER 30 • 2021 | 17 PHOTO BY YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90 VIA JNS.ORG At a June community-wide rally against antisemitism: ZOA-MI President Sheldon Freilich expresses his Jewish pride. JCRC/ AJC President Seth Gould joins in singing “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Amy Cutler, president of NCJW|MI, thanks the attendees. JUNE 2 — ISAAC “BOUGIE” HERZOG BECOMES ISRAEL’S 11TH PRESIDENT Benjamin Netanyahu con- gratulated Herzog, saying he’s con...…
…18 | DECEMBER 30 • 2021 YEAR IN REVIEW AUGUST AUG. 2 – JVS HUMAN SERVICES AND KADIMA ANNOUNCE MERGER JVS Human Services and Kadima, both nonprofits that serve vulnerable communities in Metro Detroit, announced they will move forward with a merger expected to be opera- tional in 2022. AUG. 12 – BIRMINGHAM TEMPLE CHANGES ITS NAME After nearly 60 years, the Birmingham Temple becomes the Congregation for Humanistic Judaism of Me...…
…DECEMBER 30 • 2021 | 19 LEFT: Jared Kushner, fourth from right, poses for a group photo with the ambassadors from Israel and the UAE and others at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, Sept. 14, 2021. BELOW: The Israeli staff at Tamrack were welcomed with a buffet. SEPT. 14 – ANNIVERSARY OF ABRAHAM ACCORDS One year has passed since the United States, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed the historic Abraham Accords, late...…
…20 | DECEMBER 30 • 2021 YEAR IN REVIEW OCTOBER OCT. 1 — USS CARL LEVIN IS CHRISTENED The naval destroyer named for the late Sen. Carl Levin was christened Oct. 2 in Maine. OCT. 7 – FORMER TEMPLE BETH EL BUILDING GETS A MAKEOVER Midtown Detroit’s Bonstelle Theatre — a performing arts center that was originally the Temple Beth El synagogue — will be restored to its original glory as a home for arts that continues to celebrate ...…
…DECEMBER 30 • 2021 | 21 SOME WAYNE STATE STUDENTS HAVE A HARD TIME GOING TO SLEEP AT NIGHT. Not because they’re not tired. It’s because they don’t have a place to sleep. When President M. Roy Wilson and his wife, Jacqueline, arrived at Wayne State University, the first lady had a chance encounter with a medical student who was living out of her car. It was then that she decided something had to be done. Mrs. Wilson founded the Helpi...…
…22 | DECEMBER 30 • 2021 YEAR IN REVIEW NOVEMBER NOV. 5 – JUDGE COHN RELEASES NEW BOOK Retired U.S. Judge Avern Cohn releases his book, Thinking About ‘the Other Fella, ’ part biography and part anthology, co-writ- ten by Jack Lessenberry and Elizabeth Zerwekh. NOV. 11 — RABBI MICHAEL MOSKOWITZ CELEBRATES SILVER ANNIVERSARY Rabbi Michael Moskowitz cel- ebrated 25 years at Temple Shir Shalom, which he helped grow from 500 familie...…
…DECEMBER 30 • 2021 | 23 DECEMBER DECEMBER – GILDA JACOBS RETIRES FROM THE MICHIGAN LEAGUE FOR PUBLIC POLICY The Michigan League for Public Policy President and CEO Gilda Z. Jacobs retired after 11 years with the organization and four decades of public service DECEMBER – ISAAC AGREE DOWNTOWN SYNAGOGUE CELEBRATES CENTENNIAL An anticipated grand reopening of the renovated building by Chanukah 2022 will conclude the year-long cent...…
…OUR COMMUNITY 24 | DECEMBER 30 • 2021 W e said good-bye to so many wonderful people in 2021. Here are some of the noteworthy names who left the Earth this past year. May their memories be for a blessing. In Memoria JANUARY Quintessential volunteer MICKI GROSSMAN died while packing boxes of food at Temple Shir Shalom at age 86. FEBRUARY DR. ROBERT E. “BOB” MATTHEWS, of Farmington Hills, famous for his sports memorabilia col...…
…DECEMBER 30 • 2021 | 25 MATT PRENTICE, renowned local chef and restaurant entre- preneur who catered extensively to the Jewish community, died at age 62. APRIL Ruth Miller Marcus Matt Prentice Walter Mondale, circa 1982 Eli Broad in 2008 JEREMIAH GARCIA VIA WIKIMEDIA Dorothy Gerson Former Vice President WALTER MONDALE died at age 93. Art aficionado and Michigan State University supporter ELI BROAD died at age 87. Longtime e...…
…26 | DECEMBER 30 • 2021 OUR COMMUNITY MAY Educator and former- JCC director ALLAN “GELI” GELFOND died at age 85. Joseph Nederlander Dr. Dan Guyer Allan “Geli” Gelfond Michigan theater pioneer JOSEPH Z. NEDERLANDER died at age 93. Beloved doc- tor and Jewish Federation William Davidson Lifetime Achievement Award winner DR. DAN G. GUYER passed away at age 74. DANIEL SHERBERT, M.D. F.A.C.S. Certifi ed by The American B...…
…DECEMBER 30 • 2021 | 27 JUNE A. Robert Zeff Aby Har-Even Alene Landau and her late husband, Graham (left), greet the late author and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel at Congregation Shaarey Zedek. Local community lead- er and philanthropist ALENE LANDAU passed away at age 92. Prominent lawyer A. ROBERT ZEFF died at age 87. Israeli space pioneer and hero ABY HAR-EVEN passed at age 84. Philanthropist MARCIA APPLEBAUM died at ...…
…28 | DECEMBER 30 • 2021 OUR COMMUNITY JULY Longtime Michigan SEN. CARL LEVIN passed away at age 87. Carl Levin speaking with President Barack Obama at the White House Danny Raskin Beloved JN columnist DANNY RASKIN died at age 103. Locally renowned auto dealership owner MARVIN TAMAROFF died at age 95. Community leader GRAHAM ORLEY died at age 96. Community leader DOUGLAS BLOOM passed away at age 82. Comedian JACKIE...…
…DECEMBER 30 • 2021 | 29 SEPTEMBER Supreme Court Justice RUTH BADER GINSBURG died at age 87. MARTIN L. FRIED, musician who toured with the Beatles as well as a Detroit bankruptcy law- yer, died at age 77. Martin L. Fried Phil Horowitz, Howard Waxer and Mark Voight at a 2017 event Michigan Jewish Sports Hall of Fame bowler PHIL HOROWITZ died at age 82. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg OCTOBER Prominent University of Michigan p...…
…30 | DECEMBER 30 • 2021 OUR COMMUNITY NOVEMBER Local businessman and Jewish community supporter MYRON L. “MYNIE” MILGROM died at age 94. Theater legend STEVEN SONDHEIM died at age 91. Stephen Sondheim, songwriter/lyricist, listening to music in the recording control room during the orig- inal cast recording of the Broadway musical Into The Woods, New York, 1987 PHOTO BY OLIVER MORRIS/GETTY IMAGES MICHAEL GREENSPAN, who p...…
…DECEMBER 30 • 2021 | 31 J ewish Family Service (JFS) of Metro Detroit and Jewish Senior Life (JSL) are teaming up for a new four-part family caregiver series. The name of the program is (Care)giving and Taking: Making Time for You, a four- part series to educate, empower and connect family caregivers. Taking place over Zoom, the series will run the second Thursday of every month at 2 p.m. Jan. 13, Feb. 10, March 10 and April 14. ...…
…L indsay and Nikki Ishbia, 24-year- old twins, have lived together since their childhood home in West Bloomfield and shared dorm and apart- ment space together all through their col- lege years and beyond. So, when the lease on their last rental apartment was up, the sisters decided buying a home together was the next logical step. Though they are identical, the sisters have very different views on what they want in a home. While Lind...…
…DECEMBER 30 • 2021 | 33 faces&places The community came together at Adat Shalom Synagogue on Sunday, Dec. 5, for an outdoor Chanukah celebration. Despite the cold, pouring rain, more than 110 cars enthusiastically pulled into the parking lot. Pizzas and donuts were delivered to cars while an exciting fire performance by Detroit Circus and the music of DJ Phreddy were enjoyed by all. Everyone then gathered to dance and sing as Hazzan Da...…
…34 | DECEMBER 30 • 2021 faces&places On Dec. 9, the Windsor Jewish Community Center held a wine and cheese event co-hosted by Rabbi Jeff Stombaugh, executive director of The Well, and Rabbi Mike Nasielski, the Windsor JCC’s senior Jewish educator. Local sommelier Michelle Turnbull guided attendees through a sensory journey of wines produced by Tzafona Cellars, Ontario’s only kosher winery, which were paired with gourmet kosh...…
…In mid-November, the Jewish Community Relations Council/American Jewish Committee (JCRC/AJC) had the opportunity to host its annual Media Luncheon after one year off due to the pandemic. During the pro- gram, which took place at the Detroit Athletic Club, several dozen members of Metro Detroit’s print, broadcast and online news outlets heard from the executive directors of Michigan’s Hillels as they described Jewish life on thei...…
…36 | DECEMBER 30 • 2021 G ramercy Ridge, a multi- family housing development composed of 52 ranch-style condominiums, spanning roughly 11 acres in the heart of West Bloomfield, is open for business with its first homeowners moving in the week of Dec. 13. The development is located at the corner of 14 Mile Road and Middlebelt Road at the location of the former Eagle Elementary School, which was vacant for years. Development for th...…
…DECEMBER 30 • 2021 | 37 The interior of the Xhibition luxury retail store featuring apparel for men and women in Downtown Detroit BUSINESS L uxury retailer Xhibition has expanded its business to Downtown Detroit’s Capital Park neighborhood in the historic Farwell Building, 1251 Griswold St. The 4,000-square-foot store will feature women’s and men’s apparel, footwear and home goods. This is Xhibition’s third brick-and-mor- tar locati...…
…38 | DECEMBER 30 • 2021 M ark Schwartz spot- ted a need in the Oakland County youth sports scene, and he did something about it. He’s continued to do it, pow- ering through a pandemic that shut down his idea for several months and continues to cause headaches. Schwartz is the founder and general manager of the 2-year- old Bloomfield Bulls boys bas- ketball travel program. The Bloomfield Hills resident is proud of what the Bulls have...…
…DECEMBER 30 • 2021 | 39 ERETZ S igd is an important holiday within the Ethiopian Jewish community. It celebrates the dedication of renewing the alliance between God and the people. Back in Ethiopia, it was a fasting day where the Jews would climb the highest mountain, pray all day long, then come down and celebrate with lots of food, dancing and joy. In Israel, the main Sigd celebration takes place in the Armon Hanatziv neighbor...…
…40 | DECEMBER 30 • 2021 HOW TO SUBMIT ANNOUNCEMENTS Mazel Tov! announcements are welcomed for members of the Jewish community. Anniversaries, engagements and weddings with a photo (preferably color) can appear at a cost of $18 each. Births are $10. There is no charge for bar/bat mitzvahs or for special birthdays starting at the 90th. For information, contact Editorial Assistant Sy Manello at smanello@thejewishnews.com or (248) 351-5147 ...…
…DECEMBER 30 • 2021 | 41 SPIRIT Overcoming Shortness Of Spirit I n the words of Thomas Edison, “I haven’t failed; I have found 10,000 ways it will not work. ” Failure is often a necessary outcome toward success, not something that should be feared. Sometimes a leap of faith and action is required, and that is something that is beyond the Israelites in this week’s parsha. When Moshe presents God’s message to the Israelites, they d...…
…A t first, Moses’ mission seemed to be successful. He had feared the people would not believe in him, but God had given him signs to perform and his brother Aaron to speak on his behalf. Moses “performed the signs before the people, and they believed. And when they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.” (Ex. 4:30-31) But then things start to go wrong and continue go...…
…DECEMBER 30 • 2021 | 43 boom, most businesses flourish. In the first months after a general election, the successful leader carries with him or her the charisma of victory. In the first year, most marriages are happy. It takes no special skill to succeed in good times. But then the climate changes. Eventually it always does. That is when many businesses, and politicians, and marriages fail. There are times when even the greatest peop...…
…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 Congregation 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...…
…DECEMBER 30 • 2021 | 45 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 ...…
…46 | DECEMBER 30 • 2021 ARTS&LIFE THEATER G rowing up in the Bronx, Paul Blake had never experienced antisemitism. His classmates in high school and City College of New York were all Jewish. “I never thought about it, ” said Blake, who started out as an actor and is now a prolific Broadway producer bringing Beautiful — The Carole King Musical to the Fisher Theatre Jan. 4-9, 2022. Like all struggling actors, he’ d go on countless audit...…
…DECEMBER 30 • 2021 | 47 Supported through the generosity of The Jewish Fund and the D. Dan and Betty Kahn Family Foundation. Need to find help during a family crisis? Call jhelp at 1-833-445-4357 or visit: jhelp.org Your one-stop for support from Jewish Detroit. If you know someone who could benefi t from a Mitzvah Subscription, please email subscriptions@thejewishnews.com Give a Mitzvah Subscription to a Community Member in Need...…
…48 | DECEMBER 30 • 2021 ARTS&LIFE ART P aul Adams and Harvey Singer were business associates before they became friends. An interest in art has remained at the core of their rela- tionship although that interest has been expressed in different ways. Adams, drawing since childhood, was hired as a graphic artist while still a senior at Cass Technical High School and went on to create watercolor and print images of legendary spots i...…
…DECEMBER 30 • 2021 | 49 up in the Bronx, ” said Blake who, at age 80, is one year older than King. “The entire world of Beautiful — The Carole King Musical is all about Jewish kids growing up and making their careers in New York City. It’s a Jewish success story. ” And successful it is. The Tony and Grammy Award- winning Beautiful — The Carole King Musical was the 27th longest-running musical in Broadway history when it closed aft...…
…50 | DECEMBER 30 • 2021 I DON’T LOVE AARON SORKIN; ‘HOME GIRL’ HELMS HORROR SERIES; OSCAR BUZZ In 1951, I Love Lucy was the highest-rated show on TV. It co-starred Lucille Ball and her real-life husband, Desi Arnaz, as her TV husband. On Dec. 22, Amazon Prime began streaming a biopic about the couple, titled Being the Ricardos (the couple’s characters’ last name). It was written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, 60. The film “cram...…
