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… statements about Jews.” Is this a tall order to learn to say such calm replies? Yes! And we all must learn to do it — to educate one person at a time. I attended Michigan State University in the late…

… farm in Michigan. She had never before met a Jew. Third quarter — I shared with a young woman from Oak Park, who I heard tell someone on the dorm hall phone that she now had a Jewish friend. Then…

… comments calmly and in a way that educates the other person. In the case of the statement about Jews only caring about money, perhaps an appropriate answer could be: “You may not realize that what you…

… said is an antisemitic statement said for hundreds of years to harm Jews. I know you wouldn’t say such a statement about Blacks or Asian Americans. I hope in the future you won’t say such…

… 1960s. In my hometown of Elgin, Ill., I had been the only Jewish stu- dent in my classes, and I had so looked forward to being among Jews at college. Fall 1966 — I am assigned to be roommates in…

… when you heard about the deadly synagogue attacks on Jews in Pittsburgh? In Poway, Calif.? Remember the emo- tions you went through? Did you feel outrage? Were you sick watching the news…

… fired toward Israel from Hamas- controlled Gaza in a terrorist effort to murder Jews. Not all of them landed in empty fields; that miraculous Iron Dome that saves so many lives isn’t infallible…

…. I’m a Jewish mom of two teenagers living in a Philadelphia suburb. I grew up in a Connecticut town with very few Jews, and I was raised in a secular Jewish home with no connection to Judaism…

…; however, Israel and Zionism were an integral part of my upbringing. L’dor v’dor: I am raising my children to be unapolo- getic Zionists and Jews. I’m proud that my daughter, who just graduated high…

… Detroit Jewish News (USPS 275-520) is published every Thursday at 29200 Northwestern Highway, #110, Southfield, Michigan. Periodical postage paid at Southfield, Michigan, and additional mailing…

… about 50,000 Jews living in Salonica (or Thessaloniki), the largest Jewish community in Greece. Between March and August 1943, the Germans deport- ed more than 45,000 Jews to the Auschwitz…

… Jewish history. But a few Jews managed to survive the massacre. Two of those survivors gave birth to a man, Albert Bourla, who is now at the center of the biggest public health crisis of modern times…

… Holocaust survivors has helped provide the vaccine that will save countless lives, not just around the world but also in the country of Jewish refuge, Israel. There was no ref- uge for the 6 million Jews…

… who perished in the Holocaust, nor for Bourla’s fellow Greek Jews who were gassed at Auschwitz. Today there is. Consider the speed with which Israel is getting its people vaccinated. We know that…

… Jews survived. I hope you’ll agree there’s something remarkable about all of this. ” There is, indeed. The very sequence of the Holocaust followed by the birth of Israel is haunting. Within a few…

… years, Jews went from the lowest to the highest, the dark- est to the brightest, the pits of despair to the heights of hope. They went from the verdict of death to the promise of life. A vaccine is…

… the antidote to death. A Greek Jew who hails from a community of death is now spreading the hope of life. Eight decades after the massa- cre of Salonica, Albert Bourla stands as an enduring…

… testament to the power of resiliency — for Jews and for humanity. David Suissa is editor-in-chief and pub- lisher of Tribe Media Corp and Jewish Journal. He can be reached at davids@ jewishjournal…

… enhancing the quality of life, and Jewish life, in Southeast Michigan. July 30-Aug. 5, 2020/ 9-15 Av 5780| VOLUME CLVII, ISSUE 26 Views 5-13 Cover Story: Camps! Camp Mom Michigan 14 Mission? Create…

… feelings. Jews in the D Thirsty to Learn 22 Detroit educators enjoy virtual NewCAJE Conference at reduced cost. Signed into Law 24 Local Hadassah members advocated for Never Again Education Act…

…. Michigan Courts Rule Against Oakland County in $8.41 Foreclosure Case 26 County says it will investigate treasurer over auction profits as primaries loom. Survivor Outreach 27 COVID care packages for…

… Holocaust survivors. Moments Moments 28 Spirit Torah portion 29 Yiddish Limerick: Tisha B’ Av 36 Jews and Arbor Trees 37 Reflections on Tisha B’ Av. Arts&Life Life-Affirming Expression 30 Poet brings…

… impact of grief in ‘ The Plague of the Tender-Hearted.’ Canceled! 31 West Bloomfield revokes permit for Orchard Lake Fine Art Show. Celeb Jews 32 Online Events 33 Health Front Porch Medicine 34…

…6 | AUGUST 6 • 2020 Views essay Beating Each Other Up I think it’ s safe to say that we Jews are, well, maybe just a tad bit opinionat- ed. We’ re quick to speak our minds and certainly not…

…- cize everything about fellow Jews — are they too pious, or not pious enough, too vocal, or not vocal enough, or too pro-Isra- el or not pro-Israel, etc. In the wake of the murder of George Floyd…

…6 | AUGUST 6 • 2020 Views essay Beating Each Other Up I think it’ s safe to say that we Jews are, well, maybe just a tad bit opinionat- ed. We’ re quick to speak our minds and certainly not…

…- cize everything about fellow Jews — are they too pious, or not pious enough, too vocal, or not vocal enough, or too pro-Isra- el or not pro-Israel, etc. In the wake of the murder of George Floyd…

… 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: Detroit Jewish News, 32255 Northwestern Highway, #205, Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334 MISSION STATEMENT The Detroit Jewish News will be of service to…

… why Jews have abandoned their argumentative tradition in favor of shutting down debate and free speech, even as Jews themselves feel especially aggrieved and marginalized? One way to explain all…

… of this is what I call “Jewish defensive assimilation” and it does not bode well for Jewish collegiate students. In pre-war Europe, many Jews felt intense disdain and pressure against them…

… check. Similarly, the tendency for 20th-century American Jews to align with liberal and progressive causes may be seen as partially motivated by a selective reading of the Jewish tradition, and…

… the motivation to align with the forces most unsympathetic to Jewish group vitality and survival. Today, we see Jews buying into regular messaging asserting Jewish privilege, comparing Zionism…

… to Nazism, blaming Jews for oppression in America, and attacking American Jews for exercising their rights as citizens have become the norm. Schools hold events that speak about Jewish blood…

…. Rather, they have a narrow and particularistic view of what society and power look like and for them, the Jewish community and traditions are not a welcome part. Jews have historically fought for…

…APRIL 21 • 2022 | 59 succeeded in delaying the deportations. The king and prime minister retaliated — the parliament voted to remove him from his post on March 26. Jews from the newly acquired…

… territories were deported to death camps. The Bulgarian government would not listen to appeals for those Jews. Comforty interviewed Nir Baruch, who reported that 11,363 were deported from Macedonia…

….levytaxhelp.com We Listen …. We Care … We Help! HQ: 28400 Southf eld Road., Lathrup Village, Michigan 48076 S.D.: Owed the IRS $207,214. With our help, the case was settled for $7352. D.D.: Client owed the IRS…

…, Michigan 48076 S.D.: Owed the IRS $207,214. With our help, the case was settled for $7352. D.D.: Client owed the IRS $110,203. Our f rm negotiated an Offer in Compromise to settle the debt for $12…

… Unity, a partnership between the Jewish Community Relations Council/AJC and the Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit and Vicinity, along with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Michigan chapter…

…. “It just means that we mustn’ t pretend that we stand in their shoes, just like they don’ t stand in ours. Many Jews can surely relate to the ways in which non-Jews can empathize and support us and…

… work with us in effective coalitions. Many American Jews lost family in the Holocaust. We know that many non-Jews are empathetic, and that touches our hearts immensely. ” The statement emphasizes…

… the need to acknowledge the growing number of Jews of color in the community, and how Jews should not perceive them as invisible during this time. The organizations ask communities to come together…

… Coalition’ s Facebook page. Also on June 4, Coalition members marched peacefully in Detroit alongside Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and several…

…32 | MARCH 24 • 2022 OUR COMMUNITY D etroit Jews for Justice is looking forward to reinvigorated post- COVID activism under new leadership. The organization was start- ed in 2014 by…

… Congregation T’ chiyah in Oak Park, which hired Rabbi Alana Alpert to work half-time as its spiritual leader and half–time as the director of Detroit Jews for Justice. Last year, Alpert announced her…

… Michigan. If the U.S. Supreme Court overturns the right to abortion established by Roe vs. Wade in 1973, Michigan’s 1931 law banning abortion will become effective once again — unless the state…

… legislature enacts new legislation. DJJ is working with 35 other organizations, including ACLU of Michigan, Michigan Voices and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan, on a ballot initiative that will…

… music education at Western Michigan University. While teaching music in Detroit elementary schools, she developed a heightened sense of political activism because, she said, she saw “systems of…

… lives in Ferndale and started the new job in February. Zeff said she’s proud that Detroit Jews for Justice has been able to build trusting partnerships with other social justice organizations in…

… south- eastern Michigan, including the People’s Water Board Coalition, the Coalition for Property Tax Justice and groups working for immigrant rights. By creating a “Jewish seat at the table, ” DJJ…

… thousands more. Hundreds attended its March 20 Purim celebration, held outdoors at Detroit’s Marble Bar. Anyone interested in volunteering or learning more about Detroit Jews for Justice is invited…

… to contact Silver at elijah@detroitjewsforjustice.org. Detroit Jews for Justice renews its activism. Back in Action Allie Zeff Elijah Silver BARBARA LEWIS CONTRIBUTING WRITER DJJ DJJ has been…

… times, it sure does rhyme, ” says Mark Twain. In this respect, I’ve been thinking about Ukraine. The nation is a dominate topic in American and Jewish media. Ukrainians — Jewish and non-Jew- ish — are…

…. Unfortunately, they are largely sad, dismal reads, full of news about pogroms against Jews, hunger and suffering. An estimated 50,000-100,000 Jews were killed in the years following World War I, largely at…

… virulent antisemitism. World War II with its Nazi-promulgated atrocities was an era of antisemitism at its absolute worst. During the Holocaust, more than 6 million Jews were killed; an estimated 1…

…,000 Jews were killed by the Germans in two days. After WWII, Ukraine, one of the USSR’s “republics” since 1922, reverted to Soviet rule after nearly three years of German occupation. In 1991, with the…

…. Individuals have also had an impact. Michigan State University professor Dr. Alexander Tetelbaum grew up in the Soviet era and established the first Jewish university in Ukraine (Oct. 15, 1993). Susan…

… colleague Associate Editor David Sachs or recent Ukrainian immigrants like Vladimir Gendelman and his family. There are thousands more in Michigan. Jewish Ukrainians have proven them- selves resilient in…

…. It began with reactions from local Jews: Where were they when they heard the news? Larry Wolfe had just come home and decided to check on the Michigan-Michigan State football game on TV. Anna…

…46 | NOVEMBER 5 • 2020 T wenty-five years ago, on Nov. 4, 1995, Jews in Detroit experienced a huge shock. The prime minister of Israel, Yitzhak Rabin, had been assassinat- ed. The death of…

…. Kennedy. Rabin’ s death was felt personally by many Detroit Jews. He had longstanding relationships with local community lead- ers and, over the years, thousands of local Jews had traveled to Israel…

… around in a dream-like state. The issue also has images that show the interactions between Rabin and local Jews. Jane Sherman and Larry Jackier appear in a photograph breaking bread with Rabin in…

… Michigan who may need assistance. Also, if you are in a postition to donate to help Michigan Jews thrive during these stressful times, please go to hfldetroit.org/donate/. Community donations help Hebrew…

…, Suite 300 • Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48301 @HFLDetroit Has your business or personal financial situation been impacted by the Coronavirus outbreak? Have you been concerned about meeting your expenses…

… during the shutdown? Thanks to remote technologies, Hebrew Free Loan (HFL) is here and available to help Michigan’s Jewish residents with a no fee and interest- free loan of a maximum of $10,000 to cover…

… process will be expedited remotely to help Michigan Jewish community members who need help – safely and socially distant. • Co-signer rules will be reviewed on a case by case basis - (HFL typically…

… Free Loan give interest-free loans to local Jews for a variety of personal, health, educational and small business needs. STORY Our STORY Our …

…34 | MAY 27 • 2021 A s part of its ongoing efforts to facilitate greater connections between Israel and world Jewry, the Jewish Agency for Israel’s Central Galilee and Michigan partnership…

… run- ning tours of Central Galilee areas to provide Michigan residents with the opportunity to immerse themselves in that region and meet its people while they work out on a tread- mill and “run…

…” with the tour guides or relax on a sofa. The Central Galilee tour represented the Jewish Agency’s latest initiative to maintain and grow the closeness between Israeli and diaspora Jews during a…

… period when the COVID-19 pandemic has limited, if not halted, travel between Israel and North America. “Whether it be in extraor- dinary or more normal times, Jews from Israel and around the world…

… continuing its work to bridge the distance between Israeli and Jewish com- munities, on Yom HaAtzmaut and year-round, as a crucial vehicle for uniting the global Jewish people. ” Michigan’s P2G…

… participants toured the hub of immigration absorption in Migdal HaEmek, where Jews from many different backgrounds and origins from North Africa, the former Soviet Union, Ethiopia and more live together…

… Michigan were also able to meet the new shin- shinim (service year emissaries), who will be joining the commu- nity next year. Since 1994, the Michigan communities of Metropolitan Detroit, Ann Arbor and…

… focuses on building a vibrant Jewish future, includ- ing through the Michigan communities’ support for an English-language instruction program that reaches more than 4,000 students in 35 schools…

… Michigan and Central Galilee. On the Road 2Gether JN STAFF …

…. MAY » Okemos resident Oded “Ody” Norkin helps deliver ambulances and medical supplies to Jews in the Ukraine. » May 23 — Jewish Bar Association of Michigan honors Judge Bernard Friedman with the…

…M ica Gelb is starting his fourth season on the University of Michigan football team. He didn’t play much in his first three years and probably won’t play much this year, but the 6-foot-5, 288…

… talked with several teammates who had never met a Jew, answered tons of questions about Jewish practices and culture, and corrected stereotypes. This practicing Jewish player on the U-M football team…

… coordination with the Michigan chapter of the Anti-Defamation League and Wayne State University psychologist Erika Bocknek. Around 25 households Zoomed into the seminar in response to the record…

…-breaking rise in global antisemitism that reached a crescendo following Hamas’ latest war with Israel. “Social media has been exploding with hatred, ” said Michigan ADL Director Carolyn Normandin. “We…

… have seen a tremen- dous amount of anti-Jewish rhetoric targeting Jews, including ‘Hitler was right, ’ and ‘We should have burned all the Jews’ because of the violence in Israel. ” ‘PYRAMID OF HATE…

…’ Michigan ADL Education Director Kristin Jager said it is important to educate youth about the “Pyramid of Hate” to under- stand through the lens of history how attitudes of bias and micro- aggressions…

… toward Jews or any minority can escalate to violence and potentially, genocide. “The ADL is most effective when we can work in the two lowest tiers of this pyramid in countering bias attitudes and…

… connect Jews during the High Holidays. Meaningful Feasts 38 Jewish websites offer guides for High Holiday and Shabbat dinners. Jews in the D Michigan Gyms Reopen, But JCC Pumps the Brakes 40 Other…

… to enhancing the quality of life, and Jewish life, in Southeast Michigan. Sept. 17-23, 2020/28 Elul 5780-5 Tishri 5781| VOLUME CLVIII, ISSUE 7 Views 5-13 Rosh Hashanah 5781 L’ Shanah Tovah 14…

… 20 Cantorial soloist prepares for the High Holidays. Safe Worship 22 Surgeon General advises shuls during COVID. Virtual High Holidays Come to Campus 24 College Hillels across Michigan plan online…

… health centers opened their doors Sept. 9 following Whitmer’ s orders. Nessel Compares Trump to Hitler 42 Michigan’ s first Jewish attorney general made the comments at the state’ s Democratic…

… Nominating Convention. Finding Unity 44 Amid tensions, Black and Jewish groups mark “Unity Week.” Faces & Places 48 Eretz Hope Emerges 52 Ethiopia’ s “Hidden Jews” begin to receive aid from Israel and…

… Kyiv, where over 33,000 Jews were killed on Sept. 29-30, 1941. Weeks before Babyn Yar, 23,600 Jews were executed in the fortress town of Kamianets-Podilskyy. By January 1942, some 500,000 Jews had…

… been killed in Ukraine. After an initial wave of killing during the German advance, the German military established some 250 ghettos in Ukraine and required Jews to wear armbands with stars…

…’s important not to let them stand. Jeffrey Veidlinger is Joseph Brodsky Collegiate Professor of History at the University of Michigan and the author of In the Midst of Civilized Europe: The Pogroms…

… FEBRUARY 4 • 2021 | 27 SPIRIT A Forced Judaism? T he newly liberated band of Jews just left Egypt and are now marching toward Mt. Sinai. They would finally meet their God and enter into a…

… relationship with Him by accepting the Torah and the historic Jewish mission. As the Jews camped, they proclaimed their com- mitment to the Torah, pledging “We will do and we will hear.” But the Talmud…

… Friends be your Michigan-Florida Connection Keyes Real Estate Estate Property Sales from Listing to Clean-Out! Buy • Sell • InveSt Throughout South Florida, Including Boca, Boynton, Delray, Broward…

… incredible Detroit-area event in which I had the priv- ilege to participate virtually, the 16th annual “Thank God for Israel” event co-sponsored by the Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry and the Michigan…

… of the Genesis 123 Foundation of which I have the privilege to be president. Together with a diverse board, we’ve pioneered a variety of programs that bring Jews and Christians together…

… decades, as I have spent my time building bridges anchored in meaningful personal rela- tionships, I realize that despite how far we have come, there’s much more to be done. Too many Jews believe…

… Christian support for Israel has a nefarious agenda. This was highlighted in the Israeli documentary, and in allegations about Bishop Plummer (see JN, Nov. 12, pg. 28). Indeed, Jews and Christians have…

… element of repentance involved with their relationship with the Jewish people today. For most, Jews and Christians, there’s a centu- ries-long breach that takes time to bridge. While I and many others…

… are actively engaged in doing so, and we want everyone to see and understand things as we do, undoing this rift takes time. I explain to Christians that Jews carry millennia of baggage, including…

… horrific persecution in the name of “the Church” and Jesus. Please give us time. Conversely, while aware of the phenomena of Christian support, most Jews don’t under- stand, don’t trust or simply don…

… many, Christians and Jews, whose nonprofits make claims and take advan- tage. Tourism professionals sometimes miss the boat by emphasizing the significance of tourism for the Israeli economy, but…

… all around the world. The third point that I answered the journalist as to the significance of Christian sup- port for Israel is prayer. Most Jews and Christians believe in God and, in our…

… respective ways, the value and importance Jonathan Feldstein essay Why Do Christians Support Israel? VIEWS A Jew and a Christian pass on an Israeli street. KAREN AXELRAD/FLICKR VIA CREATIVE…

… Hospitality and a Jew of color. Harrison, who recently relocated to Michigan, serves as a committee member on the Audacious Hospitality working group with Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Township, where he is…

…Jews in the D HUES from page 20 22 | FEBRUARY 20 • 2020 Aryeh, who is white. In social situations, people sometimes treat Aryeh with more respect. And it’ s especially hurtful when someone…

… offended by this comment, saying she understands the chal- lenges of why a Jewish person — whether they’ re Orthodox, Conservative or Reform — may not consider marrying a Jew who isn’ t white. “When you…

…’ re surrounded by a bunch of people who mostly look the same and you’ re taught that saying derogatory words like schvartze (“black” in Yiddish) is OK, then what happens when you meet a Jew of…

…. Olivia Guterson, a 29-year-old artist living in Detroit, wouldn’ t mind seeing more local initiatives. She says she usually connects with other Jews of color when she attends conferences that more…

… actively recruit or create space for them. In a city like Detroit, where 85% of the population is black, Guterson says she is surprised she hasn’ t come across more Jews of color. She occasionally…

… attends the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue and guesses she knows two or three others who identify as a Jew of color. She suspects there may be more who are not visibly identifiable. As part of its 2020…

… programming, the Union for Reform Judaism is spearheading an initiative called Audacious Hospitality, designed to embrace Jewish diversity. URJ hopes to listen to the experiences Jews of color have in…

… a member. Harrison says congregations can take sev- eral steps to help others feel more welcome. “When Jews of color talk about their experiences, microaggressions they’ ve received in Jewish…

… trickle turned into a wave and thou- sands of Soviet Jewish refugees left the Iron Curtain for good. It’s estimated that by the time the mass emigration finally slowed down, some 2 million Jews escaped…

… cause of Soviet Jewry eventually entering her life. “It was an issue that had really developed after the 1967 Six-Day War,” she said, “when Soviet Jews wanted to get out of the Soviet Union and get…

… MICHIGAN COURTESY OF JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MICHIGAN OUR COMMUNITY Photos taken at the JCC during the Freedom Run for Soviet Jewry on September 25, 1983. A screenshot, from the 2007 documentary…

… Refusenik by Laura Bialis, which chronicles the 30-year international movement to free Soviet Jews. …

…JUNE 10 • 2021 | 19 star. We stand here today as proud Jews. “Hate against any one of us is hate against all of us,” Gould said. “The Jewish people know what it means to be silent to crimes…

… against us. Today we say, we will not be silent. We will not bow to ter- ror. Never again!” Carolyn Normandin, regional director of ADL Michigan said, “My office is get- ting incident after incident…

…- lege campuses and places of worship. “For 130 years, NCJW Michigan has been fighting against hate on behalf of people of many different racial, ethnic, national, religious and cultural back- grounds…

… there. “Statistics show we’re in a particularly dangerous time,” Rubenstein told the JN. “I think it’s important for Jews to be together and to speak out and bring in other allies to speak against…

… that read “Stop Jew Hatred” and “Proud to Be Jewish.” Rabbi Asher Lopatin of JCRC/AJC says, “We stand together.” ZOA-MI board member Charles Greenberg and Executive Director Kobi Erez. Hadassah…

… OCTOBER 8 • 2020 | 29 Jews in the D Most Read on the Web Each month, the JN will let you know the stories that were read most often online. If you missed any, you can go to the jewish- news…

… Enthusiasm 3. New Bagel on the Block: Tov Bagel Opens Downtown Location 4. No Schmear Coincidence: Grandson Turns Lessons from his Baking Bubbie into a Thriving Traverse City Bagel Business 5. Michigan…

… Rabbi Hilariously Runs Through Ann Arbor Blowing the Shofar [VIDEO] 6. A Mystery: Why Do So Many Haredi Jews Disregard the Pandemic? 7. Remembering My Brother with Garrett’ s Space 8. A New Future…

… for the Jewish News: Non-Profit Ownership 9. Butzel Award Winner Dan Gilbert Reflects on Family, Faith and Philanthropy 10. Michigan Attorney General Nessel Compares Trump to Hitler at State…

… Nominating Convention Tops on Facebook 1. JCC Health Club to Permanently Close 2. Study: More than One in 10 Americans Under 40 Thinks Jews Caused the Holocaust (JTA) 3. Special Kol Nidre Service for…

… advise on “coping” with more freedom. New State Caucus Aims To Fight Hate 22 Michigan legislators form Black and Jewish Unity Caucus. Jews in the Digital Age 24 Learning new tech can help us connect…

… quality of life, and Jewish life, in Southeast Michigan. Aug. 6-12, 2020/ 16-22 Av 5780 | VOLUME CLVII, ISSUE 27 Views 5-12 Cover Story The Future of the Synagogue 14 How COVID-19 and declining…

… membership could change the way we worship. Jews in the D Washtenaw County Launches JCRC 19 Group will look to amplify Jewish voices throughout the county. FOGO: Fear Of Going Out 20 Three therapists…

… life story. Celeb Jews 34 Online Events 35 Nosh A New Course Of Meal Kits 36 Health Steady Sugar 37 Breakthrough app helps diabetes patients manage insulin at home. Etc. The Exchange 38 Soul…

… advise on “coping” with more freedom. New State Caucus Aims To Fight Hate 22 Michigan legislators form Black and Jewish Unity Caucus. Jews in the Digital Age 24 Learning new tech can help us connect…

… quality of life, and Jewish life, in Southeast Michigan. Aug. 6-12, 2020/ 16-22 Av 5780 | VOLUME CLVII, ISSUE 27 Views 5-12 Cover Story The Future of the Synagogue 14 How COVID-19 and declining…

… membership could change the way we worship. Jews in the D Washtenaw County Launches JCRC 19 Group will look to amplify Jewish voices throughout the county. FOGO: Fear Of Going Out 20 Three therapists…

… life story. Celeb Jews 34 Online Events 35 Nosh A New Course Of Meal Kits 36 Health Steady Sugar 37 Breakthrough app helps diabetes patients manage insulin at home. Etc. The Exchange 38 Soul…

… enhancing the quality of life, and Jewish life, in Southeast Michigan. Views 5-12 Jews in the D Popping Off 13 Following owner’ s racist comments, Detroit Popcorn Company sells to black-owned firm…

… Michigan’ s stay-at-home order lifts and businesses reopen, parents struggle with childcare. COVID-19 Survivor Turns 105, With Plenty To Celebrate 24 One on One with Rachel Lutz 26 Detroit boutique…

… St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguer David Vinsky keeping busy during lost season. Quick Hits 30 Play Ball! Summer Softball League Season Starts Sunday 32 Jews and Racial Justice How to Be Good…

… against our global dialogue on police brutality. Celebrity Jews 38 Etc. The Exchange 39 Soul 41 Raskin 45 Looking Back 46 June 18-24, 2020/ 26 Sivan-2 Tammuz 5780| VOLUME CLVII, ISSUE 20…

… quality of life, and Jewish life, in Southeast Michigan. Views 5-12 Jews in the D Black & Jewish 14 Jews of color share their pathways, obstacles and joys. Journey to Judaism 19 This 94-year-old took…

… Celebrity Jews 44 On the Go Events/Editor’ s Picks 45 jewish@edu Gaining Understanding 47 HMD/WSU trip gives students insight into Israel-Palestinian conflict. Innovation & Entrepreneurship 49 Michigan…

… FEBRUARY 13 • 2020 | 3 contents Views 5-10 Jews in the D China Mitzvah 12 Local Chabad rabbi’ s relatives help reduce coronavirus risk in Shanghai. Jews in the Digital Age 16 Email spoofing…

… scam targets rabbis and congregants in Metro Detroit New Jewish Millennial Hub 17 Partners Detroit launches Platform 18 in Royal Oak. Michigan’ s Jewish Prisoners Win Right to Eat Kosher Meat 17…

… 43 Here All Along 44 Political speechwriter’ s book shares her rediscovery of Jewish connection. Celebrity Jews 46 On the Go Events/Editor’ s Picks 47 Business All in the Family 50 Meet young…

… an independent, responsible, responsive community member, we actively engage with individuals and organizations dedicated to enhancing the quality of life, and Jewish life, in Southeast Michigan. 3…

…: Kaitlyn Schoen 20 Views 5-12 Jews in the D A Helping Hand in Southeast Michigan 14 Bob Schwartz’ s Here to Help Foundation offers emergency grants to Oakland and Wayne County residents and returning…

… quality of life, and Jewish life, in Southeast Michigan. Shabbat & Holiday Lights Shabbat starts: Friday, July 24, 8:42 p.m. Shabbat ends: Saturday, July 25, 9:49 p.m Tisha b’ Av starts: Wednesday, July…

… Nazism in 1930s Vienna. Celebrity Jews 33 Online Events 34 Etc. The Exchange 36 Soul 38 Raskin 45 Looking Back 46 July 23-29, 2020/ 2-8 Av 5780| VOLUME CLVII, ISSUE 25 contents 22 30…

… MARCH 26 • 2020 | 27 thejewishnews.com $200 Feb. 20-26, 2020 / 25 Shevat-1 Adar 5780 Hues of Jews Jews of color discuss their pathways, joys and obstacles. See page 14 PLEASE JOIN US TODAY…

… Foundation 29200 Northwestern Highway #110 Southfield, Michigan 48034 As an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the mission of the Detroit Jewish News Foundation is to educate and strengthen the…

… Jewish community of Detroit and Southeast Michigan by capturing, telling and learning from the community’s ongoing story. The Jewish News has been capturing and sharing that ongoing story – in print and…

… JANUARY 2 • 2020 | 3 contents Views 5-10 Jews in the D An Electric Experience 12 Jewish student helps lead LTU Formula SAE Electric Team’ s push for innovation. Biking Across Israel 15…

… Michigan FIDF supporters cycle with wounded Israeli combat veterans. The Shattered Dreams 16 Author shares lessons learned from her childhood. Essay: What We Bring to the Table 17 Online Chanukah Art…

…&Life Homegrown Composer 28 Local musician and friend create a rock opera depicting a true soccer tragedy. Celebrity Jews 30 On the Go Events/Editor’ s Picks 32 Nosh Culinary Combo 33 Jack’ s BBQ 35 Nosh…

… member, we actively engage with individuals and organizations dedicated to enhancing the quality of life, and Jewish life, in Southeast Michigan. 39 …

… mentor,” Sharfman said. “Then we formed a group in the Michigan area.” Armed with a telephone and a list of Soviet Jews who had been arrested, harassed or refused exit, Sharfman made calls. “There was…

… Soviet Jewry shortly after the first Leningrad Trial, which happened on Dec. 15, 1970. In it, a group of Soviet Jews was charged with attempting to hijack a small Soviet commercial plane. Their aim was…

… Richter at the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry, which had been founded by Jacob Birnbaum in 1964 and was among the first grassroots movements for the liberation of Jews from the USSR. “He became my…

…’re in touch all the time, whether we’re in Israel or not,” said Sharfman, who moved back to Michigan from Israel two years ago but hopes to return soon. One of those friends was Pam Cohen, whose…

… we were there,” she said. “People came from all over the Soviet Union to speak. It was amazing.” Once the Soviet Union began to break up in the late 1980s, Soviet Jews were finally free to go…

… history of the Soviet Jews and what a “miracle it was that we won.” Sharfman is uncomfortable getting acco- lades for her volunteer work that helped make that miracle happen. “It’s not me. It was a…

… whole group of us doing the same thing,” she said. Sharfman said a majority of the Jews who fled the Soviet Union came to Israel, where more than a million of them live now. “They have made an amazing…

… left out extra matzah on the table in honor of fellow Soviet Jews unable to celebrate the holiday. As more Soviet Jewish families resettled in Metro Detroit and the rest of the country, knowledge…

… about the wide- spread issues they faced in getting approval to emi- grate continued to grow. “There was a lot of red tape,” Yost recalls. Some Soviet Jews waited upwards of years for approval, often…

… Highway, #110, Southfield, Michigan. Periodical postage paid at Southfield, Michigan, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: send changes to: Detroit Jewish News, 29200 Northwestern Hwy., #110…

… of a rebellion brewing in the mainstream American Jewish community. It’ s not a “Jexodus,” the right’ s quixotic dream that Jews will migrate en masse to the Republican Party. It is a potential…

… rebellion of the median Jew: pro-Israel, pro-two states and perfectly comfortable sitting among the 71 percent of Jews who voted for Hillary Clinton. The sort of Jew who is concerned about left…

… might issue a timid plea to “speak more carefully” — a mild rebuke that still usually comes wrapped in an insulating layer of gratitude for pro-Israel gestures. Most Jews are not fools. We know…

… political mobilization — and the surge in anti-Semitic harassment, marginalization and violence that has plagued Jews in recent years. We’ re tired of our own establishment organizations talking a big…

… political vision radically antagonistic to the values of American Jews. The latest group to abdicate its duty? The American Jewish Committee. Eyes fell on the AJC in December after President Trump, in…

… remarks to the Israeli American Council, suggested that Jews aren’ t “nice people,” would vote for him primarily to protect our own “wealth” and are disloyal to Israel. He even threw in an anti…

…6 | MARCH 11 • 2021 PURELY COMMENTARY guest column The Man Who Flew 120,000 Iraqi Jews to Safety in Israel J ews with roots in Iraq are today the third largest community in Israel — after…

… the Soviet and the Moroccan. Did you ever wonder how they got there? The mass aliyah of some 120,000 Iraqi Jews between 1950 and 1951 is attributable largely to the efforts of one man — Shlomo…

… 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…

…: Detroit Jewish News, 32255 Northwestern Highway, #205, Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334 Publisher The Detroit Jewish News Foundation | Board of Directors: Chair: Gary Torgow Vice President: David…

… Highway, #110, Southfield, Michigan. Periodical postage paid at Southfield, Michigan, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: send changes to: Detroit Jewish News, 29200 Northwestern Hwy., #110…

… M. Horwitz ahorwitz@renmedia.us Partner: F. Kevin Browett kbrowett@renmedia.us Partner: Michael H. Steinhardt How to reach us see page 12 essay A Mystery: Why Do So Many Haredi Jews Disregard…

… the Pandemic? A s fervently observant Jews, the haredi Jewish community holds fidelity to Halachah (Jewish Law) as its central tenet. This attitude has often inspired me and other Jews across…

… so overrides nearly all other demands of Jewish law. An observant Jew must telephone the doctor on Shabbat, ride to the hospital on Yom Tov, eat on Yom Kippur to protect someone who is in danger…

… or even possibly in danger. The COVID-19 pandemic certainly poses as great a danger to haredi Jews as to others. Yet when epidemiologists warn that we need to practice distancing, to wear masks…

… fidelity to its own mores, more-or-less unchanged through the centuries. In each country where it has flourished, haredi Jews have followed the traditions of their ancestors and the rulings of the…

… rabbinic leaders, while scarcely paying attention to whatever government rules. In principle, haredi Jews say, governments come and go, but haredi society continues unchanged. Haredi society carries…

…, we stoically disregard their demands. The governor of Michigan or the health minister of Israel, like the czar of Russia, cannot get us to change where we recite our prayers. Another factor…

…”) by saying straight- forwardly: Interviewing Rep. Tlaib falls well within acceptable boundaries. Correct me if I’ m wrong, but Tlaib is serving as the U.S. Representative for Michigan’ s 13th…

… areas, among whom are some — you guessed it — Jews, even if they happen to disagree with her. If you are rolling your eyes now, mumbling to yourself that I must be one of those “self-hating Jews…

…, ” allow me to add fuel to your fire. A brief glance at my CV will reveal an Israeli, secular, atheist, left-leaning Jew who willingly chose to relocate to Germany, which means your ready-to- pull Jew…

… must give me some extra points. Dana Regev essay Guess What? Not All Jews are the Same continued on page 12 power to declare war has been significantly eroded in the past century. Attempts to…

… Jews to question authority. If American Jews are serious about their country’ s behavior abroad, they should reject Washington’ s foolish and immoral adventurism in Yemen. Ethan Kessler is a…

… recent graduate of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He is currently working on a political campaign in Michigan. YEMEN from page 8 …

…”) by saying straight- forwardly: Interviewing Rep. Tlaib falls well within acceptable boundaries. Correct me if I’ m wrong, but Tlaib is serving as the U.S. Representative for Michigan’ s 13th…

… areas, among whom are some — you guessed it — Jews, even if they happen to disagree with her. If you are rolling your eyes now, mumbling to yourself that I must be one of those “self-hating Jews…

…, ” allow me to add fuel to your fire. A brief glance at my CV will reveal an Israeli, secular, atheist, left-leaning Jew who willingly chose to relocate to Germany, which means your ready-to- pull Jew…

… must give me some extra points. Dana Regev essay Guess What? Not All Jews are the Same continued on page 12 power to declare war has been significantly eroded in the past century. Attempts to…

… Jews to question authority. If American Jews are serious about their country’ s behavior abroad, they should reject Washington’ s foolish and immoral adventurism in Yemen. Ethan Kessler is a…

… recent graduate of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He is currently working on a political campaign in Michigan. YEMEN from page 8 …

… Highway, #110, Southfield, Michigan. Periodical postage paid at Southfield, Michigan, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: send changes to: Detroit Jewish News, 29200 Northwestern Hwy., #110…

… existence of Israel, without renouncing its vicious message to Jews, is not clarification, it’ s conceal- ment. Many Jews today are conned by BLM’ s PR move. Melina Abdullah, the co-founder of BLM’ s Los…

… hateful rhetoric toward Jews, Abdullah came to his defense. “Facebook and Instagram’ s decision to ban The Honorable Minister Farrakhan along with known white-supremacists rep- resents the ultimate in…

… often been the men and women who courageously stood up to racism and hatred. The stat- ue of Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish diplomat who saved thousands of Jews during the Holocaust, stands in Los…

… bigotry was one of their tar- gets. Jews have got to be literate enough to read the hand- writing on the walls. We Jews helped start the NAACP and walked with Dr. King. We ask, where is the reciprocity…

…-ed commemorating Martin Luther King Day, Congressman Lewis recalled the wise and prescient words of Dr. King spoken at Harvard a few weeks before his death: “When people criticize Zionists, they mean Jews…

…; you’ re talking anti-Sem- itism.” — Ed Kohl Co-President, Michigan Jewish Action Council West Bloomfield LETTERS from page 5 …

… DECEMBER 24 • 2020 | 25 Detroit Jews for Justice Celebrates Detroit Moratorium on Water Shutoffs D etroit Jews for Justice has long been working to end water shutoffs in Detroit, and their…

… director of the Detroit Health Department and former candi- date for governor of Michigan, will head a group looking into ways to make the moratorium permanent. “We are so glad to see the city finally…

… stepping in to halt this inhumane treatment of our neighbors,” said Rabbi Alana Alpert, executive director of Detroit Jews for Justice, in a statement. “We also know that to win a water affordability…

… Connection Food Pantry and Michigan Welfare Rights on water justice in Detroit since 2015. More than 140,000 Detroit households had their water and sewage services shut off between 2014 and 2020. DJJ…

… Hills Center. Dr. Kleinsmith received her bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University, and her medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine. Dr. Kleinsmith completed her…

… – Farmington Hills Center Dr. Kleinsmith received her bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University, and her medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine. Dr. Kleinsmith completed her…

… Dr. Kleinsmith received her bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University, and her medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine. Dr. Kleinsmith completed her dermatology…

…. Kleinsmith received her bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University, and her medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine. Dr. Kleinsmith completed her dermatology residency at…

… story, “Charlevoix the Beautiful,” by Jennifer Lovy. Lovy made the point that Charlevoix, in the northwest part of the state on the shores of Lake Michigan, has been a summer destination for…

… generations of Detroit Jews. A search in the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History certainly supports this conclusion. A search for “Charlevoix” in the Archive showed 3,577 pages that…

…- lums that attacked Jews … Wait a min- ute? What’ s this? Gangs attacking Jews in Charlevoix, such a vacation paradise? This is a story I had never heard before, but as I was conducting research for a…

… recent “Looking Back” on VJ day, I saw a headline on the front page on the Aug. 31, 1945, issue of the Chronicle: “Charlevoix Acts to Curb Attacks Against Jews.” The report was about tensions between…

…. Hoodlums no longer attack Jews in “Charlevoix the Beautiful” today. Want to learn more? Go to the DJN Foundation archives, available for free at www.djnfoundation.org. Mike Smith Alene and Graham…

… Landau Archivist Chair 46 | SEPTEMBER 10 • 2020 26 July 18 • 2019 jn on the cover/travel arts&life A sk Michiganders what they most frequently associate with a Michigan summer and likely the…

… English les- sons as they prepared for their new lives. Still, despite their effort and sacrifice, many Jews were denied the right to come to the U.S. “People were there [in Italy] for six months or a…

… year, even more than that,” Feterovich says. It was the same story over and over during interviews at immigration offices — Soviet Jews explained that they were persecuted. This was why they wanted…

…-Horseradish Duck Chopped Liver with Grated Egg SOUP COURSE The Best Matzo Ball Soup, Natural Broth, Root Vegetables PRINCIPAL PLATE Stuffed Breast of Chicken with Savory Farfel Dressing with Michigan Apples…

…30 | OCTOBER 13 • 2022 An Oasis of Judaism J ackson’s Temple Beth Israel (TBI) is a Reform synagogue formed in 1862 by Jews of German background. The temple developed out of the Hebrew…

… Benevolent Society, which had been organized in 1858. The congregation includes fifth- generation members. “This is either the oldest or second-oldest Reform congregation in the state of Michigan that is…

… still active,” said president Cathy Glick. “And we have a Jewish cemetery that we own, and it’s the oldest still-active Jewish cemetery in the state of Michigan.” Dedicated in 1859, Temple Beth…

… Israel Cemetery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There are at least 200 people buried there, representing four and five generations of Jackson families. “There were some Jews…

… from Detroit who moved out here. Some of them were trappers from Northern Michigan and came down. And the first thing they did was to build the cemetery,” Glick said. Like many small…

… was Rabbi Jonathan Plaut, son of Rabbi Gunther Plaut. TBI has had part-time rabbis that live in the Michigan area and come in every other Shabbat for many decades. TBI’s current rabbi is Nate De…

…MARCH 17 • 2022 | 29 place that can unite them, and everyone can grow in their spirit and connection with community and God,” Shemtov said. “Every Jew has it within them, and all you need is to…

… and unity of spirit. When we can care and be there for each other, we can also be there for people around the world, too.” Also in attendance were Padma Kuppa, state representative for Michigan’s…

… 41st House District, and Maqbool Tahir, president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Michigan Chapter, representing the new JCC’s con- nection to the general community. “We are just a couple miles…

… community,” he said. “This is going to be the one-stop base for everything Jewish. The fact probably 130-140 Jews packed in here to celebrate a Jewish begin- ning means it’s a vibrant and growing…

… Kasriel Shemtov and Rabbi Menachem Caytak. ABOVE: Michigan Supreme Court Richard Bernstein was the guest speaker at the grand opening. A view from the street …

… make so much sense. ” Cantor Smolash said he doesn’t like getting into poli- tics. “I like sticking to music. It brings people together. Where there are tensions between American Jews and Israeli…

… Jews ... music is the perfect counter- balance.” The cantors’ relationship with Rabotai dates back to Purim. Cantor Smolash left a comment on Rabotai’s YouTube channel praising the group’s work…

… FOR THE ADL MICHIGAN ANTI-BIAS SUMMER INSTITUTE FOR JEWISH TEENS APPLICATIONS DUE JULY 23 @ 10 PM PROGRAM DATES: August 10-12, 2021 QUESTIONS? kjager@adl.org or 248.353.1264 Supported by the…

… Schulman Family Foundation ADL Michigan's Inaugural Anti-Bias Summer Institute will empower Jewish teens (ages 12-17) to be social justice leaders and act against bias and hate during three virtual 90…

… demonstrate their new leadership skills with the support of the ADL Michigan Education team. LEARN MORE AND APPLY HERE: www.michigan.adl.org/2021summerinstitute …

… been working in incred- ibly difficult circumstances to assist Jews in Ukraine who have requested to make aliyah during this time get that process moving. And of course, Israel’s foreign ministry…

… America, Keren Hayesod, the JDC, Chabad and numerous other groups, Jews around the world have come together at this moment in solidarity with their brethren in Ukraine. What we are witnessing in…

… week of visits lay the groundwork for the upcoming MIBA defense delegation of 15 Michigan companies this month. They will meet with Israeli corpo- rate counterparts, government representatives and…

… from Michigan to Israel. Naomi Miller is Director of Israel Partnerships at the MIBA and Director of Missions and Israel Representative at the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit…

… Jr. marching in civil rights demonstrations, oftentimes locked arm and arm with Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, his fellow activist and close friend. As Jews, we see these pictures and we…

… his friend’s funeral. Over the years, Rabbi Heschel has become an iconic symbol of commitment and solidarity between Black and Jews. But that was then, and this is now. The Black and Jewish expe…

…, mem- bers of the Michigan legis- lature followed suit with its own Black and Jewish Unity Caucus. Both groups cited the urgent need for the communi- ties to come together in light of the dramatic…

… spike in white supremacy groups and hate crimes targeting Blacks and Jews. Last September, the American Jewish Committee (AJC) and the National Urban League kicked off Black- Jewish Unity Week, a…

… Black and Jewish unity. The joint efforts among Blacks and Jews to form solid, meaningful and effective alli- ances are alive and well today. There are still critics and detractors, but for many peo…

… and Jews are facing a surge in hatred and violence. Dr. King once wrote that “we may have all come on different ships, but we’re all in the same boat now.” That is indeed true today. How we…

… honor the life and legacy of Dr. King, Jews can educate themselves on what’s being done to pre- serve Black-Jewish unity and we can work to strengthen and renew it. Rabbi Heschel left us a shining…

… Jewish community as we observe the King holiday this year, as well as a fitting and beautiful way to honor his dream. Mark Jacobs is the AIPAC Michigan chair for African American Outreach, a co…

… Matchmaker Has Created More Than 300 Successful Love Stories 4. 2020 Election Guide: Clarence Dass 5. JCC Health Club to Permanently Close 6. Michigan Rabbi Hilariously Runs Through Ann Arbor Blowing the…

… Shofar 7. Kidney Donor Found on Facebook 8. 2020 Election Guide: John James and the Jews 9. “Devastated and Heartbroken:” Detroit’ s Jewish Community Reacts to JCC Health Club’ s Closing 10. Jewish…

… Schooler Creates Fancy Bakery Business While Stuck at Home 3. Kidney Donor Found on Facebook 4. Michigan Rabbi Hilariously Runs Through Ann Arbor Blowing the Shofar [VIDEO] 5. Dating During a Pandemic…

… sales to Jews “high treason, ” punishable by death. According to Israel’ s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “1,360 people have been killed by Palestinian violence and terror- ism since September 2000…

… of American Jews support a two-state solution. Studies also reveal that more and more of us believe that the end of the conflict requires the evacuation of Jewish-only settlements in the West…

… Bank. All this indicates that American Jews wish to end the occupa- tion. We know a better world is possible. Trailblazing Jews and Palestinians have already been laying the foundation, both in…

… Metro Detroit and in Israel/ Palestine. We now challenge our communal institutions to align its policies with the will of American Jews. In July 2015, BLM co-found- er Alicia Garza said, “We want to…

… see a world where Black lives matter, in order for us to get to a world where all of our humanity is respected. ” Today, in 2020, courageous Jews and Palestinians are building a world where…

…continued on page 14 MARCH 10 • 2022 | 13 Committee of Michigan organized the rally. Arbit made and brought a sign which read “Jews Stand with Ukraine” in English and Hebrew. The sign gar…

… good as a Jew, and I didn’t expect it, so I was kind of taken aback by how meaningful it was for people.” An older woman came up to Arbit and told him she lives in Kyiv and had only recently come…

… his Jewish values, and the entire situation is about those values and Jewish history. “Jews know how important democracy is, how import- ant self-determination is. This is the entire struggle for…

… quality of life, and Jewish life, in Southeast Michigan. Views 5-8 Jews in the D Time to Be Counted 10 Detroit’ s Jews in under-represented populations respond to the 2020 Census. Family First 16…

… Auschwitz 28 PBS documentary tells survivors’ stories. Celebrity Jews 30 Online Events 31 Business A ‘ Star’ Is Born 32 Makeup artist returns from head injury to build a business that empowers and…