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…$200 July 15-21, 2021 / 6-12 Av 5781 JEWISH NEWS JEWISH NEWS THE DETROIT thejewishnews.com Downtown Synagogue plans $4.5 million renovation. Page 14 in the in in Pretty Pretty Pretty City …

…JULY 15 • 2021 | 3 contents PURELY COMMENTARY 4-12 Essays and viewpoints OUR COMMUNITY 13 A Good Neighbor Angelique Power joins Detroit’s Skillman Foundation as president & CEO. 14 Pretty in the City Downtown Synagogue plans $4.5 million renovation. 18 One Step Closer to a New Mikvah Southfield site is prepared for Lahser Road Mikvah. 19 People We Know & Stories We Don’t: Shoshana Leah Greenberg 20 Keeping Up wi...…

…4 | JULY 15 • 2021 PURELY COMMENTARY P ermit me to introduce myself and this column. I chose the name of the column as sometimes you’ll find me wise, and at times you may find me otherwise. Since there’s been and are a couple of more accomplished and taller Irwin Cohens in the area, I’ll tell you about this one. I’m Irwin J. and the only one that has a Detroit Tiger World Series ring. My driver’s license tells me that I’m 80...…

…Wherever you choose to go for your education, your first step is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It’s the doorway to grants and scholarships that can make a big difference when it comes to paying for your education. A FAFSA form can be completed at fafsa.gov from a phone, tablet or laptop in under an hour — and the payoff could be huge. Some awards, including programs at Wayne State like Wayne Access and...…

…6 | JULY 15 • 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: Detro...…

…Your Your FIRST YEAR DUES ARE VOLUNTARY. Contact Alan Harris (Chief Operating Officer), David Tisdale (Chief Executive Officer) or visit our website for additional membership information. Come Be A Part Of Our Our Family. YourFamily Belongs Here. DON’T MISS OUR SHABBAT UNDER THE TENT SERVICES! July 16 | July 23 | July 30 August 6 | August 13 | August 20 | August 27 September 3 5725 WALNUT LAKE ROAD, WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI 48323 248-6...…

…8 | JULY 15 • 2021 PURELY COMMENTARY back helps educate the person making the comment, who may not even realize it is an antisemitic comment. What we all must do is practice how to answer such 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 ...…

…JULY 15 • 2021 | 9 THEY’RE YOUR METROPARKS. WATER YOU WAITING FOR? METROPARKS.COM Stay in the know with all things Jewish... Get The Detroit Jewish News print edition delivered to your door every week for less than $2 per issue. thejewishnews.com/subscription Get The Detroit Jewish News print edition Subscribe Today! C l i c k. C a ll. G i v eN o w . www.hfldetroit.org • 248.723.8184 Hebrew Free Loan Detroit 6735 Telegraph Road, ...…

…10 | JULY 15 • 2021 PURELY COMMENTARY continued from page 8 path of danger? Does the reality of imminent attacks on Israel frighten you so much you would never visit Israel, never mind sending your children? Last month, when the locations popped up on the Red Alert app, it was evident that Hamas was no longer targeting only the usual pop- ulations adjacent to Gaza. This time they had the capa- bility and were intentionally aimin...…

…JULY 15 • 2021 | 11 As featured on: Need Help with an IRS or State Tax Problem? Call the experts at 1-800-TAX-LEVY (829-5389) • Tax Liens • Collection Notices • Penalties • Unfi led Tax Returns • Audits Call us today to answer your questions or to schedule a meeting and say goodbye to those sleepless nights! 1-800-TAX-LEVY (829-5389) www.levytaxhelp.com We Listen …. We Care … We Help! HQ: 28400 Southf eld Road., Lathrup Village, Mi...…

…12 | JULY 15 • 2021 PURELY COMMENTARY essay Heading a Nation Like No Other T o the honorable President of Israel, Truth be told, I’m a little envious of you. In a short while, you will find out exactly how magnificent the privilege of the presidency is. Over the next seven years, you will meet Israelis from all walks of life, and let me tell you right now — you’ll want to embrace all of them. You’ll want to share their la...…

…JULY 15 • 2021 | 13 OUR COMMUNITY A ngelique Power remembers being 13 years old, as the daughter of a white Jewish mother and a Black father, standing in a synagogue on the south side of Chicago, not so sure she fit in. Power pulled the synagogue’s rabbi aside, telling him she had many doubts, not even sure if she believed in God. She asked the rabbi, “ Am I still a good Jew if I don’t believe that?” The rabbi asked her two q...…

…OUR COMMUNITY W ith more than $4 million raised so far toward its $4.5 million capital campaign to completely renovate its building on Griswold Street, the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue (IADS) marks its first century in serving Detroit’s Jewish community as it looks ahead to its next. From its humble beginnings in 1921 in a house on Rosedale Court in Detroit’s North End to the 1962 purchase of its current Downtown building, the si...…

…JULY 15 • 2021 | 15 TOP: A rendering of the facade. BOTTOM, LEFT-RIGHT: The future first floor. Second floor sanctuary and event space. The third floor will have shared workspace. …

…continued from page 14 16 | JULY 15 • 2021 OUR COMMUNITY ON THE COVER growing focus on social justice and Jewish community building and is based on other movements such as IKAR in Los Angeles and Mishkan in Chicago. “Social justice is an import- ant part of who we are at the Downtown Synagogue, and the ritual aspects of Judaism are an important sliver of what we do as well,” Avshalumov said. “The goal with this renovation is to t...…

…JULY 15 • 2021 | 17 accessible with the addition of ramps and a working elevator at the cost of around $350,000. “It’s been heartbreaking over the years to see some members struggle with the stairs, ” said IADS board member Emily Levine, a mother of two chil- dren under age five. “When renovations are complete, the entire build- ing will be more accessible and welcoming. “I am excited about the flexible space for education and young ...…

…18 | JULY 15 • 2021 LAHSER ROAD MIKVAH OUR COMMUNITY T he new Southfield mikvah has taken a major step forward with the upcoming demolition of a house on its planned site at 11 Mile and Bell roads. Now, the land will be graded and prepared for construction of the new Lahser Road Mikvah. Planning and fundraising for the mikvah, located in the Young Israel of Southfield (YIS) neighborhood, began in 2017. Approximately 50 Jewish w...…

…area for likely sites, even plac- ing letters into the mailboxes of area residents, asking if they were interested in selling their homes. Fortunately, a home- owner at 11 Mile and Bell roads, across the street from Congregation Shaarey Zedek, was interested in selling. Once the sale was complete, the next hurdle was rezoning for the property since it is on a residential street. Although the rezoning process took a year, “The city ...…

…20 | JULY 15 • 2021 I had the privilege of witnessing three inspiring, heartwarming events recently courtesy of our beloved Detroit Jewish War Veterans (JWV). Being vaccinated and the easing of COVID restrictions allowed me to experience two of those events in person. IKE AND GUY On May 13, I was a bystander to a wonderful conversation between two pillars of our community — Dr. Guy Stern, director of the International Institu...…

…JULY 15 • 2021 | 21 and Ike was a professor and head of public safety. Jewish geography at its finest. The dots were connected and a May 13 meeting set. McKinnon and Stern share a history of unimaginable intolerance and incredible perseverance that dates back to their youth. Isaiah McKinnon at age 14 survived a beating at the hands of four Detroit police officers only to make a vow at a young age to dedicate his life to change. From...…

…OUR COMMUNITY 22 | JULY 15 • 2021 old WWII veteran Jerry Manchel of West Bloomfield, whose third-grade grandchild Lucy attends the school. I spoke with Manchel prior to his Zoom session. He confessed to being nervous about making a presentation in front of so many people. Nervous, I thought? This from a man who flew 43 missions over the Pacific as a radio/ gunner on a B-24 bomber? After the fact, it would take some time to convince...…

…JULY 15 • 2021 | 23 zolmanrestoration.com | 3285 Martin Road | Suite N-106 | Walled Lake, MI 48390 Commercial and Residential Restoration Services call us at 800.799.8560 | available 24/7/365 WATER & flood wind & storm Fire & smoke mold personal property established 2013 APPLY TODAY 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@a...…

…24 | JULY 15 • 2021 T he JARC Teen Action Council was awarded a $4,000 grant from the Stephen H. Schulman Millennium Fund for Jewish Youth. The funding will cover the second term of the Teen Action Council program from September 2021 through June 2022 and will be used for the program’s educa- tional component. “What we’re able to do with the grant is formalize the leader- ship education component, ” said Shaindle Braunstein, JARC...…

…JULY 15 • 2021 | 25 H azon, the largest faith- based environmental organization in the U.S., and Pearlstone, one of the largest Jewish retreat centers and Jewish outdoor education sites in North America, announced their boards of directors have unanimously approved a proposal to merge the two organizations. Together they are launching a new organization that will catalyze the JOFEE movement (Jewish Outdoor Food Farming & Environm...…

…26 | JULY 15 • 2021 OUR COMMUNITY R abbi Michael Gilboa, the new full-time rabbi of B’nai Israel Synagogue in West Bloomfield, is officially settled in Metro Detroit. He joined the B’nai Israel community virtually on May 1, but officially moved to Metro Detroit in mid-June along with his wife, Emily, and three children. Gilboa received his rabbinic M.A. and his ordination from the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, America...…

…JULY 15 • 2021 | 27 Topsy Turvy Bus Meets Banana Car Rabbi Goldberg Wins Health Hero Award Hazon usually uses its Topsy Turvy bus as a mobile class- room. When this became unfeasible during the pan- demic, it was used to deliver compost and seeds as part of Hazon’s Relief Garden Initiative. During a compost deliv- ery, a large, low branch took off two of the tires on top of the bus. The organiza- tion brought it back to the origin...…

…28 | JULY 15 • 2021 P layers in the Detroit Jewish Youth Softball League are wearing caps with the initials “LS” on them this season. That’s to honor the memory of Larry Schon, an Oak Park resident who ran the league as commissioner and was a coach for 30 years. He died Dec. 7, 2020, at age 71 from complica- tions from COVID-19. Schon probably wouldn’t like the attention he’s getting this season from the league’s 210 players, th...…

…JULY 15 • 2021 | 29 quick hits BY STEVE STEIN Pre-Approvals Purchase Refinance Renovation This does not constitute as a commitment to lend or extend credit. Loans are subject to credit and property approval. All information is subject to change without notice. Not all loans or products are available in all states or for all dollar amounts. Restrictions may apply. Capital Mortgage Funding is Powered by Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporati...…

…30 | JULY 15 • 2021 Can anything stop Coach Barry Brodsky and his Birmingham Marian High School girls soccer team when they set their sights on a state championship? Apparently not. The Mustangs won their fourth straight state title — and ninth since Brodsky became coach in 2001 — when they defeated Spring Lake 3-0 last month at DeMartin Field at Michigan State University. No girls soccer team other than Marian has won a Divis...…

…JULY 15 • 2021 | 31 Three Temple Israel Teams Fighting for Greenberg Division Title Temple Israel No. 6, Temple Beth El and Congregation Shir Tikvah led their divisions in early July as the Inter- Congregational Men’s Club Summer Softball League headed into the home stretch of the regular season. The closest race was in the Greenberg Division, where Temple Israel No. 6 (10-2-1) held just a half-game lead over second-place Temple ...…

…32 | JULY 15 • 2021 C atching up with my friend and former rebbetzin Rena Spolter, 46, I got the chance to ask her all about her aliyah, 13 years later. Anyone who knows her is aware of how inspirational she is, and her aliyah story and message are wonderful examples. Q: What motivated you to make Aliyah? Rena Spolter: The first time I visited Israel I was 13 and in eighth grade when my grandmother took both her daughters and all ...…

…JULY 15 • 2021 | 33 T he Technion has just renamed its MBA program the William Davidson Master of Business Administration Program in honor of the late businessman, basketball Hall of Famer and visionary supporter William “Bill” Davidson. “William Davidson’s out- standing achievements and leg- acy have made him a source of inspiration for those seeking to become entrepreneurs and inno- vators themselves, ” said Technion President U...…

…MAZEL TOV! Goldberg 60th M orton and Joanne (Sparr) Goldberg live in West Bloomfield. They were married on July 16, 1961, at Book Cadillac Hotel in Detroit. Morton and Joanne are the loving parents of Helene Goldberg and Lorey Sparr; adoring grandparents of Mallory (Alex) Wolf, Jordan Sommerfeld, Zach and Parker Nessel. They are very excited to be new great-grandparents to Asher James Wolf. Cohen 100th G loria Cohen of West Bl...…

…JULY 15 • 2021 | 35 A t the beginning of D’varim, Moses reviews the history of the Israelites’ experience in the wilderness, beginning with the appointment of leaders through- out the people, heads of thou- sands, hundreds, fifties and tens. He continues: “ And I charged your judges at that time, ‘Hear the disputes between your people and judge fairly, whether the case is between two Israelites or between an Israelite and a fo...…

…36 | JULY 15 • 2021 continued from page 35 as lawyer for the citizens of the town, and God, as it were, as the accused. This was the forerun- ner of a great many such epi- sodes in Torah and Tanach, in which the prophets argued the cause of justice with God and with the people. In modern times, Jews reached prominence as judges in America: among them Brandeis, Cardozo and Felix Frankfurter. Ruth Bader Ginsburg was the first Jewish...…

…JULY 15 • 2021 | 37 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...…

…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 Israel Lansing (517) 882-0049 kehillatisrael.net Congregation T’chiyah Ferndale (248) 823-7115 tchiyah.org Reco...…

…JULY 15 • 2021 | 39 ARTS&LIFE ART T wo distinctive jewelry designers and a whim- sical assembly artist are among the participants joining the multi-media creative contingent as the Ann Arbor Art Fair resumes showcasing new work. Although this year’s event will be three days — July 15-17 — instead of four, the three artists are glad to travel the distances from their out-of-state homes so they can once again meet with customers a...…

…40 | JULY 15 • 2021 continued from page 39 Design in New York City with the intention of majoring in fashion. “I sketched in shapes and loved sculpture class, so I put the two together,” said Friedman, who relied on social media for sales during the pandemic. “I loved fashion, but it wasn’t for me. I majored in metals and went on to work in a contem- porary craft gallery and with a gold- smith.” Boutiques and museum shops have carr...…

…JULY 15 • 2021 | 41 tors with wearable, comfortable jewel- ry that is one-of-a-kind.” Schlossberg will be at the State Street Art Fair. ARTISTIC WHIMSY For many years, Bob and Patti Stern, of Cleveland, worked together on assemblies, but that has changed. Although Patti still scouts materials — most recently antique piano parts — that form sculptures, Bob now takes care of all the hands-on work. Some of the most popular pieces are c...…

…42 | JULY 15 • 2021 ARTS&LIFE MUSIC T he large crate sat unopened in a 20,000-square-foot warehouse here for more than four decades, concealing a little- known fact about one of America’s cultural icons. Inside was the headstone of Elvis Presley’s mother, Gladys, which had been stored in the Graceland archives along with 1.5 million other items since 1977. And on the upper left side of the long-unseen marker — designed by Elvis h...…

…1958 at the age of 46. Initially, Elvis had her buried in a public cemetery in Memphis. Her headstone was marked with a cross. NEW HEADSTONE But Marchese says that six years later, Elvis replaced the headstone with one designed to his specifications. The new marker featured a Star of David on one side and a cross on the other along with the words “Sunshine of Our Home” engraved between. What prompted Elvis to include the Star of Dav...…

…44 | JULY 15 • 2021 VIRGIN RIVER 3RD SEASON, CNN FUNNY AND SERIOUS The third season of the Netflix original series Virgin River began streaming July 9. It ranks as one of the most popular series on Netflix. The title refers to a (fictional) rural Oregon town where the series is set. The first season deftly juggled humor with dramatic scenes. The acting was very good. Like many series, the second season faltered as the plot lines...…

…JULY 15 • 2021 | 45 TOUR OF RELIGIOUS ART 7-8 PM, JULY 15 This will be a virtual tour at the Detroit Institute of Arts. It is a Religious Diversity Journeys pro- gram on ZOOM. Christian Black, a DIA gallery educator, will discuss six paintings and sculptures with faith-related themes, most from the DIA’s own collection. These artworks were created by individuals from the Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh religions and Native ...…

…46 | JULY 15 • 2021 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. Aaron Mendelson Heating and Cooling 248-855-0437 Cell: 248-912-2292 License # 7118488 Maintenance, Installation, Repair & Hot Water Heaters Ajmendelson1@gmail.com FAM...…

…JULY 15 • 2021 | 47 OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY continued on page 48 Get The Detroit Jewish News print edition Subscribe Today! HEALTHCARE A1 CAREGIVER/COMPANION. Experienced, excellent references. 248-991-4944 We Provide in home service care giver for individuals and elderly at their comfort level in their homes. Please call (734) 680-3803 or (734) 709-5288 CAREGIVER. Cert. Medical Assistant. Honest & Reliable w/ 15+ Yrs Exper...…

…48 | JULY 15 • 2021 continued from page 47 OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY Lieberman, the late Nathan (the late Betty) Lieberman, the late Rose (the late Morris) Wolok; the dear mother- in-law of the late Richard Tessler; dear sister-in-law of the late Harry (the late Rae) Dorfman, the late Rose (the late Morris) Rosenbaum, the late Ida (the late Milton) Bresler, the late Sam (the late Jenny) Dorfman, and the late Saul “Chuck” (the...…

…JULY 15 • 2021 | 49 continued on page 50 JORDAN LAWRENCE KRONEN was born June 7, 2001, and passed away on June 26, 2021. While camping with friends at Ginnie Springs, Fla., Jordan was struck by a falling tree. Jordan had just turned 20 years old and absolutely loved life. He was begin- ning his junior year at the University of Central Florida, studying to become a lawyer. Jordan was very active in BBYO throughout high schoo...…

…50 | JULY 15 • 2021 continued from page 49 OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY NORMAN LITTLE, 79, of West Bloomfield, died July 2, 2021. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, David and Helene Little; daughter and son-in-law, Jodi and Michael Tauber; grandchildren, Rebecca Tauber and Ashley Tauber. Mr. Little was the beloved husband of the late Gloria Little; the devoted son of the late Maurice and the late Anna Little; the ...…