…JUNE 30 • 2022 | 51 of advancement, Trepeck Harris oversees all of the development, fundraising and advancement of the Tamarack mission for the lay leadership side. She works closely with the camps’ internal chief advance- ment officer to plan, develop and guide lay leadership. Creating meaningful experi- ences for children and teens is important to Trepeck Harris, who is a mother herself. “Kids spend so much time in school and the...…
…52 | JUNE 30 • 2022 MAZEL TOV! JAN. 14, 2022 Kate and David Zenlea of Huntington Woods joyfully announce the birth of their daughter, Maya Scarlett. Maya is named in memory of her paternal great-grandfather Seymour Zenlea. She joins her sister, Shoshana Rey. Maternal grandparents are Karen and Robert Weisberg of Bloomfield Hills. Paternal grandparents are Sara and Bruce Zenlea of Boynton Beach, Fla. Maternal great-grandparents are ...…
…JUNE 30 • 2022 | 53 SPIRIT Happy in a World Tailored for Me T his week’s Torah por- tion is named for a man who was known to be the wealthiest Jew of his time. Being a Levite, he also occupied a position of spiritual prominence within the Jewish community. Yet he was not satisfied with that. We read of how he convinced many of his Jewish brethren to challenge the leader- ship of Moses and the priesthood of Aaron. “The entire ...…
…S elf-destructive behavior has manifested itself throughout history, and the temptation to fall into its trap is part of the human condition. The Gemara (Sotah 9a and b) documents various examples of this self- destructive behavior. The Gemara begins with a general discussion on adultery, and it’s a fitting place to start. A person who commits adultery destroys everything that they have; their marriage, their children, thei...…
…JUNE 30 • 2022 | 55 Avot (Avot 4:1) which seeks to define the things which everybody wants: wisdom, power, wealth and honor. The Mishnah outlines how best to attain them in a way that satisfies us socially and emotionally, as well as morally and spiritually. The Mishnah states: “Who is wise? One who learns from all people … Who is powerful? One who is able to conquer his own inclination … Who is wealthy? One who is satisfied wit...…
…56 | JUNE 30 • 2022 Synagogue Directory METRO DETROIT CONSERVATIVE Adat Shalom Synagogue Farmington Hills (248) 851-5100 adatshalom.org Congregation Beth Ahm West Bloomfield (248) 851-6880 cbahm.org Congregation Beth Shalom Oak Park (248) 547-7970 congbethshalom.org Beth Tephilath Moses Mt. Clemens (586) 996-3138 bethtephilathmoses.com B’nai Israel Synagogue West Bloomfield (248) 432-2729 bnaiisraelwb.org Congregation B’nai Moshe We...…
…JUNE 30 • 2022 | 57 Temple Emanu-El Oak Park (248) 967-4020 emanuel-mich.org Temple Israel West Bloomfield (248) 661-5700 temple-israel.org Temple Kol Ami West Bloomfield (248) 661-0040 tkolami.org Temple Shir Shalom West Bloomfield (248) 737-8700 shirshalom.org REFORM/RENEWAL Congregation Shir Tikvah Troy (248) 649-4418 shirtikvah.org SECULAR/HUMANISTIC Congregation for Humanistic Judaism of Metro Detroit Farmington H...…
…58 | JUNE 30 • 2022 C omposer-conductor Yaniv Segal is about to bring Michigan- strengthened creativity to Kansas as he takes on the responsibilities of music director and conductor for the Salina Symphony. Segal, formally beginning his five-year term in July and dividing his home base between Ann Arbor and Salina, already has begun meeting with members of the orchestra, administrative staff and community supporters. His 2022...…
…JUNE 30 • 2022 | 59 is planning a program relevant to the immigration experiences of his parents. “One of the upcoming concerts I’m really excited about is in January,” he said. “It has a piece called Ellis Island: The Dream of America, which is a work for seven narrators reading text of immigrants who came to America to escape pogroms, look for work, pursue artistic freedom or join family who came here earlier. The stories are ...…
…60 | JUNE 30 • 2022 KING SOARS, A TWO- SERIES CANADIAN, JIM AND A.J. CROCE Joey King, 22, has made the difficult transition from a star child actor to a suc- cessful young adult actor. This was obvious when she was Emmy-nominated (2019) as best actress in a limited series (The Act on Hulu). King has the title role in Princess, a comedy fan- tasy action film that will start streaming on Hulu on July 1. Here’s the capsule plot: When...…
…JUNE 30 • 2022 | 61 FAMILY BBQ 5-8 PM, JULY 1 An awesome Friday evening filled with friends, food and Adat Shalom’s Shabbat Rocks band will take place at the synagogue, 29901 Middlebelt, Farmington Hills. Doors open at 5 pm for dinner/kiddo activities, followed by a rockin’ Kabbalat Shabbat service at 6. $18/family includes hot dogs (vegetarian option available), salad, side and a special treat. Bring a blanket for you and you...…
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…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, LLC. 248-855-0437 Cell: 248-912-2292 License # 7118488 Maintenance, Installation, Repair & Hot Water Heaters Ajmendelson1@gmail.com FAMILY OWNED SINC...…
…64 | JUNE 30 • 2022 M y grandfather Mark Nisnevich, 86, of West Bloomfield, died June 18, 2022, 80 years after he got his first job at age 6. It was 1942 and World War II had thrown Europe into shambles. Born in Bobruisk, Belorussia, a small Jewish city on the Berezina River just southeast of Minsk, my grandfather was the oldest of three children. Like many other residents of Belorussia, he and his family were evacuated deep ...…
…JUNE 30 • 2022 | 65 grate to the Detroit area — 40 lives, 40 worlds, 40 opportuni- ties. Many of those people went on to have children and even grandchildren. Our rabbi, when sharing my grandfather’s story at his funeral, called him a “modern-day Moses. ” In a way, he was. And he was our hero. Mark Nisnevich is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Asya. He was the devoted father of Alla (Gregory) Zlatopolsky and Stella (Howar...…
…66 | JUNE 30 • 2022 BEVERLY M. DESON, 87, of Las Vegas, Nev., died June 23, 2022. She is sur- vived by her son, Sean Deson; daughter, Sarah Deson; grandchildren, Leah and Craig, Stephanie and Michael, Rebecca and Jordan, Julie and Michael, Katie and Ryan; many other loving family members and friends. Mrs. Deson was the beloved wife of the late Harvey Deson. Interment took place at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Contributions ma...…
…JUNE 30 • 2022 | 67 children; five great-grandchil- dren. Mr. Kurtis was preceded in death by his parents, Isadore and Blanche Kutinsky; and his wife of 69 years, Reva Doris Nyman Kurtis, who passed away May 3, 2021. c. 1977 FRED ROSEN, 104, of West Bloomfield, died June 18, 2022. Born in Detroit, Fred was the beloved husband of the late Evelyn (Eisman) Rosen for 70 years. He spent years in sales, but his favorite job was te...…
…68 | JUNE 30 • 2022 shirshalom.org; Jewish Hospice & Chaplaincy Network, 6555 W. Maple, West Bloomfield, MI 48322, jewishhospice.org; Jewish Senior Life of Metropolitan Detroit, 6710 W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322, jslmi.org; or Brighton Hospice, 26075 Woodward Ave., Suite 300, Huntington Woods, MI 48009, brightonhospice.com. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. SANDRA SHEPLOW, beloved wife, mother and grand- mother,...…
…JUNE 30 • 2022 | 69 OBITUARY CHARGES The processing fee for obituaries is: $125 for up to 100 words; $1 per word thereafter. A photo counts as 15 words. There is no charge for a Holocaust survivor icon. The JN reserves the right to edit wording to conform to its style considerations. For information, have your funeral director call the JN or you may call Sy Manello, editorial assistant, at (248) 351-5147 or email him at smanello...…
…70 | JUNE 30 • 2022 Looking Back A Stalwart on Broadway Street T he Jewish Historical Society’s Annual Meeting was on June 12. Once it con- cluded, I sat down at a table with another Smith, Levi Smith. This happenstance would lead to today’s “Looking Back. ” Also seated at the table were Stacey and Megan Simmons, the wife and daughter of Michael Simmons, the third-generation owner of the Simmons & Clark jewelry store in Downtown ...…
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…$200 June 23-29, 2022 / 24-30 Sivan 5782 JEWISH NEWS THE DETROIT thejewishnews.com A ‘Tree’ of A ‘Tree’ of Remembrance Remembrance Shoah survivor’s family donates memorial sculpture to Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids. See pages 12 and 45 …
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…JUNE 23 • 2022 | 3 contents PURELY COMMENTARY 4-11 Essays and viewpoints. OUR COMMUNITY 12 A ‘Tree’ of Remembrance Shoah survivor’s family donates memorial sculpture to Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids. 16 A New Name After merging last year, JVS + Kadima rebrands as Gesher. 18 Social Action Is at Its Roots Grand Rapids’ Temple Emanuel does its best to meet the needs of a diverse population. 20 From Student ...…
…4 | JUNE 23 • 2022 PURELY COMMENTARY for openers ‘Adon Olam’ Caper Takes the Cake W ell, if this happened, I know when it happened. I was in that middle time frame between childhood and teens, after my bar mitzvah, before I learned to drive a car and was ready to look for a part- time job. I was every parent’s nightmare … a teenager with time on his hands. And to up the ante, I had a best friend to help me concoct interes...…
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…6 | JUNE 23 • 2022 PURELY COMMENTARY 1942 - 2022 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 ...…
…JUNE 23 • 2022 | 7 to the Dead Sea, where we were able to cover ourselves in the special mud and float in the water. We then began our experience in Jerusalem with a lookover of the city including the Temple Mount. We finished the night on Ben Yehuda Street, which had an amazing atmosphere and delicious food. Many people will say that Jerusalem is their favorite place in Israel. Whether it is the somberness at Israel’s Holocaust...…
…8 | JUNE 23 • 2022 PURELY COMMENTARY essay An Inspiring Trip T his is Kalkidon. Her name, in Amharic, means “promise or covenant to God.” She is one of the many Ethiopian Jews who recently made aliyah. I had the privilege of accompanying these olim from Ethiopia to Israel. Our community helped make Kalkidon’s journey possible. The Detroit Jewish Federation’s Israel & Overseas Allocation Committee, under the leadership ...…
…JUNE 23 • 2022 | 9 “WE LEFT GONDAR TODAY. IT IS DIFFICULT TO TEAR MYSELF AWAY FROM THESE BROTHERS, THE BEAUTIFUL, SUFFERING, BELIEVING BETA ISRAEL. NEVER HAVE I PACKED SO MANY EXPERIENCES INTO SUCH AN INCRED- IBLY SHORT TIME. DURING THE BRIEF FLIGHT FROM GONDAR … THE PIC- TURE CROSSED MY MIND AGAIN OF … EACH SPECIAL PERSON I HAVE MET. I WANT TO PACK THEM ALL UP AND BRING THEM WITH ME TO ISRAEL, BUT INSTEAD, I HAVE TO LEAVE THEM ALL BEHIN...…
…10 | JUNE 23 • 2022 PURELY COMMENTARY analysis The Implications of Imminent Iran Deal on Abraham Accords A group of representatives from Middle Eastern nations, as well as the United States, met in the House of Representatives June 12 for a monumental roundtable discussion on the proposed JCPOA’s (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) repercussions on the Abraham Accords. The roundtable was hosted and moderated by Robert (Bobb...…
…JUNE 23 • 2022 | 11 States would be backing two sides of a conflict, incentivizing Iran’s lack of nuclear weapons, rather than encouraging two peaceful sides using agreements such as the Abraham Accords. “My government ceased diplomatic relations with Iran because of its malign activities in Morocco … we would love to see peace happening but [Iran] has to change their attitude, they have to abandon the malign activities and the...…
…OUR COMMUNITY W ay into his 93 years, Henry Pestka still did not reveal much about his experiences escaping Auschwitz and surviving the Holocaust; but his chil- dren, Steve and Linda, have taken on that messaging as a personal mission with expanded and far-reach- ing goals. The siblings, raised in Grand Rapids where their father established a real estate development business, decided artistry would be a way to honor their dad, along w...…
…JUNE 23 • 2022 | 13 continued on page 14 intimate site between two small hills where visitors can reflect about the statue and the story. Although it can be seen from the pathway joining the statuary throughout the park, there will be a feeling that it is guarded. Earlier, it was placed in a site in England. AN ENDURING LEGACY “ After my father passed away in 2013, my sister and I decided that we wanted to use a portion of [his beque...…
…OUR COMMUNITY “OUR COMMUNITY WILL FOREVER BENEFIT FROM THIS EXTRAORDINARY GIFT, WHICH SERVES TO EDUCATE AND PROMOTE PEACE.” — DAVID HOOKER PRESIDENT AND CEO OF MEIJER GARDENS continued from page 13 14 | JUNE 23 • 2022 happened. ” While sponsoring speak- ers, the Pestkas sought a more enduring project. A discussion between Linda Pestka and Nicole Katzman, Jewish Federation of Grand Rapids executive director, gen- erated the idea ...…
…JEWISH NEWS THE DETROIT 80 80th th Anniversary Anniversary For those without computer access, please mail the following to 32255 NORTHWESTERN HWY, SUITE 205 FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48334: • Who is Turning 80? [first/last] • What Day is their Birthday? • Personalized Message and Signature • A picture of the birthday person (if you would like the picture returned, please include a stamped return envelope.) • A check Celebrate th...…
…OUR COMMUNITY J VS Human Services + Kadima Mental Health Services unveiled the new name for their joint entity at the Strictly Business 25th anniversary luncheon this week. They will now operate as a com- bined entity under the name Gesher, which means “bridge” in Hebrew. Their merger, which was announced in August of last year, reduces operational and administrative costs and allows the organization to maximize its use of funds...…
…JUNE 23 • 2022 | 17 the organizations, he explains. “Each of our names didn’t describe this larger organiza- tion. ” CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH SERVICES The name “Gesher” was chosen to reflect the work the organiza- tion does in connecting people with services and providing support to help people reach their goals. “We’re the bridge for so many of these different popu- lations and, in essence, bridging people from where they are to wh...…
…OUR COMMUNITY O ur claim to fame is that the Union for Reform Judaism has told us we’re the fifth old- est Reform congregation in America. We’re very proud of that,” Rabbi Michael Schadick said. “We’re as wel- coming as we can be to all people. We have a big tent kind of congrega- tion, whether you’re Jewish and married to a non-Jew, whether you come from a more traditional back- ground, whether you’re simply someone who is...…
…JUNE 23 • 2022 | 19 and he is proud of the work they do, not just for the Jewish community, but for the greater community. “We’re involved in all kinds of pursuits. We have this amazing food bank that was started at Temple Emanuel when some of the first Soviet Jews began emigrating to America,” Schadick said. “Some of our members decided they would really step forward and collect food. We’re serving about 50 fam- ilies every sing...…
…OUR COMMUNITY H illel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit nominat- ed Lisa Keller of Farmington Hills to be our Volunteer of the Week because of her dedication to the school’s PTO volunteer organization. “Lisa Keller is holiday chair and plans all of the students’ holiday treats from PTO, chairs the Fun Run, and helped plan and execute Teacher Appreciation Week,” said Amy Sapeika, communications coordinator at Hillel. As an alumna ...…
…JUNE 23 • 2022 | 21 COURTESY OF HILLEL …
…22 | JUNE 23 • 2022 C harting hit records played on the radio was a preteen hobby that developed into an award-win- ning career direction for Barry Mardit, a Huntington Woods resident who has divided his professional com- mitments among hosting programs, administering pro- grams and serving as a consul- tant for programs. The next award will be pre- sented June 30 in Nashville, where Mardit will be among six other broadcast personali...…
…JUNE 23 • 2022 | 23 Boys, Randy Travis and Charlie Daniels. Mardit was especially impressed by an experience with Loretta Lynn. “I found country stars to be warm and family-oriented, and I met Loretta Lynn in Pittsburgh at a sad time in our family, ” he explained. “During a conversation Loretta and I had, I mentioned that my mom was having health issues. “Loretta was very sympathetic and asked for my mom’s phone number. Soon, I got a...…
…OUR COMMUNITY 24 | JUNE 23 • 2022 F urthering the legacy of their father, Fred “Ziggy” Findling (1930-2019), Darren Findling of Huntington Woods and his sister and brother-in-law, Debbie Findling and Steven Moss of San Francisco, are working with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) to fund the construction of “Ziggy’s Playground.” The play area will be part of a new Rwandan affordable housing development ...…
…JUNE 23 • 2022 | 25 raised for the $60,000 project, and additional sponsorship donor opportunities are avail- able. For more information or to donate, contact Steven Moss, See Far’s board chair, at steven@moss.net. ZIGGY’S STORY Fred “Ziggy” Findling was born in 1930 as Siegfrieg Findling in Cologne, Germany. During WWII, he and five of his siblings survived the war by being placed in orphan- ages and convents throughout Belgium,...…
…26 | JUNE 23 • 2022 L auren Rose brings star power into a Bard College class she teaches to link mathematics and fun puzzles — her 19-year-old son. Daniel Rose-Levine, an international Rubik’s Cube champion lauded for solving the puzzles in record times using his feet instead of his hands, has been featured on the national TV shows CBS Sunday Morning and To Tell the Truth and is profiled in A.J. Jacobs’ popular book The Puzzl...…
…JUNE 23 • 2022 | 27 calculus and all the things that have already been figured out for hundreds of years. If you keep going in math, at some point you start doing your own research and contributing, but you wouldn’t be able to get there if you had tried to figure out everything on your own.” While Rose-Levine believes it’s fun to try to figure things out on your own, he also believes that if you learn from others first, it pro...…
…OUR COMMUNITY H illel Day School has begun an “Open Space, Open Minds” ath- letic capital campaign to help fund the expansion and enhancement of Hillel’s outdoor athletic facilities. Currently, Hillel lacks a quality field that students can use year-round and after inclement weather, said Amy Schlussel, Hillel’s Director of Advancement-Admission & Giving. The current field is also uneven, and Hillel students need a safe playing sur...…
