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…$200 Feb. 10-16, 2022 / 9-15 Adar 1 5782 JEWISH NEWS THE DETROIT thejewishnews.com JEWISH NEWS THE DETROIT Meet this year’s cohort of Jewish young professionals in Metro Detroit. See page 10 Love stories from Jewish Senior Life Jewish-style deli coming to Detroit JARC & Federation team up to vaccinate thousands + …

…FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 | 3 contents PURELY COMMENTARY 4-9 Essays and viewpoints. OUR COMMUNITY 10 36 Under 36 Meet this year’s cohort of Jewish young professionals in Metro Detroit. 29 Ann Arbor Congregants Ordered to Pay Protesters’ Legal Fees Plaintiffs’ attorney vows to fight ruling. 30 Lasting Love Two long-married couples share t heir advice for a happy marriage. 32 Hub for Jewish Heritage Two of...…

…4 | FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 for openers Me and Tom Brady T om Brady announced his retirement last week from profession- al football after 22 years and seven Super Bowl victories. He’s a University of Michigan graduate. I’m a Michigan State graduate. But we do have two things in com- mon. We both knew when it was the right time to retire from football, and we’ve both been associated with super models. Stay with me here. I’ll never...…

…FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 | 5 opinion The Apartheid Libel I t was so absurd, I thought it might have been a prank. When Amnesty International released a report singling out Israel as an apart- heid state on Rosh Chodesh Adar — the head of the month cel- ebrating Purim — I had to check if I was reading The Onion or some other satir- ical news outlet. Tragically, the untruthful report was real. Not surpris- ingly, the irony was lost on ...…

…6 | FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 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 changes to: D...…

…FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 | 7 expulsions, antisemitic decrees and riots. Prior to 1948, about 800,000 Jews lived in Arab lands. Those communities have vanished, with a mere 3,000 remaining in Morocco and Tunisia combined, fewer than 100 in Israel’s neighbors Egypt, Lebanon and Syria, and others such as Libya and Jordan with not a single Jewish resident. Lest we frame this as simply an historical policy, the Palestinian Authority today ...…

…8 | FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 column You Can’t Just Swap Out Maus for Another Holocaust Book. It’s Special. L ike many people, I encountered Maus as a middle schooler. But unlike many people, I can say that it set me on a direct path to my eventual career — as a scholar of reli- gion, especially Judaism, and popular culture. I was 12 when the second vol- ume of Maus was published, and I read both volumes in one long afternoon. It wa...…

…FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 | 9 with these books or what it means to be ongoing witness- es to horror. According to a taxonomy outlined by Scott McCloud, graphic novels can be “word-specific,” “picture-spe- cific” or “duo-specific” based on what element of the page is carrying the information the reader needs to under- stand the story. The Prisoner on the Hell Planet section is particularly picture-specific. The pictures are the story. The...…

…FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 | 11 OUR COMMUNITY continued on page 12 This Y ear’s Meet these young Jewish professionals who are making an impact in Metro Detroit. JN STAFF F or the past several years, the JN has had the privilege to meet an amazing group of people through our annual “36 Under 36.” Each of the people you’ll meet in these pages today was nominated by a member of our community and selected by a judging panel made up of ...…

…12 | FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 continued on page 14 degree from the University of Michigan in 2020, where she studied nonprofit man- agement and the Jewish community as part of the Jewish Communal Leadership Program. In her free time, Ashley enjoys trying new restaurants and breweries, playing board games with friends and travel- ing with her partner, Josh. LAUREN EDELMAN WILLENS Lauren Edelman Willens is a partner at the law firm...…

…EMILY, Congratulations on this great honor! I am so happy the 5th generation of KIG includes you! A smart, strong intelligent Korotkin woman. I am so proud of you! Love, Dad EMILY/MAMA, We are so proud of you and appreciate all that you do. It’s so wonderful to see you recognized for your hard work! Love − Stacy, Davis, Cash & Lenny xoxo YOU’VE COME A LONG WAY, EMBO! Mazel Tov on being named 36 under 36! With Love − Lisa, Ja...…

…14 | FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 He was also a founding mem- ber of the Kidz Klez Band of Michigan under the late Cantor Stephen Dubov. Alan later took a turn directing this ensemble starting in 2013. Then, in 2014, he became a founding member and music director of the local klezmer band Klezundheit (Bless You!). Klezundheit fea- tures some of the best musicians from the Metro Detroit area and performs throughout the community, doing its b...…

…FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 | 15 Mazel Tov to Josh Ketai on being one of the 36 under 36! Essex Title congratulates all of the 36 under 36 recipients! Essex Title is extremely proud to have a team member that demonstrates what community giving is all about. Josh sets the example for going above and beyond while showing what a positive impact his actions have on the young adult community members. We can’t wait to watch from our front row sea...…

…16 | FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 missions of these organiza- tions is very important to her. While a Spartan at heart, Emily graduated with a degree in radio broadcast from Columbia College Chicago, but eventually found her way home to Detroit to be closer to her dad and sisters and their families. Emily and her wife, Stacy, have built their family in Metro Detroit. Son Davis, 3, and daughter Cash, 1, are the lights of their lives. Emily...…

…FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 | 17 MAZAL TOV TO HILLEL'S Amira Soleimani andRenee Liberman ON BEING HONORED WITH 36 UNDER36 MAY YOU CONTINUE TO INSPIRE YOUNG MINDS AND SOULS FOR YEARS TO COME. WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU AND GRATEFUL FOR THE TIME AND DEVOTION TO HILLEL DAY SCHOOL, ITS STUDENTS, YOUR COLLEAGUES, AND THE COMMUNITY. hillel day school's students, faculty, staff, and board of trustees Mazal Tov, …

…18 | FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 of North America National Young Leadership Cabinet since 2015. Here in Detroit, Danny serves on the boards for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Historical Society and Forgotten Harvest. He received his BA from the University of Michigan and his Juris Doctor from Loyola University in Chicago. Proud parents of Sophie and Henry, Danny and his wife, Morgan, reside in Birmingham. Zalman’s Deli in Bloo...…

…FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 | 19 Congratulations to our JCC leaders Lacey Foon, Samantha Foon, and Emily Korotkin on their well-deserved recognition. MAZEL TOV MAZEL TOV Ilana Woronoff for being honored as one of this year’s for being honored as one of this year’s 36 UNDER 36 36 UNDER 36 You continue to impress us every day with your dedication, compassion and creativity that you bring to your role in the Resource Center and to ...…

…20 | FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 leading investment manager in Austin, Texas. After more than a decade away, Zack returned in 2017, moving to Birmingham. Shortly thereafter, he met Emily, a phy- sician assistant at Beaumont, who he married not once, but twice thanks to COVID-related wedding planning adventures. Zack and Emily are both committed to helping foster a strong Jewish community in Metro Detroit. Zack is active with Chabad Detroi...…

…FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 | 21 Eli Newman Congratulations WDET-FM 101.9 Detroit’s NPR station FROM YOUR COLLEAGUES AT Public Media Journalists Association (a national award) 1st Place - Social Justice Feature ”Kneel With Us: Four Nights In, Detroit Protesters, Police Fight For Narrative” Eli Newman Michigan Association of Broadcasters Best Award - Hard News & Current Events “Kneel With Us: Four Nights In, Detroit Protesters, Police Fi...…

…22 | FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 LACEY FOON Lacey Foon, 34, is most recently the founder of JFamily’s newest program — JScreen Detroit — an initiative created to help Detroit Jews receive education, subsidization and support for hereditary cancer genetic and reproductive disease screen- ing. She devised this initiative while undergoing chemo- therapy for cancer associated with her own cancer genetic mutation. She did not want a single ...…

…FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 | 23 KIG Insurance is extremely proud to congratulate our very own Emily Korotkin as a 36 Under 36 honoree. 248-352-5140 www.GetKIG.com Congratulations NOAH COHEN on your 36 under 36 achievement and for a stupendous year in 2021! Your Max Broock Realtors−Bloomfield Hills family is so proud of you! Mazel Tov to the entire group of 36 under 36! …

…with both her undergraduate and graduate degrees. She was born and raised in West Bloomfield and now calls Royal Oak her home. DAN GOLDBERG Dan is a finan- cial advisor at Diversified Portfolios in Bloomfield Hills. He is passionate about investments and financial markets and loves working to help families with any financial matter or concern. Dan truly loves his profession and has studied over the years to become more knowled...…

…FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 | 25 can find him walking the West Bloomfield Trail or out campaigning across West Bloomfield and Commerce for the primary election on Aug. 2. Noah and his family are congregants at Temple Israel. BRITTANY FELDMAN Brittany was born and raised in Metro Detroit. She spent her child- hood and early adulthood attending Jewish summer camp, which is where her passion for nature and com- munity really blossomed. Ove...…

…26 | FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 Northwest Detroit with his wife, Olivia. JESSICA DAVIDOV Jessica Davidov is finishing her last year at Wayne State University Law School. For the last five years, Jessica worked as a law clerk at the firm of Osipov Bigelman P .C., a boutique law firm specializing in bank- ruptcy matters, real estate and commercial litigation. Jessica has also worked as civil rights and technology policy legal intern at...…

…FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 | 27 learn an incredible amount about the history of Judaism, which brought him closer to his religion. As a recently married man, he and his wife, Dana, have Shabbat dinner every Friday night and always keep their doors open to anyone who would like to join. Outside of his work as a Realtor (www.melaniesold. com), which doesn’t leave him much time for anything outside of family, his favorite hobbies are racin...…

…28 | FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 OBGYN in 2021 by the Ann Arbor Family Press. In addition to her day job, Monica is an active member of Ann Arbor’s Jewish com- munity. She is the immediate past president of the Ann Arbor Orthodox minyan where she continues to serve on the board, and she also serves on the board of the Hebrew Day School of Ann Arbor where her children go to school. She is a grassroots Jewish leader who has initiated sev-...…

…FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 | 29 A ttorney Marc Susselman says it’s not over yet after two years of legal battles between a group of protesters who have targeted a local shul in Ann Arbor for nearly two decades. A federal judge ruled Jan. 25 that two members of the congregation will have to pay the protesters more than $150,000 in legal fees. “The whole decision is totally wrong, and I believe it will be reversed,” Susselman said. Susselm...…

…30 | FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 W hether you’re single, married or anything in-between, Valentine’s Day is a celebra- tion of love. Sometimes, people fall in love at a young age, while others fall in love later in life. In Jewish Metro Detroit, there are thousands of love stories each unique in their own way. Here are two examples of how love can take form, grow and evolve with time, sometimes surprising us all. BEN AND SHELLEY SKELTON Wh...…

…FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 | 31 “Friends wanted to fix us up, but I didn’t want to go out,” Elaine recalls. However, she eventually began to fall for Mark and the love started to grow. In 1983, the couple got married and built a new life together. It was always full, Elaine says, with work, community involvement, family and Judaism. Mark was a commercial realtor while Elaine worked in vet- erinary care. The B’nai Israel members have long...…

…O ne can read a lot of Detroit Jewish histo- ry today. There are online newsletters and journals, a wide range of books to read on your Kindle, and many other digital sources of informa- tion. There are also tried and true historical sources such as the journal, Michigan Jewish History, or the online Archive of the Detroit Jewish News and Detroit Jewish Chronicle. All these resources have one thing in common: They are written...…

…FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 | 33 We found inspiration from his words to do the same thing for the archives.” Gottlieb adds, “With a com- munity as intertwined as ours, we all have ownership over the stories and legacies of those who came before us. The cen- ter is one step toward making a home for future generations to feel a part of a long line of incredible Jewish leaders — and hopefully inspire them, too.” The archivists not only work t...…

…OUR COMMUNITY O ver the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, many organizations in Metro Detroit have taken great, important action. Of those organizations, there may be no more profound impact made than the efforts of JARC and the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. JARC, since January 2021, has held vac- cine clinics at the Federation building in Bloomfield Township, receiving the attention of the entire state of Michigan. Fo...…

…FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 | 35 JARC knew people in the other types of homes they run were still at risk, which led them to contact the Oakland County Health Department about how they could assist their many at-risk populations. Through JARC’s efforts and the efforts of Federation advocating on their behalf, another clinic was greenlit. As part of running that clinic, OCHD was so impressed with JARC’s flow and processes that it asked the folks...…

…36 | FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 O rthodox women are eagerly await- ing the opening of the new mikvah at the Tugman Bais Chabad Torah Center of West Bloomfield synagogue on Maple Road east of Orchard Lake. The approximately 2,500-square- foot facility, which is about triple the space of the cur- rent mikvah, is expected to open in May or June. A mikvah is a ritual bath used by Jews who have become ritually unclean, which is not the same ...…

…FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 | 37 BARBARA LEWIS CONTRIBUTING WRITER The interior design is by Julia Weinberg and Miriam Horowitz of the company Julia Robin Interiors. Robin, formerly of Southfield, now lives in Israel, and hopes to create a “mystical, spiritual and physically beautiful ener- gy that only a mikvah can provide,” said Silberberg. “It’s going to be the nicest part of our building.” The facility, named the Mallor Walder Communit...…

…OUR COMMUNITY A t Hillel Day School, a partner- ship with Playworks is redefin- ing recess. Playworks, a national nonprofit with a Michigan chapter, works with schools like Hillel to design play opportunities during recess, lunch and/or after school. The goal: to teach kids skills for life, such as leadership and conflict resolution, while making physical and mental health a priority. After a successful partnership at Farber Hebrew D...…

…FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 | 39 playground so that every kid can find a game that they love, ” Bunn explains. “They can be physically active and practice those social, emotional skills that we know are so valuable and happening in real time on the playground. ” On any given day, kids partic- ipating in Playworks programs like the one at Hillel can play four square, jump rope or open tag, among other activities. Group agreements are another...…

…40 | FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 A fter a decade of attending the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, I was begin- ning to think I had seen it all and there really was not anything new for me. I was certainly wrong. Last year’s CES was entirely virtual and, quite frankly, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) was not ready to make one of the world’s largest trade shows a virtual experience. It just was not the same. I adm...…

…FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 | 41 45,000 attendees in person, with 30% of attendees travel- ing from outside the U.S. and representing 119 countries. “Innovation came to life this week at CES 2022 — with technologies that will reshape industries and provide solutions to press- ing worldwide issues from healthcare to agriculture, sustainability and beyond,” said Shapiro. “The CES show floor buzzed with the joy of human interaction and a five...…

…42 | FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 T his past semester, and year, has been unconventional to say the very least. At the start of the fall 2021 semester, I expressed my excitement and anticipation to return to a semi-normal college experience at Wayne State University, with a fresh appreciation for the little moments in life that make days so sweet. Now that I am beginning a new semester yet again, I thought it prudent to check in with myse...…

…FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 | 43 As the weeks flew by, and September became October and morphed into November, I settled into a comfortable and enjoyable routine. I would meet in person for my class on Tuesday evenings, attend in-person history club meetings and lead in-person JSO meetings. My days were brightened by forays into the student center to get a coffee or excursions with my brother to visit the Detroit Institute of Art. A SP...…

…44 | FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 M y name is Mary Yousif. I am 22 and am the first generation born in the U.S. to my family. I take on many roles within my daily life and community, whether it be a daughter, student, teaching assistant, volunteer, researcher or, most of all, a proud Israel supporter and advocate. Israel. There is no place that I’ve had as strong of a connection with than the state of Israel. I’m sure many of you are w...…

…FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 | 45 our Nissim Black event. Nissim came, via Zoom, and told his story about how he began with music and his spiritual awakening in the Jewish community. We were so fortunate to collaborate with Wayne State’s Black Student Union for this event and involve other groups on campus. Eventually, I became an Israeli American Council (IAC) Mishelanu ambassador, a position I still proudly hold and value dearly becau...…

…for college students by college students Nicole Ruza } jewish@edu writer Jewish Learning with a New Twist J ewish learning has always been important to me. However, sometimes, I find that Jewish learnings I participate in could use a refresh to be more relevant and exciting. This is why I was so drawn toward Michigan State Hillel’s Chavurah program, an initiative launched in October 2021 to help students develop a better rela- t...…

…FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 | 47 SPORTS T he Michigan Jewish Sports Foundation has a new executive director. He’s a familiar face. Don Rudick, a foundation Pillars of Excellence honoree in 2016 and active volunteer at foundation events, was named the executive director in December. The West Bloomfield resi- dent replaced Sari Cicurel, who resigned as executive director to devote more time to her busy public relations business. Cicurel had ...…

…48 | FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 business SPOTlight brought to you in partnership with B I R M I N G H A M I n a few short months, vis- itors to Detroit’s historic Eastern Market will find a new eatery for indulging in corned beef sandwiches and other Jewish deli fare. They will also find a market offering locally sourced food and prod- ucts, plus grocery items. Bringing the two distinct businesses to fruition is EW Grobbel, a globally...…

…FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 | 49 here’s to nient grab-and-go items and company’s brands, such as Grobbel’s Gourmet smoked meats and its line of premi- um, sliced and prepackaged deli products. “The new locations will offer a way for people to interact with the brands in an entirely new way,” Grobbel said. For example, “our kosher dill pickle line, Topor’s, will be available in the deli as well as the market.” He was referring to the popu...…

…50 | FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 MAZEL TOV! Quinn Regan Cohen, daughter of Cassi and Michael Cohen, will be called to the Torah as a bat mitzvah at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield on Friday, Feb. 11, 2022. She will be joined in celebration by her siblings, Jaden, Madison, Logan and Ethan. Quinn is the loving grandchild of Esther and the late Morry Wexler, the late Ronald Cohen, and Margaret and J.D. Himmelstein. Quinn is a student at W...…