…$200 Jan. 11-17, 2024 / 1-7 Shevat 5784 thejewishnews.com Are Sliding into Town JCC $200 Jan. 11-17, 2024 / 1-7 Shevat 5784 thejewishnews.com JEWISH NEWS JEWISH NEWS THE DETROIT Town Hundreds of host families will help make the Games possible. See page 12 Are Sliding into JCC …
…10 | JANUARY 11 • 2024 J N Opinion Pro-Palestinian or Anti-Israel? T hose who claim to support the Palestinian Arabs, in fact, do precious little to help them. The plight of the Palestinians globally — such as the denial of civil rights by their own dictators, withholding of citizenship rights by other Arab nations and the murder of thousands of Palestinians by their Arab brethren — is largely ignored by Western leftists. ...…
…JANUARY 11 • 2024 | 11 J N continued from page 8 someone who confided that he envies people who lost family members in the massacre. I completely understand. In a way, carrying that sign, whether the physical sign or the permanent one in my heart, is a privilege. Some of those people at the bus stop, particularly the Haredim, might not have had another way to feel connected. Carrying my sign around, whether figuratively or lite...…
…12 | JANUARY 11 • 2024 J N Hundreds of host families will help make the Games possible. Maccabi Games KAREN SCHWARTZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER Are Sliding into Town JCC …
…JANUARY 11 • 2024 | 13 J N R iley Agrest, 16, of White Lake is getting excited for the 2024 JCC Maccabi Games. They’re taking place July 28-Aug. 2 in Detroit this year, and he says he’s looking forward to not only playing, but also welcoming kids from other cities to his hometown. Agrest played basketball in Florida last year and has fond memories of his host family. “It was a cool experience to get home hosted; the family took...…
…14 | JANUARY 11 • 2024 says, adding that when Detroit hosted in 2019 it generated a strong feeling of commitment and togetherness. “They’re going to feel a part of some- thing big.” Aside from the sports com- petitions, participants will also take part in Jewish program- ming, community service proj- ects, and opening and closing ceremonies. “It’s not just about the sports, it’s about the expe- riences; it’s about being Jewish and h...…
…JANUARY 11 • 2024 | 15 …
…16 | JANUARY 11 • 2024 volunteers — his father was involved when Detroit first hosted, he says, and he’s picked up the baton. He’s host- ed mostly Israelis, as he speaks a little bit of Hebrew, he says, and enjoys making sure the athletes have a great experi- ence. “It’s something I hope they remember for a long time,” he says. “They’re going to carry away an impression of the Detroit Jewish community, and I want that to be a posi...…
…appreciate the efforts as well, he adds. “I’ve gotten very nice notes from parents who just say their kids blossomed,” he says. “The kids come home and can’t stop talking about Maccabi. It’s just a great expe- rience for them.” The athletes even grow above and beyond during their trips, he says, pointing to parents who were pleasantly surprised when he sent them a video of their athletes helping make salads for Shabbat din- ner. “...…
…D r. Jeff London loves telling his grand- children about the old days, but there’s one part he stresses. “Before cell phones, people actually wrote and mailed let- ters to each other, ” he likes to say. “When I think back to my 17-year-old self, I had no idea that one particular letter would have such a profound effect on my life. ” In January 1966, Jeff’s AZA chapter (Rose) scheduled a weekend of activities with Leslie Silverma...…
…JANUARY 11 • 2024 | 19 They saw Dr. Zhivago. “I remember this date felt very different than all the other dates I had gone on before … It felt exciting and promising. She was cute, she laughed at most of my jokes, and she was not afraid to express herself with just the right amount of assertiveness, ” Jeff said. He also fondly remembers them belting out “Barbara Ann” together along with his AM car radio. “Most importantly, she se...…
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…20 | JANUARY 11 • 2024 J N OUR COMMUNITY T hey may seem like an unlikely duo, but an Orthodox rabbi and a former atheist offer the perfect complement to one another in a new Metro Detroit-based Jewish podcast. Together, Rabbi Alon Tolwin of Aish Detroit and financial planner Gary Rosenberg of Huntington Woods, a self- proclaimed “skeptic, ” blend thoughts, ideas and perspectives in “ A Rabbi and a Skeptic Walk Into a Podcast. ” ...…
…JANUARY 11 • 2024 | 21 J N O n Dec. 18, the Secure Community Network said that it had tracked a staggering 199 (and count- ing) swatting incidents and false bomb threats across the country in 24 hours targeting Jewish facilities, including 93 in California, 62 in Arizona, 15 in Connecticut, five in Colorado, and four in Washington state, as well as one in Michigan, among others. “Swatting” is a false call to 911 to dispatch an...…
…OUR COMMUNITY T he 5784 Chanukah sea- son in Metro Detroit included an innovative menorah lighting facilitated by Rabbi Bentzi and Moussia Geisinsky of Chabad of Bingham Farms: The Kindness Art Menorah. The lighting took place on the eighth and final night of Chanukah outside the Franklin Public Library in Franklin. “Every year, since 2016, Moussia and I sit down a few months before Chanukah and come up with a creative idea, w...…
…JANUARY 11 • 2024 | 23 Welcoming a future son or daughter-in-law into the family? Share your excitement with the Detroit Jewish community by scanning the QR code. Congratulations! …
…C habad Centers of Metro Detroit are launching “ Advice for Life: The Rebbe’s Guidance for Leading a More Purposeful Life, ” a six- week course by the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI), set to debut this winter. This immersive journey explores the extensive wisdom and guidance of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of blessed memory. Through countless letters, spoken discourse and personal audiences, the ...…
…JANUARY 11 • 2024 | 25 J N A my Nederlander grew up in Michigan, spending lots of time at Detroit’s Fisher Theatre, then owned by her family, and she returns to the stage Jan. 15 in a program that recognizes, in part, her bringing theater elements to a young people’s organization. Rainbow PUSH, in the free program “Let Freedom Ring” held in Detroit’s Fox Theatre, will present her with the Social Service Award for her founding ...…
…26 | JANUARY 11 • 2024 J N O ne night in early December 2023, Yaffa Magier, a Lone Soldier from Southfield, stepped off a bus at her army base and saw a red cloth lined with rocks on the desert ground. Momentarily confused, she then caught a glimpse of her boyfriend holding flowers and a ring. As her fellow soldiers began to cheer, Jonah Peterson dropped to one knee and proposed. Both Jonah and Yaffa grew up in Southfield and a...…
…JANUARY 11 • 2024 | 27 was the one I want to spend the rest of my life with, ” Jonah said. He confirmed they were on the same page … and moved on to the fun part: Figuring out how, when and where to pop the question! He’ d planned to do it at Park Teddy in Jerusalem, but it was closed. Jonah’s mother and Yaffa’s sister suggested trying to surprise Yaffa on her army base. “I thought it was a cool idea, ” Jonah said. “I texted Yaffa...…
…28 | JANUARY 11 • 2024 J N OUR COMMUNITY O n Dec. 17, Hadassah Greater Detroit installed Marcie Rosen as its new region president. Marcie, former president of Tikvah chap- ter, said, “I’m honored and humbled to begin this new era of Hadassah Greater Detroit. We’re on an upward trajectory, and I’ll be working hard with my great board to ensure it continues over the next three years of my presidency.” The region’s executive committee ...…
…JANUARY 11 • 2024 | 29 Going to Israel During Yeshiva Break Week? A merican Friends of Yeshivot and Ulpanot Bnei Akiva invites Americans visiting Israel in January to enhance their trip for one day and participate in a special AFYBA Mission experience. Scheduled for Jan. 22-23, these AFYBA hosted one-day events will emphasize values such as solidarity, brotherhood and Ahavat Yisrael. The primary objective is to demonstrate A...…
…JANUARY 11 • 2024 | 3 J N contents PURELY COMMENTARY 4-11 Essays and viewpoints. OUR COMMUNITY 12 JCC Maccabi Games Are Sliding into Town Hundreds of host families will help make the Games possible. 18 How We Met: How We Met ‘All Because of a Letter.’ 20 An Unlikely Pair An Orthodox Rabbi and a former atheist host a new podcast on Judaism. 21 Record Number of Swatting Incidents Secure Community Network sounds the ...…
…30 | JANUARY 11 • 2024 J N T he Jewish community of Detroit did an amazing job in raising money for the Federation emergency campaign that started in light of the war in Israel, with donations close to $30 million dollars so far in a period of just weeks. But beyond donations, there is a strong feeling of unity as people find reasons to be together and to feel a sense of belonging and brotherhood in these difficult times ...…
…JANUARY 11 • 2024 | 31 environments and on social media. On Nov. 20, Federation’s NEXTGen Detroit held a program for close to 30 people where I, Tomer Moked, director of NEXTGen Detroit, and David Kurzmann, Federation’s senior director of community affairs, led a group discussion and answered the difficult questions that currently preoccupy young people in our community. FACES OF OCT. 7 — TESTIMONY OF A NOVA MUSIC FESTIVAL ...…
…32 | JANUARY 11 • 2024 J N SPORTS T he most “feel good” sports story of 2023 took place in July during the hot Israeli summer in an ice arena in Tnuvot, Israel. Players from Detroit, Grand Rapids and New York City made up one of the eight teams in the ages 14-17 JCC Maccabi Games hockey competition. The Detroit team didn’t win a medal, but it won the hearts of everyone who knew the story of Sully Popour. Popour was one of the ...…
…JANUARY 11 • 2024 | 33 J N Melissa’s mother Cindy Bolokofsky and sister Cathy Prue also made the trip to Israel from their homes in North Carolina and Florida, respectively. Sully made it to all three of the Detroit hockey team’s practices at the Farmington Hills Ice Arena before the Maccabi Games and the one practice in Israel. “I could tell from the first practice in Farmington Hills that Sully was going to be a better playe...…
…business SPOTlight brought to you in partnership with B I R M I N G H A M 34 | JANUARY 11 • 2024 J N J ordan Field, 46, Detroit native and an alum of Hillel Day School, is working his dream role as director of player and alumni relations at the Detroit Tigers. The Detroit Jewish News caught up with Jordan, as well as his two colleagues, Mike Singer and Ben Fidelman, to discuss their roles at the Tigers, life in Detroit and ...…
…JANUARY 11 • 2024 | 35 J N notable, the role I played in overseeing the authentica- tion of the artifacts related to Miguel Cabrera’s major career milestones (500 home runs, 3,000 hits). Making sure the artifacts were collected, secured and authenticated in real-time was important to Miguel, our organization and Major League Baseball. Handing the 500th home run baseball to Miguel in the Clubhouse in Toronto was one of the greatest...…
…36 | JANUARY 11 • 2024 to present him an award at a Jewish Historical Society event. Not sure if he was the first member of the Jewish community to work in the front office for the Tigers, but I’m certainly proud that people like Jeff, Ben, Mike and I have been able to follow in Irwin’s footsteps. MEET MIKE SINGER Mike Singer, 42, lives in Birmingham and is the vice president of Business Strategy and Activation with the Detroi...…
…JANUARY 11 • 2024 | 37 ADAM FINKEL CONTRIBUTING WRITER Meet Jeff Greenberg — The Tigers 20th General Manager Every grand slam starts with early base hits. Just ask Wolf Blitzer. The JN pub- lished a cover story written by the jour- nalist on Nov. 15, 1985. A few years later, he would begin his noted career at CNN. In that same month, the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle announced the birth of Jeffrey Samuel Greenberg. Last fall, the now 3...…
…38 | JANUARY 11 • 2024 J N faces&places JCRC/AJC’s 2023 Media Luncheon was a success. “We pride ourselves on forming positive relationships with members of the media, which now more than ever are vitally important,” said Sam Dubin, assistant director/director of media relations for the JCRC/AJC. “We especially thank the Detroit Jewish News’ Jackie Headapohl for her presence and greatly value and appreciate the DJN.” This year’s lunche...…
…JANUARY 11 • 2024 | 39 J N O h, what fun was had by one and all at Congregation Beth Shalom’s Chanu-Con! “Chanu-Con! is a labor of love, put on by Beth Shalom volunteers who want to bring the community together at the inclusive event,” said Beth Rodgers, event founder and participant. “It is meant for people of all ages, as there is truly something for everyone at Chanu-Con!” The array of vendors included everything from art and skin...…
…4 | JANUARY 11 • 2024 J N for openers Remembering a Master of Comedy T om Smothers, one half of the legendary comedy team the Smothers Brothers, passed away Dec. 26, 2023, at 86 after a battle with cancer. In a statement released on behalf of his family by the National Comedy Center (NCC), his brother Dick Smothers, 85, said: “Tom (who he often called Tommy) was not only the loving older brother that everyone would want i...…
…40 | JANUARY 11 • 2024 J N TOP, L TO R: Giane Portnoi, Chelsea Rebeck and Yevgeniya Gazman. Ryan J. Turell, Detroit Cruise basket- ball player. MIDDLE, L TO R: George M. Roberts, Eden and Sarah Roberts. Rochel Shemtov and Chana Shemtov. BOTTOM, L TO R: George M. Roberts, Rabbi Yisrael Pinson and Rabbi Jeff Stombaugh. Rabbi Yisrael Pinson lights the custom-made bas- ketball menorah on the Little Caesars Arena concourse during ...…
…JANUARY 11 • 2024 | 41 T he Jewish Senior Life residents who co-au- thored the new book Don’t Write Me Off! Thirty- Nine Stories of Older Adulthood were definitely the stars of the evening at the organization’s Lives Well Lived: Wrinkles in Time fundraiser on Nov. 14 at the Berman Center for The Performing Arts at The J in West Bloomfield. The beaming first-time authors smiled, posed for pic- tures in front of a life-sized image ...…
…42 | JANUARY 11 • 2024 A s a symbol of unity and coming together during these current times of division and increas- ing levels of antisemitism, the nonprofit foundation Spill the Honey recently hosted its annual gala. A “Celebration of Unity and Legacy” was held at the Atheneum Suite Hotel in Detroit to celebrate the shared histories and hardships that bond the African American and Jewish communities. The gala, attended by mor...…
…JANUARY 11 • 2024 | 43 G esher Human Services’ 15th annual Trade Secrets event held on Nov. 16 raised nearly $300,000 to support Gesher’s many workforce initiatives for women. More than 300 people attended the event held at the Detroit Marriott, Troy. The money raised will help support many of the programs that Gesher runs to improve the lives of women and their families, including Women to Work, financial education, computer trai...…
…44 | JANUARY 11 • 2024 J N MAZEL TOV! HOW TO SUBMIT ANNOUNCEMENTS Mazel Tov! announcements are welcomed for members of the Jewish community. Anniversaries, engagements and weddings with a photo (preferably color) can appear at a cost of $18 each. Births are $10. There is no charge for bar/bat mitzvahs or for special birthdays starting at the 90th. For information, contact Editorial Assistant Sy Manello at smanello@thejewishnews.com or (...…
…JANUARY 11 • 2024 | 45 J N SPIRIT TORAH PORTION Our Belief Is Tested M oses and Aaron came to Pharaoh and requested, at God’s bidding, that the Jews be allowed to travel into the wilderness to worship. Pharaoh refused and imposed even greater hardships on the Jewish slaves. The Jewish officers accused Moses and Aaron of bringing on further suffering. Moses then asks God, “Why do You treat the people so badly? From the time ...…
…T he Israelites were at their lowest ebb. They had been enslaved. A decree had been issued that every male child was to be killed. Moses had been sent to liberate them, but the first effect of his intervention was to make matters worse, not bet- ter. Their quota of brickmak- ing remained unchanged, but now they also had to provide their own straw. Initially, they had believed Moses when he performed the signs God had given h...…
…JANUARY 11 • 2024 | 47 meaning, I was not recognized by them in My attribute of ‘keeping faith,’ by reason of which My name is ‘Hashem,’ namely that I am faithful to fulfil My word, for I made promises to them but I did not fulfil them [during their lifetime].” Rashi commentary to Exodus 6:3. The patriarchs had received promises from God. They would multiply and become a nation. They would inherit a land. Neither of these prom- i...…
…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 West Bloomfield (248) 78...…
…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 Hills (248) 477-1410 ...…
…JANUARY 11 • 2024 | 5 J N their material. Over the years, I’ve had the great fortune of meeting and interviewing many of the grand masters of Jewish comedy — Jackie Mason, Henny Youngman, Don Rickles, Marty Allen, Jerry Lewis, Harvey Korman, Soupy Sales and Shecky Green, who just passed away on New Year’s Eve at 97. It reminds me of what Dick Purtan used to say to me, “Funny is funny,” no matter what era of comedy you’re talki...…
…50 | JANUARY 11 • 2024 J N ARTS&LIFE ART F aina Lerman and Mitch Cope are two of the 23 artists select- ed for the new exhibition, Beyond Typography, being shown Jan. 14-Feb. 21 in the Janice Charach Gallery in the West Bloomfield J (Jewish Community Center). The artists were known and picked by curator Clinton Snider, who takes on art projects for himself and teach- es at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. He asked ...…
…JANUARY 11 • 2024 | 51 her artistic work has appeared at the Detroit Artists Market and Wasserman Projects in Detroit. Her performance art duo, Tzarinas of the Plane, was named a 2015 Kresge Visual Arts Fellow. MITCH COPE Cope is showing at least one large pencil drawing, the new- est artistic form he has been working on, and he thought the form would fit in with the theme of the show. Snider and Cope have known each other for ma...…
…52 | JANUARY 11 • 2024 J N TWO NEW FILMS; WWII VETS PASS ON, BUT ONE IS STILL INVENTING TOYS Self-Reliance, a comedy thriller, will premiere on Hulu on Jan. 14. Here’s the premise: A sad man (Andy Samberg, 45) receives an invitation to win $1 million by a reality TV game on the dark web. For 30 days, he must outwit hunters attempting to kill him. But, there’s a loophole: The hunters can only attack him when he’s alone — so he ...…
…JANUARY 11 • 2024 | 53 ARTS&LIFE JUST FOR FUN Judaism ABRAHAM COMMANDMENTS DAVID DREAMS EGYPT GOD GOLIATH GOLIATH ISRAEL ISRAELITES JACOB JEWISH JOSEPH JUDAISM MONOTHEISM MOSES NATHAN NILE PHARAOH PHILISTINES POLYTHEISM PYRAMIDS RAMSES RED SEA SABBATH SAMUEL SAUL SCRIBE SLAVE SOLOMON Z L E G Y P T F J E Q L S E N I T S I L I H P S P G N S O F A B A S R R U M S U I H Z W H T V O W C N D M O N O T H E I S M N O F...…
…54 | JANUARY 11 • 2024 J N BRAIN HEALTH 1:30-2:30 PM, JAN. 11 (WED.) “Six Secrets to Building a Resilient Brain” with Dr. Eric Mintz, brain-based chiro- practor certified in neuro- feedback. Discover how our brain’s neuroplasticity can increase our resilience throughout our lifetimes. Register in advance for this Zoom event at: us06web. zoom.us/meeting/register/ tZIld-ivqjIoHt3GQjedm- DtJqMuIUfl2ID2d. After registering, you will rec...…
