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…thejewishnews.com $200 March 19-24, 2020 / 23-29 Adar 5780 See page 12 S 12 As Michigan reacts to COVID-19, experts advise caution, good hygiene. Prudence, Not Panic …

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… MARCH 19 • 2020 | 3 contents Views 5-8 Jews in the D Coffee Talk 10 Two rabbis share diverse opinions in JLearn course. School’ s Out 12 Hillel Day School teacher tests positive for coronavirus; Whitmer shuts down all schools in Michigan. Congregations Shutter Doors in Response to Coronavirus 14 Local temples and synagogues make major changes to reduce COVID-19 spread. Funeral Directors Urge Loved Ones to Limit Services to Imme...…

…4 | MARCH 19 • 2020 INTEREST-FREE LOANS FOR MICHIGAN JEWISH RESIDENTS APPLICATIONS OPEN APRIL 1 TO MA Y 15 COMPLETE AND SUBMIT ONLINE: jewishcollegeloansmi.org ADMINISTERED BY WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHAT IS THE WILLIAM DAVIDSON JEWISH COLLEGE LOAN PROGRAM? • A Need-based, interest-free loan program for Jewish Michigan residents who are U.S. Citizens. • Qualifying students must be enrolled in full-time accredited colleges or universiti...…

… MARCH 19 • 2020 | 5 Views jewfro Passed Over Foods No Mo’ Y ou can’ t blame people when ancient Jewish tra- ditions happen to meet a particular need in their very contemporary lives. Shabbat for digital detox. Threadbare kabbalah for celebrity rebrand- ing. Kippot for male-pattern baldness. At least I hope you can’ t blame them for cherry-picking, because I’ m about to. For obser- vant Jewish households, the weeks leading up t...…

…6 | MARCH 19 • 2020 editor’ s note Our Pledge to You During COVID-19 Views Response to AIPAC Editorial I found the editorial “Does Pluralism Have A Future At AIPAC?” (March 12, page 36) disturbing. I am going to rephrase the question. I think the real question is whether anti-Semitism and racism should be welcome at AIPAC conferences? And the answer is no. The author speaks of Bernie Sanders as if he was the victim. He wasn’...…

… MARCH 19 • 2020 | 7 32906 Middlebelt Rd (at 14 Mile), Farmington Hills | 248-855-0007 Hours: Mon - Sat 8:30-8:30, Sun 8:30-7pm | www.JohnnyPomodoros.com TUESDAY’S SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNT 10% (excludes beer, wine, sale items, garden center, and special orders) We accept Visa, Master Card, Discover, American Express and EBT Cards 03142016-1100 Johnny Pomodoro’s makes every effort to insure that the prices and items listed on our flyers are u...…

…Views guest column It’s Time to Be Counted A s publishers representing New Michigan Media (NMM) and engaging with more than 100 ethnic and minority media outlets across our state, there is one thing we agree upon — responding to the 2020 U.S. Census benefits all Michiganders. Whether a Native American news- paper in the Upper Peninsula, a Latino radio station in Grand Rapids, an African American publication in Lansing, a Bangladeshi...…

… MARCH 19 • 2020 | 9 SCHEDULE A TOUR TODAY! This is your time and All Seasons of West Bloomfield is your place for innovative luxury living. All Seasons is designed to delight every one of the senses… every day! Select a distinctively stylish and luxuriously appointed 1- or 2-bedroom residence and become totally captivated by gracious service, social events, educational and cultural programs. For the Joys of Senior Living. WALNUT LAK...…

…10 | MARCH 19 • 2020 T ake two well-known local rabbis. Add a group of adults from all walks of life. Sprinkle with thought-provoking topics. Stir in lots of lively discussion. Serve with coffee. That’ s the recipe for the Jewish Community Center’ s (JCC) breakout JLearn class, better known as “The Perfect Blend: Coffee With The Rabbis,” a class begun last year that was so popular and filled up so quickly, it’ s been expanded ...…

… MARCH 19 • 2020 | 11 010_DJN031920_JD Coffee with rabbis Feb 27.indd 11 010_DJN031920_JD Coffee with rabbis Feb 27.indd 11 3/16/20 1:23 PM 3/16/20 1:23 PM …

…H illel Day School sent out a memo to the Hillel community on Friday, March 13, informing everyone that one of their teachers in the 1-2 Learning Community had tested presumptive positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19). “He is a beloved and valued member of our school commu- nity, a teacher whose dynamic classroom is always filled with positive energy,” read Hillel’ s statement. “We wish him and all those affected a speedy recove...…

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…A Tough Decision Local temples and synagogues make major changes to reduce coronavirus spread. SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER Jews in the D D etroit-area temples and synagogues, which had already instituted enhanced sanitation and other practices to offset transmission of the coronavirus, quickly ratcheted up their response on Thursday and Friday, March 12-13. This followed Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’ s announcement that...…

…Deserves Good In Michigan EVERY PERSON Access To HEALTHCARE To fund life-saving programs like MIChild, urgent care, Medicaid and Medicare YOU and YOUR FAMILY must be counted in the 2020 CENSUS this spring. The 2020 CENSUS Is quick and EASY to fi ll out. Use it to count EVERYONE in your home. And by law, it is 100% CONFIDENTIAL For more information go to www.mivoicecounts.org 000_DJN031920_JD Synagogue Closings March 19.indd 15...…

…16 | MARCH 19 • 2020 T he coronavirus has upset Jewish life cycle plans since it arrived in Michigan March 11. Bar and bat mitzvahs as well as weddings — and accompa- nying parties — have been postponed. But, in Judaism, funerals are not delayed. A loved one should be buried as soon as possible. Keeping to that tradition but operating as safely as possible in these days of the coronavirus, all three local Jewish funeral homes ...…

… MARCH 19 • 2020 | 17 24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110 Southfield, MI 48034 1-248-945-1111 What Is Your Plan?..... Call Us. We focus on Probate Litigation and Administration. Administering estates where everyone is on the same page. Protecting you from self-dealing parties appointed by will, trust or the court. Protecting you from family members who always want more. michprobate.com Get The Detroit Jewish News Delivered to Your Door!...…

…Stay Put Coronavirus: “No reason to go to an emergency room,” ER doctor advises. CORRIE COLF STAFF WRITER W ith the first con- firmed cases of the coronavi- rus (COVID-19) hitting Michigan on March 11, many local hospital emergency rooms have seen a flood of people coming in asking to be tested for the disease. But unless you have sig- nificant shortness of breath, coming to the ER is doing more harm than good, according to Dr. ...…

… MARCH 19 • 2020 | 19 CARRY-OUT MENU STARTERS Seder Plate ............................................................................. $12.95 INCLUDES THE TRADITIONAL SYMBOLIC FOODS ON A SEDER PLATE, READY TO USE Contains Walnuts Charoses (½ pint) ........................................................................ $4.95 FRESH APPLES, NUTS, WINE, AND CINNAMON Contains Walnut, Gluten Free, Vegan Honey Glazed Salmon (3 oz. serving) ....…

…20 | MARCH 19 • 2020 STAY PUT continued from page 18 illness, and there is no specific treatment for it,” Vieder said. “The only people we want to see in the ER or in the urgent care setting are those who are having trouble breathing because that is someone who should be seen, regardless if it is coronavirus or not. “Unfortunately, those people who have higher risks, like the elderly and [those with] other underlying health probl...…

… MARCH 19 • 2020 | 21 Call The Sheridan at Birmingham. To start the conversation or schedul e a visit, you can reach us at 248-934-3801. We’re here to l isten and serve. The care begins when you call. For yoursel f or your l oved one, the search for assisted l iving or memory care can feel better in a hurry when you tal k to someone who understands. That’s us. We’l l l ist...…

…W hen it’ s finally built in the coming years, many who drive by the Lasher Road Mikvah in Southfield will, in all probabil- ity, have no idea what it is or why it’ s there. But for members of the nearby Modern Orthodox community — already enticing newcomers with kosher food options, vibrant synagogue life and Jewish day schools — the presence of a mikvah (ritual bath) will fill in “the critical miss- ing piece” for those consi...…

… MARCH 19 • 2020 | 23 Open to All High School and College Graduates Each style is available in any of the 4 sizes. CALL TODAY 248-351-5116 or 248-234-9057 You can also email in ads to salessupport@renmedia.us Or submit online at thejewishnews.com/contact/cap-and-gown 2020 Gown Cap Deadline is May 7, 2020 Publication Date is May 21, 2020 AD STYLE #1 1/4 PAGE $275.00 XXXXXXXXXX May all your dreams come true! You have been suc...…

…continued from page 22 24 | MARCH 19 • 2020 don’ t have a mikvah, they don’ t want to move here. ” At that time, Levi and her husband, Dr. Noah Levi, were approached by Yechiel Morris, their rabbi from YIS, about helping to plan for a new mikvah. They assembled a board of volunteers, met with members of the City of Southfield Planning Commission and engineering department, obtained a variance to rezone the area chosen for the mikva...…

… MARCH 19 • 2020 | 25 A family tradition that started more than 60 years ago has come full circle for the Shemtov family. Bassie and Rabbi Levi Shemtov are the founders and co-directors of Friendship Circle in West Bloomfield. The non- profit organization they started in 1994 provides assistance and life-changing support to 3,000 individuals with special needs and their families through rec- reational, social, educational and v...…

…The culmination of a 5-year-old promise. W hen Brian Jacobs’ brother announced he was engaged, there was no question he and his fam- ily would make the drive from their home in Southfield to the wedding in Cleveland, where the bride and groom live. It was also “ a given” that a 5-foot-plus llama would be there, too. “When my brother told me there was going to be a llama at his wedding, I wasn’ t sure it would really happen and ...…

… MARCH 19 • 2020 | 27 The cast of Temple Israel’ s 2020 shpiel, “A Very Frozen Purim” | faces&places Jews in the D A pie in the face at Shir Shalom’ s Purim celebration: Brad Rosenberg of West Bloomfield helps “pie” Rabbi Daniel Schwartz, Rabbi Michael Moskowitz. Looking on are Arthur Ruimy and Ian Rosenberg, both 16 and of West Bloomfield. Community Purim Celebrations LEFT: Shir Shalom congregants get into Purim. FAR LEFT: Tali Rube...…

…Congregation Beth Shalom in Oak Park held its annual Cafe Shalom on Saturday, Jan. 25, featuring a Roaring ’ 20s theme, with the 17-piece Ambassadors Big Band perform- ing. Attendees enjoyed dancing, refreshments and being dressed in vintage 1920s fashions. PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARK ZACKS 28 | MARCH 19 • 2020 Aaron and Joelle Averbuch of Huntington Woods and Beth and David Rodgers of Oak Park Bryan and Teresa Beckerman of Huntington Wood...…

… MARCH 19 • 2020 | 29 10th Annual Chicken Soup Cook-Off Jan. 26, Temple Shir Shalom, West Bloomfi eld PHOTOS COURTESY TEMPLE SHIR SHALOM 1. Ben Wine enjoys his chicken noodle soup sample. He was among about 500 people attending the annual chicken soup contest. 2. Winners of the Best Amateur Creative/Contemporary Soup were Gabriel Reamer and Michael Reamer, flanked by co-chairs Jan Pederson and Amy Liefer. 3. Event mascot Ian Rosenber...…

…sports HIGHlights J osh Birnberg is back home. And it didn’ t take a long time. Just six years after ending a memorable playing career with the West Bloomfield High School baseball team, Birnberg is the Lakers’ new coach. At age 24, he’ s one of the youngest high school coaches in any sport in the state. West Bloomfield Athletic Director Eric Pierce, who was Birnberg’ s coach during the four years Birnberg was the starting shorts...…

… MARCH 19 • 2020 | 31 for being a high school baseball coach. “There are high expectations for Hit Dogs teams,” he said. “The Hit Dogs aren’ t just any summer travel program. They’ re one of the best travel programs in the country.” Birnberg is well aware of the advantages and possible pitfalls of being a young coach at the high school level. “I can relate to the guys because I’ m not far removed from being a high school student...…

…32 | MARCH 19 • 2020 Birnberg went to Eastern Michigan University to play baseball. But he didn’ t spend much time in Ypsilanti, leaving after a freshman red-shirt season and transferring to Oakland University, where he didn’ t play baseball and earned a degree in communications in 2018. “I must admit, it took me a while to get over not playing baseball anymore,” Birnberg said. “I started playing high- level baseball when I was 9....…

… MARCH 19 • 2020 | 33 Call or Order online for all 3 events! Passover Carryout Order by March 31 7th Annual Rustic Italian Buffet is April 13th RSVP by 12th KFC Pickup is April 14th Order by April 12th Save the dates for these tasty Chef Cari events! 248-770-6521 www.ChefCari.com FEEL THE DIFFERENCE—IN JUST 30 MINUTES. At REACH were committed to providing therapeutic sup...…

…34 | MARCH 19 • 2020 Coronavirus in Israel: My story of being evacuated in 8 hours. B ack in the good old days of early March, when Israel only had 15 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, Israelis were much more cautious about the outbreak than anyone else. Ben- Gurion Airport was already empty, the train to Haifa even emptier, and even the brave who headed outside made sure to cover their faces. I, however, was adventur- ...…

… MARCH 19 • 2020 | 35 then the plot thickened. “Dear customer, your flight from Tel Aviv to Frankfurt/ Main on Sunday is canceled,” the email from Lufthansa read laconically. “Please accept our apologies. We are looking for alternatives and will be in touch shortly with a solution.” Needless to say, they weren’ t. So, there I was, stuck near Gaza, with no car, no spare clothes, no place to stay, no flight home and under strict ord...…

…36 | MARCH 19 • 2020 Spirit torah portion T he Sanctuary and all of its furnishings are described in exquisite detail in this week’ s Torah portion with one exception: the ki’ ur, the large wash basin in which the priests sanctified themselves by wash- ing their hands and feet prior to each Divine service. Virtually all the other items in the Sanctuary are given exact measurements, but here the Torah speaks only in gen- eral term...…

… MARCH 19 • 2020 | 37 NEED HELP IN MATH WHILE AWAY FROM SCHOOL? I CAN HELP! I provide ONLINE tutoring sessions so that you can still learn what you need without leaving the comfort and safety of your own home. With 30 years of tutoring experience, I can help in any subject of math. One on one or group sessions available. Call or text: Gary Davis (248) 943-0645 RSVP at MIUMensHealthFoundation.org, email info@miumenshealth...…

…38 | MARCH 19 • 2020 Growing Up Indebted co-star Jessy Hodges, a Huntington Woods native, comes by her talent naturally. SAM BLAKE CONTRIBUTING WRITER J essy Hodges has come a long way from “the per- formance couch” — the Victorian-style four-seat- er that sat in the living room of her Huntington Woods childhood home and served as seating for a makeshift stage. Hodges, 33, now lives with her husband in Los Angeles and co-stars ...…

… MARCH 19 • 2020 | 39 Detroit, Hodges absorbed the community’ s love of singing. This, alongside her family’ s predilections, led to her associating Judaism primarily with art and education — and to her identification with those pieces. “I feel very Jewish culturally, and that means a lot to me, ” Hodges said. JEWISH-INSPIRED HUMOR Hodges also inherited a Jewish sense of humor. “My mom’ s sense of humor came from Mel Brooks, Jackie ...…

…40 | MARCH 19 • 2020 Okemos couple visits every state park in the Mitten. JUDY GREENWALD CONTRIBUTING WRITER A ri and Jessi Adler know the meaning of hitting the road — for pleasure and purpose. To acknowledge the centennial of Michigan’ s parks in 2019, the Okemos couple traveled some 8,000 miles, visit- ing each of our state’ s 103 parks to learn about their unique beauty and history. The two started a website (trekers. org) and w...…

… MARCH 19 • 2020 | 41 PAM FEI NBERG- RI VKI N, rn FOUNDER & CEO Trai ned I nterventi oni st STEVE FELDMAN CHI EF OPERATI NG OFFI CER Trai ned I nterventi oni st They don’ t have to hi t rock bottom Recovery from an addiction or mental health concern can begin today. Let us help you bring hope and healing to your family. 248.538.5425 Fei nbergConsulti ng.com Professional Interventions Treatment Recommendations Ca...…

…42 | MARCH 12 • 2020 continued from page 40 Jessi. “You have to own your own boat or make private charter arrangements. Once you get there it’ s very pristine and peaceful and well worth the effort.” The trip held many more highlights as well. “I’ m a history geek,” Jessi said, “and was excited when I found some cool piece of Michigan history.” For example, you can see petroglyphs at Sanilac Petroglyphs State Park. Visit Meridia...…

… MARCH 19 • 2020 | 43 tv The Plot Against America Sets in Motion T he first images we see in The Plot Against America (Mondays, 9 p.m., HBO) are from newsreel footage of Hitler sympathizers. They fill up stadiums, heil the Nazi flag and chase Jews down streets. Only some of this archival material comes from Germany. The rest of these smiling anti-Semites are all-American. Created by The Wire’ s David Simon and based on the 2004...…

…44 | MARCH 19 • 2020 DADS’ CLUB Council of Dads is an NBC drama that starts March 24 at 10 p.m. The lead character, Scott Perry, is the loving father of four. A serious health scare moves him to recruit three of his closest male friends to step in as “back-up dads” for every stage of his family’ s life. These men agree to devote themselves to supporting and guid- ing Scott’ s family through thick and thin — just in case he ever c...…

… MARCH 19 • 2020 | 45 Dine In Carry Out Delivery Available Call for Details CLOSED ON TUESDAYS AUTHENTIC & DELICIOUS TASTING CHINESE CUISINE 10% off Total order 10% off Total order On Star’ s beautiful already low-priced trays $5 OFF Expires 3/31/20. One Per Order. Not Good Holidays. 10 Person Minimum. With this coupon. DELIVERY AVAILABLE “…one of America’ s finest carryout-only delicatessens! Star’ s reputation has ...…

…46 | MARCH 19  2020 the exchange community bulletin board | professional services For information regarding advertising please call 248-351-5116 Deadline for ad insertion is 10am on Friday prior to publication. “Let us love your pet while you are away” Pet resort • Daycare Training • Grooming Web Cameras 248-230-PAWS (7297) 2244 Franklin Road Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302 www.4pawscc.com $65 Service Call Nothing per hour, plus part...…

…MARCH 19  2020 | 47 HEALTHCARE MALE LPN private duty nurse, live-in, errands, companion, Exc ref. Call 248-275-6752 Exceptional & caring Caregiver.Excellent experience/references. 20+ years experience. Latrice (313)739-8267. Private homecare - avail. 5 days/week, daytime only. 4-6 hrs/day, light housekeeping. 15 yrs exp. Doris 313-304-9718 A1A CAREGIVER/COMPANION. Experienced, excellent references. 248-991-4944 Local caregi...…

…48 | MARCH 19 • 2020 Soul of blessed memory c. 1940 SAMUEL BIEGUN, 87, of Oak Park, died March 6, 2020. He is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law, Lisa and Randy Spitzer of Oak Park, Batia and Ira Gold of Ft. Meyers, Fla.; sister, Leah Pollak of Israel; grandchildren, Zachary and Brynne Spitzer, Rachel Spitzer; his great- grand “fur babies,” Junior, Goldie, Bella, Millie and Peggy. Mr. Biegun was the beloved husband...…

… MARCH 19 • 2020 | 49 SAUL BERNARD LEDERER, 98, died March 8, 2020, in Palm Beach, Fla. Saul was the consummate pater familias. He was a man of unassailable integ- rity and character, a suc- cessful self-made corporate executive, a lifelong learner, world traveler, voracious reader, art and music afi- cionado, avid tennis play- er, staunch University of Michigan sports fan and most loyal friend. His legacy is in his family and thei...…

…Soul of blessed memory 50 | MARCH 19 • 2020 continued from page 49 a charity of one’ s choice. DONALD LEVINSON, 92, of Novi, died March 3, 2020. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Darlene Levinson; daughter, Sari Browar; son, Andrew Levinson; grand- children, Anna Browar and fiance, Alex Cohn, and Ruthie Browar; sister, Patt Schwartz; many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Mr. Levinson was the cher- ished fat...…