…JEWISH NEWS THE DETROIT thejewishnews.com $200 Nov. 23-29, 2023 / 10-16 Kislev 5784 March for Israel Detroit’s 900+ participants show strength and unity at national rally — and on the tarmac. See page 10 …
…10 | NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 J N OUR COMMUNITY COVER STORY March for …
…NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 | 11 Detroit Federation brings 900+, but not all make it to the event. KERI GUTEN COHEN CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Detroit Federation brings 900+, but not all make it to the event. KERI GUTEN COHEN Israel An overall view of the Nov. 14 March for Israel on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Nearly 300,000 people participated. ETHAN SHULMAN/JFNA …
…12 | NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 T he March for Israel held Nov. 14 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., drew nearly 300,000 people to proclaim their support for Israel, to demand the release of the 240 hostages and to decry the surge in antisemitism. Participants included Jews and non-Jews, old and young, and people of all races, backgrounds and political persuasions. And Detroit showed up in force. “Today’s crowd brings together ever...…
…NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 | 13 women speak, for me, was the most powerful part of the march, ” said Karen Alpiner of Franklin, who was there with her husband, Neal. “These women were strong in the face of what we can’t imagine. They got the biggest response. People kept chanting ‘Bring them home!’ to let them know we were with them. ” Marcie Rosen of Farmington Hills, incoming president of Hadassah Greater Detroit, said, “It was the exper...…
…14 | NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 At about 4 p.m. on Nov. 6, the Jewish Federation of Detroit sent an email saying at 8 p.m. they’d offer a limited number of seats on chartered flights to Washington, D.C., for a national March for Israel on Nov. 14. Within days, a diverse group of 900 Jews and others had filled three planes to stand for Israel, demand the release of the hostages, and call out and oppose antisemitism. The morning of th...…
…NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 | 15 Ayal was fortunate to join his parents, Rebecca and Rabbi Aaron Starr, at the march. His brother Caleb, 16, a junior at Frankel Jewish Academy, was stuck in a plane on the tarmac at Dulles airport. Unfortunately, one full plane of Detroiters never left the airport. (See sidebar.) “The buses hired to take over 900 participants from Dulles International Airport to the site of the march failed to appear, dela...…
…16 | NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 Federations of North America (JFNA), one of two rally sponsors, took the mike. He shared a statement from the Detroit Federation that the bus company had experienced a “deliberate and malicious walk-off of drivers.” He added it appeared the cause was antisemitism, saying even though they did not make it to the rally, their experience was of extra value as Federation, ADL, JFNA and other pro- fessionals ...…
…NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 | 17 Federation and everyone who worked on this trip. It was an amazing, first- class effort and we ended up with a meaningful, memorable experience. As we all know, God runs the world. Everything happens for a reason. The only way they win is through petty and cowardly acts, as we saw on Oct. 7.” Brandon Epstein of Birmingham, who has been helping a friend collect and ship needed items to Israel, was disa...…
…18 | NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 J N I n late October, Jane F. Sherman participated in a powerful Jewish Federations of North America solidarity mission to Israel. Already planning to travel to Israel under any circumstances to visit her four kids there, Sherman quickly agreed to go on this mission when it came up following the Hamas terror of Oct. 7. The mission was of great importance to Sherman, as she hasn’t missed a war in Israe...…
…NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 | 19 which will provide immediate money to these individuals and families. And it’s ongoing for the next three years,” Sherman explained. “And obviously the Jewish Agency needs to provide some housing for them. They have nothing; they left their homes with nothing.” But beyond those basics, Sherman is aware that possibly the most important thing these people are going to need is psychological help. “You can ge...…
…Two Generations, One Force. 2380 WALNUT LAKE RD, WEST BLOOMFIELD | $1,795,000 918 MITCHELL CT, BLOOMFIELD TWP | $1,599,900 29736 PINE RIDGE CIR, FARMINGTON HILLS | $219,900 1995 TUCKAWAY DR, BLOOMFIELD TWP | $524,900 280 HARMON ST, #290, BIRMINGHAM | $1,650,000 635 HALF MOON RD, BLOOMFIELD VILLAGE | $1,030,000 231 WADSWORTH LN, BLOOMFIELD TWP | $2,250,000 651 BENNINGTON DR, BLOOMFIELD HILLS | $3,625,000 WALNUT LAKE LAKEFRONT | BIRMINGHAM...…
…20 | NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 J N OUR COMMUNITY L ocal members of the Israeli and Jewish communities held an “empty shoe display” Saturday, Nov. 11, next to the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market in Kerrytown. The display and information table were designed to highlight the issue of the 240 hostages, including 30 children, being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. Among the hostages are citizens of 30 countries, including the United States. The...…
…A fter nearly 40 years, Hersh’s — the fashion destination for countless women in the Bloomfield area and beyond — has moved into a new location, with new opportunities and growth around the corner. “We are loving the adventure of a new store,” said Harold Rothenberg, the owner of Hersh’s. “Brick-and-mortar stores are what built this country, specialty businesses like ours. And we plan to continue that.” Hersh’s opened their new ...…
…22 | NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 J N L ately, different cities around the world have been setting up tables with empty place settings and empty chairs in honor of the 242 hostages kidnapped by Hamas during the terror attacks on Oct. 7 in Israel. Sometimes each of the empty chairs has a picture of a hostage taped to it. One woman, a relative of seven of the hostages, tearfully rearranged some of the empty chairs of the display in Chicago so ...…
…NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 | 23 J N RIGHT, CLOCKWISE: Dr. Josh Levisohn with his dog tag. Lailie Greenbaum with her dog tag. Eitan Schon with his dog tag. other side of the dog tag is the Israeli flag and the words “Am Yisrael Chai.” Smith gave his first batch of dog tags to Farber Hebrew Day School, where his two sons graduated. The dog tags were gifted to students in grades 6-12 at an inspiring in-school program. “The idea is that each kid ...…
…24 | NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 J N OUR COMMUNITY O n Oct. 8, Shira Brown’s husband, Menachem, was called up as a reservist, and Shira struggled to care for their two children Ori, 4, and Hadar, 9 months, by herself. On Oct. 9, Shira created a Facebook post about the tactical needs of her husband’s unit and was gratified at the many donations that came flooding in. She raised more than 3,000 NIS (about $800) in a few hours. One don...…
…NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 | 25 In that way, Shira set up more than 100 Lone Soldiers with host families. She matched her parents with a certain Lone Soldier called Menachem Brown who visited his host family one Shabbat. He immediately caught Shira’s eye. “I already had his phone number, so I made a move,” Shira said. She called him after Shabbat and asked him out. They married in 2018, four days after Menachem finished his service. A...…
…26 | NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 J N S ometimes the most random interactions can leave the most long-lasting impressions. Just ask Michelle and David Bungum. Religious Catholics, the Minnesota couple had traveled on their first 12-day pilgrimage to Israel in May 2023. On their flight back to the United States, “chance” had them sitting next to a 19-year-old young man. Michelle, a friendly, outgoing therapist, asked this teenager who he...…
…NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 | 27 J N “Michelle was at that moment in church lighting a candle for Daniel,” said Margery. “She felt the vibration of her phone and ran out of church to answer it. When she realized it was me, she burst into tears.” Margery updated Michelle; that Daniel is doing fine, how he’s been involved in various classified missions. Margery and Howard hardly hear from their son and worry about him constantly. Margery a...…
…28 | NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 J N G orman’s Home Furnishings & Interior Design contributed furniture to Michigan State University’s Chabad Jewish Center Lounge, giving a much- needed lift to the look and feel of the space. Additionally, thanks to a monetary contribution totaling $6,750 made by Gorman’s to support the Center, a portion of the funds allowed more than 150 students to enjoy a special Shabbat dinner on Sept. 15 this p...…
…NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 | 29 J N W hen 74-year-old retired Farmington Hills firefighter Richard Levine received a call to volunteer his firefighting services in Israel shortly after the deadly Hamas attack, he had no hesitations. “They asked, ‘Can you be available at a moment’s notice to leave?’ And I said, ‘Yes, I could,’” the Huntington Woods resident recalls of the message he received while attending the Oct. 9 Israel solidarity e...…
…NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 | 3 J N PURELY COMMENTARY 4-9 Essays and viewpoints. OUR COMMUNITY 10 March for Israel Detroit Federation brings 900+, but not all make it to the event. 18 Jane Sherman Reflects on JFNA Solidarity Mission to Israel The mission was of great importance to Sherman, as she hasn’t missed a war in Israel since 1973. 20 Ann Arbor’s Bring Them Home Campaign Jewish Federation of Greater Ann A...…
…OUR COMMUNITY A few weeks ago, Palestinian flags were posted facing out- ward in the windows of some art studios at the Cranbrook Academy of Art. The flags were reportedly removed on Nov. 4 at the direction of Cranbrook Academy’s admin- istration. A subsequent message to the Cranbrook community from its president, Aimeclaire Roche, and Jeff Suzik, director of schools, explained that “… Given the collective size, scope and posit...…
…NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 | 31 J N a statement that reiterated the earlier institutional stance of not taking positions on “… political causes, conflicts or events. Our practice is to keep the common, shared areas of our campus free of messaging or activities, as displays of this nature could be interpreted as political statements made on behalf of Cranbrook … “ As a private institution, it is our responsibility — rather, our obligati...…
…32 | NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 J N OUR COMMUNITY O ne of the blessings of being born with a disability, says Michigan Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein, is that you’re given a chance to impact people in a way that you may have never thought possible. “It serves as a unifier,” he explains of disabilities, which don’t discriminate based on religion, race or where you’re born. “Everybody has a connection to disability.” In Bernste...…
…NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 | 33 J N Arabic news television channel, about his work advocating for disability rights worldwide. People were so moved by the program, he says, that Bernstein will soon be going with Al Arabiya to Saudi Arabia — a United Nations member state that doesn’t recognize Israel — to create a feature presentation on the life of a disabled Jewish American. “It’s going to really highlight in a positive way a Jewish pe...…
…OUR COMMUNITY A July 6, 2023, Jewish News article was the conduit to solve a small local mystery. But first, let’s backtrack. Meet Beverly, who’s “80+ years young,” from Detroit. Decades ago, she used to visit estate sales and buy different Judaica items. At one point, she purchased a stack of Jewish books, and promptly forgot about them … until the pandemic. “During COVID, I started cleaning, like everyone else,” Beverly sai...…
…NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 | 35 J N seen the post and all who told her the same thing: “Someone’s looking for your brother!” Karen reached out to Beverly and immediately picked up her brother’s book, which was in pristine condition. Forty-five years and two days later, the long-lost bar mitzvah book was reunited with his very happy owner — who, it turned out, actually goes by his other given name, Harry. “I was so happy that we found h...…
…OUR COMMUNITY U ntil a few years ago, if you were interested in a local Jewish hol- iday celebration for families or an adult class about Jewish history, you might rely on mailings from a synagogue, the Jewish Community Center (The J-Detroit) or a time-consuming online or phone search. But, for the past several years, Jlive, an extensive online platform, has helped thousands of Jewish Detroiters connect with local Jewish organizatio...…
…NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 | 37 J N in organizing attendees in a streamlined and simple way. Externally, the functionality of Jlive continues to improve, most notably in the way the system automates event reminders and emails attendees their tickets. ” Kaufman expects that in the future, Jlive will host seminars for participating organizations to help them understand the aggregated demographic data that Jlive can provide. This year, Jlive...…
…38 | NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 M y Zionism and passion for Israel are deeply rooted within me and date back sev- eral generations in my family. My great-great-grandfather, Joseph Wetsman, attended the Second Zionist Congress, where he and fellow Detroiter D.W . Simons purchased the land on Mt. Scopus where Hadassah Hospital was later built. My great-grandmother, Fannie Wetsman Saulson, and great-great aunt, Sal Wetsman Davidson, late...…
…NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 | 39 The Arab Cultural Society, Muslim Student Association, Students United for Palestinian Rights (SUPR), Yemeni Student Association (YSA), Egyptian Student Association (ESA), Students Organize for Syria (SOS) and March for Our Lives (MFOL) introduced and collaborated on the bill. There is a strong one-sided bias that is evident throughout the legislation. The bill is plagued with misinformation, making a ple...…
…4 | NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 J N PURELY COMMENTARY essay Prisoners Cannot Free Themselves I ’d like to quote a parable from our Jewish Talmud: “Rabbi Hiyya bar Abba fell ill. Rabbi Yohanan came to visit him and said to him: Is your suffering dear to you? Do you desire to be ill and afflicted? Rabbi Hiya said to him: I welcome neither this suffering nor its reward, as one who welcomes this suffering with love is rewarded. Rabbi Yohan...…
…40 | NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 A HAAHHA. Free Palestine! No wonder you came out retarded.” “Go to Hell, Shayla.” “You deserve everything that’s happening.” These are just three of the many messages I have received on my social media in response to the attacks on Israel. While I know my experience cannot even begin to compare to what others are going through, I still wanted to share. I went a week without wearing my star necklace. It w...…
…At Wayne State University, it’s always been our mission to make college accessible for all by making it affordable for all. That’s why we offer programs like the Wayne State Guarantee, the Heart of Detroit Tuition Pledge and a range of merit-based scholarships, all providing financial assistance to any student willing to put in the hard work to earn a degree. And it’s working. With a combination of these programs, half of our fall 2023 in...…
…42 | NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 and the entire Jewish community as we all share the same fear. But safety? Safety and support are two different things. I try to have Hillel events serve as education events for those who want to learn more about different aspects of Judaism. When I saw that Yitzhak Rabin’s memorial day was on a Friday, I immediately knew I wanted to do a Shabbat dinner education event. (This was back when I was originally p...…
…NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 | 43 www.emich.edu/jewish-studies/support In this challenging moment, we must tell our own story and not let others tell it for us. EMU’s Center for Jewish Studies has worked with the university to promote a civil atmosphere on campus. Our events, which foster appreciation for the richness of Jewish culture and history, continue to be popular and well-attended. Stand with us and support us in our efforts to educa...…
…44 | NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 J N A s I write this, I’m looking at my hand, where scattered flecks of cobalt blue trace the outline of a Magen David. While this could be an ad for waterproof blue eyeliner — the pigment clinging on for dear life four days later — I find myself now wishing to retrace the lines when I get home. After all, for centuries, Jews have been forced to identify themselves. From Nazi yel- low stars to donkey-sha...…
…NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 | 45 J N ripping down posters of kid- napped children or shouting “Glory to Our Martyrs” and “The Resistance is Justified” on the walk to class any less heartbreaking. But, what I have also seen these past few weeks, in a way that I’ d never before, is Jews coming out in force. Thousands at vigils across campuses. A parent’s rally at Michigan with a sea of Israeli flags. People who had never expressed interest ...…
…A Different Perspective W hat comes to mind when you think of Dearborn? Perhaps Henry Ford’s historical antisemitic attacks on Jews or its status as home to the largest Muslim population in the U.S.? Historically perceived as unwelcoming to Jewish residents, my experience in Dearborn, since moving there in 2020 to pursue my bachelor’s degree at the University of Michigan–Dearborn, contradicts the preconceived stigma associat...…
…NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 | 47 Challah Bake A mid the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, it’s natural to feel a sense of despair. While residing in the safety of our homes, it’s common to grapple with a feeling of privilege and guilt, especially when faced with the inability to assist the Israelis and Palestinians experiencing hardship. At Hillel of Metro Detroit, the students baked challah with proceeds donated to the IDF. Engaging i...…
…48 | NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 A special group of volunteer judges will be reviewing submissions and choosing the 36 winners. Honorees will receive a free subscription to the JN and be featured in a February 2024 issue. GO ONLINE TO THEJEWISHNEWS.COM AND SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATION BY DECEMBER 29, 2023 JEWISH NEWS THE DETROIT Do you know someone who gives of themselves to the community in robust — and often thankless — ways? Someone you admire an...…
…Giving Tuesday B E A P A R T O F T H E S O L U T I O N JEWISH NEWS THE DETROIT PromotingPositiveChange …
…NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 | 5 J N …
…Single Family Living Our Mission: For 10 years, Single Family Living has strived to focus on combating youth illiteracy from single families throughout the Metro-Detroit communities. Just like the needs of the communities and schools we service expanded, so has our mission to help the youths. Our mission is to empower, mentor, and inspire children from single parent families. SFL’s 4-tier plan equips youth and their parents to overcome f...…
…Orchards Children’s Services Our Mission: We are Orchards. Strengthening the community through quality services to children and families is our mission—both in words and actions. We exist for one purpose: to serve children and families healing from the trauma of abuse and neglect. We believe in engaging individuals as active participants in building their own future. By working in partnership with parents, relatives, foster parents and y...…
…52 | NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 J N GIFT GIVING T his is the time of year when charitable organizations pull at both your heartstrings and your purse strings. During this season, generous Michigan citizens are asked to give time, money or goods to charities that do important work in our communities. As donors, we must choose among the many charities asking for our donations. Although most of these organizations operate with charitab...…
…NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 | 53 Tamarack Camps Mission Statement: Tamarack Camps, established by the Fresh Air Society, builds a vibrant community by providing enriching Jewish camping experiences for children and families, respectful of fi nancial ability. What’s New? Tamarack Camps continues to be a leader (fi ve generations!) in Jewish camping – a tradition that is more important than ever! Children, teens, and young adults need a place to...…
…54 | NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 GIFT GIVING of their donation will go to the charity. Some charitable organizations contract with professional fundraisers and agree to receive only 10% or 15% of total donations collected. This is why it is so important to educate yourself before donating. Exactly what information should you ask for? The solicitor is required to give you a truthful answer when you ask, “What percentage of my donation d...…
