…of Grand Rapids. Various programs that she has helped put on led her to connect with local Holocaust survivors, in particular a man named David Mandel. “He lived in Grand Rapids for many years and never talked about the Holocaust,” Finkelstein explains. His story will be showcased on the web- site. Mandel, encouraged by Grand Valley State University, began to slowly share his story and eventually ended up speaking at Jewish day s...…
…30 | SEPTEMBER 23 • 2021 OUR COMMUNITY W hen Howard Bragman was growing up in Flint, the city had a small but vibrant Jewish com- munity, and he had a lot of family nearby. His family belonged to the old Beth Israel, a Conservative congregation. Still, growing up in the Midwest in the 1960s, without a lot of peers or role models to look to, Bragman said he never quite fit in. “ As a fat, Jewish, gay kid in Flint, I always felt lik...…
…SEPTEMBER 23 • 2021 | 31 ORT Michigan Participants Represent Region in National Program ORT America welcomed 14 participants to its new National Leadership CohORT Program, an exclusive 18-month leader- ship development, learning and mentoring opportunity for the organization’s future leaders. The ORT Michigan Region is well represented by Emily Korotkin, Matt Ran, Lisa Rothberger and Dan Serlin. Upon completion, partici- pants wil...…
…A t Daria Gutmann’s house, the whole family helps get ready for the holidays. “I usually help my dad build the sukkah, and that’s really special to me,” says the 10-year-old. “My favorite part is decorating it.” Along with her dad, Rabbi Brent Gutmann, mom, Jill, and sisters, Tzipora, 7, Lyla, 4, and Vered, 2, the family fills their 16x12 sukkah with ribbons, paper chains, bead necklaces and homemade pictures. They put tables ...…
…feels nice.” Meanwhile, one way 4-year-old twins Riley and Easton Foon of Bloomfield Hills will be sharing in the holiday is by putting together JFamily Detroit’s edible sukkah craft project, which gives kids the chance to use tea biscuits, cereal and pretzels to make their own sukkah. They’ll also be attending services with parents Samantha and Michael for the holidays. “Simchat Torah, as a kid, I remember going to the service...…
…34 | SEPTEMBER 23 • 2021 ERETZ J ared Kushner had plenty of folks to praise at an event in Washington Sept. 14 marking the first anniversary of the Abraham Accords, the deals he bro- kered normalizing relations between Israel and four Arab countries. There were the ambassadors from Israel and two of the Arab lands, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. There were his Trump administration colleagues who worked through the agreement....…
…SEPTEMBER 23 • 2021 | 35 MAZEL TOV! JULY 7, 2021 Rebecca Blinder Mets and Erik Mets of Seattle, Wash., are thrilled to announce the birth of their son, Asher Isaac Mets. Asher was welcomed home by big sister Theodora Sage and grandparents Laurie and Mark Blinder of West Bloomfield. Grandparents Peter Mets of Ann Arbor and Sandy Mets of Dexter cannot wait to meet him. Asher is named in loving memory of his great-great-grandfather Isa...…
…36 | SEPTEMBER 23 • 2021 SPIRIT Finding Simple Joys I n the times of the Temple, one of the highlights of the holiday of Sukkot was the dancing and rejoicing. Each night there would be celebrations that would last throughout the night and into the early hours of the morning. The joy was so great that the Talmud goes so far as to say that one that never saw a Simchat Beit HaSho’evah at the Temple, never saw true joy. What...…
…SEPTEMBER 23 • 2021 | 37 Simchat Torah begins Tuesday evening, Sept. 28. S imchat Torah, celebrated the day after Shemini Atzeret in the diaspora (and combined into one day in Israel), is unique among festivals. It is not mentioned in the Torah, nor in the Talmud. Unlike Purim and Chanukah, it was not formalized by any decision on the part of the religious authorities, nor does it commemorate any historical deliverance. I...…
…38 | SEPTEMBER 23 • 2021 SIMCHAT TORAH WAS BORN WHEN JEWS HAD LOST EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT THEY NEVER LOST THEIR CAPACITY TO REJOICE. Jewish people preserved the Torah, the Torah preserved the Jewish people. It was, as we say in our prayers, “our life and the length of our days. ” It was the legacy of their past and the promise of their future. It was their marriage contract with God, the record of the covenant that bound them unb...…
…Synagogue Directory CONSERVATIVE Adat Shalom Synagogue Farmington Hills (248) 851-5100 adatshalom.org Ahavas Israel Grand Rapids (616) 949-2840 ahavasisraelgr.org Congregation Beth Ahm West Bloomfield (248) 851-6880 cbahm.org Congregation Beth Israel Flint (810) 732-6310 cbiflint.org Congregation Beth Shalom Oak Park (248) 547-7970 congbethshalom.org Beth Tephilath Moses Mt. Clemens (586) 996-3138 bethtephilathmoses.com B’nai Israel Sy...…
…40 | SEPTEMBER 23 • 2021 Shomrey Emunah Southfield (248) 559-1533 congregation-shomrey- emunah-105705.square.site The Shul-Chabad Lubavitch West Bloomfield (248) 788-4000 theshul.net Woodward Avenue Shul Royal Oak (248) 414-7485 thewas.net Yagdil Torah Southfield (248) 559-5905 Young Israel of Oak Park (248) 967-3655 yiop.org Young Israel of Southfield (248) 358-0154 yisouthfield.org RECONSTRUCTIONIST Congregation...…
…SEPTEMBER 23 • 2021 | 41 T here couldn’t have been a more exciting finish to the first season of an improbable league. Young Israel of Oak Park and a team headed by Dylan Bressler locked up in a close battle in the playoff championship game of the new Detroit Shul Basketball League last month at Farber Hebrew Day School in Southfield. Down by eight points with about two minutes left, Young Israel of Oak Park called a timeout. ...…
…C arol Bendix Allen, as a University of Michigan graduating senior in the 1970s, found her first dream job writing marketing materi- als for Vogue magazine. Before marrying and raising two sons, she focused on fashion. Allen, now a grandmother of four and a real estate marketing consultant in New York state and Massachusetts, wants to help young women find their dream jobs but with a different and more timely focus — opportunitie...…
…SEPTEMBER 23 • 2021 | 43 ARTS&LIFE BOOK REVIEW P eople who like food (and we all do eat!), people who like folktales (don’t we all like a good story?) and people who like scholarship (a smaller group) will enjoy The Angel and the Cholent, the latest collection of folktales from the Israel Folktale Archives published by Wayne State University Press. The Angel and the Cholent: Food Representations in the Israel Folktale Archives pres...…
…44 | SEPTEMBER 23 • 2021 JEOPARDY JEW? JEWS OF SEX-ED (THE SERIES), SCI-FI SCRIBES As I write this, a week of already-filmed Jeopardy episodes, hosted by now- ousted host Mike Richards, are being aired. Already- filmed episodes, hosted by Mayim Bialik, will start being aired on Sept. 20. Also, as I write this, contestant Matt Amodio is still winning Jeopardy games. He has the third- longest winning-streak in Jeopardy hist...…
…SEPTEMBER 23 • 2021 | 45 GLOBAL CONNECTIONS 4-5 PM, SEPT. 23 The American Friends of Rabin Medical Center will present “Who Is an American Jew in 2021: Insights from the Pew Study.” Robert Siegel (former senior host of NPR’s All Things Considered) interviews Prof. Shuli Rubin Schwartz, Rabbi Elka Abrahamson and Prof. Jonathan Sarna. Free. Register at: gcsept. splashthat.com. Learn more at afrmc.org. MSU CONCERT SEPT. 23-27 80...…
…46 | SEPTEMBER 23 • 2021 T his classic oven-baked hot dip is a perennial favorite at restaurants and household parties alike. It will disappear before you even realize it, so make sure to reserve a little dish for yourself off to the side when you’re preparing to serve. This dip is perfect with pita chips, crusty sourdough bread slices or a selection of your favorite crack- ers. It is even better if made in advance, as it be...…
…SEPTEMBER 23 • 2021 | 47 Call today for your free in-home consultation 248.855.8747 Caren Bass Custom Closets,Inc. WHERE PROFESSIONAL SERVICE MAKES THE DIFFERENCE as featured on HGTV Leading the industry with over 30 years experience in the Metro Detroit Area. Now also organizing the Metro Denver Area with our 2nd location Custom Closets, West, Inc. Call today for your free in-home consultation www.loisharondesigns.com Lois Haron ...…
…48 | SEPTEMBER 23 • 2021 OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY Ida Nudel, the diminutive Prisoner of Zion who made aliyah after win- ning her battle against the Soviet Union, died on Sept. 14, 2021, at age 90. Known as the “Guardian Angel” for the campaign she led to provide humanitarian items for Prisoners of Zion in Soviet jails, Nudel — who was just 4’11” tall — was the best-known female refusenik. She famously won the support of actre...…
…SEPTEMBER 23 • 2021 | 49 PHILLIP BENESON, 86, of West Bloomfield, died Sept. 14, 2021. He is survived by his children, Ilene (Steven) Bez, Warren (Karen) Beneson and Steven (Karen) Beneson; grandchildren, Benjamin, Alexandria, Adam, Ryan and Zachary Beneson, Shayna (Andrew) Vanuden; great- grandchild, Austin; brother and sister-in-law, Stewart (Barbara) Beneson; sister-in- law, Esther Beneson; many loving nieces, nephews, othe...…
…law, Marvin (Doreen) Billet of Michigan and Dr. Herbert Greenberg of Florida; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. David was preceded in death by his parents, Louis Berman and Zena Achtman Berman; his brother, Jerry Berman; his sister-in-law, Lola Billet Greenberg; brother-in-law, David Bergman. The private burial was attended by Janet, Jeff, Stacey and Bill as well as their five grandchildren, their granddaug...…
…dinner at Meer Apartments in West Bloomfield, where she resided from 2010. Everyone with whom Layah came in contact seemed to love her, from her many longtime friends to fellow residents and staff members where she lived, and even her caregivers in the last chapter of her wonderful life. She will be deeply missed. She is survived by her sons and daughter-in-law, Dean and Michele Weingust, Don Weingust; daughter and son-in-law, ...…
…OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY 52 | SEPTEMBER 23 • 2021 may be made to Jewish Hospice & Chaplaincy Network, 6555 W. Maple, West Bloomfield, MI 48322, jewishhospice.org; Kadima, 15999 W. 12 Mile, Southfield, MI 48076, kadimacenter. org; or to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. SHIRLEY ANN GILL, 93, of Bingham Farms, died Sept. 10, 2021. She is survived by her nephew, Stan Gill; nieces, Sharon (...…
…SEPTEMBER 23 • 2021 | 53 tributes; or Project Healthy Community, P.O. Box 252433, West Bloomfield, MI 48325, projecthealthycom- munity.org. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. LAWRENCE ROSENBERG, 81, of Detroit, died Sept. 12. 2021. He is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Rhonda and Morris Brown of Bloomfield Hills; loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Mr. Rosenberg was the beloved husband of the late Janet Rosenb...…
…Looking Back From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History accessible at www.djnfoundation.org 54 | SEPTEMBER 23 • 2021 Goodbye to a ‘Stand-Up’ Guy T his column was inspired by a sandwich. That’s right, a sandwich. But not just any sandwich. This one has a backstory. It is really an ode to a person who some consider one of the greatest, if not the greatest, Jewish comedians in American history: Jacki...…
…See Our Improved Features to Help Manage Your Account! • Online Account Access for Immediate Updates • Submit Address Changes, Starts and Stops • Easy Renewal Payments • Manage Gift Subscriptions • More ways to get in touch Email Us: subscriptions@thejewishnews.com Reach Out Through Our Website: https://thejewishnews.com/contact/ Or Call 248.351.5108 Subscribe Today! $200 Feb. 11-17, 2021 / 29 Shevat-5 Adar 5781 JEWISH NEW...…
…People are at the heart of what we do. At its heart, a business is about people. A group of people coming together to create something bigger than themselves. To create a solution or a product or an experience in the service of other people. At Huntington, it’s our belief that running a business is about more than making money, it’s about making people’s lives better. So let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work, together. Member FDIC. ⬢...…
…LEARN MORE AT jessicacooper2020.com I want the public to know that they live in a safe place and that we are all working hard to keep it safe, while respecting and upholding the rights of all. PAID FOR AND AUTHORIZED BY CITIZENS FOR JESSICA COOPER 30150 TELEGRAPH ROAD SUITE 373, BINGHAM FARMS, MI 48025 thejewishnews.com theje ishne s com th j i h $200 July 23-29, 2020/ 2-8 Av 5780 Bob Schwartz’ s Here to Help Foundation offers assista...…
…www.mijewishdems.org STAND WITH CANDIDATES WHO FIGHT FOR MICHIGAN'S JEWISH COMMUNITY Elissa Slotkin Andy Levin Gary Peters VOTE in the Democratic Primary Election by August 4th U.S. Senate MI-08 MI-09 Haley Stevens MI-11 Debbie Dingell MI-12 Brenda Lawrence MI-14 Lisa Brown Andy Meisner Executive Clerk Robert Wittenberg Treasurer Barnett Jones Sheriff Karen McDonald Prosecutor U.S. Congress Oakland County Lorie Savin Cir...…
… JULY 23 • 2020 | 3 OUR JN MISSION: We aspire to communicate news and opinion that’ s trusted, valued, engaging and distinctive. We strive to reflect diverse community viewpoints while also advocating positions that strengthen Jewish unity and continuity. As an independent, responsible, responsive community member, we actively engage with individuals and organizations dedicated to enhancing the quality of life, and Jewish life, in Southeast...…
…4 | JULY 23 • 2020 CAL L T O SCHEDUL E A T OUR T ODAY NOW BOOKI NG I N- PE RSON APPOI NTME NTS AS AL L OWE D BY CI TY ORDI NANCE INNOVATIVE. ENGAGING. ENLIVENING. TOTALLY CAPTIVATING. All Seasons is designed to delight every one of the senses… every day! Call or visit our website to schedule an I N-PERSON or VI RTUAL tour so that we can personally show you our distinctively stylish 1 or 2...…
… JULY 23 • 2020 | 5 Views for openers Rhymes For Our Times (Written under the shadow of the 2020 pandemic) D uring these times of social distancing and self-isolation, watch- ing YouTube can become addictive. I have discovered the clev- erness of sev- eral folks who are musically inclined and can write song parodies about the COVID-19 pandemic. Of course, I’ m not gifted with a music sense and those who have heard me sing will...…
…6 | JULY 23 • 2020 Views I n March, I was contracted to work with Yad Ezra on a variety of projects. What started as a focus on social media and marketing quickly changed in the frenzy of the COVID-19 pandemic to a focus on client and volunteer communications and logistics. The feeling that “the world has gone crazy” was felt here. Everyone sensed that things were out of sorts — concerns about health, community, economy, p...…
… JULY 23 • 2020 | 7 JESSICA OPPONENT Democr at i c Backgr ound: Li felong Whi cheverway t he wi nd blows Judi ci al Exper i ence: 28 year s, t r i al and appellat e 1 t er m, fami ly cour t Admi ni st r at i ve Exper i ence: 170+ st aff, $23 mi lli on budget 3 st aff, no budget exper i ence Communi t y Involvement : Const antover ent i r e car eer Si nce declar i ng for t hi s office Ci vi l Li t i gant s Sentt o Jai l Whi le Judge...…
…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 29200 Northwestern Highway, #110, Southfield, Michigan. Periodical postage paid at Southfield, Michigan, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: send changes to: Detroit Jewish News, 29200 Northwestern Hwy., #110, Southfield, MI 48034. 8 | JULY 23 • 2020 1942 - 202...…
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…10 | JULY 23 • 2020 commentary Anti-Semitism on Campus C olleges around the country have become much more attentive to the needs of their students in the last several years, partially due to scandals that have hurt their reputations. From sexual assault and blatant racism at Michigan State University to cheating scandals at Georgetown and Stanford, universi- ties are under the microscope for how they protect their students. O...…
… JULY 23 • 2020 | 11 SCHEDULED VI DEO VI SI TS LET YOU SEE OUR SPECI ALI STS ONLI NE FOR SECOND OPI NI ONS, CONSULTATI ONS AND MORE. Now Michigan residents can make an appointment to see a specialist—from our experts in cancer care and orthopedics to neurology and cardiology—conveniently from home. needs and learn more at HenryFord.com/VirtualCare SEEI NG CANCER SPECI ALI STS FROM THE COMFORT OF HOME …
…12 | JULY 23 • 2020 Views OUR JN MISSION: We aspire to communicate news and opinion that’ s trusted, valued, engaging and distinctive. We strive to refl ect diverse community viewpoints while also advocating positions that strengthen Jewish unity and continuity. As an independent, responsible, responsive community member, we actively engage with individuals and organizations dedicated to enhancing the quality of life, and Jewish life, ...…
… JULY 23 • 2020 | 13 24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110 Southfield, MI 48034 1-800-728-3363 Covid has made us all start thinking about whether we have made a plan. It is now more important than ever to make sure you have a will. Feel free to come to our site and make a basic free will. You will not need any legal documents or other official information. Try it FREE with NO obligation until the end of January. michprobate.com/make-wi...…
…I f you go to the “About Us” tab on the website of Here to Help, a local foundation that gives direct grants to Oakland and Wayne county residents in need of one-time assistance, you can find the “Starfish Story.” In the story, a young man is throwing beached starfish back into the ocean, one by one. When an older man comes across the sight, the younger man explains he’ s trying to keep the starfish alive. The older man responds th...…
…upended people’ s lives. April and May saw an increase in requests for help from the Roof Over Head program, which helps with rent payments. Requests for trans- portation assistance also increased as peo- ple who relied on public transportation or rideshare apps to get to work began to feel unsafe with their options. “If we spend the next six months also attracting more returning citizens, then the year will be our highest by far, I’ m...…
…16 | JULY 23 • 2020 was able to go to the lot himself and test drive a few different cars, then pick the one he wanted. “Before [Here to Help] had given me the car, I used to actually ride a bike or bus to work,” Smith told the JN. “I was very, very humbled but elated that they chose to help me begin to get my life going back in a positive way.” Smith, who was incarcerated for 29 years, was glad to hear about the new Returning Hop...…
… JULY 23 • 2020 | 17 Pai d for by Karen McDonald for Prosecutor , PO Box 1750, Bi rmi ngham, MI 48009 As Oakl and County's Pr osecutor , I 'l l br i ng change. I wi l l i denti f y r aci al di spar i ti es wher e they exi st and l ook f or sol uti ons. Toget her , we can be a saf e communi t y and a j ust communi t y.” I ’l l make cr i mi nal justi ce r ef or m and endi ng mass i nca...…
…18 | JULY 23 • 2020 F ive years ago, Steve Katzman knew change was needed. Katzman, who’ s been involved with Jewish organizations in Metro Detroit such as JARC, Kadima, JFS and Friendship Circle for many years now, was trying to put together a coali- tion to bring all those entities together. The reason for seeking the coalition was significant fund- ing cuts coming down from Lansing, reallocating funding for those organizatio...…
… JULY 23 • 2020 | 19 2020 KADIMA GOLF CLASSIC COMMITTEE Jen Canner | Harold Dubrowsky | Adam Jacob | Tom Kukes Paige Lustig | Jonathan Modiano | Mike Orlando | Dan Serlin Kim Wallace | Adam Zussman | Milt Zussman | Rick Zussman LUNCHEON SPONSOR HOLE SPONSORS BEVERAGE CART SPONSOR TEE SPONSORS TOURNAMENT SPONSOR COCKTAIL RECEPTION AND DINNER SPONSORS Sonia and Keith Pomeroy Julie and Rick Zussman Ellen and Cary Adelman | Karen and Eri...…
…Jews in the D 20 | JULY 23 • 2020 H is career was taking off like a rocket. So why, with a string of degrees from top universities and a high-paying job with a promi- nent consulting firm, would he take a sharp turn for a job with Michigan’ s state government? For Jonathan Warsh it was about wanting to return to the community where he was born and raised, and a desire to work for the public good. In February 2019, he started his...…
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…22 | JULY 23 • 2020 continued on page 24 Life is a Chai Way Local Jewish motorcycle club hosts national meet and greet. JACKIE HEADAPOHL ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jews in the D J ewish motorcyclists from across the country recently converged on Detroit to explore historical sites and meet fellow riders from the tribe. The Jewish Motorcyclists Alliance (JMA) hosted its Motor City Meet & Greet July 9-11, sponsored by the Michigan Chai Rid...…
