…JEWISH NEWS THE DETROIT thejewishnews.com $200 Feb. 3-9, 2022 / 2-8 Adar 1 5782 Sisters Unite Sisters Unite Jewish women’s groups in Metro Detroit make waves — and lasting friendships. See page 12 …
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…FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 | 3 contents PURELY COMMENTARY 4-11 Essays and viewpoints. OUR COMMUNITY 12 Sisters Unite Jewish women’s groups in Metro Detroit make waves — and lasting friendships. 18 The Perfect Stranger Meet Spencer Lucker, who works for Mayor Mike Duggan and volunteers his time with NEXTGen Detroit. 20 Interfaith Trip to Dubai JCRC/AJC takes Muslim and Jewish students on a trip they’ll never forget...…
…4 | FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 PURELY COMMENTARY C ookies and crack(ers), Oh, my! Those of us who are snackologists are more than familiar with the words cheddar cheese, sour cream and onion, chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin. The first term lends itself to many expressions not food related. The second, with the parenthesis observed, lends a few more. Many a businessperson has had to worry that a partner may be caught with his han...…
…FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 | 5 his books carries a preface by J.B. Stoner, a neo-Nazi convicted of the 1958 bombing of Bethel Church in Birmingham, Alabama. “The Jews are embarked upon a plan to conquer the world and to rule over all other races and nations,” it says. “By understanding the evil and aggressive nature of the Jew, we White Christians can better protect ourselves … It is our duty to publish this book for the benefit of the W...…
…6 | FEBRUARY 3 • 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: De...…
…FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 | 7 Supported through the generosity of The Jewish Fund and the D. Dan and Betty Kahn Family Foundation. Need Housing Support? ☐ Call jhelp at 1-833-445-4357 ☐ Visit jhelp.org ☐ Chat online with a staff member or schedule a call at jhelp.org ☐ Do all of the above X Q We Have Answers. As featured on: Need Help with an IRS or State Tax Problem? Call the experts at 1-800-TAX-LEVY (829-5389) • Tax Liens • ...…
…8 | FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 opinion What the Texas Hostage Crisis Reveals about our Humanity M any details about the recent, terrifying hostage situation at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, remain unclear. However, we do know that the perpetra- tor, Malik Faisal Akram, knocked on the door of the Temple and asked to come inside. The congregation’s rabbi, Charlie Cytron-Walker, let him in — thinking that the man might...…
…FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 | 9 30-plus minutes. So, that meant more time for togetherness as a couple, which sounded good for our relationship, but also felt a bit strange to both of us for different reasons. Obviously, we had no idea what we were facing. This is not a story about one of us coming down with COVID. But that doesn’t mean it was smooth sail- ing for our marriage (or yours?). Our responses to the threat of getting the virus were...…
…10 | FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 column How the Texas Hostage Crisis Showed Social Media at its Best and Worst I t was the best of Twitter. It was the worst of Twitter. During the long agonizing hours of the evening of Jan. 15, during which a rabbi and three congregants were held against their will at a Dallas- area synagogue, social media performed perhaps as its creators and optimists always thought it would. It was a community of ...…
…FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 | 11 Twitter erupted, asking how an attack on a synagogue on a Shabbat morning could be anything other than “specifically related to the Jewish community.” That conversation, at least, was rooted in the facts and an important communal debate. The British national who carried out the attack was said to be demanding the release of Aaifa Siddiqui, a Muslim woman suspected of plotting attacks in New York who is no...…
…12 | FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 OUR COMMUNITY Sisters Unite ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER …
…FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 | 13 A t the backbone of Metro Detroit’s Jewish community are a variety of women’s groups. They practice philanthropy, community service and building a stronger Jewish culture, while giving women an opportunity to network, connect and create lasting friendships. Some women’s groups advocate for social justice, while others focus on giving back to those in need. Regardless of the mission, the groups have one thing i...…
…14 | FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 Amy Cutler, NCJW | MI president. “There are many volun- teer opportunities based on the interest of the volunteer.” These include participating in a planning committee, vol- unteering at a community service project, working with the group’s Advocacy and Elections Committee or attending one of many community programs put on by the organization. “By becoming involved with NCJW | MI, you can share your own expertise, l...…
…FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 | 15 J ewish women across Metro Detroit have been using Facebook groups to share advice and local resources for years now. They’ve found camaraderie and much, much more in the online groups, which have increasingly become a powerful community hub. In a world made otherwise smaller by the pandemic’s restrictions on gath- ering over the past few years, these groups have continued to thrive, with the constant hum of...…
…16 | FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 OUR COMMUNITY a variety of offerings for different needs and interests. Its Women’s Division, for example, is geared toward enriching the lives of Jewish women in different ages and stages. This section of the organization offers educational opportunities, trips and events, which include everything from spa days to challah baking to lunch-and- learn events. The goal is to strengthen Jewish iden- tity, enhance e...…
…FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 | 17 The current trend of decluttering and keeping only what fills you with joy also gives the group momentum, she says. “I think it’s filling people’s hearts; it’s filling their buckets to know their stuff is being used.” Karen Gordon of Farmington Hills started Jewish Moms of Metro Detroit with Older Kids, a private Facebook group, a year and a half ago. Her kids are in college, so she got the group, now 450 memb...…
…O ur sense of belonging comes from the memory that we were all once strangers. This quintessential contradiction of Jewish identity, explicitly commanded in the Torah and echoed throughout our history, binds our people together and drives a shared commitment to tolerance and empathy. It certainly drives Spencer Lucker, 34-year-old resident of the Boston Edison neighborhood. By day, he helps fellow Detroiters as director of employer eng...…
…FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 | 19 Yet it also creates new challenges and opportunities. “How are we welcoming people? How do we reach all types of Jews in the Jewish community? How do we infuse Jewish identity into social events in a way that doesn’t push people away?” Lucker asks. We spoke to Lucker about his journey into the Detroit Jewish community and how he hopes to make that journey even better for his peers. WHY NOT DETROIT? SL: My wif...…
…n Jan. 3, two Muslim undergraduates, one from Wayne State University and the other from University of Michigan, joined two Jewish undergraduates from Wayne State on a flight to Dubai. For the next week, the four students would be part of the JCRC/AJC (Jewish Community Relations Council/American Jewish Committee) Muslim-Jewish Dubai Mission. Made possible with a grant from the Ravitz Foundation, the trip was designed to provide t...…
…FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 | 21 Interfaith Trip to Dubai Rebecca Cooper, a Jewish student, said the following about the significance of seeing a Holocaust exhibit at the Crossroads of Civilization Museum: “Prior to this trip, I didn’t believe I could travel to Dubai. I wasn’t sure if I would be welcome, frankly. All of my preconceived notions fell away and my eyes opened. I was awe-struck visiting the first and only Holocaust Memorial in t...…
…continued from page 21 22 | FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 also underscored how fragile these relationships are. Peace requires time, care, endless nur- turing and commitment. I fully intend to continue cultivating an environment at home that allows our connectedness to grow.” Illustrating this need for time and care was made most apparent in a visit to American Jewish Committee’s new office in Abu Dhabi, which was estab- lished after decades ...…
…FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 | 23 “xzx OPENING THE DOORS Changing The Norm Celebrating the Beauty of Different Abilities Casting Musicals with Acceptance, Inclusion, Authenticity & Community E D U C AT E . I N C LU D E . E M P OW E R . Tony Award-Nominated Director and Choreographer MARCIA MILGROM DODGE Award-Winning Dancer and Actor EVAN RUGGIERO Beauty and the Beast “Innovative casting, direction and design… make Olney’s Beaut...…
…24 | FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 OUR COMMUNITY G uy Stern turned 100 years old on Jan. 14. He is the Energizer Bunny personified, still working five days a week in his role as director of the International Institute of the Righteous at the Zekelman Holocaust Center (HC) in Farmington Hills. If Guy had only reached that milestone 20 years sooner, he could’ve walked to the Bill Knapp’s restaurant next door to the HC on Orchard Lake ...…
…FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 | 25 (author Susanna) ‘writer- in-residence,’ docents, volunteers, guards — you name them.” Many he spoke of were in attendance. “Some had flattered me by telling me that they learned something from the dubious sagacity of this oldster. Well, that learning process is two-fold,” Stern said. “In fact, I was more often the beneficiary of their generational wisdom. I drew a conclusion from that: Do not let hubris or...…
…T hey’ll be thinking about Cara as they walk or run. Cara Lopatin, 18, is a childhood cancer survivor. During her recovery, her parents, Rabbi Asher and Rachel Tessler Lopatin of Huntington Woods, turned to Chai Lifeline, a New-York-based orga- nization that helps children and families coping with cancer and other serious illnesses. On Feb. 6, the Lopatins, along with three of their four children, their friends Shoshana and Rabbi Dav...…
…FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 | 27 HONORING CARA’S COURAGE Ten years ago, Shoshana Fain, 35, decided to run a half-marathon — 13 miles — in the Miami Marathon as a tribute to Cara, who was still undergoing treat- ment. The Fains had gotten to know the Lopatins when they were members of Asher Lopatin’s congrega- tion, Anshe Sholom B’nai Israel in Chicago. By the time Cara was diagnosed, the Lopatins had moved to New York. Although the Fains ...…
…OUR COMMUNITY 28 | FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 H adassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, “stands unequivocally for a woman’s right to choose,” said National Hadassah President Rhoda Smolow. “Patients have the right to make deci- sions about their reproductive rights. Medically unnecessary laws in some states restricting reproductive rights are meant to shame women.” What seemed like settled law on legalized abortion after 49 ...…
…FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 | 29 pregnancy, which she took, because she didn’t want to go through that again with another child,” Karkowsky said. “A woman must have agency over her own body.” Pro-choice advocates are alarmed that it’s become harder to obtain a legal abor- tion. “Currently, 58 percent of women are being denied that legal right in their state,” Pogrebin said. In Texas, abortions are restricted after about six weeks, long befo...…
…30 | FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 OUR COMMUNITY F or five years, Rabbi Nadav Caine of Beth Israel, a Conservative Congregation in Ann Arbor, has been silent about the group of protesters how many?who have targeted the local shul for almost two decades. Now Caine is considering enlisting the help of their interfaith partners to counter- protest the diehard protesters who contin- ue to show up outside the shul on Shabbat morning. However, Caine ...…
…FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 | 31 A new Israel travel experience made spe- cifically for teens will give young Jewish individuals a chance to learn about gaming culture, new media and content creation. Lost Tribe’s Israel Journey: Tech & Gaming is the first trip of its kind. The partnership between Lost Tribe Esports, an organization for Jewish youth that creates connections through gaming, and BBYO, a Jewish teen movement, offers a ne...…
…CAMP GUIDE S ince 1969, Willoway Day Camp, located in Milford, has been offering campers an amazing day camp experience. Whether it’s learning to swim, play a sport, learn a dance or a song — or make a lifelong friend, Willoway offers something for everyone. “We are so proud to be offering the Willoway experience to many second-generation as well as new camper families, ” said Lorraine Fisher, who co-founded Willoway with her h...…
…FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 | 33 current associate directors (and lifelong campers) Jason Rosen and me, Jonathon Koenigsberg, carry Willoway’s non-competitive summer fun outlook to countless campers. Similarly, Willoway inspired Marni Katz to become a camp professional. A former Willoway camper, counselor, and program coordinator, Katz worked as a Chicago-area day camp director for 15 years. “When the world changed in 2020, we moved home....…
…34 | FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 I grew up at Camp Young Judaea Midwest (CYJ) in Waupaca, Wisconsin. I spent many summers there as both a chanicha (camper) and member of the tzevet (staff). Rising through the ranks each summer, I couldn’t wait to be in the oldest age group as a camper and was just as excited if not more to become a merakezet (unit head) when I was old enough in college. Then it was time to grow up, or that’s what I...…
…FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 | 35 …
…36 | FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 I f the pandemic has played havoc with most business- es, it’s thrown an oversized wrench into the works for summer camps. For those in Canada, like Camp Tamakwa, for whom U.S. kids are an important segment of their camper population, COVID19 has been a major test. It wasn’t long ago I thought I had seen it all in my 52 years at Tamakwa and experienced just about every possible sce- nario that can happen at...…
…FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 | 37 valuable input from Tamakwa’s medical staff, we discussed staff- ing and quarantine challenges. It wasn’t until the 11th hour that camps learned they could open, but, unfortunately, the Canadian-U.S. border remained closed. With little time, we had to address multiple tasks to ensure camp could open — modifi- cations to our facilities, health center, medical staff orientation, kitchen and food service, sanita-...…
…38 | FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 I t was “the summer of the swab. ” For Camp Walden in Cheyboyan, Michigan, as for many overnight sum- mer camps, “swab” was the four-letter word of 2021. But testing for COVID-19, by repeatedly sticking thousands of Q-tip-like swabs up the noses of campers and staff, was also key to how this northern Michigan camp completed last season without one case of the COVID virus. “I knew the directors would make the ...…
…FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 | 39 June 20 to July 15, 2022 Spend the summer on the adventure of a lifetime! Registration is now available! Need proof that these three-weeks in Israel will be amazing? Scan the QR code to watch the video from past Teen Mission travelers. *with $3,000 voucher from RootOne. Visit teenmissiondetroit.org for details. Hike, surf, eat and tour your way through Israel with other Detroit community teens and te...…
…40 | FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 CAMP WALDEN 5607 South River Cheboygan, MI 49721 summer@campwaldenmi.com 817-923-WLDN (9536) FAX: 817-923-7992 Celebrating our 63rd summer, Walden provides an inspiring environment that challenges campers to step outside their comfort zones. Our program combines elements of individual choice and group dynamics, building confidence, character and resilience. At Walden, college-age counselors raise the bar ...…
…interlochen.org Programs for Every Young Artist CREATIVE WRITING DANCE FILM & NEW MEDIA INTERDISCIPLINARY ARTS MUSIC THEATRE VISUAL ARTS Deep in the woods of northern Michigan, arts collide and unbreakable bonds form. An experience at Interlochen won’t just make you a better artist—it will transform the course of your future. Through our innovative programs, students build creative confidence and develop a sense of wonder, cu...…
…42 | FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 ROEPER SUMMER CAMPS 41190 Woodward Ave. Bloomfield, MI 48304 (248) 203-7370 roeper.org From lacrosse to coding to theater, Roeper Summer Programs offers a variety of enriching and rewarding camp experiences to children throughout Metro Detroit. Diversity and respect for everyone’s potential are central characteristics of the community. TAMARACK CAMPS 6735 Telegraph Road, Suite 380 Bloomfield Hills, MI...…
…FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 | 43 I t’s August 2019. Detroit is hosting the annual JCC Maccabi Games & ArtsFest. Hundreds of teenage Jewish athletes and artists are in the area competing, creating and socializing. Brennan Gesund and Lucas Hutten are playing for the Detroit “B” hockey team. They’re defensive partners and team leaders. They’re having a great time even though their team isn’t winning because it’s facing teams with older and ...…
…44 | FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 SPORTS continued from page 43 only six goals in our five games. But that was a super fun team to coach and the parents were great.” Gesund, a Commerce Township resident, and Hutten, who lives in Novi, each played travel hockey until they went to high school. They enjoy playing hockey now for Walled Lake Northern and Novi, respectively. “I love it. We have really good crowds for our home games at the Lake...…
…FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 | 45 T he crustaceans and line-caught fish flown daily to Mare Mediterranean in Birmingham are so fresh that some of the catches “come in with the fishhook still in their mouth,” said Jay Feldman. He is part- ners with his longtime friend, Nino Cutraro, and wife, Liz Cutraro, in the distinctive Greek seafood restaurant with Italian, Spanish and Portuguese influences. The Cutraros also operate Bella Piatta, an Old ...…
…46 | FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 Bea Bea & Woody Woody Kisses are still Kisses are still sweeter than wine! sweeter than wine! HAPPY 70 HAPPY 70th th ANNIVERSARY!!!!!!! ANNIVERSARY!!!!!!! Love forever, Love forever, your mishpocheh your mishpocheh Loyd-Papenheim L isa Shapiro of Farmington Hills with Erich and Michele Papenheim of Greer, S.C., announce the engagement of their daughter Sydney Marilynn Papenheim to David Adam Loyd,...…
…FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 | 47 Epstein-Peri A nita and Avi Peri and Suzi and Stuart Epstein are thrilled to announce the marriage of their children, Neilly Peri and Jason Epstein. The marriage ceremony took place in September 2020 at Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills. Due to the pandemic, a celebration party was held later, in October 2021. Neilly and Jason were thrilled to have their grandmother Nanny Dorie Wallace participate...…
…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...…
…FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 | 49 Shomrey Emunah Southfield (248) 559-1533 congregation-shomrey- emunah-105705.square.site The Shul-Chabad Lubavitch West Bloomfield (248) 788-4000 theshul.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 Kehillat Israel Lansing (517) 882-0049 kehillatisrael.net Congrega...…
…SPIRIT A WORD OF TORAH 50 | FEBRUARY 3 • 2022 H uman beings have a unique and fundamental attachment to place and space. Animals have lairs and mark their territory, but people add layers of significance to the spaces they occupy. Our homes are particularly signif- icant to us. They provide us with security, privacy, belonging, identity. They are the center of our existence — a central place from which to look out at the wor...…
