…APRIL 4 • 2024 | 5 J N WE’LL SPLIT THE SEA FOR YOU Rely on The Grove for everything you need to make Passover happen. We go the extra mile with a selection that covers your entire shopping list. Rely on The Grove for everything you need to make Passover happen. We go the extra mile with a selection that covers your entire shopping list. Wine Tastings Thurs, April 11th 1pm - 5pm Sun, April 14th 2pm - 6pm P 248-569-5000 | 2515...…
…50 | APRIL 4 • 2024 J N E ven after her untimely death on Christmas Eve 2019, Allee Willis continues to be larger than life. Growing up in Detroit, “ Alta” Willis was a Jewish self-pro- fessed “outrageous tomboy” whose father only wanted her to be a teacher, like her moth- er, get married and “be more feminine, like all the other girls.” Bold, brassy and bois- terous, Willis struggled with not conforming to traditional sexual an...…
…APRIL 4 • 2024 | 51 continued on page 52 “It was uncanny. She said it in many places — in her diary, on tapes — she said it a lot. When I first met Allee in 1992, when she was 45, she said that she wanted her house to be a museum. ‘I want to leave a big legacy for people to see how it’s possible to live a happy life.’ She was always saying that.” The legacy continues today through the Willis Wonderland Foundation that Fenton esta...…
…52 | APRIL 4 • 2024 State University shirts. The documentary spotlights all the iconic scenes of Detroit, including Motown, classic cars, the Riverfront and the Joe Louis fist statue. The “I Love Allee Willis” mural right near Willis’ favorite restaurant, Soul-N- The Wall on Curtis off of Wyoming and near Mumford, is also prominently featured. To honor his late friend, Chef Greg Beard renamed his most popular sandwich the “Boog...…
…APRIL 4 • 2024 | 53 J N A nger over Brexit — the United Kingdom’s decision to pull out of the European Union in 2020 — led one of rock ’n’ roll’s most accomplished guitarists to discover his Jewish ancestry. And that includes a genuine pirate of the Caribbean, no less. The musician in question is Phil Manzanera, best known as guitarist in Roxy Music from 1972 until its recent farewell tour in 2022, and still working on arch...…
…54 | APRIL 4 • 2024 the colonial Dutch Indies. That part of the family presumably went further back to Spain and the Alhambra Decree of 1492 that forced any Jews living in Spain to convert to Catholicism or leave. His maternal great-grandmother, whose maiden name was Henriquez Cohen, hailed from Barranquilla in Columbia, and looking back even further, Manzanera discovered ancestors who had fled to Holland, including “great, great,...…
…APRIL 4 • 2024 | 55 J N ARTS&LIFE THEATER C hildren of Eden, a musical production that goes over stories of biblical families, has two members of a modern family in the cast. The production, presented now through April 21 by Stagecrafters in Royal Oak, spotlights a brother and sister from the Bigelman family of Bloomfield Hills. Both attend Hillel Day School, are members of Temple Israel and have a special interest in supporting...…
…56 | APRIL 4 • 2024 FRANKLIN, AMERICAN HORROR, STAR TREK DISCOVERY (LAST SEASON), MORE As noted in my last column, Franklin, an eight-episode Apple TV+ series about Benjamin Franklin begins on April 12. Michael Douglas, 79, plays Franklin. The series focuses on Franklin’s role in getting the French to aid Americans during the Revolutionary War. Franklin was 71 when he was dispatched to Paris (Oct. 1776) as the “commission- er”...…
…APRIL 4 • 2024 | 57 play because it made me fall in love with theater and being on stage telling stories to an audience,” said Valimont, who dates that first experience back 20 years. “We have eight kids in the show, and they are part of a youth ensemble. They’re basically helping to tell the stories, and they play animals in Noah’s ark. We had open auditions in January, and each person auditioning sang and danced for us. We ch...…
…1. Orange and black butterfl ies _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (8 letters) 2. Backyard songbird _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (7 letters) 3. Gardening chore _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (7 letters) 4. The season of ___ _ _ _ _ _ _ (6 letters) 5. Tiny nectar-sipping bird _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (11 letters) 6. Yellow fl owering weed _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (9 letters) Word Games Each word ends with the fi rst letter of the next word. All the words relate to spring. Can you ...…
…APRIL 4 • 2024 | 59 J N CAFÉ DILEMMA 7 PM, APRIL 4 (THURS.) Join the Detroit Shinshinim for coffee, snacks and to discuss dilemmas relat- ed to Israel. At Temple Emanu-El in Oak Park. Shinshinim are Israeli young adults who under- take a year of service in Detroit and who, during that year, operate educa- tional and other program- ming in the community. The goal is to have a dis- cussion and learn different sides of the issues with a...…
…1942 - 2024 Covering and Connecting Jewish Detroit Every Week To make a donation to the DETROIT JEWISH NEWS FOUNDATION go to the website www.thejewishnews.com 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: Detroit Jewish News, 322...…
… HEALTHCARE A1 CAREGIVER/COMPANION. Experienced, Part-time or Full-time excellent references. 248-991-4944 Cita Angels Home Care. Caregiver Services 24 hr. care. We assist in cooking, cleaning, bathing/grooming, doctor appointments, errands, etc. We accept private pay and Medicaid payment. Please call 1-866-542-6435. Prestige Touch of Love,Providing 24-hr home care services using professional / certif ed caregivers...…
…248-855-0437 Cell: 248-912-2292 License # 7118488 Maintenance, Installation, Repair & Hot Water Heaters Ajmendelson1@gmail.com FAMILY OWNED SINCE 1973 $65 SERVICE FEE 24/7 Emergency Service Aaron Mendelson Heating and Cooling, LLC. 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 ye...…
…62 | APRIL 4 • 2024 J oseph Lieberman, a longtime senator from Connecticut who as Al Gore’s running mate in 2000 became the first Jewish member of a major presidential ticket, died March 27, 2024. He was 82. A statement sent to former staffers and reported widely said Lieberman had suffered compli- cations from a fall. A moderate — some would say conservative — Democrat turned independent, Lieberman was known for his attempts t...…
…APRIL 4 • 2024 | 63 JOSEPHINE BRISKIN, 96, of Haverford, Pa., formerly of West Bloomfield, died March 27, 2024. Mrs. Briskin is survived by her sons and daughters- in-law, Robert and Laurie Briskin, Gary and Nancy Briskin, and Kenneth and Jill Briskin; grandchildren, Perrie, Jamie, Lauren, Dana, Greg, Noah and Andrew; great-grandchildren, Gavin, Bennett and Mason. She was the beloved wife of the late Ben Briskin. Interment wa...…
…64 | APRIL 4 • 2024 J N made to National Council of Jewish Women, 26400 Lahser Road, Suite 306, Southfield, MI 48033, ncjwmi.org; or to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. LOIS FORMAN, 87, of Sun City West, Ariz., formerly of Walled Lake, died March 22, 2024. She is survived by her children, Perri (Irwin) Goodman, Jodi (Andy) Grodman and David (Jody) Forman; grandchildren, Shayna (Brad) Millman, ...…
…APRIL 4 • 2024 | 65 J N mother and grandmother and instilled in her children the importance of family over everything. Her children are extremely close with one another. She had many hobbies and interests: antiques, knitting, gardening, exercise, travel, visiting family and friends, including her very close friends Samra Robbins and Sheila Shulman. She is survived by her loving husband of 55 years, Robert; her three sons, Geoff...…
…OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY 66 | APRIL 4 • 2024 J N M ichael Kelmenson, 36, of West Bloomfield, died Feb. 6, 2024. Michael was a proud alumnus of the University of Michigan for both his undergraduate degree and his master’s in social work. He worked in the Michigan school systems, coordinated the youth mentorship program at Jewish Family Service and worked as an independent consultant. He made friends extremely easily an...…
…APRIL 4 • 2024 | 67 J N EVELYN ROSS, 99, of Southfield, died March 21, 2024. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Robin and Robert Gershman; daughter and daughter-in-law, Melissa Ross and Michelle Shartran; son, Jonathan Ross; grandchildren, Lauren Gershman, Julie Gershman and Azriel Gilmore, and Juliet Flam-Ross and Tristan Marquise. She is also survived by her loving caregivers, Tauheedah Harris and Lisa Young. ...…
…68 | APRIL 4 • 2024 J N OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY J oel Alan Hershman, A native Detroiter, died peacefully in his San Diego home on Feb. 12, 2024, at the age of 72; his wife of 48 years and his three children were by his side. Joel was born on May 21, 1951, in Detroit to Edith Hershman Levin and David Hershman. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1973 and from U-M Medical School in1977. He married Debra Hershman...…
…APRIL 4 • 2024 | 69 She was a great mother and cook, famous for her lemon meringue pie and other delicious specialties. Rita was a devoted mother, sister, sister- in-law, aunt, daughter, cousin, grandmother who was loved by all. Rita was known for her big smile, great sense of humor and charismatic laugh. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends and neighbors. Mrs. Sklar was preceded in death by her mother, Martha Abrah...…
…APRIL 4 • 2024 | 7 J N WEEK 1 (April 4 – April 10) $5.00 OFF when you spend $50 Not valid in combination with any other discount coupon or offer. Offer can only be redeemed once. Excluding alcohol. Coupon must be present at the time of purchase. No photo copies of ad will be accepted. Coupon must come from original magazine. WEEK 2 (April 11 – April 17) $10.00 OFF when you spend $100 Not valid in combination with any other discount c...…
…Looking Back From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History accessible at thejewishnews.com 70 | APRIL 4 • 2024 J N R ecently, Harvey Bronstein contacted the JN. He suggested that we might want to revisit and acknowledge a great Jewish Detroiter, one with a legacy that we should always remember to honor: David Hermelin. Bronstein is spot-on. Simply stated, David Hermelin (1936-2000) was one of the giants of Je...…
…SUPPORT JEWISH JOURNALISM The Detroit Jewish News has been telling and preserving our stories since 1942. Subscribe today so that we can continue telling them tomorrow. JEWISH NEWS THE DETROIT SCAN TO DONATE OR SUBSCRIBE TODAY! …
…PASSOVER MENU 2024 To place your Passover order: order online at QualityKosher.com call us - 248-352-7758 ORDERS MUST BE PLACED BY WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10TH 2024 THIS PASSOVER, ENJOY HOME COOKING, WITHOUT COOKING AT HOME! PICK UP MONDAY, APRIL 22ND FROM 9:30AM - 12:30PM* at Shaarey Zedek 27375 Bell Rd. Southfield, MI. 48034 *please come at the time you select when placing your order GRILLED CHICKEN BREAST (PACK OF 2) Boneless flame grilled ...…
…8 | APRIL 4 • 2024 J N T he presence of over a million Gazan civil- ians in the Rafah area serves as a kind of “armor” for Hamas’ remaining battalions in southern Gaza, which is why any Israel Defense Forces operation aimed at taking control of this last bastion of the terror group must begin with the evacuation of civilians. In order for the Israel Defense Forces to be able oper- ate freely in Rafah, the civilians there wil...…
…APRIL 4 • 2024 | 9 J N JOIN US! LUNCH & LEARN EVENT WEDNESDAY, MAY 22ND 12:00 - 2:00PM LONGACRE HOUSE 24705 FARMINGTON ROAD, FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48336 Join us for a special lunch and learn event with Rose Senior Living Farmington Hills, a brand-new senior living community in your neighborhood. Learn about Rose Senior Living and the benefits of joining our Founders Club! RSVP by Thursday, May 16th by calling (248) 850-1351 Con...…
…THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS $200 Jan. 4-10, 2024 / 23-29 Tevet 5784 thejewishnews.com The 2023-24 Detroit Shinshinim have found purpose in Michigan while the crisis continues on the home front. See page 10 The 2023-24 Detroit Shinshinim have found purpose in Michigan while A Second A Second A Second A SecondHome The 2023-24 Detroit Shinshinim have found F amily …
…OUR COMMUNITY A Second Home, ON THE COVER 10 | JANUARY 4 • 2024 J N A Second Family Erela Sabag, Ofri Lellouche, Itay Nussbaum, Itamar Grife and Shahaf Harari …
…JANUARY 4 • 2024 | 11 J N A Second Home, JANUARY 4 • 2024 | 11 J N J N J W hen Shahaf Harari woke up on Oct. 7, 2023, her 18th birthday, she expected her phone to be overflowing with happy birthday mes- sages from her loved ones back home in Israel. Shahaf was one month into her stay across the world in Detroit as a community Shinshinim. Those mes- sages ended up being very different from what she expected. She didn’t understan...…
…OUR COMMUNITY continued from page 11 ON THE COVER 12 | JANUARY 4 • 2024 J N The Shinshinim participate in community events almost nonstop, from various holiday events for Chanukah and Sukkot, speaking events with audiences ranging from students to Holocaust survivors, personal projects they’re working on and more. They work to present Israel in as many places as possible with as many perspectives and personal experiences as possibl...…
…JANUARY 4 • 2024 | 13 J N ELIGIBILITY FOR NOMINATION All Jewish communal professionals employed by Jewish Federation of Detroit or local constituent agencies of JFD who have been working in the Detroit Jewish community a minimum of five consecutive years may be nominated for the Mandell L. and Madeleine H. Berman Awards. *The CEOs of the Jewish Federation of Detroit and its constituent agencies are not eligible to win this award. **Fi...…
…OUR COMMUNITY continued from page 12 ON THE COVER 14 | JANUARY 4 • 2024 J N since the first grade, and now he’s an only child, ” Shahaf said. “ And we know another family with two cousins who were murdered at the festival. ” Erela added that her swim teach- er and the barber of the moshav were also killed. “Getting the news of everything while we were here and not with our moshav was really hard, ” Shahaf said. “Everybody knows s...…
…JANUARY 4 • 2024 | 15 J N the religious schools or youth movements. A sizable portion of the Shinshinim’s job in bringing Israel to the community is bringing it to the younger community — students — who they’re able to connect with easily considering their close age. Shahaf and Itamar’s main worksite is Hillel Day School. Ofri and Itay’s main worksite is Frankel Jewish Academy. Erela’s main worksites are Jewish Federation of...…
…continued from page 15 16 | JANUARY 4 • 2024 J N scared to lose their friends. For me, hearing this was like, ‘Oh, my God.’” Hearing firsthand about the antisemitism some Jewish students experience at their public schools and jobs has been eye-opening for the Shinshinim. “To me, it was shocking because as an Israeli I don’t feel a lot of antisemitism — all of my friends are Jewish, and I go to a Jewish school. But here it’s not ...…
…JANUARY 4 • 2024 | 17 J N notice was incredible,” Shahaf said. “It was a moment of real- izing the Detroit Jewish com- munity has a lot of impact and power and they care so much about Israel.” A moment of great gravity for the Detroit Shinshinim was the community vigil for the hostages at Adat Shalom Synagogue. In front of 1,000 people in attendance, the names of each of the 242 hos- tages were read out loud by the five Shinshinim. ...…
…18 | JANUARY 4 • 2024 J N OUR COMMUNITY O n Dec. 16, Young Israel of Oak Park once again battled out one of Judaism’s most asked questions: What is the best cholent? In the shul’s 19th traditional “Iron Blech,” teams of married couples and friends competed for the championship cup. A delicious Shabbat lunch was pre- sented for the 160 guests by Gil Stebbins, the heart and brains behind the event. Then came the shining moment: Twelv...…
…JANUARY 4 • 2024 | 19 A dazzling demonstration of unity unfolded as the vibrant community of Genesee County came together with their Jewish brethren for an unforget- table Chanukah extravaganza, orchestrated by Chabad of Eastern Michigan. Held at Shea Automotive in Flint on Dec. 7, the event fea- tured a towering 22-foot public Chanukah menorah. In a show of solidarity, influen- tial community figures, including Michigan Supreme Cou...…
…AdvancedDerm.com Zero-Fee Payment Options: Debit Card, HSA, FSA, check, Gift Card, Cash, Care Credit . Credit Card surcharge fees vary up to 3% Offices in Livonia, Shelby Township, Southfield/Franklin, Warren, Wyandotte Our family taking care of your family’s skin for 105 years. FREE* Skin Cancer Screenings for New Patients 26400 W 12 Mile Rd, Ste 150 Southfield, MI 48034 Call to schedule your Free Screening today 844-987-3376 ...…
…20 | JANUARY 4 • 2024 J N W hen Temple Kol Ami’s Rabbi Natalie Shribman first told her parents about her installation weekend, the response was, “What’s an installation?” This being the first installation experience for either her or her husband, Rabbi Benjamin Altshuler, the rabbi struggled with an answer! So, her mother did some research and shared with Shribman that a rabbinic installation “is a sacred occasion where the r...…
…JANUARY 4 • 2024 | 21 Further enhancing the Friday night service was the TKA band, choir and junior choir. “The sanctuary was so full — as full as it was for the High Holidays,” Shribman said. “This was very gratifying. This made me feel that I had already had an impact on the community in just six months. But the crowd wasn’t only for me; the crowd also came out to show how invested they are in our congregation growing.” A s...…
…22 | JANUARY 4 • 2024 J N A s Israel responds to the brutal attack by Hamas and engages in ongoing war, local rabbis and cantors are working around the clock to help the Jewish community navigate the grief, pain and antisemitism of our day, and to emerge resilient and ready to respond. To keep spiritually and intellectually prepared for this moment, members of the Michigan Board of Rabbis and the Michigan Board of Cantors gath...…
…JANUARY 4 • 2024 | 23 J N H appy new year, friends! We’ve spent the last year volunteering together, and I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished. I wanted to do a review of some of the organizations that I’ve high- lighted previously and are my favorites to volunteer with regularly and also introduce some brand- new opportunities for us to dive into. I love learning about and sharing new organizations with all of you. My inbox is ...…
…24 | JANUARY 4 • 2024 J N OUR COMMUNITY I sraeli native and current West Bloomfield resident Dany Saar, 71, who served in the IDF for four years, knew he had to do something after Hamas’ attack on Israel. “I felt the urge to go, ” explains the rehabilitation specialist, who has lived in West Bloomfield since the early ’90s. “I spoke to my wife about it, and I decided that I want to go and volunteer. ” Saar, who was born in a kibbu...…
…JANUARY 4 • 2024 | 25 Five days a week from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Saar worked with a wide range of needs. Many patients were wounded IDF soldiers, but patients also included those with Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, amputees, and people who were in car or motorcycle acci- dents. For 50 days, or nearly two months, this was Saar’s routine. “We tried to help people get their spirits up, ” he says. “We showed them there’s a way to ...…
…OUR COMMUNITY A s we pray for our brothers and sisters in Israel in a world that currently seems filled with unknown, the impor- tance of community events that celebrate unity cannot be overstated. Recently, Farber Hebrew Day School held an event that captivated the hearts of our community, the “Joyous Echoes: A Night of Nachas Concert featuring NACHAS!” Together, the community experienced an evening filled with enchanting mel...…
…JANUARY 4 • 2024 | 27 J N To further engage the audience, NACHAS incor- porated interactive elements into the concert. A sing- along session allowed every- one to join in the fun, cre- ating a collective voice that reverberated with positivity. Additionally, NACHAS even shared the microphone with many of the children in the audience, showcasing inno- cent youthful joy within the community. The “Joyous Echoes” concert wasn’t just abou...…
…OUR COMMUNITY O n Dec. 17, Temple Shir Shalom congregants and rabbis celebrated the dedication of several dramatic outdoor and indoor additions to the tem- ple, which was originally built in 1995. The money for the expansion has so far been raised through generous donations by its members. Every aspect of Temple Shir Shalom and the expansion has been inspired by the Torah. The original vision was created by the congregation’s found...…
…JANUARY 4 • 2024 | 29 J N ERETZ O n the first day of Chanukah, hours before Shabbat, IDF spokesperson and Detroit native Maj. Doron Spielman boarded a Hummer and headed for the northern Gaza Strip. Just before leaving base to visit soldiers who were clear- ing territory in Jabalya, someone handed him a cha- nukiah and some candles for the soldiers. Surrounded by soldiers who blocked the wind with their bodies and stood at th...…
