…$200 Aug. 6-12, 2020 / 16-22 Av 5780 INSIDE Washtenaw County Starts JCRC, pg. 19 Jewish Studies at MSU, pg. 26 Guy Stern’ s New Memoir, pg. 32 See page 14 The Future of Shul How declining memberships and COVID-19 could change the way we worship. SPECIAL REPORT: …
…Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Here for Michigan. Now more than ever. At Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, we’re committed to caring for Michigan and everyone who calls it home. For our members, it’s a commitment to provide you with the ability to see a doctor from your home, and the option to speak to a nur...…
… AUGUST 6 • 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 Southeas...…
…4 | AUGUST 6 • 2020 …
… AUGUST 6 • 2020 | 5 B aseball is back! Actually, 37% of baseball is back. The delayed start of the season has forced major league baseball (MLB) to concoct an abbreviated schedule reduced from the standard 162 games to 60. Baseball has been making efforts to speed up our national pastime, but who could have predicted a pan- demic would speed up a season? As I’ m writing this column on July 26, our beloved ball club is argua...…
…6 | AUGUST 6 • 2020 Views essay Beating Each Other Up I think it’ s safe to say that we Jews are, well, maybe just a tad bit opinionat- ed. We’ re quick to speak our minds and certainly not shy to offer our criticism — of just about everything. But there is one area where our criticisms have been especially harsh: ourselves. We are brutal on ourselves. We debate, judge and criti- cize everything about fellow Jews — are they ...…
… AUGUST 6 • 2020 | 7 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 ncar cer ati on a top pr i or i ty. VOTE AUGUST 4 By Mai l or I n Per son Democrat ...…
…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 | AUGUST 6 • 2020 1942 - 20...…
… AUGUST 6 • 2020 | 9 F ifteen years ago, my family spent a leisurely Sunday at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, perus- ing the incredible Americana available to enjoy and experience. As we took the time to sit in the Rosa Parks bus, which sits in the museum on permanent dis- play, I noticed an African American family sitting near us. I turned to my wife and quipped, “If Henry Ford knew that a Jewish family was sitting toget...…
…10 | AUGUST 6 • 2020 Views L ike many regular readers of the Jewish News, I recently came across what later turned out to be a controversial interview with Rep. Rashida Tlaib published in this very newspaper. Not for a single moment did it cross my mind while reading it that the mere deci- sion to interview her was — in and of its own — problematic, let alone “outrageous” or “shameful, ” as some readers suggested. In fact, th...…
… AUGUST 6 • 2020 | 11 All Se a s on s i s de s i g n e d to de li g ht e ve r y on e of the s e n s e s … e ve r y da y! Ca ll or vi s i t our we bs i te to s che dule a n IN-PERS ON or VIRTUAL tour s o tha t we ca n pe r s on a lly s ho w you our di s ti n cti ve ly s tyli s h 1 or 2 be dr oom r e s i de n ce s a n d be a uti ful commun i ty ve n ue s . You wi ll be ca pti ...…
…12 | AUGUST 6 • 2020 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, in Sou...…
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…L ocal synagogue buildings are mainly empty, due to COVID- 19, but their congregations are far from dormant. When the Michigan Board of Rabbis decided on March 12, 2020 to close synagogue buildings due to the risk of infection from the coronavirus, they acted in advance of Michigan’ s March 23 stay- at-home order that prohibited public gatherings. While houses of worship were exempt from state penalties, local synagogues wanted to be cau...…
…continued on page 16 “The impossibility of singing together in real time is a downer for all of us, but we’ve found some creative solutions.” — JAKE EHRLICH continued on page 16 i d 16 time due to Michigan’ s stay-at-home order and the search for com- fort during a difficult time. “The pandemic emphasizes the need to be part of a community, ” said Rabbi Aaron Bergman of Congregation Adat Shalom, who chaired the Michigan Board of Rabb...…
…16 | AUGUST 6 • 2020 Jews in the D cover story The Michigan Board of Rabbis approved a policy on July 20 stat- ing that High Holiday services will be online only. According to their statement, this decision is based on a commitment to the Jewish values of pikuah nefesh, “safeguarding life, ” and sakanat nefeshot, the prohibition of “endangering life, ” as well as a “preponderance of the best scien- tific and medical advice that we ...…
… AUGUST 6 • 2020 | 17 T n e d h SUPPORT INDEPENDENT, CREDIBLE, AWARD- WINNING JOURNALISM IN SERVICE TO THE DETROIT JEWISH COMMUNITY! SUBSCRIBE TODAY TO THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS* *Already a subscriber? Please consider giving the Detroit Jewish News as a gift to a family member or friend! Go to https://thejewishnews.com/product/magazine-subscription/ today and enter code NEWSUBSCRIBER for $10 off a one year subscription. Not ...…
…18 | AUGUST 6 • 2020 but relationships were second- ary, ” explains Rabbi Nicole Auerbach, who is in charge of congregational engagement and small groups at the Central Synagogue in New York. “ A synagogue is not a building or a set of programs. We want to make sure that everyone feels seen and recognized and has a sense of connection, ” she said. The congregation has a group for dads with young children, a Jewish cookbook gro...…
… AUGUST 6 • 2020 | 19 W ashtenaw County now has its own full-fledged local Jewish Community Relations Council, courtesy of the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor. When the Federation welcomed their new executive director Eileen Freed in 2017, they began to explore a JCRC to facilitate relations internally and externally with the community. The beginning phases start- ed by convening a small working group of around 10 people to l...…
…20 | AUGUST 6 • 2020 M ichigan has gone from being a state with some of the largest numbers of coronavirus cases to a state that officials have said is on track to contain the virus. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has slowly begun to reopen the state, although she has indicated in recent weeks that she may reverse course as more COVID-19 cases are detected. While some people regard these gains in liberty as positive, others have co...…
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…O n July 24, members of the Michigan Legislature announced the formation of the Black and Jewish Unity Caucus at the Michigan State Capitol. The group was spearhead- ed by Jewish state Sen. Jeremy Moss, Jewish state Rep. Robert Wittenberg, state Sen. Marshall Bullock and state Rep. Sherry Gay-Dagnogo. The group has partnered with the Coalition for Black and Jewish Unity, an initiative of the JCRC/AJC and the Council of Baptist ...…
… JULY 30 • 2020 | 23 COURTESY OF MICHIGAN HOUSE DEMOCRATS ROSH HASHANAH GREETINGS Ad Deadline: Sept. 10, 2020 Continue a 78-year tradition! Wish your family and friends and the entire Jewish community a Happy New Year! For information, call 248-351-5116 or email salessupport@renmedia.us GO TO: thejewishnews.com/rosh-hashanah-greeting to reserve your space today or call us at 248.351.5116 STEP 1: Select Your Style STYLE #1 Rosh H...…
…C OVID-19 has affected people’ s lives in tragic ways. The pandemic has also caused us to adjust to new realities like our kids being home from school for the final few months of the school year. There have been countless events canceled, including vacations, summer camp, concerts, fundraisers and sporting events. Our children have been disappointed because of commencements and gradu- ation parties that could not take place....…
… AUGUST 6 • 2020 | 25 Jews in the D D etroit City Councilmember Gabe Leland is facing a new round of criminal misconduct charges, this time at the state level. Prosecutors in Monroe County allege that Leland, 37, accepted $7,500 in cash campaign payments between 2017 and 2018 to influence how he voted, according to the Associated Press. The state’ s mid-July felony charge came a month before Leland was scheduled to stand trial ...…
…26 | AUGUST 6 • 2020 continued on page 28 YAEL EICHHORN EDITORIAL INTERN Jews in the D A s someone who has had many different Jewish experiences, it is always reassuring to find a sense of community wherever I am. The Jewish Studies minor at Michigan State University has given me the opportunity to find that and more, making such a big campus easier to navigate. I have gotten to know the staff and program while work- ing a...…
… AUGUST 6 • 2020 | 27 U © 20 Supported through the generosity of The Jewish Fund and the D. Dan and Betty Kahn Family Foundation. . org We Have Answers. Need help finding senior care? Call jhelp at 1-833-44-JHELP Visit jhelp. org Chat online with a staff member or schedule a call at jhelp. org Do all of the above Q …
…28 | AUGUST 6 • 2020 the world. ” Of the more than 600 stu- dents who have gone through the minor, a fair number have been non-Jewish students. Some found their way to the minor through friends, and others through taking a few classes and realizing they were already halfway there. At some points in time, the split between Jewish and non-Jewish students has been almost even. “We prioritize undergraduate education, mentor and advis...…
… AUGUST 6 • 2020 | 29 A bout two dozen pro- testers gathered in Bloomfield Township on Friday evening, July 17, to march to the Max M. Fisher Federation building and demand action from local Jewish leaders in response to the impending Israeli annexation of the West Bank. The protest was organized by IfNotNow (INN), a progressive activist group that opposes the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The protest coinc...…
…30 | AUGUST 6 • 2020 Moments Pevos 50th J oanne and Larry Pevos of Commerce Township will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Aug. 16, 2020. Love is sent by their children, Eddie and Heidi Pevos, and Julie and Michael Solomon, and their grandchildren, Sarah and Jacob Solomon. Bloch 90th D olores Bloch turned 90 years old on Aug. 3, 2020. Wishing her love, good health and hap- piness are her children, Philip and Kathy Bl...…
… AUGUST 6 • 2020 | 31 M emory and recollec- tion are fundamental attributes we depend on to live meaningful and successful lives. We use tech- niques to remind ourselves of important tasks, appointments and occasions. From calendars to sticky notes, shopping lists and pill organizers, we utilize an array of tools to remember what we deem important. We adorn walls and mantels with art, mementos and motiva- tional mantras. The clas...…
…Arts&Life review G unther Stern, born in Hildesheim, Germany, in 1922, now lives in West Bloomfield, and works at the Holocaust Memorial Center. Highlights of his activities between then and now pro- vide the material for his new memoir, Invisible Ink, published by Wayne State University Press. Not long after the Nazis came to power in Germany in January 1933, Julius and Hedwig Stern had the fore- sight to try to get their oldest s...…
… AUGUST 6 • 2020 | 33 championed reason, science, moderation, optimism and openness to foreign cultures. Stern also worked with, and wrote about, writers who had left or been driven out of the lands of their birth, and still wrote in its language. In Invisible Ink, Stern records highlights (and some less successful moments) from his personal life and from his illustrious career as a scholar, teacher, academic administra- tor and ...…
…34 | AUGUST 6 • 2020 Arts&Life celebrity jews A VERY JEWISH MOVIE; A MODERN HUCK FINN; AND A NICE COVID STORY The big-budget Jewish film of the summer is An American Pickle. Seth Rogen, 38, plays the film’ s two major parts. He plays Herschel Greenbaum, a poor Jewish immi- grant who comes to America and becomes a pickle maker. One day, Greenbaum falls into a vat of pickle brine. Amazingly, he is revived in the present day and has...…
…STAYING CONNECTED At this time of social distancing, the Jewish News will try to bring awareness to events/learning sit- uations offered online by syna- gogues, temples and community organizations. MOVIES IN THE PARK 9-11 PM, AUG. 7 In real (and reel) time, A Dog’ s Purpose will be shown at Wagner Park in Downtown Dearborn. Free movies begin after dusk, with the film starting as soon as the night sky allows. To follow ongoing soc...…
…eats | drinks | sweets Nosh 36 | AUGUST 6 • 2020 A New Course of Meal Kits F or those who enjoy cooking, home-delivered meal kits offer convenience plus creativity. The many companies specializing in meal kits send boxes filled with high- quality and often organic food, plus recipe cards. Each week, customers choose from a variety of chef-developed meals to fit their appetite or dietary preferences. The dinners are refrigerated ...…
… AUGUST 6 • 2020 | 37 HOMECHEF homechef.com Overall favorite. Binder holds colorful recipe cards. Clear directions. Appreciated being told the cooking difficulty and spice levels. A “storage timeframe” provided guidance to make more perishable kits sooner. Meat and produce were first-rate. Cornbread-crusted Mahi-Mahi and Honey- BBQ Aioli with corn on the cob and sweet potato wedges. Loved the fish and sides. Beef Meatloaf Marina...…
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…40 | AUGUST 6 • 2020 Soul of blessed memory ELLA BAKER, 95, of West Bloomfield, died July 29, 2020. Ella was a very keen gardener for most of her life and particularly loved flowers (never fake, always real and seasonal). She was instrumental in creating the garden at Hechtman Apartments. Ella had a very inquisitive mind and was well-informed as to what was happening in the world. She never shied away from expressing with co...…
… AUGUST 6 • 2020 | 41 c. 1979 LORI LOBER KLOSKY, 62, of Novi, died July 26, 2020. She is survived by her husband of 41 years, Gary Klosky; children, Ryan Klosky, Sean Klosky and Teri Klosky; brother, Richard Lober; sister, Donna Lober. Mrs. Klosky was the devoted daughter of the late Harold “Hy” and the late Mary Lober. Interment was at Beth El Memorial Park. Contributions may be made to Save the Music Foundation, 1515 Br...…
…Soul of blessed memory 42 | AUGUST 6 • 2020 continued from page 41 Bloomfield, Sean and Juliana Lutwin of Lakewood, Fla.; sister, Fran Waldman of New Jersey; sister-in-law, Lesley Lavens; grandchildren, Jacob Lutwin, Emma Lutwin, Shay Chismody, Chad Chismody, Lexi Chismody; many loving nieces, nephews and cousins. Dr. Lutwin was the brother-in-law of the late Howard Waldman. Contributions may be made to Temple Israel, 5725 W...…
… AUGUST 6 • 2020 | 43 continued on page 44 DR. RICHARD MENCZER, 85, of Bloomfield Hills, died suddenly on July 24, 2020. He was born on Dec. 25, 1935, truly a gift and gifted. He was a dedicated physician, fine violinist and a life master bridge player. As a teen, he performed with the All-City Orchestra and while stationed in Alaska, played with the Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra. Apart from his many accomplishments, Richard w...…
…44 | AUGUST 6 • 2020 Soul of blessed memory (Melissa) Strauss, Lauren Stone, Stephanie (Shane) Mones, Rachel (Bill White) Puckett, David (Alissa) Puckett, Stacey (William) Martell; great-grandchildren, Aria White, Wade White, Madison Puckett, Joseph Anthony Martell and Jesse Strauss. Mr. Stone was the beloved husband of the late Barbara Joyce Stone; the father-in-law of the late David Strauss. Interment took place at Nusach Ha...…
… AUGUST 6 • 2020 | 45 the best of everything Raskin Detroit Eats A new restaurant that opened a short while ago in Boynton Beach, Florida, is named Detroit Eats ... and already making favorable culinary waves as it satisfies the pal- ates of many. Located on Boynton Beach Blvd. West, it has spread its pride along the areas just short miles away like Boca Raton and Delray Beach. More pride among these regions is gathered by ...…
…46 | AUGUST 6 • 2020 Looking Back From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History accessible at www.djnfoundation.org Michigan’s Jewish Suffragette T he Michigan primary elections were held this week. There were 20 women seeking an opportunity to run for Congress in November. Hundreds of women ran for local and state offices. And many of these women, now and over the years, are Jewish. I mention this fact in th...…
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