…The Jewish Community Center — now known as ‘The J’ — acts as a platform for Jewish life no matter where people are. THE DETROIT $200 Sept. 7-13, 2023 / 21-27 Elul 5783 thejewishnews.com See page 10 ‘Jewish Center’ A New JEWISH NEWS …
…10 | SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 E llen Nussbaum Bouchard of West Bloomfield was thrilled when JLearn classes went online. A medical speech language pathologist who owns a rehab company, she was rarely able to attend classes in person because she was out working all day. The pandemic brought with it teletherapy, and her world opened up, she says. “I could take classes I could never do before, ” she says. “Now they were on Zoom. ” Today, she’s ...…
…SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 | 11 continued on page 12 shift about not the, ‘why the JCC exists’ — the JCC has existed and continues to exist to strengthen Jewish community in Detroit — but how it fulfills its mission has changed. ” Instead of the idea being to provide a safe space or real estate as a vehicle for building Jewish community in a world that didn’t feel safe, they’re shifting to a more program- focused model, he says. “The ‘...…
…12 | SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 programs can be found on the JLive platform, which is managed in partner- ship with the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. A new website for The J is expected this winter, which Allyn says will be easy to navigate. “There’s a new logo, a new tagline, a new look, a new feel, ” she says. “I hope people are so excited to jump in with us, to find the programming that speaks to them. ” Stephanie Lucker of Detroi...…
…SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 | 13 ever you need to help fuel your Jewish connection. ” The J is focused on helping people build personal connec- tions, he emphasizes, which means everything from grand- parents meeting others through The J’s grandparent initiative to individuals meeting at an event and deciding to start a running club or picking up a game of pickleball. “We’re building something remarkably relevant now that will be a resourc...…
…From Rendering to Reality 14 | SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 OUR COMMUNITY JIM HOUSE …
…SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 | 15 T he pouring rain that fell on Royal Oak’s Memorial Park, the site for the dedication of Phase I of The Michigan WWII Legacy Memorial, did little to dampen the spirits of the memorial’s board of directors who were putting the finishing touches on their ceremony. They worked through the deluge an hour before the scheduled 4 p.m. start on Aug. 10, trusting in the improving weather forecasts they were recei...…
…16 | SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 donated engraved brick pavers. Reading the inscriptions is like taking a walk back in time; you get an overwhelming sense of the history and awe that is our Greatest Generation. A bronze statue, affectionate- ly referred to as “Joe, ” depicts an Army soldier in a war zone far from home, reading a letter from his parents. Among sever- al other statues still to come will be that soldier’s parents intently list...…
…SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 | 17 “THANK YOU TO THE BOARD FOR THIS HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO ALLOW ME TO REPRESENT THE WWII VETERANS. ON THEIR BEHALF, I ACCEPT THIS GROUND TODAY.” —ART FISHMAN With their numbers dwin- dling rapidly, this memorial must be the embodiment of those stories and a voice to educate and serve future gener- ations. THE OFFICIAL DEDICATION The highlight of the day was the official dedication of the memo- rial when Sr. Vic...…
…18 | SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 JWV SUPPORT The Jewish War Veterans Department of Michigan have been longtime supporters of The Michigan WWII Legacy Memorial since Art Fishman introduced the project to them over a decade ago. They’ve been regular attendees at the memorial’s annual fundraising galas where Fishman and fel- low JWV Guy Stern have both been honored with the organi- zation’s Victory Award. The JWV was also out in full force ...…
…SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 | 19 through binoculars, chil- dren picking milkweed pods for use in life-preservers, a Rosie the Riveter building a bomber at Willow Run and a bomber pilot. THIS MISSION IS PERSONAL Witnessing the dedication of Phase I was one of the most gratifying experiences I have ever been part of. I am a proud former board mem- ber of the organization and continue to volunteer and consult on public relations activities. ...…
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…20 | SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 OUR COMMUNITY I n the ever-changing medical industry, Israel stands out as a frontrunner in making significant technological strides in the field. Leading this advancement is Magen David Adom, an organization founded almost 100 years ago that has harnessed Israel’s advanced technology to develop faster ways of saving lives throughout the country. On a recent visit to Metro Detroit, MDA leaders sp...…
…SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 | 21 Hatzalah South Florida, the Philippine Red Cross and Hatzalah Chicago are only a few examples of entities preparing to adopt MDA’s innovative approaches into their own emergency response procedures. Collaborations with innovative companies around the world have further enhanced MDA’s capabilities. For example, MDA has established a partnership with Waze, the Israeli-founded navigation app, to optimize a...…
…22 | SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 F all is in the air! As you set your intentions for the new year, please consider making a commitment to focus on our community more than you may have before. So many people can benefit from a helping hand, a kind word or a fresh start. You can be just that to countless local individuals and groups. The Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America – Michigan Chapter is seeking dedicated volunteers to serve o...…
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…24 | SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 O n her first day as executive director of University of Michigan Hillel, Tilly Shemer was nervous but excited. In the three years prior, she had served as associate director, and she now had big shoes to fill as she sat at the desk of former executive director Michael Brooks, who had held the role for more than three decades. “It was a dream come true,” explains Shemer, who worked at Michigan Hillel sin...…
…SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 | 25 me as a freshman in college that I would come to lead one of the strongest Hillels in the country, I would have laughed at you and asked, ‘What’s Hillel?’” she recalls. It was only when Shemer gave Hillel a chance as a student herself at York University in Toronto, where she was born and raised, that she saw how meaningful the work could be. Her first- ever trip to Israel during her junior year of college a...…
…26 | SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 A lbert Kahn was a leading architect of the first half of the 21st century. His factory designs helped Henry Ford transform automotive manu- facturing. Kahn’s beautiful and stately structures, including the Fisher Building, Belle Isle Aquarium and two Temple Beth El buildings in Detroit, as well as Hill Auditorium and many iconic classroom buildings at the University of Michigan, are well-known and much...…
…SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 | 27 N EXTUp: A NEXTWork Professional Conference, the first annu- al professional conference designed to connect young Jewish Detroiters to one another and to some of the biggest names in their respec- tive industries, takes place Sept. 21 from 6-9 p.m. at the College for Creative Studies’ Taubman Center in Detroit. The NEXTWork com- munity was founded in 2013 and is a collaborative initiative between Gesher ...…
…28 | SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 H igh Holiday PrayGround is return- ing to Congregation Shaarey Zedek (CSZ) for the third year. Taking place during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the festival-style alternative program is a unique twist on traditional High Holiday services — hap- pening outdoors with interactive experiences for congregants of all ages. Originally an idea born in 2021 when the COVID-19 pandemic encouraged syna- gogues to de...…
…SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 | 29 Y oung and old alike will be fascinated and entertained at this year’s Shofar Factory Festival. Set to take place on Sunday, Sept. 10, 1-4 p.m., at the West Bloomfield Jewish Community Center (The J), the Sherrill Berman Shofar Factory Festival features fun activities combined with creative, educa- tional art, delicious food, music and a mitzvah kindness project. At the event, you’ll see an extensive col...…
…contents PURELY COMMENTARY 4-8 Essays and viewpoints. OUR COMMUNITY 10 A New Jewish Center The Jewish Community Center — now known as ‘The J’ — acts as a platform for Jewish life no matter where people are. 14 From Rendering to Reality Hundreds gather in Royal Oak to dedicate Phase I of The Michigan WWII Legacy Memorial. 20 Jews in the Digital Age Magen David Adom saves lives in Israel with advanced tec...…
…30 | SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 I n the weeks leading up to the Jewish High Holidays and, of course, during the High Holidays themselves, introspec- tion and taking personal stock are top of mind. Elul, the Hebrew month pre- ceding Rosh Hashanah, serves as a period of personal reflection and repentance. Then, of course, there’s Rosh Hashanah. While the holiday is a time of sweet cele- bration and welcoming the new year, it can also be a so...…
…SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 | 31 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! …
…32 | SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 I n congregations around the world during the lead- up to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, worshippers hold a daily service called Selichot [meaning both apologies and forgiveness] at around dawn. Sephardic congregations begin the additional service a month before Rosh Hashanah; Ashkenazic congregations at the beginning of the week before Rosh Hashanah, or, if Rosh Hashanah falls on a Monday or Tuesday, a w...…
…SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 | 33 Numbers 14:18). Does this service seem like a magical formula for compelling God’s forgiveness? Maybe not. To believe in the possibility of repentance, one has to trust that doing better matters. Someone who accepts an implacable theology, who believes that neither regret nor reform can possibly matter, would see no point in regretting errors of the past and not much hope of doing better in the future. We...…
…34 | SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 B radley Anstandig played baseball for Detroit at the 2019 JCC Maccabi Games hosted by the Motor City a couple weeks before his bar mitzvah. He had a great time at the Maccabi Games and looked forward to perhaps participating again. Then the COVID-19 pandemic struck, forcing the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 Maccabi Games. The Maccabi Games were revived in 2022 in San Diego, but with restrictions a...…
…SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 | 35 Each stayed with a host family. Each Detroit athlete in a team sport played on a team with representatives from other delegations. There were no Detroit coaches. Donna Sklar, Gordon’s sister-in- law, was a chaperone for the Detroit delegation. The other Detroit athletes were Riley Agrest (16U 3x3 basketball); Kaden Cherkasky (14U baseball); Drew Edelstein (14U baseball); Eli Edelstein (14U baseball); Ari ...…
…36 | SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 faces&places From Camp Walden From Camp Walden CHEBOYGAN, MICHIGAN Walden offers 50-plus activities to campers each summer — on the water, on the athletic fields, in the art barn and on the stage — but a lesser-known gem is their farm and garden. The Walden Farm sits atop a small hill overlooking the horse stables and soccer fields. It offers campers the opportunity to learn about and care for a variety of a...…
…SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 | 37 From JCC Day Camps From JCC Day Camps WEST BLOOMFIELD, MICHIGAN JCC Day Camps of Metro Detroit provided new and updated programming for campers of all ages and abilities this summer. Campers of our Camp Kehilla program explored outdoor cooking over a fire, created stop motion videos with Snapology and partnered with Adamah for nature on our 200+ acres. They learned more about Israeli cul- ture from our Shlich...…
…38 | SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 From Camp Tanuga From Camp Tanuga KALKASKA, MICHIGAN At this time of year, we are filled with gratitude for our loyal Tanuga family members and the ability to spend another season in such a magical environment. We are also increasingly amazed at how impactful overnight residential summer camp still is for today’s campers and staff members, even while the challenges to provide this unique opportunity tick u...…
…SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 | 39 From Camp Tamakwa From Camp Tamakwa ALGONQUIN PARK IN ONTARIO, CANADA Nestled in the heart of the breathtaking Algonquin Park, Camp Tamakwa stands as a beacon of summer adventure, offering children a unique and enriching experience that has been shaping young lives since 1936. At the core of Camp Tamakwa’s legacy lies its legendary canoeing program, a testament to the camp’s commitment to embracing the beauty...…
…4 | SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 for openers Name, Please guest column Feeling Unwelcome on Campus W hat is in a name? Well, it could be “hiding” a short version, a diminutive or a reference to something else. Let’s look at some examples. Elizabeth is a lovely name. It is often shortened to Liz (We apparently cannot take time for the whole thing). I doubt, however, that many dared to use the shortened version to address the late Q...…
…40 | SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 From Willoway From Willoway Day Camp Day Camp WEST BLOOMFIELD, MICHIGAN There’s a reason the pool is located as central as possible on the campus of Willoway Day Camp. At the center of field games, arts and crafts projects and endless activities is Willoway’s swimming program. Campers swim twice a day at Willoway, in two pools built for children, where they participate in instructional swim led by Willowa...…
…SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 | 41 From Camp From Camp Tamarack Tamarack CAMP MAAS IN ORTONVILLE, MICHIGAN LAUREN VIDAK, PROGRAM COORDINATOR While all of us here at Tamarack Camps exhale from a spectacular summer, we reflect on the lessons learned and memories made over the last eight weeks. As the sun shined brightly over camp, the spirit of tzedakah thrived in every corner. We are incredibly proud of our campers’ dedication to positiv...…
…42 | SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 MAZEL TOV! Ari Eli Acrich, son of Darci and Bryan Acrich, will lead the congregation in prayer as a bar mitzvah at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. He will be joined in celebration by his sister Lyla. Ari is the loving grandchild of Susanne and Ruben Acrich, and Shirley and Robert Oles. He is a student at Clifford H. Smart Middle School in Commerce Township. Ari’s most mea...…
…SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 | 43 SPIRIT TORAH PORTION Universal Prayers T he two most com- mon symbols of Rosh Hashanah are the apple with honey and the shofar. Dipping the apple in sweet honey expresses our hopes for a sweet year, and the arresting sound of the shofar signifies our uneasiness as we wonder what the new year will bring. Why was the apple specifically chosen for this symbolic role on Rosh Hashanah? Rabbi Yehoshua Fishman, ...…
…44 | SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 I n the last days of his life, Moses renews the covenant between God and Israel. The entire book of Devarim has been an account of the covenant — how it came about, what its terms and conditions are, why it is the core of Israel’s identity as an am kadosh, a holy people and so on. Now comes the moment of renewal itself, a national rededication to the terms of its existence as a holy people under the...…
…SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 | 45 our range of legitimate choices, with grave consequences if we transgress. Had we not been Jewish, we could have worked on Shabbat, eaten non-kosher food and so on. You can confer a benefit upon someone without their consent, but not a liability. In short, this is the question of questions of Jewish identity. How can we be bound by Jewish law, without our choice, merely because our ancestors agreed on our ...…
…Synagogue Directory METRO DETROIT CONSERVATIVE Adat Shalom Synagogue Farmington Hills (248) 851-5100 adatshalom.org Congregation Beth Ahm West Bloomfield (248) 851-6880 cbahm.org Congregation Beth Shalom Oak Park (248) 547-7970 congbethshalom.org Beth Tephilath Moses Mt. Clemens (586) 996-3138 bethtephilathmoses.com B’nai Israel Synagogue West Bloomfield (248) 432-2729 bnaiisraelwb.org Congregation B’nai Moshe West Blo...…
…SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 | 47 Temple Emanu-El Oak Park (248) 967-4020 emanuel-mich.org Temple Israel West Bloomfield (248) 661-5700 temple-israel.org Temple Kol Ami West Bloomfield (248) 661-0040 tkolami.org Temple Shir Shalom West Bloomfield (248) 737-8700 shirshalom.org REFORM/RENEWAL Congregation Shir Tikvah Troy (248) 649-4418 shirtikvah.org SECULAR/HUMANISTIC Congregation for Humanistic Judaism of Metro Detroit Farmingt...…
…48 | SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 A conversation with Israeli director Guy Nattiv. Golda on the Silver Screen SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER ARTS&LIFE FILM SEAN GLEASON, COURTESY OF BLEECKER STREET/SHIVHANS PICTURES SEAN GLEASON, COURTESY OF BLEECKER STREET/SHIVHANS PICTURES JASPER WOLF, COURTESY OF BLEECKER STREET/SHIVHANS PICTURES TOP TO BOTTOM: Helen Mirren as Golda, Camille Cottin as Lou Kaddar and Helen Mirren as Golda. …
…SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 | 49 A n Oscar-winning director — with an Israeli background and a strong link to Michigan — has directed the movie Golda, which is being released around the country. Guy Nattiv, who married and often works with Jaime Ray Newman from Michigan, is the director holding and sharing a 2019 Oscar for the work done on Skin, which took honors for the Best Live Action Short. Nattiv is only the second Israeli to earn an...…
…SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 | 5 continued from page 4 government.” There is no mention that Israel’s operation targeted terrorist cells because the Palestinian Authority had abdicated its policing of Jenin. No mention of the numerous Israeli victims of Palestinian terror. Characterizing this mission as genocide and the Israeli government as apartheid makes clear where my student government stands. Ironically, earlier in the statement the...…
…50 | SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 G olda Meir is a fig- ure as shrouded in mythology as she is veiled by plumes of cigarette smoke in Golda, a new polit- ical drama starring Helen Mirren. Meir has been called Israel’s “Iron Lady, ” alter- nately lionized as a found- er of the state, scorned for her dismissive statements about Palestinians and, most notoriously, held responsible for Israel being caught by surprise at the outbreak of the bloo...…
…SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 | 51 ‘MY BIG FAT’ WEDDING NOTES My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 [MBFGW3] opens in theaters on Sept. 8. Of course, it is a sequel to the comedies My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) and My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016). The first film followed Toula Portokalos (Nia Vardalos, who also wrote the film), a 30-year-old woman whose life is not happy: She works long hours in her family’s Greek restaurant; she has let herse...…
…52 | SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 APPLE PICKING 10:30 AM-1 PM, SEPT. 9 (SAT.) The sisterhood of Temple Emanu-El will host an apple picking at Spicer’s Orchard, 1041 Clyde Road, Fenton. All families will pay for their own apples if you choose to pick apples; Sisterhood will treat everyone to cider and donuts. Info: jlive.app/ events/5165. BOOK SIGNING 2-4 PM, SEPT. 9 (SAT.) Celebrate the publication of Don Levin’s newest novel, The Arse...…
…SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 | 53 PROMOTE WELLNESS 6-7:30 PM, SEPT. 13 (WED.) Organized by Jewish Family Service Legal Referral Service at Knollwood Country Club, 5050 W. Maple, West Bloomfield. Supreme Court Justice Megan K. Cavanagh and Molly Ranns, LPC, will make the case for “Promoting Wellness in the Legal Community.” Lawyers assume incredible responsibilities to ensure the best outcome for their clients. These demands affect the...…
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