…JUNE 9 • 2022 | 37 Alan Gerdov flips during a floor exercise routine. MICHIGAN ATHLETICS out early this year that they had earned two of the five coveted Team USA spots. Armed with that knowledge, they went on to help the U-M men’s gymnastics team win Big Ten regular-season and conference meet championships and finish third in the NCAA meet this spring. Wooten finished second on high bar at the Big Ten meet and earned a second t...…
…38 | JUNE 9 • 2022 A brand-new show- room in Troy is adding more options for diamonds and jewelry in the Metro Detroit area. With a soft opening on May 2, Diamonds Direct’s sprawling 5,500-square-foot Troy loca- tion, at 1985 W. Big Beaver Road, will be the 26th show- room opened by the jewelry enterprise, which has strong ties to Israel. Founded by Tel Aviv-based diamond manufacturer Alon Arabov, jewelry and bridal powerhouse ...…
…JUNE 9 • 2022 | 39 We can’t help you find that thing you’re looking for. But we can help you find the perfect mortgage. NMLS #718852 B I R M I N G H A M The Jewish Historical Society announced two awardees. The 2021 Leonard N. Simons History-Maker Awardee is Arthur M. Horwitz, president of Arthur Horwitz Consulting LLC. From 1986 to 2020, he published the Detroit Jewish News. He was the founding president of the independent, nonp...…
…40 | JUNE 9 • 2022 “You can walk into the showroom and look for a specific diamond,” Ankawa explains, “but you’re not going to have one option, you’re going to have five, six, seven or eight options.” Diamonds Direct also offers after-the-sale services including complimentary jewelry maintenance and a 110% upgrade policy. In addition, its business model cuts out the middleman, allowing the retailer to be involved in the entire ...…
…JUNE 9 • 2022 | 41 NEXTDOR N EXTGen Detroiters had the opportunity to learn how to be their own florists for a day at NEXTGen Detroit’s Blooms + Brunch program. On Sunday, May 15, experts from Goldner Walsh welcomed guests into their space where they gave a flow- er-arranging lesson on how to create a centerpiece. NEXTGen event co-chair Lacey Foon says this event was a long time in the works. Originally, it was going to be hel...…
…42 | JUNE 9 • 2022 I n April 2017, wellness blogger and influencer Sari Diskin moved from her home of Toronto, Canada, to Metro Detroit. She was marrying her husband, Jacob Diskin, with whom she’d kept a long-distance relationship since meeting at a Jewish summer camp. At the time, Sari Diskin, now the founder and owner of Eat Well With Sari (https:// eatwellwithsari.com), was working in mar- keting and advertising. It was the career...…
…JUNE 9 • 2022 | 43 In the past, Diskin says she obsessed over healthy eating, a mindset that, despite its health-focused outcome, wasn’t actually healthy. Instead, she made mental health a priority and worked hard to avoid falling into social media traps, which can put too much focus on diet and not enough focus on feeling healthy inside and out. HONEST MOTHERHOOD Today, Diskin shares a balance of healthy food options mixed in w...…
…44 | JUNE 9 • 2022 Julia Lynn Blaharski (Yisraela Zahava), daughter of Rebecca and Steven Blaharski, will be called to the Torah as a bat mitzvah at Congregation B’nai Moshe in West Bloomfield on Saturday, June 11, 2022. She is the granddaughter of Elaine and Kerry Greenhut, and George and the late Rosemary Blaharski; great- granddaughter of Lillian Greenhut. Julia is a seventh-grade student at Clifford Smart Middle School i...…
…JUNE 9 • 2022 | 45 Papenheim-Loyd S ydney Marilynn Papenheim and David Adam Loyd were mar- ried recently at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield. Rabbi Paul Yedwab and Cantor Michael Smolash officiated. Sydney is the daughter of Lisa Shapiro of Farmington Hills, and Erich and Michele Papenheim of Greer, S.C. David is the son of Jane Moskola of Port Orange, Fla., and the late John Loyd. The couple’s closest friend, Hayley Wasserman, s...…
…T he word Naso that gives its name to this week’s parshah is a verb of an extraordinary range of meanings, among them: to lift, to carry and to forgive. Here though, and elsewhere in the wilderness years, it is used, in conjunction with the phrase et rosh (“the head”) to mean “to count. ” This is an odd way of speak- ing, because Biblical Hebrew is not short of other verbs mean- ing to count, among them lim- not, lispor, lifkod and la...…
…JUNE 9 • 2022 | 47 To be sure, this is not the only metaphor for our relation- ship with God. He is also our Sovereign, and we are His ser- vants. He is our Shepherd, and we are His sheep. These evoke more humility than the image of parent-and-child. What is more, when God saw the first human without a partner, He said, “It is not good for man to be alone. ” JUDAISM = ‘I’ + ‘WE’ The Torah is thus signaling one of the defining ten- ...…
…48 | JUNE 9 • 2022 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 Wes...…
…JUNE 9 • 2022 | 49 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 Farmington Hi...…
…50 | JUNE 9 • 2022 C omposer Perry Goldstein expressed a Motor City mood in advance of his stint as com- poser-in-residence for the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, which will be marking its 29th anniversary June 10-25. Entering three pieces into this year’s pro- gramming, which has a recurring theme related to nature and the environment, he will be premiering two pieces that commu- nicate different examples of the melodic spectr...…
…JUNE 9 • 2022 | 51 to perform and audiences to experience a wide range of musical repertoire, ” said Maury Okun, festival president, pointing out that programming also introduces chamber styles to works by classical com- posers such as Schumann, Mozart and Beethoven. Okun, also president of Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings, represents one of four organizations sponsoring the annual non- sectarian festival. The others are Temple Beth El...…
…52 | JUNE 9 • 2022 A bout six months after its pre- miere, Shoah Ambassadors, the Holocaust documentary film directed and produced by Keith Famie, is still in the film festival circuit nationally and being shown to organi- zations and universities to widen the reach of the film. The film was nominated for four Michigan Emmys. Famie and his Visionalist Entertainment Productions crew are nominated for the documen- tary as a whole, its...…
…JUNE 9 • 2022 | 53 Shoah Ambassadors was featured in the SR Socially Relevant Film Festival New York. Featured Holocaust survivor Rene Lichtman, ambassador Hailey Callahan and Famie were in attendance. The film was honored with the award of Jury Special Mention. Famie enjoys the presenta- tions he’s able to do for univer- sity student bodies where he can engage in in-depth discus- sions afterward. Famie has connected with Hillel o...…
…54 | JUNE 9 • 2022 ARTS&LIFE ART “Embracing Our Differences SE Michigan” can be viewed at parks in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. Art in the Park SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER T he beauty of nature serves as the setting for the beauty of artistic design during an exhibit with worldwide representation and a unifying theme — diversity, equity and inclusion. The exhibit, “Embracing Our Differences SE Michigan,” is spread across tw...…
…JUNE 9 • 2022 | 55 Details “Embracing Our Differences SE Michigan” will be on view at no cost through the end of September at four park areas — Gallup Park, 3323 Geddes Road, Ann Arbor; Leslie Science and Nature Center, 1831 Traver Road, Ann Arbor; Riverside Park, 2 E. Cross St., Ypsilanti; and Parkridge Community Center, 791 Harriet St., Ypsilanti. For information regarding indi- vidual and group visits, go to EODMichigan.org. To...…
…56 | JUNE 9 • 2022 ARTS&LIFE ART “On our opening weekend in May, a video was taken of the young artists reacting to seeing their enlarged picture and their names next to it. They were so excited. So were we.” Margolis was touched emotionally by a mom reacting to the image Sezer’s Diary from Turkey. It shows a boy in a wheelchair included in playing basketball. The associated slogan (“I am not defined by an inanimate object. Look a...…
…JUNE 9 • 2022 | 57 DINOS FICTIONAL AND NOT, ALBERT BROOKS DOCUMENTARY, THE MOST JEWISH WESTERNS The sixth Jurassic Park movie, Jurassic World Dominion, opens in the- aters on June 10. In this sequel, humans and dino- saurs now live near each other all over the world and the question is: Who will emerge as the “apex pred- ator?” The film was directed by Colin Trevorrow, 41. He also directed the last two Jurassic Park films. Both ...…
…58 | JUNE 9 • 2022 ‘MEAN GIRLS’ NOW-JUNE 19 At the Fisher Theatre. Tuesday-Saturday at 8 pm; Sunday evenings at 7:30 pm; Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 pm. Hilarious hit musical for ages 10 and up. Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing pre- pared her for the vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois. Soon, this naïve newbie falls prey to a trio of lion- ized frenemies led by the charmin...…
…JUNE 9 • 2022 | 59 Artists: Paul Watkins, Nicholas Phan, Peter Sparling. Event is free with admission to the museum. ICE CREAM SOCIAL 4-6 PM, JUNE 12 Join NEXTGen Detroit and JFamily for a fun fam- ily afternoon as we cool down with a summer snack at Franklin Community Association Park, 26495 Carol, Franklin. Get to know other local young Jewish families and enjoy music with Miss Elissa and some fun outdoor activities geared ...…
…60 | JUNE 9 • 2022 cogs-kegs, for $30. Cyclists who register the day-of will pay $35. All participants will receive a custom Cogs & Kegs water bottle. Non-riders can participate in the post-ride cel- ebration at 8 p.m. for $20. SUMMER SAFETY 11 AM-NOON, JUNE 14 Come join JFamily and friends at Royal Oak Chabad for a morning of summer safety fun. At Royal Oak Jewish Center Chabad, 514 E. 4th St., Royal Oak. Decorate a sun hat, ge...…
…the exchange community bulletin board | professional services For information regarding advertising please call 248-351-5116 Deadline for ad insertion is 10am on Friday prior to publication. Aaron Mendelson Heating and Cooling, LLC. 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 FREE E...…
…OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY D r. Abner “ Ab” Ragins, 92, died May 29, 2022, peacefully with his children nearby. Ab was born in 1929 and often joked that he brought on the Great Depression. He lived a Jewish life growing up in Grand Rapids and excelled in academics and debate. He graduated from the University of Michigan and earned an MD at Wayne State Medical University. He went on to specialize in gastroenterology. Befor...…
…L ois Fishman, 87, of West Bloomfield, died surrounded by her loving family shortly after sunset on May 25, 2022. Lois was predeceased five months by her husband of 67 years, Nat Fishman. Growing up in Detroit, Lois took two buses to school at Central High School each morning. Her fam- ily was no stranger to long journeys: Her father, Harry Goldberg, immi- grated from East Europe to Galveston, Texas, before landing in Detro...…
…64 | JUNE 9 • 2022 continued from page 63 OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY M iriam Brysk, 87, of Ann Arbor, drew her final breath on May 28, 2022. She joins her parents, Bronka and Heniek Mason, and her beloved family lost in the Holocaust. Miriam was born March 10, 1935, in Warsaw, Poland. Her childhood was one of war-time survival in the Lida Ghetto and with the Russian Partisans in the forests of Belarus. She and her family ...…
…JUNE 9 • 2022 | 65 continued on page 66 Mila Guillaume, Avrumi, Duvi and Chaim Schilo, Gabrielle, Jonathan and Benjamin Schilo. Mrs. Hildesheim was the beloved wife of Abraham “Henk” Hildesheim. Burial took place in Putte, the Netherlands, at the cemetery of the Frechie Foundation. Contributions may be made to the Zekelman Holocaust Center in Farmington Hills or to a charity of one’s choice. GARY R. MILLER, 75, of Milford, d...…
…continued from page 65 OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY 66 | JUNE 9 • 2022 San Diego, Calif.; brother and sister-in-law, Ronald and Sandy Miller; sister and brother-in-law, Margo and Larry Jacobson; grandchil- dren, Aviva Miller, Noah Miller, Shia Miller, Levi Miller. He was the treasured son of the late Florence and the late Mike Miller. Contributions may be made to Chabad of Farmington Hills, 32000 Middlebelt Road, Farmington Hi...…
…continued on page 68 JUNE 9 • 2022 | 67 Rachel Strasberger; and the loving granddaughter of the late Shirley Strasberger, the late Morey Strasberger, and the late Edward and the late Vivian McGill. Interment was at B’nai Israel Memorial Gardens. Contributions may be made to Temple Shir Shalom, 3999 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48323, shirshalom. org. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. LAWRENCE R. TRAGER, 90, of Farm...…
…continued from page 67 OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY 68 | JUNE 9 • 2022 Skippy Gittleman; the devot- ed son of the late Louis and the late Evelyn Woolman; the loving son-in-law of the late Hymie and the late Pearl Gittleman. Interment was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Michigan Parkinson Foundation, 30400 Telegraph Road, Suite 150, Bingham Farms, MI 48025, parkin- sonsmi.org; or to any Israeli charity...…
…A viva Sandler (neé Thatch) died peacefully at home, surrounded by family, on June 1, 2022. Born during the Holocaust on March 4, 1942, to parents Benesch and Riva Tkatsch (later Thatch), Aviva spent the first two years of her life in a few cramped rooms in the Kovno Ghetto (Kaunas Lithuania) with seven addi- tional family members. When the SS would come to inspect, Riva and baby Aviva would hide in a hole dug in the dirt bene...…
…Looking Back From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History accessible at www.djnfoundation.org 70 | JUNE 9 • 2022 Remembering the Six-Day War F ifty-five years ago, there was only one big story in the JN: The Six- Day War. From June 5-10, 1967, Israel was once again engaged in a war for survival against a coalition of Arab nations. Egypt, Jordan and Syria were the main attacking forces. Israel had no choice bu...…
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…$200 Dec. 9-15, 2021 / 5-11 Tevet 5782 JEWISH NEWS THE DETROIT 100 Years 100 Years IN MOTOWN thejewishnews.com Downtown Synagogue celebrates centennial and plans to enhance its future. Page 10 …
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…DECEMBER 9 • 2021 | 3 PURELY COMMENTARY 4-9 Essays and viewpoints. OUR COMMUNITY 10 100 Years in Motown Downtown Synagogue celebrates centennial and plans to enhance its future. 16 Response to Tragedy The Jewish community lifts up the Oxford community in prayer and support. 18 Dealing with Trauma Crisis expert shares guidance on how to help kids navigate the aftermath of the Oxford shooting. 20 The Jewish Bubbie D...…
…4 | DECEMBER 9 • 2021 essay Argue, Don’t Fight T here’s an enormous difference between an argument and an attack. Calling someone a liar or a traitor is not an argument; it’s an attack. If you marshal facts and reason to make your case, that’s an argument. Have you noticed how so many arguments these days quickly unravel into nasty fights? OK, be honest: When you get an email, what kind of “information” gets your adrenaline pump...…
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…6 | DECEMBER 9 • 2021 I am a member of the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission. As you may be aware, the Commission is responsible for draw- ing the U.S. Congressional, State House and State Senate maps for the State of Michigan. The Commission has proposed several maps for comment by the public, with the intention of adopt- ing one of each type of map at the end of December (Dec. 28-Dec. 30). The Commis...…
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…8 | DECEMBER 9 • 2021 essay Peace, Innovation and the Synergy Between Them T wenty-five years ago, the Peres Center for Peace was established and since then it has complet- ed amazing work, which is unfortunately not known to the public. I would like to take this oppor- tunity to high- light the Center’s accomplish- ments, and to answer the questions of many of my friends in the field of peace activism as to why the Center do...…
…DECEMBER 9 • 2021 | 9 vation in science and technology could help subdue the underly- ing motivations for conflict itself. With approximately 60% of the Middle East’s population aged under 30, Peres believed that a vastly more innovative landscape in the region would ensure a prosperous future for all. If we can help our neighbors create an ecosystem of innova- tion similar to what we have in Israel, they will be less attracted by ...…
…V adim Avshulamov moved to Downtown Detroit after finishing grad school in 2012. One Friday night, “after a difficult day,” he happened upon the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue (IADS) on Griswold Street and walked in. Knowing not a soul, “I was asked to lead the Maariv service during Kabbalat Shabbat,” Avshulamov said. His immediate impression was that “IADS is a very inclusive community.” Avshalumov quickly plugged into synagogue lif...…
…DECEMBER 9 • 2021 | 11 TOP: A Simchat Torah celebration. BOTTOM LEFT: Children work at Eden Gardens. BOTTOM RIGHT: Members meet in fellowship and prayer. continued on page 12 People Of IADS Staff RABBI ARIANA SILVERMAN Spiritual Leader “When IADS launched a national search for a full- time rabbi in 2016, they ultimately chose the one who lives 2 miles away. I am so glad they did. I am committed to Detroit, committed to the values ...…
…continued on page 13 12 | DECEMBER 9 • 2021 Fintex Men’s Clothing store. Board member Rick Agree said his parents, George and Shirley Agree, led the group that pur- chased the four-story building. Located at 1457 Griswold Street, between Clifford Street and Grand River, IADS is mem- orable for its brightly colored window squares. Walking distance from numerous Jewish-owned clothing shops and profes- sional offices, the Downtown Syn...…
…ABOVE: The flame-thrower menorah with all lights burning brightly. FACING PAGE: IADS when it was over Kosins Clothes on Griswold, before moving across the street continued from page 12 M etro Detroiters were invited recently to #EngageforEight with the Downtown Synagogue, “and be the miracle this Chanukah,” said Jaemi Loeb, co-chair with Carrie Reinis of the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue 100 Years Committee. “On the third night...…
…14 | DECEMBER 9 • 2021 JAEMI LOEB 100 Years Committee co-chair Joined 2018 “IADS is like my Jewish home. It’s a com- munity that is supportive, engaged, root- ed in tradition but working in the now, and always reaching for the stars.” JODEE FISHMAN RAINES Former Board President, 2016-2018 Joined 2013 “I have the deepest respect for the board and volunteers who continue to pour such passion and hard work into making the synagogue the h...…
