…DECEMBER 15 • 2022 | 59 After graduating high school, Perczyk visited rela- tives in Michigan and decided to move to the Mitten State. California had grown increas- ingly expensive for young adults, and she planned to go to school in Michigan and later move back to California. However, life took a dif- ferent turn. Perczyk met her now-husband, Jeffrey, and the two became extremely active at Chabad Detroit. One day, during a Shabbat ...…
…M edicine can be life- enhancing and even lifesaving as we age. But it can also be a source of potential misuse. The Jewish Addiction Resource Alliance (JARA) recently presented a webinar “Aging, Addiction and the Brain” about medication misuse and potential addiction. Lynn Breuer, LMSW, CDP, senior director of community outreach and wellness at Jewish Family Service, explained why aging poses particular issues in relation...…
…DECEMBER 15 • 2022 | 61 are prescribed, he suggests keeping them locked up and disposing of them safely when they are no longer needed. It may be appropri- ate to keep Narcan, a nasal spray antidote to overdoses, available. (See sidebar.) He urges family mem- bers to watch older adults for signs of opioid depen- dence. “Trust your instinct. It is our duty to own it, to intervene. Ask your doctors for referrals for treatment,” Foumi...…
…62 | DECEMBER 15 • 2022 MAZEL TOV! NOV. 6, 2022 Shoshana (Barth) and Zach Sicherman of Ma’ale Adumim, Israel, joyfully announce the birth of their son, Nadav Tzvi Binyamin. Proud sisters are Yakira and Eliana. Elated grandparents are Adina and David Barth of Oak Park, and Barbara Sicherman of Philadelphia, Pa. Nadav Tzvi Binyamin is named in loving memory of his paternal grandfather, Harvey (Tzvi) Sicherman, and his maternal great-...…
…DECEMBER 15 • 2022 | 63 Good To Be ‘Green’? L ately, all we seem to be hearing is that we should “go green. ” Now, some might say that means we should root for the Spartans. Being a Wolverine, I find that unconscionable. Today, when the effects of global warming are becoming more apparent, “going green” means that we should be mindful of the environment and choose to be better stew- ards of the planet. One of my favorite mid- ras...…
…64 | DECEMBER 15 • 2022 T he deception has taken place. Joseph has been sold into slavery. His brothers dipped his coat in blood. They bring it back to their father, saying: “Look what we have found. Do you recognize it? Is this your son’s robe or not?” Jacob recognizes it and replies, “It is my son’s robe. A wild beast has devoured him. Joseph has been torn to pieces.” We then read: “Jacob rent his clothes, put on sackc...…
…DECEMBER 15 • 2022 | 65 law existed prior to the giving of the Torah. Jacob himself says to Laban, whose flocks and herds had been placed in his charge, “I did not bring you animals torn by wild beasts; I bore the loss myself” (Gen. 31:39). This implies that guardians even then were exempt from responsibility for the damage caused by wild animals. We also know that an elder brother carried a similar responsibility for the fate of...…
…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...…
…DECEMBER 15 • 2022 | 67 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...…
…68 | DECEMBER 15 • 2022 ARTS&LIFE THEATER Plan on seeing a show this holiday season. The Great White Way ALICE BURDICK SCHWEIGER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS The company of &Juliet The company of A Beautiful Noise MATTHEW MURPHY JULIETA CERVANTES …
…DECEMBER 15 • 2022 | 69 A fter the long Broadway shutdown and last-minute pro- duction closings due to COVID, New York City theaters are starting to thrive again. Long- running shows are back, and new musicals and plays are debuting. While theaters have lifted the vaccine mandate, the mask requirements vary. If you are planning a trip to NYC over the holidays, here are some new shows with a Jewish connection: BROADWAY & Juliet ...…
…70 | DECEMBER 15 • 2022 ARTS&LIFE THEATER continued from page 69 Korean culture with Korean and Korean American repre- sentation on- and off-stage, including composer Helen Park. Direction is by Teddy Bergman, choreography by Jennifer Weber and casting by Tara Rubin. Masks optional. At Circle in the Square Theatre, 235 W . 50th St. (212) 239-6200. Leopoldstadt takes its title from the Jewish quarter in Vienna. Written by ...…
…DECEMBER 15 • 2022 | 71 A major Jewish cultural event is occurring, now, on Broadway, in New York City, as Tom Stoppard’s new play, Leopoldstadt is drawing large crowds. This partly autobiographical drama (Stoppard knew little about his Jewish roots until late in life) follows the Merz family as they experience the exhilaration of their exciting, beautiful city, Vienna, in all its fin de siecle warmth. Residing in the Jewish ...…
…72 | DECEMBER 15 • 2022 scene) discuss the intervening years to much sobbing in the audience. Nathan has survived Auschwitz and Leonard (a Tom Stoppard stand-in) has wound up in England, taken on a thoroughly British identity and been spared the worst of the war. The older Nathan chastises his cousin Leo for not remembering the family. He finally triggers a memory (it was Leo who had cut his hand in the Kristallnacht scene). Bi...…
…DECEMBER 15 • 2022 | 73 M ikhl (Michael) Yashinsky, who grew up in Farmington Hills, is making return appear- ances in the second run of the Yiddish version of Fiddler on Roof, which is being shown through Jan. 1 at New World Stages in New York as directed by Tony and Oscar-winner Joel Grey. English and Russian superti- tles make the dialogue signifi- cant for those who don’t speak Yiddish. “I’m playing the same roles I had when ...…
…74 | DECEMBER 15 • 2022 THE DOWNEY FAMILY, ASNER IS STILL IN NEW STUFF, THE WHALE Sr., is a “now-streaming” original Netflix documentary about avant-garde director/ writer Robert Downey Sr. It was co-directed by Downey Sr. (1936-2021) and his son, famous actor Robert Downey Jr., 57. This isn’t a “by the numbers” biography. It is a very moving portrait of father and son as they make parallel “home movie” biographies of Robert S...…
…ON THE GO PEOPLE | PLACES | EVENTS DECEMBER 15 • 2022 | 75 FEMALE CLERGY 7 PM, DEC. 15 An in-depth discussion of female clergy by a panel of current male and female spiritual leaders. At the Windsor Jewish Community Center, 1641 Ouellette, Windsor. Info and to RSVP; Joe Schnayer, joe@ jewishwindsor.org. BIM BOM BABY 10-11 AM, DEC. 16 At Temple Shir Shalom. A Shabbat celebration for babies to 5-year-olds. Join with friends and ...…
…76 | DECEMBER 15 • 2022 psychologist and Congregation Shaarey Zedek officer, volunteers to facilitate a weekly support group on Zoom for people dealing with loss of all kinds. Free. Contact Alaine Ashkenazi at (248) 864-5395 or aashkenazi@ shaareyzedek.org for information. JEWISH IDENTITY 7-9 PM, DEC. 21 Due to an active COVID infection, we’ve rescheduled the second installment of our Well Inc. series. Join us for food and dr...…
…DECEMBER 15 • 2022 | 77 B irmingham-based architectural and interior design firm DesignTeam Plus makes it a mission to pay its employees to give back. The six-per- son team, led by co-owners Harold Remlinger (principal architect) and Shari Stein (principal interior designer), is fueled by social responsibil- ity and community activism. “It’s really at the core of who we are and what we do,” explains Stein, an Adat Shalom member a...…
…78 | DECEMBER 15 • 2022 to shower. It gave her an extra year of life.” Seeing the real-life impact that the project had, Stein, together with Remlinger, who also worked as an instructor at Lawrence Tech, formed DesignTeam Plus as a way to give back within their careers. Now, the firm operates on the same principles that the busi- ness was originally built on. “ All of our employees here have been handpicked because they all love o...…
…DECEMBER 15 • 2022 | 79 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 $85 SERVICE FEE 24/7 Emergency Service C OM M ERC IAL & RE SIDE NTIA L www.loisharondesigns.com Lois Haron Interior Designer Allied ASID (248) 851-6989 loisharondesigns@gmail.com Full Service Decorator It doe...…
…80 | DECEMBER 15 • 2022 OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY DONALD L. ALLEN, 85, of Center Line, Mich., died Dec. 5, 2022. Her is survived by his sister, Darlene Maneli; many loving nieces, nephews and friends. Mr. Allen was the loving brother of the late Phyllis Lewis; the devoted son of the late Rebecca “Betty” and the late Herbert Allen. Interment was at Machpelah Cemetery. Contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, 204...…
…DECEMBER 15 • 2022 | 81 continued on page 82 Courtney DesMarais, Tyler and Luc DesMarais; many other family members. Mrs. Frankel was the dear mother of the late Jeffrey Des Marais. Interment was held at Adat Shalom Memorial Park Cemetery in Livonia. Contributions may be made to Leader Dogs for the Blind. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel. MARK GOODMAN, 76, of Franklin, died Dec. 8, 2022. He is sur- vived by his wife of almost...…
…continued from page 81 OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY 82 | DECEMBER 15 • 2022 afmda.org; Tunnels to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10306, tunnel2towers. org; or Wounded Warriors, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675, woundedwarriorproj- ect.org. Arrangements by Kaufman Chapel. STEVEN HORENSTEIN, 76, of West Bloomfield, died Dec. 1, 2022. He is survived by his daughter, Stefani Horenstein; grandchildren, Aunic...…
…continued on page 84 DECEMBER 15 • 2022 | 83 matology at his first-choice school, the University of Pennsylvania, having rejected an offer from Harvard. In 1946, he married the love of his life, Lois Wertheimer, and began a successful derma- tology practice that spanned more than 70 years in both Michigan and S.W. Florida. He loved his calling to work in medicine and never wanted to leave it, choosing not to retire until age 94 ...…
…continued from page 83 OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY 84 | DECEMBER 15 • 2022 Beaumont Hospital. In between, she raised three college-educated children and was part of the Jewish migra- tion to Southfield, where the family lived on Plumbrooke Drive, later designated a his- toric district. Always stylish, Charlotte was also a PTA member, Cub Scout den mother, hospital volunteer, Braille transcrib- er, gourmet cook, mah jong player an...…
…DECEMBER 15 • 2022 | 85 and Rameez Roth, Tamar and Michael Alterman, Michael and Omari Johnson Roth, Sharon and Kenneth Friedman, Eric and Sandra Roth; many loving grandnieces and grandneph- ews, other family members and friends. Interment was at Oakview Cemetery in Royal Oak. Contributions may be made to Congregation B’nai Moshe or to the Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy Network. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel. ALLAN M. RUBIN, 8...…
…Looking Back From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History accessible at www.djnfoundation.org 86 | DECEMBER 15 • 2022 Gift-Giving at Chanukah A question was raised at a recent meeting of the JN editorial staff: When did Chanukah become a gift-giving holiday? No one knew the answer. We all agreed that we really like receiving gifts; there was no debate on this issue whatsoever (although there was a spirited...…
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…THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Ex-Soviet state is both Shi’a Muslim and friendly to Israel. See page 14. Azerbaijan Azerbaijan Azerbaijan A Visit to thejewishnews.com Dec. 8-14, 2022 / 14-20 Kislev 5783 …
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…DECEMBER 8 • 2022 | 3 contents PURELY COMMENTARY 4-12 Essays and viewpoints. OUR COMMUNITY 14 A Visit to Azerbaijan Ex-Soviet state is both Shi’a Muslim and friendly to Israel. 18 Ethnic Intimidation Man accused of hurling antisemitic and racist epithets at people in Temple Beth El parking lot is in police custody. 22 A Life in Service Jewish Senior Life adds Janet Antin to the marketing team. 22 Historic ...…
…4 | DECEMBER 8 • 2022 essay The Future Is Now T he year 2023 is just days away and I’m sorry, but no matter how hard I try to wrap my brain around that number, I can’t come to terms with it. Stare at it. 2023. Say it out loud. 2023. Now say it slowly … tweeeenty tweeeeeenty threeeeeeee. It’s crazy. That’s the number of a year better suited for, oh say, a futuristic work of science fiction, right? I mean, that had to be the mind...…
…DECEMBER 8 • 2022 | 5 $7 per person Register by December 14 at www.cbahm.org/event/hanukkah2022 Hanukkah Celebration December 20 @ 6:00pm Menorah lighting, Dinner, Circus performers 5075 West Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322 248-851-6880 ● www.cbahm.org Instagram and Facebook @CongregationBethAhm …
…6 | DECEMBER 8 • 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...…
…DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 32255 Northwestern Hwy. Suite 205, Farmington Hills, MI 48334 248-354-6060 thejewishnews.com Legacy of a Leader William “Bill” Davidson (1922-2009) A lifelong entrepreneur and philanthropist, Bill Davidson achieved tremendous success in international manufacturing and the sports and entertainment industries. Mr. Davidson established the William Davidson Foundation to continue his commitment to transformative ideas, ...…
…8 | DECEMBER 8 • 2022 essay Bringing Chanukah into Our Homes T he mail arrives just as my kids get home from school, and they’ve already eyed the magazine they’ve been waiting for: The Amazon Gift Guide. Each child runs to the crafts drawer to find their own color marker, armed and ready to circle every item they want for Chanukah. Within 45 min- utes, the maga- zine is returned to me, edited and primed for me to buy (at lea...…
…A special group of seven volunteer judges will be reviewing submissions and choosing the 36 winners. Honorees will receive free three-year subscriptions to the JN and be featured in a February 2023 issue. GO ONLINE TO THEJEWISHNEWS.COM AND NOMINATE THEM BY DECEMBER 12, 2022 JEWISH NEWS THE DETROIT Do you know someone who gives of themselves to the community in robust — and often thankless — ways? Someone you admire and aspire to...…
…10 | DECEMBER 8 • 2022 essay Feelings and Thoughts on a Day of Terror T his wasn’t a day we ever dreamed of … even in our worst nightmares. On the morning of Nov. 23, our 18-year-old daughter Naomi walked to her regular Jerusalem bus stop to commute to her national service job in Beit Shemesh. As she approached the stop, a Palestinian terrorist detonated a bomb packed with nails and other shrapnel. One of the pieces flew...…
…DECEMBER 8 • 2022 | 11 Supported through the generosity of The Jewish Fund and the D. Dan and Betty Kahn Family Foundation. Facing financial dif iculty? ☐ 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. The event is free and space is limited. Please register early. Ody Norkin, VP at Michigan Flyer LLC; Ethan ...…
…12 | DECEMBER 8 • 2022 at a celebratory dinner. I’m grateful I’m celebrating instead of mourning. My family was astounded by the kindness of the Jewish people. The nurses, doctors, family, friends and strangers all called, reached out and supported us during this horrible time. Many people see headlines about terror attacks in Israel and assume Israel isn’t a safe place. Israel is a safe country. Yes, the headlines are scary, b...…
…DECEMBER 8 • 2022 | 13 Lifetime dental group is a locally owned dental practice providing complete dental care for the entire family. Our experienced dentists utilize the most advanced technology to provide elite dental care. For over 25 years we have been entrusted by thousands of patients and we are honored to now serve the city of West Bloomfield! (248) 855-8000 4320 Orchard Lake Rd West Bloomfield Township, MI 48323 www.lifeti...…
…14 | DECEMBER 8 • 2022 OUR COMMUNITY ON THE COVER A Visit to Azerbaijan Ex-Soviet state is both Shi’a Muslim and friendly to Israel. Grave of National Hero of Azerbaijan, Albert Agarunov, Martyr’s Lane in Baku Red Village, Quba District Six Dome Synagogue, Red Village PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAN BROTMAN …
…DECEMBER 8 • 2022 | 15 continued on page 16 T his past month, I had the privilege of joining a delegation of Canadian journalists on a trip to Azerbaijan, a 95% Muslim (mostly Shi’a), former Soviet Republic that gained independence in 1991. Like Israel, it is located in a volatile region, sandwiched between Christian Armenia and Russia, and Muslim Turkey and Iran. By 1901, Azerbaijan was producing half of the world’s oil and th...…
…16 | DECEMBER 8 • 2022 and teach Hebrew, Jewish studies and Jewish history as part of the national curriculum. The principal of one school told us that 30% of his pupils are dual Israeli citizens, the children of Azerbaijanis who made aliyah to Israel and moved back. In contrast to many other parts of the former Soviet Union, one leader of the Ashkenazi community recalled, “I did not have to hide my [Jewish] nationality, but was al...…
…DECEMBER 8 • 2022 | 17 is the only mono-ethnic Jewish settlement outside Israel and was established in 1730 when a local ruler established a village under his protection, where Jews fleeing persecution in Dagestan and Persia found sanctuary. By the late-1800s, Red Village was home to 8,000 of the region’s 31,000 Mountain Jews. When Azerbaijan became part of the Soviet Union, 12 of Red Village’s 13 working synagogues closed and wer...…
…18 | DECEMBER 8 • 2022 A man who drove into the Temple Beth El Parking lot in Bloomfield Township during preschool drop off time on the morning of Friday, Dec. 2, allegedly spewing anti-Israel rhetoric and anti- Jewish and racist language toward parents, caregivers and preschoolers as well as African American security guards is now in the custody of the Oakland County Jail pending arraignment. In a statement released Dec. 4,...…
…DECEMBER 8 • 2022 | 19 deal of criticism that had percolated in the community on social media after watching Chokr’s Instagram recording of the seemingly casual nature of the behavior of the officers at the traffic stop, including officers letting him not show his identification, commenting on his landscape business bumper sticker, and one officer responding to Chokr’s wanting to give the officer a fist bump, and releasing him ...…
…20 | DECEMBER 8 • 2022 OUR COMMUNITY no concealed permit license and Chokr, for undisclosed reasons, cannot obtain a firearm for purchase. In a blatant move to show how “his rights were taken away,” Chokr, in an Instagram post he filmed later that day, seemed to be leaving a gun shop in Dearborn, saying that he had been declined from purchasing a gun. The officer added that another image from Chokr’s Instagram account of a gu...…
