… MARCH 26 • 2020 | 53 Soul of blessed memory Catering Icon with a 70-Year Career ESTHER ALLWEISS INGBER CONTRIBUTING WRITER S hirlee Bloom was an “icon” in the Jewish community as the owner of Bloom’ s, a pioneering kosher catering firm started by her parents in Detroit. Shirlee herself had a legendary 70-year career. Shirlee Bloom Feroni, 85, of Oak Park, died on March 14, 2020. Born in Detroit on April 29, 1934, she graduated f...…
…54 | MARCH 26 • 2020 Local restaurateur brings his magic touch to this destination location. the best of everything Raskin The Root of a Good Meal F rom the time that it orig- inally opened about eight years ago with its fine operating partner, Executive Chef James Rigato, The Root Restaurant on Town Center Boulevard, between M-59 and Elizabeth Lake, White Lake, has changed from a trendy hot-spot to a destination location fo...…
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… MARCH 19 • 2020 | 3 contents Views 5-8 Jews in the D Coffee Talk 10 Two rabbis share diverse opinions in JLearn course. School’ s Out 12 Hillel Day School teacher tests positive for coronavirus; Whitmer shuts down all schools in Michigan. Congregations Shutter Doors in Response to Coronavirus 14 Local temples and synagogues make major changes to reduce COVID-19 spread. Funeral Directors Urge Loved Ones to Limit Services to Imme...…
…4 | MARCH 19 • 2020 INTEREST-FREE LOANS FOR MICHIGAN JEWISH RESIDENTS APPLICATIONS OPEN APRIL 1 TO MA Y 15 COMPLETE AND SUBMIT ONLINE: jewishcollegeloansmi.org ADMINISTERED BY WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHAT IS THE WILLIAM DAVIDSON JEWISH COLLEGE LOAN PROGRAM? • A Need-based, interest-free loan program for Jewish Michigan residents who are U.S. Citizens. • Qualifying students must be enrolled in full-time accredited colleges or universiti...…
… MARCH 19 • 2020 | 5 Views jewfro Passed Over Foods No Mo’ Y ou can’ t blame people when ancient Jewish tra- ditions happen to meet a particular need in their very contemporary lives. Shabbat for digital detox. Threadbare kabbalah for celebrity rebrand- ing. Kippot for male-pattern baldness. At least I hope you can’ t blame them for cherry-picking, because I’ m about to. For obser- vant Jewish households, the weeks leading up t...…
…6 | MARCH 19 • 2020 editor’ s note Our Pledge to You During COVID-19 Views Response to AIPAC Editorial I found the editorial “Does Pluralism Have A Future At AIPAC?” (March 12, page 36) disturbing. I am going to rephrase the question. I think the real question is whether anti-Semitism and racism should be welcome at AIPAC conferences? And the answer is no. The author speaks of Bernie Sanders as if he was the victim. He wasn’...…
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…Views guest column It’s Time to Be Counted A s publishers representing New Michigan Media (NMM) and engaging with more than 100 ethnic and minority media outlets across our state, there is one thing we agree upon — responding to the 2020 U.S. Census benefits all Michiganders. Whether a Native American news- paper in the Upper Peninsula, a Latino radio station in Grand Rapids, an African American publication in Lansing, a Bangladeshi...…
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…10 | MARCH 19 • 2020 T ake two well-known local rabbis. Add a group of adults from all walks of life. Sprinkle with thought-provoking topics. Stir in lots of lively discussion. Serve with coffee. That’ s the recipe for the Jewish Community Center’ s (JCC) breakout JLearn class, better known as “The Perfect Blend: Coffee With The Rabbis,” a class begun last year that was so popular and filled up so quickly, it’ s been expanded ...…
… MARCH 19 • 2020 | 11 010_DJN031920_JD Coffee with rabbis Feb 27.indd 11 010_DJN031920_JD Coffee with rabbis Feb 27.indd 11 3/16/20 1:23 PM 3/16/20 1:23 PM …
…H illel Day School sent out a memo to the Hillel community on Friday, March 13, informing everyone that one of their teachers in the 1-2 Learning Community had tested presumptive positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19). “He is a beloved and valued member of our school commu- nity, a teacher whose dynamic classroom is always filled with positive energy,” read Hillel’ s statement. “We wish him and all those affected a speedy recove...…
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…A Tough Decision Local temples and synagogues make major changes to reduce coronavirus spread. SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER Jews in the D D etroit-area temples and synagogues, which had already instituted enhanced sanitation and other practices to offset transmission of the coronavirus, quickly ratcheted up their response on Thursday and Friday, March 12-13. This followed Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’ s announcement that...…
…Deserves Good In Michigan EVERY PERSON Access To HEALTHCARE To fund life-saving programs like MIChild, urgent care, Medicaid and Medicare YOU and YOUR FAMILY must be counted in the 2020 CENSUS this spring. The 2020 CENSUS Is quick and EASY to fi ll out. Use it to count EVERYONE in your home. And by law, it is 100% CONFIDENTIAL For more information go to www.mivoicecounts.org 000_DJN031920_JD Synagogue Closings March 19.indd 15...…
…16 | MARCH 19 • 2020 T he coronavirus has upset Jewish life cycle plans since it arrived in Michigan March 11. Bar and bat mitzvahs as well as weddings — and accompa- nying parties — have been postponed. But, in Judaism, funerals are not delayed. A loved one should be buried as soon as possible. Keeping to that tradition but operating as safely as possible in these days of the coronavirus, all three local Jewish funeral homes ...…
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…Stay Put Coronavirus: “No reason to go to an emergency room,” ER doctor advises. CORRIE COLF STAFF WRITER W ith the first con- firmed cases of the coronavi- rus (COVID-19) hitting Michigan on March 11, many local hospital emergency rooms have seen a flood of people coming in asking to be tested for the disease. But unless you have sig- nificant shortness of breath, coming to the ER is doing more harm than good, according to Dr. ...…
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…20 | MARCH 19 • 2020 STAY PUT continued from page 18 illness, and there is no specific treatment for it,” Vieder said. “The only people we want to see in the ER or in the urgent care setting are those who are having trouble breathing because that is someone who should be seen, regardless if it is coronavirus or not. “Unfortunately, those people who have higher risks, like the elderly and [those with] other underlying health probl...…
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…W hen it’ s finally built in the coming years, many who drive by the Lasher Road Mikvah in Southfield will, in all probabil- ity, have no idea what it is or why it’ s there. But for members of the nearby Modern Orthodox community — already enticing newcomers with kosher food options, vibrant synagogue life and Jewish day schools — the presence of a mikvah (ritual bath) will fill in “the critical miss- ing piece” for those consi...…
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…continued from page 22 24 | MARCH 19 • 2020 don’ t have a mikvah, they don’ t want to move here. ” At that time, Levi and her husband, Dr. Noah Levi, were approached by Yechiel Morris, their rabbi from YIS, about helping to plan for a new mikvah. They assembled a board of volunteers, met with members of the City of Southfield Planning Commission and engineering department, obtained a variance to rezone the area chosen for the mikva...…
… MARCH 19 • 2020 | 25 A family tradition that started more than 60 years ago has come full circle for the Shemtov family. Bassie and Rabbi Levi Shemtov are the founders and co-directors of Friendship Circle in West Bloomfield. The non- profit organization they started in 1994 provides assistance and life-changing support to 3,000 individuals with special needs and their families through rec- reational, social, educational and v...…
…The culmination of a 5-year-old promise. W hen Brian Jacobs’ brother announced he was engaged, there was no question he and his fam- ily would make the drive from their home in Southfield to the wedding in Cleveland, where the bride and groom live. It was also “ a given” that a 5-foot-plus llama would be there, too. “When my brother told me there was going to be a llama at his wedding, I wasn’ t sure it would really happen and ...…
… MARCH 19 • 2020 | 27 The cast of Temple Israel’ s 2020 shpiel, “A Very Frozen Purim” | faces&places Jews in the D A pie in the face at Shir Shalom’ s Purim celebration: Brad Rosenberg of West Bloomfield helps “pie” Rabbi Daniel Schwartz, Rabbi Michael Moskowitz. Looking on are Arthur Ruimy and Ian Rosenberg, both 16 and of West Bloomfield. Community Purim Celebrations LEFT: Shir Shalom congregants get into Purim. FAR LEFT: Tali Rube...…
…Congregation Beth Shalom in Oak Park held its annual Cafe Shalom on Saturday, Jan. 25, featuring a Roaring ’ 20s theme, with the 17-piece Ambassadors Big Band perform- ing. Attendees enjoyed dancing, refreshments and being dressed in vintage 1920s fashions. PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARK ZACKS 28 | MARCH 19 • 2020 Aaron and Joelle Averbuch of Huntington Woods and Beth and David Rodgers of Oak Park Bryan and Teresa Beckerman of Huntington Wood...…
… MARCH 19 • 2020 | 29 10th Annual Chicken Soup Cook-Off Jan. 26, Temple Shir Shalom, West Bloomfi eld PHOTOS COURTESY TEMPLE SHIR SHALOM 1. Ben Wine enjoys his chicken noodle soup sample. He was among about 500 people attending the annual chicken soup contest. 2. Winners of the Best Amateur Creative/Contemporary Soup were Gabriel Reamer and Michael Reamer, flanked by co-chairs Jan Pederson and Amy Liefer. 3. Event mascot Ian Rosenber...…
…sports HIGHlights J osh Birnberg is back home. And it didn’ t take a long time. Just six years after ending a memorable playing career with the West Bloomfield High School baseball team, Birnberg is the Lakers’ new coach. At age 24, he’ s one of the youngest high school coaches in any sport in the state. West Bloomfield Athletic Director Eric Pierce, who was Birnberg’ s coach during the four years Birnberg was the starting shorts...…
… MARCH 19 • 2020 | 31 for being a high school baseball coach. “There are high expectations for Hit Dogs teams,” he said. “The Hit Dogs aren’ t just any summer travel program. They’ re one of the best travel programs in the country.” Birnberg is well aware of the advantages and possible pitfalls of being a young coach at the high school level. “I can relate to the guys because I’ m not far removed from being a high school student...…
…32 | MARCH 19 • 2020 Birnberg went to Eastern Michigan University to play baseball. But he didn’ t spend much time in Ypsilanti, leaving after a freshman red-shirt season and transferring to Oakland University, where he didn’ t play baseball and earned a degree in communications in 2018. “I must admit, it took me a while to get over not playing baseball anymore,” Birnberg said. “I started playing high- level baseball when I was 9....…
… MARCH 19 • 2020 | 33 Call or Order online for all 3 events! Passover Carryout Order by March 31 7th Annual Rustic Italian Buffet is April 13th RSVP by 12th KFC Pickup is April 14th Order by April 12th Save the dates for these tasty Chef Cari events! 248-770-6521 www.ChefCari.com FEEL THE DIFFERENCE—IN JUST 30 MINUTES. At REACH were committed to providing therapeutic sup...…
…34 | MARCH 19 • 2020 Coronavirus in Israel: My story of being evacuated in 8 hours. B ack in the good old days of early March, when Israel only had 15 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, Israelis were much more cautious about the outbreak than anyone else. Ben- Gurion Airport was already empty, the train to Haifa even emptier, and even the brave who headed outside made sure to cover their faces. I, however, was adventur- ...…
… MARCH 19 • 2020 | 35 then the plot thickened. “Dear customer, your flight from Tel Aviv to Frankfurt/ Main on Sunday is canceled,” the email from Lufthansa read laconically. “Please accept our apologies. We are looking for alternatives and will be in touch shortly with a solution.” Needless to say, they weren’ t. So, there I was, stuck near Gaza, with no car, no spare clothes, no place to stay, no flight home and under strict ord...…
…36 | MARCH 19 • 2020 Spirit torah portion T he Sanctuary and all of its furnishings are described in exquisite detail in this week’ s Torah portion with one exception: the ki’ ur, the large wash basin in which the priests sanctified themselves by wash- ing their hands and feet prior to each Divine service. Virtually all the other items in the Sanctuary are given exact measurements, but here the Torah speaks only in gen- eral term...…
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…38 | MARCH 19 • 2020 Growing Up Indebted co-star Jessy Hodges, a Huntington Woods native, comes by her talent naturally. SAM BLAKE CONTRIBUTING WRITER J essy Hodges has come a long way from “the per- formance couch” — the Victorian-style four-seat- er that sat in the living room of her Huntington Woods childhood home and served as seating for a makeshift stage. Hodges, 33, now lives with her husband in Los Angeles and co-stars ...…
… MARCH 19 • 2020 | 39 Detroit, Hodges absorbed the community’ s love of singing. This, alongside her family’ s predilections, led to her associating Judaism primarily with art and education — and to her identification with those pieces. “I feel very Jewish culturally, and that means a lot to me, ” Hodges said. JEWISH-INSPIRED HUMOR Hodges also inherited a Jewish sense of humor. “My mom’ s sense of humor came from Mel Brooks, Jackie ...…
…40 | MARCH 19 • 2020 Okemos couple visits every state park in the Mitten. JUDY GREENWALD CONTRIBUTING WRITER A ri and Jessi Adler know the meaning of hitting the road — for pleasure and purpose. To acknowledge the centennial of Michigan’ s parks in 2019, the Okemos couple traveled some 8,000 miles, visit- ing each of our state’ s 103 parks to learn about their unique beauty and history. The two started a website (trekers. org) and w...…
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…42 | MARCH 12 • 2020 continued from page 40 Jessi. “You have to own your own boat or make private charter arrangements. Once you get there it’ s very pristine and peaceful and well worth the effort.” The trip held many more highlights as well. “I’ m a history geek,” Jessi said, “and was excited when I found some cool piece of Michigan history.” For example, you can see petroglyphs at Sanilac Petroglyphs State Park. Visit Meridia...…
… MARCH 19 • 2020 | 43 tv The Plot Against America Sets in Motion T he first images we see in The Plot Against America (Mondays, 9 p.m., HBO) are from newsreel footage of Hitler sympathizers. They fill up stadiums, heil the Nazi flag and chase Jews down streets. Only some of this archival material comes from Germany. The rest of these smiling anti-Semites are all-American. Created by The Wire’ s David Simon and based on the 2004...…
…44 | MARCH 19 • 2020 DADS’ CLUB Council of Dads is an NBC drama that starts March 24 at 10 p.m. The lead character, Scott Perry, is the loving father of four. A serious health scare moves him to recruit three of his closest male friends to step in as “back-up dads” for every stage of his family’ s life. These men agree to devote themselves to supporting and guid- ing Scott’ s family through thick and thin — just in case he ever c...…
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