…6 | MAY 18 • 2023 1942 - 2023 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: Detroi...…
…60 | MAY 18 • 2023 cap&gown 2023 continued from page 56 JACOB SETH MILLS West Bloomfield High School Summa cum laude, Varsity Cross Country, Varsity Bowling Captain, Varsity Baseball, National Honor Society, Temple Israel Madrich, Youth Federation of Temple Israel, Evan Shapiro AZA, Sports Specialist at URJ Camp George, Eagle Scout including Aleph and Ner Tamid Religious Emblems. University of Michigan EDEN MINTZ Wes...…
…5725 WALNUT LAKE ROAD, WEST BLOOMFIELD MI 48323 | WWW.TEMPLE-ISRAEL.ORG Allison Paige Abrams Maxwell Chase Barish Aidan Lane Fishkind Ryley Fayth Harker Melanie Joelle Hirsch Isabel Naomi Johnson Alexa Ronnie Kessler Garrett Luke Kirschner Cameron Riley Klein Ian Jacob Kraft Darin Blake Lavine Jenner Hamilton Leib Jack Hayden Marsh Max Avery Melamed Elliana Sibelle Michaels Jacob Seth Mills Yael Mizrahi Jolie...…
…62 | MAY 18 • 2023 cap&gown 2023 continued from page 60 REESE CAMRYN POGER Berkley High School National Honor Society, Senior Citizen Committee Leader, French National Honor Society, Fashion Club founding member, Teen Mission 2022. Michigan State University MORGAN REIFLER Frankel Jewish Academy MVP Varsity Basketball and Varsity Golf, Friendship Circle volunteer, Forgotten Harvest volunteer. Miami of Ohio JOS...…
…• The William Davidson Jewish College Loan Program is a need-based, interest-free loan program for Jewish Michigan residents. • Qualifying students must be enrolled in full-time accredited colleges or universities in Michigan. • Free Application for Student Financial Aid at www.fafsa.ed.gov to be completed for eligibility. • Financial need determination includes demonstrating active pursuit of all available funding resources. • Post...…
…64 | MAY 18 • 2023 NOAH RUBIN Berkley High School University of Michigan TALIA RUBIN Groves High School Founder/ leader of Be Up Be Down mental well- ness club, Groves Performing Arts Center, National Honor Society, Big Brother Big Sister, UMatter, Camp Tamakwa Counselor. University of Wisconsin- Madison SOPHIE RUIZ Seaholm High School Acted in musical theater, Academic honors. Michigan State University ...…
…66 | MAY 18 • 2023 ANDREW SHERMAN Bloomfield Hills High School Oakland University Distinguished Scholar Award, E-sports Team Leadership, E-sports Mario Kart and Splatoon tournament finalist, Temple Beth El Madrich, Temple Beth El Song Leader, Accomplished in guitar, saxo- phone, piano and violin, Marching Band Tenor Saxophone, Day camp coun- selor Counselor-In-Training award. Oakland University MIYA SLAIM Radnor High ...…
…MAY 18 • 2023 | 67 continued on page 68 Study issues that matter in today’s world Pursue careers in social services, law, education, business, and medicine Build personal connections with faculty and students through small classes and lively discussion at the forefront of Jewish Studies. The Frankel Center for Judaic Studies Congratulates the Class of 2023! The Judaic Studies Program offers courses and degrees that help engage yo...…
…68 | MAY 18 • 2023 cap&gown 2023 continued from page 66 EMILY TRACHT Frankel Jewish Academy Ice Hockey, Art, Turtle Creek Farm Camp vol- unteer. Adrian College NOAH TRACHT Frankel Jewish Academy Ice Hockey and Music. Gap Year in Israel GRACE VAINIK Groves High School National Honor Society, World Junior Ice Dance com- petitor, International Junior Grand Prix Ice Dance com- petitor, 2023 World Ice Dance Team,...…
…MAY 18 • 2023 | 69 Maxwell Hortick We are so proud of you and all of your accomplishments! Thank you for lighting up our lives everyday!! We can’t wait to see what your future brings! We love you to the moon and back! Love, Mom, Brad, Talia, Emmy, Alli, Robbie, Bubbie and Z Mazel Tov! Mazel Tov! Emma Morganroth We could not be more proud of your graduation with the highest distinction from Michigan and your induction into ...…
…DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 32255 Northwestern Hwy. Suite 205, Farmington Hills, MI 48334 248-354-6060 thejewishnews.com …
…70 | MAY 18 • 2023 cap&gown 2023 continued from page 68 DREW WEITZMAN Groves High School Varsity Tennis Captain, State Team Champion, National Honor Society Executive Board, Orchards Youth Board, Distributive Education Clubs of America regional winner, Youth Action Board, Groves Big Brother Big Sister. University of Michigan KATELYN WINKELMAN Frankel Jewish Academy Varsity Bowling, Varsity Tennis, Quizbowl, Fou...…
…MAY 18 • 2023 | 71 Jolie Rosenzweig We are so proud of you and can’t wait to see what’s next! You are sweet, dedicated, loyal, and beautiful... a true gift. Your work ethic and accomplishments are exceptional. The best is yet to come! GO BLUE!! Love you more. Love, Mom, Dad, Chase & Tito Mazel Tov! Max Hortick We are so proud of you and all you have accomplished. Reach for the stars. We love you, Grandma and Papa Nana a...…
…72 | MAY 18 • 2023 cap&gown 2023 continued from page 70 AARON ZEKMAN Bloomfield Hills High School National Honor Society, Oakland Activities Association Scholar-Athlete 2022/2023, Oakland Activities Association All-League Wide Receiver, Varsity Football, Varsity Baseball. Kalamazoo College GABE ZELDES Detroit Country Day School Summa cum laude, Varsity Baseball, Varsity Football, Detroit News All-Stat...…
…FRANKEL JEWISH ACADEMY 6600 West Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322 | 248-592-5263 | frankelja.org F U T U R E P L A N S F U T U R E P L A N S Adrian College Bowling Green State University Columbia College Chicago Indiana University Miami University of Ohio Michigan State University Northwestern University Savannah College of Art & Design University of Michigan Wayne State University OWN YOUR JOURNEY. DISCOVER YOUR TOMORROW. F R A N K ...…
…74 | MAY 18 • 2023 P rofessor David Dulio, director of Oakland University’s Center for Civic Engagement, has been hosting “office hours”— timely conversations in front of the relaxing lower-level fireplace in the Oakland Center about dif- ferent topics that are of public concern with experts. In March, Dulio sat down with Dr. Derek Hastings, an associate professor in OU’s department of history, and Dr. Ora Hirsch Pescovitz, pre...…
…MAY 18 • 2023 | 75 EVERYTHING MUST BE SOLD! GOING OUT OF BUSINESS! STORE HOURS: Mon–Fri: 10AM to 5:30PM, Sat: 10AM to 6PM, Sunday: 12PM to 5PM 120 W MAPLE RD, BIRMINGHAM, MI 48009 • 248.644.1651 % Off* Original Ticketed Prices NOW SAVE up to and MORE! FINAL REDUCTIONS! * Some exclusions may apply. Now Open 7 DAYS a WEEK! – Retirement – Congratulations Berkley High School Class of 2023 Good luck in your future ende...…
…76 | MAY 18 • 2023 for college students by college students D uring the 2022-23 academic year, MSU Hillel planned three Shabbat celebrations on campus through its Spartan Shabbat Series. This was the second year of the annual series, with featured locations including the Breslin Center in December, Spartan Stadium in February and Munn Ice Arena in April. Students had opportunities to tour the facilities at dinner, with each S...…
…unique Shabbat experience. The Spartan Stadium Shabbat dinner came during a challenging time for the community, as it had been previously planned to be held less than two weeks following the tragic on-campus shooting. MSU Hillel quickly pivoted, focusing on providing a safe space for the community to come together, honor those we lost, pray for those still healing and uplift one another. With students, administrators, faculty and ...…
…78 | MAY 18 • 2023 for college students by college students A s I look back on my freshman year at Michigan State University, I am thankful for the lessons I learned and the incredible experiences I had with friends at MSU Hillel. I want to share some advice I have for any incoming freshmen. The first and most important piece of advice: Say yes. Saying yes may be difficult in a new environment, but it is the best way to gain ...…
…CLASS OF 2022 JENAE LODEWYK CLASS OF 2022 NALANI RENTA-VILLANUEVA CLASS OF 2019 GUS NAVARRO CLASS OF 2021 SIMON MOURANI CLASS OF 2016 RAJ CHHAYA CLASS OF 2022 KIANNA MATEEN CLASS OF 2011 TERONTO ROBINSON, M.D. CLASS OF 2015 CHRISTINA GUSTIN W A R R I O R S T R O N G Wayne State University graduates start making an impact the moment they earn their diplomas. That’s because a Wayne State education combines academic excellence with the...…
…8 | MAY 18 • 2023 PURELY COMMENTARY A ROLE MODEL Kushner went on with his edi- torial endeavors, serving with author Rabbi Chaim Potok as in writing the English commentary for Etz Chaim, the official Torah commentary of the Conservative Movement that was published in 2001. In his comments on the text of Achrei Mot, which was read on Shabbat the week of his own death, Kushner wrote … “ After the death of the two sons of Aaron, we ...…
…80 | MAY 18 • 2023 O n Thursday, April 20, Hillel of Metro Detroit (HMD) hosted a virtual antisemitism training in partnership with the ADL and University of Michigan - Dearborn’s student affairs staff. HMD’s Executive Director Miriam Starkman and Associate Director Brittany Begun attended, as well as Amy Finley, UM-Dearborn’s dean of students, and Shareia Carter, director at the Center for Social Justice and Inclusion. Th...…
…MAY 18 • 2023 | 81 NEXTDOR A new platform created by two Michigan students helps incoming college students connect. MeetYourClass hopes to address the difficulties of transitioning into college, such as meeting new friends, finding a community and discovering like-minded individuals. With more than 150,000 users registered since its launch last September by University of Michigan students Jonah Liss and Blake Mischley, both 19...…
…82 | MAY 18 • 2023 of the platform. “Once you add the five to 10 characteristics that you actually care about in a person, that’ll narrow it down to five or so people. ” However, Liss and Mischley envision MeetYourClass going beyond simply being a resource for students. They plan to partner with universities to transform the platform into a B2B (business-to-business) model. Now, they are running a pilot program with Midland Univ...…
…MAY 18 • 2023 | 83 N oah Adamczyk is taking his basketball talents to Mt. Pleasant. The high-scoring 6-foot-1 Bloomfield Hills High School senior guard committed earlier this month to Central Michigan University, where he’ll join a Chippewas team looking to rebound from a 10-21 season. Adamczyk said his official visit to Central Michigan sealed the deal. The Chippewas beat out a few other Division I and Division II schools for hi...…
…84 | MAY 18 • 2023 Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia’s entanglement in the stands with Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic during an NBA playoff game May 7 resulted in Jokic being assessed a technical foul and being fined $25,000 the next day by the NBA for “improp- er contact with a spectator sitting courtside.” The 6-foot-11, 284-pound Jokic could have been suspend- ed for elbowing Ishbia, a 5-10, 175-pound former Michigan State Univer...…
…MAY 18 • 2023 | 85 faces&places I n welcoming congregants and the broader community to celebrate Lag b’Omer with the Woodward Avenue Shul, Rabbi Mendel Polter said, “We are proud of who we are and what we do, and we have nothing to be ashamed or scared of.” He went on to quote Psalms (118:6), “The Lord is with me, I do not fear! What can man do to me?” On Lag b’Omer, Mary Kay Davis Park in Huntington Woods was full of joy and celebrat...…
…86 | MAY 18 • 2023 Peterson-Baratz S arit and Dr. Robert Nakisher of West Bloomfield, Elina and Roni Baratz of West Bloomfield, and Laura and Mike Peterson of Traverse City are overjoyed to announce the engagement of their children Dr. Danielle Baratz and Bryce Peterson. Honored grandparents are Hazel and Lionel Nakisher of West Bloomfield; Ruth Dvash of Ra’anana, Israel; Avi Dvash of Jerusalem, Israel; and Sara Baratz of Jerus...…
…MAY 18 • 2023 | 87 SPIRIT The Key to Continuity T he smiting of the Egyptian firstborn that began on the eve of the Exodus comes full circle this week. This portion recounts how God removed the Israelite first- born from the honored position as His chosen servants, replacing them with the tribe of Levi. Until then, the Israelite firstborn had been God’s own pos- session, favored and beloved. Now, they are stripped of their stat...…
…P arshat Bamidbar takes up the story as we left it toward the end of the book of Shemot. The people had journeyed from Egypt to Mount Sinai. There they received the Torah. There they made the Golden Calf. There they were forgiven after Moses’ passion- ate plea, and there they made the Mishkan, the Tabernacle, inaugurated on the first of Nissan, almost a year after the Exodus. Now, one month later, on the first day of the se...…
…MAY 18 • 2023 | 89 seeking a role model who will show the world what it is to live in faithful response to the word of God. He finds it in Abraham and Sarah. Act 2 is told in Genesis 12-50. The new order is based on family and fidelity, love and trust. But this, too, begins to unravel. There is tension between Esau and Jacob, between Jacob’s wives Leah and Rachel, and between their children. Ten of Jacob’s children sell the 11th,...…
…The Teen Board is a project of The Jewish Fund. The Jewish Fund was established in 1997 from the sale proceeds of Sinai Hospital to the Detroit Medical Center. Sinai Hospital was a Jewish community funded facility that grew into one of metropolitan Detroit’s top health care institutions. As a legacy of Sinai Hospital, The Jewish Fund continues the tradition of assuring quality and compassionate care for those in need in Metropolitan Detro...…
…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...…
…MAY 18 • 2023 | 91 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...…
…92 | MAY 18 • 2023 I t’s been 25 years since photojournalist Linda Solomon experienced concert preparation with Aretha Franklin as the noted singer rehearsed for a one-time performance with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Now Solomon shares those experiences by exhibiting some 50 images in the atrium and display area of the concert hall as the symphony dedicates a program — “Respect: A Tribute to Aretha Franklin” — with presentati...…
…MAY 18 • 2023 | 93 continued on page XX “She knew I respected her family as much as I respected her, ” Solomon explained. “She enjoyed opening up the paper and seeing a photo of her sister, niece or brother, and I was never intrusive. ” Because people did not have cell phones in the early years of Franklin’s success, Solomon was able to have some very singular pictures and presented them in a 2019 book, The Queen Next Door: Aretha...…
…94 | MAY 18 • 2023 O n opening day of her painting exhibit at the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, Terry Matlen was thrilled that about a third of her 21 paintings sold and will be distributed when the exhibit ends on June 1. In the meantime, she hopes there will be more interested buyers because she established the autobiographical exhibit to relate to viewers and help them recognize their own ways of life and how they reached...…
…MAY 18 • 2023 | 95 THEATER Divorced, Beheaded, Died: History is about to get overthrown. I f you’re expecting to actually see Henry VIII in the 23-time award-winning musical romp known as SIX, think again. “We don’t need Henry in this show,” SIX cast member Taylor Pearlstein boldly exclaims about the “Historemix” of Henry VIII’s six ex-wives. The global Queendom comes to Detroit’s Fisher Theatre May 23-June 11. Penned by Toby Marlo...…
…96 | MAY 18 • 2023 learning how to see and how artists would see,” Matlen said. “The next assignment was to paint what we saw. I started taking more and more classes from her, and she believed in me and encouraged me to continue.” Matlen thought she would become an art teacher and studied for that at Wayne State University. At one point, she realized artistic teaching would not be for her and moved on to working in her stepfather’s jew...…
…MAY 18 • 2023 | 97 THE FOCUS THIS WEEK IS THREE TALENTED JEWISH WOMEN The week of May 18-24 is a rare week: It doesn’t have a movie or series premiere with a strong Jewish connection. This gives me the chance to focus on three women who, coincidentally, have similar Jewish family backgrounds. All three have recent projects that I haven’t mentioned before. If you use Roku to stream channels, as I do, you know that Roku is offer...…
…98 | MAY 18 • 2023 JFS SPOTLIGHT 7 PM, MAY 18 Fr. Patrick Desbois, a Roman Catholic priest, Holocaust researcher and human rights activist, will share his story at Jewish Family Service’s Spotlight Event at Temple Israel. Dollars raised enable Jewish Family Service to address the greatest needs of the community and continue serving the most vulnerable. Ticket info: 248- 592-2339 or givingjfsdetroit. org. BIM BOM BABY 10-11 AM,...…
…Subsidized tickets are available for $20 per person and include art materials, instruction from the artists and snacks. Register: jlive. app/events/4596. We never want cost to be a barrier to participation; reach out to Erica (erica@ meetyouatthewell.org) for financial assistance. SUMMER KICKOFF 2-3:30 PM, MAY 21 At Drake Sports Park in West Bloomfield. Organized by Camp Young Judaea Midwest. Open to the Jewish community in Det...…
…The JN celebrates Israel@75. See page 12 The JN celebrates JN celebrates JN Years of a Jewish Homeland Years a Jewish a Jewish Homeland Years $200 May 11-18, 2023 / 20-26 Iyar 5783 $200 May 11-18, 2023 / 20-26 Iyar 5783 JEWISH NEWS JEWISH NEWS THE DETROIT May 11-18, 2023 / 20-26 Iyar 5783 thejewishnews.com Years of Years Years …
…10 | MAY 11 • 2023 essay Israel At 75: A Richer, Stronger Nation T oday’s Israel is much different from the Israel of my youth. It is richer, stronger and much more diverse. I grew up in a seemingly egalitarian Israel, where our economy rested on socialist principles. The kibbutz (collective farm community) was the symbol of our society’s success well into 1970s and beyond, and it produced most of our military and political ...…
…MAY 11 • 2023 | 11 tion. This stunning event fol- lows repeated public criticism of the Saudis by President Biden over the Khashoggi killing. Riyadh reacted to Biden’s hostility and softening of American sup- port. The growing influence of China and Russia in the Middle East does not bode well for Israel or the USA. Furthermore, Israel, unlike any other country, faces the exis- tential threat of annihilation. A soon-to-be nuc...…
…12 | MAY 11 • 2023 75 Years of a Jewish OUR COMMUNITY ON THE COVER …
…MAY 11 • 2023 | 13 T his year, Israel celebrates 75 years of independence as a Jewish state. Commemorations were held by Israelis, diaspora Jews and their friends around the world. It is indeed a special occasion for an extraordinary nation. It is nothing short of miraculous that Israel has transformed itself from a poor, nascent country into one of the world’s most prosperous, high-tech nations, all within seven decades....…
…14 | MAY 11 • 2023 OUR COMMUNITY ON THE COVER Theodor Herzl (1860-1904) is considered the spiritual father of modern Israel. An Austrian-Hungarian lawyer, journalist, writer and activist, Herzl become convinced that Jews needed a homeland. To champion this cause, he published Der Juderstaat (The State of the Jews) in 1896. Herzl then convened and chaired the first Zionist Conference in Basel, Switzerland, in 1897. This was the bir...…
