…MAY 5 • 2022 | 49 looked back. ” Though he always envi- sioned going to college to be a psychologist or architect, Lodin, who was “always the pianist, ” went to the University of Miami as a music composi- tion major before he left school after a year to go on tour as the musical director of a profes- sional production of Godspell. That gig led to others includ- ing touring with Andy Gibb, younger brother of the Bee Gees; playing club...…
…I n the midst of a varied writing career — articles, books, feature films — Roger Rapoport decided to go live with the immediacy of a theatrical presentation. The impetus came in 2019 after reading Peter Ferry’s award-winning novel Old Heart, which is about an American veteran attempting to reconnect with a World War II Netherlands romance that had dimmed as the war ended. The play’s debut is scheduled for two performances at the Re...…
…MAY 5 • 2022 | 51 career while attending high school in Muskegon, where his family has belonged to Temple B’nai Israel and where he has resumed affiliation. His professional commitment was perked by reading the Stanford University student-run campus newspaper, The Stanford Daily, edited by his older brother Ron, who went on to achieve recognition in sports journal- ism. When Rapoport attended the University of Michigan, he edited...…
…52 | MAY 5 • 2022 BAYER TELLS A BIG FIB; DR. STRANGE; STAR TREK PREQUEL; ROBERT MORSE, JEWISH (!) I Love That for You is an eight-episode comedy series that premiered on Showtime April 29. Vanessa Bayer, 40, co-created the series and plays the star charac- ter, Joanna Gold (as I write this, it hasn’t been disclosed whether Gold is a Jewish character). Bayer is best known as a Saturday Night Live star cast member (2010-2017). Jew...…
…MAY 5 • 2022 | 53 NEW OPERA 7 PM, MAY 5 At Bethel Community Transformation Center, 8801 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Overture to Opera, X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X. In celebration of Detroit Opera’s new production, join the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue, Breakers Covenant Church International and Detroit Opera for an evening of discussion and performance, examining the life and legacy of Malcolm X. Featuring Rabbi Ariana Si...…
…AIDING WOMEN 10 AM-NOON, JUNE 15 (DROP OFF) Tikvah Hadassah would like assistance in collecting femi- nine hygiene products to dis- tribute to homeless and high- risk girls and young women. Several shelters and organi- zations have been identified for serving this population in helping them be safe, grow strong and make pos- itive choices in their lives. If you want to order from Amazon, go to smile.amazon. com, indicate “Hadassah, ...…
…the exchange community bulletin board | professional services For information regarding advertising please call 248-351-5116 or 248-234-9057 or email salessupport@thejewishnews.com Deadline for ad insertion is 9 a.m. on Friday prior to publication. MAY 5 • 2022 | 55 Aaron Mendelson Heating and Cooling, LLC. 248-855-0437 Cell: 248-912-2292 License # 7118488 Maintenance, Installation, Repair & Hot Water Heaters Ajmendelson1@gmail.com ...…
…On April 20, Jewish leaders from Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action, Jewish Youth Climate Movement (JYCM), The Shalom Center, MI Interfaith Power and Light, and more gathered in front of the Ann Arbor office of Chase Bank to demand that JPMorgan Chase take immediate action to end their investments in polluting fossil fuels. Emphasizing the urgency of the moment and lifting up the symbols of Passover, community leaders proclaimed the...…
…OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY continued on page 58 MAY 5 • 2022 | 57 Arranging a funeral is an emotional process. But choosing the right funeral home can help alleviate the stress. That’s why people turn to us. We understand the wants and needs of families from all walks of Judaism. Our fresh look and feel make everyone feel welcome. We’re centrally located, and our pricing is fair. Our care—and our caring—help ease the burden of a los...…
…continued from page 57 OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY 58 | MAY 5 • 2022 STEWART, Robert A. The officers, board, and staff of the American Technion Society (ATS) mourn the loss of Robert A. Stewart of Birmingham, Mich. Together with his beloved wife, Yan, Bob was a Technion Guardian, a designation reserved for those who have reached the highest level of support. Among the key projects they supported are the Center for Excellence in S...…
…continued on page 60 MAY 5 • 2022 | 59 Jews believe that death is not a tragic end, but a transition. Let us assist your loved one in that journey. JOAN COHEN, 78, of Farmington Hills, died April 23, 2022. Joanie enjoyed nothing more than spending time with her family. She loved to cook, bake and take care of people. She is survived by her hus- band, George Cohen; daugh- ters and son-in-law, Michelle and Jeff Gilbert, and Tracey Co...…
…continued from page 59 OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY OBITUARY CHARGES The processing fee for obituaries is: $125 for up to 100 words; $1 per word thereafter. A photo counts as 15 words. There is no charge for a Holocaust survivor icon. The JN reserves the right to edit wording to conform to its style considerations. For information, have your funeral director call the JN or you may call Sy Manello, editorial assistant, at (248) 3...…
…G olda Indig, 91, of Wilmette, Ill., died April 28, 2022. A life spanning nine decades, five countries, six languages, and countless latkes recently came to a peaceful end. Golda Indig died with family at her side. Born in 1930 in what was then Czechoslovakia, Golda grew up as part of a large Jewish family, one of seven siblings. She moved to Sighet, Romania, when she was young and spent most of her childhood there, days ful...…
…Looking Back From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History accessible at www.djnfoundation.org M ay 8 is Mothers’ Day. It is now an international holiday in more than 40 nations. In fact, various celebrations of mothers have existed for centuries. One might say hon- oring our moms is a universal tradition. There is clear evidence that, in the United States, there were celebrations of mom long before the 20th c...…
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…JEWISH NEWS THE DETROIT thejewishnews.com $200 May 27-June 2, 2021 / 16-22 Sivan 5781 Our Zoo’s Guardian to Retire Detroit Zoo CEO Ron Kagan followed his moral compass ... and helped redefine how zoos are run. Page 14 …
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…MAY 27 • 2021 | 3 contents PURELY COMMENTARY 4-12 OUR COMMUNITY 14 Our Zoo’s Guardian to Retire Ron Kagan followed his moral compass … and helped redefine how we run our zoos. 18 Vaccines for Teens Farber vaccination program expands into the community, with 12-to-15-year-olds up next. 19 Protecting the Young Federation, JARC hold vaccine clinic for teens. 20 Solidarity with Israel ZOA-led rally on Orchard La...…
…4 | MAY 27 • 2021 Pro-Israel Rally Shows the Flag Israel won and Hamas lost on May 15 in West Bloomfield where 200 supporters of Israel gathered waving flags and cheering a triumphant Israel. Hundreds of cars passed the rally participants blowing their horns in support of the participants waiving American and Israeli flags. Many thanks to rally creator Eugene Greenstein and his team of Kobi Erez, Shel Freilich (both ZOA-MI), Re...…
…MAY 27 • 2021 | 5 Federation’s 2021 Annual Campaign ends on May 31, which is when we begin distributing resources to our partner agencies. Please consider joining with nearly 10,000 other Jewish Detroiters who are supporting our community. DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT: Until the end of this month—thanks to a generous supporter—any donor who did not donate last year will have their gift matched, dollar for dollar, up to $180. YOUR IMPACT Helping J...…
…6 | MAY 27 • 2021 PURELY COMMENTARY continued on page 12 1942 - 2021 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...…
…MAY 27 • 2021 | 7 Supported through the generosity of The Jewish Fund and the D. Dan and Betty Kahn Family Foundation. We Have Answers. Need to find help during a family crisis ¨ 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 Q X 248.289.0660 www.tusharvakhariya.com 6755 Telegraph Road | Bloomfield Hills MI 48301 210 S Old...…
…8 | MAY 27 • 2021 essay Israel Under Attack: A Community Briefing T his has been a tragic and terrifying time for the people of Israel. It has also been an extraor- dinarily difficult time for Jewish people across the world, as well as for anyone who hopes for peace. My perspec- tive is somewhat unique. As an Israeli citizen currently living in Detroit, thou- sands of miles away from my home, my friends and loved ones, I have w...…
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…10 | MAY 27 • 2021 essay The Four Absurd Criticisms of Israel’s War Conduct M uch of the media and many experts and observers have succumbed to what can be described as a complete loss of rational think- ing when it came to evalu- ating the Israel- Hamas war. Israel’s critics invented an entirely new set of illogical rules of war for Israel that one can only con- clude is aimed at leaving the Jewish state defenseless and all...…
…MAY 27 • 2021 | 11 In an editorial discussing civilian casualties caused by U.S. drone strikes in the Middle East, which number by estimates at over 1,000, the New York Times conceded, “no matter how precise the weap- ons, how careful the planners and how skilled the fighters, mistakes, faulty intelligence, even calculated decisions often led to civilians being killed” and that “There is no such thing as combat without risk.” In ...…
…PURELY COMMENTARY ANTI-ISRAEL MEDIA Also, the complexities of attempting to thwart a terror-state’s rocket fire, cynically launched from the midst of a civilian pop- ulation, have undermined Israel’s international stand- ing, with numerous world leaders and opinion-shapers maliciously or lazily compar- ing death tolls and conclud- ing that because Israel’s is lower, it must be the aggres- sor. The likes of HBO talk show host John Oli...…
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…14 | MAY 27 • 2021 OUR COMMUNITY After 28 years, Detroit Zoo’s Ron Kagan to retire. A Friend to the Animals … and Other Inspiring ‘Tales’ ALAN MUSKOVITZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER BY JERRY ZOLYNSKY Ron Kagan at the Arctic Ring of Life …
…MAY 27 • 2021 | 15 continued on page 16 I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t in love with nature and critters, ” said Ron Kagan, executive director/ CEO of the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS), when I asked how far back his passion for animals went. It was the first question I posed to Kagan, 69, during our recent phone con- versation to discuss the major change coming in his life. Kagan officially announced his retirement earlie...…
…16 | MAY 27 • 2021 OUR COMMUNITY continued from page 15 certainly an interesting con- versation starter. I just wasn’t prepared to learn the incident included a surprising second biter. Four-year old Ron Kagan was nestled in the backseat of his parent’s car. The suburban Boston family had just picked up their new puppy — a boxer. “We were bringing him home, and I couldn’t have been more excited. His name was Bobby. I was pullin...…
…MAY 27 • 2021 | 17 something to help, ” Kagan recalled. “During those first 10 days, it looked like Israel was about to be pushed into the Mediterranean. So, the idea of waiting until next summer seemed ridiculous to me. ” Kagan remembers the image of the darkened runway upon his arrival in Tel Aviv, a black- out to prevent the airstrip from being a nighttime bombing tar- get. A long way from a college campus, Kagan said, “I didn’t ...…
…T o ensure Farber Hebrew Day School students who were eligible for, and wanted, COVID-19 vaccines received them, Dr. Howard Korman put on two hats — along with his regularly-worn kippah. A member of the Southfield school’s medical advisory board for the COVID program, as well as a self-described “vac- cine-activist, ” he created an avenue for high schoolers 16 years and older to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. And ...…
…MAY 27 • 2021 | 19 T he Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit and JARC held a vaccine clinic at the Federation building on Thursday, May 13. The clinic took place the day after federal regulators expanded authorization for the use of Pfizer- BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine in children ages 12-15. The clinic was open to anybody but was aimed at 12-to-15-year-olds. JARC has been holding clinics, especially for the people ...…
…20 | MAY 27 • 2021 M ore than 100 people attended a pro-Israel rally on the west side of Orchard Lake Road in West Bloomfield on Friday, May 14, to show support for Israel in its ongoing clash with Hamas. The event was helmed by the Zionist Organization of America’s Michigan Region. In attendance was Eugene Greenstein, former ZOA-MI president, who hoped the rally expressed the local support for Israel. “We felt we needed to come o...…
…MAY 27 • 2021 | 21 T he Holocaust Memorial Center (HMC) has launched the Virtual Museum Experience (VME), a new online program for students learning about the Holocaust. When the pandemic hit and HMC had to shut down, HMC’s Education Department knew they didn’t want to stop teaching the lessons of the Holocaust. The team began strategizing how to take the museum experience to students virtually, customizing the content for each...…
…22 | MAY 27 • 2021 A $100,000 academic award funding the study of catalysts in the human body became a cat- alyst for developing unrelated science videos that include one explaining how COVID-19 vac- cines prevent infections. Leah Witus, assistant profes- sor of chemistry at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn., was among 25 educators chosen for this year’s Cottrell Scholar Awards given by the Research Corporation for Science Ad...…
…MAY 27 • 2021 | 23 JEWS IN THE DIGITAL AGE T he year 2020 was so full of changes and disappointments that it is no wonder we began 2021 eager for things to return to normal. That certainly was not the case for my CES experience in January. The annual international Consumers Electronics Show has become a regular activity on my calendar at the start of each year, and I was especially looking forward to this year’s convention fo...…
…24 | MAY 27 • 2021 An asymmetrical one-shoulder tulle ballgown from Lee Petra is adorned with geometric flower appliques. Israel is home to stunning white-sand beaches, vibrant foods, iconic sights — and world-renowned wedding gown designers. LYNNE KONSTANTIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER continued on page 26 …
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…26 | MAY 27 • 2021 continued on page 28 LEE PETRA GREBENAU The darling of New York Bridal Fashion Week, Lee Petra Grebenau launched her own design house after growing up in the family textile business. Also graduating with honors from Shenkar Fashion Art Academy, Grebenau not only has an inti- mate understanding of fabrics, but is known for her luxurious embroidery and embellishments. “I like to work with silk,” she told the Bridal Cou...…
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…28 | MAY 27 • 2021 continued from page 26 HOUSE OF MEDINA The Medina family has been designing and sewing wedding gowns for more than 70 years, with an emphasis on handmade corsets. Designer and studio director Michal Medina leads the atelier with head designer, her daughter, Tal, who graduated with honors from Shenkar Fashion Art Academy, a top fashion design school in Tel Aviv. Tal’s signature: luxuriously shimmery fabrics combined ...…
…MAY 27 • 2021 | 29 W hen it comes to winning state championships in hockey, the Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood High School team has no peers. The Cranes have played in 20 state title games and won 18 of them, losing only to Calumet in 1996 and 1998. Their latest triumph was a 4-1 win over previously undefeated Calumet at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth for the Division 3 title, their first state championship since 2015. Five ...…
…30 | MAY 27 • 2021 MAZEL TOV! Robert Nathan Feldman (Natanel Dov) of West Bloomfield will become a bar mitzvah at Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills on May 29, 2021. Robbie is the son of Julie and Mike Gold, and Melissa and Brad Feldman. He is the adored grandson of Ellen and Paul Chute, Cheryl and Dennis Yashinsky, Millie and the late Morton Feldman, Simone Vitale, Jeannie Vitale and Jeffrey Parsons. Robbie is the br...…
…MAY 27 • 2021 | 31 CAP & GOWN HIGH SCHOOL GRADS SOPHIA AARON Frankel Jewish Academy Indiana University LILLIAN BEAVERS Frankel Jewish Academy Friendship Circle’s Umatter Board, 2018 One thing I Wish You Knew speaker, Tennis, Volleyball, Student Government, Created a website for her photographs and received multiple art honors. American University JACK BEHRENDT Bloomfield Hills High School National Honor Society, Varsity Tennis...…
…MAZEL TOV! 32 | MAY 27 • 2021 HOW TO SUBMIT ANNOUNCEMENTS Mazel Tov! announcements are welcomed for members of the Jewish community. Anniversaries, engagements and weddings with a photo (preferably color) can appear at a cost of $18 each. Births are $10. There is no charge for bar/bat mitzvahs or for special birthdays starting at the 90th. For information, contact Editorial Assistant Sy Manello at smanello@thejewishnews.com or (248) 35...…
…MAY 27 • 2021 | 33 ERETZ T he Jewish News has asked me to write a column interviewing former Detroiters living in Israel, so I thought I would begin with myself. I was a teacher at Akiva Hebrew Day School (now Farber Hebrew Day School), Bais Yaakov and Yeshiva Beth Yehudah before making aliyah with my family in 2006. Why did I want to make aliyah? When I was young, my family spent every summer in Israel. Being in Israel ...…
…34 | MAY 27 • 2021 A s part of its ongoing efforts to facilitate greater connections between Israel and world Jewry, the Jewish Agency for Israel’s Central Galilee and Michigan partnership hosted a virtual running tour of the Central Galilee region to cele- brate Yom HaAtzmaut (Israel’s Independence Day). Israeli participants in the Partnership2Gether network (P2G) hosted the virtual run- ning tours of Central Galilee areas to p...…
