…JUNE 1 • 2023 | 51 charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by the Dorfman Chapel. RITA LEVITT, 97, of West Bloomfield, died May 24, 2023. She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Dr. Brian and Kathy Levitt, Dr. Jeffrey and Tracy Levitt, and Jay Levitt; grandchildren, Gregory Levitt and his fiancee, Nicole Brand, Lauren Levitt, and Adam Levitt; many loving nieces and nephews. Mrs. Levitt was the beloved wife of the late...…
…52 | JUNE 1 • 2023 contributions to Beth Israel Congregation as the synagogue administrator from the mid-1980s to the early 2000s. Her ethics and values of service to community and dedication to family will continue in her children and grandchildren. Mrs. Oleinick is survived by her sister, Loree Sandoz (Richard) Sloggett; sister- in-law, Barbara Sandoz; her sons, Jonathan and Lewis Oleinick; her daughter, Susan (Charles) Shapir...…
…JUNE 1 • 2023 | 53 The death of British author Martin Amis came as a film adap- tation of one of his Holocaust novels premiered to rave reviews at the Cannes Film Festival. Amis, who died May 19, 2023, of esophageal cancer at age 73, was not known primarily for his Holocaust fiction. But that aspect may soon loom large, as The Zone of Interest, an adaptation of his penultimate novel, has become an early favorite to win this year’s ...…
…Looking Back From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History accessible at www.djnfoundation.org 54 | JUNE 1 • 2023 A s our readers know, the JN is celebrating 75 years of independence for modern Israel. One of the salient points of our coverage in recent issues has been the connections between Detroit and Israel. Suffice it to say that many Jewish Detroiters have supported Israel and the Yishuv (pre-sta...…
…GOING OUT OF TOWN? Offers Forwarding and Hold Services! While USPS will forward your general mail quickly, periodicals and newspapers sometimes take 60 days for forwarding. Avoid service disruption by updating your information with The Detroit Jewish News as soon as possible. Requests can be submitted anytime in advance up to a week prior of publish date. Requests submitted past then will be processed for the following publish date (...…
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…6 | JUNE 1 • 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...…
…DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 32255 Northwestern Hwy. Suite 205, Farmington Hills, MI 48334 248-354-6060 thejewishnews.com JUNE 1• 2023 | 7 summer camps. “Even if you can get them the scholarship, Rachel, ” she said, “the teasing they might endure might not make it worth it. ” Why aren’t we talking about class? The topic is tender because class is inextricably linked with our dignity. In Hebrew, the word for dignity is kavod and it shares the...…
…8 | JUNE 1 • 2023 PURELY COMMENTARY essay The Mainstreaming of ‘Israelophobia’ in America W ith the waning of bipartisan support for Israel in the United States, growing concern over the increasing hostility toward the Jewish state has crept into mainstream talk around the table. A recent meeting at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs (JCPA) brought together leading thought leaders to discuss the findings of a new book ...…
…JUNE 1 • 2023 | 9 Faceb book and Instagram @CongregationBet thAhm In-Person Daily Minyan Kaddish & Community Sunday 9:00am and 5:00pm M – F morning M – Th evening Friday evening A Day in the D Sunday, June 25 Outside Kabbalat Shabbat followed by a light dinner June 9 and June 30 at 6:00pm 248-851-6880 www.cbahm.org 7:00am 7:00pm 6:00pm Picnic Biking Walking tour and more MISHMAR Singing and Spiritual Prep for Shabbat Thursda...…
…$200 June 30-July 6, 2022 / 1-7 Tammuz 5782 JEWISH NEWS THE DETROIT thejewishnews.com Back, Live Kickin’ Back, Live Kickin’ Kids Kicking Cancer holds its first in-person “Belting Ceremony” since the pandemic. See page 12 and and …
…To schedule an appointment with any of our providers, please call: 248-855-5620 Associated Endocrinologists is honored to introduce our new Physician… Leedor Lieberman M.D. received her Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor, MI and her Doctor of Medicine from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, MI. Dr. Lieberman completed her Internal Medicine residency at the Hospital of the Un...…
…JUNE 30 • 2022 | 3 contents PURELY COMMENTARY 4-10 Essays and viewpoints. OUR COMMUNITY 12 Back, Live and Kickin’ Kids Kicking Cancer holds its first in-person “Belting Ceremony” since the pandemic. 18 Federation Announces 2022 Annual Campaign Results The organization marks the highest campaign achievement in its history. 20 A One-Stop Shop for Jewish Life Chabad Jewish Center of Commerce/ Walled Lake provides community in t...…
…4 | JUNE 30 • 2022 PURELY COMMENTARY O n June 21, the Supreme Court issued a landmark decision prohibiting government from excluding religion and religious institutions from government funding pro- grams. This decision in Carson v. Makin follows on the heels of two other high court decisions in the last five years emphasizing that such exclu- sions constitute religious dis- crimination prohibited under the First Amendment. ...…
…JUNE 30 • 2022 | 5 religious school or because the funds will be used for religious purposes? Those permeable categories open the door for government to rebrand discrimination as needed to avoid constitutional obstacles. What will be the likely impact of the decision? By its terms, it applies to cases where government is provid- ing funding to private institu- tions for secular reasons and doing so on neutral terms. Notwithstanding...…
…6 | JUNE 30 • 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: Detro...…
…JUNE 30 • 2022 | 7 248-716-1887 Apartments are renting fast. Call today to schedule a private tour. You Deserve It. 3300 Crumb Road Commerce Township, MI 48390 RollingHillsRetirement.com Rolling Hills Grab your dance partner and join us for our two-part ball dancing class! Learn the art of dance or get a refresher on your favorite moves. RSVP today! Wednesday, July 6 & 20 at 2:00 p.m. Ballroom Dancing Classes Join us for an edu...…
…8 | JUNE 30 • 2022 PURELY COMMENTARY guest column A New Strategic Plan for Jewish Family Service H appy New (Fiscal) Year! It’s not early this year. It’s always right on time. We Jewish organizations have lots of years to organize us: Jewish, secular and, yes, fiscal. We also have lots holding us accountable. Funders. Contracts. The community. The people we serve. Contrary to what many believe about us so-called “nonprofit” ...…
…JUNE 30 • 2022 | 9 essay Herzl’s Yahrzeit Is Coming Up O n July 3, it is Herzl’s yahrzeit. Truly, a sad day for the Jewish people at the time in 1904 and now, an important and inspira- tional day on the Zionist calendar. Herzl was buried in Vienna, Austria, in 1904. However, he was so confident that a Jewish state would one day be established that he requested in his will to be buried in a metal coffin so that it would be eas...…
…10 | JUNE 30 • 2022 student’s corner If These Mountains Could Talk … T he best way to describe my senior trip is: It was an adventure. Although there were many bumps along the way, like our original flight being canceled after waiting six hours in the airport and waiting three extra days before flying out, it was all part of the experience. I previously went to Israel when I was in eighth grade through Hillel Day School, ...…
…JUNE 30 • 2022 | 11 …
…12 | JUNE 30 • 2022 T he ominously dark sky notwithstanding, more than two dozen participants of Kids Kicking Cancer’s Heroes Circle program gathered in a tent adjacent to the soaring main sanctuary of Temple Beth El, with parents and siblings on hand, to get belted — in person. After two years of remote programming caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the brave warriors fighting pediatric cancer and other life-threatening illnes...…
…JUNE 30 • 2022 | 13 continued on page 14 Cindy Cohen, KKC’s director of programming, who has been particularly adept at pivoting much of the organization’s programming online over the last two years, underscored the need to hold the ceremony in an open-air venue, which Cranbrook could not provide. “We’ve had a beautiful relationship with Cranbrook Institute of Science for more than a decade, but we aren’t quite ready to go back...…
…14 | JUNE 30 • 2022 says. “We start in August and pick our focus area; for example, the last two years focused largely on mental health, and the teens take their role very seriously.” She described how smaller, breakout groups then conduct site visits, reporting their observations to the full Teen Board for discussion. “This year, we added an antisemitism focus as well,” Charnas says. “I think site visits really help the teens ...…
…JUNE 30 • 2022 | 15 W e are leaders from throughout the American- Jewish community, in Michigan and around the PAID ADVERTISEMENT Originally published on Forward.com, 5/10/22 https://forward.com/news/501923/andy-levin-jewish-congressman-andy-levin-calls-out-attacks-by-aipac-israel/ More Than 100 Jewish Leaders, Activists, Rabbis Pen Letter of Support for Levin Letter to the editor: country. While we bring together diverse identities...…
…16 | JUNE 30 • 2022 “They could be talking about COVID or maybe obesity or maybe even cancer, but actually the No. 1 public health crisis is loneliness. One in three of us is actually lonely.” After urging attendees to turn toward each other and smile, despite being masked, she then reiterated a Heroes Circle principal tenet: “You are not alone, so turn to your neighbor and say, ‘Thank you for being here.’” She also acknowledge...…
…JUNE 30 • 2022 | 17 doctor appointments our son Dovid needed, and the KKC program allowed Zevi to just be able to grow and thrive through all the online events,” Sruly explains. “And that was amazing to us to be able and give him that time.” TEEN EMPOWERMENT For many older children, both former cancer survivors, their siblings and others, the lessons developed in the KKC arsenal of programs have long-term benefits, which was ...…
…18 | JUNE 30 • 2022 OUR COMMUNITY T he Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit’s 2022 Annual Campaign ended on May 31 with con- tributions of $35,450,000, an increase of $1.2 million over 2021 and the largest Annual Campaign in Federation his- tory. In addition to the annual campaign, Federation’s Tauber Family Challenge Fund raised $3.6 million, and the Detroit Federation community con- tributed an additional $4 mil- lion for...…
…JUNE 30 • 2022 | 19 JUNE 30 • 2022 | 19 JEWISH NEWS THE DETROIT 80 80th th Anniversary Anniversary For those without computer access, please mail the following to 32255 NORTHWESTERN HWY, SUITE 205 FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48334: • Who is Turning 80? [first/last] • What Day is their Birthday? • Personalized Message and Signature • A picture of the birthday person (if you would like the picture returned, please include a stamped re...…
…20 | JUNE 30 • 2022 OUR COMMUNITY I n 2002, after moving to Michigan from New York, Rabbi Schneor Greenberg and his wife, Estie Greenberg, opened Chabad Jewish Center of Commerce/ Walled Lake out of their Walled Lake town- house. Two years later, they bought a home in Commerce, running the center out of its lower level. It soon became apparent, though, that Chabad Jewish Center of Commerce/Walled Lake needed a stand- alone location...…
…JUNE 30 • 2022 | 21 Recently, they worked with River Forest Farm, whose owner is affiliated with Chabad, to throw an extravagant Lag b’Omer event. People in need of items for the High Holidays, like candles or matzah, can also contact the center. The Greenberg’s daughter, Chanie, bakes challah for the com- munity as well. EXPLORING JUDAISM Twice a week, the center offers two classes on Zoom. One is a Tanya class and the second is a Tora...…
…OUR COMMUNITY 22 | JUNE 30 • 2022 D esigned with Israeli flavor and values, Camp Kimama Half Moon is set to welcome its first year of campers in the U.S. this summer. Just opened, Kimama Half Moon includes campers ages 6-17 who visit from both the U.S. and countries worldwide. Camp director Abby Levine, who has worked for numerous Jewish organizations throughout her 25-year career, says the 100-year-old site that Kimama H...…
…JUNE 30 • 2022 | 23 which differs from Israel- based camps that operate under Hebrew language. In terms of philosophy, Levine says the U.S. camp upholds the same values. “That is the same no matter what Kimama camp [kids attend],” she explains. “We have campers coming from all over the world and we have staff from all over the world.” DEVELOPING CAMP TRADITIONS This summer, Kimama Half Moon expects a day camp with 150 campers. Th...…
…OUR COMMUNITY S everal hundred people were at the Detroit Institute of Arts when Brenda Naomi Rosenberg celebrat- ed the launch of her new two-volume photo autobiography Charmed. During the launch, she was carrying a purse with a picture of a Santa Bear on it. While she was standing near the Diego Rivera Court, a stranger came up to her and exclaimed about it. Little did that person know they had just met the “mother” of the Santa ...…
…JUNE 30 • 2022 | 25 K esher means connection. Whether it’s retelling the story of the Exodus or playing Jewish geography, our ties to each other strengthen and guide us. For the teens at Congregation Shir Tikvah in Troy, Kesher is their community. CST’s Kesher program includes students who are in their b’nai mitzvah year through high school. Students come from all over the Metro Detroit area to meet on Sunday afternoon or Monday ev...…
…26 | JUNE 30 • 2022 G rand Rapids’ Congregation Ahavas Israel is a welcoming community to all who seek a spiritual path using traditional Jewish practice in a mod- ern, egalitarian Conservative Jewish setting. Ahavas Israel offers a warm Shabbat expe- rience, as well as diverse activ- ities for families and adults, including Torah study, Junior Congregation, art workshops and a community garden. Ahavas, made up of about 90 househol...…
…JUNE 30 • 2022 | 27 T he Friendship Circle of Michigan nominated Vicki Brown, 57, of Farmington Hills as Volunteer of the Week for sharing her knowledge of arts and crafts with their Soul Studio Program. The nonprofit organization’s main goal is to provide every individual with special needs the support, friendship and inclusion they deserve. The Soul Studio Program is one of the programs they offer, which focuses on introduci...…
…28 | JUNE 30 • 2022 K enny Showler intends for his Berkley Coffee to be more than a place to enjoy made-to-order cups of roasted coffee and steeped loose tea. In addition to baked goods, soup, sandwiches, other bar snacks and retail items, something special he’s offering are community events and live entertainment. . The coffee shop, officially launched on April 1, 2022, is at 14661 W . 11 Mile Road in the city of Oak Park’s evolv...…
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…30 | JUNE 30 • 2022 LEGAL GUIDE T wo beloved Jewish judges — who iron- ically both died on the same day in February — were fondly remembered at the Jewish Bar Association of Michigan’s (JBAM) annu- al Awards Night on May 23 at the Westin Hotel in Southfield. U.S. District Judge Avern Judge Avern Cohn Cohn and retired Oak Park District Court Judge Benjamin J. Friedman both passed away on Feb. 4. Judge Cohn was last year’s...…
…JUNE 30 • 2022 | 31 Protect yourself, your children, and your financial future. ANNETTE BENSON LAW 30800 Telegraph Rd. • Suite 2720 • Bingham Farms, MI 48025 AnnetteBensonLaw.com | 248.646.2600 DIVORCE | CUSTODY | POST JUDGMENT MODIFICATION AND ENFORCEMENT As the daughter of Jewish immigrants, I learned the importance of perseverance, self- advocacy, and integrity. I knew at a very young age that I wanted to be a lawyer — the strong voi...…
…32 | JUNE 30 • 2022 continued from page 30 LEGAL GUIDE Appel praised her father, Judge Benjamin J. Friedman, whom she succeeded after his 34-year career on that same court, and who, like Judge Cohn, passed away on Feb. 4. Judge Appel’s mother, Annie Friedman, and sister Susan Lichterman were present for the ceremony. JBAM Treasurer Andrew Cohen awarded the Charles J. Cohen $1,500 scholarship to Louis Magidson, a student at U-D ...…
…JUNE 30 • 2022 | 33 Serling & Abramson, P.C. Attorneys at Law | Asbestos Specialists 2 8 0 N . O L D W O O D W A R D , S U I T E 4 0 6 • B I R M I N G H A M , M I 4 8 0 0 9 | 2 4 8 - 6 4 7- 6 9 6 6 www.serlinglawpc.com In 1975 Michael Serling founded the firm currently known as Serling & Abramson, P.C. Michael pioneered asbestos litigation in Michigan by filing the first mesothelioma case in our state. Over the past five decades the...…
…34 | JUNE 30 • 2022 ANNETTE BENSON LAW 30800 Telegraph Road, Suite 2720 Bingham Farms, MI 48025 (248) 646-2600 annettebensonlaw.com Annette Benson has been practicing exclusively in family law for over 28 years. She provides her clients with the attention, guidance and experienced advocacy needed. Annette Benson works with her clients to create the best strategy to achieve intentional results. Practicing in Oakland...…
…JUNE 30 • 2022 | 35 40900 Woodward Ave. #111 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304 248-594-2600 • schefmanlaw.com The Face of Personal Injury Law & Insurance Recovery Over 38 years of successfully representing injured clients and medical providers throughout Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties. • Motor Vehicle Accidents • Traumatic Brain Injuries • No-Fault Insurance Claims • Medical Malpractice • Medicare Eligible Claims We’ll tell YOUR s...…
…36 | JUNE 30 • 2022 LAW OFFICES OF HARRY STEVEN ELLMAN 28470 W. 13 Mile Road, Suite 325 Farmington Hills, MI 48334 (248) 642-1115 harryellmanlaw.com With over 40 years of legal expertise, Harry Ellman’s law practice primarily consists of transactional and litigation matters involving real estate. Contact Harry if you need a purchase agreement, lease, note, mortgage, mortgage foreclosure, quiet title action or claims...…
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…38 | JUNE 30 • 2022 M ost histories of law schools focus on the notable deans and professors, and the chang- es in curricula over time. In Detroit’s Wayne State University Law School: Future Leaders in the Legal Community, Alan Schenk, a WSU law profes- sor, highlights the students and their influence on the school’s develop- ment, character and employment oppor- tunities. Detroit’s Wayne State University Law School begins by ...…
…JUNE 30 • 2022 | 39 D aniel Shamayev is certain the new Detroit Jewish Basketball League has accomplished its purpose. The league has brought the Detroit Jewish community together through basketball. Among the men’s league’s 80 players — 70 regulars and 10 substitutes — are observant Jews and a few “who are probably involved in a Jewish activity for the first time in their life, ” said Shamayev, the league’s founder and commissioner....…
…40 | JUNE 30 • 2022 HEALTH C OVID Brain … What does that phrase mean to you? In addition to the fact that those words make me increasingly anxious, I have heard them used in two very different contexts over the last year or so. Initially, some psychologists began using that label to normalize and validate the fact that with our preoccupation with keeping ourselves and our loved ones safe, particularly during the early ...…
