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…JULY 21 • 2022 | 3 PURELY COMMENTARY 4-9 Essays and viewpoints OUR COMMUNITY 10 From Slaughterhouse to Therapy Dog Meet Ichabod, an Alaskan Malamute therapy dog with a disability, who teaches everyone there’s more to life. 14 Clover Hill Cemetery Augments its Support Team Adding an Emotional Support Dog reaps benefits for bereaved and staff alike. 16 One Meal at a Time Fair Food Network repairs the w...…
…for openers A Boy and His Bicycle — A Love Affair (Part 1) W hen it came to learning how to ride a two-wheel- er, I was a late bloomer. But it wasn’t for lack of trying. Every spring, my dad would take off my training wheels and run behind me, hold- ing onto the back of my bike. And every year, when he would let go, I would imme- diately tumble to the grass on either side of the sidewalk. My hopes were yet again crushed. I migh...…
…6 | JULY 21 • 2022 essay Beer Sheba — Israel’s Innovation Capital B eer Sheba (known in Hebrew as Be’er Sheva) is not on most visitors’ itinerary to Israel, but once arriving at what was often regard- ed as a sleepy desert out- post in Israel’s socio-economic periphery, the visitor now finds Israel’s inno- vation capital. The capital of Israel’s Negev is developing a most impressive 650-acre innovation district that will conne...…
…JULY 21 • 2022 | 7 RIGHT TIME, RIGHT PLACE, Right Move When you want a more rewarding life with engaging activities, nutritious meals and compassionate support, Anthology of Troy is the best move you can make. CONTINUE YOUR LIFE STORY WITH US ANTHOLOGY OF TROY 3400 Livernois Rd. / Troy, MI Assisted Living / Memory Care AnthologyMichigan.com CALL FOR A PERSONAL VISIT: 586-488-0840 ©2022 Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of ...…
…8 | JULY 21 • 2022 statement Presbyterian Church (USA) Bears False Witness T he adoption by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) of a deceit- ful resolution that falsely defines Israel as an apart- heid state is “an insult to Jews and Christians alike which damages interfaith relations,” said Rabbi Eric J. Greenberg, Simon Wiesenthal Center’s (SWC) director of United Nations Relations and Strategic Partnerships ...…
…JULY 21 • 2022 | 9 Synagogues in West Michigan Thank you for recently high- lighting Jewish synagogues in West Michigan. These out-state Jewish communities have long been below the radar, and I was so glad to see their great work highlighted by the Jewish News. I was raised and lived in the Detroit area most of my life, but I also lived in both Grand Rapids (1984-90) and Kalamazoo (2013-20). In Grand Rapids, I was a mem- ber of A...…
…10 | JULY 21 • 2022 G ayle Ellias, 55, of White Lake was looking to rescue a new dog to bring home to complete her pack of dogs. “When I first saw pictures and videos of Ichabod, I paused and looked at him and thought, ‘he’s probably already adopted. ’” Even at the first glance of Ichabod, an Alaskan Malamute, Ellias knew there was something about him. She didn’t want just any dog; she had her heart set on saving a life. Little di...…
…JULY 21 • 2022 | 11 local resources to rescue and find new homes for dogs. “NDLB was the first organi- zation that really jumped out at me, ” she said. The nonprofit has sanctu- aries in Asia and has nearly 500 survivors in their care. It works on the ground with local activists “through emergency response, pulling dogs directly from slaughterhouses, dog meat trucks, wet markets and traf- fickers, ” NDLB states. “Our mission extends ...…
…12 | JULY 21 • 2022 kneecaps are not where they should be, putting him in a permanent squat position where he can’t straighten his back legs. “Through videos and pictures NDLB sent me, he acted as if he didn’t even have a dis- ability or suffer any pain from it, ” Ellias said. “He just seemed happy. ” That’s when Ellias realized it wasn’t about adopting a specific breed. “It was about being a really small part in a big movement. ” ...…
…JULY 21 • 2022 | 13 with people and loves kids, which was really quite a surprise, ” Ellias said. Whenever Ichabod is around kids, Ellias says he wants to meet them and interact with them. “He is patient and engaging, moving from one child to the next rather methodically after they pet him, ” she said. “He has a sense of when kids are nervous, and he stays back, yet seems to know when to engage with those wanting to touch him. ” Ellia...…
…K im Raznik, executive director of Clover Hill Park Cemetery, was looking for some sunshine to brighten up her family’s life — and there’s nothing quite like bringing home a new puppy to accomplish that goal. So, it was last January when Raznik, along with her two daughters, ages 15 and 18, wel- comed “Violet,” an 8-week-old English Cream Golden Retriever born in the hinterlands of Howell, into their Birmingham home. As a full-ti...…
…JULY 21 • 2022 | 15 SERVING THE JEWISH COMMUNITY FOR OVER 30 YEARS! 4130 Telegraph Rd. Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302 NOAH BISHOP COHEN The Next Generation of “SOLD” ns.cohen26@gmail.com MELANIE BISHOP “SOLD” is my middle name melaniesold@aol.com MelanieSold.com 248.867.7800 OVER $94 MILLION SOLD IN 2021! CLOISTERS ON THE LAKE CONDO LOVINGLY MAINTAINED BEAUTIFULLY MAINTAINED & UPDATED FARMINGTON HILLS Updated with newer roof, windows, ...…
…16 | JULY 21 • 2022 OUR COMMUNITY T ikkun olam has always resonated with Oran B. Hesterman. The founder of Ann Arbor-based nonprofit Fair Food Network, which aims to grow community health and wealth through food, sees the Jewish concept of repairing the world as part of his civic duty. “The foundation of the work I do on food justice and really paying attention to social service is part of my background of being Jewish,” says Heste...…
…JULY 21 • 2022 | 17 has equal or equitable access to the healthful foods needed to lead a healthy life. “We founded the Fair Food Network to address these issues and creative positive solutions and models that can show how we can work with our food system differently,” Hesterman explains. Started as just an idea, Fair Food Network now operates with 40 staff and programs that reach across nearly every community in the state of Mic...…
…18 | JULY 21 • 2022 OUR COMMUNITY F rom gas to groceries, inflation is evident in the high cost of many goods and services. In June, the most recent month available for fed- eral data, the annual inflation rate was 9.1%. Gas prices were up 48.7% on a year-to-year basis but had dropped to an average cost of $4.79 per gallon on July 11 in Michigan (up from $3.17 a year ago). Fortunately, gas prices have begun to decline; however,...…
…JULY 21 • 2022 | 19 HIGHER GAS PRICES Yad Ezra delivers food to some clients — a service provided by volunteers on weekends. To date, volunteers have not expressed concern about fuel costs, according to Mechnikov. The agency pays JFS to deliver food to 300 families and indi- viduals during the week. “Jewish Family Service spends a lot of money every year ensuring that people can get to where they need to go, through 30,000 or so r...…
…20 | JULY 21 • 2022 A worldwide Jewish movement started right in Metro Detroit about 60 years ago. The Congregation for Humanistic Judaism of Metro Detroit was founded as the Birmingham Temple in 1963 by Rabbi Sherwin T. Wine (1928-2007) and eight families seeking to establish a new temple in suburban Detroit. Under Rabbi Wine’s vision and leadership, members began to explore new ways to express their Judaism that were more cons...…
…JULY 21 • 2022 | 21 “They’re shorter, they’re in English, but we do sing Hebrew songs. Sometimes we adjust the words to famous songs, ” he said. CHJ consists of 180 membership units/ households and offers a voluntary, pay- what-you-can dues structure. CHJ’s youth education — the Spinoza Program — is named for a famous Jewish philosopher and skeptic, Baruch (Benedict) Spinoza. While providing an array of Jewish music, customs, holidays...…
…22 | JULY 21 • 2022 R epair the World Detroit nominated Abby Rubin, 31, of Detroit as Volunteer of the Week for her passion to give back. “ As a Repair the World Detroit alumna and in her involvement with NEXTGen Detroit, Abby has created many opportunities to engage and create positive change in our Detroit and Jewish community,” said Rebecca Steinman-DeGroot, city director of Repair the World Detroit. Rubin says that grow...…
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…24 | JULY 21 • 2022 OUR COMMUNITY T he American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science, a nonprofit devel- oping philanthropic support for the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, announced that four Detroit- area philanthropists have recently committed highly impactful gifts to support breakthrough research initia- tives. The American Committee recognizes these generous Michigan philanthropists for their ...…
…JN BRING THIS AD FOR $2 OFF ONE ADMISSION JEWISH NEWS THE DETROIT Juried Fine Art & Fine Craft Show – All Art is Original & Personally Handmade Voted Top 100 Art Shows in America - $2,500 Professional Awards! Event Hours Saturday, 10am-6pm & Sunday 10am-5pm – $5 Admission; 13 & under free Plus Raymond James Youth Art Competition for Grades K-8 or Ages 5-13 – $250 cash awards! Great food, beer, wine, live entertainment Powers & Daly Rd...…
…26 | JULY 21 • 2022 G esher Human Services (formerly JVS + Kadima) is collabo- rating with Detroit’s College for Creative Studies (CCS) to offer Metro Detroiters with intellectual and developmental disabilities a chance to explore their artistic and fashion skills by designing clothing and accessories. Fashion Fridays & Wearable Art is the name for the new weekly program which began July 8 and is being held at CCS in Detroit...…
…JULY 21 • 2022 | 27 Congregation Shir Tikvah of Troy celebrated Pride on June 3, by hosting a Pride Shabbat service. Rabbi Alicia Harris led the service in their outdoor sanctuary and felt it was important to remind her congregants of those who came before us while showing love for the community. “It’s not just about rainbows and celebra- tion. It’s also a moment to remember all the people who fought for people to live exactly as who...…
…28 | JULY 21 • 2022 Campers at Hillel’s ECC Camp Funtabulous recently celebrated America from Sea to Shining Sea. The campers explored all things red, white and blue, and the many customs and traditions that make them proud to be Jewish Americans and American Jews. Most importantly, they talked about making the world a better place by help- ing others through acts of kindness. Campers decorated crowns and marched in the all-camp parade,...…
…JULY 21 • 2022 | 29 eally cool!” is the prevalent feeling about the Detroit Teen Mission’s activities. “We ran down and jumped down the dune — it was really cool,” said Jordyn Grand, 16, of West Bloomfield, about her group’s assault on Kisui Sand Dunes. Grand is part of the 100-strong Sue & Alan Kaufman & Family Teen Mission to Israel, more commonly known as Teen Mission 22 (TM22). The June 20 through July 15 adventure, the first teen m...…
…30 | JULY 21 • 2022 continued from page 29 Another “cool” highlight was the boat tour in the Gulf of Aqaba off Eilat. “The best part was the dance party on the boat in Eilat,” said Jamie Hertzberg, 15, of Huntington Woods. “I’ve gotten to know new people,” he said. Ben Faber, 16, of Bloomfield Hills, concurs. “The highlight of this trip has been making a lot of new friends. I made friends with Jamie [Hertzberg], whom I knew but nev...…
…JULY 21 • 2022 | 31 The Beta Ethiopian Jewish Education program in Tel Aviv. Shirayah Dotse, 17, of Afula, who participates in Manhigut, had been a camper at Tamarack in the past. She said she is excited to show the Detroiters Israel, her country. “I’m excited about showing them my home, my town, in the home hospitality, ” when the Detroiters had dinner in Israeli homes to learn about the Israeli family unit. Samson added another ...…
…quick hits BY STEVE STEIN T oxic levels of chlorine. Thunderstorms. An unexpected gulp of water. A transportation chal- lenge. None of that fazed West Bloomfield resident Jim Berk at the 2022 National Senior Games, held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and near- by communities. The 67-year-old former sportscaster turned personal trainer, exercise coach and competitive swimmer earned a ribbon for a fourth- through eighth-place finish...…
…JULY 21 • 2022 | 33 at Oakland University, and among his fastest in the events in the past five to six years. “ Amazing. Baffling. I really don’t know why that hap- pened. You’re not supposed to swim faster when you’re older,” he said. “Maybe it’s my weight training. Maybe it’s because I’ve increased my mileage in indoor pool training, and I’ve been doing training swims in Walled Lake since 2020.” Berk swam the 50 breast- stroke in...…
…34 | JULY 21 • 2022 SPORTS QUICK HITS continued from page 33 After a year off in 2020 and a change of dates in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hank Greenberg Memorial Golf and Tennis Invitational returned to its early June date this year. “And it went off without a hitch,” said Don Rudick, the new executive director of the Michigan Jewish Sports Foundation, which puts on the invitational. Rudick said there were 112 ...…
…JULY 21 • 2022 | 35 D r. Monica Woll Rosen didn’t always have her eyes set on becoming a physician, but she knew she wanted to pursue a career that would ultimately give back to the community. First, she tried following a path in con- temporary history, but later pivoted to the medical field. “I know it sounds cliche, ” she explains, “but I wanted to do something that would help people, and I specifically wanted to work in women’s he...…
…36 | JULY 21 • 2022 Now an important part of the area’s medical community, Rosen was even voted as Ann Arbor’s Favorite OBGYN in 2021 by the Ann Arbor Family Press. SUPPORTING A JEWISH COMMUNITY Yet her work doesn’t stop and end with healthcare. Rosen is also deeply ingrained in Ann Arbor’s Jewish community, where she recently completed her term as the president of the Ann Arbor Orthodox Minyan. She is cur- rently serving on the ...…
…JULY 21 • 2022 | 37 MAZEL TOV! MAY 21, 2022 Robyn Gonte Rice and Jeff Rice of White Lake Township are thrilled to announce the birth of their son, Oliver August Rice. Proud grandpar- ents are Laurie and Michael Gonte of Farmington Hills and Sue and Thom Rice of Traverse City. Oliver August is named in loving memory of Robyn’s paternal great-uncles Abe Komisar and Albert “Obbie” Friedman. NOV. 20, 2021 Sarah Crane and Sam Liveson of ...…
…38 | JULY 21 • 2022 I t is a farsighted, selfless gesture. As Rashi comments: “This is to tell the praise of the righteous — that when they are about to leave this world, they put aside their personal needs and become pre- occupied with the needs of the community. ” Great leaders think about the long-term future. They are concerned with succes- sion and continuity. So it was with Moses. God tells Moses to appoint Joshua, “a ma...…
…If I have total power and then decide to share it with nine others, I now have only one-10th of the power I had before. If I have a certain measure of influence and then share it with nine oth- ers, I do not have less. I have more. Instead of one person radiating this influence, there are now 10. Power works by division, influence by multi- plication. Moses occupied two roles. He was the functional equiv- alent of a king. He made th...…
…40 | JULY 21 • 2022 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...…
…JULY 21 • 2022 | 41 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 H...…
…42 | JULY 21 • 2022 O n my recent visit to Soul Café in West Bloomfield, the Ricotta Blueberry Pizza I sampled — a fetching, house-made crust topped with sweetened whipped ricotta cheese, blueberry coulis and random shreds of mint — gave me a fresh reminder that kosher dining can be quite innovative. “Diners responded well to our poll about their favorite new items on our spring-summer menu,” said Shalom Shomer, director...…
…JULY 21 • 2022 | 43 restaurant skills at Soul Café, or the bakery trade at Dakota Bread-Friendship Circle on Orchard Lake Road in West Bloomfield. Friendship Circle purchased the popular gourmet Jewish bakery in October 2020 from its retiring owners. Job training is currently offered to “15 Soul Center clients, with another 21 on a waiting list,” Shomer said. Bassie Shemtov is executive director of Friendship Circle, founded in...…
…ARTS&LIFE MUSIC ESTHER ALLWEISS INGBER Local composer Stephan Becker to perform in Oak Park. ‘Musical DETAILS HEAR CLASSICAL COMPOSER AND PIANIST STEPHAN BECKER LIVE AT BERKLEY COFFEE Time: 7-9 p.m. Date: Saturday, July 23 Address: 14661 W. 11 Mile, Oak Park Phone: (248) 422-1373 Suggested donation: $5 Stephan’s contacts: (248) 506-9546 and stephancomposer135@gmail.com. ESTHER ALLWEISS INGBER CONTRIBUTING WRITER ianist-compose...…
…JULY 21 • 2022 | 45 ESTHER ALLWEISS INGBER Recalling the audience response to Becker’s music, Berkley Coffee owner Kenny Showler said, “It turned the heads of visi- tors not expecting to hear that, and they weren’t even aware that they were originals. It’s out of the ordinary for someone to be producing original, complex classical piano compositions these days, so I wanted to get him set up for a show from the first time he visited my c...…
…46 | JULY 21 • 2022 oey Rankin, about to begin her second year as a musical theater student at Western Michigan University, is thrilled to have her first professional role in the cast of Nicely Theatre Group’s production of Pippin. Rankin is in the ensemble for the show that runs July 22-30 inside the Berman Center for the Performing Arts in West Bloomfield. The idea of the Tony-winning production is finding the right place in meaning an...…
…JULY 21 • 2022 | 47 gramming for Rankin. She was at home for the second half of her junior year and her senior year of high school. “I got to tour the whole program at Western Michigan University before everything closed for COVID, ” she said. “I got to go see the campus and meet the people. I’ve found that the professors have such amazing things to teach, and students are so involved, enthusiastic and welcoming. It’s a great p...…
…48 | JULY 21 • 2022 J ewish producer, DJ and live performer Rebecca Goldberg, who specializes in electronic and experimental music, has recently released a journey of sounds through her home state of Michigan and the Greater Detroit area. The release is part of a new proj- ect for UK-based BBC Radiophonic Workshop, which launched an inter- active audio and visual experience called Travel Agency Journeys during the COVID-19 pandemic...…
…JULY 21 • 2022 | 49 Detroiters/Michiganders and could give outsiders an authen- tic glimpse of what it sounds like to be here. Some of the locations, like the Old Presque Isle Lighthouse Bell and the Marathon Refinery, are land- mark highlights. Some, like roller skating the Dequindre Cut, focus more on an experience. IS THERE ONE LOCATION THAT HOLDS MORE MEAN- ING ABOVE THE OTHERS? RG: Many of the locations are of personal signif...…
…50 | JULY 21 • 2022 PEOPLE WHO LOVE BARBRA ARE THE SMARTEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD I can’t recall doing a whole column on one subject. But it’s a slow week for new movies, TV shows, etc., and, for a long time, I’ve wanted to write about The Funny Girl “odyssey.” Breaking news last week made me finally do that. On July 11, it was announced that Beanie Feldstein, 29, the star of the current Broadway revival of Funny Girl, would ...…
…JULY 21 • 2022 | 51 WALK ON THE WILD SIDE 7 AM-NOON, JULY 23 At the Detroit Zoo. The Clinton River Watershed Council is hosting a fami- ly-friendly fundraiser walk for individuals or groups. Participants enjoy early access to the zoo’s exhibits and animal habitats, and all money raised will support Clinton River Watershed Council programs. Adult tickets are $20, and children ages 2-18 are $10. Tickets include zoo admission (park-...…
