…50 | JULY 27 • 2023 SPORTS F rankel Jewish Academy has a new athletic director. But he isn’t new to one of the area’s only Jewish high schools. Robert Walker has replaced Rick Dorn, who was Frankel’s AD for nine years. Dorn is the new AD at Dearborn Fordson High School. Walker started his new job this month after Joe Bernstein, a Frankel coach, served as a fill-in AD from May 19 to July 12. This is Walker’s second stint at Fra...…
…JULY 27 • 2023 | 51 RICK DORN Arizona State and was an accreditation team member for the Michigan Non- Public Schools Accrediting Association for Akiva Hebrew Day School (now Farber Hebrew Day School) in 2009. His tennis experience includes being an associate summer tennis professional at Oakland Hills Country Club in 1999, director and tennis professional at the Birmingham Racquet Club from 1997-2007, and head tennis professio...…
…52 | JULY 27 • 2023 quick hits BY STEVE STEIN GARY KLINGER Rain was predicted for the day of the 32nd annual Hank Greenberg Memorial Golf, Tennis and Pickleball Invitational. It didn’t happen. What did happen was 126 golfers, and 16 tennis and pickleball players competed June 12 at Franklin Hills Country Club in Farmington Hills. They were joined by 70 additional people for dinner and the always popular sports panel, moderated o...…
…JULY 27 • 2023 | 53 SPIRIT The Mitzvot of Listening and Loving I n Parshat V’etchanan, Moses’ message is clear and direct: It is imperative that the Israelites keep God’s commandments. So, we practice kashrut, keep Shabbat, refrain from stealing, etc. — difficult, but relatively clear. I usually have a pretty good sense of how I’m doing in relation to those kinds of mitzvot. Moses also goes on to recite the Shema; this part ...…
…54 | JULY 27 • 2023 B uried among the epic passages in Va’etchanan — among them the Shema and the Ten Commandments — is a brief passage with large implications for the moral life in Judaism. Here it is together with the preceding verse: “Be very vigilant to keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and the testimonies and decrees with which He has charged you. Do what is right and what is good in the Lord’s eyes, so th...…
…JULY 27 • 2023 | 55 higher standard than the law strictly requires. It seems as if Ramban is telling us that there are aspects of the moral life that are not caught by the concept of law at all. That is what he means by saying “It is impossible to mention in the Torah all aspects of man’s conduct with his neighbors and friends.” Law is about universals, principles that apply in all places and times: Do not murder. Do not rob. Do ...…
…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...…
…JULY 27 • 2023 | 57 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...…
…ARTS&LIFE TV as she got a shidduch for you. No need to swipe right or left when Aleeza Ben Shalom’s around. The star of Netflix’s wildly popu- lar Jewish Matchmaking series, Ben Shalom is bringing her Jewish relationship and dating witticisms to a community-invited event at Aish Detroit on Monday, July 31. Aish is bringing in Ben Shalom to help launch its new Wisdom Café. The Café is open to all Jewish people who want to drop in...…
…JULY 27 • 2023 | 59 Gives Tips for Finding Your Bashert Matchmaker Matchmaker Netflix’s Jewish JAMIE GORDON PHOTOGRAPHY Aleeza Ben Shalom, star of Netflix’s Jewish Matchmaking series …
…6 | JULY 27 • 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: Detro...…
…ARTS&LIFE TV continued from page 58 60 | JULY 27 • 2023 Ben Shalom will host the SpeedDating portion of the evening, which will be divided into three age groups: 22-34, 34-50, 45-70. ON THE ROAD AGAIN After Netflix dropped the eight episodes of Jewish Matchmaking in May, Ben Shalom embarked on her world Live Matchmaking Show tour that includes stops in the United States, South America, Australia and London. With her hectic schedule,...…
…JULY 27 • 2023 | 61 TOP: Both living in Brooklyn, Fay Brezel and Shaya Rosenberg went on several dates. (Photo from Netflix) BOTTOM: Shaun Civin came in from Hawaii to have a date with Dani Bergman who lives in Miami. (Photo from Netflix) Harmonie Krieger in Los Angeles. (Photo from Netflix) …
…ARTS&LIFE TV continued from page 60 62 | JULY 27 • 2023 Monday, July 31 • 5 p.m. VIP Wisdom Café Donor Reception and Meet and Greet with Aleeza Ben Shalom — $180 per person • 6:30 p.m. Main Event “Behind the Scenes of Jewish Matchmaking” with Aleeza Ben Shalom, fol- lowed by a book signing and dessert. $50 per per- son; www.aishdetroit.com/ aish/meaningful-date-night- with-aleeza-ben-shalom • Main Event and SpeedDating. $100 per...…
…JULY 27 • 2023 | 63 “JUDAISM IS NUANCED AND EVERYONE HAS THEIR HARD LINE OF WHAT WILL AND WON’T WORK AND WHAT DIRECTION THEY ARE LOOKING TO GO IN THE LONG TERM. ” — JEWISH MATCHMAKING’S ALEEZA BEN SHALOM JAMIE GORDON PHOTOGRAPHY instant shidduch for us. We really clicked, ” said Tibi, who started working with Ben Shalom on curating matches for private clients. MATCHMAKING ON NETFLIX Tibi can be seen in Episode 1 of Jewish M...…
…64 | JULY 27 • 2023 ARTS&LIFE ART Renaissance Woman Glass artist Sara Young also sells nuts and does stand-up comedy. YEVGENIYA GAZMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER Sara Young by her etchings of a saxophone and T-Rex YEVGENIYA GAZMAN …
…JULY 27 • 2023 | 65 W hen asking people to share a few words about Sara Young, it is hard to believe the responses are all about one person. “Sara came into our life on a fluke pass- ing, and now has become an integral part of our business, ” shared Dan Weiand, owner of Whole Hearted Winery in New Hudson, Michigan. Dan now relies on Sara for “han- dling all of our laser etching, nuts and running a top-five comedy room in Metro Detroi...…
…66 | JULY 27 • 2023 FUN SPOOKY STUFF, REAL HORROR, JEWISH GUY INSPIRES CLASSIC SIT-COM EPISODE Haunted Mansion opens in theaters on July 28. This Disney film is inspired by the Haunted Mansion attraction at three Disney parks (California, Florida and Japan). In 2003, there was a Haunted Mansion film that didn’t get great reviews but made a lot of money. The 2003 film and the new film really don’t have much to do with the Dis...…
…JULY 27 • 2023 | 67 NEW EXHIBIT NOW-SEPT. 8 Detroit contains a rich mosaic of small Black- owned businesses that keep the city thriving, despite decades of economic hardship. To celebrate these entrepreneurs and small businesses, the Detroit Historical Museum’s new initiative “The Hustle” is recognizing 34 businesses that invest, elevate and enrich Detroit in a year- long series of museum exhibitions. The Detroit Historical Mu...…
…68 | JULY 27 • 2023 of self-love and wellness activities: unwind, learn about Tu b’Av, and treat yourselves to an afternoon in the park. At VFW Park, 1545 E. Lincoln, Commerce. Hands-on crafts (tie-dye included), opportunities for mindful movement, Jewish learning, chair massages and refreshing seasonal snacks. After the event, Rabbi Jeff will lead a short bike ride to Lincoln Tap for happy hour. Subsidized tickets are availab...…
…JULY 27 • 2023 | 69 Aaron Mendelson Heating and Cooling, LLC. 248-855-0437 Cell: 248-912-2292 License # 7118488 Maintenance, Installation, Repair & Hot Water Heaters Ajmendelson1@gmail.com FAMILY OWNED SINCE 1973 $85 SERVICE FEE 24/7 Emergency Service basketofsmiles.com pam@basketofsmiles.com 248-326-5684 basketofsmiles.com pam@basketofsmiles.com 248-326-5684 basketofsmiles.com pam@basketofsmiles.com 248-326-5684 Call to...…
…JULY 27• 2023 | 7 Sotah 7:12). We take a stand on the important issues of our day, and we strive to do what is right; at the same time, we actively seek to understand multiple perspectives because we humbly accept that only God knows the best paths forward. At the Hartman Institute, we put these texts into practice. After studying with Hartman’s outstanding faculty, we as rabbis from Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructi...…
…70 | JULY 27 • 2023 ANN BRASCH, 88, of Farmington Hills, died July 19, 2023. She is survived by her daughter and son- in-law, Abbey and Ken Nathan; son, Warren Brasch; grandchildren, Alec and Allison Nathan, Jack Nathan and Erin Sachse Nathan, Daniel Nathan, and Alayna, Emily and Chloe Brasch; sister-in-law, Farla Binder; many loving nieces and nephews. Mrs. Brasch was the beloved wife of the late Miles “Mike” Brasch; the l...…
…JULY 27 • 2023 | 71 S ybil Mintz, 85, of Boynton Beach, Fla., formerly of West Bloomfield, died July 13, 2023. Sybil had a lifelong love for education and loved being a student and a teacher. She received a bachelor’s of art in education and a master’s of art history from Wayne State and received a master’s in fine arts (painting) from the University of Michigan. She also made progress on a Ph.D. program at the University of M...…
…72 | JULY 27 • 2023 S ue Marx, 92, of Birmingham, died July 17, 2023. Marx, an essentially self-taught professional filmmaker who stunned Hollywood by winning an Academy Award in 1987 for her documentary short film, Young at Heart, died July 17, 2023, at her home in Birmingham. That film, perhaps the highlight of her long and varied media career, chronicled the love story and marriage of her own widowed father, then in hi...…
…JULY 27 • 2023 | 73 award from Northwood University. She was recognized and honored by virtually every media outlet in Metropolitan Detroit, including being named Michiganian of the Year in 1990 by the Detroit News. Perhaps the honor which meant most to her was that, as an Oscar winner, she remained a lifelong voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Survivors include her daughters, Terry Marx and he...…
…OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY 74 | JULY 27 • 2023 events, anti-war rallies and day sailing with his colleagues. He enjoyed his many yearly visits to Israel to serve in the Israeli military’s volunteer program. He rarely reminisced, but when asked about a specific subject, he did so at great length. He had a phenomenal memory. Berol was a good host. He loved his family, he loved driving, and he loved a good meal. Berol Robinson...…
…JULY 27 • 2023 | 75 Interment was at Oakview Cemetery. Contributions may be made to the Michigan Katzman Family PLS Fund, University of Michigan, 777 E. Eisenhower Pkwy., suite 650, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, give.communityfunded. com/o/michigan-medicine/i/ memorials-and-tributes/s/ in-memory-of-lois- katzman; or Cortney Gives BAK Foundation, 18540 Hillcrest St., Beverly Hills, MI 48025, cortneygivesbak. com. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman ...…
…OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY 76 | JULY 27 • 2023 Veterans. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel. SIMON JAY MIRKES, 16, of Farmington Hills, died July 17, 2023. He is survived by his parents, Scott and Michelle Mirkes of Farmington Hills; his sister, Samantha Mirkes; his grandparents, Edward and Cheryl Tunick of Farmington Hills; aunts and uncles, Barbra and Kevin Giles of Novi, Lori Tunick of Farmington Hills, Jamie and Bryan Sm...…
…JULY 27 • 2023 | 77 J ewish tradition teaches that when the heart is full, the eyes overflow.” It was a quote Rabbi Daniel B. Syme, rabbi emeritus of Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Township, used to describe his unwavering love for his beloved wife, Dr. Jill Susan Syme, who passed away after sunset on July 8, 2023. Tears can manifest grief, Syme explained at his wife’s memorial service at Ira Kaufman Chapel, but they can also emb...…
…Looking Back From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History accessible at www.djnfoundation.org 78 | JULY 27 • 2023 A Woman of Distinction W e often hear about the men who were instrumental in Israeli history — Herzl, Weizmann, Ben-Gurion and many more. However, we don’t hear as much about significant Israeli women from the past beyond Golda Meir, or perhaps, more recently, Hollywood Star Gal Gadot. One Israeli ...…
…8 | JULY 27 • 2023 PURELY COMMENTARY U ndocumented Michiganders deserve dignity and security — one critical step to making that a reality is to restore driver’s licenses for all. Over the last seven years, undocumented Michiganders and their allies have gotten the Drive SAFE bills introduced five times, but the bills have never passed. That wait cannot continue. We, the undersigned Michigan Rabbis, call on the Michigan Legislat...…
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…JULY 27 • 2023 | 9 Sometimes repairs are more than a drop in the bucket. Need emergency home repairs? Hebrew Free Loan gets you funding when you need it most. Repair their homes Take care of medical procedures Get a college education Start or expand a business Consolidate debt Our loans are interest-free and tailored to your needs, so you can focus on what matters most. So don’t let financial challenges hold ...…
…$200 July 20-26, 2023 / 2-8 Av 5783 JEWISH NEWS THE DETROIT thejewishnews.com ‘What’s Not to Like?’ The inspiring story of Nick Gilbert who lived every day of his 26 years to the fullest. See page 10 …
…10 | JULY 20 • 2023 An inspiring remembrance of Nick Gilbert who, despite enormous challenges, never gave up on life. ‘What’s Not to Like?’ DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER OUR COMMUNITY ON THE COVER PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE GILBERT FAMILY …
…JULY 20 • 2023 | 11 N ick Gilbert climbed Masada. Picture a giant plateau on the edge of Israel’s Judean Desert, overlooking the Dead Sea, about 1,300 feet straight up. The mountain is steep — so steep you can’t just climb up the side, but instead use switchbacks taking you up the incline. There are over 700 steps and endless rocky slopes, most of which have no railing. You have to start this hike at 4 a.m. when it’s already 105 de...…
…12 | JULY 20 • 2023 cally and mentally against the disease that he became a tougher, better person for it. It made him become comfortable in his own skin because he felt confident about what he was doing. In his mind, if he could beat brain tumors, he could beat anything.” DAD’S PERSONAL HERO When 14-year-old Nick Gilbert rep- resented the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team his father owns, in the 2011 NBA draft lottery, minutes before ...…
…JULY 20 • 2023 | 13 Cavaliers and the Michigan State Spartans, his alma mater. He loved the city of Detroit and the efforts being put into its revitalization. There was no food Nick loved more than cheese; in fact, it was mostly what he ate. Macaroni and cheese, grilled cheese, cheese quesa- dilla, Cheetos, Cheez-Its. He loved cheese-flavored foods so much that his family and friends joked he would one day turn into a big block of c...…
…14 | JULY 20 • 2023 him to hold up his end of the deal by dropping down and giving him 20 push- ups. At a Pistons game many years ago, Nick successfully convinced singer Kid Rock to walk up to the concourse to grab him chips and cheese. Backstage before a concert in Cleveland, Nick ran up to 24-time Grammy Award winner Jay-Z and asked, “Jay-Z, what’s your favorite Jay-Z song?” Right before his first brain surgery when he was 10 yea...…
…JULY 20 • 2023 | 15 …
…16 | JULY 20 • 2023 them. “We wanted to help him. He could have picked anyone to help him navigate through life, but he picked us,” brother Grant said. “This meant we got to con- tribute to his happiness while spending bonus time laughing together. We needed these moments, and we absolutely needed him much more than he needed us. We simply would not be the same without the lessons he taught us.” People would meet Nick and then feel ...…
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…18 | JULY 20 • 2023 OUR COMMUNITY ON THE COVER Nick remained in the hospital for more than two months, fighting for his life. Miraculously, Nick was able to come home in October, but sadly, with less vision and his hearing beginning to fade. By February, Nick could no longer see or hear and was on a feeding tube. The decision was made to once again give radiation a shot in hope of Nick regaining some hearing. It was unsuccessful. ...…
…JULY 20 • 2023 | 19 A DETERMINED FIGHTER Angela Sebald formed a special bond with Nick during his college years, working as MSU’s blindness and visual impairment specialist. Sebald’s job was to provide access so Nick could be successful in his courses. Sebald was in Nick’s life almost every day of his college career. In 2018, when Nick underwent the first of his two brain surgeries in a short span, he also happened to have three exa...…
…Two Generations, One Force. J E F F & M AT T B A R K E R ASSOCIATE BROKERS …
…20 | JULY 20 • 2023 T here are several things I ponder when I’m about to arrive at a Jewish wedding, like will there be little cocktail weenies during hors d’ oeuvres, and will I be able to navigate the hora without embarrassing myself? However, since Valerie Ross of Birmingham shared her family’s wed- ding stories with me, I’ll be paying closer atten- tion to more meaningful details the next time I attend a Jewish wedding. Of...…
…JULY 20 • 2023 | 21 old, when he originally received it from his parents, Sydney and Nellie Kraft. And it wasn’t a prayer shawl that just lay dormant over the years, only coming out of hibernation from Aaron’s blue velvet tallit bag in time for the High Holidays. “He enjoyed shul during the holidays, ” said Valerie, but he wore the tallit every Shabbat morning at Adat Shalom. He and my mother, Esther, were longtime members. “Each grand...…
…22 | JULY 20 • 2023 “Having my Grandpa Aaron’s tallit hanging above us was so special,” said Jeremy. “It also felt like my bubbie and other relatives who are no longer with us were watching over us on our special day. It was like having a piece of our family’s story woven into our own.” Helayne took great comfort in the symbolism that her father’s prayer shawl represented. “My father’s tallit reminded me of a long, warm hug around t...…
