…8 | AUGUST 24 • 2023 PURELY COMMENTARY column Is Barbie Liberal or ‘Kenservative’? I n the 1950s, a Jewish woman born in Denver, Colorado, to parents who fled persecution in Eastern Europe, decided that the toy market needed adult-themed dolls for children. Ruth Handler (1916- 2002) came up with the idea for “Barbie,” named after her daughter Barbara and reportedly inspired by “Bild Lilli,” a German sex doll modeled after ...…
…AUGUST 24 • 2023 | 9 to her daughter and plastic comrades. “You are so beautiful and so smart, and it kills me that you don’t think you’re good enough. Like, we have to always be extraordinary, but somehow, we’re always doing it wrong. You have to be thin, but not too thin.” I wanted to laugh when a woman sitting next to me in the theater muttered: “She’s right.” Are we seriously going to find words of wisdom in a film that clea...…
…$200 Aug. 17-23, 2023 / 30 Av-6 Elul 5783 JEWISH NEWS thejewishnews.com Owners love their vehicles and the communities they inspire. See page 12 THE DETROIT CAR CULTURE Celebrating …
…10 | AUGUST 17 • 2023 PURELY COMMENTARY continued from page 8 er who declared that I didn’t have “a drop of Judaism inside of [me],” then proceeded to push her way into my attitude toward Judaism as much as possible, pressing a siddur into my hands and urging me to relearn the words. She inculcated within me that insouciance toward school- work was not the appropriate attitude and urged me to do better academically. By the end ...…
…AUGUST 17 • 2023 | 11 SCAN ME A GREAT PLACE TO START YOUR SOMEDAY SCHEDULE A CAMPUS TOUR OR ATTEND AN ADMISSIONS EVENT. Or visit oaklandcc.edu Save more than $22,000* on tuition when pursuing a 4-year degree from a public university Flexible scheduling and convenient online or in-person classes Programs designed for both direct entry into hot careers and university transfer Personalized instruction from faculty with re...…
…12 | AUGUST 17 • 2023 CAR CULTURE Celebrating OUR COMMUNITY ON THE COVER L auren Mendelson of Huntington Woods has loved cars since she was a child. Today, she collects and drives a curated fleet of custom sports cars she’s excited to share with a community of like-minded enthusiasts. “People call me all the time to exhibit — a lot of times I end up with two or three things in one day, ” she says. “It’s blossomed into a way of l...…
…His Dream Convertible Jim Boschan of Bloomfield Hills loves taking his eight grandkids for a spin in his 1971 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 convertible. “They can’t wait for me to put the top down and take them for a ride,” he says. He was drawn to cars early on, he recalls, with a Thunderbird convertible first catching his eye in the Food Fair grocery store parking lot. “The top was off, and I was tall enough to see into the car. I saw ...…
…14 | AUGUST 17 • 2023 love of music and cars. “He just got a new Miata, a cute two-seater roadster, ” she recalls. “He let me drive it, and I was just thrilled. ” She told him about her Datsun 240Z, they talked about cars and their fam- ilies, and the rest is history. They’ve traveled the world collecting and exploring cars and car culture, sharing their enthusiasm with their daughters, Faye and Zoē, now 30 and 26, as well. For inst...…
…AUGUST 17 • 2023 | 15 “IT’S BLOSSOMED INTO A WAY OF LIFE FOR ME.” — LAUREN MENDELSON Lauren Mendelson behind the wheel of a Ferrari Child Pray and Play Space (Parent-supervised) 10:30 a.m. • William Saulson Pavilion The PrayGround is complimentary but pre-registration is requested. Bubbles, Music, and Movement with Morah Lindsay Jewish Meditation with Citizen Yoga Family Friendly Outdoor Religious Service Spiritual Drum Circle AND...…
…16 | AUGUST 17 • 2023 continued from page 14 nificant item in their collection. “I bought that car when my mother passed away, so it has very special meaning to me, not to mention it’s just a beautiful car. It’s timeless; it’s retro-looking. ” The Z8 is also featured in the James Bond Movie The World Is Not Enough, she says. “It’s cool it was in a movie and, of course, my mother is all around me when I’m in that car, so I feel safe....…
…AUGUST 17 • 2023 | 17 The 15,000-square-foot garage in Royal Oak where the Mendelsons store and showcase their vehicles. Come together with your loved ones for this heartwarming occasion, where we unite to raise funds and awareness for our life-changing programs for individuals with special needs. Join us on August 27th for this free, family-friendly event and help us reach our goal of $750,000! SUN, AUG 27TH Registration Begi...…
…18 | AUGUST 17 • 2023 M aybe you have seen its hash-tagged slo- gan on billboards while driving around Southeast Michigan or printed on T-shirts at Jewish community events. Far from a mere social media campaign, #EndJewHatred describes itself as an interna- tional mobilizing grassroots campaign aimed at strengthen- ing Jewish civil rights wherever the need arises to fight antisem- itism. In response to a rash of anti-Jewish inci...…
…AUGUST 17 • 2023 | 19 A FOCUS ON THREATS AGAINST JEWS Rubin said the organization’s main focus is to stand up to threats against Jews rather than centering its energies on pro-Israel messages. However, acknowledging that anti-Zionism usually quickly devolves into antisemitism, Rubin said they are support- ive of people with a wide range of views if they believe in Israel’s right to exist. “We try to take Israel a bit out of our equat...…
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…20 | AUGUST 17 • 2023 OUR COMMUNITY M ichigan’s synagogues and temples began to empty out and then close on March 12, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 70-member Michigan Board of Rabbis took this action on the advice of physicians to reduce potential virus transmission and illness. The Council of Orthodox Rabbis of Greater Detroit also issued guidelines for their congregations. It was a time of anxiety, along with deter...…
…AUGUST 17 • 2023 | 21 thought I would learn so much about Zoom and ways to keep congregants engaged during services! It was really like learning to be a television performer or TikTok personality! I very much appreciated the help of our technical crew at the temple, who often helped with screen- sharing, bringing in lively videos from musical groups like 613 or the Maccabeats, especially at the opening of our services,” says Rabb...…
…22 | AUGUST 17 • 2023 OUR COMMUNITY O n 75 acres of wood- ed land in Superior Township, a safe space for young adults struggling with depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts is becoming a reality. After a lengthy battle, Superior Township trustees voted 5-2 in mid-July to approve the campus for Garrett’s Space, a suicide prevention nonprofit founded in honor of Garrett Halpert, a Jewish community member who lost his life to su...…
…AUGUST 10 • 2023 | 23 STUDENT EXAMS WITH PURCHASE OF EYEGLASSES 49 $ BACK TO SCHOOL …
…24 | AUGUST 17 • 2023 F or the first time in decades, Detroit hosted the National Young Leadership Cabinet (NYLC) retreat. The retreat was held from July 31 through Aug. 2. The opening plena- ry at the Westin Book Cadillac Detroit featured speeches from several local and national dignitaries, headlined by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. NYLC is Jewish Federations of North America’s (JFNA) premier young leader- ship development prog...…
…AUGUST 17 • 2023 | 25 people to look at Michigan as a potential place to build a life.” Whitmer’s message to JN readers and Michigan’s Jewish community in the face of the rise in antisemitism is a commit- ment to the work of making sure every person can live their lives and be safe in their communities across Michigan. “That’s why these historic dollars that we’re putting in, especially for our Michigan Jewish community, are really im...…
…26 | AUGUST 17 • 2023 OUR COMMUNITY T he 12th Rabbi David & Alicia Nelson Legacy Event, co-sponsored by the Cohn-Haddow Center for Judaic Studies, takes place Wednesday, Aug. 23, and Thursday, Aug. 24, at Congregation Beth Shalom in Oak Park. This year’s guest is Rabbi Avinoam Sharon, a Talmud scholar and the editor-in-chief of the Israeli Supreme Court Blog of the Cardozo School of Law. He was on the faculty of law of the H...…
…AUGUST 17 • 2023 | 27 Register today by scanning the QR code or visiting: WalkAgainstHate.org/Michigan Join our annual Walk Against Hate to move toward a future without antisemitism, racism, or any other form of bigotry. Let's get moving, Michigan! For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Michigan@adl.org ©2023 Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc. Hadassah, the H logo, and Hadassah the Power of Women Who...…
…28 | AUGUST 17 • 2023 OUR COMMUNITY T he fun, easy part of any relationship can be meeting each other; the harder part can be working at it and staying together. Meet Aaron and Winnie Krieger, a set of great-grandparents who have shared a beautiful relationship since age 17. Both attended Central High in Detroit and only knew each other peripherally. In 1951, when they were in 12th grade, their lockers were near one another’s. “...…
…AUGUST 17 • 2023 | 29 SPOTLIGHT “We look at each other and say, ‘Wow, how is this possible!?’” Winnie said. “As anyone who’s been married a long time knows, marriage is an up and down kind of existence … There are many happy times and many sad ones. But, somehow, we made the right decision all those years ago and have loved and supported each other ever since.” The really incredible and special part? This beautiful couple compl...…
…AUGUST 17 • 2023 | 3 contents PURELY COMMENTARY 4-10 Essays and viewpoints. OUR COMMUNITY 12 Celebrating Car Culture Owners love their vehicles and the communities they inspire. 18 Bringing the Fight Home #EndJewHatred starts new Michigan chapter. 20 Synagogues Post-Pandemic What synagogues and temples learned from the COVID experience. 22 Suicide Prevention Center Approved Near Ann Arbor Plan for Garrett...…
…30 | AUGUST 17 • 2023 BACK TO SCHOOL E nrollment holds steady at Detroit Metro’s Jewish day schools in West Bloomfield and Farmington Hills. Administrators say that last spring they initially received a few calls of inquiry from public school families following the diversity assembly debacle that occurred at Bloomfield Hills High School. However, they say few have transferred their children into a day school Jewish setting d...…
…AUGUST 17 • 2023 | 31 continued on page 32 is also taking on the roles of religious studies principal and oversees athletic and theater departments. Weiler said as of the 2021-2022 school year, FJA had 18 AP courses and this year will add AP precalculus, as well as having two dual enrollment courses with Lawrence Tech under the guidance of Rapp. This year, Weiler said FJA will again offer the AP Capstone curriculum based on ...…
…32 | AUGUST 17 • 2023 school where they feel that sense of community, which some students say is lacking in a public-school setting. While they are not specifically saying they feel uneasy with the rise in antisemitism, they do appreciate being in a school where their needs as Jewish students are seen and met. ” HILLEL DAY SCHOOL Hillel Day School Head of School Dr. Darin Katz said this fall, Hillel is well positioned to carry...…
…AUGUST 17 • 2023 | 33 CLASS OF 2022 JENAE LODEWYK 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 hands-on experi...…
…34 | AUGUST 17 • 2023 BACK TO SCHOOL BACK - TO-SCHOOL STYLE From pre-school to pre-med, here’s what fashion icons will be wearing this year. LYNNE KONSTANTIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER …
…AUGUST 17 • 2023 | 35 FACING PAGE, LEFT: Who could be sad while wearing this Lola + The Boys cozy Happy Crystal Sweatshirt? Lil’ Rascals, Birmingham. Lilrascalsbham.com. FACING PAGE, RIGHT: Who needs a boyfriend’s shirt? Replace it with the AE Go Big Oversized Shirt — it will be your go-to for every outfit and outing, worn long, tucked in, wrapped around the waist and more. Area American Eagle stores. Ae.com. Appaman Metall...…
…36 | AUGUST 17 • 2023 BACK TO SCHOOL Ooly Un-Mistake- Ables Erasable Colored Pencils are made with secret-recipe lead. Petite Cabane, Birmingham. Petitecabaneshop.com. Bold as sunshine, Sticky Lemon Large Farmhouse Backpacks (shown in Blooming Purple and Homemade Honey) are crafted from recycled PET bottles and lined with waterproof nylon. Petite Cabane, Birmingham. Petitecabaneshop.com. KatieJ NYC Tween Parachute Pant has...…
…AUGUST 17 • 2023 | 37 Madame Butterfly SATURDAY, OCT. 7 AT 7:30 P.M. FRIDAY, OCT. 13 AT 7:30 P.M. SUNDAY, OCT. 15 AT 2:30 P.M. AT THE DETROIT OPERA HOUSE WITH SUPPORT FROM: Arias and Overtures SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28 AT 7:30 P.M. Conducted by Roberto Kalb, featuring the Detroit Opera Orchestra and Singers in concert, headlined by soprano Christine Goerke. TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT DETROITOPERA.ORG SATURDAY, OCT. 21 AT 7:30 P.M. SUNDAY, OCT...…
…38 | AUGUST 17 • 2023 BACK TO SCHOOL Bigs Detroit Arch Hoodies, in a rainbow of colors. Caruso Caruso, Birmingham. Carusocaruso.com. American Eagle teamed with the Ziegler Sisters to create a limited-edition collection. Layer this AE x The Ziegler Sisters Crop Vest over a long-sleeve baby tee. Area American Eagle stores. Ae.com. Steve Madden Varsity Jacket has striped trim, vegan-leather contrast sleeves and old-school st...…
…AUGUST 17 • 2023 | 39 Lincoln Shopping Center Greenfield and 10½ Mile Lincoln Shopping Center TH E S HOPS AT Advance America ALDI Bling Bling Book Beat Church’s Chicken/White Castle Conservative Cuts Dollar Castle DTLR J Anthony Kroger Lee Beauty Supply McDonalds Medical Weight Loss Metro PCS Metropolitan Dry Cleaners Mookey’s Beans & Greens Original Bread Basket Rainbow Street Corner Music Step In Style Suit D...…
…4 | AUGUST 17 • 2023 guest column From the Basement of the Krakow JCC — A Jewish Story W hen Russia declared war on Ukraine, I was distraught and concerned. Could it be the start of a new world war? Was anyone really believing the convoluted Nazi propaganda perpetrated by the Russians on the backs of the Ukrainian people? As a child of Holocaust survivors, I felt I needed to do something. It is one thing to donate money, but I ...…
…40 | AUGUST 17 • 2023 BACK TO SCHOOL The AE Hooded Trucker Jacket is made from black canvas twill; the AE Flex Carpenter Pant in sturdy canvas has util- ity pockets and roomy stretch. Area American Eagle stores. Ae.com. Precision of engineering has made J. Crew’s khakis longtime favorites — add to that a bit of stretch and a gorgeous shade of Cadet Green, and these 484 Slim-Fit Stretch Chino Pants are prac- tically perfect....…
…For Grand Valley students, next is opportunity and innovation. Next is global, connecting and uniting us. It’s local, shaping the spaces in which we work and live. It’s a commitment to progress. Next is where minds are free to imagine what could be. At GVSU, next is now. And whatever’s next for you, we will help you get there. WHATEVER IS NEXT gvsu.edu/next EXPLORE THE DEPTHS OF OPPORTUNITY. .org AUGUST 17 • 2023 | 41 …
…42 | AUGUST 17 • 2023 Pretty pleats: Wear this high- waisted Sunday Best Olive Micro Pleated Skirt with all your new slouchy and cropped sweaters, like this merino wool cable-knit Peggy Cropped Sweater. Area Aritzia stores. Aritzia.com. Detroit Smiley Sweatpants ask you to “Have a Nice Day.” Caruso Caruso, Birmingham. Carusocaruso.com. Industrial meets classic: Mid-Rise Cargo Pants feature tons of pock- ets and snap straps at ...…
…AUGUST 17 • 2023 | 43 YOU CAN SEARCH THE LAST 80 YEARS OF DETROIT JEWISH NEWS HISTORY IN OUR DIGITAL ARCHIVES? JEWISH NEWS THE DETROIT Scan the QR code to search now! …
…44 | AUGUST 17 • 2023 O n the evening of Friday, July 14, I joined students and young adults of the Metro Detroit area at The Collective@TrueNorth, a community space in the Core City neighborhood, to enjoy a Shabbat meal. Led by Hillel of Metro Detroit (HMD) in partnership with Adamah Detroit, this Shabbat dinner aimed to highlight the connections between Jewish values and sustainability. I attended along with my fellow Wayne...…
…AUGUST 17 • 2023 | 45 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofi t corporations and independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Learn more at MIBluesPerspectives.com/ReadyToHelp We put care in health insurance. Get the care you need, when you need it, with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network. From the largest network of doctors and hospitals in Michigan to covera...…
…H illel at the University of Michigan kicks off the fall semester with a national search for a new executive director following the announcement in July that Tilly Shemer, who had held the post for the 15 years, had accepted a new position as senior vice pres- ident of Wellspring at the Shalom Hartman Institute North America. In a statement released to the JN, Hillel Board President Abbey Frank said that during this interim period, ...…
…AUGUST 17 • 2023 | 47 of her most lasting friendships, including her relationship with her husband, were sparked because of Hillel. “My husband, our siblings and I were deeply involved with Hillel during our years on cam- pus, and it was a place where we found community and life-long friendships, ” she wrote. “For me, Hillel was a place I could go that felt like home and continue my Shabbat observance. When my daughter began her f...…
…48 | AUGUST 17 • 2023 A mid growing concerns over the uptick in antisemitic incidents on college campuses, Oakland University (OU) is becoming proactively involved. Partnering with Hillel of Metro Detroit (HMD), the university is embarking on an initiative that underscores its commitment to creating a safe and welcoming atmosphere. This joint effort is the Campus Climate Initiative (CCI) led by Hillel International. It aims ...…
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…50 | AUGUST 17 • 2023 J im Berk kept an impres- sive streak going at the 2023 National Senior Games. The 68-year-old former sportscaster-turned-personal trainer-exercise coach-compet- itive swimmer has now swum in 12 events in five National Senior Games and finished in the top 10 in all of them. The West Bloomfield resi- dent has won one medal and nine ribbons (for a third- through eighth-place finish) in the 12 events after qua...…
…AUGUST 17 • 2023 | 51 and sixth in the 200 breast- stroke. He won one ribbon in 2019 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, placing fourth in the 200 breaststroke, and one rib- bon in 2017 in Birmingham, Alabama, placing eighth in the 200 breaststroke. He won his lone National Senior Games medal in Minneapolis in 2015, a silver in the 100 breaststroke. He also won a ribbon there for a sixth-place finish in the 50 breaststroke. Normally held...…
…MAZEL TOV! 52 | AUGUST 17 • 2023 Elizabeth Jeanette Fikany, daughter of Marcy and John Fikany, will be called to the Torah as a bat mitzvah at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. She will be joined in celebration by her brother David. Elizabeth is the loving grandchild of Diane Cutler, Mary and Allan Morton, and the late Jeanette and the late James Fikany. She is the adoring great-grandchild of the late Hele...…
