…48 | JANUARY 12 • 2023 Details Harold & Maude: An Intimate Musical is rated PG for adult situations including drug use and suicide. The show runs three weekends, Jan. 13-29. Tickets are $25. Birmingham Village Players is located at 34600 Woodward Ave. in Birmingham. For tickets, go to www.birminghamvillage- players.com/harold-maude-the-musical. For one night only, on Feb. 18, in celebration of Birmingham Village Players’ 100th annivers...…
…JANUARY 12 • 2023 | 49 CELEBRITY JEOPARDY, EXPLAINED; A JOYOUS JEWISH MOMENT The Celebrity Jeopardy Tournament, hosted by Mayim Bialik, 47, is broadcast live on Thursdays on ABC at 8 p.m. (Also available via live streaming or on-demand on many channels, like Hulu). Sadly, the tournament website is terrible. It doesn’t make it easy to find out, in advance, when a particular celebrity will appear on the program, and it really ...…
…JANUARY 12 • 2023 | 5 Eagle do that.’” I called Jerry Green, the Detroit News’ beat reporter for the Lions at the time of Hughes’ death. I wrote about Jerry’s incredible career last March in the JN. He, too, expressed surprise by the absence of any earlier mentions of Hughes’ passing in the Hamlin coverage. Like me, he heard ESPN refer to the Hamlin incident as “unprece- dented.” Still a contributing writer at 94, Green shared his ...…
…50 | JANUARY 12 • 2023 KOSHER FOOD NOON-3 PM, EVERY MONDAY Windsor residents will be offered hot kosher meals, catered by Shira Fish from Oak Park, in the restaurant attached to the Peretz House. She will also deliver pre-ordered kosher takeout meals, which can be frozen and eaten throughout the week. If you are interested in sitting down for a hot lunch on Mondays or ordering takeout meals for the rest of the week, reach out...…
…SOAR CLASSES JAN. 17 Registration opens for SOAR LLI winter program, providing academic-style classes during the day for adults who love to learn. The winter program focuses on the 1970s and will explore topics such as “Television in the ’70s,” “Technological Advances of the ’70s,” the works of Toni Morrison and more. Classes are held on Zoom. Information about the program and registration can be found at soarexplore.com. BRAI...…
… 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 www.loisharondesigns.com Lois Haron Interior Designer Allied ASID (248) 851-6989 loisharondesigns@gmail.com Full Service Decorator It doesn’t have to cost a fortune, only look like it. Lois Ha...…
…JANUARY 12 • 2022 | 53 ROCHELLE M. BARR, 85, of Bloomfield Hills, died on Dec. 14, 2022. A classical pianist and organist extraordinaire, her music graced many souls. Ms. Barr is survived by her son, two daughters, two grandsons, and a younger sister. She was the beloved daughter of the late Samuel W. and the late Sylvia S. Barr; the elder sister of the late Maurice Edwin Barr. A graveside service was held at Machpelah Cemeter...…
…OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY RICHARD GILMORE passed away Jan. 3, 2023. He was surrounded by loved ones. Mr. Gilmore was a beloved and cherished uncle, brother, son and friend to many; he was truly one of the most loved people anyone could ever meet. He was the light of his family’s life and will be missed almost to an unbearable level. Richard brought joy and laughter to all who knew him. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel....…
…JANUARY 12 • 2022 | 55 S tewart Albert Newblatt, 95, of Clarkston, died peacefully with family around him on Dec. 27, 2022, four days after his birthday. He lived a life filled to the brim with love, family, friendship, fun, adventure, accomplishment and service. The love of his life was Flora, to whom he was married for 58 years. Stewart was born on Dec. 23, 1927, in Detroit to Fanny and Robert Newblatt. His mother had immi...…
…56 | JANUARY 12 • 2022 OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY I t is with great sadness that the family announces the passing of their mother, Harriet B. Rotter, on Dec. 23, 2022, eight months after the death of their father, Dr. Norman “Norm” Rotter. Born in Detroit on Sept. 19, 1939, Harriet was the eldest of four children of immigrant parents from Lithuania and Poland. During her childhood, she looked out for her younger siblings and...…
…JANUARY 12 • 2022 | 57 continued from page 54 afforded by democracy in the United States and the value of a quality public education while attending Fairbanks Elementary and Cooley High in the Detroit Public School System. Taught by his father, John gravitated to math and accounting, earning a degree from Wayne State University, and then joining the federal government. For more than 40 years, John worked for various federal ag...…
…OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY 58 | JANUARY 12 • 2022 Sydney, Ariana and Olivia; of Aileen Hollander and her children, Max, Ruthie and Sam; of Robin Isquith and her children, Zachary and Rachel; of Hillary and Michael Cerchia, Irena Lerman, Karen Baach and Adele Zum. She is also survived by her children, Robin and Aaron Bobkin, and Mark Lyons; grandchildren, Jason Bobkin, Justin Lyons, Ethan Lyons, and Ashley and Ben Milgram; g...…
…JANUARY 12 • 2022 | 59 DONNA PEARLMAN, 78, of Huntington Woods, died Jan. 3, 2023. She is survived by her daughters and son-in- law, Jodie and Peter Berkman, and Emily Green; son and daughter-in-law, Joshua and Beth Pearlman; grandchildren, Nicole, Caroline and Bradley Berkman, Jack and Carly Pearlman, and Daisy Green; sisters and brothers, Lauren Weingarden, Dayle and Jay Prinstein, Sheldon and Judy Klein, and Janice and Mark...…
…6 | JANUARY 12 • 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: De...…
…60 | JANUARY 12 • 2022 and Sanford (Budd) Schaefer. Contributions may be made to Temple Shir Shalom, 3999 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48323, shirshalom.org; JARC, 6735 Telegraph, Suite 100, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301, jarc.org; or Forgotten Harvest, 15000 Eight Mile Road, Oak Park, MI 48237. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. ADELLE C. SEARS, 94, of West Bloomfield, died on Dec. 29, 2022. She was born in 1928. Sh...…
…JANUARY 12 • 2022 | 61 Simpser, Leonardo (Yanine) Simpser, Tammy, Joanna, Randy and Micha; devoted brother of the late Benjamin Shwedel (Ann, Betty), Charles Shwedel (Onny), Norman Shwedel (Zelda), Harold Smith, Fred Smith, Leo Shwedel (Thelma), Sylvia Schlesinger (Andy), Frances Nanes (Burt); 20 adoring great-grandchildren; special friends, Muriel Myers, Jan and Larry Freedman, Lynette Blumenthal, Jorge Szauer, Estaban Szauer....…
…Looking Back From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History accessible at www.djnfoundation.org 62 | JANUARY 12 • 2023 Jews and Boxing O ver the years, our JN sports reporter, Steve Stein, has written a number of articles about boxing. Last year, he penned several items about boxing matches promoted by Dmitriy Salita, who is a rare person in the modern era: an Orthodox Jewish boxing promoter. From 2001-2013, ...…
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…8 | JANUARY 12 • 2023 A s Jews around the world celebrated and observed the miraculous Festival of Lights last month, my family found ourselves in a period of mourning. Days before Chanukah, my 88-year-old Holocaust- surviving uncle Jack Gun passed away peacefully in his sleep. He lived a long life. A remarkable life. A life where he bore witness to such atrocities and horrors that there are actually groups of people today w...…
…JANUARY 12 • 2023 | 9 From North to South — The Bishops Have You Covered! SERVING THE JEWISH COMMUNITY FOR OVER 30 YEARS! 4130 TELEGRAPH ROAD 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 1 BILLION IN CAREER SALES! WATERFRONT ESTATE IN LIGHTHOUSE PT! 3131 NE 27th Ave, Lighthouse Point FL ...…
… An Old-New Whimsical Playground Bais Chabad of Farmington Hills breathes new life into “retired” equipment. See page 10 Jan. 5-11, 2023 / 12-18 Tevet 5783 JEWISH NEWS THE DETROIT thejewishnews.com …
…10 | JANUARY 5 • 2023 I n 2000, a couple from West Bloomfield had a child who attended Ganeinu pre- school in Farmington Hills. So pleased with the top-notch education their child was receiving, the couple donated $75,000 toward installation of a top-of-the-line play- ground. Fast forward two decades. Ganeinu’s loca- tion of 30+ years recently changed hands. The school moved into the basement classrooms of Adat Shalom Synagogue in F...…
…JANUARY 5 • 2023 | 11 up, disassembled, repainted and rebuilt in the shul’s backyard. ” Until that point, Bais Chabad of Farmington Hills didn’t have a very exciting playground although there was a little woodsy area to explore. Bergstein hired Tim Render of Playground Professionals, who delivers and installs custom- ized playgrounds, to help oversee the vision he had. “Tim’s an artist; he sees things that maybe the rest of us don’t ...…
…12 | JANUARY 5 • 2023 I t’s quite a sight to see: a bright orange Nissan Versa Note zipping around town, a large blue magnetic sign affixed to its door that says, “on the run doing mitzvahs. ” The white-bearded man behind the wheel of the “mitzvah mobile” is Joey Roberts, 71, of West Bloomfield and sitting next to him is his adorable Shi Tzu, Rosie. Life has given some hard knocks to Joey, but he’s found that giving to others has ...…
…JANUARY 5 • 2023 | 13 It took multiple attempts, four different rehabs and some painful, disappointing relapses, but, in 2017, Joshua got clean and has stayed clean ever since. He’s managed to pull his life around, even finding and marrying his beshert, Stevie DuFresne, in February 2022. “That’s a miracle right there, ” said a very proud Joey. BECOMING MITZVAH MAN After Linda passed away, Joey felt lost and miserable at first. “Th...…
…14 | JANUARY 5 • 2023 OUR COMMUNITY T hanks to a generous Southfield cou- ple, an Israeli boy with special needs had his wish fulfilled for his 17th birthday. Idan Yaron, who lives near Haifa, Israel, loves horseback riding, which had become a therapeutic activity. But the equestrian center where he used to ride closed at the start of the COVID epidemic and has not reopened. His mother, Liat Yaron, contacted Magen David Adom’s “Wis...…
…Rolling Hills 3300 Crumb Road Commerce Township, MI 48390 RollingHillsRetirement.com Call today to RSVP or schedule a private tour: 248-716-1887 We’ve thought of everything! Our resort-style service and amenities are all included for one monthly price with no buy-in fee, so you can relax, enjoy life, and spend your retirement doing more of what you love. A Happier New Year. This year resolve to celebrate life every day! Disco...…
…16 | JANUARY 5 • 2023 S outh Haven’s First Hebrew Congregation was established by Jewish farmers who became resort operators. In the early 1900s, Jewish people had a tough time vaca- tioning around the shoreline of Lake Michigan because many communities excluded Jewish patrons. South Haven was an exception, welcoming Jews and developing an identity with the Jewish clientele from the Detroit-Chicago markets. Jewish life in Sout...…
…JANUARY 5 • 2023 | 17 munity shrinking at one point, the synagogue today — consist- ing of just under 100 members — attracts not only year-round locals but second-home owners who grew up in the area as well as tourists. The synagogue has under- gone major renovations over the years, spending more than $500,000 on its rejuvenation. The end results include a new roof, stained glass windows, new substructure, repaired foundations, ne...…
…18 | JANUARY 5 • 2023 O n Jan. 15, Hebrew Day School of Ann Arbor will host a brunch in honor of its founders. The Marlene Gitelman HDS Founders Memorial Brunch will pay tribute to the small group of dedicated Jewish community members who founded the school in 1974. Marlene Gitelman, who passed away earlier this year at age 74, was vital to the creation of the school and developing its mission. “The school was founded by a group of...…
…JANUARY 5 • 2023 | 19 says. “Therefore, our classrooms are quite dynamic. ” Samantha Hendren, Hebrew Day School of Ann Arbor board president, says there is an emphasis on “developing the whole child with social and emotional learning. ” There is also a robust Hebrew immer- sion program that teaches Hebrew and Judaic studies. “We see it as an important part of our mission to give chil- dren a strong sense of identity within their Jew...…
…Presents… an afternoon of MLK Day programming: …
…20 | JANUARY 5 • 2023 H illel Day School added two major roles to its Student Support Team this year, a new speech patholo- gist, Heather Vieder, and an occupational therapist, Sara Wasser. In these roles, they will provide critical early intervention and, in turn, Hillel will be able to better meet the needs of students who need special services. Now, between their social workers, learning special- ists, speech pathologist and ...…
…JANUARY 5 • 2023 | 21 learning disabilities at the end of sec- ond grade, early third grade,” Love said. “However, we felt it was really important to have somebody working with our youngest learners.” Vieder and Wasser, in these roles, are primarily working with pre-K 4-year- olds through second graders. Several things can get in the way of students learning to read, write and develop strong literacy skills. Vieder and Wasser are t...…
…22 | JANUARY 5 • 2023 J obs and Moms (JAM), a new three-week program for mothers with young families pioneered by Gesher Human Services and Temple Israel’s Early Childhood Center (ECC), is being launched on Jan. 23. The initiative is aimed at mothers of preschool and lower elementary school children who are Temple Israel members and who have put their careers on hold but now, due to financial circum- stances or a desire to reen...…
…JANUARY 5 • 2023 | 23 EXTRA! EXTRA! We’ve got the inside scoop about Jewish Senior Life! THURSDAY JANUARY 12TH 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM 6760 W. Maple Road West Bloomfield, MI 48322 RSVP by calling Tracey at (248) 592-5048 or emailing tproghovnick@jslmi.org YOU’RE INVITED TO ATTEND AN EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATION. Hear from residents and members of our leadership team. As featured on: Need Help with an IRS or State Tax Problem? Call th...…
…24 | JANUARY 5 • 2023 J ews and non-Jews alike were drawn to Unorthodox and Shtisel, the two popular Netflix miniseries dramas about Chasidic life. These voyeuristic deep dives into the ultra-Orthodox lifestyle of the adherents of Chasidism were the first exposure many had to these insular communities. Unorthodox is based on the book by Deborah Feldman, who cut ties with her ultra-Orthodox Williamsburg, Brooklyn, community in 2...…
…JANUARY 5 • 2023 | 25 are very camera shy and that’s ingrained in me, too. Despite my reluctance, I did believe that it’s important to reach a wider audience with the story of the Chasidic community. The New York Satmar community seems to be one of the most understudied subcul- tures, and most of the pop culture represen- tations are dark and misleading, creating this narrative of an “other. ” So, I think it’s important to get beyond...…
…26 | JANUARY 5 • 2023 OUR COMMUNITY T he Detroit Writing Room announced the return of in-person book events with a 2023 Author Series held at the historic Whitney mansion in Midtown Detroit. The intimate experiences take place in the Whitney’s Music Room (January- April) and outdoor garden (May- June), weather permitting. Guests will enjoy drinks and hors d’ oeuvres during a meet- and-greet with the author. The event will also inc...…
…JANUARY 5 • 2023 | 27 H appy New Year, friends! The goal of this column, as we all make our New Year’s resolutions, is to offer many ways to help others in 2023. Our community is a gold mine of volunteering treasures, and we hope to provide all kinds of opportunities to stay true to your reso- lutions in the coming months. ADAT SHALOM’S ninth annual Volunteer Day invites volunteers of all ages to do hands-on projects for organizatio...…
…I like my kid again” — that’s what one parent told Forest Levy Wolfe, found- er of Teaching Circle, after taking part in her Family Coaching program. Wolfe started Teaching Circle in January 2022 — offering classes to young children — but she soon realized, it’s not just kids who need support. Parents need it, too. “There are a lot of preschools and tutoring programs out there for children, but there’s not as much support and coachin...…
…JANUARY 5 • 2023 | 29 to cheer on racers, hand out medals to racers after they cross the finish line and serve pancakes at the post-race breakfast. Shifts are two to three hours long and volunteers must be at least 16 with parental per- mission. For details, contact VolunteerDepartment@lea- derdog.org. THE WELL, NEXTGen Detroit and Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit’s Women’s Philanthropy are coming together for a Dignity...…
…JANUARY 5 • 2023 | 3 PURELY COMMENTARY 4-9 Essays and viewpoints. OUR COMMUNITY 10 An Old-New Whimsical Playground Bais Chabad of Farmington Hills breathes new life into retired equipment. 12 One-Man Mitzvah Mobile West Bloomfield man and his dog are on a mission to do good in the world. 14 Making Wishes Come True Southfield couple helps “Wish Ambulance” fulfill a dream. 16 South Haven’s First Hebrew Congrega...…
…OUR COMMUNITY F or Pasteur Elementary School graduate Elizabeth “Liz” Jacobs, the school’s library, a sunlit room with dark wooden shelves, was a happy place presided over by the school’s longtime librar- ian, Mrs. Robinson. Jacobs, who graduated in 1962, is one of many Jewish alumni of Pasteur, located at Stoepel and Pembroke in Northwest Detroit. She is the recording sec- retary of the Friends of Pasteur, a nonprofit support orga...…
…cational services. New tables have been ordered, and the volunteers hope to add some comfortable chairs for the teachers to use when reading to their classes. Each student will receive a Pasteur Library card and will soon begin tak- ing out books. Hall, Pasteur’s principal, plans to apply for a librarian from the Detroit Public Schools Community District. While there was some initial skepticism about the ability of volunteers to ...…
…32 | JANUARY 5 • 2023 faces&places Blacks and Jews have long had an important relationship throughout history — from the civil rights movement to present day. It’s that solidarity that makes the Coalition for Black and Jewish Unity’s holiday party all that more special. Blacks and Jews united to cele- brate Christmas and Chanukah at the Pistons Performance Center. Songs were sung and dancing was abundant as the family-friendly a...…
…DECEMBER 29 • 2022 | 33 Jewish Senior Life celebrat- ed the grand opening of the Hechtman II Coffee House in the Eli A. Scherr Activity Room on Dec. 6. Philanthropist and friend of JSL, Eli Scherr, attended the festivities along with more than 40 residents, staff and community members. Eli spoke of his days on the Jewish Apartments and Services Board and his delight in contributing to the lifestyle residents enjoy on JSL campus...…
…34 | JANUARY 5 • 2023 NEXT DOR B ari Weiss, the for- mer New York Times editor and writer, is quite busy these days. She is assisting in the publication of files uncovered at Twitter by its new owner that purport to tell how and why some discourse on the platform was suppressed or margin- alized prior to Elon Musk’s $44 billion acquisition of the platform. Musk’s prime motivation for buying Twitter was to restructure the social...…
