…SEPTEMBER 8 • 2022 | 55 ROSH HASHANAH GREETINGS Ad Deadline: September 14th, 2022 Continue an 80-year tradition! Wish your family and friends and the entire Jewish community a Happy New Year with an ad in The Detroit Jewish News. For information, call 248-351-5116 or email salessupport@thejewishnews.com GO TO: thejewishnews.com/rosh-hashanah-greeting to reserve your space today or call us at 248.351.5116 STEP 1: Select Your Style S...…
…56 | SEPTEMBER 8 • 2022 ARTS&LIFE ART T hree mornings a week, at Congregation Beth Shalom in Oak Park, some 15 painting students take studio classes taught by artist Harriet Gelfond. The class, previously taught at the Jewish Community Centers in Detroit and Oak Park, moved to the synagogue when the Oak Park center closed in 2015. Students’ recent work is being shown through Sept. 15 during a popup exhibit at the Janice Charac...…
…SEPTEMBER 8 • 2022 | 57 hours a day painting. I also do a lot of looking [for ideas to finish a piece]. “Harriet’s been doing this for a long time, and she’s total- ly suited to encouraging peo- ple. She’ll be instructive if you want that. She provides an art venue where people can expe- rience their artistic selves. ” Anne Olender, a Royal Oak resident active with Temple Emanu-El in Oak Park, start- ed with the class in 2016 and atte...…
…58 | SEPTEMBER 8 • 2022 F or a young woman, Andrea Krass McDonald’s getting quite adept at playing little old ladies. But, of course, that’s why they call it acting. Her first time back on stage since 1997 was last year when she was a tap-dancing old lady in the ensemble of The Producers at Birmingham Village Players. Now, Krass McDonald is about to star in Birmingham Village Player’s 100th season opener, Arsenic and Old Lace, run...…
…SEPTEMBER 8 • 2022 | 59 a phenomenal experience. I thought, ‘You know what? I think this is my new home, ’” says Krass McDonald, who lives in Rochester with her husband and two kids. Though she has her BFA in performing arts from Wayne State University, Krass McDonald chose a different career path. “I didn’t want to be a strug- gling actor. I like stability. So I went the makeup route, ” says Krass McDonald, who’s a free- lance mak...…
…60 | SEPTEMBER 8 • 2022 AN INNOCENT GIGOLO, THE HERO OF BOHEMIA, JEWISH SHRINK MEETS KILLER American Gigolo premieres on Showtime on Sept. 11, and new episodes are released on subsequent Fridays. It’s based on the hit 1980 film of the same name. In the film, Richard Gere played Julian Kaye, a Hollywood gigolo who fell in love with a client, a wealthy married woman. Kaye is framed for a murder, but at the end of the film the we...…
…SEPTEMBER 8 • 2022 | 61 SHALOM SHABBAT 10:30 AM-NOON, SEPT. 10 At Adat Shalom Synagogue, Farmington Hills. Hazzan Dan and Rabbi Dan will lead a fun and musical Shabbat celebration. This service will be outside as long as the weather cooperates. This special Shabbat morning is geared to families and their children entering up to third grade. Advanced registration is required: jlive.app/events/2665. All snacks provided are kosher...…
…62 | SEPTEMBER 8 • 2022 splashthat.com; watch live: shorturl.at/bfoUX. SAMPLE SALE 9 AM-5 PM, SEPT. 15&16 Michigan Design Center has added special surprises to its once-yearly sample sale for guests to enjoy both indoors and outside at MDC’s south entrance, 1700 Stutz Drive, Troy. In addition to the deep discounts on designer furniture, lighting, flooring, fabric, rugs, art and accessories, this event will include interactiv...…
…SEPTEMBER 8 • 2022 | 63 National Council of Jewish Women, Michigan (NCJW|MI) will be offering a free virtual program on Tuesday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m. titled “Crisis in America: Misinformation, Disinformation, Malinformation and their Potential Effect on our Midterm Elections.” The program is part of the organization’s annual Fall Focus 2022 event and is being offered to voters to help them discern whether the political infor...…
…64 | SEPTEMBER 8 • 2022 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 $65 SERVICE FEE 24/7 Emergency Service REVERSEMORTGAGESMCHIGAN.COM HOMEOWNERS! AGE IN PLACE WITH A REVERSE MORTGAGE CALL ME•FREE•NO OBLIGATION 800-318-8000 248-763-1438 REFERRED BY FINANCIAL PLANNERS Gov...…
…OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY SEPTEMBER 8 • 2022 | 65 LEO BARRIS, 96, of Keego Harbor, died Aug. 30, 2022. He is sur- vived by his companion, Mitzie Zucker; daughters and son-in-law, Susie and Joel Cohen, Arlene “Leanie” Gunsberg and Ellen Barris; grand- children, Ryan (Dorine) Cohen, Daniel (Lauren) Cohen, Francie Cohen, Aaron Gunsberg and Evan Gunsberg; great-grandchil- dren, Aiden and Charlotte Cohen; sister-in-law, Janet Fi...…
…66 | SEPTEMBER 8 • 2022 E laine Pearlman passed away peacefully on Aug. 25, 2022, sur- rounded by loved ones. Elaine was raised by two hard-working entrepreneurs in Detroit. Her father, Leon, was a pharmacist. Her moth- er, Minnie, ran a hardware store and managed rental properties. They instilled in her an appreciation of hard work, dedication to family and commitment to commu- nity. Elaine was an extraor- dinarily well-rounded...…
…SEPTEMBER 8 • 2022 | 67 continued from page 65 and Dr. Jemma Helfman, and Ernie Helfman; grand- children, Faith, Zyair, Toby, Mollie, Henriette, Dov, Skylar and Aiden Helfman; sisters- in-law and brothers-in-law, Linda and Allen Warner, and Noreen and Alan Klein; many other loving relatives and friends. Mrs. Helfman was the loving sister of the late Joel Sukenic; the devoted daughter of the late Bernard and the late Mollie Sukeni...…
…OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY 68 | SEPTEMBER 8 • 2022 Alex and Melanie Robins, Ashley Robins, Hayley Robins, Jeffrey Schmelter, Daniel Schmelter, Scott Krupkin; great-grandchildren, Madeleine Robins, Oliver Brody, Lily Brody; her dear caregiver, Brian Miller; many loving niec- es, nephews and friends. Mrs. Martin was the beloved wife of the late Andrew Martin; treasured grandmother of the late Sean Robins. Contributions may be ma...…
…SEPTEMBER 8 • 2022 | 69 Contributions may be made to the National Parkinson Foundation, Adat Shalom Synagogue or a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel. LAWRENCE SOLOMON, 87, of West Bloomfield, died Aug. 24, 2022. Larry was a lov- ing partner, father, grandfather and uncle. He was a U.S. veteran who served as an Army medic in South Korea and later devoted his career to government service, work- ing in financ...…
…70 | SEPTEMBER 8 • 2022 Looking Back From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History accessible at www.djnfoundation.org O n Aug. 18, thousands of fans from around the world gathered outside Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee, for the 45th memorial of the passing of the king of rock ’n’ roll music, Elvis Presley. Elvis is one of those rare individuals who had a massive impact upon modern culture. He recorded mor...…
…Orders can be placed Online at www.QualityKosher.com or over the phone - 248-352-7758 S I D E D I S H E S POTATO KUGEL (SERVES 4-6) GF-V APPLE NOODLE KUGEL (SERVES 4-6) baked in a sweet custard with apples and raisins V CARROT TZIMMIS (SERVES 4-6) raisins and brown sugar glaze GF-Vegan ROASTED TRI-COLOR POTATOES (SERVES 4-6) seasoned with rosemary and a touch of garlic GF-Vegan GARLIC GREEN BEANS (SERVES 4-6) sautéed onions and garlic GF...…
…$200 Sept. 1-7, 2022 / 5-11 Elul 5782 JEWISH NEWS THE DETROIT thejewishnews.com Serling Institute for Jewish Studies and Modern Israel • American Jewish History • Hebrew Language • Judaism • Israel Studies • Holocaust Studies • Israel Study Abroad Program • Antisemitism Guide • Visiting Scholars • Israeli Film Festival • Endowed Chair in Israel Studies • Interdisciplinary • MSU Hillel • Jewish Studies Program • Social Events • Cultur...…
…*Valid for new patients only at participating locations. Must call to book screening. This preventive screening is not tied to the provision of any additional services or purchase of goods. Expires September 30. Early detection and prevention saves lives! Limited screenings available.* Did you know that ONE in FIVE people in the U.S. will get skin cancer? Melanoma, skin cancer’s deadliest form is on the rise. If you’ve been puttin...…
…SEPTEMBER 1 • 2022 | 3 contents PURELY COMMENTARY 4-9 Essays and viewpoints. OUR COMMUNITY 10 Victory for MSU MSU’s Serling Institute for Jewish Studies and Modern Israel celebrates three decades of success. 16 Ukraine Relief Efforts Continue Major dental donation marks latest milestone for Congregation Shaarey Zedek’s Ukraine relief efforts. 18 Critical Help Provided Temple Israel volunteers pack 1,...…
…4 | SEPTEMBER 1 • 2022 for openers PURELY COMMENTARY W e are surrounded daily with many shapes. The square of a house; the round- ness of the Earth. (I have recently been forced to face the fact that the Earth is actually round! Wow!) Our aware- ness often translates into expressions in our conversa- tions. Consider angles and arcs, for instance, as they are hidden in our vocabulary. A beautiful bracelet, for example, a bangl...…
…SEPTEMBER 1 • 2022 | 5 THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SPONSORS FOR MAKING WALK4FRIENDSHIP A HUGE SUCCESS! WALK4FRIENDSHIP 2022 IN SUPPORT OF DIAMOND SPONSORS PLATINUM SPONSORS GOLD SPONSORS SILVER SPONSORS BRONZE SPONSORS …
…6 | SEPTEMBER 1 • 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: D...…
…DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 32255 Northwestern Hwy. Suite 205, Farmington Hills, MI 48334 248-354-6060 thejewishnews.com SEPTEMBER 1 • 2022 | 7 T he calming messages from Washington that a final nuclear deal with Iran is still far off seem to be more a method of desensitizing Israel and less of an indication that there are serious disputes between the U.S. and Iran that cannot be overcome. The reason is simple: Both sides want the dea...…
…8 | SEPTEMBER 1 • 2022 PURELY COMMENTARY opinion Judaism Without God? God Forbid. I n a recent Jewish Telegraphic Agency column, Andrew Silow-Carroll identified a trend in American Jewry, which he described as “fiction- alism. ” In the article, he defines it as “pretending to follow a set of beliefs in order to reap the benefits of a set of actions” and cites the philosophy professor Scott Hershovitz, who explains that he f...…
…SEPTEMBER 1 • 2022 | 9 than discarded it. Judaism makes specific truth claims about the world and the nature of reality, and these claims are supported by rational inquiry. We must discover the compelling evidence, and the power- ful philosophical, scientific and historical proofs for the authenticity of the Torah and its claims about the existence of God,and all He did: the creation of the universe, the Exodus from Egypt and the...…
…10 | SEPTEMBER 1 • 2022 OUR COMMUNITY ver the past 30 years, Jewish life at Michigan State University has experi- enced a renaissance. More Jewish students have started choosing the school, which today boasts a Jewish-friendly campus and is home to a recognized Jewish Studies program. When MSU senior Ellie Baden, 21, was choosing a col- lege, it was very important to her that the school she picked had a Jewish community and sup...…
…SEPTEMBER 1 • 2022 | 11 with his wife, Elaine, provided a naming gift in 2018 for the program. On Sept. 11, MSU will cele- brate the program’s 30th anni- versary with a lunch event at the campus home of President Samuel Stanley Jr. “It’s grown dramatically, ” Serling says of the program. “It’s really a force now, and Elaine and I are very proud of what’s been accomplished. ” Through the Serling Institute for Jewish Studies and Mo...…
…12 | SEPTEMBER 1 • 2022 OUR COMMUNITY making something happen at Michigan State that was edu- cational, not just for Jews but for non-Jews as well, about the Jewish people, heritage, about Israel, ” says Serling, who was also involved in efforts to rein- vigorate the Hillel at MSU. “In those days, if a kid didn’t get into University of Michigan, they often would shun Michigan State and head for a more friendly Jewish cam- pus like ...…
…SEPTEMBER 1 • 2022 | 13 Event Chairs Matt Lester and Ian Burnstein invite you to join us for this special evening Boneh Kehilah Award (Builder of Community) Honoring Mark Rubenfire and Mitch Albom The Acclaimed Play by Mitch Albom & Jeffrey Hatcher Thursday, September 15, 2022 at The Berman Featuring a live talkback with Mitch after the performance Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss Please reserve your seats as soon as possible as ...…
…14 | SEPTEMBER 1 • 2022 OUR COMMUNITY continued from page 12 ON THE COVER that there is this long, rich history of Jews in Europe, in the United States, and also that there’s been terrible persecution, that this is serious, ” she says. “They come out taking Jewish history and culture more seriously, and also the history of persecution more seriously, which I hope can only help them to approach the world and people they meet with...…
…SEPTEMBER 1 • 2022 | 15 go for Jewish identity. ” With a background in Jewish education, she says she was eager to help bolster opportuni- ties for Jewish learning, growth and camaraderie. “Jewish iden- tity is so important, and Jewish pride, and being able to speak in a safe environment; we felt that was important, too, ” she says. “I know when I went to school there wasn’t a place to turn if there was any antisem- itism. At least at...…
…16 | SEPTEMBER 1 • 2022 A major donation from a local dental practice is the most recent mile- stone of Congregation Shaarey Zedek’s efforts to provide aid for Ukraine. Since Russia first invaded Ukraine in February of this year, the synagogue has launched numerous cam- paigns to gather financial support, medical supplies, hygiene kits and more to help Ukrainians impact- ed by the ongoing crisis. Tru Family Dental of Bingham ...…
…SEPTEMBER 1 • 2022 | 17 Ukraine’s territorial defense forces. HELP FROM ALL ANGLES Originally, IFAKS, or individual first-aid kits, were identified as the biggest need in war-torn cities in Ukraine. Yet, due to an ongoing delay in the supply chain, IFAKS initiatives are paused as the synagogue piv- ots to assembling hygiene kits instead. “We’re trying to approach initiatives that we’re doing with regard to Ukraine in a lot of dif- ...…
…18 | SEPTEMBER 1 • 2022 OUR COMMUNITY H undreds of volunteers gathered at Temple Israel on Aug. 22 to pack individual first aid kits for the Ukrainian Army. The event was spearheaded by Rabbi Jennifer Kaluzny and lay leaders. Temple Israel partnered with the Ukrainian-American Crisis Response Committee of Michigan to organize assembly line-style workstations to assemble the kits. Dr. Philip Arbit said when his wife, Francine Arbit, ...…
…SEPTEMBER 1 • 2022 | 19 assembling individual first aid kits for the Ukrainian Army. As a doctor, seeing crucial medical supplies made it clear these kits are designed for quick medical response to save lives. These kits are going into a war zone. Together, the volunteers packed 1,000 individual first aid kits. From Michigan, the kits will travel to Razom in New York and from there to Ukraine. Razom is the Ukrainian word for “...…
…20 | SEPTEMBER 1 • 2022 OUR COMMUNITY E xpect at least a few laughs at the Judi Schram Annual Meeting of Hadassah Greater Detroit as the fea- tured presenter is Ophira Eisenberg, a television talk show and comedy specials guest, radio host and club comedian. Eisenberg, who didn’t think about becoming a jokester until after college graduation in Canada, will join the luncheon starting at noon Tuesday, Sept. 13, at Adat Shalom...…
…SEPTEMBER 1 • 2022 | 21 day [at his suggestion], and it was met with some laughs. I wanted to do it more. “I moved to Toronto and tried to take it seriously there, where there was a lot more opportunity to go on stage and figure it out. I had a lot more success in Toronto and wanted to try a bigger stage so I moved to New York, where it was all about putting your nose to the grindstone and working hard.” For a while, Eisenberg wa...…
…22 | SEPTEMBER 1 • 2022 O n Saturday, July 9, Daniel Lebedinski of Bloomfield cele- brated his bar mitzvah at Temple Beth Ahm in West Bloomfield. Daniel’s parents, Alexander and Svetlana Lebedinski, immigrated separately with their families to the Detroit area from Ukraine in 1994, where they were welcomed by Washtenaw County Jewish Family Services’ Refugee Resettlement Program in Oak Park. The Lebedinski family has been follow- in...…
…SEPTEMBER 1 • 2022 | 23 T he Orthodox Union (OU) Women’s Initiative hosted a conference in Stamford, Conn., at the end of July with a goal of creating the first- of-its-kind fellowship to help rebbetzins (rabbis’ wives) assist women in the communities they serve to deal with mental health issues. Jenna Beltser of Southfield, who’s actively involved with the Orthodox community in Michigan, attended the conference and expressed th...…
…24 | SEPTEMBER 1 • 2022 C ongregation Or Chadash is an inclu- sive, halakhic syn- agogue in the heart of the Huntington Woods/Oak Park community. Or Chadash’s min- yan is a participatory one in which everyone volunteers their services. Or Chadash was founded by Rabbi Eliezer Cohen over two decades ago, when his prior pulpit was eliminated by the merger of two synagogues. Intent on maintaining a platform for their outlook on T...…
…SEPTEMBER 1 • 2022 | 25 staff, no paid rabbis, everything is free- will contributions and what people choose to put into it. It’s a unique and special place, ” she said. Though not full- time, Rabbi Azaryah Cohen, Rabbi Eliezer Cohen’s son, is co-rabbi of the shul with Rabbi Louis Finkelman. Or Chadash has services on Shabbat and on all of the holidays but does not have weekday services. As things are starting to get back t...…
…26 | SEPTEMBER 1 • 2022 Y ad Ezra nominated the mother- daughter duo Amy and Lilah Greenspan of Oak Park as Volunteers of the Week for their efforts at its Giving Gardens. “Amy and Lilah have been dedicated, hardworking volunteers in the garden for years,” said Josh Gordon, Yad Ezra’s Giving Gardens manager. “It is a huge pleasure having their smiling faces and kind spirits join consistently into the volunteer shifts. They alway...…
…SEPTEMBER 1 • 2022 | 27 OUR COMMUNITY SUB DEPARTMENT A s we all know, life is filled with twists and turns. The painful loss of a loved one or terrifying near-miss is traumatic and devastating. Fortunately, the Detroit Jewish community is known for its warmth, generosity and kindness. As people become accustomed to their new normal, they take comfort in the strength of the unifying community — family, friends, neighbors, fellow con...…
…28 | SEPTEMBER 1 • 2022 OUR COMMUNITY continued from page 27 WeeCare, a New Jersey-based organization that provides peer support for Orthodox moms of premature babies. Different com- munity members who weren’t members of any organization offered to help care for the babies during the night so the Kleins could sleep. Being on the receiving end of all this kindness was a new experience for the Kleins. “ Accepting all this help was h...…
…SEPTEMBER 1 • 2022 | 29 AT THE END OF LIFE Ezra Drissman of Oak Park, formally of Farmington Hills, is a young father who has unfortunately experienced several family deaths in recent years. His mother, Harriet Drissman, passed away unexpectedly nine years ago. Three weeks after that, his father- in-law, Rabbi Eliezer Cohen, passed away. “The community was incredible, ” Ezra said. “I can’t describe the amount of phone calls, visits a...…
…30 | SEPTEMBER 1 • 2022 MAZEL TOV! HOW TO SUBMIT ANNOUNCEMENTS Mazel Tov! announcements are welcomed for members of the Jewish community. Anniversaries, engagements and weddings with a photo (preferably color) can appear at a cost of $18 each. Births are $10. There is no charge for bar/bat mitzvahs or for special birthdays starting at the 90th. For information, contact Editorial Assistant Sy Manello at smanello@thejewishnews.com or (24...…
…SEPTEMBER 1 • 2022 | 31 A bbie Jankelovitz says she’s lucky to have two jobs. This way, she can pursue both of her passions in life: mental health and fitness. Jankelovitz, 28, of Royal Oak, works part-time as a clinical mental health counselor for Venture Counseling, a private practice. In the mornings and at night, she teaches group fitness classes at Beverly Hills Club and also offers home personal fitness training. As a champ...…
…32 | SEPTEMBER 1 • 2022 YESHIVA BETH YEHUDAH A N N U A L D I N N E R Twenty Twenty -Two Twenty Twenty -Two 10 30 22 10 30 22 Detroit Detroit Marriott Marriott Sunday Evening Sunday Evening EVENT SPONSOR JAMES GROSFELD O U T S T A N D I N G L E A D E R S H I P AWA R D E E NORCIA F O R S P O N S O R S H I P S , A D V E R T I S I N G A N D R E S E R VAT I O N S V I S I T W W W.Y BY D I N N E R .O R G O R C A L L 2 4...…
