…JULY 22 • 2021 | 21 Rabotai chose the “Mr. Red, White and Blue” melody after sifting through a few song ideas, including both American and Israeli songs. “The patriotic emotional pull that song had … I fell in love with that tune, ” Brill said. “When this opportunity came around, it seemed to me that having that story being told with some of the Zionistic unity perspectives would make so much sense. ” Cantor Smolash said he do...…
…22 | JULY 22 • 2021 H istory has been made in Metro Detroit. Congregation B’nai Moshe of West Bloomfield has hired Cantor Deborah Bletstein, who becomes the first full-time female cantor of a Conservative synagogue in Metro Detroit’s history. Cantor Earl G. Berris retired from the pulpit after 24 years as cantor of CBM following the 2020 High Holidays. Then-President Mark Roth initiated a task force to explore hiring a cantor....…
…JULY 22 • 2021 | 23 OUR COMMUNITY L ocal high school students will have a chance to learn about business issues from a Jewish perspective while earn- ing college credits this fall. A new course created by Yeshiva University and Chabad will be offered in person at three local sites beginning in October. “This is a class for Jewish teen- agers to learn about Judaism and get college credits from Yeshiva University. There will be o...…
…24 | JULY 22 • 2021 T he Well’s annual social media campaign, #Reflect4Rosh, focusing on reflection and introspec- tion leading up to the High Holidays, has returned. It began July 19. #Reflect4Rosh is running for seven weeks, wrapping up just before Erev Rosh Hashanah on Monday, Sept. 6. Each week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, The Well will post on its Facebook and Instagram sites (@meetyouatthewell on Facebook and @thewell...…
…JULY 22 • 2021 | 25 OUR COMMUNITY A mid a COVID out- break that has sick- ened 40 prisoners in Myanmar’s Insein Prison since early July, Frontier Myanmar Managing Editor and Huntington Woods native Danny Fenster, 37, was granted permission to speak to his par- ents, Rose and Buddy Fenster of Huntington Woods, on July 8, 46 days after he was detained. Danny complained to his family he had fever and chest congestion, though the pris...…
…26 | JULY 22 • 2021 faces&places Everyone is thrilled to gath- er in person once again for special events, programming and services at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield. More than 20 families with young children gathered under their outdoor pavilion for an All- American Shabbat for Tots during 4th of July weekend. Families enjoyed a full morning celebrating Jewish American pride with crafts, a parade, dancing and a festive Shabba...…
…JULY 22 • 2021 | 27 2021 Judi Schram Tuesday, October 5, 2021 • 1pm ET Adat Shalom Synagogue, Farmington Hills, MI featuring Marlee Matlin 248.683.5030 | greaterdetroit@hadassah.org | www.hadassah.org/detroit HADASSAH, THE WOMEN’S ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA, INC. ©2021 Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc. Hadassah, the H logo, and Hadassah the Power of Women Who Do are registered trademarks of Hadassah, The W...…
…28 | JULY 22 • 2021 SPORTS D aniel Shamayev is the youngest player in the new Detroit Shul Basketball League. The 20-year-old from Keego Harbor also is the league’s founder and commis- sioner. The first league games were played on the night of July 14 at Farber Hebrew Day School in Southfield. That was less than two weeks after Shamayev began putting together the league and one week after opening night was canceled because of ...…
…JULY 22 • 2021 | 29 SPORTS media, and texts and phone calls to family and friends to get the word out about the league as he tried to orga- nize it. Old-fashioned word of mouth helped, too. The effort began over the July 4 holiday weekend. Plans to begin league play July 7 were squashed when players couldn’t get into Farber because of a power failure that followed strong storms that pelted southeast Michigan earlier in the day. Po...…
…MAZEL TOV! 30 | JULY 22 • 2021 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 (248) 3...…
…JULY 22 • 2021 | 31 SPIRIT The Scholar Within B efore entering the promised land, the Jewish nation encoun- tered trouble. The mighty armies of Sichon and Og were not going to simply allow them safe passage. They would have to fight. Fought they did, and they miraculously con- quered their lands east of the Jordan. Then, Moses des- ignated three cities of refuge for the tribes that settled in those conquered lands to serve as a...…
…32 | JULY 22 • 2021 The Great Restoration S lowly but surely, the lives we enjoyed B.C. (Before COVID) are beginning to return. We’re beginning to have Shabbos guests again, and schools are planning on returning to (almost) nor- mal in the fall. Shuls are slowly returning to normal, planning full in-person High Holiday services and even bringing back their Kiddushes. As we return to these parts of our lives, we can now bett...…
…JULY 22 • 2021 | 33 distanced and masked outside. Rav Nachman’s and Shmuel’s answers also speak to a larger re-ability to connect after over a year of living apart. The third- and fourth-cen- tury rabbinic sage Ulla answers that the wicked king of Northern Israel, Yeravam ben Navat, stationed guards at the roads to prevent his subjects from traveling to the Temple in Jerusalem for the festivals. It was on a Tu b’ Av that a later k...…
…34 | JULY 22 • 2021 Synagogue Directory CONSERVATIVE Adat Shalom Synagogue Farmington Hills (248) 851-5100 adatshalom.org Ahavas Israel Grand Rapids (616) 949-2840 ahavasisraelgr.org Congregation Beth Ahm West Bloomfield (248) 851-6880 cbahm.org Congregation Beth Israel Flint (810) 732-6310 cbiflint.org Congregation Beth Shalom Oak Park (248) 547-7970 congbethshalom.org Beth Tephilath Moses Mt. Clemens (586) 996-3138 bethtephilathmose...…
…Shomrey Emunah Southfield (248) 559-1533 congregation-shomrey- emunah-105705.square.site The Shul-Chabad Lubavitch West Bloomfield (248) 788-4000 theshul.net Woodward Avenue Shul Royal Oak (248) 414-7485 thewas.net Yagdil Torah Southfield (248) 559-5905 Young Israel of Oak Park (248) 967-3655 yiop.org Young Israel of Southfield (248) 358-0154 yisouthfield.org RECONSTRUCTIONIST Congregation Kehillat Israel Lansing (517) 88...…
…36 | JULY 22 • 2021 ARTS&LIFE ART T wo Judaic artists — one working with batik projects and the other using multi- media — will be part of the 18th annual Orchard Lake Fine Art Show, spread out Saturday-Sunday, July 24-25, in West Bloomfield. The two participants also display projects unrelated to Judaism as they join some 120 artists with a range of approaches — paintings, sculpture, glass, fiber, jewelry and much more.Among...…
…JULY 22 • 2021 | 37 ARTS&LIFE ART at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obisbo. “I saw batik artwork, felt connected to the warmth of the fabric and taught myself how to work with it. I kept doing art shows while I was studying, and art took over.” Amit uses white cloth as his sketching base for designs completed in pencil. On the designs, he moves from light to dark colors by separately dying the fabric in lay...…
…TOP TO BOTTOM: Kari Nidy’s Abraham Israel Stamp Art; art made from an Israeli stamp; an abstract from Amos Amit. ABOVE: Star of David by Kari Nidy. then carve it out. I incorporate other materials, including handmade papers, as focus points. People give me stuff, such as coins from Israel, and I give objects new life through my artwork.” Nidy studied techniques at the Maitland Art Center in central Florida before entering Valencia ...…
…JULY 22 • 2021 | 39 D uring the pandemic, Rebecca Feber used a biographical story from the past to inspire plans for favorite activities, and the Ridgedale Players Theater in Troy is showcasing her creative approach with the help of many others. Feber combined an intense science leaning as a senior at Berkley High School with a devotion to theater and decided to write and produce a teen musical comedy to be staged for post-pande...…
…40 | JULY 22 • 2021 and Elf the Musical among many Ridgedale young people’s productions. Shaya Schreiber, 15, a Berkley High 10th-grader who also wants to be an engineer, takes the role of Josh and becomes a character very different from himself. “It’s a challenge for me to take this role because Josh is confused, disorganized and not school-minded,” said Schreiber, of Huntington Woods. “I’m the opposite, and I learned my l...…
…JULY 22 • 2021 | 41 JN BRING THIS AD FOR $2 OFF ONE ADMISSION Amos Amit, Batik www.hotworks.org Facebook.com/HotWorksArtShows Instagram @HotWorksArtShows 18th HotWorks.org July 24 & 25, 2021 West Bloomfield, Michigan Orchard Lake Fine Art Show ® 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 ...…
…42 | JULY 22 • 2021 FEAR 3X; BIG HIT BACKSTORIES Perhaps because I’m not a huge horror fan, I didn’t flag in advance the Netflix release, this past month, of a trilogy of original horror films based on some of the Fear Street novels of R.L. Stine, 77. Stine is most famous as the author of the very popular Goosebumps scary novels for children. The first Netflix film, Fear Street Part One: 1994, takes place in a small Ohio town. ...…
…JULY 22 • 2021 | 43 GLOBAL CONNECTIONS 4-5 PM, JULY 22 American Friends of Rabin Medical Center will present on Zoom “Eating In & Eating Out: Our Changing Relationship With Food.” Robert Siegel (former senior host of NPR’s All Things Considered for 31 years) interviews Mark Bittman (food author & journalist); Ruth Reichl (six-time James Beard Awardee); and Mark Fachler and Monica Klausner (co-founders, Veestro). Free registratio...…
…44 | JULY 22 • 2021 HEALTH A well-known obser- vation: In medieval times, many rabbis worked as physicians. Less well- known: In our own times as well, several Orthodox rabbis are also physicians. A few rabbi/ physicians told the Jewish News what Jewish law advises about COVID-19 vaccines. Aaron Glatt earned rab- binical ordination from Rabbi Avraham Tzvi Wosner at Machon LeTorah Vehora’ah and his medical degree from Columbia U...…
…JULY 22 • 2021 | 45 disease that destroys the heart muscle, weakening its ability to effectively pump blood. With all these experiences in mind, I am certain of our collective respon- sibility to be vaccinated against this plague. ” Addressing “those in the community who worry about the health risks posed by the vaccine itself, ” Schlagman notes that “remaining unvaccinated puts one at risk of being infect- ed … the vaccine would s...…
…46 | JULY 22 • 2021 the exchange community bulletin board | professional services For information regarding advertising please call 248-351-5116 or 248-234-9057 or email salessupport@thejewishnews.com Deadline for ad insertion is 9 a.m. on Friday prior to publication. the exchange community bulletin board | professional services For information regarding advertising please call 248-351-5116 or 248-234-9057 or email salessupport@thejewish...…
…SYDNEY ALTUS, 71, of Southfield, died July 13, 2021. He is survived by his daughter, Shana Altus; son, Brian Corson; mother, Brenda Altus; brothers and sisters-in- law, Mark and Brenda Altus, Harvey and Nancy Altus, and Joel and Cathy Altus; many loving nieces, nephews, other family members and friends. Mr. Altus was the son of the late Irving Altus. Interment took place at Clover Hill Park Cemetery in Birmingham. Contributions ...…
…48 | JULY 22 • 2021 about the Holocaust and to make sure that her story was told and remembered by each generation to come. The family invites you to contact them if you would like to read her story. Mrs. Bohm is survived by her son, Larry Bohm; daughter and son-in-law, Debbie and Dr. Martin Karp; grandchildren, Ellen and Mario Bendana, Elisa and Joel Wasserman, Marianne Sacks, Rachel and Jeffrey Levine, Rebecca and Matthew Z...…
…JULY 22 • 2021 | 49 JOEL N. BRUSS, 75, former Detroiter of Highland Park, Ill., died July 10, 2021. Joel was a man of many interests, passionate about hobbies and great food. His family was his everything, bringing him joy and nachas. Mr. Bruss was the beloved husband for 51 years of Lauren Bruss; adoring father of Jonathan Bruss and Jill (Loren) Rivkin; doting Grampsy of Meredith and Jacob Rivkin. Contributions may be made t...…
…50 | JULY 22 • 2021 DR. MICHAEL D. FALKOFF, 73, former Detroiter, died peacefully after a long battle with cancer on July 2, 2021, with his family by his side. Dr. Falkoff practiced cardi- ology for more than 40 years in Rochester, N.Y., describing it as a calling rather than sim- ply a career. He was extreme- ly dedicated to his many patients, some of whom he treated for decades and many of whom had to endure his corny jokes. De...…
…JULY 22 • 2021 | 51 HILDA GREEN, 96, of West Bloomfield, died July 8, 2021. A deeply reli- gious individual, Mrs. Green was a regular Shabbat attendee and member of Congregation Shaarey Zedek and its sisterhood. She was such a loving indi- vidual that she was matron of honor at her granddaughter’s wedding. Her family was her life and she was a selfless and devoted woman who nurtured and cared for her entire family. Mrs. Green is...…
…52 | JULY 22 • 2021 most every month to visit Myra, whom she loved and adored as a mother. Myra will be missed by granddaughter, Amy Landau Schaeffer; her husband, Jeff Schaeffer; great-granddaughter, Maddy Schaeffer; granddaugh- ter, Julie Landau; her husband, Ken Young; great-granddaugh- ter, Eve; great-grandson, Jacob; grandson, Michael Garvett; two beloved stepdaughters, Jo Ellen Warner and Nora Pasman-Green; Nora’s husband, ...…
…RASKIN THE BEST OF EVERYTHING JULY 22 • 2021 | 53 The JN’s premier columnist, Danny Raskin, has rapidy recovered from rib injuries from a fall, but remains in rehab for leg strengthening. In the meantime, we’ll be offering highlights from Danny’s prior columns until his return. If you’d like to send him greetings, email Danny at dannyraskin2132@gmail.com or send mail to Danny Raskin c/o The Jewish News, 32255 Northwestern Hwy., Farm...…
…54 | JULY 22 • 2021 Looking Back From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History accessible at www.djnfoundation.org I t is mid-summer. We know this because of hot days, the sun shin- ing (well, not always in Michigan) and Major League Baseball in full swing (to use a baseball metaphor). This year, after a strange 2020 season, truncated by COVID-19, baseball fans have returned to the sta- diums. The annual MLB...…
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…People are at the heart of what we do. At its heart, a business is about people. A group of people coming together to create something bigger than themselves. To create a solution or a product or an experience in the service of other people. At Huntington, it’s our belief that running a business is about more than making money, it’s about making people’s lives better. So let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work, together. Member FDIC. ⬢...…
…$200 July 15-21, 2021 / 6-12 Av 5781 JEWISH NEWS JEWISH NEWS THE DETROIT thejewishnews.com Downtown Synagogue plans $4.5 million renovation. Page 14 in the in in Pretty Pretty Pretty City …
…JULY 15 • 2021 | 3 contents PURELY COMMENTARY 4-12 Essays and viewpoints OUR COMMUNITY 13 A Good Neighbor Angelique Power joins Detroit’s Skillman Foundation as president & CEO. 14 Pretty in the City Downtown Synagogue plans $4.5 million renovation. 18 One Step Closer to a New Mikvah Southfield site is prepared for Lahser Road Mikvah. 19 People We Know & Stories We Don’t: Shoshana Leah Greenberg 20 Keeping Up wi...…
…4 | JULY 15 • 2021 PURELY COMMENTARY P ermit me to introduce myself and this column. I chose the name of the column as sometimes you’ll find me wise, and at times you may find me otherwise. Since there’s been and are a couple of more accomplished and taller Irwin Cohens in the area, I’ll tell you about this one. I’m Irwin J. and the only one that has a Detroit Tiger World Series ring. My driver’s license tells me that I’m 80...…
…Wherever you choose to go for your education, your first step is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It’s the doorway to grants and scholarships that can make a big difference when it comes to paying for your education. A FAFSA form can be completed at fafsa.gov from a phone, tablet or laptop in under an hour — and the payoff could be huge. Some awards, including programs at Wayne State like Wayne Access and...…
…6 | JULY 15 • 2021 1942 - 2021 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...…
…Your Your FIRST YEAR DUES ARE VOLUNTARY. Contact Alan Harris (Chief Operating Officer), David Tisdale (Chief Executive Officer) or visit our website for additional membership information. Come Be A Part Of Our Our Family. YourFamily Belongs Here. DON’T MISS OUR SHABBAT UNDER THE TENT SERVICES! July 16 | July 23 | July 30 August 6 | August 13 | August 20 | August 27 September 3 5725 WALNUT LAKE ROAD, WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI 48323 248-6...…
…8 | JULY 15 • 2021 PURELY COMMENTARY back helps educate the person making the comment, who may not even realize it is an antisemitic comment. What we all must do is practice how to answer such comments calmly and in a way that educates the other person. In the case of the statement about Jews only caring about money, perhaps an appropriate answer could be: “You may not realize that what you said is an antisemitic statement said ...…
…JULY 15 • 2021 | 9 THEY’RE YOUR METROPARKS. WATER YOU WAITING FOR? METROPARKS.COM Stay in the know with all things Jewish... Get The Detroit Jewish News print edition delivered to your door every week for less than $2 per issue. thejewishnews.com/subscription Get The Detroit Jewish News print edition Subscribe Today! C l i c k. C a ll. G i v eN o w . www.hfldetroit.org • 248.723.8184 Hebrew Free Loan Detroit 6735 Telegraph Road, ...…
…10 | JULY 15 • 2021 PURELY COMMENTARY continued from page 8 path of danger? Does the reality of imminent attacks on Israel frighten you so much you would never visit Israel, never mind sending your children? Last month, when the locations popped up on the Red Alert app, it was evident that Hamas was no longer targeting only the usual pop- ulations adjacent to Gaza. This time they had the capa- bility and were intentionally aimin...…
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…12 | JULY 15 • 2021 PURELY COMMENTARY essay Heading a Nation Like No Other T o the honorable President of Israel, Truth be told, I’m a little envious of you. In a short while, you will find out exactly how magnificent the privilege of the presidency is. Over the next seven years, you will meet Israelis from all walks of life, and let me tell you right now — you’ll want to embrace all of them. You’ll want to share their la...…
…JULY 15 • 2021 | 13 OUR COMMUNITY A ngelique Power remembers being 13 years old, as the daughter of a white Jewish mother and a Black father, standing in a synagogue on the south side of Chicago, not so sure she fit in. Power pulled the synagogue’s rabbi aside, telling him she had many doubts, not even sure if she believed in God. She asked the rabbi, “ Am I still a good Jew if I don’t believe that?” The rabbi asked her two q...…
…OUR COMMUNITY W ith more than $4 million raised so far toward its $4.5 million capital campaign to completely renovate its building on Griswold Street, the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue (IADS) marks its first century in serving Detroit’s Jewish community as it looks ahead to its next. From its humble beginnings in 1921 in a house on Rosedale Court in Detroit’s North End to the 1962 purchase of its current Downtown building, the si...…
