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… JANUARY 7 • 2021 | 21 that disproportionately impact lower-income individuals. Rebecca Driker-Ohren, an IfNotNow Detroit mem- ber who was involved in a Black Lives Matter march in Huntington Woods in June, believes the plan is a positive step to take, but would like the plans to be more specific and well-rounded. Driker-Ohren and Zak Witus, another IfNotNow Detroit member involved in the June march, both raise questions about th...…

…22 | JANUARY 7 • 2021 E astern Michigan University Professor David Victor has won the Association for Business Communication’s 2020 Francis W. Weeks Award of Merit, a lifetime achievement prize for his work in the field of busi- ness communication. Winning the award “was a great feeling of accomplish- ment that, over three decades of work, my colleagues con- sidered that to be worthy of notice,” Victor told the Jewish News. “ A...…

… JANUARY 7 • 2021 | 23 JN STAFF PHOTOS COURTESY JCRC/AJC Mitzvah Day 2020 F or the last 24 years, the Jewish Community Relations Council/AJC (JCRC/AJC) has provided thousands of Christmas Day volunteer opportunities for members of the community as part of Mitzvah Day. Each year, more than 600 people of all backgrounds spend the day at Metropolitan Detroit non- profits filling staff shortages and allowing organizations to reduce ...…

…sports HIGHlights brought to you in partnership with 24 | JANUARY 7 • 2021 E ric Israel has been knocked down but not out a few times in his hock- ey career. So, there’s no reason to believe the 25-year-old from Huntington Woods won’t bounce back from his latest adver- sity. Israel, a defenseman for the Rapid City (S.D.) Rush of the ECHL, suffered a torn MCL ligament in his left knee Dec. 12 in the third period of the Rush’s seco...…

… JANUARY 7 • 2021 | 25 He was a star for four years at Robert Morris University, outside Pittsburgh. Israel had 85 points in 146 games for Robert Morris, led Colonials defense- men in goals, assists and points in each of his last three seasons, led the Atlantic Hockey Association and ranked fifth in the Division I in blocked shots during the 2018-19 season, and was a three-time AHA All-Academic Team selection. The Colonials made it to ...…

…26 | JANUARY 7 • 2021 Rapid City Rush defenseman Eric Israel (6) keeps a Utah Grizzlies player away from the net during a Dec. 12 game. RAPID CITY RUSH When they’re in Rapid City, Rush players must spend most of their time in their apartment. They go to the rink, a Walmart for gro- ceries, and get carryout and curbside from restaurants. Masks must be worn by Rush players during team activities except when play- ing, practicing...…

… JANUARY 7 • 2021 | 27 A fter the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces organization (FIDF) appointed Rabbi Steven Weil as its new national director and CEO in September, Weil has stated that after spending the last 30 years of his life trying to help build American Jewry, his new role is an opportunity to build Israeli Jewry, which he believes is “the ultimate future of the Jewish world. ” Weil began his new role on Sept. 16, su...…

…28 | JANUARY 7 • 2021 I t’s official: Israel will have its fourth election in two years. Israel’s Knesset, or parliament, dissolved the night of Dec. 22 after failing to pass the 2020 budget, trigger- ing an election that will take place on March 23. The exact date could change through a government vote. The election will be Israel’s fourth in two years. A coalition formed earlier this year by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu an...…

… JANUARY 7 • 2021 | 29 MOMENTS MAZEL TOV! Whitney Paige Leff will be called to the Torah as a bat mitzvah on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021, at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield. She will be joined in celebration by her proud parents, Carrie and Randy Leff, and sisters Reagan and Reese. Whitney is the loving granddaughter of Marcia and Roger Fenton, and Cindy and Fred Leff and the great-granddaughter of Anne Colman and Sally Soberman. She i...…

…30 | JANUARY 7 • 2021 New book illustrates how institutions failed to protect victims of sexual assault. HOWARD LOVY CONTRIBUTING WRITER Bystanders and Enablers ARTS&LIFE BOOKS A uthor Amos N. Guiora’s parents sur- vived the Holocaust, but the subject was never dis- cussed when he was growing up. It wasn’t until much later in life, when a non-Jew- ish friend asked him the simple question of how the Holocaust happened, that ...…

… JANUARY 7 • 2021 | 31 Today, he commutes between Salt Lake City and Jerusalem, where his family lives. BYSTANDERS AND ENABLERS Guiora distinguishes between bystanders and enablers. Bystanders are physically present and have specific knowledge about a crime. “ All we want the bystander to do is to dial 911,” he said. The enabler, however, is somebody who knows the victim is in peril and either does nothing or actively discourag...…

…32 | JANUARY 7 • 2021 T en years ago, Susan Shapiro began grappling with a problem she could not dismiss. Her thoroughly trusted therapist and confidante of 15 years had lied to her, and she wondered how she could ever forgive him. “If somebody says, ‘I’m sorry,’ I can forgive anybody anything,” she explained. “But if somebody refuses to acknowledge that they did something wrong, I have a really hard time with that.” Shapiro’s wa...…

… JANUARY 7 • 2021 | 33 A local Jewish fine artist, Cheryl Widener, and a local Jewish dance studio owner and teacher, Shanon Stibor, have teamed up in the face of the pandemic to bring a heightened level of excitement, visibility and opportu- nity to their respective businesses. Widener reached out to Stibor, who owns and runs Shanon’s Dance Studio in Keego Harbor, through a business posting on a Facebook Jewish women’s networking ...…

…34 | JANUARY 7 • 2021 ROOTS & THE REST OF THE “CHA-NOOK-AH” STORY Finding Your Roots, the PBS celebrity ancestry series, is on a “COVID schedule.” It paused its sixth season in November. A new episode premiered on Jan. 5 and the last season episode pre- mieres Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 8 p.m. Six more new episodes (Season 7) will premiere every following Tuesday through Feb. 23. The Jan. 12 episode, titled Coming to America, is a “T...…

… JANUARY 7 • 2021 | 35 T he recent surge in COVID-19 cases is stressing many aspects of life — from health care to work, school, finances and family life. That stress is caus- ing increased sleep problems, especially for women, accord- ing to some to some local phy- sicians and therapists. Many people are working from home, and women typically have more family obligations such as childcare. “My patients are feeling it more now sin...…

…36 | JANUARY 7 • 2021 NOSH EATS | DRINKS | SWEETS T hey wanted a name that was simple and to the point. Coming up with a name that rep- resented their brand was the trickiest part of launching a new business, says The Salami Chip Co. co-founder Josi Ryke, 55. The Oak Park-based food company pro- duces exactly that — salami chips — and their goal was for people to know exactly what they were all about without having to do extra resea...…

… JANUARY 7 • 2021 | 37 R epublica, a Berkley neighborhood restaurant-bar in the Woodward corridor, is making the best of the state’s current pandemic ban on indoor din- ing. The restaurant’s front patio facing Coolidge Highway, so enjoyed during the warm weather, was partially enclosed during Thanksgiving week. On the patio, heavy white panels with faux window inserts are hung up shower curtain-style. When guests leave any of t...…

…the exchange community bulletin board | professional services For information regarding advertising please call 248-351-5116 or 248-234-9057 or email salessupport@renmedia.us Deadline for ad insertion is 10am on Friday prior to publication. 38 | JANUARY 7 • 2021 Apple a Day Take a bite out of learning! Call Debbie! (248) 514-8349 On Site Apple Training and Support www.loisharondesigns.com Lois Haron Interior Designer Allied ASID (...…

… JANUARY 7 • 2021 | 39 GERALD ALVIN, 88, of Franklin, died Dec. 17, 2020. He is survived by his beloved wife, Marian Alvin; sons and daughter- in-law, William Anthony Alvin, Robert Lewis Alvin, and Matthew Samuel and Courtney Alvin; loving grand- children, Michael and Jessica Alvin; many other loving fam- ily members and friends. Interment took place at Machpelah Cemetery in Ferndale. Contributions may be made to Yad Vashem. Ar...…

…40 | JANUARY 7 • 2021 SOUL OF BLESSED MEMORY RICHARD A. FARKAS, 70, of Bloomfield Hills, died Dec. 16, 2020. He is survived by his beloved wife, Shelley Farkas; son and daugh- ter-in-law, Michael (Chudapa Julimasustra) Farkas; daughters and sons-in-law, Jessica and Lynn DaDeppo Jr., Allison (Andrew Farwell) Farkas; grandchildren, Benjamin, Graham and Lydia; brother and sister-in-law, Steven and Catherine Farkas; many loving ...…

… JANUARY 7 • 2021 | 41 Contributions may be made to Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48202, dia. org; Birmingham Temple, 28611 W . 12 Mile, Farmington Hills, MI 48334, birminghamtemple.org; or Virginia Mason Medical Center, 1100 9th Ave., Seattle, WA 98101, virginiamason.org/ seattle. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. DR. HERBERT MENDELSON, 87, of Huntington Woods, died Dec. 28, 2020. He is survive...…

…42 | JANUARY 7 • 2021 SOUL OF BLESSED MEMORY ALEXANDER “ ALEX” MILBERGER, 25, of Boston, Mass., formerly of Bloomfield Hills, died Dec. 24, 2020. He is survived by his moth- er, Amy Liss Fink; siblings, his twin, Justin Milberger, and Noah Milberger and Kyla Milberger; grandparents, Carol and Alvin Levine, Robert and Judy Liss, and Barbara Milberger; many loving aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Mr. Milberger was the cher- i...…

… JANUARY 7 • 2021 | 43 the late Norman and the late Sybil Shackman; the devoted daughter of the late Daniel and the late Gittle Shackman. Interment was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. CLARA SHPARGEL, 90, of Southfield, died Dec. 26, 2020. She is sur- vived by her daughters and sons-in-law, JoAnne and Rick Adams of Buffalo Grove, Ill., Deni...…

…44 | JANUARY 7 • 2021 SOUL OF BLESSED MEMORY other family and friends. Mr. Walt was the beloved hus- band for 62 years of the late Ada Walt; the loving uncle of the late Joanna Rebelgale. Interment was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to JVS Human Services, 29699 Southfield Road, Southfield, MI 48076, jvshumanservices.org; Yad Ezra, 2850 W . 11 Mile Road, Berkley, MI 48072, yadezra.org; or to a charity of o...…

… JANUARY 7 • 2021 | 45 T he three sons of their late parents Buddy and Mary Meyerson, whose Buddy’s Bar-B-Q was a Detroit land- mark for 30 years before closing, was the impetus to honor them with the building of a three-purpose restaurant. And so the Trio at Franklin was designed from the ground up with this basic premise in mind … The creation of a dining insti- tution by sons Arlyn, Jerry and Aubrey, that would build them a...…

…46 | JANUARY 7 • 2021 Looking Back From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History accessible at www.djnfoundation.org Where Fashion Reigned I recently wrote about the famous Himelhoch’s clothing store in Detroit. While there were many, many Jewish retailers in the city over the past centu- ry, there was one other women’s cloth- ing store in the same elite league as Himelhoch’s — B. Siegel’s. B. Siegel is mention...…

…The Detroit Jewish News Foundation, Inc. is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Editor’s Circle: $5,000 Writer’s Circle: $2,500 Emerging Leaders: $1,000 Diamond Benefactor: $750 Benefactor: $500 Patron: $360 Supporter: $180 Friend: $118 Any other amount: $ YES! I’D LIKE TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT, CREDIBLE JEWISH JOURNALISM Donate Online at DJNFoundation.org/donate...…

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…Happy New Year! …

…4 | DECEMBER 31 • 2020 contents OUR JN MISSION: We aspire to communicate news and opinion that’s trusted, valued, engaging and distinctive. We strive to reflect diverse community viewpoints while also advocating positions that strengthen Jewish unity and continuity. As an independent, responsible, responsive community member, we actively engage with individuals and organizations dedicated to enhancing the quality of life, and Jewish life,...…

…Managed by: Proud Recipient of the Prestigious Ask Us Why! INNOVATIVE. ENGAGING. ENLIVENING. TOTALLY CAPTIVATING. LEARN MORE AT ALLSEASONSLIVING.COM Ann Arbor - Coming Soon | Birmingham | Rochester Hills | West Bloomfield For the Joys of Independent Senior Living We have adopted new standard of care in our daily operations by implementing COVID- specific initiatives for our residents’ well-being including: Ÿ Contact-free “EasyMove” pro...…

…6 | DECEMBER 31 • 2020 OUR JN MISSION: We aspire to communicate news and opinion that’s trusted, valued, engaging and distinctive. We strive to ref ect diverse community viewpoints while also advocating positions that strengthen Jewish unity and continuity. As an independent, responsible, responsive community member, we actively engage with individuals and organizations dedicated to enhancing the quality of life, and Jewish life, in Sou...…

… DECEMBER 31 • 2020 | 7 Dr. Kleinsmith has joined Midwest Center for Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery — Farmington Hills Center. Dr. Kleinsmith received her bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University, and her medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine. Dr. Kleinsmith completed her residency at Henry Ford Hospital, where she was Chief Resident. Dr. Kleinsmith is a Board Certified Dermatologist. Welcome! Dr. K...…

…8 | DECEMBER 31 • 2020 for openers Spreading Happiness with Flowers A llow me to introduce my fabulous cousin Feiga Bowick, LLMSW. She’s a geriatric social worker, currently working as resident service coordinator at the Harriet and Ben Teitel Apartments, an independent senior living community (part of Jewish Senior Life) in Oak Park. Every Wednesday morning, this awesome mom of five can be seen dropping off her kids at ...…

… DECEMBER 31 • 2020 | 9 letters Dr. Peven and Fertility Fraud Oh my. The implications are astronomical (Dec. 24, cover story). Brother/ sisters married. Children affected. All need to have their DNA checked. Scary! - Flora Miskin Castleman Facebook comment Drive-Up Mourning Our recent story on Ira Kaufman Chapel introducing drive-up greeting lines for funerals (Dec. 10, pg. 25) generated online discussion. Why are they doin...…

…10 | DECEMBER 31 • 2020 VIEWS Yiddish Limerick Happy New Year Dos is nisht Rosh HaShana, men ruft dos New Year A naye beginning far alle in here. A yontef far Yidn and also the rest Hobn tzvay naye yorn is really the best. Lomir trinken a L ’Chaim mit a glazl of beer. Dos is nisht - This is not men ruft dos - it is called A naye - a new far alle- for everyone A yontef far Yidn - A holiday for Jews Hobn tzvay naye yorn- to have two Ne...…

… DECEMBER 31 • 2020 | 11 Happy New Year Bring in the New Year with Special Pricing! SUITES STARTING AT $3,900 PER MONTH DANIEL SHERBERT, M.D. F.A.C.S. Certifi ed by The American Board of Surgery, The American Board of Plastic Surgery & Fellowship Trained in Aesthetic & Reconstructive Breast Surgery Specializing in Cosmetic Surgery & Aesthetic & Reconstructive Breast Surgery W est Maple Plastic Surgery (248) 865-6400 5807 W. Maple •...…

…12 | DECEMBER 31 • 2020 CORRIE COLF CONTRIBUTING WRITER IN THE JEWS D ON THE COVER A large brick building with caging on the windows, metal detectors and security guards greet guests when they arrive at Osborn High School in northeast Detroit. Rodents, garbage cans and unusable bathrooms abound. There aren’t enough desks, teachers or books. Welcome to public school in Detroit. “It really felt like I was going into a jail, more so...…

… DECEMBER 31 • 2020 | 13 pleted his undergraduate degree in pre-med at the University of Michigan, but then made a big change. “My father had been forced to leave med- ical school due to the Great Depression, ” Rosenbaum said. “I was supposed to pick up the mantle and become a doctor, but it wasn’t my passion. I heard a radical lawyer talk about what it meant to be a lawyer during the ’60s, the rule of law and how to represent activi...…

…14 | DECEMBER 31 • 2020 and was at the top of his class, and he had never read a novel. He couldn’t write a three-paragraph essay. But he wasn’t involved in this lawsuit for himself, but rather for his siblings so they could have a chance at an education. So, I just think it was part of their character in terms of wanting to stand up to the state and say, ‘You can’t treat us like we’re less than human. ’” After some time, Rosenbaum h...…

… DECEMBER 31 • 2020 | 15 F or almost a year now, Dr. Larry Corey has been working nonstop to design clinical trials for several dif- ferent COVID-19 vaccines. Corey — who is based in Seattle but grew up in the Detroit area — is currently serving as head of the operations center for the COVID-19 Prevention Network, a national group of researchers from aca- demic institutions and the private sector tasked with addressing the need for v...…

…16 | DECEMBER 31 • 2020 W hen Dr. Darin S. Katz was announced as the incoming Head of School for Hillel Day School last December, nothing could have prepared him or the school for what was to come. But soon after the pandemic shut down in-person learning at schools across the country last spring, Katz, who hadn’t officially started in his new role yet, began leading the effort in planning a return to in-person school. His plans h...…

… DECEMBER 31 • 2020 | 17 C oncerns about climate change and its impact on our world “loom like big clouds” over everything for Josh Bender of Ann Arbor. The Michigan State University graduate, now in his sec- ond year of rabbinical school at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York, says he’s made environmentally focused changes in his daily life like eating less meat and avoiding single-use plastics. But he wanted to do some- thi...…

…18 | DECEMBER 31 • 2020 SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER IN THE JEWS D T he gymnasium at Pasteur School in northwest Detroit was now a Christmas gift distri- bution center. The long tables normally used for lunch were stacked with boxes of toys, games and books for students, as well as house- hold gifts for their parents. Volunteers from the nonprof- it Friends of Pasteur School Detroit (previously the Pasteur Elementary Scho...…

… DECEMBER 31 • 2020 | 19 neighborhoods, some very grim, because Pasteur students live all over Detroit. (The school is considered a good one and par- ents can choose a school outside their area.) Because of COVID, they met to sort out gift items, and then each drove alone to deliver them, calling the families the day before to alert them. “People were so appreciative. These are the kids we’ve gotten to know over the years, ” says W...…

…T his summer, after a literal lifetime of anticipation and a year of near-contin- ual planning, my husband, Michael, and I shared in the excitement and pride as our grandson Zevi became a bar mitzvah. Only downside was, due to COVID-19 travel and health concerns, the small group that sur- rounded him that day did not include us. Like many, our family has been though the gamut of frustration, anxiety and personal sadness during the pand...…

…by horn-honking, mazel-tov chanting, balloon-filled celebration with music, individual-family dancing and party favors for New Jersey friends who arrived in front of Zevi’s home in timeslots dictated alphabetically. On Wednesday, when my tempo- rarily “lost in transit” fancy, lace face mask was delivered, I was relieved it had arrived in time to be packed with its matching outfit. But stories of rest stops and hotels in states along ...…

…22 | DECEMBER 31 • 2020 I n the spring of 2018, David Fischer and John Rakolta Jr. were presidential nominees, awaiting Congressional approval before assuming their posts as U.S. ambassadors, respectively, to Morocco and the United Arab Emirates. Neither of the two financial backers of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, both of whom are Oakland County businessmen and longtime GOP partisans, could foresee how relatively sh...…