…JUNE 16 • 2022 | 3 contents PURELY COMMENTARY 4-11 Essays and viewpoints. OUR COMMUNITY 12 Hands in the Dirt … Heart with Nature Oak Park herbalist’s Sunny Squirrel Farm is a healing and sharing place. 18 A Fixture in Kalamazoo Temple B’nai Israel still going strong after 150 years. 20 Years of Dedication Meet Janis Shulman, a lifelong JARC volunteer. 22 Carl Levin Remembered Friends, family and colleagues of the late sen...…
…4 | JUNE 16 • 2022 for openers My Life as the Queen M azel tov, Queen Elizabeth! Our friends from across the pond pulled out all the stops June 2-5 to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The four-day celebration commemorated Elizabeth’s 70th year on the throne and, not once in all those years, my sources tell me, have her legs fallen asleep. It is the longest reign for any British monarch, just don’t bring that ...…
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…6 | JUNE 16 • 2022 essay Hillel in Israel H illel Day School’s Class of 2022 was thrilled to travel to Israel on Hillel’s signature eighth grade trip, marking the return of this trip since trav- el restrictions caused cancel- lations the past two years. This incredible culmi- nation of Hillel’s Judaic Studies curriculum allowed the eighth graders to truly connect to the full history, tradition and responsibility of what it mea...…
…JUNE 16 • 2022 | 7 7pm • saturday • july 16 • TBE Unlimited FOOD Unlimited DRINKS Unlimited FUN! FOR TICKETS & SPONSORSHIP INFO Contact Lindsey Fox | 248.851.1100 | lfox@tbeonline.org * Bueno Tacos * Detroit Cookie Company * Marilyn's Detroit * Mongers' Provisions Food Tent * MoonSugar * Shimmy Shack * Streetside Sushi * Tim's Good Food Grill * Platinum Dish Catering * Bueno Tacos featured Food Trucks! Live music by... ...…
…8 | JUNE 16 • 2022 I n a recent Torah portion in the Jewish News, Rabbi Joseph Krakoff, CEO of the Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy Network, told of moving to Michigan, being told he had to pick a college sports team to support, and wrongly choos- ing both the University of Michigan and Michigan State as his teams. Having had a daughter at University of Michigan (Go Blue!) and a son at Michigan State (Go Green!), I understand...…
…JUNE 16 • 2022 | 9 Old Faithful eruption. I have always heard about Old Faithful, but after seeing it erupt, I can talk about my experience, too. Sightseeing in Yellowstone was definitely a highlight of the Freshmen Montana trip, but what was even better is that I spent all that time with my friends, which means a lot to me. I can now see my friends at school and talk about all the exciting things we saw together. If I hadn’t sh...…
…10 | JUNE 16 • 2022 opinion Jewish Environmental Thought Is Not Ready for the Climate Crisis. But Our Tradition Is. S moke from California’s fires is regularly bad enough to tint the sun on the other side of the country. Pakistan and India just experi- enced a devastating heat wave. In the Middle East, temperatures have risen by 1.5 degrees Celsius, more than twice the global average. Climate change, and its punish- ing effect...…
…JUNE 16 • 2022 | 11 process that climate catastro- phe is on us if we fail to act. Such messages were appropri- ate in the 1980s, when disaster merely loomed on the horizon. Now, however, this line of thinking will increasingly be heard as nothing more than a grand “I told you so. ” We can address both of these problems by expanding our conception of what Jewish environmental thought is supposed to be. Even as we continue to push f...…
…12 | JUNE 16 • 2022 OUR COMMUNITY W hen Melina Bronfin moved into her Oak Park home 10 years ago, she looked at her neglected weed- filled garden and knew she had lots of work ahead. Fortunately, she was in her element. Melina has loved nature since she was small and has fond childhood memories of explor- ing the meadows beyond her small German hometown. She’d collect wild greens and blend them into soups and salads. Here, Bronfin ...…
…JUNE 16 • 2022 | 13 Bronfin began virtually attending the basic classes of Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine in 2020-2021 and became a Master Gardener and Master Rain Gardener. She’s also taken courses on soap making, lavender growing, permaculture and kid’s herbal heath, and she is always learning more and advancing her knowl- edge. By late 2021, she was in business sell- ing her “herbal crafts based on Western European traditions ...…
…14 | JUNE 16 • 2022 OUR COMMUNITY been thousands of hurdles I’ve had to overcome for my business,” Bronfin said. “ According to the cottage laws, I can’t work when my daughter is home, which can be hard.” Because she keeps Shabbat, she’s unable to participate at many local craft and maker shows as a vendor, most of which take place on Saturday. A FAMILY ENDEAVOR Bronfin moved to Detroit after meeting her husband, Moshe, online. H...…
…JUNE 16 • 2022 | 15 For further details, contact the ORT office at: 248-723-8860 michigan@ortamerica.org www.ortamerica.org/rub-a-dub Thursday, August 25, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. M1 Concourse Pontiac, MI Brian Hermelin RUB-A-DUB 2022 honoring AD BOOK & SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Please help us honor Brian Hermelin for his outstanding commitment to ORT and his devoted service to the Rub-a-Dub Fundraiser SAVE THE DATE SAVE THE DATE by plac...…
…16 | JUNE 16 • 2022 people she’s met. “I love connecting with others, compar- ing gardening tips, talking plants … It’s wonderful to be outside, prepare remedies and hear that something I made helped someone,” she said. “I truly love what I do and my herbs — they are a part of me and my life.” Some products are available at Borensteins in Oak Park. Delivery options are available in Oak Park and Southfield. Hours are by appointmen...…
…JUNE 16 • 2022 | 17 THANK YOU THANK YOU to the board members who will be rolling off this year. We appreciate your time, talents and dedication in supporting the mission of Jewish Family Service. Dorothy Barak • Karen Goldberg Driggs • Ellen Tabak • Sara Voight I N C O M I N G C H A I R P E R S O N I N C O M I N G C H A I R P E R S O N Marc Bakst O U TG O I N G C H A I R P E R S O N O U TG O I N G C H A I R P E R S O N Julie Teicher ...…
…R eform synagogue Temple B’nai Israel (TBI) has been a fix- ture in the Kalamazoo com- munity for over 150 years. TBI was officially organized in Kalamazoo by a group of 20 Jewish families who emigrated from Germany. The bylaws were signed on Jan. 7, 1866, and Temple B’nai Israel offi- cially came into being. Temple B’nai Israel was one of the 34 founding members of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations. Rabbi Samuel Thurman w...…
…JUNE 16 • 2022 | 19 range from babies to people in their 80s and 90s.” TBI offers a number of pro- grams and outreach oppor- tunities, especially as the weather’s changed and things can be done outside. “We’ve got a new play group starting up, an Israeli dancing group starting up … We have a fire pit and we’re very big into Havdalah and s’mores. We’ve got a dinner and discussion group that’s aimed at our young profes- sionals,” Sch...…
…20 | JUNE 16 • 2022 M ichigan-based nonprofit JARC nominated Janis Shulman of Farmington Hills to be our next Volunteer of the Week for her dedication and involvement with the organization over the years. The nonprofit serves people with developmental disabilities via group homes, independent living support and in-home respite care. “Janis Shulman has been involved with JARC for many, many years, ” said Jenny Kabert, director of p...…
…JUNE 16 • 2022 | 21 0.99% APR ON SELECT CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLES! *$750 toward Cap Cost Reduction with the lease through Honda Financial Services of a select new and not previously reported sold 2022 Pilot, Passport, HR-V, Odyssey, CR-V, Ridgeline, Civic Sedan, Accord or Insight to qualified current owners of any 2012 or newer Honda. Excludes Civic Si and Clarity FCX. Must provide proof of ownership of eligible vehicle in the form of...…
…22 | JUNE 16 • 2022 Remarks from President Joe Biden In a video recording, President Biden said the following: “I had the honor of calling Carl Levin my friend for more than 40 years. He was the most honorable man I've known in public life. He was brilliant, hum- ble and principled. Carl looked everybody straight in the eye, and he listened. He always told you how he saw it with hones- ty and respect. That’s how Carl earned the trus...…
…JUNE 16 • 2022 | 23 Senate, he served on the Detroit City Council after the civil disturbances that devastated Detroit in 1967 so that he “might be able to help start the process of rebuilding and healing my shattered hometown,” as he wrote in his biography. A PARADE OF SPEAKERS The memorial, led by direc- tor of the Levin Center Jim Townsend, included a score of speakers, includ- ing his brother, former Rep. Sander Levin, and ...…
…OUR COMMUNITY 24 | JUNE 16 • 2022 C ongregation Shaarey Zedek will wel- come Rabbi Elliot J. Cosgrove, Ph.D., head rabbi at Park Avenue Synagogue in New York City, to the annual Rabbi Irwin Groner Memorial lecture at 7 p.m. on June 23 at the Southfield shul. Ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) in 1999, Cosgrove earned his doctorate at the University of Chicago Divinity School. He is the author of 12 collec- tions ...…
…JUNE 16 • 2022 | 25 on those fronts. I’m deeply concerned that the congregational school model was a broken model before COVID. I think it’s now laid bare its inadequa- cies. These kids haven’t been in a classroom in a regular way. I’m seeing that take shape as to where their iden- tities, where their competen- cies are when they’re called up to the bimah as a bar or bat mitzvah. It’s of concern. Starr: I’ll shift gears a little bi...…
…OUR COMMUNITY 26 | JUNE 16 • 2022 N ancy Gietzen needed to see if the plaque was still there. She made her way to the foyer of the National Shrine of the Little Flower, the historic Catholic church and day school where the Jewish educator had been a substitute teacher for three years until she left after discovering how the parish had memorialized its founder, Father Charles Coughlin. Sure enough, there it was, next to a glass ...…
…JUNE 16 • 2022 | 27 stain on our history. That’s an unavoidable fact. And it has to be recognized. ” The pairing of organizations at the head of the May 31 event made for an interesting historical wrinkle: The Detroit JCRC/AJC was originally founded in 1937 as the Jewish Community Council of Metropolitan Detroit, and one of its first orders of business was to publicly oppose Coughlin’s broadcasts as antisemitic. Meanwhile, the Ar...…
…28 | JUNE 16 • 2022 OUR COMMUNITY T he Hamilton Jewish Federation and Hamilton JCC are presenting a program cele- brating Jews on film and films about the Jewish experience called the J Movie Club. The club, based in the Ontario city southwest of Toronto, is currently in its second ses- sion and is led by film and media professor Dr. Benjamin Wright on the second Tuesday of each month through Zoom. The club asks the central que...…
…JUNE 16 • 2022 | 29 session started on Zoom in October 2021, and it got a really great reception, people really enjoyed [Wright’s] talks, so we renewed it for a second session, and it’s been going great,” Rymberg said. “He goes into what is a Jewish movie, what about it is Jewish, is it the director, the story or themes? And then we all get into a discussion,” Rymberg said. “What’s nice is it’s a small group of us on Zoom, so w...…
…30 | JUNE 16 • 2022 JARC, a nonprofit agency serving individuals with developmental disabilities in 80 locations, including 24-hour care in group homes, independent living settings for adults, and respite services for children, teens and young adults, hosted its annual “Flower-a-Thon” volunteer event on Sunday, May 15. The annual event started on Sunday when most of the vol- unteers participated, but then expanded throughout the ...…
…JUNE 16 • 2022 | 31 FOR POSSIBILITIES THAT ONCE SEEMED UNREACHABLE. CANCER IS A BEGINNING. As the only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer center in metro Detroit, we give you access to more than 250 promising new treatments found only at Karmanos. We give you your best chance forward. Supported through the generosity of The Jewish Fund and the D. Dan and Betty Kahn Family Foundation. Facing financi...…
…32 | JUNE 16 • 2022 faces&places On May 19, The Shul Chabad Lubavitch held its Great Jewish Family Festival at Heritage Park in Farmington Hills. It was a day filled with community spirit, great vol- unteers and gorgeous weather. Attendees enjoyed pizza, music, mini golf, a magic show, games and more to cel- ebrate Lag b’Omer together. The Shul sends a special thank you to Flagstar Bank, DTE Energy and Mark & Debbie Druck for e...…
…JUNE 16 • 2022 | 33 P artners Detroit and Jewish Young Professionals hosted a Shavuot program at Yeshiva Beth Yehudah in Oak Park on Tuesday, June 2, providing an experience surrounding the power of Torah. The Shavuot holiday cel- ebrates the receiving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. Some Shavuot holiday traditions include having a festive meal with baked goods along with staying up all night learn- ing and reading the Torah. Part...…
…34 | JUNE 16 • 2022 T hroughout the many pillars of Jacob Smith’s multifaceted work, one core building block connects it all: community. “It all consolidates around this idea of community-building,” Smith, 33, of Detroit says of his personal and professional work. From building tech ecosystems in Detroit, to growing early-stage startups, to organizing cross-cultural community events, Smith likes to practice intentional proximity,...…
…JUNE 16 • 2022 | 35 involvement of the Jewish community in Detroit’s Underground Railroad. During the years of the Underground Railroad, members of the original Temple Beth El, Detroit’s first synagogue, helped supply resources to runaway slaves to assist in their escape. “That really piqued my interest,” he explains. “It was so unexpected.” Following the history tour, attendees of Project Understanding listened to guest speaker...…
…36 | JUNE 16 • 2022 B en Chosid didn’t hit a home run in 95 games over his four seasons with the Kalamazoo College baseball team. That wasn’t a problem. In fact, his skill set at the plate was a huge asset in the Hornets’ offense. “I didn’t need to be somebody I wasn’t, ” Chosid said. “When I got away from doing what I did best, I’ d be swinging at air and walking back to the dugout. ” The Ann Arbor Huron High School grad was a ...…
…JUNE 16 • 2022 | 37 quick hits BY STEVE STEIN When the annual Michigan Jewish Sports Hall of Fame banquet returns this fall, it will be held at a familiar spot. The banquet will be held Oct. 24 at Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield, its home during its formative years. The COVID-19 pandemic knocked the banquet off the calendar in 2020 and 2021, the first times it was canceled since it began in 1985. Don Rudick, executive di...…
…38 | JUNE 16 • 2022 BUSINESS W hen it came time to enroll her chil- dren in afterschool activities, Sarah Jacobs realized a place just didn’t exist that met their interests. There were places to play sports and centers for art, but with kids who were interested in technology, nothing fit the bill. “I married an engineer, and I like to joke that I gave birth to an engineer, ” says Sarah Jacobs, 57, of Franklin, whose husband, Jon...…
…JUNE 16 • 2022 | 39 JUNE 16 • 2022 | 39 JEWISH NEWS THE DETROIT 80 80th th Anniversary Anniversary For those without computer access, please mail the following to 32255 NORTHWESTERN HWY, SUITE 205 FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48334: • Who is Turning 80? [first/last] • What Day is their Birthday? • Personalized Message and Signature • A picture of the birthday person (if you would like the picture returned, please include a stamped re...…
…40 | JUNE 16 • 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 (248) 3...…
…JUNE 16 • 2022 | 41 SPIRIT Words To Live By W henever we take the Torah out from the ark, we sing the verse taken from our Torah por- tion (Numbers 10:35): “When the Ark was to set out, Moses would say: “ Advance, our God! “May Your enemies be scattered, “ And may Your ene- mies flee before You. ” The verse takes place when the peo- ple of Israel were in the wilderness for 40 years. They were not traveling every day, though. They...…
…42 | JUNE 16 • 2022 I have long been intrigued by one passage in this week’s parshah. After a lengthy stay in the Sinai desert, the people are about to begin the second part of their journey. They are no longer traveling from but traveling to. They are no longer escaping from Egypt; they are journeying toward the Promised Land. The Torah inserts a long preface to this story: it takes the first 10 chapters of Bamidbar. The people ...…
…JUNE 16 • 2022 | 43 long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. — Ps. 6:6 How long, Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? — Ps. 13:1-2 My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving me so far from my cries of anguish? — Ps. 22:2 Out of the depths I cry to You, Lord… — Ps. 130:1 And there are many more psalms in a similar vein. Something similar c...…
…44 | JUNE 16 • 2022 Synagogue Directory METRO DETROIT CONSERVATIVE Adat Shalom Synagogue Farmington Hills (248) 851-5100 adatshalom.org Congregation Beth Ahm West Bloomfield (248) 851-6880 cbahm.org Congregation Beth Shalom Oak Park (248) 547-7970 congbethshalom.org Beth Tephilath Moses Mt. Clemens (586) 996-3138 bethtephilathmoses.com B’nai Israel Synagogue West Bloomfield (248) 432-2729 bnaiisraelwb.org Congregation B’nai Moshe We...…
…JUNE 16 • 2022 | 45 Temple Emanu-El Oak Park (248) 967-4020 emanuel-mich.org Temple Israel West Bloomfield (248) 661-5700 temple-israel.org Temple Kol Ami West Bloomfield (248) 661-0040 tkolami.org Temple Shir Shalom West Bloomfield (248) 737-8700 shirshalom.org REFORM/RENEWAL Congregation Shir Tikvah Troy (248) 649-4418 shirtikvah.org SECULAR/HUMANISTIC Congregation for Humanistic Judaism of Metro Detroit Farmington H...…
…46 | JUNE 16 • 2022 ERETZ A vi Gruber, 72, moved back to Israel in 2016 with his wife, Abby. Although he was born and raised in Israel, he still had to adjust to his “new” surroundings after leaving the warm community of Beverly Hills, Mich. They settled in Tel Aviv but recently moved to Hod HaSharon, where the pace feels a little more like Michigan. JN: When did you leave Israel? Avi: I lived in Israel until I was 26, when I se...…
…JUNE 16 • 2022 | 47 ARTS&LIFE FILM H er red-carpet glam and skis were all packed. Her flight and hotel were booked. And then Omicron hit. As everyone watched the COVID numbers con- tinue to soar in January, Sundance Film Festival planners made the crushing decision to cancel the in-person portion of the event. And West Bloomfield native Jessica Switch was stuck at home, attending Sundance virtually. “Sundance is my favorite festiv...…
…48 | JUNE 16 • 2022 befriends single mom, Domino (Dakota Johnson who is also a producer on the film), and her autistic daughter (Vanessa Burghardt). Cha Cha Real Smooth is a charming story of unconventional love, relationships and finding one’s path. “I was definitely the truth speaker for all bar and mitzvah scenes on set, and I was proud to do it,” said Switch, who first had a bat mitzvah in Israel on top of Masada followed by...…
…JUNE 16 • 2022 | 49 ARTS&LIFE BOOK REVIEW A deadly plot is being hatched by terrorists in the Middle East, planned by America’s most hunted terrorist. Luckily, word has leaked to the Americans. One of its elite count- er-terrorist units decides to act and assigns its top undercover agent to foil the operation. He joins the terrorist group that is planning a spectacular attack, and so begins the thrilling adventure in Shock Wav...…
…50 | JUNE 16 • 2022 Mike Smith: Although Shock Wave is a fictional adven- ture story, I found it to be informative in the sense of a realistic portrayal of the fight against terrorism in the Middle East and Israel. Are there lessons you hope readers will learn from your book? Al Pessin: Yes. The first two lessons I learned covering the Middle East, Central Asia and the Pentagon are that the people defending Israel and America ...…
…JUNE 16 • 2022 | 51 GOING LARGE AND WINNING; JULIE ANDREWS’ “JEWISH” HITS Jerry and Marge Go Large, an original Paramount+ film, begins streaming on June 17. It is based on the true story of Jerry Selbee (Bryan Cranston) and his wife, Marge (Annette Bening). The couple, who are now in their 80s, was the subject of many articles and a 60 Minutes story. The Selbees have long lived in Evart, Mich., a small town (about 2,000 people...…
…52 | JUNE 16 • 2022 MUSICAL EVENING 7 PM, JUNE 16 The Well invites adults of all ages (21+) to join for a special evening with musical guest Deborah Sacks Mintz at Berkley Coffee, 14661 W. 11 Mile Road, Suite 500, Oak Park. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required upon arrival. Masks heavily encouraged when not actively eating or drinking. Tickets are available for $18 per person at jlive. app/events/2375. Berkley Coffee’s ful...…
