…ARTS&LIFE FILM FESTIVAL F ilm fans who have missed the ambi- ence of watching big-screen cinema while joined by other viewers can look forward to opportunities for that experience at the Jewish Community Center (JCC) in West Bloomfield. The Lenore Marwil Detroit Jewish Film Festival, running April 24-May 4, invites movie enthusiasts into the Berman Center for the Performing Arts with an offering of nearly 30 films — dramas, comedies...…
…ARTS&LIFE FILM FESTIVAL W riter-director Bianca Stigter’s upcoming appearance at Detroit’s Jewish Film Festival serves as a reunion in some ways. Besides participating in a formal discussion of her documentary, Three Minutes — A Lengthening, she will be meeting with the Metro Detroit family so important to her research. Stigter felt welcomed years ago by relatives of Maurice Chandler, 97, identified as a youngster among the peop...…
…APRIL 21 • 2022 | 55 Meet Stephen Kantrowitz English. “I continued to play the violin for a number of years while becom- ing co-founder and co-director of the National Jewish Theatre to produce and tour works by Jewish artists.” That initiative continued through the organization’s transitioning to Broadway Ala Carte and his acceptance of other positions, most recently as director of cultural affairs for the city of Miramar, Florida...…
…56 | APRIL 21 • 2022 ARTS&LIFE FILM FESTIVAL continued from page 54 history of his childhood home and Nasielsk’s Jewish commu- nity. ” Kurtz’s work on the nonfic- tion text ensued after Chandler’s granddaughter Marcy Rosen was directed to the three-min- ute film through the web browsing of friend Jeffrey Widen. She recognized her grandfather because of resem- blances to relatives and got in touch with Kurtz to thank him for making ...…
…APRIL 21 • 2022 | 57 C ompared with the fate of Jews in other European countries during the horrible years of Nazi conquest, a high percentage of the Jews of Bulgaria survived. The numbers of the Jewish population of Bulgaria in 1939 was 52,000. After expulsions, 48,000 remained. and 13,000 Jews were added from annexed territories. Who deserves credit for the survival of the majority of Bulgarian Jews? Various interested political ...…
…58 | APRIL 21 • 2022 continued from page 57 At the start of the 20th century, Bulgaria contained a mix of religious and ethnic groups that had arrived as invaders, immigrants or refugees. The majority group, Eastern Orthodox Christians, lived in relative peace with Greeks, Turkish Muslims, Roma, Jews and others. The Jewish population also came from different waves of immigration: As Jewish life in other countries had deteriorated,...…
…APRIL 21 • 2022 | 59 succeeded in delaying the deportations. The king and prime minister retaliated — the parliament voted to remove him from his post on March 26. Jews from the newly acquired territories were deported to death camps. The Bulgarian government would not listen to appeals for those Jews. Comforty interviewed Nir Baruch, who reported that 11,363 were deported from Macedonia, Thrace and the city of Pirot. Only 12 ...…
…60 | APRIL 21 • 2022 SEAN PENN, ON-SCREEN AND OFF; BAD BALTIMORE COPS; AND TEN COMMANDMENTS NEWS Gaslight is an eight-episode limited Starz series that begins streaming April 24. Early in 1972, John Mitchell (Sean Penn, 61), Nixon’s Attorney General, resigned and became Nixon’s re-elec- tion campaign head. His wife, Martha (Julia Roberts), had some info about the Watergate break-in (June 1972). John knew she prob- ably would giv...…
…APRIL 21 • 2022 | 61 MUSICAL PREMIERE NOW-MAY 20 The Pin-Up Girls, by James Hindman and Jeffrey Lodin, runs at Meadow Brook Theatre on the campus of Oakland University in Rochester. Tickets range from $36 to $46 and are available by calling the Meadow Brook Theatre box office, 248-377-3300, or going online at ticketmaster. com. Student discounts are available at the box office. Groups of eight or more should call 248-370-3316 ...…
…62 | APRIL 21 • 2022 vocals that alternately convey melodic elation and gritty world-weariness, Morin crafts an inimitable style often character- ized as acoustic Native Americana with qualities of blues, bluegrass, jazz, jam, reggae and dance. Free. EXPLORING GOV’T 8:30 AM, APRIL 27 Join the Jewish Community Relations Council/American Jewish Committee for its annual Legislative Series, which explores different levels of gove...…
…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. 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 SINC...…
…64 | APRIL 21 • 2022 Nice to see you again. Members of CHAIM (Children of Holocaust - Survivors Association In Michigan) relished their first in-person opportunity to be together since 2020 when CHAIM hosted a re-opening event, attended by 25, at The Zekelman Holocaust Center (HC) in Farmington Hills. Feiga Weiss, HC’s librarian and archivist, lectured March 27 on “Discovering Our Roots.” She brought handouts and non-circulating...…
…OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY continued on page 66 APRIL 21 • 2022 | 65 LISA COLTON, 91, of West Bloomfield, died April 7, 2022. She was an active volunteer with Hadassah, Hungarian Club and she loved her Canasta Group. Mrs. Colton is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Tom and Marcy Colton of Farmington Hills; daugh- ters and sons-in-law, Elaine and Bruce Weingarten of Southfield, Debby and Alberto Katan of West Bloomfie...…
…continued from page 65 OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY 66 | APRIL 21 • 2022 MAURICE HERSKOVIC, 72, of West Bloomfield, died April 7, 2022. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Leigh Herskovic; sons and daugh- ters-in-law, Aaron and Dr. Shira Herskovic, and David and Natalie Herskovic; daugh- ter, Lauren Herskovic; grand- children, Abigail, Olivia, Isiah, Jordyn, Charlotte and Gideon Herskovic; brother, Thomas Herskovic. Interm...…
…continued on page 68 APRIL 21 • 2022 | 67 David Klimko-Shelton, Connie Klimko and Kenneth Edwards; grandchildren, Andrew (Kristen) Dodd, Claire Klimko, Alex Klimko, Benjamin Klimko, Michaela Edwards, Liam Edwards, Gemma Goss and Kelly Goss, Jason Bliss, Melissa Bliss, Amy and John Schiffman; great-grandchil- dren, Nathan Dodd, Jason Bliss Jr., Sophie Schiffman, Jackie Schiffman; many other loving family members and friends. Mr. ...…
…68 | APRIL 21 • 2022 contribution to Temple Israel, 248-661-5700; or to Residential Hospice, 866-902-5854. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. MARVIN MILLER, 86, of Farmington Hills, died April 8, 2022. He is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law, David (Paula Majerfeld) Miller and Joseph (Aija Grindulis) Miller; loving grandchildren, Noah Miller and Avi Miller. He is also survived by his devoted com- panion, Barbara Katkow...…
…G ilbert Gottfried, the comic with a grating persona, has died. His family announced Gottfried’s passing “after a long illness” on April 12, 2022, on Twitter. He was 67. Various outlets reported he suffered from a heart condition related to myotonic dystrophy. A 2017 documentary revealed that contra his foul- mouthed routine, Gottfried was a sweet and loving Jewish dad. Gottfried was reluctant to let that truth get out. “I was to...…
…Looking Back From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History accessible at www.djnfoundation.org An Incredible Communicator: Charlotte Dubin I first met my friend a few years ago, when I was director of the Walter Reuther Library at Wayne State University. Another longtime friend and professional partner, Sharon Alterman, and I were working on an exhibit about the buildings on campus that were named in hono...…
…HAPPY SPRING! GREAT TIME TO JUMP IN THE MARKET! CALL YOUR REALTOR TODAY! LINDA SINGER Multi-Million Dollar Producer (248) 752-4211 lindasinger@sbcglobal.net DENNIS H. SCHEINFIELD Broker Associate/Associate Manager CBR, SFR Cell (248) 790-7000 supermandenn1@aol.com The Moving Mavens Roberta "Bert" Nebus, RN, SRES, CNE 248-345-0362 rnebus@gmail.com Andi Sims andicode@gmail.com 248-613-2631 ILENE MITZ Cell 248-752-2330 LOREN STEWART ...…
…$200 April 14-20, 2022 / 13-19 Nissan 5782 JEWISH NEWS THE DETROIT thejewishnews.com …
…We Wish Our Jewish Community A Healthy & Happy Passover! …
…APRIL 14 • 2022 | 3 Shabbat Lights Passover Night 1/Shabbat: Friday, April 15, 7:56 p.m. Passover Night 2: Saturday, April 16, 9 p.m. Holiday ends: Sunday, April 17, 9:02 p.m. Passover Night 7: Thursday, April 21, 8:03 p.m. * Times according to Yeshiva Beth Yehudah calendar. ON THE COVER: Cover Illustration/credit: Illustration by Naomi Broudo, Family Heirlooms for Life Cycle Events: www. freshketubahdesign.com or www.naomibr...…
…4 | APRIL 14 • 2022 PURELY COMMENTARY essay Treasured Traditions T o quote Forrest Gumpstein: “Seders are like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re going to get. ” Some seders are sweet, some nutty. I hope your family’s seder is, to quote Goldie Lox: “Just right. ” There are many differenc- es in styles of seders, but the basic elements are the same, right? Of course, any seder worth its weight in matzah includes...…
…There’s no better time than now to spring into Anthology of Farmington Hills. We’re open for tours and can’t wait to show you our beautiful community, spacious accommodations and wondrous amenities. Receive a gift when you come for a tour anytime in the month of April. Social distancing practiced. Masks required. CALL TO RSVP FOR A TOUR & FREE GIFT: 248-534-4702 AnthologyFarmingtonHills.com Continue Your Life Story With Us 30637 W...…
…6 | APRIL 14 • 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: Detr...…
…DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 32255 Northwestern Hwy. Suite 205, Farmington Hills, MI 48334 248-354-6060 thejewishnews.com Through the Centennial Fund, Joanne Danto Continues to Set an Example for Future Generations. One of the most profound lessons that Betty and Marvin Danto shared with their daughter Joanne and her siblings, Jim and Gail, was the importance of setting an example for future generations. Marvin himself set a powerful example as ...…
…8 | APRIL 14 • 2022 W hen I was first approached to contribute to this year’s Passover edition, I didn’t really know what to write about. The Jewish calendar and the baseball calendar tend to line up so that Passover falls in the transition period between spring training and the regular season. To write about my experience celebrating Passover as a professional baseball player strays far from many traditional celebration...…
…2450 HAGGERTY ROAD | JUST SOUTH OF PONTIAC TRAIL | WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI 48323 | 248.671.4204 cranberrypark.net Exceeding expectations is simply the beginning. – WEST BLOOMFIELD’S NEWEST LUXURY ASSISTED LIVING – Luxury at a great value CALL FOR A TOUR! 248.671.4204 NOW LEASING PRIORITY STATUS SELECT PRICING MOVE IN IMMEDIATELY SPECIALIZING IN DEMENTIA AND MEMORY CARE ON SITE NURSING STAFF ASSIST DAILY LIVING TASKS AND MEDICATION MA...…
…10 | APRIL 14 • 2022 new Jewish motif for teaching, and the goal is to eventually read all 13 lines of the song as fast as possible. While our par- ticipation in this song may not be exclusive, I’ d like to think we are among a very small minori- ty who have turned this ritual into a speed-reading contest with participants being timed. The rules are pretty lax, as is evident by the mumbling ren- ditions which are accepted as valid e...…
…WE WISH YOU & YOUR FAMILY A HAPPY PASSOVER Detroitʼs Auction House Since 1927 JULES OLITSKI (AMERICAN, 1922-2007) SCREENPRINT IN COLORS, ON WOVE PAPER, 1986 H 22.25” W 30” TOORA SALVADOR DALI (SPAIN, 1904-1989) LITHOGRAPH IN COLORS ON ARCHES PAPER, H 29.5”, W 22”, THE PRINCE OF LOVE (THE HANGED MAN) MICHIGAN SENATOR JACK FAXON (AMERICAN 1936-2020) 30+ NEVER BEFORE SEEN WORKS MARSHALL MAYNARD FREDERICKS (AMERICAN, 1908-1998) ...…
…12 | APRIL 14 • 2022 student corner Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help F ive years ago, I stepped on the scale and stared down at the fluores- cent green digits. As my eyes remained glued to the number, my angst of feeling chubby was val- idated. At that moment I made a commitment to never let the scale hit my magic number. Immediately after reading the scale, I never ate the same again. I consumed the same meal every morning fo...…
…M1 Concourse is excited to announce the opening of a 28,500 SF state-of-the-art event center located immediately adjacent to the Champion Motor Speedway, where your guests can enjoy thrill rides around our 1.5-mile track that you cannot experience anywhere else. M1 Concourse is one of the most unique entertainment facilities in the Midwest. Our new event center is ideal for hosting signature events, including vehicle launches, charit...…
…F or 44 years, Sinai Hospital of Detroit was a core institution of the Jewish community and Metro Detroit’s health care network. The hospital evolved from the North End Clinic, which provided outpatient medical care to the Jewish community beginning in the 1920s. Sinai Hospital was established in 1953, in part, because Jewish doctors had difficulty obtaining staff privileges at most local hospitals but also to provide kosher food and a J...…
…APRIL 14 • 2022 | 15 continued on page 16 being finalized, a group of local Jewish leaders considered the best way to use the $63 million in sale proceeds for the community’s benefit. This group included members of the Sinai Hospital Board, the Sinai Health Care Foundation Board, and Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit staff and board. Mark Schlussel, a past president of the Sinai Health Care Foundation, was one of two founding ...…
…OUR COMMUNITY continued from page 15 PROJECT CHESED The Jewish Fund and Jewish Family Service created Project Chesed to provide free health care to low-income Jewish individuals prior to passage of the Affordable Care Act. Local physicians, dentists and hospitals donated their services. “This was truly innovative and impactful,” says Karen Sosnick Schoenberg. TEEN MENTAL HEALTH Michael Eizelman says a Jewish Fund-initiated-and-funded Fed...…
…APRIL 14 • 2022 | 17 OUR COMMUNITY Celebrating 19 Years of serviCe to survivors Celebrating 19 Years of Jerusalem category $10,000+ Joel Dorfman Robin and Leo Eisenberg Mickey Shapiro Donald R and Esther Simon Foundation eilat category-$150-$499 Karen and Allen Amber Freda Arlow and David Sachs CHAIM-Children of Holocaust- Survivors Association In Michigan Barbara Cohen Harriet Cooper and Charles Kuschner Judy and Chuck Domstein Shell...…
…continued on page 20 OUR COMMUNITY L ast week, I stood in the Polish town of Medyka at the border with Ukraine, a site where thousands of refugees have streamed through daily as they flee the devastation of the Russian invasion. As CEO of the Detroit Federation, I— along with Leah Trosch, a volunteer leader and past pres- ident of Federation’s Women’s Philanthropy — was asked to represent our community there, bearing witness to th...…
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…20 | APRIL 14 • 2022 OUR COMMUNITY An Israeli flag welcomes refugees from Ukraine. STEVE INGBER “IT IS BY THE GRACE OF G-D THAT WE ARE THE ONES ABLE TO HELP AND NOT THE ONES NEEDING IT.” — STEVE INGBER continued from page 18 4-year-old who recently drew his house and then scribbled it over in black marker to show how it looks today. The children don’t fully under- stand what is happening, let alone how to explain it. As dif...…
…APRIL 14 • 2022 | 21 294 E Brown Street, Birmingham, Michigan 48009. © 2022 Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker Logo are service marks registered or pending registration owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Wishing you...…
…OUR COMMUNITY L ots of people bake challah for Shabbat. And lots of peo- ple study the Torah portion that is read in synagogues every Shabbat. But only a few bake challahs that illustrate the weekly parshah. Davida (De-De) Robinson is one of them. She got the idea from her son Ian, who was working in Chile a few years ago. He told her the rebbitzin at the synagogue he attended made challah every week shaped to relate to the Torah readin...…
…APRIL 14 • 2022 | 23 acquaintances had been having. For Parshat Bo in early January, which tells of the plague of dark- ness, her cloud-shaped challah was thickly covered with poppy seeds. But there was a slit in the top. “The darkness of COVID once again feels insurmountable, not to mention a sincere arrival of win- ter,” she wrote that week on her Facebook page. “But we must all remember that after these plagues the Hebrew nation is...…
…24 | APRIL 14 • 2022 FROM TOP: Front of the shul, a quarter-mile from the Detroit Zoo. Woodward Avenue Shul’s Hanukkah menorah. WAS’s sanctuary. SYNAGOGUE SPOTLIGHT T he Woodward Avenue Shul (WAS) is situated in the center of the recent trend of Jewish migration to the surrounding cities of Huntington Woods, Royal Oak, Berkeley, Birmingham, Pleasant Ridge and Ferndale. The shul’s Rabbi Mendel Polter believes its location and i...…
…APRIL 14 • 2022 | 25 seek new ways to create personal and intimate Jewish experiences. Our open house festivities are the cornerstone of every Shabbat and holiday. At the WAS, every occasion is capped off by dining and celebrating together.” As a growing but still intimate shul, Polter says while some may view the WAS as a one-man job, anyone who visits knows each of their loyal participants lend a hand. “One might say we are a...…
…continued on page 28 Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series showcasing volunteers making a difference in our community. E rin Stiebel is an educator for Partners Detroit’s Young Professional Division and director of NCSY GIVE, an annual volunteer-focused Israel summer program for high school girls from across North America. Listing off Erin’s titles alone showcases why she was among the first volunteers to be nominated by rea...…
…28 | APRIL 14 • 2022 OUR COMMUNITY continued from page 26 for anyone and everyone. (Let her know when you’re free for Shabbos dinner!) “If you’ve met Erin Stiebel, odds are she has invited you over for a Shabbat meal,” said Jackie Yashinksky. Jackie met Erin during a Partners Detroit Jewish Poland trip, which Erin staffed. “In fact, the first time I met Erin, she said… ‘Hi, I’m Erin. Would you like to come over for Shabbat din...…
…FRAME FRAME FRAMEOF OF OF OF OF OFMIND MIND MIND ART MUSIC THEATRE MAY15 3RD ANNUAL BENEFIT AND ARTS SHOWCASE 5PM — 8PM LIVE PERFORMANCES A theatrical collaboration by JVS+Kadima, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Opera, and Matrix Theatre performers PRESENTING SPONSOR Barbara and Michael Kratchman Premier Event Sponsors VIRTUOSO SPONSOR Bluma Schechter CONDUCTOR SPONSORS Judy and Jeff Aisen | Nancy and James Grosfeld Gail Kat...…
…OUR COMMUNITY 30 | APRIL 14 • 2022 I t took three tries — scheduling and rescheduling amid COVID-19 concerns — but as they say, the third time’s the charm for the sixth annual Bates Street Society Dinner. The black-tie optional gala, hosted by The Community House in Birmingham and The Community House Foundation Board of Directors, will finally take place in person April 30. Five members of the local Jewish community will be...…
