…OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY 60 | SEPTEMBER 28 • 2023 J N Veteran Hasidic Singer Dedi Passes Away at 62 Dedi Graucher, a well-known Hasidic superstar whose songs topped Jewish music charts in the ’90s, passed away Sept. 11, 2023, at the age of 62 after battling a serious illness. Graucher’s star began rising after the release of his album Ratza in collaboration with Yossi Green, with the album’s nearly nine-minute-long title track m...…
…Looking Back From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History accessible at thejewishnews.com Hip Hop and Jewish Detroit D id you know that the music genre “hip hop” just marked its 50th birthday? What began in low- income African American and Hispanic neighborhoods in New York City in the late 1970s is now a mainstream American and global art form. I thought I should take a look into this massive phenomenon. ...…
…62 | SEPTEMBER 28 • 2023 J N Jewish Joke of the Week A priest, a rabbi and an imam walk into a bar. The barman says, “Is this some kind of joke?” Answer Key: Stripes on woman’s shirt, Flower in woman’s hand, black hanging strap, orange decoration on chair, yellow decoration in girl’s hand Can You Find the Differences? Find five differences between each photo. A CRAFT FOR YOUR SUKKAH Cut an orange in half and scoop out the fle...…
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…DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 32255 Northwestern Hwy. Suite 205, Farmington Hills, MI 48334 248-354-6060 thejewishnews.com SEPTEMBER 28 • 2023 | 7 J N Through the Centennial Fund, Marshall and Rhoda Tobin Give the Gift of a Jewish Future “It affords us great pleasure and pride to be able to support the Detroit Jewish community, ” said Rhoda and Marshall Tobin, who were both born and raised in Detroit. The Tobins have been married for more than 71...…
…8 | SEPTEMBER 28 • 2023 J N an AIPAC policy conference amplified his passion for social justice and equity, emphasizing the importance of maintaining civility despite disagreements. Mayor Kalman transitioned into his professional career before entering the public sphere. Armed with a diverse skillset and a deep sense of purpose, he embarked on a journey that saw him excel in various roles within the private sector. ON TO PUBLI...…
…SEPTEMBER 28 • 2023 | 9 J N Health insurance YOU CAN FEEL GOOD ABOUT. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Learn more at MIBluesPerspectives.com/ReadyToHelp With the largest network of doctors and hospitals, coverage for mental health, an easy-to-use mobile app, a 24-hour nurse line and the MIBlue virtual assistant, ...…
…JEWISH NEWS THE DETROIT thejewishnews.com $200 Sept. 21-27, 2023 / 6-12 Tishrei 5784 Mark Davidoff’s longtime community leadership to be honored with Federation’s 2023 Butzel Award. See page 12 An ‘All-Around Mensch’ …
…10 | SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 column On the Ground in Morocco: Sharing Hope, Paving the Way I was asked to join a jump team of first responders heading to Morocco to provide initial medical treatment and assess how the organization I volunteer for, United Hatzalah, could best assist survivors of the earthquake that killed more than 2,800 people — and counting. As a paramedic and volunteer first responder who is always on call, ...…
…SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 | 11 …
…Mark Davidoff JOHN HARDWICK …
…SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 | 13 OUR COMMUNITY f you talk to Mark Davidoff about his accomplishments — Federation leader for many years, Michigan man- aging partner at Deloitte LLP , Detroit Symphony Orchestra Board chair, champion for Israel, presi- dent and CEO of The Fisher Group, just to name a few — he almost visibly cringes and tries to deflect the praise to “other, smarter” people who helped him along the way. He honestly believes...…
…continued from page 13 14 | SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 OUR COMMUNITY ON THE COVER HOW IT STARTED Mark grew up in the Jewish com- munity in Oak Park. His family were members of Congregation Shaarey Zedek, where he became a bar mitzvah. “I was surrounded by the Jewish community. I didn’t have to really think about being Jewish. It was just there all the time,” he said. He attended Oak Park High School, where he met his wife, Margie. They m...…
…Fred M. Butzel Memorial Award for Distinguished Community Service We are proud of your lifelong devotion to our community and Tikkun olam. Congratulations, Mark! The Fisher Family, The Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation The Fisher Group …
…16 | SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 continued from page 14 Federation agency. “He asked me to sit on a committee, which I did. It was one meeting, and then it was over, and I assumed that was it, ” he said. Soon after, Mark reconnected with Naftaly, who told him the Federation was looking to hire a new chief financial officer and suggested he apply. Mark spent some time learning more about the Federation and “the complex ecosystem of the Je...…
…WOMEN OF VISION A N A N N U A L B E N E F I T L U N C H E O N T O S U P P O R T T H E P R O G R A M S O F N C J W | M I T H U R S DAY, O C T O B E R 1 9, 2 0 2 3 A DAT S H A L O M S Y N AG O G U E 2 9 9 0 1 M I D D L E B E L T R D . | F A R M I N G T O N H I L L S , M I 9 : 3 0A M - 3 : 3 0 P M 9 : 3 0A M - 3 : 3 0 P M O P E N T O T H E C O M M U N I T Y BO UTI Q U E S H O PPI N G L E A R N M O R E V I S I T FA C E B O O K A N...…
…OUR COMMUNITY continued from page 16 18 | SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 ON THE COVER dor’s residence. “Mark was leading a group of businesspeople and political leaders to Israel. Watching him in that venue was a treat because this is a gentleman who could bring people of importance together. That kind of impact is significant as any con- tribution I can think of his making to the Jewish people. ” Mark’s passion is to replicate the societal, ...…
…SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 | 19 world. So, I decided to go for it. ” Mark joined Deloitte in 2005. Six years later, he became Michigan managing partner, leading 1,200 professionals in the Michigan practice — a quick trajectory by anyone’s standards. While there, he led the com- pany to success and continued his track record of helping others in the community. Mark launched the Deloitte Cornerstone Career Pathways program, a five-year pilo...…
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…Orchestra. “When I became the managing partner at Deloitte, I was asked to join a number of community boards, including the DSO. I figured with the DSO, I would probably join the finance committee and continue to enjoy the music through our regular concert attendance. “ Anne Parsons at the time was the president and CEO and, she was an amazing leader, ” he said. “ Anne gave me opportunities to participate in components of gov- ern...…
…SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 | 21 to the Board since February 2021. Torgow said, “Mark is a remarkable and dedicated activist for the Jewish community. Throughout his career, both in Jewish communal service and at the highest echelons of business and commerce, the Jewish people and Israel have always been at the top of his agenda. ” Mark has served on a number of boards over the years. Mark served as Board Chair for the Detroit Regional ...…
…22 | SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 OUR COMMUNITY M ichigan Jewish history buffs will have an opportunity to learn about Jewish com- munities in Northern Michigan while enjoying the fall foliage on an upcom- ing three-day bus tour. The Jewish Historical Society of Michigan (JHSM) in partnership with JTraveler, a pro- gram of the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit, will offer this unique trip from Oct. 10-12, 2023. The idea for th...…
…SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 | 23 Available on approved credit through Honda Financial Services. 2.99% APR for up to 36 months on select 2018–2023 HondaTrue Certified+ and HondaTrue Certified Accord, Civic, CR-V, and Pilot vehicles through 10/31/2023, for well-qualified buyers. Not all buyers will qualify. Higher financing rates apply for buyers with lower credit ratings. Actual down payment may vary. Dealer participation may affect actual payment. D...…
…24 | SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 OUR COMMUNITY S ix years ago, an important ques- tion was asked. What if we could motivate kids to master Jewish knowledge? Dozens of focus groups, high-powered meetings and back-and- forth phone calls later, JewQ was born. Since then, more than 4,000 kids have become experts in the fundamentals of Jewish life. JewQ is an international Torah Championship that has taken the Hebrew school world by storm — and...…
…SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 | 25 ATTENTION HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS If you are a Holocaust survivor who has not received any compensation payment (either from the Claims Conference or German or Austrian governments), please call us immediately. You may be entitled. The Claims Conference has negotiated the following liberalizations of criteria to compensation funds with the German government. HARDSHIP FUND – SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENT Jewish Nazi victims eli...…
…26 | SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 OUR COMMUNITY T ara Schuster, former Comedy Central executive, author and playwright, will be the guest speaker for the 2023 Hadassah Greater Detroit Judi Schram Annual Meeting and Dessert Reception at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10, at Adat Shalom Synagogue. Schuster, perhaps best known as the executive in charge of the Emmy- and Peabody-winning show Key & Peele, will talk about “Finding Your Voice: Th...…
…SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 | 27 about Hadassah. In her 50-plus years of dedicated service to this organization, she’s modeled for us all what one woman with determination and vision can do. And she’s done it all with warmth, compassion and love. I’m in awe of this woman!” Fine, then a young mother, hadn’t even heard about Hadassah when a friend asked her to participate in a fundraising event for the Eleanor Roosevelt Chapter of Greate...…
…28 | SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 OUR COMMUNITY I n recognition of the 22nd anniversary of 9-11, Jewish National Fund-USA part- nered with several schools and synagogues in the Detroit Metro area to host 9-11 ceremonies, during which students learned about the terrorist attacks that forever changed America and the world. The events also served as an opportunity to honor local first responders and security officers who bravely serve our ...…
…SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 | 29 T he Coalition for Black & Jewish Unity, a local partnership between the Jewish Community Relations Council/AJC, the Council of Baptist Pastors, the Anti- Defamation League and the Urban League, announced the addition of a new partner, the Michigan NAACP, Michigan Conference division. Among its standard programming, the Coalition hosts a number of annual programs, including such signature events...…
…SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 | 3 contents PURELY COMMENTARY 4-10 Essays and viewpoints. OUR COMMUNITY 12 An ‘All-Around Mensch’ Mark Davidoff’s longtime community leadership to be honored with Federation’s 2023 Butzel Award. 22 Jewish Color Tour Jewish Historical Society and JTraveler offer a trip to Northern Michigan Jewish communities. 24 BCTC Joins the International Torah Championship Bais Chabad’s Hebrew...…
…30 | SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 W e ought to devote the entire month leading up to Rosh Hashanah in introspection, according to rabbinic tradition. We ought to devote that month to working at improving our deeds and practices. Then comes Rosh Hashanah, known as the Day of Judgment, when we see ourselves as accountable, the first of the 10 days of even more intensive repentance. At the close of the 10 days, we should come into Yom K...…
…SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 | 31 forbidden to do it.” The Mishnah defines a process for annulling vows, at which a panel of sages evaluates the circumstances of the vow. It does not have a formula for a simple renunciation of all past vows. There does exist a Talmudic precedent for announcing that one does not intend to make vows for the next year (Nedarim 23b). Perhaps that serves as the source for reciting Kol Nidre in the future ten...…
…32 | SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 I was afraid at first that my quiet and melancholy songs weren’t the kind that would encourage soldiers at the front — but I learned that these won- derful kids don’t need glorious battle anthems. Now between battles they’re open to my songs maybe more than ever before. I came to raise their spirits and they raised mine. ” — Leonard Cohen, Jewish Canadian singer/songwriter to a reporter from Israeli pap...…
…SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 | 33 lyrics and impressions from the tour. Long dug through the archives, scanned and sent the material to Friedman. “If I had to choose between interview- ing an elderly Leonard Cohen about events from 40 years previous or having this actual manuscript with raw impres- sions, short stories, lyrics — I’m not angry. The manuscript is a good alternative, ” Friedman said. LEONARD COHEN’S EARLY YEARS Cohen was born...…
…34 | SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 T he Dorothy and Peter Brown Jewish Community Adult Day Program will be holding its award-winning, dementia-friendly service to celebrate the High Holidays at the Fleischman Residence chapel (6710 W . Maple Road in West Bloomfield) on Sunday, Sept. 24, at 10:30 a.m. The Kol Nidre/Yom Kippur service will be followed imme- diately by a Kiddush, which is a new addition to the program, and participants will...…
…SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 | 35 accessible for the residents of the Brown Memory Care Pavilion. As in previous years since the pandemic, the service will also be available via Zoom. The High Holiday service is made possible through a generous gift from the Deedee and Michael Perlman Caregivers Fund housed at the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. To register for the program, both in-person and virtually, visit brownadultday. org...…
…36 | SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 More than 300 women gathered on Aug. 2 for the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) Michigan Chapter “Women of Valor” Luncheon at Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield to raise funds for college schol- arships for Israel Defense Forces (IDF) veterans. The event, co-chaired by Pam Bloom and Elaine Robins, was held in support of FIDF’s IMPACT! Scholarship Program, which grants four-year academic scho...…
…SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 | 37 SMART introduces four new enhanced transit routes in Oakland County that will give our commuters in Wixom, Novi and the Bloomfields some exciting and convenient new services. These changes include longer routes, faster routes, extra stops and more park and ride options. It all starts Monday, September 11. Click the QR Code below for details Introducing Enhanced Transit in Oakland County! LIFE SMART YO...…
…38 | SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 PHOTOGRAPHY BY JUNBUISON PHOTOGRAPHY faces&places Classic Chevrolets, Corvettes and convertibles cruised past car-loving residents at Jewish Senior Life’s 15th Annual Senior Dream Cruise on Friday, Aug. 18, at the Prentis and Teitel Apartments in Oak Park. More than 100 guests from Jewish Senior Life’s Oak Park campus, including residents of its assisted living and memory care Colville Apartments, as well...…
…SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 | 39 PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF AISEN On Sunday, Aug. 20, JARC welcomed nearly 600 Metro Detroiters with developmental disabilities, their caregivers and families to Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills to attend a special carnival. The event was specifically designed to accommodate individuals with developmental disabilities and/or sensory sensitives, who would likely be overwhelmed and overstimulated by a tradi...…
…4 | SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 opinion Oslo’s Contribution to Israeli-Arab Normalization T his past week we observed two signif- icant anniversaries of agreements that Israel has reached with its Arab neigh- bors. The two have a very different history, one being in the center of partisan political controversy in Israel, the other widely acclaimed as an important step forward. I am referring to the 30th anni- versary of the Oslo Accord...…
…40 | SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 SPORTS T he Vieder brothers — Adam and Ryan — won the team championship in the B’nai B’rith Golf League. And they did it by taking advantage of the league’s new setup for the team competition. For the first time in the weekly nine-hole league’s 11-year history, a two-half system was used to determine the team champion. The first-place teams in the first and second halves of the season met to determin...…
…SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 | 41 continued on page 43 standings with 185 points, nine points ahead of runners-up Klinger and Taub. But Lefton and Zorn finished in second place in the first half of the season, seven points in back of the Vieders, and in third place in the second half, 11 points behind Klinger and Taub and six points behind Lyle Schaefer and Ryan Stone. So they didn’t play in the team championship match. The league’s indivi...…
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…SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 | 43 Two Cousins Win Seven Swimming Medals at Maccabi Cousins Alexandra and Megan Zelmanov combined to win seven medals in 16U girls swimming representing Detroit last month at the JCC Maccabi Games in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Each medal was won in a relay with swimmers from other delegations. Alexandra won two golds and two silvers. Megan won two silvers and a bronze. The girls did not swim together on any...…
…44 | SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 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 (2...…
…SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 | 45 To Listen & To Hear H ow many times do we catch ourselves saying something for the thousandth time to our child wondering if they hear us? “Tell me what I just said!” and they dutifully repeat to you verbatim what we just said. And yet, they didn’t hear us. Or, when an employ- ee asks us for guidance and leaves just as per- plexed as when they came, only to come back an hour later, say- ing their coworke...…
…46 | SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 W ith Haazinu we climb to one of the peaks of Jewish spirituality. For a month Moses had taught the people. He had told them their history and destiny, and the laws that would make theirs a unique society of people bound in covenant with one another and with God. He renewed the covenant and then handed the leadership on to his successor and disciple Joshua. His final act would be bless- ing the peo...…
…SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 | 47 festivals, Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot (which have much musically in common but also tunes distinctive to each), and for the Yamim Noraim, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. There are different tunes for different texts. There is one kind of cantillation for Torah, another for the haftorah from the prophetic books, and yet another for Ketuvim, the Writings, especially the five Megillot. There is a particular ch...…
