…22 | AUGUST 3 • 2023 R abbi Bentzi Geisinsky of Chabad of Bingham Farms noted the unique timing on the Jewish calendar when he welcomed the community gathered for the grand open- ing and ribbon cutting of the summer pop-up Franklin Judaic Art Studio in Franklin. The opening of Franklin Judaic Art Studio fell during the three-week mourning period referred to as the Three Weeks that takes place annually between the 17th of Tammu...…
…AUGUST 3 • 2023 | 23 Judaic Art Studio is Marci Bratt Bykat. Marci turned to Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership in response to the chal- lenge of raising children in America with a full appreciation of their Jewish identity. She wrote her thesis on the vital need for each Jewish community to have a Jewish art center. In her words, such a center fosters “collaboration, curiosity and diverse perspectives.” It is bash...…
…24 | AUGUST 3 • 2023 M ore children than ever are being diag- nosed with autism spectrum disorder, largely attributed to progress in early detection and greater under- standing and awareness; and the question of where families should turn and what decisions they should make after the diagnosis is a universal dilem- ma. A few months after Kim and Lenny Kerwin’s son Bennett was diagnosed with autism in November 2020 at 2 years old...…
…AUGUST 3 • 2023 | 25 coverage they might have for therapies, to helping find the right doctors and schools, all the way through helping place autistic individuals in good-paying jobs. No matter the question, the navigator becomes a resource to families and individuals seeking assistance. “You can call any of them and they’ll say, ‘Here’s who you talk to about a trust, here’s who you talk to about an Individualized Education Prog...…
…26 | AUGUST 3 • 2023 T he Sarah & Irving Pitt Early Childhood Center (ECC) located at the Jewish Community Center in West Bloomfield will be holding an open house for prospective students and their families on Wednesday, Aug. 9, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. The preschool, founded in 1976 and accepts children as young as newborns up to pre-K 4-year-olds, will restart its enrichment program for the coming academic year alongside...…
…AUGUST 3 • 2023 | 27 thirds of students at the preschool are Jewish and a third are not, Bogorad, who lives in West Bloomfield and has two daughters ages 6 and 11, added: “Although we are a Jewish preschool, we find that our Jewish values are embraced by so many families in the community.” Many working families choose the school because of its flexible extended hours, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and because of the family atmosphere, with...…
…28 | AUGUST 3 • 2023 National Council of Jewish Women, Michigan (NCJW|MI) held its annual installation event at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, where new officers and board members were installed, and the Ruth Caplan Savage Volunteer Award was pre- sented. The program began with a wel- come speech by Janice Cherkasky, installation chair. Sallyjo Levine, president of NCJW|MI, delivered the annual report, and Lynn Lieberman, NCJW ...…
…AUGUST 3 • 2023 | 29 The People JARC Serves Journey Down the Yellow Brick Road A warm Michigan summer evening was the perfect setting for a recent outdoor movie night for the people JARC serves. Nearly 100 attendees, including adults with developmental disabilities accompanied by caregivers, guardians and JARC staff, gathered on June 21 at Bowers Farms in Bloomfield Hills to enjoy snacks and beverages as they watched a screen...…
…AUGUST 3 • 2023 | 3 contents Aug. 3-9, 2023 / 16-22 Av 5783 | VOLUME CLXXIII, ISSUE 25 PURELY COMMENTARY 4-11 Essays and viewpoints. OUR COMMUNITY 12 Jewish LIfe in Traverse City New Chabad house doubles Jewish activities in Up North destination. 16 Ann Arbor Frat House Hit with Antisemitic Vandalism Jewish U-M fraternity among two houses struck with hateful graffiti and vandalism. 17 Cubing for a Cause Wor...…
…30 | AUGUST 3 • 2023 E mily Gordon of Farmington Hills comes from a family of helpers. Her parents are both educators who worked in underserved and vulnerable communities, and she was driven to work in the Jewish communal space after watching her mother become a full-time caregiver to her own parents at the end of their lives. Those experienc- es and her Jewish values led Gordon to her current role as a family caregiver sup...…
…AUGUST 3 • 2023 | 31 Lifetime dental group is a locally owned dental practice providing complete dental care for the entire family. Our experienced dentists utilize the most advanced technology to provide elite dental care. For over 25 years we have been entrusted by thousands of patients and we are honored to now serve the city of West Bloomfield! (248) 855-8000 4320 Orchard Lake Rd 4320 Orchard Lake Rd West Bloomfield Township,...…
…OUR COMMUNITY continued from page 30 going to feel personally ful- filled by this work.” FINDING THE PERFECT JOB The logic that helped Jason Charnas, director of business and career services at Gesher Human Services, select his job still rings true for new employees today, he says. As job seekers look for work with con- nection, purpose and balance, agencies can pro- vide a match as far as mission, vision and values, he explain...…
…AUGUST 3 • 2023 | 33 CHOOSE A CAREER LEADING THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER Choosing a career in oncology means choosing a life dedicated to making a difference for others. Learn more on how you can help give others their best chance forward. Positions available in Detroit, Farmington Hills and Roseville: * Registered Nurse * Oncology Care Associate * Ambulatory Care Associate * Pharmacy Technician A sign-on bonus is available. APPLY TODAY! ...…
…34 | AUGUST 3 • 2023 Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, moved into the Jewish nonprofit space when he relocated home to Detroit from San Francisco some 12 years ago. He’d worked in advertising for an agency that had some nonprofits clients, as well. “I always really enjoyed that work and being able to connect to the mission of an organization and understand the impact it was having,” he says. Today, he’s working with pro...…
…AUGUST 3 • 2023 | 35 Contact Raymond Jenkins 33700 Woodward Ave. • Between 14 Mile & Adams • Birmingham, MI If you are not wearing it… sell it!... or BORROW on it! You can’t enjoy jewelry if it’s sitting in your safe deposit box. Sell or borrow on it for immediate cash. We deal in jewelry, watches, diamonds and coins. A Service to Private Owners, Banks & Estates 33700 Woodward Ave. • Between 14 Mile & Adams • Birmingham, MI 248-644-85...…
…36 | AUGUST 3 • 2023 beyond. “To kind of know the scene, that’s a big part of it, and then in terms of problem solving, having a toolbox of social work methodology to say ‘this is how we understand a problem, this is how we might want to intervene, these are the kinds of concerns that come to mind,’” he says. Goldman also modeled how to work in a field that is one’s passion, Ehrlich says. Today he works as a spiritual leader a...…
…AUGUST 3 • 2023 | 37 T here are so many vol- unteer opportunities in August. Below you’ll find a variety of ways to give back in the sunshine as we roll into the last weeks of summer. More of an indoor person? There are plenty of options for you, too. On the eve- ning of Aug. 10, join NEXTGen Detroit, The Well and Adamah Detroit for Canoeing and Clean Up on the Huron River. The evening will start with a park-friendly dinner a...…
…38 | AUGUST 3 • 2023 NEXT DOR W hite is the color often associated with Shabbat, whether in welcoming the Shabbat bride or dressing up for Kabbalat Shabbat at summer camp. Well, The Well’s Shabbat Sh’Barbie was anything but white! It was head-to-toe, cupcakes to chocolate-covered bedazzled strawberries PINK! The Well started its Shabbat Sh’Barbie Kabbalat Shabbat extravaganza at Bamboo Royal Oak. The lower level of Bamboo t...…
…AUGUST 3 • 2023 | 39 persecution in Poland and immigrated to the United States in 1907. Based on questions raised by the film and to spark intentional discussion, Rabbi Jeff Stombaugh, executive director of The Well, facilitated an exploration of what it means to be Jewish and a member of any tribe in the 21st century. “At the core of these questions is the Jewish issue of choseness; the enduring tension between universalism a...…
…4 | AUGUST 3 • 2023 for openers A Wordy Workout P ilates? Jogging? Calisthenics? These workouts are familiar to the many who exercise regularly. However, are you familiar with the exercise involved in your everyday conversations? If you get misinformation, it may cause you to jump to conclusions. You will then have to swallow your pride and maybe even bend over backwards to make amends. It is important you rise on the la...…
…40 | AUGUST 3 • 2023 T he JCC Maccabi Games are coming back to Detroit. Jewish teen athletes from across the world will be here July 28 through Aug. 2, 2024, to not just compete in sports, but also to participate in social, cultural and religious activities. Amy Meisner from the host Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit is the games director. Co-chairs Karen Gordon, Franci Silver and Justin Jacobs are three of the hundre...…
…AUGUST 3 • 2023 | 41 SPIRIT Holy ‘Heeling’ T he aftermath of Tisha b’ Av always feels some- what counterintuitive. After mourning the loss of our Temples, we feel the void of our personal and commu- nal Judaism; and we go right back to the routines of our exilic lives. We return to our morning runs, our coffee breaks, our usual entertainment; and we move on from the mourning, despite the fact that nothing has filled that void....…
…42 | AUGUST 3 • 2023 S omething implicit in the Torah from the very beginning becomes explicit in the book of Devarim. God is the God of love. More than we love Him, He loves us. Here, for instance, is the beginning of this week’s parshah: “If you pay attention to these laws and are careful to follow them, then the Lord your God will keep His covenant of love [et ha-brit ve-et ha-chessed] with you, as He swore to your ancestor...…
…AUGUST 3 • 2023 | 43 medieval Christianity (the “chivalrous knight”) and Islam. The fourth, which he calls simply morality, he traces to Leviticus and Deuteronomy. He defines it simply as “the ethic of love,” and represents what made the West morally unique: “The biblical ‘love of one’s neighbor’ is a very special form of love, a unique development of the Judaic religion and unlike any to be encountered outside it. It is a supremely ...…
…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 West Blo...…
…AUGUST 3 • 2023 | 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 ...…
…46 | AUGUST 3 • 2023 N ew York City-based producers and filmmakers Amnon Carmi and Benjamin Ducoff have played the Israeli card game Yaniv for years, but one day imagined a twist on the popular pastime. “What if there was an underground card game where Chasidic Jews were playing Yaniv?” Ducoff, whose mother is a Huntington Woods native, mulled over during a run. The idea stuck, and the story for Yaniv — Carmi and Ducoff’s first f...…
…AUGUST 3 • 2023 | 47 DETROIT ROOTS Much of Yaniv was filmed in Detroit at the Display Group studio, which is owned by one of the film’s executive producers, Rick Portwood. Production began in July 2022 and included a robust cast of local Detroit actors secured by local casting director Janet Pound. Carmi and Ducoff say that filming in Detroit was to their benefit in terms of budget and connections, but also gave them a chance to meet...…
…48 | AUGUST 3 • 2023 ARTS&LIFE ART W omen who have been artists for many years were asked to think about creative ways they could express themselves, and 60 of them represented their personalities and outlooks through diverse styles. Those artworks are being displayed Aug. 6-Sept. 13 at the Janice Charach Gallery in the West Bloomfield Jewish Community Center. For clarification, each artwork is accompanied by a statement that com...…
…AUGUST 3 • 2023 | 49 who still have the shirts. Starting artwork when she was making the T-shirts, Kutinsky enhanced her skills at both the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center (BBAC) in Birmingham and Atelier School of Art in Royal Oak. Sue Shlom of West Bloomfield welcomes the exhibit as a chance for women to look at themselves as they witness the artwork of others. In “Reaching for Light, ” Shlom establishes the image of trees with branch...…
…AUGUST 3 • 2023 | 5 The LOIS ZUSSMAN GOLF CLASSIC provides vital revenue to support the Lois and Milton Y. Zussman Activity Center / Clubhouse — a welcoming community for people served where they can benefit from social and cultural activities, vocational and educational support, horticultural and culinary activities, volunteer engagement, and a community atmosphere with peers. 2023 GESHER GOLF CLASSIC COMMITTEE | Harold Dubrowsky | A...…
…50 | AUGUST 3 • 2023 TONY B. AND MORE OPPENHEIMER As no doubt you heard, singer Tony Bennett died last week, age 96. His singing voice was strong well into his 80s, and he was still “very good” until he had to retire in 2021. I had the good fortune of hearing him (1996) sing a few of his classics in front of San Francisco’s City Hall. As I looked around, I noticed how diverse (age, race, etc.) the large adoring crowd was. I...…
…AUGUST 3 • 2023 | 51 NEW PLAY STAGED NOW-SEPT. 2 The Purple Rose Theatre Company announces the final production of their 32nd season, A Jukebox for the Algonquin, a world premiere by Paul Stroili. At a senior living community in the Adirondacks, a small group of residents decide they’re not quite ready to “go gentle into that good night.” It is a serious comedy about sex, drugs and rocking chairs; it contains adult content and...…
…GYPSY JAZZ 2-3:30 PM, AUG. 9 (WED.) At Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield. A summer afternoon under the tent on the Saulson Pavilion: concert featuring Yiddish, Jewish and memorable folkloric songs with a jazzy twist by the fabulous local Ukrainian- Jewish musician Vlad Tovbin and his Gypsy Caravan Trio. Special guest Hazzan David Propis. Enjoy bagels and snacks after the show, along with a Q&A with the musicians. Info: j...…
…AUGUST 3 • 2023 | 53 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 SINCE 1973 $85 SERVICE FEE 24/7 Emergency Service basketofsmiles.com pam@basketofsmiles.com 248-326-5684 basketofsmiles.com pam@basketofsmiles.com 248-326-5684 basketofsmiles.com pam@basketofsmiles.com 248-326-5684 Call t...…
…54 | AUGUST 3 • 2023 OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY DR. RONALD LAWRENCE BIGMAN, 84, of Lake Worth, Fla., died on July 26, 2023. His sense of humor, love and generosity will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 61 years, Carol; children, Amy Bigman (Stefan Gleibermann), Jill (David) Kindy, and Kevin (Debra Goldberg) Bigman. He was the loving Papa of Drew (Emma) Kindy, Lauren Kindy, and Jack Bigman. He will be remembered with l...…
…AUGUST 3 • 2023 | 55 Davya (Slootsky) Cohen; children, Marc (Kelly Furr) Cohen of Springfield, Va., Lisa (John) Ziebell of Henderson, Nev.; granddaughter, Amanda Cohen of Springfield; honorary granddaughter, Emily Kwiatkowski of Pittsburgh, Pa .; sister, Linda (Peter) Friedman of Tucson; nephew, Erik (Likivi Suu) Friedman of Chicago, Ill.; sisters and brother-in-law, Brenda Brook of West Bloomfield, Nan-C- Lee Pukitis of Sitges, ...…
…56 | AUGUST 3 • 2023 OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY Born in Detroit to the late Emil and Fannie Edelson, she was the youngest of four siblings. She attended Central High and the University of Miami. She met George Must at a party and eloped with him six weeks later. She traveled the world, loved to dine, dance and embrace the world around her. Her life with George was cut short when he died in 1980 but was lucky to find love again...…
…AUGUST 3 • 2023 | 57 Beverly and Jerry Becker. Steve was an adventurous man with many hobbies, including collectables and cultivation of plants. He was acknowledged as one of the first licensed medical marijuana caregivers in the state. He survived cancer with RSO and became a well- known leader in the field of medical marijuana. He also jumped out of airplanes, scuba dived around the world and loved music, sharing these adventu...…
…58 | AUGUST 3 • 2023 Novetsky; grandchildren, Nathan Novetsky, Morgan Novetsky, Sammy Novetsky, Shayna Novetsky; sisters and brothers-in-law, Shirley and Marshall Keys, Marilyn Applebaum and Ron Thomas, Diane Novetsky and Art Guerci-Lena; he is also survived by friends of Temple Beth Emeth and Silver Maples of Chelsea; cousins, Monica Ferri, Linda Mendelson, Don Mendelson. Marvin was the dear brother of the late Jerry Novetsk...…
…AUGUST 3 • 2023 | 59 ALAN E. SCHWARTZ, 97, of Birmingham, Michigan, died after sunset on July 27, 2023. Alan was a founder and partner at Honigman LLP as well as a business, civic and Jewish community leader in Detroit for more than half a century. He created permanent, positive change. He was known for his brilliance, elegance, public service, ability to create consensus, sound advice, business acumen, and deep love of commu...…
…6 | AUGUST 3 • 2023 1942 - 2023 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...…
…OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY 60 | AUGUST 3 • 2023 member of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, which bestowed upon him the Fred M. Butzel Memorial Award in 2008. Alan was preceded in death by his wife, Marianne Shapero Schwartz, in 2017. He was the cherished father of Marc (Emily Camiener) Schwartz, Kurt (Susan) Schwartz, and Ruthanne (Joseph) Fuller. He was the proud grandfather of Chris Fuller, Mark (Charlotte Riz...…
…AUGUST 3 • 2023 | 61 son-in-law, Deborah and Dr. Andrew Colman; son-in- law, Dr. Ronald Rasansky; grandchildren, Bradley and Diana Stoler, Randy Stoler, Dr. Michael and Jennifer Rasansky, Lisa and Jay Lazar, Jodie Colman, and Dr. Brooke Colman; great-grandchildren, Camellia and Elodie Stoler, Lily and Matthew Rasansky, and Zoey and Cooper Lazar. She is also survived by her devoted caregivers, Tajuanna, Campbell, Regina, Sil and ...…
…Looking Back From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History accessible at www.djnfoundation.org 62 | AUGUST 3 • 2023 10 Years Post-Bankruptcy W e just had a rather infamous anniversary. Ten years ago, on July 18, 2013, Detroit became the largest city in American history to declare bankruptcy. Detroit’s bankruptcy was a long time coming. As early as 1982, Detroit Mayor Coleman Young stated that, if fiscal prac...…
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…DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 32255 Northwestern Hwy. Suite 205, Farmington Hills, MI 48334 248-354-6060 thejewishnews.com AUGUST 3• 2023 | 7 Faceb book and Instagram @CongregationBet thAhm In-Person Daily Minyan Kaddish & Community Sunday 9:00am and 5:00pm M – F morning M – Th evening Friday evening Sunday, August 13 Experience the movement during this hands-on farming and dining experience Advance registration required Outside Kabbalat S...…
…8 | AUGUST 3 • 2023 PURELY COMMENTARY O n Oct. 27, 2018, Robert Bowers entered Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue intending to kill Jews. His murder of 11 congregants was the deadliest antisemitic attack in our country’s history, shattering a community and forcing Jews, including me, to reckon with our place in America. At the time, I had just started a doctoral program in philosophy in New York. The attacks in Pittsburgh made...…
…AUGUST 3 • 2023 | 9 PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE CO-SPONSORED BY R A B B I D A V I D & A L I C I A N E L S O N LEGACY F E AT U R I N G RABBI AVINOAM SHARON THE IMPLICATIONS OF ISRAEL’S JUDICIARY CRISIS K E Y N O T E P R O G R A M Wednesday, August 23 7:30 p.m. Rabbi Avinoam Sharon: Democracy Under Attack The Implications of Israel’s Reform of its Judiciary Dessert reception follows $15 in advance, $20...…
