…JUNE 22 • 2023 | 15 Black communities, ” he adds. Douglas Bitonti Stewart, exec- utive director of the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation, echoes the same sentiment. “Our founder Max Fisher knew the power of combined strength, ” he explains. “He, along with other leaders such as Judge Damon Keith and Arthur Johnson, in 1967 formed New Detroit — a coalition of leaders and organi- zations from the communities to achieve racial eq...…
…OUR COMMUNITY continued from page 15 16 | JUNE 22 • 2023 to apply for a loan, ” Stewart recalls. The Black and female busi- ness owner restores power lines after disasters and weather events and has had hundreds of thousands in revenue. Still, she needed access to more capital to continue serving the com- munity. Instead of being taken seriously as a business owner, she was forced to meet with the bank’s social responsibility off...…
…JUNE 22 • 2023 | 17 J udaism teaches that it is important to pursue knowledge throughout our lives, not just in our early years. Learning strengthens our understanding of our- selves and the world around us. It grounds us in our his- tory, expands our perspective and equips us to adapt in the face of change. The 2023 graduates of Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership’s acclaimed master’s and doc- toral programs emb...…
…18 | JUNE 22 • 2023 OUR COMMUNITY I s there anything cuter than childhood sweethearts?! For Lindsay and Zak Mall, their moment began when they were in elementary school at Hillel Day School. Then second-grader Lindsay Gordon was in the principal’s office — “probably in trouble for talking in class” — when in walked a third-grade boy who was after a kippah. The second-grader, anything but shy, immediately recognized him and ann...…
…JUNE 22 • 2023 | 19 J oin the Ann Arbor JCC for its eighth annual golf outing “Fore the Kids” on Monday, Aug. 14, at Polo Fields Ann Arbor, honoring Sue and Larry Adler, as it raises scholarship funds for the Jewish Community Center of Greater Ann Arbor’s camp, youth and early childhood programs. Sue and Larry have resided in Ann Arbor for more than 30 years, after growing up in the Detroit area. They met when they were 15 years ...…
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…20 | JUNE 22 • 2023 T he Girl Scouts of Southeast Michigan Religious Relationship Committee joined with Temple Israel in West Bloomfield to create a “My Promise, My Faith” program for Girl Scouts to learn more about the Jewish faith. It was exciting for me to share my religious home, Temple Israel, with the Girl Scouts and their mothers. Registration began at 10:30, where every Girl Scout and their mother and temple vol- ...…
…JUNE 22 • 2023 | 21 bread home to bake for their families. I wanted to add a very special surprise, so in each carry-home bag were the baking instructions and a container of kosher, edible gold hearts to sprinkle on top. At 2 p.m., Emma Beech presented her Girl Scout Silver Award project: Stop Hate lessons we can learn from the Holocaust. Girl Scouts learned about the Holocaust, received the Stop Hate patch, painted rocks to take...…
…22 | JUNE 22 • 2023 OUR COMMUNITY T he ride to honor our shared Jewish heritage is back! The 2023 Ride for the Living (RFTL) takes place Sunday, July 9, at 8 a.m. The community event, hosted by the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit’s Israel & Overseas Department, is a satellite ride done in conjunction with the ride that happens every year in Krakow, Poland. The JCC Krakow’s Annual RFTL is a 34.5-mile bike ride from the ...…
…JUNE 22 • 2023 | 23 J ewish Family Service will continue to support Michigan and regional Holocaust survivors thanks to the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference). The organization announced on June 15 the results of its negoti- ations with the German Federal Ministry of Finance on behalf of Holocaust survivors living globally, which resulted in approximately $1.4 billion in direct compensation a...…
…24 | JUNE 22 • 2023 OUR COMMUNITY G et your golf clubs out, start practicing your swing and get ready to give back. The annual Lois Zussman Golf Classic, which raises money for Gesher Human Service’s Lois and Milton Y. Zussman Activity Center/ Clubhouse, returns on Monday, July 17, at Franklin Hills Country Club. Last year’s event raised $200,000 for the Clubhouse, which provides enrichment, educational and employment opport...…
…JUNE 22 • 2023 | 25 E ach year since 1990, the North American Jewish Choral Festival (NAJCF) has attracted hundreds of singers who sing their hearts out and connect to Jewish culture during a five-day immersion in Jewish music. From around the country, hundreds of voices come together to form one harmonious choral community led by a renowned staff of conductors and other music experts who inspire and create a truly unique mu...…
…26 | JUNE 22 • 2023 faces&places PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE JCC On Monday, May 22, the JCC hosted the 29th Dr. Larry D. Sills Memorial Golf Classic and Dinner at Knollwood Country Club. This year, the JCC was proud to honor Hannah and Adam Kessler in recognition of their extraordinary dedication to family programming at the JCC. Hannah and Adam’s involvement at the JCC began in 2017 when they enrolled in JBaby. This led to man...…
…JUNE 22 • 2023 | 27 Gesher Human Services’ fourth Annual Frame of Mind Benefit and Arts Showcase, held on May 21 at The Eastern in Detroit, was both enjoyable and suc- cessful, raising approximately $85,000 for the nonprofit’s Creative Expressions program. The event featured the talents of 70 par- ticipants in the program, which provides art and music enrichment activities for people with intellectual disabilities and serious mental...…
…28 | JUNE 22 • 2023 faces&places JCRC/AJC’s Annual Bridge Builders Dinner SAM DUBIN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS The Jewish Community Relations Council/AJC honored Andy Doctoroff last month at its annual Bridge Builders dinner. A crowd of nearly 300 gathered in Herman Hall at Temple Israel to support Doctoroff, a figurative and literal bridge builder. He is Michigan’s point-person for the Gordie Howe International Bridge project....…
…JUNE 22 • 2023 | 29 Participants engaged in a song session led by representatives from a variety of congregations, as well as a drash from guest speaker Rabbi Abby Stein. Repair the World joined The Well, Congregation T’chiyah, Congregation Shaarey Zedek, NEXTGen Detroit and Keshet, had the opportunity to welcome in Shabbat with Rabbi Abby Stein for a special Pride Shabbat on Friday, June 2. After a strolling dinner featuring ...…
…JUNE 22 • 2023 | 3 contents PURELY COMMENTARY 4-9 Essays and viewpoints. OUR COMMUNITY 10 A Mural for Idan New rainbow-inspired mural in Oak Park celebrates the life of a man devoted to dogs. 14 Bridging Black and Jewish Communities 377-mile bike ride with Jewish participants raises funding for Black Leaders Detroit. 17 New Spertus Grads Detroit-area residents among graduates of Spertus Institute’s pres...…
…30 | JUNE 22 • 2023 faces&places CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Jonathan Guyer, Micah Kurzmann, Vadim Avshalumov, Sari Kurzmann, David Kurzmann, Aaron Schaer and Nathan Lada. Noah and Illana Stern. Ross Partrich, Marc Weinbaum and Todd Fink. David and Kate Kurzmann with their children, Micah and Sari. Skylar Elbinger and Pat Anderson. Frankel Jewish Academy celebrated its Annual Gala on May 11. More than 200 people joined the event at th...…
…JUNE 22 • 2023 | 31 1,170,121 Pins Fall in B’nai B’rith Bowling League League secretary Gary Klinger put together an amazingly detailed season recap for the 24-team Brotherhood- Eddie Jacobson B’nai B’ith bowling league. Among the facts gleaned from the recap: There were 105 men who bowled at least 12 games. Those men bowled 6,504 games and knocked down 1,170,121 pins. The league average was 179.90. A total of 78 bowlers increased t...…
…32 | JUNE 22 • 2023 Phillips-Kaplan M arissa Kaplan, daugh- ter of Helayne and Jeffrey Kaplan of Bloomfield Hills, married Aron Phillips, son of Cathy and Jeff Phillips of Shelburne, Vt., on June 10, 2023. The wedding was held at Callicoon Hills in the Catskills region of New York and was officiated by Rabbi Matt Green, originally from Okemos. The couple resides in the Cobble Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn. Marissa and Aron wer...…
…JUNE 22 • 2023 | 33 SPIRIT Meritocracy vs. Elitism K orach is not only a story about rebellion; for present-day readers in particular, the story is also about the complicated relationship between the Jewish ideal of cho- senness and an exaggerat- ed sense of entitlement. At the heart of Korach’s dissent is what he claims to be the unfair selection of Moses and Aaron to unique positions of prom- inence and authority. “You have go...…
…34 | JUNE 22 • 2023 T he story of Korach has much to teach us about one of the most disturbing phenomena of our time: the rise of populism in contemporary politics. Korach was a populist, one of the first in recorded history — and populism has re-emerged in the West, as it did in the 1930s, posing great danger to the future of freedom. Populism is the politics of anger. It makes its appearance when there is widespread dis...…
…JUNE 22 • 2023 | 35 instead of sharing them out more widely. Second, Korach presents himself as the people’s champion. The whole community, he says, is holy. There is nothing special about you, Moses and Aaron. We have all seen God’s miracles and heard His voice. We all helped build His Sanctuary. Korach is posing as the democrat so that he can become the autocrat. Next, he and his fellow rebels mount an impressive campaign of f...…
…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...…
…JUNE 22 • 2023 | 37 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...…
…I t was a no-brainer. A mutual acquaintance introduced Michigan artist Lynne Avadenka to a Cleveland-based artist who had come into possession of a beautiful collection of antique wood Hebrew type, saving it from being broken up and sold in pieces. But he didn’t need it. Did she want it? Avadenka, who lives in Huntington Woods and has a studio in nearby Berkley, didn’t hesitate. Now she’s looking forward to exploring what she can do ...…
…JUNE 22 • 2023 | 39 were published in the late 15th century, there was no Hebrew word for printing, she said. It was described as writing “by many pens with- out miracles.” As she studied the history of Hebrew type, Avadenka realized that some of the typesetters of old books were women and girls. Look at the back of many recently published books and you’ll see a “colophon” with facts about the printing itself, usually noting the ...…
…4 | JUNE 22 • 2023 from Federation Gratitude T hank you. Todah rabah. We are grateful. The concept of gratitude — of sincere thanks and appreciation for what is given — is an essential part of our Jewish tradition. In fact, the very first words of our morning prayer, modeh ani, provide an opportunity to start each day with a grateful heart by saying: “I thank you.” At Federation, we have reason to say, “Thank you.” Our 2023 Annual ...…
…40 | JUNE 22 • 2023 ARTS&LIFE THEATER B roadway made a state- ment about antisemi- tism Sunday evening, June 11, as two high-profile shows on the subject this sea- son — the play Leopoldstadt and the musical revival Parade — pulled in multiple major Tony awards. Some of the shows’ honor- ees, in turn, made statements of their own linking hatred of Jews with other forms of hatred, including homophobia and anti-transgender senti- me...…
…JUNE 22 • 2023 | 41 continued on page 43 F ifty years ago, a new kind of book appeared in the Jewish world: a practical, hands-on guide for how to do Jewish things. The First Jewish Catalog: A Do-It-Yourself Kit provided advice and encouragement to readers to take action, instead of waiting for some expert. The short articles explain how to crochet a kip- pah, build a sukkah, make your own wine, wind your tefillin, set up your koshe...…
…42 | JUNE 22 • 2023 S arah Rose Sharp is exhibiting four exam- ples of her fiber art projects as one artist among almost 50 whose work appears in “Stop Making Sense Plus One, ” the crafts show that continues through July 12 at the Janice Charach Gallery in the West Bloomfield Jewish Community Center. With material remnants and decorative enhancements, Sharp has made even more works for the gallery shop. “Stop Making Sense” ...…
…JUNE 22 • 2023 | 43 Holiness: Discovering holi- ness in everyday interactions and using Shabbat and holidays to find holiness all around us. Care: Caring for our planet and its inhabitants. Awe: Developing our sense that there is something larger than ourselves, which we might call God. Seeing freely who we are and who we are not. Freedom to: Working on our characteristics, to live up to our potential. Teshuvah: Reflecting and cha...…
…44 | JUNE 22 • 2023 ANDREW BARTH FELDMAN, STAN LEE, CYNTHIA WEIL No Hard Feelings, a comedy-drama, opens in theaters on June 23. Here’s the plot: Maddie (Jennifer Lawrence) is broke when she answers a very unusual ad. A wealthy couple are concerned about their son, Percy, who is a brilliant high school student, but is not interested in people — no friends, no dates. They hire Maddie, to quote the film, “to date Percy’s brain...…
…JUNE 22 • 2023 | 45 PRIDE SHABBAT & ONEG 6:30-8:30 PM, JUNE 23 (Fri.) To celebrate Pride Month, join Temple Shir Shalom for Outdoor Meditation Shabbat Services that will include special speakers Rep. Noah Arbit and Shir Shalom mem- ber Amanda Acey, and a delicious oneg to follow. PUPPET THEATER 2 PM, JUNE 24 (Sat.) Alex and Olmsted return to the DIA with their Jim Henson Foundation grant- awarded MAROONED! A Space Comedy. This...…
…46 | JUNE 22 • 2023 Register by June 27: jlive. app/events/4693. CAREGIVER SUPPORT 1:30-2:30 PM, JUNE 29 (Thurs.) Virtual caregiver support group for individuals who are care partners for those living with cognitive changes, including various types of dementia. Contact Dorothy Moon, Brown Adult Day Program social worker, for Zoom link and more informa- tion: 248-233-4392, dmoon@ geshermi.org. BOB-LO TIES 7-8:30 PM, JUNE 29 (Th...…
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…48 | JUNE 22 • 2023 I t’s so heartwarming when someone recovers from a debilitating condition and wants to help others who are experiencing the same struggle. Rachel S.* (all names are changed) battled an eating disorder that took over her life and is eager to share her person- al journey and the lessons she has learned with those struggling — and their parents. Rachel’s troubles began in the fourth grade, when she deliberately stopp...…
…JUNE 22 • 2023 | 49 DR. SEYMOUR BAXTER, 91, of Bloomfield Hills, died June 12, 2023. Dr. Baxter is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law, Dr. Alexander Baxter, Daniel Baxter and Bridget Brown, and David and Shannon Baxter; grandchildren, Noah, Billie, Echo and Max Baxter; sister-in-law, Carole Baxter; brother-in-law, Dr. Gerald Weintraub. He was the beloved hus- band for 54 years of the late Anita Baxter; the loving brot...…
…We are beyond grateful. Your support has made a tremendous impact and helped us keep our community strong—in Detroit, Israel and around the world. Together, we are making a difference in Jewish lives every day. We’d like to offer a heartfelt THANK YOU to the donors to our 2023 Annual Campaign. 23_EXE_JN HF_Full Pg Thk You Campaign-V3.indd 1 …
…50 | JUNE 22 • 2023 continued from page 49 OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY sergeant in the United States Army during the Vietnam conflict. Israel thoroughly enjoyed giving and gave to many local charities, family and friends. He often fed the ducks with his children, whom he loved. He enjoyed nature, writing, collecting coins and delving into the stock market along with var- ious other investments. Israel also enjoyed acting at th...…
…JUNE 22 • 2023 | 51 continued on page 52 Contributions may be made to the Zekelman Holocaust Center or to the Hidden Child Foundation at the Anti-Defamation League. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel. JEREMY MARGOLIS, 54, of Bloomfield Hills, died June 14, 2023. He is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Diane and Alan Baum; brothers and sis- ter-in-law, Bruce and Michelle Margolis, Steven Margolis; many loving nieces, nephew...…
…52 | JUNE 22 • 2023 continued from page 51 OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY special thanks to the dedicated caregivers and administrators of Fleishman Residence and Jewish Senior Life. Dr. Raznik was the beloved husband for 68 years of the late Geraldine Raznik; loving son of the late Joseph and the late Fayge Raznik; dear broth- er and brother-in-law of the late Eva and the late Hyman Bryman, the late Mollie and the late Bernie Gas...…
…JUNE 22 • 2023 | 53 B en Helfgott, one of two known Holocaust survivors to go on to compete in the Olympics, died Friday, June 15, 2023, at 93. Helfgott survived the Holocaust as a teenager, and he went on to become a champion weightlifter and a champion of Holocaust education. He was knighted in 2018. “Sir Ben Helfgott was one of the most inspirational people I have known,” said Britain’s Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, according to L...…
…Looking Back From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History accessible at www.djnfoundation.org 54 | JUNE 22 • 2023 I recently wrote about Israeli leaders who have visited Detroit. I promised to write more about Dr. Chaim Weizmann coming to town. Chaim Weizmann (1874-1952) was the first president of Israel. More important than that prestigious honor, however, is the fact that he took up the Zionist cause after ...…
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…6 | JUNE 22 • 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: Detro...…
…DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 32255 Northwestern Hwy. Suite 205, Farmington Hills, MI 48334 248-354-6060 thejewishnews.com JUNE 22• 2023 | 7 other groups, committed to its destruction.” This dramatizes the value of the IHRA definition, which recognizes that (1) under antisemitism’s previous mutations Jews were regularly demonized as bloodthirsty baby-killers; (2) with antisemitism’s current mutation, which incorporates anti-Zionism, antisem...…
…8 | JUNE 22 • 2023 PURELY COMMENTARY opinion We Must Support the White House’s National Strategy on Antisemitism O n May 25 — when many people had their eyes on the Memorial Day weekend — the White House made his- tory. It released the first-ev- er National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism. There are those who downplayed the action, and some who even dismissed it entirely. But take it from me, someone who deals with anti...…
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