…46 | MARCH 7 • 2024 J N ARTS&LIFE THEATER A one-performer, award-winning biographic play, Hedy! The Life & Inventions of Hedy Lamarr, will have two performances, March 14-15, at the West Bloomfield Berman Center for the Performing Arts. The play title gives the essence of the production about the late movie star born of Jewish heritage. Both presentations will be the same with the matinee on the second day hav- ing some accommoda...…
…MARCH 7 • 2024 | 47 J N Massie said. She needed to get out. “ Although Hedy was of Jewish heritage, she was not raised in Jewish traditions,” Massie explained. “She was more secular and assimilat- ed. She married Mandl in a church and declared they were Roman Catholic. I think that was likely a business decision on Mandl’s part.” Massie, whose early com- fort with acting came through 4-H initiatives, explained that Hedy’s religion ...…
…48 | MARCH 7 • 2024 J N Musical Educator A fter performing solo and with multiple bands around the world, musician and songwriter Josh Grekin decided to bring his passion for music back home, and he opened the Grekin School of Music in Ann Arbor. “My goal was to build a community for musicians of all levels and all ages, ” says Grekin, who grew up in Ann Arbor and plays trumpet and piano professionally. Grekin clearly struck a ch...…
…MARCH 7 • 2024 | 49 Broadway-style musical and that camp has auditions and lasts two weeks. ” A LOVE OF MUSIC For Grekin, who is 52, opening a music school came naturally, as playing instru- ments, singing and writing songs have always been a big part of his life. While in elementary school in Ann Arbor, Grekin began playing the trumpet and piano. “I would play piano and write songs by age 11, ” he recalls. “My mom wanted me to perfo...…
…MARCH 7 • 2024 | 5 J N XXXX We are so proud of you! Congratulations on getting your Masters.You are an incredible person and will go far in life. All our love, Mom, Dad, Jeff and Shayna Mazel Tov! Ad Style #4 1/8 PAGE $150 XXXXXXX You continually make us proud, keep shining your light. Mom, Dad, Brianna, Hannah, Lacey, Mazel T ov! Ad Style #3 1/16 PAGE $125 Custom Style 1/2 PAGE $485 Can include multiple images & any design!...…
…50 | MARCH 7 • 2024 J N ALL ABOUT PHIL AND COCO CHANEL STINKS Somebody Feed Phil, a Netflix documentary series, began its seventh season on March 1. The host is Phil Rosenthal, 64. He’s best known as the creator of the big hit series Everybody Loves Raymond (1996- 2005). Rosenthal oversaw the production of the show and often wrote, or co-wrote, the show’s scripts. He won three Emmys for his scripts alone. In the new season’s ei...…
…DOG OF THE WEEK Ollie! A Letter from D ear Readers, I’m Ollie. I am a very sweet, loving, calm and obedient dog! I do not chew on anything. I love going on long walks. And I adore nuzzling my head on my human’s lap to get petted. I am a bit timid around male people and I get startled very easily. Maybe I will relax over time. The only thing wrong with me is I have heartworm disease. This is usually very successful to treat. Almost H...…
…52 | MARCH 7 • 2024 J N VILLAGE PLAYERS NOW-MARCH 24 The Cemetery Club. At Birmingham Village Players, 34660 Woodward Ave., Birmingham. This touching, humorous play tells the story of three Jewish widows who accompany one another once a month to a local cemetery in Forest Hills, Queens, where their husbands are buried. When the ladies run into Sam, a butcher visiting his wife’s grave at the same cemetery, a romance is in th...…
…MARCH 7 • 2024 | 53 Xiao-Lin Rigelhaupt is a writer, consultant, actress, speaker, and advocate for disability and autism representation in the entertainment industry. PURIM MITZVAH PROJECT 2-3:30 PM, MARCH 10 (SUN.) Hosted by The J’s JFamily/ JGrand and Tamarack Camps for grandparents and grandchildren. Prepare for Purim by packing, decorating and delivering mishloach manot (Purim gift packages) to our friends at Jewish Sen...…
…P arlez vous Francais? Hablas Espanol? Du redst Yiddish? Your answer to any of the above is proba- bly “no” or per- haps “a bissel.” Actually, you do know more than you think since so many English words have come to us from other languages and are now in common parlance. Yiddish is a prime example, especially since the forms of the words have not been changed since they were “adopted.” Let’s examine some. If you invested in so...…
… 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 Call today for your free in-home consultation 248.855.8747 Caren Bass Custom Closets,Inc. WHERE PROFESSIONAL SERVICE MAKES THE DIFFERENCE as featured on HGTV Leading the industry with over 30 ye...…
…OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY DONNA M. BARNETT, beloved for 93 years, died Feb. 26, 2024, sur- rounded by her family. She was born Jan. 31, 1931, in Detroit to Louis and Viola Weiss, and moved to California as a young child following the tragic auto- mobile accident death of her father. Not one to have the dust settle under her, Donna married Robert Barnett and graduated from Wayne State University in Detroit after spending a ...…
…MARCH 7 • 2024 | 57 J N son, Robert Forrest; daugh- ter and son-in-law, Denise Forrest and James Robillard; grandchildren, Amanda Forrest, Noah Ramos-Forrest, Jessica Robillard, Lindsay Robillard and Ian Gleespen, and Jaclyn and Luke Miller; great-grandchildren, Ted Gleespen, and Jude and Vera Miller; loving companion, Dorothy Harwood. He was the beloved hus- band of the late Sylvia Forrest, the loving brother of the late Dr. Mar...…
…OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY 58 | MARCH 7 • 2024 J N Contributions may be direct- ed to Jewish Hospice & Chaplaincy Network, 6555 W . Maple, West Bloomfield, MI 48322, jhcn.org/donate/ tribute or a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. ELAINE PLOTKIN, 93, of Huntington Woods, died Feb. 25, 2024. Mrs. Plotkin is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Madelyne and Dr. Norman Markowitz; sons and daughter...…
…MARCH 7 • 2024 | 59 J N Chapel at Machpelah Cemetery. Interment took place at Machpelah Cemetery. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel. DR. DONALD F. SILVER, 92, of Bingham Farms, died Feb. 25, 2024. Dr. Silver is sur- vived by his wife of 32 years, Kay Campbell; chil- dren, Steven Silver, Kenneth and Liz Silver, Charles and Jenny Silver, David and Melissa Silver, Jonathan and Kate Silver, Curt Campbell, Ken and Debbie Campbe...…
…1942 - 2024 Covering and Connecting Jewish Detroit Every Week To make a donation to the DETROIT JEWISH NEWS FOUNDATION go to the website www.thejewishnews.com 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: Detroit Jewish News, 322...…
…OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY 60 | MARCH 7 • 2024 J N MARVIN L. STARMAN, MD, 87, of Ann Arbor, died Feb. 22, 2024. He is sur- vived by his adoring family: wife, Lynne Starman; children, Lori and Doug Weissman, Wendy and Larry Papier, Jeff and Helen Starman; and grandchildren, Alec and Sloane Weissman, Sarah Starman, Jacob Starman, Carli Starman, Evan Papier and Max Papier. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Justine Wexn...…
…MARCH 7 • 2024 | 61 J N MI 48334, www.mpi-mps.org/ get-involved/donate; Fisher House, 12300 Twinbrook Pkwy., Suite 410, Rockville, MD 20852, www.fisherhouse. org; or Jewish Federation of Detroit, 6735 Telegraph Road, Suite 260, P.O. Box 2030, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303, jewishdetroit.org/send- a-tribute. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. LIYA TRAKHMAN, 73, of Henderson, Nev., passed away on Feb. 24, 2024. She was born on Feb....…
…Looking Back From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History accessible at thejewishnews.com 62 | MARCH 7 • 2024 J N A Premier Mall B efore we all shopped online, from our couches and easy chairs, the ultimate American shopping experience was the “shopping mall.” In essence, a mall is a convenient concentration of stores, to say nothing of restaurants, kiosks with a variety of trinkets, hot pretzel stands and, o...…
…SUPPORT JEWISH JOURNALISM The Detroit Jewish News has been telling and preserving our stories since 1942. Subscribe today so that we can continue telling them tomorrow. JEWISH NEWS THE DETROIT SCAN TO DONATE OR SUBSCRIBE TODAY! …
…Luxury real estate isn't about a price, it's about an experience. Year after year, Meredith Colburn Real Estate is recognized as the #1 Top Producing Team at The Agency Hall & Hunter. Ranked in the top 1% of Realtors® nationwide, we continuously provide our clientele with extensive local expertise, personalized concierge service, cutting-edge technology and access to a vast global network. The Agency Hall & Hunter 442 S. Old...…
…DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 32255 Northwestern Hwy. Suite 205, Farmington Hills, MI 48334 248-354-6060 thejewishnews.com MARCH 7 • 2024 | 7 J N O F F A R M I N G T O N H I L L S LET’S CONNECT OVER A TOUR: 248-534-4702 EMBR ACING NEW OPPORTUNITIES VIBRANT LIVING There’s no need to settle for less in retirement when you can indulge in a future filled with exquisite living spaces, first-class amenities and gourmet cuisine. You’ll feel like you’r...…
…8 | MARCH 7 • 2024 J N PURELY COMMENTARY essay The Crazy, Delusional, Surreal State of Being Israelis in the Aftermath of Oct. 7 T here is no exact equivalent word in English to describe the Hebrew word hazui. A combination of crazy, surreal and delusional is the closest to convey the feeling of its meaning. This word was used in almost every conversation I have had with family, friends and other people I met in Israel rec...…
…MARCH 7 • 2024 | 9 J N a dagger to the bone. This was followed by a visit to the Gaza border where I saw through the fence some of the burned houses. It was right near the Nova festival site where there is a big memorial for the murdered victims: a huge sign by the field where trees, each with a photo of a hostage attached, were planted. My heart overflowed with sadness and anger for the horrific attack. In Israel, viewing Isra...…
…$200 Feb. 29-March 6, 2024 / 20-26 Adar I 5784 JEWISH NEWS THE DETROIT Season No. 2 in Motor City’s Ryan Turell continues his drive to become first Orthodox player in NBA. See page 12 thejewishnews.com …
…10 | FEBRUARY 29 • 2024 J N essay Returning to Israel I n August of 2023, I was on a Fact Finders trip to Israel with Michigan State students, Jewish and non-Jewish alike, to learn about the conflict on the ground in Israel. We spent time in the Gaza Envelope region, specifically Sderot and Kfar Aza. In Sderot, we visited a playground made up almost completely of bomb shelters; in Kfar Aza, we talked to a resident who explained ...…
…FEBRUARY 29 • 2024 | 11 J N organization that creates the “Bring Them Home Now” dog tags. We pack- aged dog tags and other materials, which are sold to aid the families of the hostages, as well as help them share their stories. When we toured the site of the Nova Festival massacre in Re’im, a man saw us as he was getting into his car. He stopped and, hanging halfway out of the car, begged us to tell his story and the story of h...…
…12 | FEBRUARY 29 • 2024 J N MICHAEL SUDHALTER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS Season No. 2 in Motor City’s Ryan Turell Motor City’s Ryan Turell continues his drive to become continues his drive to become fi rst Orthodox player in NBA. fi rst Orthodox player in NBA. OUR COMMUNITY COVER STORY …
…FEBRUARY 29 • 2024 | 13 J N R yan Turell always has a smile on his face. He could be doing the most mundane basketball drill, and he’d be thrilled to be in the moment. It doesn’t matter if it’s Madison Square Garden or like Jan. 6, 2024, a regular season G-League game in suburban Dallas. “I love playing this game,” said Turell, a 6-foot-7, 190- pound forward for the Motor City Cruise, the G-League affiliate of the Detroit Piston...…
…14 | FEBRUARY 29 • 2024 that it’s cleared by the NCAA is if they play a non-college team. That’s where teams like Athletes for Israel, made up of players from various sources, play an important role. It allowed Turell to face Division I powerhouse schools, like Arizona and Kansas State. Turell scored 32 points against KSU — a team that was just a few minutes away from a Final Four bid last year — and 30 points against Arizona, which...…
…FEBRUARY 29 • 2024 | 15 Serving the Jewish Community for over 30 years! CHAD BISHOP and ALAN BISHOP 4 0 1 E . L A S O L A S B LV D # 1 0 0 | F O R T L A U D E R D A L E , F L 3 3 3 0 1 ChadBishopGroup@gmail.com 954-999-7317 ChadBishopGroup.com ELLA MIAMI BEACH NORTH BEACH Explore a distinctive collection of junior one bedroom to two bedroom homes situated just moments from the Atlantic Ocean, boasting sweeping water and city views. ...…
…16 | FEBRUARY 29 • 2024 and the Pistons upset Turell’s beloved Los Angeles Lakers in the 2004 NBA Finals. The Pistons had a notably Jewish connection that season, with Larry Brown as head coach. In high school, Turell starred at Valley Torah High School and played for an AAU Basketball Team created by former UCLA and NBA player Earl Watson. His AAU team was comprised of a who’s who of southern California roundball talent. He turned...…
…FEBRUARY 29 • 2024 | 17 Need Help with an IRS or State Tax Problem? As featured on: Need Help with an IRS or State Tax Problem? Call the experts at 1-800-TAX-LEVY (829-5389) • Tax Liens • Collection Notices • Penalties • Unfi led Tax Returns • Audits Call us today to answer your questions or to schedule a meeting and say goodbye to those sleepless nights! 1-800-TAX-LEVY (829-5389) www.levytaxhelp.com We Listen …. We Care … We Help!...…
…C ongregation Shaarey Zedek’s annual Leypsa and Rabbi Irwin Groner Memorial Lecture takes place Thursday, March 7. In as critical of a time as ever, this year’s event will feature Israel’s former ambas- sador to the United States, Michael Oren, who has devoted his life to serving Israel and the Jewish people around the world. The American-born Oren moved to Israel in the 1970s where he joined the IDF and served in the 1982 Lebanon ...…
…FEBRUARY 29 • 2024 | 19 J N O n the evening of Feb 15, Knollwood Country Club was set to host an FIDF Young Adult event. Because of security concerns, the event was moved to Temple Israel. Nevertheless, that evening a group of protestors arrived and blocked both the entrance and exit to Knollwood property. West Bloomfield Police quickly dealt with the protests and the crowd soon left once they realized it was an empty venue. Unfortunate...…
…XXXX We are so proud of you! Congratulations on getting your Masters.You are an incredible person and will go far in life. All our love, Mom, Dad, Jeff and Shayna Mazel Tov! Ad Style #4 1/8 PAGE $150 XXXXXXX You continually make us proud, keep shining your light. Mom, Dad, Brianna, Hannah, Lacey, Mazel T ov! Ad Style #3 1/16 PAGE $125 Custom Style 1/2 PAGE $485 Can include multiple images & any design! Ad Style #2 1/4 PAGE ...…
…20 | FEBRUARY 29 • 2024 J N A bout 225 Friends of the IDF (FIDF) young supporters gathered Feb. 15 at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield in a strong show of solidarity with the thousands of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers on the frontlines. The solidarity gathering allowed Michigan-based young Jewish professionals to show their support for Israel’s soldiers during their greatest time of need. One hundred percent of proceeds...…
…FEBRUARY 29 • 2024 | 21 J N O n Sunday, March 10, you can be a part of an evening full of connec- tion, listening and supporting each other through meaningful conversations and shared stories. Five speakers, Max McColl, Chayala Torgow, Tina Clements, Mia Bragman and Sean English, will bravely share their personal journeys related to topics deal- ing with mental health, commu- nity and life. The live storytelling event presented by F...…
…I n the face of adversity, the human spirit has a remarkable capacity to shine brightly, bringing warmth and hope to even the darkest corners of our world. Meet fifth-grader DeeDee Lefkowitz of Southfield, a compassionate and determined 10-year-old girl whose baking skills became a ray of hope for the displaced community of Kibbutz Zikim, located in the south Israel. DeeDee single- handedly raised $800. On that fateful day, Oct. 7...…
…FEBRUARY 29 • 2024 | 23 J N C aregiving is an import- ant public health role that affects the quality of life for millions of individuals, including those with developmental disabilities. And the impact of caregivers on life and community makes the work they do a critical part of a strong society. On Sunday, March 3, local nonprofit JARC, an organi- zation serving adults with developmental disabilities, will honor the work of thei...…
…I n a congregation that’s tagline is “Big enough to enrich you, small enough to know you,” what makes Beth Ahm of West Bloomfield so special? Well, many things, accord- ing to their spiritual leader Rabbi Steven Rubenstein, who has been its rabbi since arriving from Queens in 2005. Congregation Beth Ahm, which in Hebrew means “house of the people,” is a friendly, comfortable congregation filled with approximately 320 down-to- ...…
…FEBRUARY 29 • 2024 | 25 J N “THE SMALL CONGREGATION ALLOWS FOR CONSTANT BONDING TO OCCUR.” — ZEEV MAINE Rabbi is nice and welcomes everyone.” According to Rabbi Rubenstein, “What we see on Shabbat and the holiday services reflects the feel of our congregation: warmth, openness and individuality.” What makes Beth Ahm unusual is that it has no cantor. Adult volunteers and post b’nai mitzvah students help Rabbi Rubenstein lead th...…
…26 | FEBRUARY 29 • 2024 J N P ublic officials are subject to con- stant scrutiny today — every action and word, however casual, can be captured on a cell phone and post- ed on many platforms, sometime with misleading descriptions. Often policy issue differences are transformed into person- al attacks and family members may be caught in the crossfire. Despite these challenges, some individu- als still believe that public service is wor...…
…FEBRUARY 29 • 2024 | 27 J N continued on page 29 prosecutors, investigators and analysts in this unit has resulted in criminal charges, convic- tions and court supervision of some offenders. Carolyn Normandin, regional director, Michigan ADL, says that it’s “really important to have someone who understands that hate crimes are message crimes — they bring absolute terror to their targets. ” She says that the Hate Crimes and Domestic ...…
…28 | FEBRUARY 29 • 2024 H ow can I make a dif- ference? I’m just one person so how can I hope to change anything? Is it possible to create more justice in our world? Imagine you are a teenager; you care about our country but have no idea how your one voice could possibly have an impact. But then you attend the L’Taken Social Justice Seminar at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC) and you begin to realize that y...…
…FEBRUARY 29 • 2024 | 29 been good partners, ” Nessel says. Nine individuals have been convicted during her ten- ure as attorney general. Nessel is well-known as a strong supporter of LGBTQ rights. In 2014, she repre- sented Michigan resident April DeBoer in a case that challenged state law that didn’t recognize same-sex marriage. The DeBoer v Snyder case was combined with similar lawsuits in other states and appealed to the U.S. S...…
…FEBRUARY 29 • 2024 | 3 J N contents PURELY COMMENTARY 4-11 Essays and viewpoints. OUR COMMUNITY 12 Season No. 2 in Motown Motor City’s Ryan Turell continues his drive to become first Orthodox player in NBA. 18 Shaarey Zedek Hosting Ambassador Michael Oren Oren will give his perspective about Israel in the wake of Oct. 7 and the ongoing war. 19 Knollwood Vandalized The country club was set to host an FIDF ev...…
…S ometimes the place where a couple first met holds extra spe- cial significance … Such as in the case of Larry and Carole Miller of Farmington Hills, who met in the Holy Land. It was July 1970. Larry Miller of Oak Park had just graduated from Wayne State. To celebrate, he went back- packing throughout Europe together with some of his Sammies (Jewish fraternity brothers.) “ And there I was, close to Israel, so I decided I just ha...…
…FEBRUARY 29 • 2024 | 31 J N every shivah. He banded together a few men to help out and, to date, Larry’s been leading shivah services for the Temple Israel com- munity for 38 years; he’s led about 200-250 shivahs. In 1988, the couple joined Temple Israel on a mission trip to Israel and for the first time, traveled back to the place they’d first met. It was the 40th anniversary of the State of Israel and the night they arrived, th...…
…32 | FEBRUARY 29 • 2024 J N I t seemed like Brooke Soper was des- tined to be a Spartan. She attended Okemos Public Schools, a school district that’s next door to the Michigan State University campus in East Lansing, and graduated from Okemos High School in 2020. Her mother and father graduated from MSU. Her sister graduated from MSU. Three of her four grandparents graduated from MSU, including John Fleser, who played baseball for th...…
