… An Old-New Whimsical Playground Bais Chabad of Farmington Hills breathes new life into “retired” equipment. See page 10 Jan. 5-11, 2023 / 12-18 Tevet 5783 JEWISH NEWS THE DETROIT thejewishnews.com …
…10 | JANUARY 5 • 2023 I n 2000, a couple from West Bloomfield had a child who attended Ganeinu pre- school in Farmington Hills. So pleased with the top-notch education their child was receiving, the couple donated $75,000 toward installation of a top-of-the-line play- ground. Fast forward two decades. Ganeinu’s loca- tion of 30+ years recently changed hands. The school moved into the basement classrooms of Adat Shalom Synagogue in F...…
…JANUARY 5 • 2023 | 11 up, disassembled, repainted and rebuilt in the shul’s backyard. ” Until that point, Bais Chabad of Farmington Hills didn’t have a very exciting playground although there was a little woodsy area to explore. Bergstein hired Tim Render of Playground Professionals, who delivers and installs custom- ized playgrounds, to help oversee the vision he had. “Tim’s an artist; he sees things that maybe the rest of us don’t ...…
…12 | JANUARY 5 • 2023 I t’s quite a sight to see: a bright orange Nissan Versa Note zipping around town, a large blue magnetic sign affixed to its door that says, “on the run doing mitzvahs. ” The white-bearded man behind the wheel of the “mitzvah mobile” is Joey Roberts, 71, of West Bloomfield and sitting next to him is his adorable Shi Tzu, Rosie. Life has given some hard knocks to Joey, but he’s found that giving to others has ...…
…JANUARY 5 • 2023 | 13 It took multiple attempts, four different rehabs and some painful, disappointing relapses, but, in 2017, Joshua got clean and has stayed clean ever since. He’s managed to pull his life around, even finding and marrying his beshert, Stevie DuFresne, in February 2022. “That’s a miracle right there, ” said a very proud Joey. BECOMING MITZVAH MAN After Linda passed away, Joey felt lost and miserable at first. “Th...…
…14 | JANUARY 5 • 2023 OUR COMMUNITY T hanks to a generous Southfield cou- ple, an Israeli boy with special needs had his wish fulfilled for his 17th birthday. Idan Yaron, who lives near Haifa, Israel, loves horseback riding, which had become a therapeutic activity. But the equestrian center where he used to ride closed at the start of the COVID epidemic and has not reopened. His mother, Liat Yaron, contacted Magen David Adom’s “Wis...…
…Rolling Hills 3300 Crumb Road Commerce Township, MI 48390 RollingHillsRetirement.com Call today to RSVP or schedule a private tour: 248-716-1887 We’ve thought of everything! Our resort-style service and amenities are all included for one monthly price with no buy-in fee, so you can relax, enjoy life, and spend your retirement doing more of what you love. A Happier New Year. This year resolve to celebrate life every day! Disco...…
…16 | JANUARY 5 • 2023 S outh Haven’s First Hebrew Congregation was established by Jewish farmers who became resort operators. In the early 1900s, Jewish people had a tough time vaca- tioning around the shoreline of Lake Michigan because many communities excluded Jewish patrons. South Haven was an exception, welcoming Jews and developing an identity with the Jewish clientele from the Detroit-Chicago markets. Jewish life in Sout...…
…JANUARY 5 • 2023 | 17 munity shrinking at one point, the synagogue today — consist- ing of just under 100 members — attracts not only year-round locals but second-home owners who grew up in the area as well as tourists. The synagogue has under- gone major renovations over the years, spending more than $500,000 on its rejuvenation. The end results include a new roof, stained glass windows, new substructure, repaired foundations, ne...…
…18 | JANUARY 5 • 2023 O n Jan. 15, Hebrew Day School of Ann Arbor will host a brunch in honor of its founders. The Marlene Gitelman HDS Founders Memorial Brunch will pay tribute to the small group of dedicated Jewish community members who founded the school in 1974. Marlene Gitelman, who passed away earlier this year at age 74, was vital to the creation of the school and developing its mission. “The school was founded by a group of...…
…JANUARY 5 • 2023 | 19 says. “Therefore, our classrooms are quite dynamic. ” Samantha Hendren, Hebrew Day School of Ann Arbor board president, says there is an emphasis on “developing the whole child with social and emotional learning. ” There is also a robust Hebrew immer- sion program that teaches Hebrew and Judaic studies. “We see it as an important part of our mission to give chil- dren a strong sense of identity within their Jew...…
…Presents… an afternoon of MLK Day programming: …
…20 | JANUARY 5 • 2023 H illel Day School added two major roles to its Student Support Team this year, a new speech patholo- gist, Heather Vieder, and an occupational therapist, Sara Wasser. In these roles, they will provide critical early intervention and, in turn, Hillel will be able to better meet the needs of students who need special services. Now, between their social workers, learning special- ists, speech pathologist and ...…
…JANUARY 5 • 2023 | 21 learning disabilities at the end of sec- ond grade, early third grade,” Love said. “However, we felt it was really important to have somebody working with our youngest learners.” Vieder and Wasser, in these roles, are primarily working with pre-K 4-year- olds through second graders. Several things can get in the way of students learning to read, write and develop strong literacy skills. Vieder and Wasser are t...…
…22 | JANUARY 5 • 2023 J obs and Moms (JAM), a new three-week program for mothers with young families pioneered by Gesher Human Services and Temple Israel’s Early Childhood Center (ECC), is being launched on Jan. 23. The initiative is aimed at mothers of preschool and lower elementary school children who are Temple Israel members and who have put their careers on hold but now, due to financial circum- stances or a desire to reen...…
…JANUARY 5 • 2023 | 23 EXTRA! EXTRA! We’ve got the inside scoop about Jewish Senior Life! THURSDAY JANUARY 12TH 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM 6760 W. Maple Road West Bloomfield, MI 48322 RSVP by calling Tracey at (248) 592-5048 or emailing tproghovnick@jslmi.org YOU’RE INVITED TO ATTEND AN EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATION. Hear from residents and members of our leadership team. As featured on: Need Help with an IRS or State Tax Problem? Call th...…
…24 | JANUARY 5 • 2023 J ews and non-Jews alike were drawn to Unorthodox and Shtisel, the two popular Netflix miniseries dramas about Chasidic life. These voyeuristic deep dives into the ultra-Orthodox lifestyle of the adherents of Chasidism were the first exposure many had to these insular communities. Unorthodox is based on the book by Deborah Feldman, who cut ties with her ultra-Orthodox Williamsburg, Brooklyn, community in 2...…
…JANUARY 5 • 2023 | 25 are very camera shy and that’s ingrained in me, too. Despite my reluctance, I did believe that it’s important to reach a wider audience with the story of the Chasidic community. The New York Satmar community seems to be one of the most understudied subcul- tures, and most of the pop culture represen- tations are dark and misleading, creating this narrative of an “other. ” So, I think it’s important to get beyond...…
…26 | JANUARY 5 • 2023 OUR COMMUNITY T he Detroit Writing Room announced the return of in-person book events with a 2023 Author Series held at the historic Whitney mansion in Midtown Detroit. The intimate experiences take place in the Whitney’s Music Room (January- April) and outdoor garden (May- June), weather permitting. Guests will enjoy drinks and hors d’ oeuvres during a meet- and-greet with the author. The event will also inc...…
…JANUARY 5 • 2023 | 27 H appy New Year, friends! The goal of this column, as we all make our New Year’s resolutions, is to offer many ways to help others in 2023. Our community is a gold mine of volunteering treasures, and we hope to provide all kinds of opportunities to stay true to your reso- lutions in the coming months. ADAT SHALOM’S ninth annual Volunteer Day invites volunteers of all ages to do hands-on projects for organizatio...…
…I like my kid again” — that’s what one parent told Forest Levy Wolfe, found- er of Teaching Circle, after taking part in her Family Coaching program. Wolfe started Teaching Circle in January 2022 — offering classes to young children — but she soon realized, it’s not just kids who need support. Parents need it, too. “There are a lot of preschools and tutoring programs out there for children, but there’s not as much support and coachin...…
…JANUARY 5 • 2023 | 29 to cheer on racers, hand out medals to racers after they cross the finish line and serve pancakes at the post-race breakfast. Shifts are two to three hours long and volunteers must be at least 16 with parental per- mission. For details, contact VolunteerDepartment@lea- derdog.org. THE WELL, NEXTGen Detroit and Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit’s Women’s Philanthropy are coming together for a Dignity...…
…JANUARY 5 • 2023 | 3 PURELY COMMENTARY 4-9 Essays and viewpoints. OUR COMMUNITY 10 An Old-New Whimsical Playground Bais Chabad of Farmington Hills breathes new life into retired equipment. 12 One-Man Mitzvah Mobile West Bloomfield man and his dog are on a mission to do good in the world. 14 Making Wishes Come True Southfield couple helps “Wish Ambulance” fulfill a dream. 16 South Haven’s First Hebrew Congrega...…
…OUR COMMUNITY F or Pasteur Elementary School graduate Elizabeth “Liz” Jacobs, the school’s library, a sunlit room with dark wooden shelves, was a happy place presided over by the school’s longtime librar- ian, Mrs. Robinson. Jacobs, who graduated in 1962, is one of many Jewish alumni of Pasteur, located at Stoepel and Pembroke in Northwest Detroit. She is the recording sec- retary of the Friends of Pasteur, a nonprofit support orga...…
…cational services. New tables have been ordered, and the volunteers hope to add some comfortable chairs for the teachers to use when reading to their classes. Each student will receive a Pasteur Library card and will soon begin tak- ing out books. Hall, Pasteur’s principal, plans to apply for a librarian from the Detroit Public Schools Community District. While there was some initial skepticism about the ability of volunteers to ...…
…32 | JANUARY 5 • 2023 faces&places Blacks and Jews have long had an important relationship throughout history — from the civil rights movement to present day. It’s that solidarity that makes the Coalition for Black and Jewish Unity’s holiday party all that more special. Blacks and Jews united to cele- brate Christmas and Chanukah at the Pistons Performance Center. Songs were sung and dancing was abundant as the family-friendly a...…
…DECEMBER 29 • 2022 | 33 Jewish Senior Life celebrat- ed the grand opening of the Hechtman II Coffee House in the Eli A. Scherr Activity Room on Dec. 6. Philanthropist and friend of JSL, Eli Scherr, attended the festivities along with more than 40 residents, staff and community members. Eli spoke of his days on the Jewish Apartments and Services Board and his delight in contributing to the lifestyle residents enjoy on JSL campus...…
…34 | JANUARY 5 • 2023 NEXT DOR B ari Weiss, the for- mer New York Times editor and writer, is quite busy these days. She is assisting in the publication of files uncovered at Twitter by its new owner that purport to tell how and why some discourse on the platform was suppressed or margin- alized prior to Elon Musk’s $44 billion acquisition of the platform. Musk’s prime motivation for buying Twitter was to restructure the social...…
…JANUARY 5 • 2023 | 35 265,000 subscribers who receive her Substack column. She now employs more than a dozen journalists, contrib- utors and assistants. Demand is strong for her speak- ing engagements. She has appeared several times on Bill Maher’s HBO show. Having struck a chord with newsmakers, she attracts top names to her site and to her podcast, among them Israeli prime minister-des- ignate Benjamin Netanyahu and former U.S. A...…
…36 | JANUARY 5 • 2023 NOSH EATS | DRINKS | SWEETS S ukiyaki, Viennese Beef Goulash and Lamb Curry, just like your kosher mama or bubbie maybe used to make for dinner. Nostalgia was one motivating fac- tor when Richard J. Kaplan, a former Detroiter, decided to compile a fleis- chig (meat) cookbook from his father Seymour Kaplan’s family recipes. “It was just as a fun thing to do,” said Richard Kaplan, 67, a retired tax and estate-pla...…
…JANUARY 5 • 2023 | 37 notice that very day, in 1971 or 1972.” Until very recently, the only trace of the business was a barely recognizable painted Kaplan Brothers sign above the old building. The Kaplan brothers, now deceased, are survived by their sister, Eileen Letvin of West Bloomfield. WEEKLY ADS IN THE JN Richard was aware that his father had advertised the butcher shop by placing a series of “Kaplan Bros. Recipe of the We...…
…38 | JANUARY 5 • 2023 HEALTH T he 94-year-old home- bound patient was over- joyed. “Thank you so much,” she told her visitor. “You made such a difference to my life.” She’d always loved reading and had a huge stack of books, but lately she’d been unable to do more than just sit in her favorite armchair. Her visitor was Dr. Yaakov Zacks of Southfield, Michigan’s only full-time house-calling optom- etrist. He’d discovered her prescr...…
…JANUARY 5 • 2023 | 39 saw some issues. He promptly took his blood pressure, saw his numbers were abnormally high and urged him to rush to the emergency room. Later, the patient thanked him. “He was at high risk of hav- ing a stroke, ” he said. “The health of the entire body can be seen in the eyes. ” Zacks has also prescribed vitamins for macular degen- eration (degeneration of the retina) and low-vision aids like magnifiers that c...…
…4 | JANUARY 5 • 2023 for openers Verbal Picassos T he wonderful world of color is not limited to the art gallery or the television tube. We are so imbued with the colors around us that we have incorporated color references in our daily talk. To encourage someone to be themselves, you may exhort them to show you their true colors. A vivid description of your latest vacation sites may lend color to the conversation. Is your gar...…
…MAZEL TOV! 40 | JANUARY 5 • 2023 DEC. 15, 2022 Shelley (Reinstein) and Eliot Silver of Los Angeles, Calif., joyously announce the birth of their daughter, Isabel Drew (Devira Irit). Shelley is the daughter of Natie and Alan Reinstein of Farmington Hills, and Eliot is the son of Patty and Michael Silver of Los Angeles. Isabel was named in beloved memory of Eliot’s grandfather Irving and for Shelley’s beloved grandmother Dora. HOW...…
…JANUARY 5 • 2023 | 41 The Power of Gathering H ave you ever been part of a gathering so powerful that the boundaries between you and others became blurred? Can you imagine such mutual inspiration and clarity of purpose that a convening felt divinely blessed? In Maor va-Shemesh, a collection of the teachings of R. Kalonymus Kalman Epstein of Cracow published in 1842, the Chasidic master explores the possibility of such an ex...…
…42 | JANUARY 5 • 2023 J udaism generally urges us to be agents, to be active rather than passive, to take responsibility for our lives and for the world. Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik goes so far as to insist that “the peak of religious ethical perfection to which Judaism aspires is man as creator.” This means that we are often asked to use the power at our disposal both to better our lives and to achieve holy ends. But sometimes we ...…
…JANUARY 5 • 2023 | 43 stick to [Joseph’s brothers]. Like Lady Macbeth, unable to get the blood of the murdered king off her hands, they cannot get away from the bloody silver.” A CALL FOR REFLECTION Accused of theft, Joseph’s brothers return to Egypt, where he confronts them: “What is this deed that you have done?” (mah ha-ma’aseh asher asitem) (44:15). On the surface, of course, he appears to be asking about the (purportedly) stole...…
…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...…
…JANUARY 5 • 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...…
…SPORTS S asha Hartje didn’t want her long, suc- cessful competitive athletic career to end with her on the sidelines with a broken leg. It won’t. The Long Island University women’s hockey player and former Emory University women’s tennis player from Bloomfield Hills will compete for the U.S. women’s hockey team this month at the World University Games in Lake Placid, New York. This is Hartje’s second hockey season at Long Island, a ...…
…JANUARY 5 • 2023 | 47 W hile many musicals are entertaining, even moving, only a few merit repeat viewings. Les Miserables is one of those shows, a magnificent production that unites first-time audiences with a worldwide cadre of loyal fans who line up to see it again … and again and again. The current North American tour, playing at the Fisher Theatre through Jan. 8, features a superb cast of performers who bring new life to th...…
…48 | JANUARY 5 • 2023 ARTS&LIFE PODCASTS New Reboot podcast explores the stranger topics in Jewish history. Jewish ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER Bizarre Dr. Eddy Portnoy A new podcast is taking listeners down a rabbit hole of bizarre Jewish history. Released in November, the Jewish Bizarre Podcast, a new project from Reboot, a Jewish arts and culture non- profit and development plat- form, explores little-known po...…
…JANUARY 5 • 2023 | 49 Madison, and Jessica Chaffin, writer, comedian and host of the popular podcast Ask Ronna. Together, they explore the strangest corners of Jewish history. THE TOPICS NOT TAUGHT IN HEBREW SCHOOL Episodes are released weekly and tackle everything from how an 1875 murder changed perception of Jews forever, to false messiahs and wrestling rabbis, to even Jewish stereo- types such as nose shape and how that impact...…
…Cranbrook Schools' Open House Sunday, January 8, 2023 - students age 3 through grade 11 call 248 645 3610 or explore schools.cranbrook.edu Cronbrook Educational Community admits students ond makes il5 services, activities, and education programs ovoiloble to 5tudents without regard to sex, race, color, creed, religion, notional or ethnic origin, diwbility, sexvol orientation, or ony other protected status os required by 5tote or federal ...…
…50 | JANUARY 5 • 2023 GOLDEN GLOBES, MIA KIRSHNER MAKES ME HAPPY, PINSKY IN THE DESERT The Golden Globe (“Globes”) awards for excellence in film and TV will return to network TV (NBC, Jan. 10, 8 p.m.) after a hiatus last year. Members of the sponsoring organiza- tion, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), were credibly accused of many sins, including rac- ism, self-dealing and sexual harassment. At the verge of extinc...…
…JANUARY 5 • 2023 | 51 DRAGONS! 2 PM, JAN. 7 At the Music Hall on Madison in Downtown Detroit. For Ages 3+. Cost: $24-$50. Box office: 313- 887-8500. Spectacular puppets brought to life. MUSIC EVENT 8:00 PM, JAN 7 The Yellow Room Gang will appear at The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor. The Yellow Room is the living room of Tamulevich’s house on Ann Arbor’s Old West Side, where gang members meet monthly for musical brainstorming. Co...…
…52 | JANUARY 5 • 2023 community theater debut of Harold & Maude, The Musical. This musical introduces Harold, a death-obsessed young man, to Maude, a life- affirming octogenarian. Their May-December romance changes them both and is the perfect warm-your-heart evening to take the chill off a cold January night. Individual reserved seat tickets are $24 each plus $1 ticketing fee. Call the box office, 248-644-2075, or click on t...…
…JANUARY 5 • 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 FREE ESTIMATES • LICENSED & INSURED HANDYMAN SERVICE • Carpentry • Plumbing • Electrical REMODELING • Kitchen • Bath • Basement A&E ConstruCtion 248-425-9565 Serving...…
…54 | JANUARY 5 • 2023 OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY ANN BEBES, 98, of Farmington Hills, died Dec. 26, 2022. She is survived by her daughters and son-in-law, Sally Bebes and Cynthia (Lawrence) Buch; grandchildren, Renee Buch and Lisa Buch; many loving nieces, nephews, other family members and friends. Mrs. Bebes was the beloved wife of the late Harry Bebes; sister of the late Nettie Levitt, the late Rose Marx, the late Marlene...…
