…ARTS&LIFE TV continued from page 60 62 | JULY 27 • 2023 Monday, July 31 • 5 p.m. VIP Wisdom Café Donor Reception and Meet and Greet with Aleeza Ben Shalom — $180 per person • 6:30 p.m. Main Event “Behind the Scenes of Jewish Matchmaking” with Aleeza Ben Shalom, fol- lowed by a book signing and dessert. $50 per per- son; www.aishdetroit.com/ aish/meaningful-date-night- with-aleeza-ben-shalom • Main Event and SpeedDating. $100 per...…
…JULY 27 • 2023 | 63 “JUDAISM IS NUANCED AND EVERYONE HAS THEIR HARD LINE OF WHAT WILL AND WON’T WORK AND WHAT DIRECTION THEY ARE LOOKING TO GO IN THE LONG TERM. ” — JEWISH MATCHMAKING’S ALEEZA BEN SHALOM JAMIE GORDON PHOTOGRAPHY instant shidduch for us. We really clicked, ” said Tibi, who started working with Ben Shalom on curating matches for private clients. MATCHMAKING ON NETFLIX Tibi can be seen in Episode 1 of Jewish M...…
…64 | JULY 27 • 2023 ARTS&LIFE ART Renaissance Woman Glass artist Sara Young also sells nuts and does stand-up comedy. YEVGENIYA GAZMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER Sara Young by her etchings of a saxophone and T-Rex YEVGENIYA GAZMAN …
…JULY 27 • 2023 | 65 W hen asking people to share a few words about Sara Young, it is hard to believe the responses are all about one person. “Sara came into our life on a fluke pass- ing, and now has become an integral part of our business, ” shared Dan Weiand, owner of Whole Hearted Winery in New Hudson, Michigan. Dan now relies on Sara for “han- dling all of our laser etching, nuts and running a top-five comedy room in Metro Detroi...…
…66 | JULY 27 • 2023 FUN SPOOKY STUFF, REAL HORROR, JEWISH GUY INSPIRES CLASSIC SIT-COM EPISODE Haunted Mansion opens in theaters on July 28. This Disney film is inspired by the Haunted Mansion attraction at three Disney parks (California, Florida and Japan). In 2003, there was a Haunted Mansion film that didn’t get great reviews but made a lot of money. The 2003 film and the new film really don’t have much to do with the Dis...…
…JULY 27 • 2023 | 67 NEW EXHIBIT NOW-SEPT. 8 Detroit contains a rich mosaic of small Black- owned businesses that keep the city thriving, despite decades of economic hardship. To celebrate these entrepreneurs and small businesses, the Detroit Historical Museum’s new initiative “The Hustle” is recognizing 34 businesses that invest, elevate and enrich Detroit in a year- long series of museum exhibitions. The Detroit Historical Mu...…
…68 | JULY 27 • 2023 of self-love and wellness activities: unwind, learn about Tu b’Av, and treat yourselves to an afternoon in the park. At VFW Park, 1545 E. Lincoln, Commerce. Hands-on crafts (tie-dye included), opportunities for mindful movement, Jewish learning, chair massages and refreshing seasonal snacks. After the event, Rabbi Jeff will lead a short bike ride to Lincoln Tap for happy hour. Subsidized tickets are availab...…
…JULY 27 • 2023 | 69 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 to...…
…JULY 27• 2023 | 7 Sotah 7:12). We take a stand on the important issues of our day, and we strive to do what is right; at the same time, we actively seek to understand multiple perspectives because we humbly accept that only God knows the best paths forward. At the Hartman Institute, we put these texts into practice. After studying with Hartman’s outstanding faculty, we as rabbis from Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructi...…
…70 | JULY 27 • 2023 ANN BRASCH, 88, of Farmington Hills, died July 19, 2023. She is survived by her daughter and son- in-law, Abbey and Ken Nathan; son, Warren Brasch; grandchildren, Alec and Allison Nathan, Jack Nathan and Erin Sachse Nathan, Daniel Nathan, and Alayna, Emily and Chloe Brasch; sister-in-law, Farla Binder; many loving nieces and nephews. Mrs. Brasch was the beloved wife of the late Miles “Mike” Brasch; the l...…
…JULY 27 • 2023 | 71 S ybil Mintz, 85, of Boynton Beach, Fla., formerly of West Bloomfield, died July 13, 2023. Sybil had a lifelong love for education and loved being a student and a teacher. She received a bachelor’s of art in education and a master’s of art history from Wayne State and received a master’s in fine arts (painting) from the University of Michigan. She also made progress on a Ph.D. program at the University of M...…
…72 | JULY 27 • 2023 S ue Marx, 92, of Birmingham, died July 17, 2023. Marx, an essentially self-taught professional filmmaker who stunned Hollywood by winning an Academy Award in 1987 for her documentary short film, Young at Heart, died July 17, 2023, at her home in Birmingham. That film, perhaps the highlight of her long and varied media career, chronicled the love story and marriage of her own widowed father, then in hi...…
…JULY 27 • 2023 | 73 award from Northwood University. She was recognized and honored by virtually every media outlet in Metropolitan Detroit, including being named Michiganian of the Year in 1990 by the Detroit News. Perhaps the honor which meant most to her was that, as an Oscar winner, she remained a lifelong voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Survivors include her daughters, Terry Marx and he...…
…OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY 74 | JULY 27 • 2023 events, anti-war rallies and day sailing with his colleagues. He enjoyed his many yearly visits to Israel to serve in the Israeli military’s volunteer program. He rarely reminisced, but when asked about a specific subject, he did so at great length. He had a phenomenal memory. Berol was a good host. He loved his family, he loved driving, and he loved a good meal. Berol Robinson...…
…JULY 27 • 2023 | 75 Interment was at Oakview Cemetery. Contributions may be made to the Michigan Katzman Family PLS Fund, University of Michigan, 777 E. Eisenhower Pkwy., suite 650, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, give.communityfunded. com/o/michigan-medicine/i/ memorials-and-tributes/s/ in-memory-of-lois- katzman; or Cortney Gives BAK Foundation, 18540 Hillcrest St., Beverly Hills, MI 48025, cortneygivesbak. com. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman ...…
…OBITUARIES OF BLESSED MEMORY 76 | JULY 27 • 2023 Veterans. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel. SIMON JAY MIRKES, 16, of Farmington Hills, died July 17, 2023. He is survived by his parents, Scott and Michelle Mirkes of Farmington Hills; his sister, Samantha Mirkes; his grandparents, Edward and Cheryl Tunick of Farmington Hills; aunts and uncles, Barbra and Kevin Giles of Novi, Lori Tunick of Farmington Hills, Jamie and Bryan Sm...…
…JULY 27 • 2023 | 77 J ewish tradition teaches that when the heart is full, the eyes overflow.” It was a quote Rabbi Daniel B. Syme, rabbi emeritus of Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Township, used to describe his unwavering love for his beloved wife, Dr. Jill Susan Syme, who passed away after sunset on July 8, 2023. Tears can manifest grief, Syme explained at his wife’s memorial service at Ira Kaufman Chapel, but they can also emb...…
…Looking Back From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History accessible at www.djnfoundation.org 78 | JULY 27 • 2023 A Woman of Distinction W e often hear about the men who were instrumental in Israeli history — Herzl, Weizmann, Ben-Gurion and many more. However, we don’t hear as much about significant Israeli women from the past beyond Golda Meir, or perhaps, more recently, Hollywood Star Gal Gadot. One Israeli ...…
…8 | JULY 27 • 2023 PURELY COMMENTARY U ndocumented Michiganders deserve dignity and security — one critical step to making that a reality is to restore driver’s licenses for all. Over the last seven years, undocumented Michiganders and their allies have gotten the Drive SAFE bills introduced five times, but the bills have never passed. That wait cannot continue. We, the undersigned Michigan Rabbis, call on the Michigan Legislat...…
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…$200 July 20-26, 2023 / 2-8 Av 5783 JEWISH NEWS THE DETROIT thejewishnews.com ‘What’s Not to Like?’ The inspiring story of Nick Gilbert who lived every day of his 26 years to the fullest. See page 10 …
…10 | JULY 20 • 2023 An inspiring remembrance of Nick Gilbert who, despite enormous challenges, never gave up on life. ‘What’s Not to Like?’ DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER OUR COMMUNITY ON THE COVER PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE GILBERT FAMILY …
…JULY 20 • 2023 | 11 N ick Gilbert climbed Masada. Picture a giant plateau on the edge of Israel’s Judean Desert, overlooking the Dead Sea, about 1,300 feet straight up. The mountain is steep — so steep you can’t just climb up the side, but instead use switchbacks taking you up the incline. There are over 700 steps and endless rocky slopes, most of which have no railing. You have to start this hike at 4 a.m. when it’s already 105 de...…
…12 | JULY 20 • 2023 cally and mentally against the disease that he became a tougher, better person for it. It made him become comfortable in his own skin because he felt confident about what he was doing. In his mind, if he could beat brain tumors, he could beat anything.” DAD’S PERSONAL HERO When 14-year-old Nick Gilbert rep- resented the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team his father owns, in the 2011 NBA draft lottery, minutes before ...…
…JULY 20 • 2023 | 13 Cavaliers and the Michigan State Spartans, his alma mater. He loved the city of Detroit and the efforts being put into its revitalization. There was no food Nick loved more than cheese; in fact, it was mostly what he ate. Macaroni and cheese, grilled cheese, cheese quesa- dilla, Cheetos, Cheez-Its. He loved cheese-flavored foods so much that his family and friends joked he would one day turn into a big block of c...…
…14 | JULY 20 • 2023 him to hold up his end of the deal by dropping down and giving him 20 push- ups. At a Pistons game many years ago, Nick successfully convinced singer Kid Rock to walk up to the concourse to grab him chips and cheese. Backstage before a concert in Cleveland, Nick ran up to 24-time Grammy Award winner Jay-Z and asked, “Jay-Z, what’s your favorite Jay-Z song?” Right before his first brain surgery when he was 10 yea...…
…JULY 20 • 2023 | 15 …
…16 | JULY 20 • 2023 them. “We wanted to help him. He could have picked anyone to help him navigate through life, but he picked us,” brother Grant said. “This meant we got to con- tribute to his happiness while spending bonus time laughing together. We needed these moments, and we absolutely needed him much more than he needed us. We simply would not be the same without the lessons he taught us.” People would meet Nick and then feel ...…
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…18 | JULY 20 • 2023 OUR COMMUNITY ON THE COVER Nick remained in the hospital for more than two months, fighting for his life. Miraculously, Nick was able to come home in October, but sadly, with less vision and his hearing beginning to fade. By February, Nick could no longer see or hear and was on a feeding tube. The decision was made to once again give radiation a shot in hope of Nick regaining some hearing. It was unsuccessful. ...…
…JULY 20 • 2023 | 19 A DETERMINED FIGHTER Angela Sebald formed a special bond with Nick during his college years, working as MSU’s blindness and visual impairment specialist. Sebald’s job was to provide access so Nick could be successful in his courses. Sebald was in Nick’s life almost every day of his college career. In 2018, when Nick underwent the first of his two brain surgeries in a short span, he also happened to have three exa...…
…Two Generations, One Force. J E F F & M AT T B A R K E R ASSOCIATE BROKERS …
…20 | JULY 20 • 2023 T here are several things I ponder when I’m about to arrive at a Jewish wedding, like will there be little cocktail weenies during hors d’ oeuvres, and will I be able to navigate the hora without embarrassing myself? However, since Valerie Ross of Birmingham shared her family’s wed- ding stories with me, I’ll be paying closer atten- tion to more meaningful details the next time I attend a Jewish wedding. Of...…
…JULY 20 • 2023 | 21 old, when he originally received it from his parents, Sydney and Nellie Kraft. And it wasn’t a prayer shawl that just lay dormant over the years, only coming out of hibernation from Aaron’s blue velvet tallit bag in time for the High Holidays. “He enjoyed shul during the holidays, ” said Valerie, but he wore the tallit every Shabbat morning at Adat Shalom. He and my mother, Esther, were longtime members. “Each grand...…
…22 | JULY 20 • 2023 “Having my Grandpa Aaron’s tallit hanging above us was so special,” said Jeremy. “It also felt like my bubbie and other relatives who are no longer with us were watching over us on our special day. It was like having a piece of our family’s story woven into our own.” Helayne took great comfort in the symbolism that her father’s prayer shawl represented. “My father’s tallit reminded me of a long, warm hug around t...…
…JULY 20 • 2023 | 23 his tallit saving a full row of seats for the family at Adat Shalom. We feel lucky to have this artifact that was so core to how we remember him, built into our chuppah.” Don’t pack that prayer shawl up just yet. The Kraft family tallit tally has a shot at reaching six in five years because Helayne’s engaged daughter Carly and fian- cé, Josh Sternberg, are pondering their future wedding plans. Plus, a seventh we...…
…24 | JULY 20 • 2023 T wo Israeli performers, innovating food into artistic experiences shared by audiences, will be appearing in an event set by Hadassah to celebrate Israel’s 75th anniversary. “Israeli Art in a Bite” spotlights Carmel Bar and Michal Evyatar working with authentic herbs from Israel to make sodas for tasting by audience members. The presentation runs 6:30-9 p.m. Tuesday, July 25, at Hadassah House. “We made an ext...…
…JULY 20 • 2023 | 25 Teaching throughout the fall at Michigan State University will carry the performers into the end of their yearlong visit to the United States. “Many of our presentations are going to be hands-on workshops for smaller groups and are mainly translations of Israeli paint- ings into eating experiences, ” Bar said. “ A group looks at a painting by Israeli artists, and we make an interpretation into a dish. This is mai...…
…26 | JULY 20 • 2023 OUR COMMUNITY I n 2018, when Bracha Berenson turned 30, she decided it was time to get married and start a family. “My father had a life-changing moment on his 30th birthday, and I figured if he could change his life at 30, I could do the same, ” Bracha said. Back then, Bracha lived in Sacramento, California, across the street from her sister Amie, and she worked as a residential care- giver for a “swanky” seni...…
…JULY 20 • 2023 | 27 BRING THIS AD FOR $2 OFF ONE ADMISSION July 29 & 30 West Bloomfield hotworks.org Orchard Lake Fine Art Show Orna Amrani, Mixed Media Juried Fine Art & Craft Show – All Art is Original & Personally Handmade Voted Top 100 Art Shows in America Saturday, 10am-6pm & Sunday 10am-5pm – $5 Admission; 13 & under free Plus Youth Art Competition for Grades K-8 or Ages 5-13 – $250 cash awards! Great food, beer, wine, live enterta...…
…28 | JULY 20 • 2023 OUR COMMUNITY J ewish Senior Life of Metropolitan Detroit held its Annual Board of Directors Meeting at Harriett & Ben Teitel Apartments in Oak Park on Tuesday, June 27. Sixty-five guests attended, including the nonprofit organization’s officers, executives, staff members, award recipients, agency partners and community members. Jewish Senior Life (JSL) has six inclusive residential communities with a continu...…
…JULY 20 • 2023 | 29 JSL CEO Nancy Heinrich shared how serving older adults has given her purpose as has helping residents find and embrace their unique purpose within each community. She spoke about exciting updates at the various buildings, including current apartment renovations at the Fleischman and Meer Residences, expanding the patio and garden in the Meer courtyard, and the upcoming completion of the expanded Hechtman Reside...…
…JULY 20 • 2023 | 3 contents PURELY COMMENTARY 4-9 Essays and viewpoints. OUR COMMUNITY 10 ‘What’s Not to Like?’ The inspiring story of Nick Gilbert who lived every day of his 26 years to the fullest. 20 The Traveling Tallit Grandpa Aaron’s tallit has place of honor at grandchildren’s weddings. 24 Foodscape Hadassah welcomes Israeli food artists to July 25 event. 26 How We Met: ‘You Can’t Know Someone U...…
…30 | JULY 20 • 2023 The people served by JARC, a Bloomfield Township based nonprofit organization serving adults with developmental disabilities, enjoy a variety of life- enriching activities with each other and the larger community, and a recurring favorite activity that is always sure to bring smiles to their faces is playing Bingo. A recent lively, in-person Bingo event at Temple Beth El attracted 49 people JARC serves. The ...…
…JULY 20 • 2023 | 31 Jewish Senior Life recently hosted a free-to-the-community education- al event to help seniors and their families understand the choices available to them for retirement and what to consider as they begin planning for the future. Senior living experts Robin Heppler and Will Kieffer, both from Tandem Senior Living Advisors, discussed five common myths about retirement living options and answered questions from ...…
…32 | JULY 20 • 2023 M y brothers and I were raised as Reform Jews. We attended religious school through high school. Our education culminated with a six-week teen mission to Israel, an experi- ence of a lifetime. From what I understood as a kid, we were observing most of the important Jewish holidays. The High Holidays always dominated our fall schedules, complete with services, family gatherings, apples and honey. After Rosh Has...…
…JULY 20 • 2023 | 33 a plate with a bagel, already shmeared, and a round pastry or cookie. The same foods I’ve served to other mourners at shivahs over the years. Jewish culinary traditions connect sym- bolic dishes and customs to help us with our grief, whether it’s personal or public. Meals of condolence are served by others as part of the healing process, a custom that is centuries old. Tisha b’ Av is the scheduled yahrzeit for our ...…
…34 | JULY 20 • 2023 are still firm to the bite, between 5 and 7 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside, keeping the lentils in their cook- ing water. Heat the oil in a large frying pan or saucepan. Add the onions and remain- ing kosher salt. Cook the onions, stir- ring frequently, until all are thoroughly cooked and deep brown, between 20 and 30 minutes. Add the cumin and cook until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the remaining 1½ cups ...…
