DJN January 7, 2021 by The Detroit Jewish News

200 Jan. 7-13, 2021 / 23-29 Tevet 5781

Thicker than Water, Mightier

than the Sword U-M studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s research reveals his ancestorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s courageous journalistic legacy in Nazidominated Europe. See page 12

contents Jan. 7-13, 2021, / 23-29 Tevet 5781 | VOLUME CLVIII, ISSUE 23

24 Shabbat Lights

Shabbat Starts: Friday, Jan. 8, 4:59 p.m. Shabbat Ends: Saturday, Jan. 9, 6:05 p.m.

36 Views

Sports

6-11

JEWS D IN THE

Thicker than Water, Mightier than the Sword

U-M student’s research reveals his ancestor’s courageous journalistic legacy in Nazi-dominated Europe. Remembering a special influence in a young reporter’s life.

Furever Homes

Teen wins $50,000 grant for animal shelter.

Want to Go to Israel? Get There!

Huntington Woods Approves Anti-Racism Plan Suburb seeks to combat institutionalized prejudice.

Well-Deserved Honor

EMU professor wins lifetime achievement award in business communication.

Faces & Places

Eric Israel’s Journey On ice

Despite injury, defenseman from Huntington Woods is living a dream playing professional hockey.

Eretz

33 34

Online Events 34

Aiding Those Who Served

Health

Ex-Detroit rabbi has big plans for Friends of the IDF.

Election No. 4 in Two Years

Nosh

Spirit 28

Moments

ARTS&LIFE 30

Bystanders and Enablers

New book illustrates how institutions failed to protect victims of sexual assault.

The Forgiveness Tour

Susan Shapiro launches her new book in a Temple Israel Zoom program.

Anxiety Keeping You Awake?

New Kind of Snack

Dining in the D: Republica

Torah portion

Moments

Cover design: Kaitlyn Schoen

The Art of the Dance Celebrity Jews

Grandpa Bob

* Times according to Yeshiva Beth Yehudah calendar.

ON THE COVER: Cover photo/credit: Sammy Sussman examines the legacy of his great-grandfather Otto Schirn along with his family. Courtesy of Sussman

Etc.

New Oak Park business offers crispy and savory salami chips.

The Exchange Soul Danny Raskin Looking Back

38 39 45 46

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JANUARY 7 • 2021

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JANUARY 7 • 2021

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VIEWS for openers

’m at a total loss to describe the pure, unmitigated joy I felt, I’m sure you all felt, when the clock struck midnight on Dec. 31 and you finally said goodbye to 2020. Perhaps you kissed a loved one, clanked Alan Muskovitz glasses over a toast or shared a few expletives to say good riddance to arguably the worst year in our lifetime — on so many levels. I’m proud to announce I’ve started the new year having shed several pounds. Actually, I’ve shredded several pounds. I finally caved and went through file boxes of decades old paperwork. After much consternation, I finally realized there was no reasonable excuse to hold on to a 10-year-old AT&T bill. My kids marvel at my collection of old paperwork. They’re of a generation that barely knows what an “8½ x 11” piece of paper is. Everything they save is digital. In cyberspace, you don’t need a shredder, just a delete button. And I’m not good at using that either. Despite having converted to paperless billing, I can’t bring myself to deleting email bills I receive from Comcast, Consumers Power, Verizon, etc. And

what would my morning be without yet another sales pitch email from Kohl’s? (I’m losing faith that the Unsubscribe button works.) Add the daily email correspondences I receive and as of this writing my Gmail account is home to literally 38,538 emails. Ironically, the oldest email in the bunch is from New Year’s Eve 2009; a correspondence to our Dick Purtan morning radio show intern at the time. Discovering that, I literally paused during the writing of this column to email “Steve” to see how he was doing 11 years later. It’s been several hours and still no word back from him yet. Darn, and we were so close. Next on my purging agenda will be my personal time capsules, the numerous boxes of personal memorabilia I haven’t looked at in years. A preliminary peek inside one box has already revealed some real gems. There’s the handmade, crayon-written Mother’s Day card dated May 14, 1961, which I signed, not just from “Alan” but from “Alan M.” Apparently, I felt the need to distinguish myself from the other Alans my mom must have known. Just found a card from 1961 that informed my parents I had officially been promoted from kindergarten to first grade at Bagley Elementary School in

PHOTOS COURTESY ALAN MUSKOVITZ

Here’s to the Memories Detroit. Three second grade report cards revealed I missed 12 days of school in each of the first two semesters of 1962. Apparently, my hypochondria kicked in at an earlier age than I thought. A handwritten letter from my mom dated September 1973, my first semester at Michigan State, written on store-bought stationery called Notes from a Jewish Mother, repeated her longstanding Yiddishe mama mantra of making sure “I washed off fruit before eating it.” My mother could never have imagined that a pandemic would ensure my washing off everything that came into my house. Mom also asked if I had remembered to “wear your thongs” in the shower I shared with my dorm suite mates. For the uniformed, “thongs” is what my mom referred to as the footwear she implored us kids to wear in shared bathing situations. Perhaps more commonly referred to as flip-flops. Anyway, I needed to clarify that in case you thought my “thongs” came from Victoria’s Secret.

Next up, tackling my boxes of years’ worth of personal sports mementos. I’m excited to see if I still have the sample of turf I dug up from the Tiger Stadium infield after we defeated Boston on Oct. 3 to capture the American League East Championship. Better that I find it before my kids. I don’t want them to think their dad’s been hiding a bag of grass in the basement. In the meantime, here’s hoping years from now all our boxes of memorabilia will contain the following cherished souvenir — the document confirming we got vaccinated from the COVID virus. That’s a keeper. Happy, healthy New Year. Alan Muskovitz is a writer, voice-over/ acting talent, speaker, and emcee. Visit his website at laughwithbigal.com,“Like” Al on Facebook and reach him at amuskovitz@renmedia.us.

JANUARY 7 • 2021

VIEWS essay

The U.N. is a Major Obstacle to a Two-State Solution in the Mideast

n a year marked by so much misery and misfortune, a rare bright spot has been Israel’s historic diplomatic breakthroughs. In 2020, UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, Morocco and now Bhutan have either established official relations with Israel or announced their intention to do so for the first time. Richard In 1977, the Schifter late Egyptian President Anwar Sadat broke through Israel’s regional isolation with his dramatic Gil Kapen visit to Jerusalem. The Israeli people and government responded with far reaching concessions that led to a peace treaty with Egypt — for many years the only such treaty between Israel and any Arab country. Now the number of such countries with full relations or on the road to that status is six and growing. But the Palestinians are not yet on board. For decades, the operating assumption was that peace with the Arab world was contingent on a signed agreement acceptable to the Palestinians. That is no longer the case. Nevertheless, peace with the Palestinians is not

JANUARY 7 • 2021

only desirable; it is essential for Israel to be truly at peace and an accepted part of the Middle East. To achieve peace with the Palestinians, many years of demonization and delegitimization of Israel in the Palestinian media, mosques and schools will have to be overcome. The thorniest obstacle is the continued official Palestinian adherence to the so-called “right of return,” the demand that more than 5 million Palestinians who are descendants of refugees from the 1948 war be permitted to “return” to their original homes in what is now Israel. Such an eventuality would alter the demographic nature of Israel and would effectively end its existence as a democratic Jewish state. Of course, no Israeli government would ever acquiesce to a demand that would lead to the country’s demise. The United States has long recognized that the “right of return” is a non-starter and will never be part of a final settlement. The “Clinton Parameters” were issued by President Bill Clinton on his way out of office in 2001, as a template for a peace settlement. The Parameters “required the Palestinians to waive their claim to an unlimited ‘right of return’ to Israel proper. The Palestinian state would accept all refugees

wishing to settle in its territory ... One should not expect Israel to acknowledge an unlimited right of return to present-day Israel, as that would undermine the very foundations of the Israeli state or the whole reason for creating the Palestinian state ...” Similarly, an official letter from President George W. Bush to Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon in 2005, stated: “It seems clear that an agreed, just, fair and realistic framework for a solution to the Palestinian refugee issue as part of any final status agreement will need to be found through the establishment of a Palestinian state, and the settling of Palestinian refugees there, rather than in Israel.” Finally, the Trump administration’s “Vision for Peace” reiterated this concept, stating: “There shall be no right of return by, or absorption of, any Palestinian refugee into the State of Israel ... Palestinian refugees will be given a choice to live within the future State of Palestine, integrate into the countries where they currently live or resettle in a third country.” Unfortunately, instead of playing a constructive role in advancing the prospect of a two-state solution, the United Nations explicitly encourages the Palestinians to maintain the demand of a “right of

return.” For the past 45 years, the U.N. has repeatedly demonstrated its opposition to the Jewish state and has created an infrastructure to perpetuate anti-Israel propaganda. In 1975, the U.N. General Assembly passed its infamous resolution scurrilously labeling Zionism as a form of racism. This resolution led to the creation of two unique and nefarious institutions within the U.N. system: the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP) and its staff body, the Division for Palestinian Rights (DPR). “Zionism is Racism” was repealed (at the urging of the United States) in 1991. But its operational arms, the CEIRPP and the DPR, continue their damaging work to this day. Operating under an annual budget of approximately $3 million (reauthorized and funded every year), CEIRPP and DPR do nothing but disseminate harsh anti-Israel propaganda, and organize one-sided international conferences that attack Israel, advance the maximalist and one-sided Palestinian narrative, and compare Israel to apartheid South Africa. They also openly encourage the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel. Significantly, the mission

statements of these U.N. bodies explicitly endorse the “right of return.” Thus, the U.N. propaganda apparatus gives this major obstacle to peace the official imprimatur of the international community. Under these circumstances, why would the Palestinians ever give up this demand? Yet every year, the resolutions authorizing these bodies pass in the General Assembly by large majorities. It is highly unlikely that many of the leaders of the countries voting in favor of these bodies are aware of their true nature or of their activities. It is time for the Palestinians to join their fellow Arabs in accepting the existence of the State of Israel and negotiating a peace with it. Such a peace would greatly benefit Israelis, Palestinians, the Arab states and the world as a whole. A good first step would be abandoning the baseless claim of a “right of return.” But for this to

happen, the international community, including the United Nations, needs to stop recklessly coddling Palestinian rhetoric and activities, particularly the “right of return.” The first step would be for the U.N. to stop funding CEIRPP and DPR. One optimistic sign: Over the past two years, more than a dozen European states have voted against the resolution authorizing the Palestine Division. As a result, support for that resolution has plummeted, from 114 yes votes in 2011 to only 82 this year — far less than half of the number of General Assembly members. The best contribution that the United Nations can make to the cause of Israeli-Palestinian peace is to permanently close down these anachronistic and obstructionist bodies. Richard P. Schifter is chair and Gil Kapen is deputy director of the American Jewish International Relations Institute-Bnai Brith International. Kapen grew up in Metro Detroit.

JANUARY 7 • 2021

VIEWS

Oakland County Creates Interactive Map of COVID19 Cases by Zip Code

Lansing Demonstrators Protest Whitmer With Hitler Signs

JCC Health Club to Permanently Close

Kippah Masks You Can Make at Home During COVID-19

MSU Student Spray-Paints Swastika in front of Own Frat House

‘Rewind’: Jewish Filmmaker Confronts His Traumatic Childhood

Israeli Airline Brings Precious COVID Cargo to Detroit

Friendship Circle Buys Dakota Bread Company from Retiring Owners

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15. Michigan’s First Jewish COVID-19 Death 16. Local Photographer’s Social Media Posts Lead to Removal of Shelby Township Police Chief 17. Hillel Day School Memorializes Beloved Coach and Gym Teacher 18. Downtown Synagogue Leader Among Those Beaten and Arrested During Peaceful Detroit Protests

JANUARY 7 • 2021

19. Michigan’s Cannabis Industry, Propelled by Jews and ex-Detroit Lions, Takes off During the COVID-19 Crisis 20. Johnny Pomodoro’s New Owners Plan Improvements Along with More Gourmet Items

21. ‘I’m a Very Lucky Man’: 80-Year-Old Commerce Longtime Detroit Fertility Township Man, 74-YearDoctor Used Own Sperm to Old Wife Survive COVID-19 Inseminate Patients, DNA 22. Michigan Rabbi Hilariously Tests Show Runs Through Ann Arbor Rashida Tlaib: “It’s The Blowing the Shofar [VIDEO] Same Folks Coming After 23. Exclusive: Detroit Pastor All Of Us” Addresses Controversy Ezra Lev Seegul, U of M Over His Move to Israel Student Active in Hillel, 24. New Bagel on the Dies at 19 Block: Tov Bagel Opens Uyghur Camps and the Downtown Location Meaning of ‘Never Again’ 25. Out of Hiding: Group of A Showdown in Ann Arbor: Ethiopia’s Hidden Jews Behind the New Lawsuit Find Aid and Support to Challenging Longtime Improve Their Lives and Synagogue Protesters Practice Judaism

AP PHOTO/PAUL SANCYA

14. Tlaib or Not Tlaib? Detroit’s Jewish Aren’t Sure

7. HoMedics overhauled its production process in China to produce protective gear for those on the front lines. 2. Dawn Perreca protests on the front steps of the Michigan State Capitol building in Lansing, Mich., Wednesday, April 15, 2020. Flag-waving, honking protesters drove past the Michigan Capitol on Wednesday to show their displeasure with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s orders to keep people at home and businesses locked during the new coronavirus COVID19 outbreak. 22. Rabbi Josh Whinston blowing the shofar in front of the popular Zingerman’s Deli in Ann Arbor. 25. Aba Minas is leader of the Jambaria gedam, one of 15 hidden Jewish religious centers in Ethiopia’s North Shewa region.

COURTESY FRIENDS OF THE BETA ISRAEL OF NORTH SHEWA COURTESY OF SHARI FERBER KAUFMAN

The top 25 most-viewed stories at thejewishnews.com in 2020.

FACEBOOK/TEMPLE BETH EMETH

Most Read on the Web: Year in Review

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Happy New Year!

letters

Too Sympathetic to Dr. Peven

My family and I were recently reading the article “An Unknown Mishpachah” (Dec. 31, page 14), and I wanted to write in with some deep concerns we had. We found Dr. Peven’s actions absolutely appalling and not ethical, both medically and Jewishly speaking. The article painted Dr. Peven in a sympathetic light and not in the way that I think a journalist ethically has the responsibility to paint someone who has committed such disturbing actions. Dr. Peven is referred in the article as “a well-respected doctor,” and there are countless quotes included by folks that refer to him in a wonderful light such as “Jamie has come to think of him as a scientific man who was just trying to help families become whole,” “considered to be a very competent obstetrician-gynecologist,” “Jean … prefers the term “donor dad.” Though the small section in the middle covers the discussion around fertility fraud, it does so in a light that does not seem to really condone the actions, nor is there the word “crime” or “criminal” anywhere

Correction

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in the article. A doctor who performs a medical treatment without consent, when the patient is able to consent, is committing medical malpractice and would, and should, be prosecuted in Michigan. I understand the article covers other elements of the story, such as the biological children learning that they are Jewish, but the author missed the opportunity to do their due diligence and name these disturbing actions for what they are. There is a pattern in this country of male doctors doing things for and to their female patients without their consent, which is what Dr. Peven did in this case by eliminating their decision to use their chosen sperm donor and secretly replacing the sperm with his own. I think we have a responsibility when telling stories to name harmful actions when they take place. Language matters and what we use to describe people, their actions, and the repercussions of their actions shapes future stories and future actions of others. — Tamara Stein Suffolk University Law School, JD Candidate

In “Alumni Step Up,” Dec. 31, 2020, pg. 18, the woman on the far right in this photo was misidentified. She is Liz Jacobs, not Celia Savonen.

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JANUARY 7 • 2021

JEWSINTHED ON THE COVER

Thicker than Water, Mightier

than the Sword U-M student’s research reveals his ancestor’s courageous journalistic legacy in Nazidominated Europe. SAMMY SUSSMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

JANUARY 7 • 2021

Otto Schirn

hen I was little, my mother told me a story about her “Bonpapa:” my great-grandfather, Otto Schirn. During her college graduation ceremony, Otto circled names in the program he thought were Jewish. He wanted to prove other Jews had survived. Otto died before I was born. When I began studying at the University of Michigan in 2017, I knew only a few other facts about his life. I knew that he and his wife, Yvonne, managed to obtain two of the few emergency visas granted by the United States to Jews in 1941. I knew that she gave birth to my great-uncle Bob on the boat ride to the United States, and that his young family spent four months on Ellis Island waiting for Bob’s immigration status to be resolved. In October 2019, while looking through my grandmother’s photo album, I got my first hint of the tragic and courageous life Otto once lived. I learned of the letter he received in 1945 that told him of the death of his parents, Josef Schirn and Taube KrissSchirn. The letter referred to them as numbers 61 and 62 — two entries on a Nazi transport list from Malines, France. I also learned from a newspaper clipping that Otto was “a journalist in Austria [who] had spoken out against the Nazi government.” As an investigative reporter for U-M’s student newspaper, The Michigan Daily, I felt a connection in that moment that extended beyond my genes. I vowed to do all I could to understand Otto’s life. The first article I found about him was in the Detroit Jewish News Foundation’s Otto’s 1936 Belgian press William Davidson Digital Archive of pass, which he used to cover Nazism’s rise in Austria. Jewish Detroit History. It announced a

COURTESY OF REBECCA SUSSMAN COURTESY OF SAMMY SUSSMAN

LEFT: Researching Otto Schirn’s life at the New York Public Library: grandmother Vivian Schirn, Sammy Sussman, sister Gabi Sussman and mother Rebecca Sussman. BELOW: The passport that got Otto out of Europe.

speech Otto was to give on Feb. 14, 1945, to the Detroit Women’s Division of the American Jewish Congress. The letter about Otto’s parents’ deaths — the transport of numbers of 61 and 62, my great-great-grandparents, from Malines to Auschwitz — was postmarked by a Belgian government official that very same day. When I shared the article with my grandmother, she remarked at how happy her father looked in his headshot. That photo represented an Otto that my grandmother never knew. That was Otto while he still believed his parents were alive. Though my grandmother was 3 at the time, she still remembers the sadness that enveloped Otto. “It changed him,” she said of the burden he carried for the rest of his life. EARLY LIFE From my grandmother’s files, I learned that Otto’s earliest memory was of watching German Emperor Wilhelm I declare the beginning of World War I. He and his father stood among a crowd of Berliners outside the Imperial Palace that day, unaware that the nationalism he was witnessing would eventually overtake German politics and tear Otto’s family apart. As a student in Austria, Otto was at the top of his class. He was Vienna’s high school chess champion and became one of Vienna University’s first six doctoral economics graduates.

In a letter to my grandmother about his early life, Otto spoke of the antisemitism he faced. He speculated that he was intentionally passed over for academic positions because he was Jewish. In 1936, Otto moved to Brussels with his father. He was soon offered a job at L’Avenir Juif, a Belgian Jewish newspaper. After a year, L’Indépendance Belge, a daily Belgian newspaper, reached out with a tremendous opportunity. Otto could return to Austria as the paper’s Viennese correspondent.

At the time, Austria’s Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg was struggling to hold Nazism at bay. Otto and his editors knew Otto’s Jewish identity would put him in danger from Nazis. They issued him two press passes, one under his real name and one

under a Belgian-sounding pseudonym, “Marcel Legrand.” Otto kept the real press pass for the rest of his life. From my grandmother, I learned that Otto spent his American life believing his reporting was lost. In a way, Otto believed “Marcel Legrand” (his pen name) was the first relative he lost to the Nazis. But in late 2019, I found copies of this reporting in New York City, just 35 miles from my home in Bedford Hills, N.Y. I went with my mother, father, sister and grandmother to the New York Public Library over Thanksgiving to rediscover our family’s forgotten legacy. BODY OF REPORTING The reporting career of “Marcel” was varied in the beginning. He reviewed a Viennese cultural festival. He wrote about minor trade agreements. He chronicled the mourning of Engelbert Dollfuss, the Austrian chancellor who was assassinated by Nazis in 1934. As the months wore on, Otto’s reporting became bolder. In an article that hinted at his Jewish identity, Marcel explored the effects of Britain’s Palestine mandate on Jews throughout Western Europe. “The surge of antisemitism coming from Hitler’s Germany did not spare other Jews of Central and Eastern Europe,” Otto wrote as Marcel. “This will undoubtedly be the scene of dramatic struggle the subject of which is ... the fate of several million Jews.” continued on page 14 JANUARY 7 • 2021

JEWSINTHED ON THE COVER

Sammy Sussman, center, with his family reading some of Otto’s journalistic work.

COURTESY OF REBECCA SUSSMAN

continued from page 13

Marcel watched Hitler implement increasingly antisemitic policies in Germany. He watched Nazism gain traction among Vienna’s passively antisemitic youth. In some instances, Marcel’s reporting was fearless. He mentioned two Austrian reporters critical of Hitler whom the Germans “silenced.” He was the first to report an attempted bombing of a Catholic event that the police had traced to Austrian Nazis. Most notably, Marcel predicted Hitler’s desire to take Austria. “It is on the attitude of the Schuschnigg’s government and the moral support to be found in the great European democracies that Austria’s fate will depend,” Marcel predicted. Marcel’s last article was from Jan. 20, 1938. On March 12 of that year, Schuschnigg’s government fell to the Nazis. Under the German Anschluss (annexation), Jewish reporters were banned from the press; Jews like Otto had their livelihoods and eventually their lives taken away. A headline in the March 14 edition of

JANUARY 7 • 2021

L’Indépendance Belge suggested Marcel’s fate. “The German authorities now control the Austrian finances, press and radio.” Kurt Schuschnigg, the betrayer of Marcel’s hopes, fled to Hungary. He would spend years in concentration camps before eventually becoming an academic and living out his years in America. HIDING FROM THE NAZIS A few weeks after the Anschluss, Otto approached his apartment to the sound of his mother’s pleading voice. Opposite her were three young men with Nazi armbands. The ringleader of the group stepped forward. “Where’s Otto Schirn?” he asked. “We need to speak with him.” Otto’s mother learned that the three men didn’t know the family was Jewish. They had learned something far more dangerous: the true identity of Marcel Legrand. As Otto waited outside the doorway, he heard his mother speak. Forty years later, in a tape, Otto’s voice cracked as he remem-

bered what his mother said. “Please, please don’t do anything to my son,” she begged. “He has nothing to do with what you want.” As Otto waited outside the apartment, his mom bribed the Nazis to leave Otto alone. She smuggled him to his uncle’s apartment that same evening. Otto received word while still in hiding that both his real name and his pen name had been placed on the Nazi blacklist. The Nazis never learned Otto was Jewish — but because of his reporting, they considered him an enemy of the state. When Otto’s editors learned of this danger, they arranged for a Belgian tourist bus carrying a false passport to meet Otto in Cologne, Germany. After a hair-raising train ride from Austria to Germany, Otto was smuggled out of the Third Reich. EUROPE IN DARKNESS In Brussels, Otto became the secretary general of the Conseil des Associations Juives

FLEEING TO AMERICA Another early childhood memory I carried into my research was of my family’s visit to the Ellis Island museum. As we left the museum, my mom told us her family’s story: Otto and Yvonne fled Lisbon in one of the last ships to the U.S. At the time, I gave no thought to the many miracles Otto’s life represented. He was my mother’s beloved “Bonpapa” — his survival seemed preordained. I never understood how many times Otto came close to death. They traveled through Belgium, France, Spain and Portugal at the height of the war. I never thought about the thousands of other refugees who had no relatives eager to learn their stories. Otto’s press pass, refugee card and Belgian passport gave some insight into this fraught journey. For five decades, he kept these ties to Europe in the upper left-hand drawer of his desk. Looking through the pages of that passport, I get a sense of the desperation Otto felt. He obtained over 20 visas to various countries throughout the war. At one point, he pursued visas to Switzerland and Thailand — anything to flee the impending

crush of the Third Reich. Over the past 75 years, my family has grappled with the meaning of this history. We’ve let Marcel Legrand’s memory fade while fighting to keep Otto’s story alive. Otto dedicated his American life to simple acts of remembrance and prevention. For 30 years, he served on the American Zionist Council. He promoted investment in the young State of Israel, believing this to be the fulfillment of his Jewish faith. Otto also helped found the Los Angeles Holocaust memorial: six black pillars representing the six million Jews lost, permanently installed behind the city’s Holocaust museum. For years, he served as president of the American Survivors of the Holocaust. Otto remembered how Marcel’s reporting failed to halt the rise of Nazism. He dedicated his life to making sure his adopted country never went down the same path. Soon after immigrating, Otto traveled the United States giving lectures about antisemitism, the Holocaust and Jewish history. This work brought him to Detroit in 1945. It continued throughout the rest of his life. Following in the footsteps of Dr. Stephen Wise, his friend from the World Jewish Congress, Otto became an advocate for civil rights. He began lecturing on the importance of civil rights and racial equality in the early 1950s. In his most public moment of activism, Otto spoke on NBC’s The Joe Pyne Show to urge the ratification of the United Nations’ Convention on the Prevention of the Crime of Genocide. (The U.S. Senate ratified this convention in 1988.) GENERATION TO GENERATION My grandmother was the first family member to shoulder Otto’s legacy. In graduate school, she wrote a paper summarizing his life. It was through interviews for this paper that I was able to learn most of Otto’s story. My grandmother’s master’s thesis dealt with the trauma felt by families of Holocaust survivors, using her own family as an example. My mother was the next bearer of family history. She wrote about her “Bonpapa” for a college history course, analyzing how his experiences informed and influenced his American identity. “There was an air of sadness about him,” my mother told me recently. It was a sadness no measure of postwar happiness

could ever undo. Now it’s my turn. What lessons can I draw from an 80-year-old story? What can I learn from my family’s brave activist and what from our courageous journalist?

COURTESY OF SAMMY SUSSMAN

(Council of Jewish Associations). He represented Belgium at the last World Jewish Congress before the war. One of his duties was to help Belgian Jews determine the fates of their Polish relatives. He met my great-grandmother, Yvonne, when she came to his office for help finding her Polish aunts and uncles. Months later, they were a happily married couple on honeymoon in the Belgian countryside. Yvonne never learned what happened to her Polish relatives. Belgium was overrun in May 1940, and the couple fled to France. The Nazis were soon there, too. As an Austrian refugee, Otto was placed in the French Saint-Cyprien concentration camp by the Nazi-controlled authorities. While Otto suffered under conditions he later described as “atrocious,” Yvonne pleaded with the camp commander for Otto’s freedom. She told the commander she was pregnant, and Otto was a young father. After a few months, the commander relented. Otto was set free. He never learned what happened to the others in that camp. My research indicates most were murdered after being transported back to the Reich.

A photo of Otto in 1992.

I’ll always remember the first photo in my grandmother’s album. It featured five people in formal, 19th-century attire. They look at the camera with no recognition of the relatives who would stare back at them through history’s one-way mirror. Above them are notes in my grandmother’s handwriting. “Otto’s grandmother,” reads one. “Otto’s mother,” reads another. It took me a while to recognize the meaning of those words. I thought this research would bring me closer to my grandmother, but she needed those notes to recognize the grandparents she never met. She was no more connected to them than I was. I continue to struggle with the reality of Otto’s life. It seems impossible that he exhibited such bravery; it seems unthinkable that he had to experience such tragedy. I view Otto’s life as a story of the “two” men, whose articles, photos and memories my family has clung to for so many years. I view it as a reminder of the past, a cautionary tale what might come without brave Jews like Otto and brave reporters like Marcel. University of Michigan music student Sammy Sussman is an accomplished bassist/composer and an investigative reporter for The Michigan Daily newspaper who helped uncover years of sexual misconduct and harassment by an instructor/associate dean at U-M.

JANUARY 7 • 2021

JEWSINTHED

Grandpa

Bob

A special memory: Danny Schwartz, on the right, with father, David Schwartz, Grandpa Bob Schwartz and brother Brett Schwartz.

Remembering a special influence in a young reporter’s life.

here are people in your life that you’re glad are proud of you when you achieve success. And then, there are people in your life who you love and respect so deeply that you actively seek out their approval when you achieve that success — because when tye live vicariously through you, it feels just as good as living it yourself. Danny When I got this job as Schwartz reporter for the Jewish News Staff Writer back in August, my first fulltime reporting job out of college, the first person I called was my dad, David. The second person I called was his father, my Grandpa Bob. My Grandpa Bob, full name Robert Earl Schwartz, 95 years old of West Bloomfield, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on Nov. 24. He wasn’t a local Jewish celebrity. He never held a monumental role in the community that would necessarily call for him to be written about, and he was never a rich man, but he was wealthy in his character and how he made people feel. He was born in Youngstown, Ohio, and moved to Michigan as a young boy. He was a WWII veteran and saw duty with the 9th Armored Division in Germany, France and England, earning a Bronze Battle Star and Army of Occupation Medal

JANUARY 7 • 2021

in the process. After the war, he met Harriet White, whose hand he held in marriage for 64 years. He and Harriet had three children whom they loved dearly, Diane, David and Judy. He went to work after the war and eventually became a VP and general manager for Meyer Jewelry Company for 25 years, then took similar roles with Simmons & Clark in Detroit and Shifrin Jewelers until retiring. WISDOM + KNOWLEDGE He spoke softly, so you really had to listen carefully to his words, and you would never leave a conversation with him without something, whether it be a piece of wisdom, a pint of knowledge or just a laugh. Family meant everything to him, and he let us know that every time we would talk. He was the kind of person who would befriend a waiter or waitress over the course of a meal, or quickly chat with a stranger and make them feel truly special, no matter who they were or what they looked like. Everyone he came into contact with loved him. He was a human encyclopedia when it came to movies and baseball, being able to tell you who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1946 and the World Series in 1955 off the top of his head, no matter how old he got. He loved

his Detroit Tigers and Lions, even when they lost. He was always so proud to wear his hat signifying he was a WWII veteran, often wearing it when we would go to a baseball game or out to brunch together. Whenever I was with him and he would receive compliments on the hat or a “thank you” handshake for his service, I would feel an enormous sense of pride knowing he was my grandfather. He was as supportive as anyone with the people he loved, including in my writing endeavors. He motivated you and made you want to succeed simply because he believed in you. He also wanted something to brag about to his best friend of 80-plus years, Danny Hoffer: that his grandson was in the newspaper. I always found that hilarious. I’ll always remember the special bond we had, and I’ll carry the belief he had in me throughout my life and career. We, as a family, were very lucky to be able to say our goodbyes and be by his side as he passed on, as in these times so many families are not able to do so. Both during these times, and when we get past these times, we should all make a renewed effort to appreciate those close to us whom we love and respect deeply, those who treat strangers like best friends, those who we want to make proud and live our successes vicariously through us, those like my Grandpa Bob.

Need a Free COVID-19 Test?

If you are concerned you may have been exposed to COVID19, free testing is now available at Oak Park High School, located at 13701 Oak Park Blvd. Henry Ford Health System will be at the school from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays to provide free COVID-19 PCR tests for adults and children. No appointment, insurance, physician referral or prescription is needed. Results are available in 48 hours. Additional free test sites are in Detroit and Dearborn. The tests are available for anyone who lives or works in the communities surrounding the testing locations. For more information and a schedule, visit www.henryford.com/ freeCOVIDtest.

Judges To Discuss Compassion in Free Zoom Event Three Jewish members of the Detroit Federal bench will speak on “The Rule of Rachmanus (Compassion)” in a free Zoom discussion sponsored by the Jewish Bar Association of Michigan (JBAM). The panel will focus on how judges apply compassion in everyday practice when making decisions on the bench. Topics will focus on both civil and criminal law. Participating will be U.S. District Judges Bernard A. Friedman and Judith E. Levy and Magistrate David R. Grand. The event will take place 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19. All attorneys and members of the general public are invited. To register for this Zoom discussion, go to the JBAM website, https://www.jewishbar. org/event/the-rule-of-rachmanus-with-the-federal-bench/. The Jewish Bar Association of Michigan provides educational and professional benefits for attorneys. For information, visit jewishbar.org.

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JANUARY 7 • 2021

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JULIE HERTZBERG

JEWSINTHED

Furever Homes Teen wins $50,000 grant for animal shelter.

ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

hen 13-year-old Sydney Hertzberg adopted Mr. Mittens in 2019, the tiny bottle-fed kitten needed much TLC. He was just 4 days old, and when the Birmingham teen first laid eyes on him at the no-kill Ferndale Cat Shelter, where she had been volunteering for her bat mitzvah project with Temple Israel, she knew it was love at first sight. “He’s grown so much,” the Cranbrook Kingswood Girls Middle School student says. Yet Mr. Mittens wasn’t the only one who was being helped. Hertzberg, who has postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS, a connective tissue disorder, experiences significant pain

JANUARY 7 • 2021

from the condition. Mr. Mittens, however, was the best medicine for it. Hertzberg wrote about her love for Mr. Mittens for Petco Foundation’s Holiday Wishes Grant Competition, which helps support animal rescue organizations nationwide. She spoke of what she has overcome in her life and how the kitten rescued her instead. “Little did I know today would be the day that would change my life forever and fill a void in my heart that I never knew existed,” she wrote in the 500-word story of the day she met Mr. Mittens. “As we spent more time together, I realized that when I held Mr. Mittens or he jumped on my shoulder, it helped relieve my pain.”

It turned out to be a winning entry for Petco Foundation. Hertzberg, who received second place in the competition, was awarded a $50,000 grant that she gave to Ferndale Cat Shelter, an organization she felt strongly about. “I honestly couldn’t believe it,” she says. “I thought it would be something much smaller, maybe $1,000.” For Ferndale Cat Shelter, who needed the extra support due to COVID-19, it was the greatest holiday gift they could ask for. “Ferndale Cat Shelter is over-the-moon about this grant from Petco,” executive director Deanne Iovan explains. “This year, we have taken in twice as many cats and kittens as we did last year, and our vet bills were double.” Ferndale Cat Shelter’s revenue was also cut in half because their Catfé Lounge, where guests can mingle with cats up for adoption, was closed for nearly six months. “This could not have come at a better time,” says Iovan, who has included Hertzberg in planning how the funding will be used. “After such a difficult year for everyone, this is a great way to end 2020.” Yet Hertzberg’s mission to save cats doesn’t end there. She’s working on ways for younger people like herself to be more active in the animal volunteer community. Her goal is to launch a program called “Sydney Seniors,” where senior adults will be able to adopt a senior cat with expenses such as medical bills and food being taken care of. In this idea, she envisions teens being able to help senior adults set up their home for their adopted cats. Additionally, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,

Hertzberg took in 19 foster kittens from Ferndale Cat Shelter between the beginning of April through now, finding forever homes for each and every one. “I decided it was more important to help the cats than be nervous about my medical issues,” she explains. Hertzberg is also teaching a Girl Scouts troop how to create covers for a Trap, Neuter, Release program, which aims to prevent future populations of feral cats in Michigan. “Sydney is wise way beyond her years,” Iovan says of the teen’s work. “When Sydney first sent her story to Petco, her mother, Julie, showed me a copy and it brought tears to my eyes. “I knew Sydney was a special human being, but her story of how Mr. Mittens affected her and her daily life was beautiful to read,” she continues. “It’s stories like hers that keep me going to work every day.” Read Sydney’s winning story at petcofoundation.org/love-story/cats-adventurous-spirit-is-the-best-remedy.

Sydney Hertzberg and Mr. Mittens

Alex Wineman, right, with a friend in Israel

COURTESY JFMD

Want to Go to Israel? Get There! DAVID GLASS SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

or Alex Wineman, deciding to go back to Israel was never a question of yes or no. It was a question of when. So, when she found out about the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit’s Get There! Teen & Young Adult Travel Fund from her grandma, she knew her opportunity had presented itself. The Get There! program is open to Jewish residents of Metro Detroit between the ages of 13 and 28 years old who will be participating in a qualifying program for up to 13 months. Get There! is an ideal source of supplementary funding for gap year programs, study abroad opportunities, volunteer work, internships, school trips, university and more. A recent graduate from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, Alex came to Israel with the Masa Israel Journey program after her post-graduation full-time job was delayed until July 2021. With an internship in Tel Aviv, she says, “Get There! was a massive contributor to my program cost in Israel. Living here is incredible, and the Get There! grant allowed me to cover a portion of my costs so I can live more comfortably and see more of this country.” Not only does the Get There!

program help defray the cost of a trip to Israel, making it possible for more young people to experience this life-changing journey, according to Alex, “The application process was simple! Federation has been in constant contact with me throughout all steps of the grant process and has been in consistent contact with my program to ensure the grant is received as well.” “Starting my professional career in Tel Aviv has been nothing short of incredible.” And even though living in Israel during the pandemic has its challenges, Alex is quick to remind us that, “Tel Aviv beaches still beat cold Michigan winters.” If you’re ready for your own life-changing journey to Israel, Federation’s Get There! Teen & Young Adult Travel Fund may be just what you need to make your dream a reality. There are both needs-based and incentive grants available and applications are fully online. For more information and to apply, visit https:// jewishdetroit.org/get-involved/ israel-and-overseas/studyvolunteer-in-israel. For questions and help with applying, contact Jaime Bean, Senior Associate, Federation’s Israel & Overseas department, at bean@ jfmd.org. (This story first appeared on myjewishdetroit.org.)

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JEWSINTHED

Huntington Woods Approves Anti-Racism Plan Suburb seeks to combat institutionalized prejudice. DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

he City of Huntington Woods recently approved an “AntiRacism Plan” as part of efforts to expand its commitment to build equity and tackle institutionalized prejudice on a local level. The plan, approved by the city commission on Oct. 14, comes after a statement issued by the heavily Jewish Detroit suburb June 2 condemning acts of racial injustice in response to the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others. Its goal, according to Mayor Robert Paul and city commissioners, is to identify “specific and attainable action items.” “It is not enough to simply claim we are not racist,” Paul said in a press release. “We must work toward eradicating fear and turmoil and ensure that Huntington Woods is a warm and welcoming city for all.” “We’re going to start by focusing on the city of Huntington Woods’ practices, educating our staff as well as changing our hiring policies,

JANUARY 7 • 2021

and we’re also going to try to bring some education points to the community at the same time,” Paul told the JN. Paul believes that the plan is fluid and will change over time, with expectation it will look different as the years go by. “Hopefully it’s a much more robust plan in the next year or two, with specific plans on

played a large role in her decision to help spearhead and back the anti-racism plan. “If we are going to aspire for diversity and inclusion, we have to think about a sustainable future in how we make people of color feel when they’re residents or visiting or hear about Huntington Woods,” Elder said.

“IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO SIMPLY CLAIM WE ARE NOT RACIST.” — MAYOR ROBERT PAUL what to do and how to do it, and I think a lot of that is going to come through the education process as we develop and roll that out to learn more,” Paul said. Huntington Woods has a population of just over 6,000 people, and 95% of its residents are white, with the median household income as of 2018 being over $130,000. Commissioner Michelle Elder said those demographics

Elder refers to the plan as a “framework,” and an ongoing commitment to continuous learning and self-examination. “When we learn about these things and identify implementation or action items that we can do or adjust public policies, we’ll identify those opportunities for change as we learn about it,” Elder said. “This is a learning process, and everyone is in their own phase of understanding systemic racism and

its impact on different levels.” The plan advocates for “reviewing and revising existing policies to make them more equitable and creating new policies and programs to promote an anti-racist perspective and expand opportunities to end institutional oppression,” according to the release. The plan has three main goals: Learning & Recognition, Community Relations and Public Policy. It contains programs and initiatives to be carried out at City Hall, the public library, and in the Parks & Recreation and Public Safety departments. ANTI-RACISM TRAINING Possible “action items” outlined in the plan may include curating lists of anti-racist reading materials at the public library; implementing ongoing anti-racism training for both the city’s police department and city administration; publishing police department policies on use of force; and advocating for legislation that eliminates excessive fees and fines

Sunday, January 10, 2021 at 2:00 pm

ANDREW LAPIN/JEWISH NEWS

that disproportionately impact lower-income individuals. Rebecca Driker-Ohren, an IfNotNow Detroit member who was involved in a Black Lives Matter march in Huntington Woods in June, believes the plan is a positive step to take, but would like the plans to be more specific and well-rounded. Driker-Ohren and Zak Witus, another IfNotNow Detroit member involved in the June march, both raise questions about the plan not decreasing funding for the police, a major call from Black leaders during this year. “I’m kind of wondering if Huntington Woods is following the Black Lives Matter movement, or if they’re taking their own lead and if that’s the best way of doing things,” Driker-Ohren said. Witus believes there’s some good things in the plan, and appreciates the framing that it’s not enough to “not be racist” and that people have to combat all of its forms and be anti-racist.

Black Lives Matter protest in Huntington Woods

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Witus is also the coordiZEKELMAN FAMILY CAMPUS nator for the core organizing 248.553.2400 • holocaustcenter.org team of the new Huntington Woods for Black Lives group, which recently started a let12/28/20 ter-writing campaign seeking SoapMyth-DJN-Ad.indd 2 a “moral city budget”. “It is fundamentally wrong for Huntington Woods to spend millions of dollars on policing — a full 40% of the Build your resume and professional network budget — while our neighbors through a JVS paid summer internship. in nearby cities struggle to find adequate food, housing, Apply now for the Jeanette & Oscar Cook Jewish Occupational Intern (JOIN) program and you could land an 8-week paid and education for their kids,” summer internship in one of the following fields: Witus said. The city’s plan is currentNonprofit Business Administration ly wrapping Phase I, which Marketing and Communications includes benchmarking as well Human Services as staff education and trainProgram Planning Human Resources ing. Phase II of the plan is set Community Outreach and Advocacy to begin in January and will include an unveiling of a full Master Plan along with space for community collaboration. For more information, visit In Phase III, set to take jvshumanservices.org/join place in July 2021, programs are set to be implemented at Openings are limited. Applications and the library, recreation center initial interviews must be completed by January 31, 2021. and public safety areas, and Open to Jewish full-time undergraduate the city will measure and evalor graduate students who are metro uate what they’ve learned in Detroit residents. the past year.

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JANUARY 7 • 2021 11/12/2021 1:13 PM

David Victor

Well-Deserved Honor EMU professor wins lifetime achievement award in business communication. MAYA GOLDMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

astern Michigan University Professor David Victor has won the Association for Business Communication’s 2020 Francis W. Weeks Award of Merit, a lifetime achievement prize for

his work in the field of business communication. Winning the award “was a great feeling of accomplishment that, over three decades of work, my colleagues considered that to be worthy of

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JANUARY 7 • 2021

COURTESY OF DAVID VICTOR

JEWSINTHED

notice,” Victor told the Jewish News. “And also, it’s nice to bring attention to Michigan, particularly Eastern Michigan University, which is where I've worked for all these years and am very dedicated to.” Victor has been given the merit award in part for his leadership in creating a parallel organization to the Association of Business Communication called the Global Advances in Business Communication Initiatives. The GABC has a journal housed in the Eastern Michigan University Halle Library, of which Victor serves as the editor-in-chief. The organization also has a conference that rotates between its four partner universities: EMU, University of Antwerp in Belgium, University of Technology Malaysia and India’s Delhi School of Business. Victor was always interested in different cultures growing up — that interest drew him to the field international business communication. He’s now been working in the field for more than 36 years. After getting his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, he moved a few miles down the road to EMU in 1985, where he still works as a professor of international business and management. Victor also serves as a consultant and management coach. He’s consulted and run programs for organizations including state governments, Fortune 500 companies, the U.S. Army and others. His first award from the Association for Business Communication, of which he is a past president, came in 2010, when he was recognized with its highest award for pedagogy. One of the best parts of winning the merit award has

been receiving notes from former students, Victor said. Just after he got the award, a student he’d taught decades ago reached out to say she’d gone into international business because of him. “That was such an affirmation, just to hear that again,” he said. A NOTED AUTHOR Victor has written five books so far over the course of his career, including International Business Communication in 1992 — one of the first books published on the topic in the United States. He’s also co-authored a book about conflict management and three books based on a business communication model he created that lay out principles for communicating in Brazil, Japan and Mexico. Though he’s won the ABC’s lifetime achievement award, he doesn’t plan to quit working any time soon. Victor said he’s hoping to finish a book on the seven principles for communicating in India, as well as an update to his original 1992 book on international business communication. “And I have no plans to stop teaching as long as I’m mentally and physically able to do so,” Victor added. In addition to his professional successes, Victor runs a blog and email list called the “David Victor Vector,” where he writes in-depth posts about religious observances from traditions across the globe. He is also active in the Jewish community, serving on the board of B’nai Israel Synagogue in West Bloomfield, where he runs a Mussar class (on leading a meaningful and ethical life) on Thursday nights. “I also want to say thank you to the kind of support that I get from B’nai Israel Synagogue,” he said.

JEWSINTHED |FACES&PLACES

Mitzvah Day 2020

JN STAFF PHOTOS COURTESY JCRC/AJC

or the last 24 years, the Jewish Community Relations Council/AJC (JCRC/AJC) has provided thousands of Christmas Day volunteer opportunities for members of the community as part of Mitzvah Day. Each year, more than 600 people of all backgrounds spend the day at Metropolitan Detroit nonprofits filling staff shortages and allowing organizations to reduce staffing. Even amid the COVID-19 pandemic, JCRC/AJC continued this important tradition on Christmas Day — albeit in a

modified format. Throughout December, JCRC/AJC provided weekly lists, by email and on their website, of nonprofits accepting donations and volunteers to help make the holiday special for those in need. Many heeded the call, purchasing gifts from wish lists and assisting on site, in socially distant ways. On Christmas Day, a number of masked volunteers braved the snow to deliver meals and gifts, as well as take care of animals at the Michigan Humane Society, alongside interfaith friends.

Judah Lopatin delivers a bag of gifts while volunteering for Jimmy’s Kids.

Welcome!

Dr. Kleinsmith has joined Midwest Center for Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery – Farmington Hills Center

Rabbi Asher Lopatin, executive director of Jewish Community Relations Council/ AJC (JCRC/AJC), with Dr. Muzammil Ahmed of the Michigan Muslim Community Council at Jimmy’s Kids.

Patty Stelmaszak delivers food and gift bags while volunteering for Meals on Wheels.

Dr. Kleinsmith received her bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University, and her medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine. Dr. Kleinsmith completed her dermatology Dr. Kleinsmith has joined Midwest Dr. Kleinsmith has joined Midwest Center for Dr. Kleinsmith has joined Midwest Center for Dermatology & Cosmetic Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery — Farmington Hills Center. residency at Henry Ford Hospital, Center Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgeryfor – Farmington Hills Center Dr. Kleinsmith Kleinsmith received her bachelor’s degree from Dr. Kleinsmith has joined Midwest where sheDr.was Chief Resident. Surgery – Farmington Hills Center

Welcome! Welcome!

Dr. Kleins

Center for Dermatology & Cosmetic Michigan State University, and her degree from Dr. Kleinsmith hasmedical joined Midwest Dr. Kleinsmith received her Surgery – Farmington Hills Center Wayne State University School of Medicine. Dr.Cosmetic Kleinsmith Center for Dermatology & bachelor’s degree from Michigan Dr. Kleinsmith received her completed her residency at Dr. Henry Ford Hospital, Kleinsmith received her Surgery – Farmington Hills Center State University, and her medical bachelor’s degree from Michigan bachelor’s from Michigan wherefrom shedegree was Chief Resident. degree Wayne State University State University, and her medical

State University, and herfrom medical degree Wayne State University School of Medicine. Dr. Dr. Kleinsmith received her Dr. Kleinsmith is aKleinsmith School of Medicine. Dr. Kleinsmith degree from State completed herWayne dermatology bachelor’s degree from University Michigan Board Certified Dermatologist. completed her dermatology residency Henry Ford State University, and her medical School of at Medicine. Dr.Hospital, Kleinsmith residency at Henry Ford Hospital, Dr. Kleinsmith Dr. Kleinsmith where she was Chief Resident. where she was Chief Resident. degree from Wayne State University completed her dermatology School Medicine. Kleinsmith residency atof Henry FordDr. Hospital, 31275 NORTHWESTERN HIGHWAY, SUITE #140 • FARMINGTON HILLS completed her dermatology Dr. Kleinsmith she was Chief Resident. 24 where 8 . 5 38 . 0109 mwdermatology.com | drkleinsmithdermatology.com residency at Henry Ford Hospital, where she was Chief Resident.

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JANUARY 7 • 2021

Surgery – Farmington Hills Center

sports HIGHlights

brought to you in partnership with

BIRMIN GH A M

Eric Israel’s Journey On The Ice

STEVE STEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

ric Israel has been knocked down but not out a few times in his hockey career. So, there’s no reason to believe the 25-year-old from Huntington Woods won’t bounce back from his latest adversity. Israel, a defenseman for the Rapid City (S.D.) Rush of the ECHL, suffered a torn MCL ligament in his left knee Dec. 12 in the third period of the Rush’s second game of the Eric Israel season, sidelining him for six to eight weeks. “I avoided a hit on a breakout pass, but the guy [from the Utah Grizzlies] clipped my knee,” Israel said in a phone interview. “It wasn’t a dirty play, but it wasn’t a clean play either. I tried wearing a brace on my knee so I could play, but my knee kept collapsing.” Earlier in his hockey days, Israel recov-

JANUARY 7 • 2021

RAPID CITY RUSH

Despite injury, defenseman from Huntington Woods is living a dream playing professional hockey.

ered from a broken left leg, broken right collarbone and torn right labrum (shoulder cartilage). “I’m frustrated, of course, about getting hurt again, but I won’t need surgery, and I’ll use the time off to get stronger and faster, and come back better than ever,” Israel said. “There are many things you can’t control in your life. What you can control are your attitude and work ethic.” Attitude and work ethic have carried the Berkley High School graduate to a height in his hockey career that he considers surreal. The ECHL is just one step below the American Hockey League, the NHL’s top feeder league. The Rush is an affiliate of the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes. Larry Knapp, Israel’s former coach in the Honey Baked youth travel hockey program, said he roots for Israel because Israel is a prototypical underdog hockey player who always has a smile on his face.

Eric Israel celebrates with Rapid City Rush teammates Dec. 11 after a goal against the Utah Grizzlies.

“Nothing has ever been given to Eric in hockey, and nothing has come easily for him in hockey,” Knapp said. “We won back-to-back national championships the last two seasons I coached Eric. At the time, he was good at everything as a player, but not great at one thing. What separated him from the rest of the guys on our team was his work ethic on-ice, off-ice, during drills and in the summer. “When he thought he was being overlooked on the team, I reminded him that he was playing on the best team in the country at our level. I told him if he played for any other team, he’d be the best defenseman on their roster.” After finishing his stint with Honey Baked, Israel played junior hockey for the Brockville (Ont.) Braves of the Central Canada Hockey League for two seasons before achieving a goal to play Division I college hockey.

He was a star for four years at Robert Morris University, outside Pittsburgh. Israel had 85 points in 146 games for Robert Morris, led Colonials defensemen in goals, assists and points in each of his last three seasons, led the Atlantic Hockey Association and ranked fifth in the Division I in blocked shots during the 2018-19 season, and was a three-time AHA All-Academic Team selection. The Colonials made it to the AHA championship game in Israel’s first three seasons but lost each time with a chance to earn a spot in the NCAA tournament. They got to the league semifinals when he was a senior. While he was at Robert Morris, Israel played for the silver medal-winning Team USA hockey team in the 2017 Maccabiah Games in Israel. He had two goals and two assists in four games. “It was a great experience in Israel. Putting on the USA jersey was a very special feeling,” Israel said. “I’d never had Jewish hockey teammates previously. Playing with other Jews, we made an instant connection. I still talk to many of

my Team USA teammates.” Israel was signed by the ECHL’s Fort Wayne (Ind.) Comets before the 2019-20 season. After playing in two pre-season games for the Comets, he was traded to the injury-plagued Rush for future considerations. Then came another challenge. After an early-morning flight from Fort Wayne to Tulsa, Okla., on Oct. 19, 2019, Israel was given an Uber ride to the rink where the Rush was having a morning skate. He got there about halfway through the session. Despite not knowing anyone on the team, Israel played that night for the Rush and he contributed two assists to a 5-0 victory over the Tulsa Oilers. He played again the next night in Tulsa, flew back to Fort Wayne, and drove 16 hours to Rapid City. Israel has been happy on and off the ice in South Dakota. The 5-foot-10, 185-pounder had one goal and 16 assists in 52 games for the Rush last season. “Rapid City is farther away from home than Fort Wayne, of course, but I’ve loved

every second here,” he said. The COVID-19 pandemic ended the 2019-20 ECHL season in March. Rapid City was 29-25-5 at the time, in fifth place in the Mountain Division and 15th in the league, with a dozen regular-season games to go. Several league teams opted out of playing this season, an option offered by the league, and their players became free agents. Thirteen league teams are playing. The normal October start of league play was moved to December. Israel and Rush teammate Mark Auk from Grosse Pointe drove 17 hours from Michigan to Rapid City last month to get to training camp. Each Rush player took a COVID-19 test, then waited five days in quarantine for the result. Despite having no coronavirus symptoms, Israel tested positive. He didn’t believe the test result. “I convinced them to give me another test two days after I got the positive result. The test came back negative, and I’ve tested negative every time since then,” he said. continued on page 26

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SPORTS

RAPID CITY RUSH

CIS MAISEL CENTER FOR JUDAIC STUDIES AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT presents

DESPAIR IS NOT JEWISH! Rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg Rabbi Emeritus, Shir Tikvah

JANUARY 13 7 p.m.

Rapid City Rush defenseman Eric Israel (6) keeps a Utah Grizzlies player away from the net during a Dec. 12 game.

Virtual via Zoom

continued from page 25

cas22894/12.20

oakland.edu/religiousstudies/cis-maisel-center

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When they’re in Rapid City, Rush players must spend most of their time in their apartment. They go to the rink, a Walmart for groceries, and get carryout and curbside from restaurants. Masks must be worn by Rush players during team activities except when playing, practicing, working out or showering. Israel said no Rush player is complaining about the restrictions. “We all lost our job nine months ago,” he said. “We’re happy to be back doing what we love. And getting paid for it. Not millions, but it pays the bills.” Nobody plays professional hockey forever, and Israel is already thinking about his post-hockey life. A sports management major at Robert Morris, Israel at one time thought seriously about trying to be a college hockey coach. Now he’s seriously thinking about joining his family’s business. The business is Southfieldbased Great Lakes Hotel Supply Company, a supplier and installer of commercial

kitchens. Israel’s father, Marc Israel, is a third-generation owner of the business, which was founded in 1933. Mary Jo Israel, Eric Israel’s mother, is a former longtime member of the Berkley School Board (2008-20) who did not run for reelection last month. Eric Israel went to Berkley schools from K-12, attending Burton Elementary School, Norup Middle School and Berkley High School, where he’s on the Wall of Fame in athletics for golf. His sister Jaclyn Israel, 28, in her fourth and final year in the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, is a future family physician who was named the 2020 Outstanding Medical Student in Michigan in August by the Michigan Academy of Family Physicians. Adam Israel, 24, Eric Israel’s brother, lives in Wisconsin and works for the family business. Jaclyn Israel and Adam Israel also are Berkley High School grads.

ERETZ COURTESY OF THE FIDF

‘No Jew Is Left Behind’

Ex-Detroit rabbi has big plans for Friends of the IDF. DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

fter the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces organization (FIDF) appointed Rabbi Steven Weil as its new national director and CEO in September, Weil has stated that after spending the last 30 years of his life trying to help build American Jewry, his new role is an opportunity to build Israeli Jewry, which he believes is “the ultimate future of the Jewish world.” Weil began his new role on Sept. 16, succeeding Maj. Gen. (Res.) Meir Klifi-Amir, who led FIDF for the previous six years. FIDF was established in 1981 by a group of Holocaust survivors as a not-for-profit humanitarian organization with the mission of offering educational, cultural, recreational and social programs and facilities that provide support for Israel’s soldiers. Weil is the former rabbi of Young Israel of Oak Park and was heavily involved in the Jewish Federation of Metro Detroit and the greater Detroit Jewish community in his time here from 1994-2000. Weil also had an 11-year tenure as the senior managing director of the Orthodox Union. Weil believes people assume the FIDF is about “buying bullets and machine guns for the soldiers” and says that is not at all the case. Under Weil’s leadership, he says FIDF will continue to run scholarship programs and social

Rabbi Steven Weil

justice projects to aid current and former IDF soldiers. One program, the IMPACT! Scholarship Program, helps combat veterans who cannot afford the cost of higher education, sponsoring students at more than 80 institutions throughout Israel. Since 2002, over 16,000 students and alumni have been sponsored. “It’s the first time in the history of these families that anyone’s gone to university,” Weil said. “We’re giving them the opportunity, not just the three years that they gave to the Jewish people in the army, but an opportunity to give 60, 70 years of their life to building the future of the Jewish people.” Each IMPACT! student volunteers in the community for a total of 130 hours every year, paying it forward by helping 26 different organizations. Other programs include Horizon, where FIDF pays two-thirds of the university scholarships for soldiers who are financially challenged, and Project Overcome, which helps at-risk youth with mentorship and funding of high school and college education. “What we’re doing is building the future of the Jewish people by creating strategic and transformational solutions that enable the soldiers to become contributing members of society for the rest of their lives,” Weil said. The FIDF directly supports

about 118,000 soldiers every year, according to Weil. “Our goal in Israel is that no Jew is left behind, and no Jew isn’t provided a chance to succeed and thrive,” Weil said. “That’s our goal, to fund those opportunities.” ABRAHAM ACCORDS The Abraham Accords, which were signed the day before Weil began his new role, are groundbreaking to FIDF’s mission and the soldiers they help on several levels, according to Weil. “Whether it’s the banking industry in Bahrain or the technology and international trade industry in the UAE, it provides an incredible job opportunity and job market for the graduates of the IDF,” Weil said. Weil also says, “a lie that’s been perpetrated for the last 30 years” that “until the ‘Palestinian issue’ is settled there can be no peace in the Middle East” has been ripped apart because of the Accords. “In the minds of Israeli Arabs, in the minds of Palestinians, there’s now a future,” Weil said. “There’s now hope and the opportunity of all of Abraham’s descendants being able to function the way they should have for the last 70 years.” Weil says the FIDF hopes the Abraham Accords expand to more countries. “What’s extremely important

is that tens of millions of Arabs will now be raised in a world where they’re not taught Jews are apes and pigs, and Israel is the devil, but that Jews are human beings who they can have real relationships with and can contribute to the benefit of the Muslim world,” Weil said. Weil doesn’t believe the FIDF will be affected by the change in U.S. presidential administrations as the organization is apolitical, but believes the majority of both parties understand and internalize the value of Israel to America, the world and to stability in the Middle East. No matter what, Weil said he hopes IDF soldiers feel the support from American Jews, donors or not. “I hope that every young man and woman who gives between two and 10 years of their life to the Jewish people knows that all segments of American Jewry appreciate their sacrifice, commitment and loyalty, and that all segments of American Jewry are invested in their growth, future and their ability to continue to give to the Jewish world,” Weil said. For Weil, the memories of his time in the Metro Detroit area are reflective of how he wants to lead the FIDF and give back to the soldiers. “The six years our family lived in Southeast Michigan and were able to participate with the Detroit Jewish community are six of the most incredible years of our life,” Weil said. “The kind of warmth and love that existed in the Detroit Jewish community is the kind of warmth and love we want to bring to the soldiers, these young men and women who are the future of the Jewish people.” JANUARY 7 • 2021

YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90 VIA JTA

ERETZ

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to the media at the Knesset building in Jerusalem, Dec. 22, 2020.

Election No. 4 in Two Years

Israel will have new election in March after parliament officially dissolves. GABE FRIEDMAN JTA

t’s official: Israel will have its fourth election in two years. Israel’s Knesset, or parliament, dissolved the night of Dec. 22 after failing to pass the 2020 budget, triggering an election that will take place on March 23. The exact date could change through a government vote.

The election will be Israel’s fourth in two years. A coalition formed earlier this year by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the centrist Blue and White leader Benny Gantz had been shaky from the start, as Netanyahu balked at the stipulation that Gantz become prime minister after 18 months. The two also

fought publicly about a range of issues. “The reason we’re heading to an election is because Netanyahu refused to pass a budget as required by law and honor political agreements so that he can remain in power for the duration of his trial,” said Yohanan Plesner, president of the nonpartisan Israel Democracy Institute think tank, to NPR. Netanyahu faces charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in exchange for positive news coverage about him and his family. On Dec. 22, Netanyahu took to the TV to blame Blue and White for the breakdown. “We are against elections; this is a wrong decision by Blue and White,” Netanyahu said. “But if elections are forced upon us, I promise you we will win.”

Third Lockdown JTA

sraelis began a third lockdown Dec. 27, as the country battles yet another steep wave of COVID-19 infections. The lockdown comes as the country aggressively works to vaccinate its citizens, allowing anyone over 60 to get the vaccine, along with health care workers and soldiers, and letting some vaccination centers operate around the clock. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared a chart showing that Israel had so far given doses to over 4% of its population, by far more per capita than any other country around the world. He has said he believes the country can vaccinate a quarter of its residents by the end of January. The current lockdown will last at least two weeks, through New Year’s Eve and into 2021, but officials have cautioned Israelis to prepare for longer.

SPIRIT

TORAH PORTION

Journey to Freedom

e spent the past hol- maybe now we are more susceptible to discover the light worth iday season drawn giving our attention to in 2021. in by an array of different lights and stories. Shemot, the opening Torah Chanukah candles portion in Exodus, is the shared the story of a beginning of one of the miracle; decorative lights best known stories of all in our neighborhoods time. The story follows shared the stories of famour hero Moses, who tradition says was drawn ily traditions; Saturn and Rabbi Jeff to “a blazing fire” before Jupiter in an apparent Stombaugh approaching the burning conjunction in the sky bush where he would meet shared a story of cosmic Parshat the Divine Spirit (Exodus alignment, and the glowShemot: ing ball descending from Exodus 1:1-6:1; 3:2). Isaiah 27:6Rashi suggests that the the top of One Times 28:13; flame was a “fire of the Square shared the cele29:22-23. heart,” which I read to brating of another cycle mean, “it was inspiring.” around the sun and an For Moses, this flame inspired opportunity for beginnings. curiosity and motivation. Some Each of these drew us in for ritual moments of reflection and say the bush ignited specifically for him; others say the bush had inspiration; and, because of this,

JANUARY 7 • 2021

been burning for some time and Moses was the first to pay attention. However, most people I know might not believe it happened this way if it even happened at all. It’s the miraculous parts of our story, dramatic and designed to pull us in, that sometimes push us away. The drama of the burning bush, the plagues or the splitting sea are so fantastical that it’s often easier to doubt the stories’ credibility than to see ourselves as participating characters. I’ll admit I don’t know exactly how this story happened, but I do believe in the power of our stories to inspire change and our ability to bring them to life. We held the shamash as we lit the Chanukah menorah and spoke of the miracles performed for our ancestors and gazed at the blazing fire. Today, the Torah is inviting us to give our atten-

tion to another flame to nurture and love — our own burning bush — to guide us out of our narrow place. Maybe this is a flame we’re already familiar with, like a new year resolution or a quarterly goal. In three months, the story we start this week will invite us to a seder experience, as if we lived this story. Rituals are the sacred theater that draw us in to pay attention to our stories. They also can be the habits to keep us accountable to our highest goals, once a week or once a year, with candles and meditations. This year, as we start the Book of Exodus and the Book of 2021, allow our rich tradition to provide the tools to guide you through your own story as you start your journey to freedom. Rabbi Jeff Stombaugh is executive director of The Well.

MOMENTS MAZEL TOV! Whitney Paige Leff will be called to the Torah as a bat mitzvah on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021, at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield. She will be joined in celebration by her proud parents, Carrie and Randy Leff, and sisters Reagan and Reese. Whitney is the loving granddaughter of Marcia and Roger Fenton, and Cindy and Fred Leff and the great-granddaughter of Anne Colman and Sally Soberman. She is a student at Derby Middle School in Birmingham. For her mitzvah project, Whitney collected holiday gifts for families in need in her community. Alexander Elliott Scheinfield, son of Rebecca Lincoln and Adam Scheinfield, will lead the congregation in prayer on the occasion of his bar mitzvah Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021, at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield. He will be joined in celebration by his siblings Cruz and Kaia, and proud grandparents Judi Scheinfield and Harvey Babcock, Evie and Dennis Scheinfield, and Gail Lincoln and Gary Schamehorn. He is the great-grandchild of the late Kim and the late Judge James H. Lincoln, the late Genevieve and the late Dr. Alfred Antczak, the late Janet Levinson and the late Harry Scheinfield, and the late Olga and the late Ernest Adler. Alexander attends Birmingham Covington School.

MILESTONES

Grundy 70th

uba and Allan Grundy of Farmington Hills will celebrate their 70th anniversary on Jan. 7, 2021, on Zoom with their children, Dr. Gurusahay and Mukta Khalsa, Leon and Cris Grundy, Jeffry Grundy and Dr. Bruce Grundy; and grandchildren, Hargobind Khalsa, Gurudarshan Khalsa, Nicole and Tony Miller, Jenny and Don Holland, Jeremy Grundy, Katelyn Grundy, Naomi Grundy and Chanel Neal; and great-grandchildren, Ace and Zoey Miller, Colton and Wyatt Holland, and Liam Neal.

Weingarden-Rosenfeld

arbara and Henry Rosenfeld of Novi are delighted to announce the engagement of their daughter Jill Elyse to Matthew Bradley, son of Sidney Weingarden of Farmington hills and the late Meryl Weingarden. Jill and Matthew have been lifelong friends, who lived on the same street and attended MSU together. Jill graduated from Oakland University with a master’s degree in physical therapy and is employed at Team Rehabilitation in Novi. Matthew graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in finance and a master’s in business administration from Wayne State University. He is a partner at I-dealoptics in Troy. A wedding originally planned for September 2020 is rescheduled for 2021.

Brode 55th

enny and Harvey Brode of Farmington Hills are celebrating the 55th anniversary of their first date, Jan. 9, 1966. They shared a pizza at Macombo’s Restaurant. This year, they’ll order pizza and eat at home, remembering their years together and being thankful for their children, granddaughters and their health.

Glass 65th

enry and Ida Glass will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary on Jan. 8, 2021, with family and friends virtually from their home in Boca Raton, Fla. Wishing them a happy anniversary are their children and grandchildren: Sharon and Joel Wittenberg, David and Laurie Glass, Steven Glass and David Green, Rachel and Emily Fishman, Austin and Ben Glass, Rebecca and Noah Green-Glass, and Max and Anna Wittenberg. JANUARY 7 • 2021

ARTS&LIFE BOOKS

Bystanders and Enablers New book illustrates how institutions failed to protect victims of sexual assault. HOWARD LOVY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

uthor Amos N. Guiora’s parents survived the Holocaust, but the subject was never discussed when he was growing up. It wasn’t until much later in life, when a non-Jewish friend asked him the simple question of how Amos N. the Holocaust Guiora happened, that he set out on a quest to discover what his parents went through. “And the more I read,” Guiora said in an interview with the Jewish News, “I realized there was one issue that had never really been addressed — and that was the bystanders.” Guiora, a law professor at the University of Utah who grew up in Ann Arbor, published The Crime of Complicity: The Bystander in the Holocaust in 2017, but he soon found out that he was not finished asking questions involving bystanders to, and enablers of, horrific acts. It was not a big leap for Guiora to apply the same kind of analysis to modern crimes of complicity. Guiora said his just-released book, Armies of Enablers:

JANUARY 7 • 2021

Survivor Stories of Complicity and Betrayal in Sexual Assaults (ABA Publishing, September 2020), was, in fact, welcomed by survivors because, for a change, a writer focused not on the criminals, but on the institutions that failed to protect the victims. Armies of Enablers focuses on a number of sexual assault cases, including young women on the USA Gymnastics team who were repeatedly molested by Larry Nassar, a doctor at Michigan State University. He also spoke to survivors of sexual assault from Penn State University, Ohio State University and within the Catholic Church. As it was in his Holocaust book, he identified a triangle of complicity that connects the survivor with both the bystander and the enabler. “In that sense, there is a clear connection between the two books,” he said. “I’m not focused at all on the perpetrator. I leave the perpetrator to others to write about. That doesn’t interest me. I asked the men and women who I interviewed a question that is so obvious to me that hadn’t been previously asked. And that was, ‘What were your expectations of the neighbor?’”

And that is the reason the victims were eager to speak with him, he said. They jumped at the opportunity to talk about “the complicity of the institution” that was supposed to have protected them. ISRAEL AND BACK AGAIN Guiora knows what it’s like to feel threatened. After the release of his Holocaust book, he was shocked at the very graphic antisemitic death threats he received. It became so frightening that the police recommended he change his daily routine to avoid possible assassination. In the end, he decided, “I won’t give in to those bastards,” he said. “The Holocaust denier world is alive and well. Yeah. I’m well aware of the fact that some of these guys are violent,

well aware of that. But in no way does it deter me.” This determination could have been the result of 20 years spent with the Israel Defense Forces. Guiora was born in Israel in 1957, but his family moved to Ann Arbor in 1964, when his father was on faculty at the University of Michigan. He still attends University of Michigan football games (when possible) and has a giant picture of the Big House on his living room wall. He went to grade school in Ann Arbor, but moved back to Israel in 1985. “I volunteered on a kibbutz between my first and second year of law school, and I had no intention of making aliyah or anything like that. But I got bitten by the bug of Zionism.”

“THERE WAS ONE ISSUE THAT HAD NEVER REALLY BEEN ADDRESSED — AND THAT WAS THE BYSTANDERS.” — AMOS N. GUIORA Today, he commutes between Salt Lake City and Jerusalem, where his family lives. BYSTANDERS AND ENABLERS Guiora distinguishes between bystanders and enablers. Bystanders are physically present and have specific knowledge about a crime. “All we want the bystander to do is to dial 911,” he said. The enabler, however, is somebody who knows the victim is in peril and either does nothing or actively discourages the victim from reporting the crime. In most of the victims he interviewed, he discovered that there were not only a few enablers, but “armies” of them. In fact, the “armies” comparison came from Lindsey Lemke, former Michigan State Gymnastics Team captain who Nassar had sexually assaulted for years. At the point when she realized she was not being “treated” by a doctor but was, in fact, being molested, she went to Coach Kathie Klages for help. Klages, rather than helping Lemke, threatened to talk to her parents, urged Lemke to think about how this accusation would impact Nassar’s family and, finally, ended the conversation with a threat. “She says to Lemke, ‘You know, Lindsey, I remind you, scholarships are given, schol-

arships can be taken,’” Guiora said. Klages is not a bystander. She’s an enabler. On Aug. 4, Klages was sentenced to serve 90 days in jail for lying to police during their investigation. CRIMINALIZING BYSTANDERS And that brings the story of Guiora’s book to the next phase. He is not content to simply name and shame the enablers. He wants to help criminalize the behavior. So far, 10 states have bystander laws and he’s helping to push one through in Utah. He said he made a promise to the victims he interviewed for the book that he would be involved in as many different ways as possible to ensure that something like this could not happen again. “They trusted me … and one of the ways, absolutely, is to be involved in the legislative process.” It won’t be easy he said, since bystanding is a crime of omission rather than commission. But he said he owes it to those who helped him with his book. Besides, he’s not going anywhere anytime soon. “I have very few skills,” Guiora said. “What I do have is, I’m 63, thank God. Knock on wood, I’m healthy. “I’m locked in on this thing. And this is what I’m all about.”

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ARTS&LIFE BOOKS

The

Forgiveness Tour Susan Shapiro launches her new book in a Temple Israel Zoom program. SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

en years ago, Susan Shapiro began grappling with a problem she could not dismiss. Her thoroughly trusted therapist and confidante of 15 years had lied to her, and she wondered how she could ever forgive him. “If somebody says, ‘I’m sorry,’ I can forgive anybody anything,” she explained. “But if somebody refuses to acknowledge that they did Susan something wrong, I have a Shapiro really hard time with that.” Shapiro’s way of struggling through the issue of forgiveness fell right in line with the way she usually reacts to uncomfortable situations in her life. She wrote a book, her 13th overall and her ninth nonfiction project. Not dwelling on the issue simply as she experienced it, the author reached out to people with similar problems and consulted professionals. All of that comes across in The Forgiveness Tour: How to Find the Perfect Apology (Skyhorse/Simon & Schuster). The book will be introduced Jan. 14, two days after its official release, during Temple Israel Zoom programming. It will be discussed by Shapiro, Rabbi Jennifer Kaluzny and two Oakland County residents, Gary Weinstein and Emanuel Mandel, whose opposite attitudes toward forgiveness are described in the author’s latest work. While Weinstein forgave the drunk driver who killed his wife and children, Mandel did not forgive Holocaust perpetrators, believing he found success, in part, by living a life of spite. “I think I was able to finish the book in a way that will do good in the world,” said Shapiro, also a magazine contributor who

JANUARY 7 • 2021

has been teaching writing and marketing techniques for 30 years at the New School in New York as well as in private classes and lessons. “I felt I was sharing important wisdom about forgiveness. “I interviewed some really brilliant people — all kinds of [religious leaders] about the subject of forgiveness, and they had such brilliant information. I also interviewed 13 people who had very intense stories about forgiveness after being wronged in very extreme ways.” As she learned the reasoning behind different points of view, Shapiro probed the idea of atonement. “Jewish people really have to apologize and ask for forgiveness,” she said after talking with both Rabbis Joseph Krakoff and Jennifer Kaluzny. “If a sin is not atoned, it is not forgiven.” Shapiro, who attended the Roeper School and Congregation Shaarey Zedek while growing up in Michigan, graduated from the University of Michigan with a major in English and credit for the humor magazine Michigas. Although she chose her late father’s alma mater, New York University, for graduate school, she asserts that the results of her education have not always pleased family. “I consider myself the author of 13 books my family hates,” Shapiro quipped and noted an exception. “One, The Bosnia List, was co-authored with the survivor of an ethnic cleansing campaign in the Balkan war. That came out 10 years ago, and that was the one my father, Dr. Jack Shapiro, went crazy over [in a good way]. “When he was gung-ho about getting copies of that book, I thought it was about the history because it told the story of Yugoslavia and the whole war. Then, I

realized it was because I was telling the story of someone else’s family and not ours. “I dedicated Forgiveness to my dad, and it actually wound up being more about my father than I expected it to be. I was mourning him while I was writing it.” Shapiro, who has visited Michigan many times for book introductions, will be speaking digitally from her home in New York, where she lives with her husband, Charlie Rubin, a television writer and teacher. She had considered herself a “technophobe” but succeeded with the Zoom world at the encouragement of her mom, Mickey Shapiro of West Bloomfield. “My brand of teaching really works online because it’s the goal to have each student publish a great piece by the end of the class, and that’s been done so many times,” said Shapiro, who delves into techniques with her book The Byline Bible: Get Published in Five Weeks. “Classes have gone from 20 students to 60 international students. I’ve been able to get the best editors and agents all over the country because it doesn’t matter if they’re in New York to Zoom in.” Zoom in to Susan Shapiro and others discussing forgiveness at 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 14. To register for the free event, go to temple-israel.org/event/NeedToRead.

A photo of a dancer at Shanon Stibor’s studio

DANCE

COURTESY OF CHERYL WIDENER

COURTESY OF SHANNON STIBOR

ARTS&LIFE

Art

The

Dance of the

Artist and teacher team up to create paintings of young dance students. DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

local Jewish fine artist, Cheryl Widener, and a local Jewish dance studio owner and teacher, Shanon Stibor, have teamed up in the face of the pandemic to bring a heightened level of excitement, visibility and opportunity to their respective businesses. Widener reached out to Stibor, who owns and runs Shanon’s Dance Studio in Keego Harbor, through a business posting on a Facebook Jewish women’s networking group. “My proposal to her was that we collaborate on a project offering her students an opportunity to have me paint them either in dance pose or portrait,” Widener said. “The goal is not only for me to create the paintings but for us to both promote each other and Cheryl perhaps more importantly, Widener keep her student and parent body excited to return to her dance studio when it’s safe post-COVID.” The pandemic has affected both Stibor and Widener, with Stibor’s enrollment dropping and the studio being open to only a few students at a time, and Widener having a hairdressing business that she decided to shut down. “I know I’m having a hard time because of COVID — my guess was she’s probably having a hard time because of COVID as well, and maybe we could help each other out,” Widener said of the decision to reach out. “It just clicked. I paint dancers and

do portraits of children, and I wondered if she’d be interested in a collaboration.” Widener, who produces and sells her art as Widener Fine Art in West Bloomfield with her husband, Tim, has already produced a hype video announcing the collaboration, showing both her work and Stibor’s students stoking the poses of her already-done paintings. “We’re going to be introducing the video to her parent body,” Widener said. “I discovered with COVID that so many people want portraits of their grandchildren, because they can’t visit their grandchildren right now. One portrait that I did, the grandmother looked at it and she started sobbing, she said not only did it look like her granddaughter, it felt like her.” Stibor, who has over 35 years of dance experience and more than 25 years of teaching experience, currently has a few students coming in for private, 1-on-1 lessons. All of the other lessons happen virtually through Zoom. Widener hasn’t visited the studio yet due to COVID concerns, but the hope is she can visit and paint the students in-person once it becomes safe to do so, and possibly outside when the weather gets warmer. A REWARDING PARTNERSHIP Both Widener and Stibor expect to continue this partnership after COVID. “When you first reach out to some-

An example of Cheryl Widener’s artwork.

body, you don’t know how well received the idea is going to be, but when two artists’ minds and energies match, everybody gets so excited,” Widener said. “That’s one of the most rewarding things about this, feeling that excitement bounce off of somebody else.” Stibor, who opened her studio 18 years ago, believes the partnership provides the ability to do something different for her students in such a stagnant time. “I want to give them something else,” Stibor said. “I know they love performing, they love having their pictures taken, doing the poses in the costumes and getting all made up. So, it’s something extra for them to mentally make them feel better, but also Shanon to bring recognition to the Stibor arts because I know that gets pushed aside a lot in schools.” Both Stibor and Widener believe partnerships are crucial in times like these. “We have to support each other, being women, being Jewish women and being in the arts, I feel like all of those are kind of minority things,” Stibor said. “So, it’s bringing all of that together, and it’s something we’re really excited about.” You can find Stibor’s studio at www.shanonsdance. com and Widener’s work at www.widenerfineart.com. JANUARY 7 • 2021

CELEBRITY JEWS

NATE BLOOM COLUMNIST

ROOTS & THE REST OF THE “CHA-NOOK-AH” STORY Finding Your Roots, the PBS celebrity ancestry series, is on a “COVID schedule.” It paused its sixth season in November. A new episode premiered on Jan. 5 and the last season episode premieres Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 8 p.m. Six more new episodes (Season 7) will premiere every following Tuesday through Feb. 23. The Jan. 12 episode, titled Coming to America, is a “Three I” episode. “Three I” was a term once used in New York politics to describe the perfect, “balanced” Democratic ticket for most elections: One Italian, One

Irish person and one “Israel” (i.e., Jewish). This episode’s celebs are Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, CBS anchor Norah O’Donnell and fashion designer Zac Posen, 40. Posen rose to fame in the 2000s as the darling of department stores and Vogue magazine. His career has declined, but he is still a “big name.” The Jan. 26 episode, Against All Odds, explores the ancestry of producer and talk show host Andy Cohen, 52, and NPR legal correspondent Nina Totenberg, 76. Nina’s father, Roman Totenberg, was a famous Polish-born violinist. On Dec. 13, the news went mega-viral that Smokey Robinson, 80, a Detroit native and soul music legend, mispronounced “Chanukah” as “Cha-Nook-Ah.” But there’s a lot more not widely reported. The chronology: Jeff

ON THE GO

PEOPLE | PLACES | EVENTS Jill Jack

Louis Nagel

MUSICAL EVENT 5:30 PM, JAN. 7 Kerrytown Concert house in Ann Arbor will feature acclaimed pianist Louis Nagel in this free event. Visit kerrytownconcerthouse.com. FAMILY ROOM SERIES 8 PM, JAN. 9 The Ark in Ann Arbor will present Jill Jack: a free show featuring folk and rock traditions. Donations to the virtual

JANUARY 7 • 2021

tip jar will support The Ark and participating artists. WINTER WELLNESS 10 AM, JAN. 10 Join Rebecca Starr, rebbetzin and Midwest manager of the Shalom Hartman Institute, as she goes on a deep dive of Shmirat HaGuf, the Jewish value of physical well-being. Check cszinfo@ shaareyzedek.org. Winter wellness program.

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Jacobson’s mother grew up on the same Detroit street as Robinson. Jeff, a Canadian talent agent, hired Robinson to give his mother a Chanukah greeting on Cameo, a video service. Robinson, like many celebs, will record a paid greeting video (he charges $350). Robinson did the video and called Chanukah “Cha-NookAh.” PLAY DISCUSSION 2 PM, JAN. 10 The Holocaust Memorial Center is sponsoring this virtual discussion with author of The Soap Myth, Jeff Cohen, and Detroit News film critic Adam Graham. View the film on demand at pbs.org/video/ the-soap-mythg-xpfvfu. STEINWAY SESSIONS 4:15 PM, JAN. 10 The Kerrytown Concert House in Ann arbor will present Christopher Harding, pianist. Visit kerrytownconceerthouse.com. ADULT HEBREW CLASS 11:30-NOON, JAN. 11 Beginner students can learn the Aleph Bet with Temple Israel in this free event. Visit: temple-israel.org/event/ hebrew. JEWISH MILITARY HISTORY 2 PM, JAN. 12 The Jewish Historical Society will present this virtual

On Dec. 14, Jacobson tweeted that Robinson can pronounce it [Chanukah] any way he damn pleases. He is a true legend … He has already made [this] Chanukah one of my family’s most memorable. Also, my mom says hi. The same day, Robinson asked for Jacobson’s mom’s phone number so he could call her (a “do-over” he said). Robinson called Jacobson’s mother on Dec. 15. He reached her while she was teaching a Vancouver kindergarten class. A brief video snippet of the Detroit natives’ call was recorded and is posted on Jacobson’s Twitter page. Jeff’s mother looks very happy and she’s heard telling Smokey that she loves him dearly. See Jacobson’s tweets and the call video at https://tinyurl.com/y9mluf5z.

gathering on Zoom. In the summer of 2015, Louis Miller was a graduate student working at the University of Michigan’s William L. Clements Library. He discovered an 1805 letter written by a lieutenant with the surname Levy, did some digging and found out that the letter writer was the second graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Miller will also talk about his experiences processing materials pertinent to Jewish history from both an archival perspective and his own personal background as an American Jew. Cost: $10 for members and $18 for non-members. Register by 9 pm on Jan. 11. Compiled by Sy Manello/Editorial Assistant. Send items at least 14 days in advance to calendar@thejewishnews. com.

HEALTH

Anxiety Keeping You Awake? Pandemic takes a toll on sleep. SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

he recent surge in COVID-19 cases is stressing many aspects of life — from health care to work, school, finances and family life. That stress is causing increased sleep problems, especially for women, according to some to some local physicians and therapists. Many people are working from home, and women typically have more family obligations such as childcare. “My patients are feeling it more now since we’re going on nine months. Yes, patients have more insomnia about the virus, work and family,” says Suzanne Rogers, a licensed social worker and therapist. Meeta Singh, M.D., is a psychiatrist and sleep medicine specialist with the Henry Ford Health System. “There is always an emergence of Singh

sleep problems when there is a natural disaster or war — it’s localized,” she says. “With COVID there is unprecedented stress — health, employment, money issues, work and family obligations.” Many health care workers are women, she points out, and they are experiencing more insomnia or waking up without feeling refreshed. Some patients report strange dreams and nightmares. “Women have a higher predilection for sleep problems,” says Singh. “It could be hormonal. Anxiety and depression are risk factors for insomnia, which can be premenstrual.” She adds that women have “an increased burden” during the pandemic because they have family obligations in addition to working from home. Nina Robb, M.D., of Bloomfield Township, is a retired emergency physician whose clinic evaluates and

certifies medical marijuana patients. She has experienced an increase in people contacting her about anxRobb iety that is causing sleep problems. While many patients report that marijuana improves their sleep, insomnia, she says, is not a qualifying condition for medical marijuana certification in Michigan. “THC (tetrahydrocannabinol — a component of cannabis) can be relaxing and sleepinducing in small amounts. However, for some people, or in larger amounts, it can be stimulating and worsen insomnia,” Robb explains. She adds that CBD (cannabidiol), another marijuana component, can be very effective for sleep. Miriam Halprin of Bloomfield Township is a social worker and care coordinator for My Covid Response, a partnership through Oakland University that helps Oakland County residents with social support and referrals to community agencies for specific services. She is also the Michigan Chapter Region 8 representative of the National Association of Social Workers. “Anxiety is a common topic for social workers,” she notes. On a personal level, Halprin takes walks, gardens and reads to reduce stress. She has found that since her two teenagers don’t have to get up to leave for school in the morning, they tend to stay up later. Homework and socializing with their friends have an impact on this as well. After they are settled, she enjoys reading, watching a PBS documentary or a late night (light) comedy at low/moderate volume in a dimly lit room to reduce anxiety and facilitate better sleep. She “goes to sleep late and gets up early.”

Nikki Budaj-Chatfield of West Bloomfield owns three dog-grooming businesses so she can’t work from home. With two young children, she has the “challenges of childcare, praying that their babysitters are careful and making good choices.” She attributes an increase in sleep problems during the last six months to “anxiety heightened by the pandemic.” Budaj says that seeing a therapist helps with her anxiety. In addition, she relies on guided meditations before going to sleep and during Budajthe night if she Chatfield wakes up. AVOID STRESS Meditation is one of the healthy lifestyle choices that are recommended for better sleep. “General exercise is really important,” Robb says. “The more we wear ourselves out, the better we sleep. Avoid things that create stress before bedtime.” She finds yoga with gentle stretching and a hot bath can be helpful. Singh recommends developing a “proactive bedtime routine” about 45-60 minutes before going to bed. “Turn off bright lights, television and don’t work,” she says. Prebedtime activities can include a hot bath, stretches, meditation and reading. Alcohol and caffeine should be avoided. While alcohol can make it easier to fall asleep, as it metabolizes, it “fractures dream sleep,” which can trigger wakeups during the night. Regular exercise is helpful, and naps should be avoided, Singh adds. If lack of sleep or poor sleep quality impairs the ability to work and wellbeing during the day, Singh recommends seeing a physician for professional help. JANUARY 7 • 2021

NOSH

Erik Herman, Julie Herman, Josi Ryke and Brad Dockery

EATS | DRINKS | SWEETS

PHOTOS COURTESY THE SALAMI CHIP CO.

New Kind of Snack New Oak Park business offers crispy and savory salami chips. ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

hey wanted a name that was simple and to the point. Coming up with a name that represented their brand was the trickiest part of launching a new business, says The Salami Chip Co. co-founder Josi Ryke, 55. The Oak Park-based food company produces exactly that — salami chips — and their goal was for people to know exactly what they were all about without having to do extra research. A salami chip is best described as a crispy potato chip that tastes like salami, Ryke explains. They’re salty, savory and pair well with jams and charcuterie boards. It was an idea that had been in the works for years, she says, and when it was finally brought to life, simply calling the brand “The Salami Chip Co.” was the perfect way to sum it up. Soft-launched in November, The Salami Chip Co. is currently pending USDA certification to be sold in grocery stores. They’re almost there, Ryke says, but for now, the company run by Ryke, Brad Dockery and husband-and-wife duo, Erik and Julie Herman, sells bagged salami chips through their e-commerce website. Their advertising has been done through social media, so word-of-mouth has been key to spreading awareness. It wasn’t hard to generate excitement, though, since the Hermans have worked in catering for 26 years and are well-known throughout the local culinary community. Ryke operated a successful event business that also connected her to the Metro Detroit food industry and with her now-business partners. The Hermans were testing versions of a salami chip for nearly a decade through their catering business, Julie Herman, 54, explains, gathering feedback and ideas for

JANUARY 7 • 2021

how to perfect the product. It was inspired by Spanish cookbooks where salami was often featured, but in the early years of their business, she said many people would steer clear of meat and fat. It wasn’t until the past decade that an interest in keto and low-carb diets resulted in more requests for salami chips at events, a demand Herman followed. “We got a lot of encouragement and positive feedback,” Herman says. Yet it wasn’t until the COVID-19 pandemic hit back in March that Herman and her business partners had enough free time to focus on turn-

ing their idea into reality. “Nobody needs to cater during a pandemic,” she continues. “If this was not a pandemic, we would be so busy that we wouldn’t have had time.” It was a silver lining of the pandemic, Herman and Ryke explain, that they were able to take the year to develop The Salami Chip Co. and combine their expertise. For now, as they await USDA certification, they shop for ingredients themselves and bag the chips at their Oak Park kitchen inside Temple Emanu-El.

It’s one of many ties the business partners have to the local Jewish community, with Ryke’s husband, Brian Fishman, serving as the executive director at Temple Shir Shalom and Julie Herman having attended Hillel Day School. NITRATE-FREE They pride themselves on offering salami chips that are nitrate-free with no added preservatives. Of the people who have tried the chips, Herman says, 98% were happy with the product. While they currently only offer an original line, the goal is to develop different flavors and meats once they’re certified and able to distribute their product. “There’s a spicy person. There’s a group of people that would like salami chips with turkey. There’s all different ways to make them,” Herman says. They also want to create a vegetarian salami chip in the future so that all flavor profiles and dietary needs could be met. Another idea they’re interested in pursuing is creating a salad topper version. Right now, “we just want to perform our best and put our best effort” forward, Ryke says. The thinly sliced salami, which is cooked in heated oil and then packaged to preserve taste and texture, retails for $8 per bag on The Salami Chip Co. website. They can also be purchased in packs of three or as a bundle that comes with Michiganmade spreads. Yet the most important element of the business, Ryke says, is that their mission statement is loud and clear. “We had a million different names in our head,” she explains of The Salami Chip Co. “No matter what happens, we will always be known as the original.”

NOSH

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Apple a Day Take a bite out of learning!

JEWZY.TV Launches The world’s first mainstream JewishAmerican movie and TV streaming channel is fighting the winter lockdown blues with a barrage of comedy. JEWZY.TV is adding never-broadcast-before Old Jews Telling Jokes from the classic collection. Mel Brooks describes OJTJ as “chock full of laughs.” Each month, there will be a batch of new jokes from the infamous alte kakers. JEWZY Cinema & TV has just launched. These high-quality programs of interest to Jews and beyond include thrillers, dramas, documentaries, i24 News and hand-picked “hidden gems.” JEWZY.TV is also releasing Cradle of Comedy, Muslims telling jokes in English. Local comedians in Ramallah, Nazareth, Beirut, even Iranians — prove that stand-up comedy is thriving. Founder and CEO Jeremy Wootliff says, “Great comedy is a big part of being Jewish, and right now we all need a good laugh. We’re presenting Old Jews Telling Jokes to a new generation of viewers who never saw it before and hundreds of jokes never broadcast before on TV.” The JEWZY.TV tagline is “From Oy to Joy!” The early-bird price is $7.99/ month or discounted to $59.99/year at www.JEWZY.tv

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OF BLESSED MEMORY

GERALD ALVIN, 88, of Franklin, died Dec. 17, 2020. He is survived by his beloved wife, Marian Alvin; sons and daughterin-law, William Anthony Alvin, Robert Lewis Alvin, and Matthew Samuel and Courtney Alvin; loving grandchildren, Michael and Jessica Alvin; many other loving family members and friends. Interment took place at Machpelah Cemetery in Ferndale. Contributions may be made to Yad Vashem. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel. JUDY DALSEY, 71, passed away on Dec. 20, 2020. Judy passed away in Denver, Colo., where c. 2015 she had recently moved to be closer to her daughter Liz Weinberg son-in-law Asher Weinberg, and granddaughter, Hattie. She will also be lovingly remembered by her daughter, Stephanie Jaffe; son-in-law, Brad Jaffe; and grandson, Oscar. Judy will also be deeply missed by her dear friend, Bruce Kahn. Judy was born in Detroit, where she worked for many years as a school psychologist in metro-area school districts. She loved working with children. Judy was known to have a quick, wry sense of humor and a supportive ear for anyone whose path she crossed. There will be a private funeral service. Please make any charitable donations to lewybodyresourcecenter.org. continued on page 40

JANUARY 7 • 2021 JANUARY 7 • 2021 39

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OF BLESSED MEMORY continued from page 39

RICHARD A. FARKAS, 70, of Bloomfield Hills, died Dec. 16, 2020. He is survived by his beloved wife, Shelley Farkas; son and daughter-in-law, Michael (Chudapa Julimasustra) Farkas; daughters and sons-in-law, Jessica and Lynn DaDeppo Jr., Allison (Andrew Farwell) Farkas; grandchildren, Benjamin, Graham and Lydia; brother and sister-in-law, Steven and Catherine Farkas; many loving nieces, nephews, other family members and friends. Contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association or the American Cancer Society. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel. BERNIE FRIEDMAN, 78, of West Bloomfield, died Dec. 19, 2020. He is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Sharry Friedman; son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Michael and Sivan Friedman; daughters, Julie Rioux (fiance, Sam Kase) and Dr. Jackie Friedman; grandchildren, Noah, Joshua and Samantha Rioux, Eli Gailey, Maayan and Meira Friedman; devoted sisters-in-law, Marion Wolock and Maxine Berghoff; many loving nieces, nephews, other family members and friends. Interment was at Beth El Memorial Park in Livonia. Contributions may be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association; to the Carl Rinne Lewy Body Dementia Initiative at U-M, Office of University Development; or to the Multiple System Atrophy Coalition. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.

JANUARY 7 • 2021

MARCIA WILK HARRIS, 100, of West Bloomfield, died Dec. 12, 2020. Marcia was a progressive, independent, modern woman who appreciated that she was born the year that women won the right to vote. She considered man’s greatest achievement of her 100 years was putting a man on the moon. Mrs. Harris cherished her 33 years with her husband, Bill, with whom she ran the UAW elections for the Michigan auto industry. Her greatest sadness was, “Bill died too soon!” Her greatest joy: her two granddaughters, whom she called her “special dividends.” A lifelong goal was to live to be 100 years old and she exceeded that. Marcia was a lifelong member of Temple Beth El, active in its sisterhood, was on the scholarship committee and was a member of the Current Topic discussion group. She was also a very active member of the National Council of Jewish Women. Mrs. Harris was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Michigan and a member of the AE Phi sorority. She loved to travel with Ruth Felmus; they became world travelers, reaching 67 countries. She is survived by her daughters, Ilene Harris, Nancy Harris (Roger Shepherd), Pat Harris-Linton, Elaine Pollack; her grandchildren, Megan and Jonathan HLZacks, Whitney Harris-Linton; her great-granddaughter, Gavriella HLZacks; as well as Dennis and Peggy Frank. She was the daughter of the late Bess and the late Benjamin Wilk. Interment was at Beth El

Memorial Park. Contributions may be made to National Council of Jewish Women, Bess Fishman Wilk Scholarship Fund, 26400 Lahser Road, Suite 306, Southfield, MI 48033, ncjwmi.org. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. EILEEN HEMMI, 77, of Farmington Hills, died Dec. 19, 2020. She is survived by her loving husband of 57 years, Eric Hemmi; daughters and son-inlaw, Sherri Wolf and Michael Freedland, and Denise Wedgle; son and daughter-in-law, Todd and Helene Hemmi; grandchildren, Alex (Erica) and Garrett Wolf, Leah and Shayla Wedgle, and Ian Hemmi; brother and sister-in-law, Donald and Barbara Stein. Interment took place at Beth El Memorial Park Cemetery in Livonia. Contributions may be made to Yad Ezra, the American Cancer Society or to the Michigan Humane Society. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel. PHILIP KAPLAN, 95, of West Bloomfield, died Dec. 21, 2020, after a long and fulfilling life. He was born on July 5, 1925, the fifth and youngest child of Isaac and Fanny Kaplan. He grew up in Detroit, and his older brothers and sister took great pride in their baby brother. He worked hard in his father’s fish market. Education was very important to Philip; he attended Wayne State University in engineering. On Aug. 13, 1943, he and the

love of his life, Diane Pritz, went out on their first date and an enduring love affair, partnership and friendship resulted in 73 years of wonderful marriage. They had three children, Gary, Robert and Janet. Phil was clearly a people person and that was a great attribute for a career in business. He and his brother Sidney acquired Northside Hardware in Wayne, Michigan, in 1955 and grew the business into one of the most successful independent hardware stores in the country. Phil became a leader of the local business community. He continued to work until almost his 90th birthday and developed numerous very special friendships that endured over his entire life. Phil and Diane had a rich and full life. They traveled to all the continents with trips that often included adventure, history and art; and they made many new friends along the way. Phil was always very curious and interested in everyone he knew and met. This led to long conversations and many opportunities to discuss the latest in politics, world affairs and the challenges of daily life. He was well known for his sense of humor and many would often seek him out for the latest joke. He truly loved life. Mr. Kaplan is survived by his loving wife of 73 years, Diane; his son, Gary (Wendy); daughter, Janet (Howard); grandchildren, Erin Zeitler (Daniel) and Zachary Kaplan; great-grandchildren, Riley and Mason. He also leaves loving nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and many friends, especially in Seattle, North Carolina and the Detroit area. Interment was at Adat Shalom Memorial Park.

Contributions may be made to Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48202, dia. org; Birmingham Temple, 28611 W. 12 Mile, Farmington Hills, MI 48334, birminghamtemple.org; or Virginia Mason Medical Center, 1100 9th Ave., Seattle, WA 98101, virginiamason.org/ seattle. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. DR. HERBERT MENDELSON, 87, of Huntington Woods, died Dec. 28, 2020. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis Mendelson; sons and daughters-inlaw, Dr. David and Lauren Mendelson, Dr. Jeffrey and Anne Mendelson, Dr. Stephen and Dr. Alice Mendelson; daughter and son-in-law, Dr. Diane and Dr. Donald Levine; sister, Molly Hartman; grandchildren, Dr. Miriam Levine and Idan Kovent, Carl Levine, Max Levine, Faye Mendelson and Andrew Kulek, Zoe Mendelson, Eli Mendelson, Lily Mendelson, Ella Mendelson, Shira Mendelson, Benjamin Mendelson, Hannah Levine; great-grandchildren, Arielle Kovent, Jacob Kovent; many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Dr. Mendelson was the dear brother and brother-in-law of the late Sol Mendelson, the late Cyrille and the late Sam Cooper, the late Jerry Hartman. Contributions may be made to Yad Ezra, 2850 W. 11 Mile Road, Berkley, MI 48072. A family graveside service was held at Machpelah Cemetery in Ferndale. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.

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2 Shevat Jan. 15, 2021 29 Teves Jan. 13, 2021 Sarah Finley Copin George Cetron Sarah Faber Rose Fershtman Sally Feinberg Mary Gertrude Goodman Martin Fine Mollie Greenspoon Harry Glassman Charles Katz Allen Rosenfeld 27 Teves Jan. 11, 2021 Gladys Mallin Phillip Singerman Harriet Jean Beale Etta Markoff Sophie Berman 3 Shevat Jan. 16, 2021 Beatrice Shoob Jerome Saul Coleman Isador Buchfirer Pearl Zeff Volkovich Eleanor Greenwald Zesse Katz Stella Helfrand 1 Shevat Jan. 14, 2021 Flora Levy Isaac Lewis Snider Saul H. Cohen Anna Mindlin Fruma Edelman Avrum Moscovici 28 Teves Jan. 12, 2021 Louis Gruskin Max Philip Niskar Betty Barcus Sadie Hornick Paul Rodner Leah Bello Sara Iglewicz Melvin Wallace Ivan S. Bloch Fannie Patlojohn Benjamin Danzer Bernard Barney Limond Lloyd J Paul School for Boys • Beth Jacob School for Girls • Bais Yehudah Preschool Weiss Family Partners Detroit • Kollel Bais Yehudah • Maalot Detroit P.O. Box 2044 • Southfield, MI 48037• 248-557-6750 • www.YBY.org

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OF BLESSED MEMORY continued from page 41

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SOUL

ALEXANDER “ALEX” MILBERGER, 25, of Boston, Mass., formerly of Bloomfield Hills, died Dec. 24, 2020. He is survived by his mother, Amy Liss Fink; siblings, his twin, Justin Milberger, and Noah Milberger and Kyla Milberger; grandparents, Carol and Alvin Levine, Robert and Judy Liss, and Barbara Milberger; many loving aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Mr. Milberger was the cherished son of the late Dr. Avery Milberger; the loving grandson of the late Moniek Milberger. Interment was at Adat Shalom Memorial Park. Contributions may be to Kadima, 15999 W. 12 Mile, Southfield, MI 48076, kadimacenter.org. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. AVA RESNICK, 89, of Farmington Hills, died Dec. 23, 2020. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Gerry and Stuart Beckwith; son, Stuart Adler; grandchildren, Corey and Kim Beckwith, and Jaime Beckwith; great-grandson, Miles Beckwith. Mrs. Resnick was the beloved wife of the late Calvin Adler and the late Milton Resnick. Interment was at Oakview Cemetery. Contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

HILDA ROMAN, 91, of West Palm Beach, Fla., formerly of Michigan, died Dec. 25, 2020. She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Alan and Pamela Roman of Jupiter, Fla., Michael and Diane Roman of White Lake; daughter, Linda Roman of Lake Worth, Fla.; brother, Daniel Martin; sister-in-law, Doreen Matafsky; grandchildren, Shayna Roman, Macauley Roman, Brendan Roman, Kevin Roman. Mrs. Roman was the beloved wife of the late Joseph Roman; dear sister and sister-in-law of the late Gerald Matafsky, the late Mildred Martin. Contributions may be made to Jewish National Fund, 24100 Chagrin Blvd., Suite. 430, Cleveland, OH 44122. A family graveside service was held at Hebrew Memorial Park. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel. KAREN RUBENFAER, 77, of West Bloomfield, died Dec. 25, 2020, suddenly. She practiced law in the Detroit area for 18 years, graduating from U of D Law School. Mrs. Rubenfaer is survived by her husband of 57 years, Dr. Leon Rubenfaer; son and daughter-in-law, Steve Rubenfaer and Amira Haidary; daughter and sonin-law, Rachel and Gabe Karp; grandchildren, Jillian, Amelia and Violet Karp; brother and sister-in-law, Stanley and Grace Shackman. She was the loving sister of

the late Norman and the late Sybil Shackman; the devoted daughter of the late Daniel and the late Gittle Shackman. Interment was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. CLARA SHPARGEL, 90, of Southfield, died Dec. 26, 2020. She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, JoAnne and Rick Adams of Buffalo Grove, Ill., Denise and Arthur Levenson of Oak Park; grandchildren, Elliot and Jeannine Adams, Abby and Tommy Sears, Daniel Levenson and Amie Thurlow, Molly Straughter, Stacy Scott; 12 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Shpargel was the dear

sister and sister-in-law of the late Maurry Glusman, the late Frank and the late Elaine Glusman. Contributions may be made to Hebrew Free Loan, 6735 Telegraph Road, Suite 300, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301; American Cancer Society, 20450 Civic Center Drive, Southfield, MI 48076; or American Diabetes Association, 20700 Civic Center Drive, Suite 100, Southfield, MI 48076. A family graveside service was held at Adat Shalom Memorial Park in Livonia. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel. ILENE STEIN, 65, of Algonac, died Dec. 18, 2020, at her home surrounded by family. She touched the lives of everyone around her by sharing the many joys she

found in life. Ilene dedicated her teaching career of more than 30 years to bettering the lives of her students with special needs and their families. Mrs. Stein is survived by her husband, Keith Stein; daughter and son-in-law, Melanie and Eric Morrow; son, Scott Stein; grandchildren, Ezra and Levi Morrow; mother-in-law, Lillian Stein; brothers and sisters-inlaw, Michal and Andrea Sriro, Ray and Linda Sriro; brotherin-law, Kevin Stein; many other loving family members and friends. She was the daughter of the late Florence and the late Milton Sriro; daughter-in-law of the late Martin Stein; sister-in-law of the late Mark, the late Gordon and the late Adam Stein. Contributions may be made to the ASPCA or the St. Clair Foundation. A family graveside service was held at Adat Shalom

Memorial Park in Livonia. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel. ROLLAND WALT, 95, of Farmington Hills, died Dec. 27, 2020. He is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law, David Walt and Michele May, and Gary and Debbie Walt; daughter and sonin-law, Judy and Benn Perry; grandchildren, Stephanie Walt and Jerry Khislavsky, Rachel and Tom Huff, Darren Perry, Ben Walt and Adam Walt; great-grandchildren, Enzo and Hunter Khislavsky, and Vivienne and Chason Huff; nieces and nephews, Myra and Murray Helfer, Cheryl and Stan Chodun, Karen and Howard Gutman, and Peter Bailey; many loving nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, continued on page 44

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OF BLESSED MEMORY continued from page 43

other family and friends. Mr. Walt was the beloved husband for 62 years of the late Ada Walt; the loving uncle of the late Joanna Rebelgale. Interment was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to JVS Human Services, 29699 Southfield Road, Southfield, MI 48076, jvshumanservices.org; Yad Ezra, 2850 W. 11 Mile Road, Berkley, MI 48072, yadezra.org; or to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. CORINNE H. WISE, 84, of West Bloomfield, died Dec. 19, 2020. She is survived by her daughter, Alecia Holland; son and

JANUARY 7 • 2021

daughter-in-law, Marc and Francine Wise; grandchildren, Richelle (Warren) Frankford, Erik (Jamie) Goodman, Shaun (Janelle) Goodman; great-grandchildren, Ashlee, Mason, Rebekah, Cameron, Arabella, Makayla, Liliana and Braelyn; brothers and sisters-inlaw, Fred and Gail Wax, Howard and Hindi Wax; many other loving family members and friends. Mrs. Wise was the beloved wife of the late Marshall Wise; the mother-in-law of the late Joe Holland; grandmother of the late Shawn Heaslip; sister of the late Sheldon (late Donna) Wax. Interment was at Adat Shalom Memorial Park. Donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. Arrangements were by Dorfman Chapel.

NORMA YORK, 83, of Oak Park, died Dec. 27, 2020. She is survived by her daughters and son-in-law, Elise York of Holt, Mich., Marcy and Reuven Millman of Oak Park; sister and brother-in-law, Idene and Paul Fink; grandchildren, Ashlee and Zack Bower, Chaim and Leba Millman, Shoshana and Binyamin Brodman, Miriam and Pinny Wolf, Leah Wolff and Tzvi Eliezer, Eliezar Millman; many treasured great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Mrs. York was the beloved wife of the late Phillip York. Contributions may be made to Yeshivas Darchai Torah, 21550 W. 12 Mile Road, Southfield, MI 48076; or to a charity of one’s choice. A

family graveside service was held at Machpelah Cemetery in Ferndale. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.

OBITUARY CHARGES The processing fee for obituaries is: $125 for up to 100 words; $1 per word thereafter. A photo counts as 15 words. There is no charge for a Holocaust survivor icon. The JN reserves the right to edit wording to conform to its style considerations. For information, have your funeral director call the JN or you may call Sy Manello, editorial assistant, at (248) 351-5147 or email him at smanello@ renmedia.us.

RASKIN

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he three sons of their late parents Buddy and Mary Meyerson, whose Buddy’s Bar-B-Q was a Detroit landmark for 30 years before closing, was the impetus to honor them with the building of a three-purpose Danny Raskin restaurant. Senior Columnist And so the Trio at Franklin was designed from the ground up with this basic premise in mind … The creation of a dining institution by sons Arlyn, Jerry and Aubrey, that would build them a unique reputation … all three restaurants under the same roof. Brown Bear for complete dinners in a warm, intimate and comfortable dining room … Buddy’s Barbecue with all the favorite barbecue delights the older Meyersons had served for almost four decades … The Great Oyster, an upbeat bar and lounge with entertainment and light seafood entrees. Its menu featured entrées which the elder Meyersons had

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Story ofTrio Mary and Buddy Meyerson, the inspiration for Trio

mastered … As a unique dining institution, the Brown Bear offered items produced right here, like seafood from the Great Lakes, and Michigan cherries, mushrooms, fruit and vegetables in season … The dinner menu changed each week and the lunch menu daily. Buddy’s Barbecue had the same barbecuing techniques, secret family recipes and sauces prepared in a glass-enclosed, red-tiled barbecuing area. The Great Oyster was a place to enjoy seafood delights and snacks … fresh oysters and clams, sautéed seafood, stuffed mushrooms, clam chowder, a soup selection and other favorites … without ordering a full meal. It was perfect for a light lunch and ideal for after theater or for stopping in after a tough day and beating the rush-hour blues … The bandstand came alive each night and there was dancing.

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The Meyerson brothers decided that they had always wanted to be a part of the area they chose to build in a region that centered near the borders of Southfield, Franklin Village, Farmington Hills and West Bloomfield … In the early 1970s, the search was under way for the right location … Six acres were purchased at the corner of Northwestern and Franklin Road. Each of the brothers had his own ideas about what form the new restaurant should take … They agreed, however, that they wanted to create something which would become a landmark … a dining facility unique to Michigan …They wanted their new restaurant to become as the French Quarter was in New Orleans. The Trio offered a wide variety of food and atmosphere … Set at different levels which could be viewed from the mas-

sive lobby, the three rooms each presenting something different for varied moods … A brightly lit entrance canopy was their way of saying, “Here is where the action and great food is!” Today, the Jewish News’ offices are where Trio once stood. OLDIE BUT GOODIE … Moishe is looking for a parking place as he turns toward heaven and says, “Lord, if you find me a parking place, I promise I will eat only kosher and respect Shabbos and all holidays.” Miraculously, a place opens up just in front of him … He turns his face up to heaven and says, “Never mind, I just found one!” CONGRATS … To Dennis Frank on his 80th birthday … To Yetta and Danny Weintraub on their 66th anniversary … To Ron and Sheila Schechter on their 65th anniversary. Email dannyraskin2132@gmail.com.

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JANUARY 7 • 2021

Looking Back

From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History accessible at www.djnfoundation.org

Where Fashion Reigned

recently wrote about the famous Himelhoch’s clothing store in Detroit. While there were many, many Jewish retailers in the city over the past century, there was one other women’s clothing store in the same elite league as Himelhoch’s — B. Siegel’s. B. Siegel is mentioned on 407 pages of the Detroit Jewish Chronicle and the JN in the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History. Indeed, “advertisements” for the store can be found in the very first issues of the Mike Smith Chronicle. I found it interestAlene and Graham Landau ing that, instead of images Archivist Chair of clothing, shoes or other goods, these ads were mini-essays, written to provide the reader with the reasons that one should shop at B. Siegel. For example, consider the moral of the ad from Chronicle of July 13, 1917. It begins with an “overheard conversation” about Siegel’s and then: “The woman who comes to B. Siegel Co.’s has also learned that style is foremost, and that it is always combined with extreme care in selection of material …” The store’s founder, Ben Siegel, was born in Germany in 1861 and migrated to Selma, Ala., in 1876. There, he learned about retail merchandising. Siegel moved to Detroit in 1881, where he bought the Heyn’s Bazaar on Woodward Avenue. He changed the store’s name to Siegel’s Cloaks, Suits and Furs, claiming that it was the “finest and most complete cloak and suit store in the United States.” In 1904, B. Seigel’s moved into a castiron-fronted structure at Woodward and State Street, near J.L. Hudson’s and Himelhoch’s. That same year, Ben married Sophie Siegel (her surname was also Siegel). Aunt Sophie was “no shrinking violet,” nephew Marty Mayer related in a story about the family from the Aug. 25,

JANUARY 7 • 2021

1998 issue of the JN. She even taught him how to shoot dice and play poker! She was also a respected communal leader. Indeed, the Siegels were great supporters of the Detroit Jewish community. Editor Philip Slomovitz wrote about the impact of the Siegels in the April 3, 1981, issue of the JN.. Along with participation in and generous donations to various organizations, Ben was deeply involved in the fight against the antisemitism of Henry Ford and Father Coughlin. Even after Sophie passed in 1955, her good work continued: She donated the Siegel mansion in Detroit’s Boston Edison district to the Greater Detroit Interfaith Roundtable. It was home for that organization until 1997. Ben managed B. Siegel’s until 1931. After he retired, his nephew, Leo, was CEO until 1947. During Ben’s era, B. Siegel’s was closed on Shabbat; his successors closed the store on Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah. He also made a habit of giving newborn babies a free pair of shoes. Ben died in 1936. Eventually, B. Siegel grew to eight locations. Its store at Livernois and Seven Mile helped give that area its nickname: “the Avenue of Fashion.” Unfortunately, like Himelhoch’s and other stores, B. Siegel’s could not survive the drastic economic changes that occurred in Metro Detroit. The chain closed its doors in 1981. The 100-year history of B. Siegel’s is another great saga of Jewish immigrant success in Detroit. Many shoppers still miss the store “where fashion reigns.” Want to learn more? Go to the DJN Foundation archives, available for free at www.djnfoundation.org.

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For the Joys of Independent Senior Living Even now, All Seasons is designed to delight every one of your senses…every day! An expansive menu of freshly prepared meals and daily chef specials, served in one of our dining rooms or delivered to your home several times per day Individual chauﬀeured transportation A variety of thoughtfully planned activities Outdoor fitness classes Fine arts performances A host of technology-based forms of enrichment Family engagement app

We have adopted new standard of care in our daily operations by implementing COVID- specific initiatives for our residents’ well-being including: Contact-free “EasyMove” program On-site COVID-19 rapid response testing Proper use of PPE On-site electrostatic cleaning

LEARN MORE AT ALLSEASONSLIVING.COM Ann Arbor - Coming Soon | Birmingham | Rochester Hills | West Bloomfield INNOVATIVE. ENGAGING. ENLIVENING. TOTALLY CAPTIVATING.

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