THE DETROIT
JEWISH NEWS 200 Feb. 18-24, 2021 / 6-12 Adar 5781
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thejewishnews.com
Sense of
Duty Young Detroiters serve in the IDF to “give back” to Israel. See page 12
contents Feb. 18-24, 2021, 6-12 Adar 5781 | VOLUME CLIX, ISSUE 3
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15 PURELY COMMENTARY
40 38
MAZEL TOV Mazel Tov
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OUR COMMUNITY
SPIRIT
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15
Sense of Duty
Young Detroiters serve in IDF to “give back” to Israel.
jewish@edu
Advocacy Always, Inclusion Indubitably
How JCC Detroit is honoring Jewish Disability Advocacy and Inclusion Month all year.
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A Safe Purim
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You Have a Pandemic Story. We Want It.
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Orthodox organizations issue guidelines for Purim.
Instead of letting future generations rely on snippets from the newspaper or a random photograph, let’s give them the gift of knowledge and certainty.
Food for All
Temple Kol Ami pantry feeds 90 families a week.
NATIONAL 22
26 Torah portion
Fair or Unfair to Jews?
California revises proposed ethnic studies curriculum, but controversy remains.
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Pandemic Podcast
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Butter, Flour and Hillel
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Trivia Night at Hillel of Metro Detroit
MSU Hillel launches The Weekly Kvetch.
New MSU Hillel Circles program connects people with shared interests.
SPORTS 36
MSU Grad Plays ‘Motor City Hardball’ On His Podcast
West Bloomfield resident Brandon Rothenberg steps up to the plate each week on the Blue Wire platform.
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Quick Hits
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A Natural on Ice
Hockey star, 16, has her eyes set on bigger goals.
ARTS&LIFE
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A Lifelong Love Affair with Judaism
Historian, age 95, writes a 200-page love letter to the Jewish people.
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Lots of Reasons to Celebrate
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Celebrity Jews
Purim is coming up soon — better get baking!
EVENTS 42
ETC.
The Exchange 43 Obituaries 44 Danny Raskin 53 Looking Back 54
Shabbat Lights
Shabbat Starts: Friday, Feb. 19, 5:52 p.m. Shabbat Ends: Saturday, Feb. 20, 6:55 p.m. Fast of Esther: Thursday, Feb. 25, 6:02 a.m.-7:01 p.m. Purim: Friday, Feb. 26 * Times according to Yeshiva Beth Yehudah calendar.
ON THE COVER: Cover photo/credit: Yossi Nadel, courtesy Nadel family Cover design: Michelle Sheridan
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FEBRUARY 18 • 2021
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PURELY COMMENTARY for openers
The Places I Call Home
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he New Yorker’s Erin Overbey wrote a column “The Meaning of Home.” It was about journalist and screenwriter Nora Ephron and her love affair with the Apthorp, a Beaux-Arts building on the Upper West Side Sandy of New York Hermanoff where she lived for more than 20 years. For her, it was what happened under that roof. It made me think of what home means to me. It made me realize how deeply those words reach into my heart to be thankful for having a roof over my head and being able to gut through this pandemic. Sure, we’re all very anxious to see family, friends and to sit in a restaurant, have a glass of wine. But being at home through this brings back so many memories of other places I call home. Actually, I’m very grateful for all the homes I have had — and my Jewish upbringing. The question becomes, can you fall in love with a home? Even though you can’t physically be in a home, can you still love it? I say yes. It’s the memories and so much more. Those memories can take you there if you allow them. No clicking heels like Dorothy. Just let your mind do its thing. I remember coming to my parents’ house the first time I returned from Ohio State where the cafeteria food was, from 1 to 10, at best — a 1. It was a cool, October Friday late in the afternoon. Soon we would be celebrating Shabbat,
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and that was something I sorely missed at school. When I walked in the house, I put everything down, ran into the kitchen and lay on the floor. My parents thought something was wrong with me because I was breathing deeply. I must tell you, the aromas were intoxicating. It was chopped liver, chicken soup with homemade
killed a lot of Jews). When I walked into her house, I was home. It was a safe place with love. I can close my eyes and take a virtual tour, which I often do. I am grateful for where I live now with my husband, Michael. My father-in-law built the house in 1957. After my in-laws passed away, we decided to move in. Sure, we
kreplach, roast chicken, potato kugel — and my mom’s very own chocolate cake (which everyone in the family has tried to replicate). I was home. I was in a safe place with love where I grew up. I can close my eyes today and virtually walk through my parents’ house. I’ve inhaled deeply in my own house when I’ve made my mom’s recipes, especially on Shabbat. Last Friday night, I made my bubbie’s paprikash. The aroma in my kitchen was incredible. I closed my eyes, and I could see her kitchen. Her stove laden with steaming pots of gefilte fish and chicken soup; her oven filled with fragrant challahs and sticky buns. Oh, yes, and kishka and helzel. Not to mention gribenes (which Soupy Sales said
have made some changes, but it is to me what the Apthorp was to Nora Ephron. We’ve raised a family, I’ve survived two breast cancers under this roof, celebrated 45 years of marriage, hosted lots of fundraisers and parties. We have done our best to muddle through this deadly virus. It’s been hard not to see our children and grandchildren for more than a year. Zoom and the others are fine, but I miss the hugs and the in-person conversations. I miss making all those special recipes for them. My Friday night candles, my mother’s, photos of my parents and other keepsakes take me to the other homes I’ve treasured. My one remaining aunt on my mother’s side, Aunt Char, who
is now 96, and I talk often, reminiscing about Bubbie, my mom, my other aunts and uncles who are no longer here. We laugh. We cry. But most of all, when I look at the photos of my parents, I never fail to get tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. My father had his own company, Refrigeration & Heating, in Canton, Ohio, for 70 some years. He was a gabbi, led the Chevrah Kadisha for 60 years, following in his father’s footsteps. He was on the team that developed the heat pump with General Electric and that was his nickname: Mr. Heat Pump. He was president of the shul Shaaray Torah for many years. My mother was his rock. She was a fabulous, caring woman who was my rock and who made a beautiful home for my Dad and me. Jewish tradition makes a house a home. It’s just not the books and prayers. It’s the whole gashicht: the aromas of food, the sweet anticipation of sharing holidays and dinners with immediate and extended families. And going to Temple again for services! “We’ll be back to normal soon,” I’ve heard people say. That’s great, but my fondest wish is to hug my kids and grandchildren, look into their faces and revel in how much I love them. Oh, yes, and, of course, to cook for them again! It’s going to be a great feast and love affair just like Nora Ephron says it would. Sandy Hermanoff is an area public relations consultant who loves to cook and bake.
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PURELY COMMENTARY essay
A COVID Miracle from Holocaust Ashes The son of survivors of the Salonica slaughter is now spreading the hope of life.
B
efore World War II, there were about 50,000 Jews living in Salonica (or Thessaloniki), the largest Jewish community in Greece. Between March and August 1943, the Germans deported more than 45,000 Jews to the AuschwitzBirkenau killing camp. Most of the deportees David Suissa were gassed on JNS arrival. Because this represented the decimation of a community, it would go down as an especially dark moment in the darkest chapter of Jewish history. But a few Jews managed to survive the massacre.
Two of those survivors gave birth to a man, Albert Bourla, who is now at the center of the biggest public health crisis of modern times. Dr. Bourla is the CEO and chairman of Pfizer, one of the pharmaceutical firms leading the charge to get the world vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. Sit with that for a moment! A son of Holocaust survivors has helped provide the vaccine that will save countless lives, not just around the world but also in the country of Jewish refuge, Israel. There was no refuge for the 6 million Jews who perished in the Holocaust, nor for Bourla’s fellow Greek Jews who were gassed at Auschwitz. Today there is.
Consider the speed with which Israel is getting its people vaccinated. We know that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made numerous calls to Bourla to make sure Israel would have enough doses. As Rabbi David Woznica of Stephen Wise Temple says in a moving video recounting this story, “Israel has managed to vaccinate such a large swath of its citizens with the vaccination created by a company led by the son of Holocaust survivors from a country where only a fraction of its Jews survived. I hope you’ll agree there’s something remarkable about all of this.” There is, indeed. The very sequence of the Holocaust followed by the birth
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of Israel is haunting. Within a few years, Jews went from the lowest to the highest, the darkest to the brightest, the pits of despair to the heights of hope. They went from the verdict of death to the promise of life. A vaccine is the antidote to death. A Greek Jew who hails from a community of death is now spreading the hope of life. Eight decades after the massacre of Salonica, Albert Bourla stands as an enduring testament to the power of resiliency — for Jews and for humanity. David Suissa is editor-in-chief and publisher of Tribe Media Corp and Jewish Journal. He can be reached at davids@ jewishjournal.com. This article was first published by the Jewish Journal.
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PURELY COMMENTARY essay
Purim: From Exodus to Esther
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t would make sense to start the Jewish calendar year on Rosh Hashanah, literally the “head of the year,” the anniversary of the creation of humans, but that’s not how it goes in the Sam Glaser Bible. Just as we are about to leave Egypt, with great signs and wonders, the first commandment given to the nation is initializing the calendar. Therefore, the Jewish year actually begins with Nissan, the month of Pesach, making the preceding month of Adar the last one of the year. Adar is both a time to celebrate and a season of reckoning. The secret of Adar is concealed behind the “mask” of Purim. The scroll we read, Megillat Esther, is one of the closing entries in the Jewish Biblical canon and, interestingly, has no mention of God’s name. We start the year with the Pesach Haggadah and its manifold recitations of gratitude to God for the miracles performed on our behalf. By the end of the Jewish calendar year, God is out of the dialogue, and it’s all about Mordechai and Queen Esther. What has changed? Over the Jewish year, we transition from an emphasis on God’s revealed hand in our redemption (Exodus) to a focus on the action
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of individuals while God operates behind the scenes (Esther). The message: God is always with us, even when God’s presence is hidden. In order to retain our freedom of choice, God is precisely concealed, to the exact degree that we must strive to find God. This spiritual awareness is the engine of our enhanced joy during this special month. Megillat
of this invisible shield of Divine love and protection. By Purim, we rejoice in a seemingly “God-less” story, knowing with simple faith that God’s grace is behind all the triumphs and mishaps in our lives. The true goal of Adar is to perceive the good in “bad breaks” — accepting joy and pain without despair. One of the central tenets of Judaism is that each of us has a crucial role in tikkun
Esther can be translated as “revealing the hidden.” This remarkable tome serves as a lesson plan for perceiving God’s hand behind all events, for all time. The month of Adar provides us with the opportunity to bask in the emunah (faith) we have crafted over the Jewish calendar year. Every holiday, beginning with our national homecoming (Pesach), receiving the Torah (Shavuot) and then the High Holidays and Sukkot, serves to bolster our perception
olam. This is emphasized at the climax of the Purim story: When Queen Esther is given the chance to be the hero by Uncle Mordechai, he warns her, “If you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will come from another place” (Esther 4:14). Thankfully, she saves the day. All of us are faced with this fundamental challenge. We can opt in or relegate ourselves to the sidelines. God will get the job done regardless. I say: Let’s go for it! Purim should be celebrat-
ed with heartfelt exuberance. Take advantage of the transformative power of the four special mitzvah opportunities: hear the megillah chanted both night and day, give substantially to the needy, offer neighbors packages of a few items of food as a token of friendship and eat a hearty meal at the end of the day. For many of us, intoxication gets us to a place where the heart is opened; we can love more readily, and tears of joy can flow. For some of us, getting intoxicated is a mistake. For me, personally, after a few l’chaims, my empathy muscle is stronger, and charity becomes even more natural. Let us apply the lessons of Purim year-round. Acknowledge the miracle of God’s stewardship behind the scrim of our lives. Be there for a friend with a gift of food, the gift of time and a patient ear. Seek out opportunities to serve the needy. Be deeply grateful for the feeling of belongingness to this remarkable nation. Share words of Torah with a lighthearted song and a smile. May we always seek to emulate the courage of Queen Esther; not standing idly by with all the challenges facing our people and the entire world. Sam Glaser is a performer, composer, producer and author in Los Angeles. His book The Joy of Judaism is available on Amazon.
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PURELY COMMENTARY letters
Jewish Detroit Docs in Vietnam We enjoyed reading the article in the Nov. 5, 2020, Jewish News about our fellow physicians who were school chums and met again while serving in Vietnam in 1967 to 1968. So, we are encouraged to let you know of two additional Jewish Detroit doctors who also served in Vietnam at that time. We had known each other at Mumford High School and at the University of Michigan, where we even lived on the same corridor in a dorm. We then lost track of each other. Capt. Rosenthal, now a retired respiratory and critical care specialist, arrived in Vietnam in August 1967 and was assigned to the 91st Evacuation Hospital. He then was made commanding officer of the 161st Medical Detachment. The 161st moved around the country providing medical support to several army units, including an engineering battalion and elements
of the 101st Airborne Division when they came in country. On 30 January, 1968, the 161st flew to Da Nang to provide medical support for a dispensary at the Da Nang Subarea Command. After internship, Capt. Marks, a retired radiologist (currently living in Carlsbad, Calif.), was commander of the 2/563 Medical Platoon in charge of that dispensary near Da Nang. Dr. Marks’ replacement arrived at the dispensary, and lo and behold, it was Capt. Rosenthal! Seven years and 10,000 miles later, we met again! Shortly after that, Capt. Marks was transferred to the 22nd Surgical Hospital near Hue. After a stint at the surgical hospital, Dr. Marks went to the front lines with the 4th Army Division as a battalion surgeon, earning a Combat Medic Badge and a Bronze Star for Valor. — Leonard J Rosenthal, MD Daniel Marks, MD
Yiddish Limerick Purim Mir vel hern di Megillah again Af Esther, zi hot gevayn azay Shayn. Un Mordechai der Yid and all that he did. Yetzt hern di Megillah ich vil gayn. Mir vel hern di: We will hear the Af Esther: About Esther zi hot gevayn azay shayn: she was so beautiful Un Mordechai der Yid: And Mordechai the Jew Yetzt hern di Megillah: Now to hear the Megillah ich vil gayn: I want to go By Rachel Kapen
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OUR COMMUNITY ON THE COVER
Sense of Duty M
Young Detroiters serve in IDF to “give back” to Israel.
COURTESY OF SELESNY FAMILY
STACY GITTLEMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
From right to left: Daniel Selesny, Elijah Wolfe and Joe Block, another Lone Soldier.
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etro Detroit natives Daniel Selesny, 21, and Elijah Wolfe, 20, had a bit too much time on their hands in January as they quarantined for two weeks off their Israeli army base following a vacation with family and friends back home. They spent the days and nights in separate rooms in a makeshift quarantine center for Lone Soldiers in the coastal town of Hadera. They passed the time reading, FaceTiming with friends and family, and binge-watching Netflix shows like The Queen’s Gambit. All meals were prepared and left by their door, causing them to crave the food back on base, which they said was quite good. Though they could not see the ocean from their windows, they enjoyed spending about 20 minutes a day outside. Soon, though, they would be reunited on base with the rest of their unit and with Yossi Nadel, 20, a third young Detroiter currently serving in the IDF in its Lone Soldier Program. All three soldiers are graduates of the 2018 class of Farber Hebrew Day School in Southfield. According to the Lone Soldier Center, more than 7,000 Lone Soldiers serve in the IDF. Some are young Jews taking gap years abroad before entering college, others are immigrants or youth from low socioeconomic backgrounds with little to no family connections. The Lone Soldier Center provides those with no social or family network in Israel with financial assistance, community connections and programming as well as Shabbat and holiday meals. Spending time in Israel between high school and college, the three enrolled in a program where they spent time studying in a yeshivah and then provided months of service in the IDF. While visiting in Michigan, Selesny spent time Up North with his family and hung out with high school friends who in ordinary times would be away at college but instead were taking online classes at home. He even dined in a heated “igloo” at Prime 10 restaurant in Southfield. Speaking in quarantine, Selesny expressed that he was back in Israel and looked forward to being back together with his unit. The hardest part of quarantine: spending Shabbat completely alone. “It was a full 25 hours of no electronics,” said Selesny. “There was no minyan I could attend, and I don’t see anyone. But Shabbat spent this way is a good time to reflect and spend time working on yourself.”
Selesny began IDF service last March, right at the onset of the pandemic. He was supposed to fly back to Detroit for a visit, but all flights were canceled. So, after finishing studies at Yeshivat HaKotel in Jerusalem, he and Wolfe reported to base. In an unusual situation where soldiers usually get leaves for Shabbat or holidays, they spent the next 35 days on base, including Passover, with no break, with 1,000 soldiers. Selesny said that during this time, there was no social distancing among the soldiers. A few working in the office tested positive for COVID and were put into quarantine but as for the rest, they generally went about life, and no one showed any symptoms. Selesny explained that in the initial months of training, one needs to get in the mindset that “you are not in control” of your day-to-day routine. That control is given to one’s Mefaked, or commander. “For four months, you are on a clock from the time you wake, brush your teeth and get dressed,” Selesny said. “Even the laziest of us got up right away because we didn’t know what would happen if we did not listen to the Mefaked. They do all this so they can mold you into a good soldier.”
continued on page 14
— YOSSI NADEL
COURTESY OF NADEL FAMILY
GIVING BACK Selesny said since childhood he has always wanted to live in Israel. He feels proud to give back by serving and has befriended many Israelis as well as Jews from Brazil, Argentina and Kazakhstan. “I have had a connection to Israel since I was very young,” Selesny said. “Many times, I visited here when others served in the army to make sure I was safe. Now I can give back, and I am honored to have taken on this responsibility. I have met people from all over the world. It truly feels like Am Yisrael is coming together.” After he completes his service in August, he will most likely remain in Israel and go to university there. Wolfe does not describe himself as a “diehard Zionist” like Selesny. Now four months into a 10-month tour of duty, Wolfe plans to return to the United States to study at Yeshiva University in New York City. Wolfe became a Lone Soldier because he desired to do something to contribute to the Jewish people and the Jewish State. “I studied in Yeshivat HaKotel for 18
“WHAT IMPRESSES ME IS HOW MUCH THE ARMY CARES FOR ITS SOLDIERS.”
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OUR COMMUNITY
ON THE COVER
continued from page 13
“THROUGH TRAINING, YOU BECOME A MORE CAPABLE PERSON.” — ELIJAH WOLFE
months and, while I studied, others were protecting me,” Wolfe said. “I enjoyed that privilege and wanted to give back. Later on in life, I want to look back and have no regrets that I did not take this time in my life to take on this opportunity. So far, I’m a better person for it.” BASIC TRAINING Training for Wolfe has been a “formative experience” filled with long-night treks weighted down with a full pack, sometimes in the rain and mud. He said he worked hard to prove himself to become the best at his gun in his brigade. After basic training, his service during the pandemic included working at checkpoints located not along the West Bank but in Jerusalem neighborhoods to help enforce one of the country’s several nationwide lockdowns. “IDF training is a lot of hard work,” Wolfe said. “As you go through the daily routines, it may be painful, but you come to understand that this service will make you a better person for yourself and the Jewish people as you work to protect the Jewish State. Through training, you become a more capable person for yourself and those around you who are depending on you. Even if you are marching in the rain through mud, you are with your best friends, and that
makes it worthwhile.” Yossi Nadel, 20, grew up in Southfield where his family belongs to Young Israel of Southfield, as do the families of Selesny and Wolfe. He also attended Bnei Akiva youth group. Brought up in these Zionist circles of the Jewish community and having close family ties in Israel, it was only natural that he wanted to serve in the IDF when he became of age, Nadel said. “Each week in shul, we said a prayer for the IDF, and the rabbi would announce anyone in the community who was serving,” said Nadel, whose older brother and other friends also served in the IDF and made aliyah. Nadel said serving in the IDF is not always about weapons training but contributing to the base community such as staying behind to clean up or work kitchen duty. While not every mission is “grand,” he said the power of positive attitude he learned in his service will stay with him for a lifetime and will allow him to meet any challenge that will arise. “What impresses me so much is how much the army cares for its soldiers,” Nadel said. “As a Lone Soldier, they were so supportive of me spending extra time with my family after not seeing them for a year. They really care for a Lone Soldier’s personal and financial well-being.”
OUR COMMUNITY
LIZZ CARDWELL
Celebrating with the Spirit of Detroit – pre-pandemic.
Advocacy Always, Inclusion Indubitably How JCC Detroit is honoring Jewish Disability Advocacy and Inclusion Month all year. LYNNE KONSTANTIN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
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nclude. Empower. Educate. The year-round motto of the JCC’s Special Needs Department is particularly auspicious this month, as February is Jewish Disability Advocacy and Inclusion Month (JDAIM). This initiative, powered by the Jewish Federations of North America, shines a spotlight on education, solidarity-building and empowerment in support of people with special needs. In the midst of a pandemic, advocacy and solidarity have never been more crucial. We are fortunate to live in a community with a JCC that is blazing trails for these families, pro-
viding much needed resources both in the classroom and out in the world. The JCC of Metro Detroit has two departments — the Special Needs Department and Opening the Doors — that work toward that goal yearround, providing a world of activities, education, inclusion and friendship, with curated and highly trained staff. “There is an urgent need to provide consistent learning, and social and emotional support, especially during these uncertain times, to children with diverse needs and abilities,” says Ellen Maiseloff, senior director
of Opening the Doors. “We want them to continue to be included and engaged successfully in their Jewish education classrooms, whether virtual or in-person, along with opportunities to interact with their peers.” The JCC of Metro Detroit’s Special Needs Department, led by Director Dr. Stephanie Zoltowski, offers year-round activities for kids through adulthood, including social groups, JCC Day Camps summer camp, break camps, physical activity, family fests and more. “Our main approach is community inclusion and holistic services,” Zoltowski says. “We look at the whole family from every angle — the child with special needs, programs that help the parents, activities for siblings. We help them at school, we support and encourage mental health and independence. We try to cover all the bases.” In addition to summer continued on page 16
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OUR COMMUNITY
Since the 1960s, Thursday Night Social Group has provided a wide variety of opportunities for social interaction on and off campus.
camp, Special Needs offers year-round social groups, yoga classes and Drums Alive fitness classes. About 20 JARC homes bring residents of all ages to a Thursday Night Social Group. Even during the pandemic, Zoltowski and her team made sure their participants stayed active. “We’ve tried to support all of our families. All of the parents have my cell phone, we have a Facebook group; I did some Zoom calls with campers who were having trouble understanding why we couldn’t have camp last summer,” she says. “We even held a socially distant Sunday Funday in my backyard last summer, with lots of different activities. And we have Break Camp coming up in March. We try to be a resource for families as much as we can.” New in 2019, Zoltowski partnered with Jewish Senior Life, which provided a furnished apartment at Meer Apartments to help young adults practice independent living skills in a safe and supervised environment. Participants were able to practice skills ranging from finding their apartment to washing clothes, changing sheets and preparing food. “It’s a place where we can go
to learn to do things hands-on, for students of all abilities.” In celebration of JDAIM, the Special Needs Department hosted a virtual and interactive Magic Show fundraiser on Feb. 11 — all participants needed was a deck of cards at home to participate in some of the magic tricks. The show was interspersed with videos of families telling how the department has benefitted them. “It was our chance to see our families, and have them see us, while showing the community what we’re all about and highlighting what our families and our staff love about our program.”
LIZZ CARDWELL
continued from page 15
OPENING THE DOORS Also available through the JCC, Opening the Doors (OTD) has a mission of providing every student the chance to receive a fully inclusive Jewish education — even during the pandemic. This year, 1,200 students ages 2½-17 are benefitting from it. To accomplish this, OTD provides all 26 Metro Detroit Jewish preschools, day schools and congregations with master special educators, who provide support to parents, offer strategies to teachers and lead workshops.
LIZZ CARDWELL
Young adults practice independent living skills in a safe and supervised environment at Meer Apartments in West Bloomfield.
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Additionally, OTD offers para-educators in early childhood classrooms who provide short-term intervention for high-risk students. OTD makes it possible for special needs students to be in schools with other students and siblings. While students increase confidence and build Jewish identity, barriers are broken down between their peers, who are then learning acceptance, diversity and tolerance. And all of this is provided free of charge. OTD also provides an enormous variety of programming for families, madrichim leadership for religious school teens, conferences with speakers, workshops and professional development open to the community. Maiseloff often partners with community resources such as JVS, JARC and Friendship Circle, mental health professionals and more. During the pandemic, Maiseloff and her team are working more diligently, knowing how difficult this time is for some of the students to understand and cope. “Since August, at the start of the school year, Opening the Doors has been proud to have
the capacity and support to continue to provide an array of high quality, diversified programs and services, in collaboration with educational and health organizations,” she says. “Although our number of students receiving support is lower this year, our professional development classes have continued. We provide educators with more strategies to be more effective in providing virtual and in-person learning as well as resources for understanding and supporting children with anxiety and/or mental health concerns and self-care techniques for them. Our community-wide disability and advocacy conferences, book and movie events have also continued throughout this year.” To celebrate JDAIM, Opening the Doors is offering a variety of programs in February. Programs include a Madrichim Leadership Training for teens; an Enhanced Learning Initiative for teachers; speakers including authors and disability experts and more. For more information, visit jccdet.org. This story first appeared in myjewishdetroit.org.
R1-CallToSpy-Ad.ai
A Safe Purim Orthodox organizations issue guidelines for Purim. BARBARA LEWIS CONTRIBUTING WRITER
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he Orthodox Union (OU) and the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) have issued guidelines to ensure health and safety at Purim, which starts at sundown on Feb. 25. Purim celebrates the deliverance of the Jews, led by Esther and her uncle Mordechai, from a plot to exterminate them by the evil Haman, the king’s chief minister. It is a time of rejoicing, exchanging gifts of food and, usually, of partying. It was easier last year, just before the COVID shutdowns started. The Orthodox Union and Rabbinical Council guidelines recognize that some who have been fully vaccinated and passed the subsequent waiting period might be able to return to pre-pandemic habits. But it warns that public and communal practice should continue to reflect pandemic standards for masking and social distancing. The groups urge synagogues and communities to follow the guidelines of their state and local health departments. Groups may conduct a public service and reading of the Book of Esther (Megillah) if they can do so safely, and those who are able should attend such a live gathering, they say. The clear majority of Halachic authorities do not approve of a Megillah reading heard over the phone or online. A minority allows electronic reading, but only if it is live, not prerecorded. Purim meals and get-together “must necessarily be limited,”
they say, and limitd to their family “bubble.” Mishloach manot, the exchange of gifts of food, is lowrisk because the packages can be left at the door of the recipient. Any greeting or visiting can be done outdoors at a safe distance. AID THE ISOLATED The guidelines also urge the community to pay special attention to the isolated — especially the elderly and others who live alone — and the exhausted, including health care workers, educators and clergy. Communities are encouraged to think about ways to celebrate together without crowds, such as sending a music truck through neighborhoods. “I appreciate and applaud the leadership of the OU and the RCA in providing the guidance for how we can fulfill our Rabbi Shaya Katz spiritual pursuits while maintaining our physical safety,” said Rabbi Shaya Katz of Young Israel of Oak Park. “In the spirit of Purim, a time when we celebrate the efforts made by individuals to protect the Jewish people, it is incumbent upon us to maintain the best practices of COVID health and safety guidelines in our shuls. We hope that in response to our efforts, God similarly brings us salvation from the current pandemic.”
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FEBRUARY 18 • 2021
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OUR COMMUNITY
PHOTOGRAPHER, JULIE YAKER, EYECATCHER EVENTS
Signing of the ketubah: Laura Williams, Jacob Allen, Rabbi Aaron Bergman (standing), Lee Trepeck (signing) and Jon Shaw (back to camera).
You Have a Pandemic Story.
We Want It. Instead of letting future generations rely on snippets from the newspaper or a random photograph, let’s give them the gift of knowledge and certainty.
ROBBIE TERMAN, LEONARD N. SIMONS JEWISH COMMUNITY ARCHIVES LAURA WILLIAMS, RABBI LEO M. FRANKLIN ARCHIVES
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e don’t have to tell you that this time is unprecedented or how drastically our lives have changed due to the coronavirus, but future generations will want to learn from what we are living through today. Throughout this experience, we have wondered how our ancestors tackled the challenges of the pandemic of 1918. A century from now, our descendants could be asking the same questions about us. With shutdowns
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around the world, protests across the country and daily life flipped on its head, our reactions and adjustments will help tell the story of how we went through such an exceptional time. We want to save that story. That’s why we’ve teamed up to create a platform that will collect, preserve and, one day, share our experiences. LAURA’S WEDDING STORY Our wedding was scheduled for Oct. 18, 2020. The venue
was booked, the photographer scheduled and the wedding dress purchased. Then COVID19 hit, and what would have been a classic big Jewish wedding celebration turned into a private backyard ceremony and a drive-by reception. Instead of pictures with tables full of people, our wedding photographs captured “guests” with smiling faces, waving from their cars, safely distanced from us newlyweds. I never imagined our wedding would be a livestreamed event, but it allowed loved ones from all over the world to connect with us on our special day. This was not the version we planned, but it forced us to find a new, still meaningful, way to share the milestone with our community. No doubt, it was a day we will always remember. Our photographs and memories from this simchah will be shared in the COVID-19 Archives Collection, adding a piece to the puzzle of how our community adapted to life in a pandemic. ROBBIE’S LIFE-THROUGHSCREENS STORY For some of us, the pandemic has not been marked by missed
celebrations or juggling work while homeschooling kids. Instead, it has been endless hours of isolation with little more than Netflix for company. When the stayat-home order was issued in March 2020, I assumed it would be just a few days or maybe a couple weeks. I had no idea I would not return to my office until July 27. The work I was able to do at home filled my days and kept me sane … until I was furloughed in April. Suddenly, time lost all meaning. Alone for months, my only respite were trips to the grocery store and long walks when the weather was nice. Zoom calls with family and friends helped some of the loneliness. But most of my days were spent on the couch, reaching the farthest depths of streaming service catalogs. Using the questionnaire on the COVID Archives website, I will be documenting my ups and downs over the past year and reflecting on how this time changed the world around me. WHO TELLS YOUR STORY? This COVID-19 Archives Collection project seeks to ensure the memories — from the celebrations to the mundane to even the painful moments — are preserved and made accessible to anyone in the future. A collection of your photographs, videos, journal entries or simply your thoughts on life right now, will all come together to tell the important story about how our community navigated this historical moment — even as we still live it.
a way to work remotely, entertaining your family while in lockdown, celebrating milestones without parties or just navigating once-simple tasks like grocery shopping. Here is a short breakdown of what we are collecting: • Photographs • Diaries/Journals • Audio/Video • Oral History Interview • Completed Questionnaires (You do not have to contribute anything else to complete this part!) Instead of letting future generations rely on snippets from the newspaper or a random photograph, let’s give them the gift of knowledge and certainty. Our stories become not only insight into how we lived and experienced this time, but will also provide an opportunity to learn from what we went through
“I NEVER IMAGINED OUR WEDDING WOULD BE A LIVESTREAMED EVENT.”
EMILY ZUSSMAN
WHAT YOU CAN DO We can’t do this without you. Through this partnership between the Leo M. Franklin Archives and the Leonard N. Simons Jewish Community Archives, we intend for this to be a true community project. Any Michigander who identifies as Jewish is encouraged to participate. There are many ways you can contribute! What we didn’t do during the pandemic is just as important as what we did do. It is easy to think we don’t have a story to tell if it’s not one of altered celebrations or the frustrations of homeschooling. The fact is, our very existence in the time of COVID is a valuable piece of the historical perspective. We are looking for anything that documents how you are coping with the limitations of COVID-19, from finding
The WilliamsTrepeck wedding viewed through laptops
— LAURA WILLIAMS
and hopefully lend them more tools to deal with the challenges they may face in the future. No matter your story, no matter how you want to tell it, we want to preserve it. Join this effort
by visiting the COVID-19 Archives Collection website: jewishdetroit.org/Covid19collections. This story first appeared on myjewishdetroit.org.
Jewish Family Service
Jewish Family Service
Spotlight Event
Shining a light on older adults
April 6 7pm
Book Club Join us as we discuss Kimberly Williams-Paisley’s book, Where The Light Gets In: Losing My Mother Only to Find Her Again
Wednesday, March 10 12pm
$36 admission
A VIRTUAL EVENING WITH
Kimberly Williams-Paisley Actress, author and advocate advocat e
Facilitated by Lynn Breuer, LMSW Director of Community Outreach and Wellness at JFS
$18 suggested donation
For questions or to register, visit jfsspotlightevent.org or call 248.592.2339
NANCY and HARVEY SOLWAY –Event Chairs For tickets and sponsorship information visit
jfsspotlightevent.org FEBRUARY 18 • 2021
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF TKA
OUR COMMUNITY
Volunteers keep busy at Temple Kol Ami’s Food Pantry.
Food for All
Temple Kol Ami pantry feeds 90 families every week.
DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER
T
emple Kol Ami in West Bloomfield has been running a food pantry as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic since early July, and even with a new year and vaccines being rolled out, the number of families taking advantage of the pantry doesn’t seem to be slowing down. It started small with just a few families, growing steadily. At this point, it has grown to feed more than 90 families a week, reflective of the growing local need. The pantry works in partnership with Hazon, which collects the food each week. Originally intended to last two to three months as a popup pantry, TKA is now scheduling two months ahead, knowing the need isn’t going away anytime soon. The pantry is held every Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. A lot of the food the pantry gets from Hazon is food rescue — short-dated items at the grocery store that didn’t sell. The pantry is currently
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drive-thru with times slotted out in 30-minute windows so there’s no backup of traffic. A crew of at least 18 volunteers a week help so people don’t have to leave their cars. The pantry is looking for more volunteers as well. The TKA pantry’s rise takes place while Temple Israel’s food pantry, which operates biweekly, had to cancel from January until mid-February because of a scheduling issue with its supplier. “We really want to make sure that we feed those who need food and that no one goes hungry in our community,” TKA Rebbetzin Jill Gutmann said. Gutmann was the weekly pantry coordinator at the beginning of the operations, but as time went on and the pantry grew, TKA member Deb Ford took over. According to Gutmann, many of the families taking advantage of the pantry are actually middle-class families who have lost jobs and income
because of the pandemic, but don’t necessarily qualify for government help. Lee Schottenfels, who is on the TKA board, has also been instrumental in running the pantry since the start. Schottenfels created an information flyer for TKA’s pantry that was added to the bags of Temple Israel’s Food Pantry recipients, which increased traffic to the pantry as did the growing wordof-mouth attention. HELP FOR ‘NEIGHBORS’ Most of the “neighbors,” as TKA calls the pantry-goers, get three bags of food: one perishable, one non-perishable
and one with protein. Ford runs the website, takes and receives phone calls from neighbors and greets every one of them each week person-by-person. Ford believes running the food pantry is by far the most meaningful thing she’s ever done in her life. “People are in tears and so grateful,” Ford said. “They take pictures of the food they make with what we give them, and they send them to us. They’re so grateful to be treated like humans, like a neighbor. They’re not just a number in a line. We value them for who they are, and that’s really important.” Those interested can go on the website signup.com/client/ invitation2/secure/118703491 9360152029/false#/invitation and pick a day, time and how many family members they’re feeding. Once online spots for a day fill up, Ford encourages people to call or just arrive at the pantry, as no one will be turned away. Ford said it appears the pantry is going to be a part of TKA’s congregation indefinitely or for as long as Hazon can provide them with food.
“PEOPLE ARE IN TEARS AND SO GRATEFUL.” — TEMPLE KOL AMI’S DEB FORD
Lee Schottenfels works to distribute turkeys to those who need them.
Help Sarah’s Fund Fight Mastocytosis
‘Mood Lifters’ for Self-Help An important thing you can do during these difficult times is support your mental and emotional well-being. The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit is offering a new, cost-free way to do that. Thanks to the Ravitz Foundation, Federation is partnering with the University of Michigan Depression Center to bring the Mood Lifters program to Jewish community members in Michigan at no cost. The program is not only for those experiencing anxiety or depression, but for all who
wish to thrive. Mood Lifters is composed of 15 one-hour weekly meetings, currently over Zoom, where peer leaders teach strategies to improve well-being. Participants track new behaviors and ways of thinking on an app. The program is intended for adults of all ages. For schedules, visit moodlifters. com/calendar-of-meetings/ jewish-federation-group. For questions, contact Ashley Schnaar at schnaar@jfmd.org or (248) 292-9005.
HMC Program Confronts Evil The Holocaust Memorial Center Zekelman Family Campus will present Learning from the Germans: Race and the Memory of Evil featuring a discussion between philosopher and author Susan Neiman, and Jenn White, host of National Public Radio’s (NPR) 1A. The program will take place online as a live Zoom webinar on Sun., Feb. 21, at 2 p.m. As an increasingly polarized America fights over the legacy of racism and slavery, what can we learn from the Germans about confronting the evils of the past? Neiman and White will discuss Germany’s effort to atone for the Holocaust and the work that contemporary Americans are doing to try to make
amends for our country’s historical wrongdoings. To register for this program, visit www.holocaustcenter. org/February. Registrants will receive a link to the Feb. 21 Zoom Webinar. Questions for Susan Neiman can be submitted by noon on Feb. 21 by visiting www.holocaustcenter. org/learning. “This promises to be a thought-provoking and lively discussion, as America comes to grips with its past and looks toward creating a brighter future,” said Holocaust Memorial Center CEO Rabbi Eli Mayerfeld. “The events of recent history have demonstrated the need for healing and standing up to injustice and hatred.”
The Gittleman family is having a virtual fundraiser in memory of Sarah Gittleman for her 40th birthday, March 12. Sarah was 23 years old when she passed away from Systemic Mastocytosis, a rare, extremely debilitating disease that can be life-threatening. Sarah A graduate from MSU in accounting, Sarah Gittleman wanted to be a CPA. She was a bright, kindhearted and, most of all, she loved her life, family and friends. To contribute to the Mastocytosis Society Sarah Gittleman’s Research Fund, go to pages.donately.com/tms/campaign/sarah-gittleman-fund.
Need Help Getting Health Insurance? Do you need health insurance? In response to COVID-19, and in accordance with an executive order from President Biden, there is a new healthcare enrollment period that runs through March 15. If you’re signing up for health insurance for the first time, you can learn about coverage options, subsidies and tax breaks through one of the navigators at Jewish Family Service. If you’re already enrolled, you can update your information and review your plan to ensure that it’s still the best fit. The navigators at JFS will answer all your Affordable Care Act questions and help you enroll, whether through the Healthcare Marketplace or through Medicaid. The service is free and open to the community. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Olga Semenova at (248) 592-2662 or osemenova@ jfsdetroit.org.
NCJW Offers Scholarships National Council of Jewish Women, Michigan (NCJW|MI) will continue the tradition of honoring exceptional Jewish high school students who demonstrate leadership within the Jewish community by awarding scholarship funds through its annual Jewish Youth Awards program. This year the entire process is going to be virtual, which will make it extremely easy to participate. Applicants must prepare a personal essay, demonstrate leadership in the Jewish and/or secular communities, and be available for a personal virtual interview the morning of Sunday, April 18, 2021. Eight finalists will be recognized at the Jewish Youth Awards Virtual Ceremony, Tuesday, April 20, at 7 p.m. First place: $3,000, second place: $1,500, 3rd place: $500, and five honorable mentions: $200 each. Applications are due Monday, Feb. 22. To complete and submit an application, visit NCJWMI.org.
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RODIN ECKENROTH/GETTY IMAGES/JTA
NATIONAL
Fair or Unfair to Jews? California revises proposed ethnic studies curriculum, but controversy remains. BEN SALES JTA
H
ow and where do Jews fit into America’s minority communi-
ties? That’s the question at the center of a debate that has raged for more than a year over new school curriculum guides that are being adopted in California. Jewish groups strenuously objected to the first draft of the Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum, or ESMC, saying it did not reflect the American Jewish experience and even advanced some forms of antisemitism. Many of those same groups praised the third draft of the curriculum when it was released in December. The revision responded to their concerns, they say: Two sections of the curriculum deal principally with the American Jewish experience, and many of the sections that they had identified as objectionable were gone. Not everyone is happy with the latest draft. On Feb. 3, the
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authors of the original curriculum disavowed the project in protest of the revised versions, which they feel “silenced the voices of ethnic studies teachers/educators, who are all from racially and politically underrepresented groups.” And other Jewish activists say that regardless of how the project discusses Jews, its basic ideology is unacceptable. They see this as the latest front in an ongoing battle over critical race theory, an approach to education that views race and racism as embedded in, and central to, society and its institutions. Opponents of critical race theory see it as a threat to open debate and a return to classifying people based on their race, which they see as a danger to Jews. In recent days, two long articles have been published in Jewish publications — both objecting to the revised version from those two opposing sides of the debate. Whatever the final draft looks like, California law does not
require schools to use the proposed materials it is making available. After state lawmakers required an ethnic studies curriculum, a panel of 20 ethnic studies scholars convened and drafted a version focused on four minority groups: African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans and Native Americans. JEWS EXCLUDED But when the first draft of the curriculum was released in the middle of 2019, numbering hundreds of pages, Jewish organizations in the state and across the political spectrum were upset that it did not include the experience of California’s Jews. The state has more than 1 million Jews, with Los Angeles and the Bay Area hosting two of the nation’s largest Jewish communities. In one example JIMENA, an organization representing the state’s Mizrahi (Middle Eastern Jewish) community was dissatisfied with the draft.
An empty classroom in Hollywood, Calif., in August 2020.
The Mizrahi Jewish activists felt that their experience, which includes fleeing their home countries, was excluded from the curriculum, even though the experience of Arab Americans, whose communities hail from some of the same countries, were featured. Jewish groups were upset, too, that the curriculum included a number of anti-Israel sections. It counted the movement to boycott Israel among social movements to discuss positively alongside Black Lives Matter and #MeToo, among others. Critics complained that the inclusion of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement effectively discriminated against Jews and was an outlier among movements that otherwise focused on domestic issues. The initial draft also referred to Israel’s War of Independence as the Nakba, the Palestinian term for the conflict and meaning “catastrophe.” The curriculum
A REVISED VERSION Following the backlash to the first draft, the state’s Education Department said it recognized changes were needed. The following year, Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have made ethnic studies a high school graduation requirement, citing the controversies over the draft as a reason. A number of Jewish groups campaigned for the inclusion of the Jewish experience in later drafts. The latest curriculum does include two lessons on American Jews, including one on the Mizrahi experience. JIMENA drafted the lesson plan on Mizrahi Jews last year. Another lesson plan focuses on the complex nature of American Jewish identity, including the ways in which some Jews experience “conditional whiteness and privilege.” Both lesson plans discuss antisemitism — including defi-
AGUSTIN PAULLIER/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES/JTA
praised the later ones, are all Democrats.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom
nitions of antisemitism from the Anti-Defamation League as well as the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. The sections echoing anti-Jewish stereotypes and discussing the movement to boycott Israel have been removed. So have references to the Nakba. Jewish groups that had campaigned for the changes said they were pleased with the latest draft. OBJECTIONS PERSIST Some Jewish commentators and activists still aren’t happy. Even with the changes, they say, the curriculum advances a narrow ideology despite aiming to increase tolerance and inclusion. Critics, including the former New York Times editor and writer Bari Weiss, have called for the philosophy underpinning it to be rejectBari Weiss ed. Others agree. “The Ethnic Studies Model curriculum proposed for K-12 California public schools is divisive, encourages victimization and promotes a narrow political ideology,” reads the website of the Alliance for Constructive Ethnic Studies, a group mobilizing opposition to the curriculum that was co-founded by Elina Kaplan, a Jewish activist who emigrated from the former Soviet Union and is a self-identified Democrat.
JOSEFIN DOLSTEN/ TIMES OF ISRAEL
also included a song lyric that appeared to accuse the Jews of manipulating the press, a long-standing antisemitic stereotype. “We cannot support a curriculum that erases the American Jewish experience, fails to discuss antisemitism, reinforces negative stereotypes about Jews, singles out Israel for criticism, and would institutionalize the teaching of antisemitic stereotypes in our public schools,” read a July 2019 letter from a coalition of California Jewish state lawmakers. Jewish organizations were not the only ones to object to exclusions in the first draft. A letter signed by a coalition of organizations representing Middle Eastern immigrant communities, spearheaded by JIMENA, protested what they saw as a lack of representation in the curriculum.
“The Ethnic Model Studies Curriculum should be revised to provide a balanced range of perspectives, remove the political agenda, and inspire mutual respect and dignity.” In a January tweet criticizing the curriculum, Weiss wrote, “There is no more important story in the Jewish world this month.” Corresponding with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency this week, Weiss said her issue with the curriculum is its embrace of critical race theory (CRT). “There are some people who think CRT can be made kosher,” Weiss told JTA. “It cannot. It is, at its root, hostile to Jews, to liberalism and to American values. And it is the framework for every single draft that has been proposed.” Opponents of critical race theory have generally come from the right, and last year President Donald Trump instructed federal agencies not to fund any program that employs critical race theory or anything that “suggests either (1) that the United States is an inherently racist or evil country or (2) that any race or ethnicity is inherently racist or evil.” In the case of the ethnic studies curriculum, some of its opponents are not Trump supporters. Kaplan is a Democrat and Weiss has been vocally critical of Trump. The members of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus, who objected to the initial draft and
REVISIONS ‘INSUFFICIENT’ The curriculum has gained renewed attention of late, including from liberal activists like actor Josh Malina, due to a critical article by Emily Benedek in Tablet magazine, which has published a number of articles in recent years about the perceived dangers of “woke” thinking. The article features the objections raised to the first draft and notes that school boards have been lobbied to teach the original draft rather than the revised one. Benedek takes aim at critical race theory, which she called “dangerous” and “fundamental” to the curriculum. She wrote that the revisions celebrated by Jewish groups are insufficient. “The exclusion of Jews from the original ESMC, which was what the various organizations spent their energies on, was offensive,” she wrote. “But focusing on that is akin to painting a house that is rotted from the foundation.” An article about the curriculum in the left-wing Jewish Currents magazine also featured objections to the revised version, but for the opposite reason. The piece, by Gabi Kirk, reports on the resignation of the original draft’s authors, who contended in an open letter that the principles of ethnic studies have been “compromised due to political and media pressure.” In the article, Kirk wrote that the latest draft of the curriculum puts forward “a version of ethnic studies unrecognizable to scholars and community organizers engaged in the field — and heavily influenced by those who oppose the discipline’s very existence.” The Education Department is required to make a final decision on the curriculum by March 31. FEBRUARY 18 • 2021
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MAZEL TOV! Alexis Samantha Gitler, daughter of Stella and Howard Gitler, will lead the congregation in prayer on the occasion of her bat mitzvah on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield. She will be joined in celebration by her siblings Branden and Gabby, proud grandparents Asya and Mark Nisnevich, Lois and Rick Wonboy, and Mel and Pat Gitler, and great-grandparent Sergey Lyublin. Alexis is a student at West Hills Middle School in Bloomfield Hills. As part of her most meaningful mitzvah project, she donated to the Oakland County Animal Shelter.
Darren Brody Mann, son of Sara and Brad Mann, will chant from the Torah as he becomes a bar mitzvah at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021. He will be joined in celebration by his brother Corey and proud grandparents Susan and Howard Levin, and Sharyn Mann. Darren is also the grandchild of the late Harvey Mann. He is a student at West Bloomfield Middle School. As part of his most meaningful mitzvah project, Darren delivered cookie care packages to homebound seniors in our community during the pandemic.
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FEBRUARY 18 • 2021
“It’s an honor to be recognized by Forbes as one of the Best in State Wealth Advisors,” said Weissman. “As investment planning has become more complex, my top priority is to work with my clients to develop strategies to help give them confidence around all facets of their financial lives and achieve their short- and longterm investment goals.”
Weissman has more than 12 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Stanford University, and earned a bachelor’s degree from the materials science and engineering department, and a master’s in materials science and engineering.
Mendelson-Stauss
J
ody and Shelly Mendelson of Franklin announce the marriage of their daughter Arielle Mendelson to Jeremy Stauss, the son of Meir Stauss of Detroit and Carrie Stauss of Jerusalem. Arielle and Jeremy were married by Rabbi Dahlen of Congregation Shaarey Zedek on Aug. 30, 2020, at the home of Jeremy’s grandparents, David and Beverly Frank of Bloomfield Hills. Arielle’s maids of honor were her sisters, Melissa and Erica Mendelson. Jeremy’s best man was his brother, Noah Stauss. Arielle and Jeremy went to the Frankel Jewish Academy but didn’t meet until both were living in Israel. They currently reside in Birmingham. Mr. and Mrs. Stauss are hoping to celebrate with family and friends in the near future.
Neff-Mendelson
J
ody and Shelly Mendelson and Kevin and Jodi Neff of Franklin announce the engagement of their children, Melissa Mendelson and Adam Neff. Melissa and Adam met in BBYO when they were 15. Melissa is a graduate of the University of Michigan and is employed as an accountant in the family business, JDP Management of Ann Arbor. Adam is an IT consultant with CAG Brands in Commerce Township. Adam and Melissa reside in Berkley and look forward to their July 31, 2021, wedding at Tam-O-Shanter in West Bloomfield. HOW TO SUBMIT ANNOUNCEMENTS Mazel Tov! announcements are welcomed for members of the Jewish community. Anniversaries, engagements and weddings with a photo (preferably color) can appear at a cost of $18 each. Births are $10. There is no charge for bar/bat mitzvahs or for special birthdays starting at the 90th. For information, contact Editorial Assistant Sy Manello at smanello@thejewishnews.com or (248) 351-5147 for information or for a mailed or emailed copy of guidelines.
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Virtual events highlight Jewish experience
SPIRIT ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: TORAH PORTION
PHOTO CREDIT JERRY ZOLYNSKY
JOIN MSU SERLING INSTITUTE FOR JEWISH STUDIES AND MODERN ISRAEL BY ZOOM FOR AN ARRAY OF VIRTUALLY ACCESSIBLE AND FREE PROGRAMMING ADDRESSING THE JEWISH EXPERIENCE
SEEKING TERRIFIC TEENS! Michigan-based Chef Hunny Khordorkovsky will demonstrate cooking a Moroccan Theprior JN to and the Jewish Community Center’s JFamilyIsraeli Israeli dish a screening of In Search of Israeli Cuisine, while Yemenite will once again shine the public spotlight on singer-songwriter Tair Haim (right) of A-WA will perform live and taketeens questions from the inaudience. our community with Rising Stars: Teens Making a
DiffAnnual erence.Israeli 18 remarkable Jewish teens in the Metro from Other upcoming highlights The 15th Film Detroit area will be selected and featured in the the Serling Institute’sApril spring Festival takes place February 29, 2021, issue of the Jewish News and recognized lineup of events include panel 28 through March 14. the JN JCC’s JFamily social media pages. discussions and book talks. Eventson include liveand conversations On Tuesday, February 23, from with directors, a cooking Nominees must in Michigan, as Matthew Jewish 7 to 8:30identify p.m., Rabbi demonstration and a livelive musical and be students in grades 9-12; they can be Kaufman will discuss hisselfresearch performance. Ma’abarot details nominated or may be nominated by others today on philosopher Horace Kallen and Mizrahi Jews confined to through March 17. their the relevance of his theories of resettlement camps upon cultural pluralism and democracy arrival in Israel. The comedic Nominees should for impact, to contemporary debates. On story about a Palestinian man be recognized contribution and/or achievement in30, areas Tuesday, March from 4:30 to 6:30 who becomes a writer for a including (but not limited) p.m., a panel to: will discuss the Jewish popular Palestinian soap opera experience of migration, including after a chance meeting with an • Tikkun volunteerism, socialAssociate action,Director Serling Institute Israeli check pointolam, commander advocacy, philanthropy Kirsten Fermaglich and affiliate is told in Tel Aviv on Fire. The Academics/education Steve Gold, based on his edited WWII rescue of Jews• in the book, Wandering Jews: Global Jewish Muslim majority country of • Athletics Music Migration. & arts Top scholars will discuss Albania is documented in •The • Business & entrepreneurship the Holocaust in Greece and the Albanian Code. The showing of challenges variedand influences of local nonIn Search•ofOvercoming Israeli Cuisine willobstacles be • Jewishwith growth and populations learning on Tuesday, followed by a discussion the Jewish • Leadership March 23, from 12:30 to 2 p.m., as narrator and the most famous well as in Romania and the Soviet Israeli chef in America, Michael Union on Thursday, April 8, from Solomonov. To nominate yourself or a teen you know, go to 12:30 to 2 p.m. thejewishnews.com and click on the Rising Stars button or to jfamily.jccdet.org/risingstars. The deadline is March 17.
REGISTER FOR THESE EVENTS or ask to be added to an email list at jsp.msu.edu This insert is published by MSU University Advancement, 535 Chestnut Road, Room 300, East Lansing, MI 48824; (517) 884-1000.
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FEBRUARY 18 • 2021
Still shaped Lasting by JewishLegacies
W
hile not often Studies considered an architectural design at MSU
provide support and stability, and its side bearing branches should rise up. The Torah’s manual, the Torah has several directive that they should stand Ariana Mentzel, ’08, undertook examples of artful and practical erect aserves as a reminder that it Jewish instructions. Studies specialization MSU forever; its roots — construction willatendure Noah’s arkI was is described sanctity, reverence When a studentwith at MSU, itof was a simpler time and wordimensions and floor ship — are firmly than today, but the fledgling new antisemitism, the embedded structure. There areof anti-Zionism, was already in our collective masquerade informingreligious building and national consciousness, my codes Jewishrequiridentity while the Jewish Studies faculty myastudent and the Mishkan ing a and rail for porch peers were an academic even when intellectual on. is no longer in use. to prevent a fatal rock fall. of support I relieditself There is a description But where did these planks Rabbi I took courses in analyzing Middle East conflicts and of house demolition in come from? The midrash Azaryah and politics; cooperation; Israeli government Israeli Cohen case of a tzara’ a t (skin (cited by Rashi) cinema; and through independent study assisted inteaches that disease) outbreak.research And, into thispsychology was not justofany acacia. It preliminary the political Parshat in thisIsraeli week’s portion, is thecourses acacia planted prime ministers.Terumah: These and other and by Jacob. there experiences is the designshaped of planted and them for this theExodus trajectory Ya’akov of my personal professional that myI activity in interfaith the Tabernacle andpaths. its I feel very purpose, so the Israelites 25:1-27:19; and diplomatic committees of the JCRC/AJC, Samuel 15:2furnishings. could availmy themselves of this 34.Community (Shabbat resource position the Detroit Leadership cohort Though an in immense when called upon Zachor) Institute, my co-leading through the Shalom Hartman undertaking, the by God to construct a sacred the Detroit chapter of Zioness, my professional work into the Tabernacle was only meant to Tabernacle. According civil discourse at the Detroit Center for Civil Discourse, serve a purpose at a particular midrash, the foresight and deeds and even how I raise my two young daughters, have all time and place. It provided of Jacob provided his descenbeen pre-informed by my time spent in Jewish Studies the Israelites with a religious dants generations later with the at MSU. center, where God’s presence means to serve and worship withthe my travels academic I partook in Jewish restedCoupled throughout in path, God. His planning and effort communalthe andinitiative leadership with and the wilderness; to experiences supported hisHillel descendants long on the representing fund,served designtwo andyears construct theexecutive afterboard, he was gone. the Jewish Studentamount Union on twoLong Associated Students Mishkan was a massive after the Mishkan is of MSU boards. What I was learning in Jewish Studies of work for a structure that gone, we read of the acacia wood was not just practical for these campus roles, but in would eventually be retired. standing erect reminding us that independent life as well. It influenced my international One of the Tabernacle details our strong and steadfast legacy travel pattern and interfaith friendships I made along is thethe design of its walls. They and traditions continue within way. were made of planks of shittim each of us. And when Jacob All the while, experiencesplanted were innately growing (acacia) wood. Thethese instructions the seeds that grew the mycourtyard own Jewish identity understanding the for the planks are and mymaterials used inofhis descendiversity of themake Jewish I was wellundertaking, prepared his curious. “You shall thecommunity. dants’ sacred the work I do today the Michael and Elaine planksforfor the Tabernacle of at acawork outlived him by millennia. Serling Institute for Jewish Studies and Modern Israel cia wood, upright.” Our virtuous and religious at MSU. It’s an honor to work with my college mentor, Why does the Torah speciefforts today, how we educate Professor Yael Aronoff, and with the 42 students fy thatcurrently the boards be laid out and what weofmodel, minoring in Jewish Studies, some whomwill mean vertically standing upright? Is our children and are undoubtedly the future of the Detroit Jewish their children, there community. some advantage to having for generations to come, can a wall made of vertical rather continue to stand tall and proud than horizontal boards? The like the acacia of the Mishkan. Talmud (Yoma 72a) teaches that Ariana Mentzel is assistant to the director of the the boards the Mishkan were SerlingofInstitute and managing director of the Detroit Azaryah Cohen isofhead of school to be Center constructed in Discourse. the same She isRabbi for Civil co-vice president thethey JCRC/AJC. Ariana,The her husband Jay, and two at Frankel Jewish Academy in West manner had grown. daughters live inshould Beverly Hills. Bloomfield. end bearing its roots
MICHIGAN STATE
U N I V E R S I T Y F E B R UA R Y 2 0 2 1
MSU tests Detroitarea wastewater for early COVID-19 detection Michigan State University researchers have received $2.1 million in grant funding to test for the novel coronavirus in wastewater, including from the Detroit area, which has the potential to be an early warning system for the presence of COVID-19. The funding was provided by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services from Michigan’s allocation of federal money under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES. Existing COVID-19 wastewater surveillance programs were funded to quickly establish a standardized and coordinated network of monitoring systems across the state. Joan Rose, Homer Nowlin Chair in Water Research at MSU, was awarded $1.3 million of the total funding to train and assist labs with analytical methods. Irene Xagoraraki, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at MSU, was
Associate Professor Irene Xagoraraki will expand her ongoing COVID-19 detection program in the Detroit area with an $800,000 grant. (Photo taken prior to the university-wide mask mandate.)
awarded $800,000 to expand an ongoing COVID-19 detection program to test untreated sewage in the Detroit area. In 2017, she received funding from the National Science Foundation to begin a wastewater-based epidemiology project in collaboration with the Great Lakes Water Authority and the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department. In April 2020, Xagoraraki received additional funding to focus on COVID-19 and
Student perspectives on Jewish life at MSU When we asked a few students to share their thoughts on what it’s like to be Jewish at MSU, we were blown away by their heartfelt responses.
“Our early work confirmed the validity of the method to provide early warning of multiple viral diseases, including COVID-19,” Xagoraraki says. “The Detroit project goes above and beyond simple testing of wastewater. We include multiple other data, measurements and processes to
strength of its Jewish community. As a Jew at MSU, I think there are a lot of opportunities to get involved. The Jewish Student Union holds events that allow people from all over to make strong connections with each other that can last a lifetime. There are always Cooper Myers (’21, College of smiling faces at MSU Hillel, Natural Science): “Michigan and it’s a great place to study, State is a great place to be hang with friends and eat Jewish because of the diversity Friday night shabbat dinner.” of its student body and the Continued on page 3 We asked: What aspects of MSU made you feel welcome, and how have your Judaism and MSU Hillel played a role in your student experience? They answered in ways that would make anyone miss the community and culture that make MSU feel like home.
Cooper Myers (’21, College of Natural Science)
develop an early warning system for the metro Detroit area.
Continued on page 2
“MSU doesn’t just have a Jewish community; it has a Jewish community with character.” Taylor SpurgeonHess (’21, Eli Broad College of Business)
MSU MSU tests tests Detroit-area Detroit-area wastewater wastewater for for early early COVID-19 COVID-19 detection detection -- continued continued from from page page 11
provide provide aa tool tool that that can can be be used used by by public public health health officials.” officials.” DWSD, DWSD, GLWA GLWA and and MSU MSU have have been been at at the the forefront forefront of of U.S. U.S. wastewater wastewater utilities utilities using using the the sewer sewer system system to to help help identify identify virus virus outbreaks. outbreaks. “The “The expansion expansion of of the the partnership partnership gives gives us us targeted targeted information information that that is is critical critical in in our our battle battle against against COVID-19,” COVID-19,” says says Denise Denise Fair, Fair, City City of of Detroit Detroit Chief Chief Public Public Health Health Officer. Officer. “The “The expanded expanded reach reach of of this this study study allows allows us us to to
pinpoint pinpoint neighborhoods neighborhoods and and zip zip codes codes where where COVID-19 COVID-19 is is trending trending upward, upward, and and we we can can use use this this information information to to reach reach out out to to residents residents and and businesses businesses in in those those areas areas to to reinforce reinforce our our messaging messaging with with regard regard to to testing, testing, quarantine quarantine protocols, protocols, contact contact tracing tracing and and even even assistance assistance for for businesses businesses that that need need help help in in developing developing aa plan plan to to operate operate while while keeping keeping their their employees employees safe safe during during this this pandemic.” pandemic.” The The approach approach that that Xagoraraki Xagoraraki and and the the team team are are using using is is focused focused on on community community
composite composite sampling sampling and and analysis. analysis. ItIt is is aa wastewater-based wastewater-based epidemiology epidemiology method method directly directly applicable applicable to to urban urban metropolitan metropolitan areas areas with with centralized centralized wastewater wastewater collection. collection. “Our “Our approach approach has has the the potential potential to to provide provide warnings warnings earlier earlier than than traditional traditional systems systems focused focused on on clinical clinical diagnostics—rapid diagnostics—rapid or or not—which not—which are are inherently inherently limited limited to to an an after after analysis analysis of of an an outbreak,” outbreak,” says says Xagoraraki. Xagoraraki.
PROGRAM PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT: SPOTLIGHT:
Music of the people, for the people, in Detroit From From its its headquarters headquarters on on Woodward Woodward Avenue Avenue in in Detroit’s Detroit’s Midtown Midtown neighborhood, neighborhood, MSU’s MSU’s Community Community Music Music School-Detroit School-Detroit has has been been offering offering innovative innovative music music programming programming to to Detroiters Detroiters of of all all ages ages since since 2009. 2009. Through Through its its existence existence alone, alone, the the CMS-D CMS-D has has helped helped to to dismantle dismantle some some of of the the economic economic barriers barriers that that stand stand in in the the way way of of high-quality high-quality music music education. education. But But aa new new program program called called Music Music Empowers, Empowers, launched launched by by CMS-D CMS-D in in 2020 2020 and and funded funded by by aa grant grant from from the the Community Community Foundation Foundation for for Southeast Southeast Michigan, Michigan, has has taken taken the the school’s school’s commitment commitment to to equity equity in in music music education education aa step step further. further. Under Under the the leadership leadership of of Juliet Juliet Hess, Hess, associate associate professor professor of of music music education education at at MSU, MSU, Music Music Empowers Empowers is is providing providing the the tools tools and and training training to to help help all all CMS-D CMS-D faculty faculty members members build build social social justice justice into into their their music music curriculum. curriculum. A A window window and and mirror mirror Historically, Historically, music music curriculum curriculum has has focused focused almost almost exclusively exclusively on on the the musical musical styles styles and and achievements achievements of of only only white white American American or or Western Western European European men, men, and and few few have have bothered bothered to to ask ask whether whether any any of of itit was was actually meaningful meaningful or or relatable relatable actually to the the students students learning learning it. it. to has experienced experienced this this Hess Hess has herself. “I“I know know that that when when II herself. was aa young young child, child, II was was was subject to to aa Christocentric Christocentric subject curriculum that that didn’t didn’t curriculum acknowledge my acknowledge my Judaism,” she she says. says. Judaism,” “At that that time, time, itit “At would have have made made would significant aa significant difference for for me me difference to see see myself myself to included in in the the included curriculum.” curriculum.”
Now, Now, as as an an educator, educator, she she sees sees the the issue issue through through the the lens lens of of the the well-known well-known relational relational scholar scholar Emily Emily Style, Style, who who said said that that curriculum curriculum should should be be “both “both aa window window and and aa mirror” mirror” for for students. students. Curriculum Curriculum should should both both reflect reflect students’ students’ realities realities back back to to them them to to affirm affirm them them and and also also provide provide aa window window into into the the realities realities of of others. others.
religious religious or or cultural cultural traditions: traditions: jazz, jazz, Motown, Motown, R&B, R&B, hip-hop, hip-hop, drum drum circles circles or or mariachi, mariachi, and and in in every every lesson lesson about about every every genre, genre, itit acknowledges acknowledges and and makes makes space space for for musicians musicians and and music music aficionados aficionados of of all all shapes, shapes, sizes, sizes, colors, colors, genders genders and and religions. religions. Hess Hess envisions envisions how how this this approach approach would would apply apply to to the the Jewish Jewish community. community.
To To achieve achieve that, that, Music Music Empowers Empowers calls calls for for “In thinking thinking about about the the Jewish Jewish community… community… something something researchers researchers have have coined coined culturally culturally “In it it would would mean mean that that Jewish Jewish students students would would responsive responsive teaching, teaching, which which gives gives students students see see their their experiences experiences reflected reflected in in “opportunities “opportunities to to engage engage with with music music in in ways ways classroom classroom materials materials and and activities, activities, which which that that are are congruent congruent with with their their own own lived lived would would also also provide provide students students outside outside the the cultural cultural experiences experiences with with music.” music.” In In the the Jewish Jewish community community with with an an opportunity opportunity to to context context of of CMS-D, CMS-D, itit will will help help music music students students engage engage with with the the experiences experiences of of their their see see aa place place for for themselves themselves in in the the world world of of Jewish peers.” peers.” music, music, as as both both aa form form of of self-expression self-expression and and aa Jewish way way of of understanding understanding others. others. And And the the same same could could be be said said for for any any student student who who has has previously previously felt felt “othered” “othered” by by Social Social justice: justice: not not just just aa buzzword buzzword curriculum. That’s That’s what what social social justice justice is, is, So, So, what what does does “socially “socially just” just” music music curriculum curriculum curriculum. after after all: all: the the idea idea that that no no person person should should be be look—and look—and sound—like? sound—like? It’s It’s flexible. flexible. ItIt oppressed oppressed or or cast cast aside aside by by the the system system on on incorporates incorporates the the tastes tastes and and interests interests of of the the the the basis basis of of any any aspect aspect of of their their identity. identity. students students in in the the class, class, as as well well as as musical musical genres genres and and practices practices that that might might be be an an And And while while music, music, alone, alone, isn’t isn’t going going to to fix fix important important part part of of their their culture. culture. aa world’s world’s worth worth of of social social justice justice issues, issues, itit is is aa great great place place to to start start teaching teaching people people In In some some cases, cases, that that does does include include the the music music of of how how to to see see and and be be seen, seen, and and to to listen listen and and white white American American and and Western Western European European men. men. be be heard. heard. But But itit might might also also include include the the music music of of various various
Student Student perspectives perspectives on on Jewish Jewish life life at at MSU MSU -- continued continued from from page page 11
Taylor Taylor Spurgeon-Hess Spurgeon-Hess (’21, (’21, Eli Eli Broad Broad College College of of Business): Business): “MSU “MSU doesn’t doesn’t just just have have aa Jewish Jewish community; community; itit has has aa Jewish Jewish community community with with character. character. MSU MSU as as aa whole whole has has been been aa place place that that accepted accepted all all parts parts of of me me from from day day one. one. ‘Spartans ‘Spartans Will’ Will’ isis not not just just aa slogan…it slogan…it isis aa mindset mindset shared shared by by the the students students and and staff. staff. The The sense sense of of togetherness togetherness and and camaraderie camaraderie embodied embodied by by MSU’s MSU’s community community gave gave me me room room to to share share who who II was was without without fear fear of of judgment. judgment. This This fall, fall, II felt felt lost. lost. My My sense sense of of community community had had been been weakened weakened when when classes classes went went online. online. MSU MSU Hillel Hillel took took me me in in and and gave gave me me aa home home away away from from home. home. The The staff staff members members and and other other students students brightened brightened my my day day and and proved proved that that even even aa pandemic pandemic can’t can’t break break the the spirit spirit of of MSU.” MSU.”
Music Music programming programming for for parents parents and and caregivers caregivers with with children children under under age age six. six.
Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation supports early childhood development program
Sloane Sloane Krugel Krugel (’23, (’23, Lyman Lyman Briggs Briggs College): College): “There “There are are many many Jewish Jewish students students who who attend attend Michigan Michigan State, State, so so you you never never feel feel alone. alone. MSU MSU Hillel Hillel has has played played aa huge huge role role in in my my student student experience—as experience—as soon soon as as II arrived, arrived, they they delivered delivered aa welcome welcome bag bag to to my my dorm dorm room, room, and and provided provided events events for for Jewish Jewish students students to to meet meet each each other other and and get get to to know know the the Hillel Hillel staff. staff. They They host host shabbat shabbat dinners dinners every every Friday Friday so so students students can can have have aa “home-cooked “home-cooked meal,” meal,” and and on on top top of of all all of of this, this, their their building building isis open open most most days days of of the the week week so so students students can can have have aa quiet quiet space space to to study. study. Especially Especially now, now, during during COVID-19, COVID-19, Hillel Hillel has has provided provided me me and and other other students students with with shabbat-to-go shabbat-to-go meals, meals, Sunday Sunday brunches brunches and and many many other other resources resources to to help help us us succeed.” succeed.”
The The Max Max M. M. and and Marjorie Marjorie S. S. Fisher Fisher Foundation Foundation has has combined combined two two of of its its primary primary philanthropic philanthropic interests interests in in its its support support for for the the MSU MSU Community Community Music Music School-Detroit: School-Detroit: arts arts and and culture, culture, and and early early childhood. childhood. The The Key Key of of D D Kids Kids program, program, made made possible possible thanks thanks to to the the Fisher Fisher Foundation, Foundation, provides provides developmentally developmentally appropriate appropriate music music programming programming for for parents parents and and caregivers caregivers with with children children from from birth birth to to six six years years old. old. These These free free classes, classes, taught taught by by instructors instructors who who specialize specialize in in early early childhood childhood music music education, education, are are offered offered at at locations locations throughout throughout the the Detroit Detroit area area to to best best serve serve an an at-risk at-risk early early childhood childhood demographic. demographic.
Jordan Jordan Robinson Robinson (’22, (’22, College College of of Social Social Science): Science): “MSU “MSU allows allows students students to to be be Jewish Jewish in in aa multitude multitude of of different different capacities, capacities, and and the the university’s university’s administration administration and and undergraduate undergraduate student student government government continuously continuously work work with with the the Jewish Jewish Student Student Union Union to to ensure ensure that that Jewish Jewish students students feel feel safe, safe, welcome welcome and and included included on on campus. campus. MSU MSU Hillel, Hillel, specifically, specifically, goes goes out out of of their their way way to to get get to to know know you you on on an an individual individual level, level, support support you you on on campus campus and and help help you you get get what what you you want want out out of of your your MSU MSU experience. experience. Hillel Hillel allowed allowed me me to to get get real real world world experience experience in in my my desired desired career career path—Jewish path—Jewish nonprofit nonprofit work—and work—and exposed exposed me me to to people people and and organizations organizations that that will will strengthen strengthen me me as as both both aa person person and and aa Jew.” Jew.”
The The goal goal of of Key Key of of D D Kids Kids isis to to use use music music as as aa vehicle vehicle to to develop develop children’s children’s communication, communication, self-expression, self-expression, social social skills, skills, movement movement and and physical physical coordination, coordination, which which will will set set them them up up not not only only for for academic academic success success when when they they reach reach school school age, age, but but also also for for aa lifetime lifetime of of musical musical experience, experience, enjoyment enjoyment and and engagement. engagement.
LEARN LEARN MORE MORE about about MSU MSU Hillel Hillel at at msuhillel.org msuhillel.org
MARK YOUR CALENDAR MARCH 16, 2021 – GIVE GREEN DAY:
In In 2020, 2020, Key Key of of D D Kids Kids had had aa cumulative cumulative attendance attendance of of 2,555 2,555 children, children, who who attended attended 382 382 sessions. sessions. Using Using the the Zoom Zoom video video conferencing conferencing system, system, classes classes were were able able to to continue, continue, providing providing valuable valuable enrichment enrichment for for children children throughout throughout the the pandemic. pandemic. LEARN LEARN MORE MORE about about Music Music Empowers, Empowers, Key Key of of D D Kids, Kids, and and all all of of the the programming programming offered offered at at the the Community Community Music Music School-Detroit School-Detroit at at cms.msu.edu/detroit cms.msu.edu/detroit
Join Spartans from around the world in showing support for students at MSU on Give Green Day! For more information, watch our social channels or visit givingday.msu.edu
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Virtual events highlight Jewish experience JOIN MSU SERLING INSTITUTE FOR JEWISH STUDIES AND MODERN ISRAEL BY ZOOM FOR AN ARRAY OF VIRTUALLY ACCESSIBLE AND FREE PROGRAMMING ADDRESSING THE JEWISH EXPERIENCE
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT:
Still shaped by Jewish Studies at MSU Ariana Mentzel, ’08, undertook a Jewish Studies specialization at MSU When I was a student at MSU, it was a simpler time than today, but the fledgling new antisemitism, the masquerade of anti-Zionism, was already informing my Jewish identity while the Jewish Studies faculty and my student peers were an academic and intellectual rock of support I relied on.
Michigan-based Chef Hunny Khordorkovsky will demonstrate cooking a Moroccan Israeli dish prior to a screening of In Search of Israeli Cuisine, while Yemenite Israeli singer-songwriter Tair Haim (right) of A-WA will perform live and take questions from the audience.
The 15th Annual Israeli Film Festival takes place February 28 through March 14. Events include live conversations with directors, a cooking demonstration and a live musical performance. Ma’abarot details Mizrahi Jews confined to resettlement camps upon their arrival in Israel. The comedic story about a Palestinian man who becomes a writer for a popular Palestinian soap opera after a chance meeting with an Israeli check point commander is told in Tel Aviv on Fire. The WWII rescue of Jews in the Muslim majority country of Albania is documented in The Albanian Code. The showing of In Search of Israeli Cuisine will be followed by a discussion with the narrator and the most famous Israeli chef in America, Michael Solomonov.
Other upcoming highlights from the Serling Institute’s spring lineup of events include panel discussions and book talks. On Tuesday, February 23, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., Rabbi Matthew Kaufman will discuss his research on philosopher Horace Kallen and the relevance of his theories of cultural pluralism and democracy to contemporary debates. On Tuesday, March 30, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., a panel will discuss the Jewish experience of migration, including Serling Institute Associate Director Kirsten Fermaglich and affiliate Steve Gold, based on his edited book, Wandering Jews: Global Jewish Migration. Top scholars will discuss the Holocaust in Greece and the varied influences of local nonJewish populations on Tuesday, March 23, from 12:30 to 2 p.m., as well as in Romania and the Soviet Union on Thursday, April 8, from 12:30 to 2 p.m.
REGISTER FOR THESE EVENTS or ask to be added to an email list at jsp.msu.edu This insert is published by MSU University Advancement, 535 Chestnut Road, Room 300, East Lansing, MI 48824; (517) 884-1000.
I took courses in analyzing Middle East conflicts and cooperation; Israeli government and politics; Israeli cinema; and through independent study assisted in preliminary research into the political psychology of Israeli prime ministers. These and other courses and experiences shaped the trajectory of my personal and professional paths. I feel that my activity in interfaith and diplomatic committees of the JCRC/AJC, my position in the Detroit Community Leadership cohort through the Shalom Hartman Institute, my co-leading the Detroit chapter of Zioness, my professional work in civil discourse at the Detroit Center for Civil Discourse, and even how I raise my two young daughters, have all been pre-informed by my time spent in Jewish Studies at MSU. Coupled with my academic path, I partook in Jewish communal and leadership experiences with Hillel and served two years on the executive board, representing the Jewish Student Union on two Associated Students of MSU boards. What I was learning in Jewish Studies was not just practical for these campus roles, but in independent life as well. It influenced my international travel pattern and interfaith friendships I made along the way. All the while, these experiences were innately growing my own Jewish identity and my understanding of the diversity of the Jewish community. I was well prepared for the work I do today at the Michael and Elaine Serling Institute for Jewish Studies and Modern Israel at MSU. It’s an honor to work with my college mentor, Professor Yael Aronoff, and with the 42 students currently minoring in Jewish Studies, some of whom are undoubtedly the future of the Detroit Jewish community.
Ariana Mentzel is assistant to the director of the Serling Institute and managing director of the Detroit Center for Civil Discourse. She is co-vice president of the JCRC/AJC. Ariana, her husband Jay, and two daughters live in Beverly Hills.
for college students by college students
February 18, 2021/6 Adar 5781
Pandemic Podcast MSU Hillel launches The Weekly Kvetch.
I
f you know me, you know I’m a major media consumer. I spend much of my day on social media, watch YouTube videos about graphic design techniques, and finish each night watching Netflix. I find media to be fasSophie cinating due to Dwoskin the wide variety of forms it can take and have found a passion for creating content. This is why I decided to apply and interview for the Langer Family Multimedia internship at Hillel at Michigan State University, where I am a current senior studying graphic design. When I was officially offered the position, ideas started formulating in my head of the content we could create to reach Jewish students in East Lansing and those students who would be spending their semester at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I had never thought, though, that through this internship, I’d be adding a new kind of media to my tool belt.
What better way to virtually engage students during a pandemic than by giving them something to listen to? This question led to the creation of The Weekly Kvetch, MSU Hillel’s inaugural podcast featuring interviews from awesome Jewish people and more conversations relevant to college students. Along with my supervisor and Hillel’s director of Jewish student life, Nate Strauss, we began to lay the groundwork for this project. After bringing on our host and fellow current student, Jake Rubin, we got to work reaching out to some of the internet’s best Jewish personalities. After our first few guests being fellow students and local Jewish leaders, our reach began to grow, and our ability to book more influential Jewish guests came with it. Some of my favorite guests so far have been Tess Koman, senior editor at Delish, Stephanie Butnick, deputy editor at Tablet Magazine, and Adam Lehman, president and CEO of Hillel International. Guests like this have brought very enriching content and stories to our podcast, helping us achieve our goal of building
The Weekly Kvetch Hosts, Sophie Dwoskin, Nate Strauss and Jake Rubin, with podcast guest Stephanie Butnick, deputy editor at Tablet Magazine.
The Weekly Kvetch is MSU Hillel’s inaugural podcast featuring interviews from awesome Jewish people and more conversations relevant to college students. Jewish community online. The Weekly Kvetch and MSU Hillel have allowed me to grow my skills as a designer and producer in ways I could have never imagined. Creating connections with our guests via Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn has helped me become a better communicator and problem-solver. I’ve also acquired new skills like podcast editing, promotion and producing, which I am excited to bring
with me after I graduate in May. The Weekly Kvetch is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and anywhere else podcasts can be found. Our podcast has shown me that even during a global pandemic, we can still engage with students in new, creative, and innovative ways. @ Sophie Dwoskin, 21, of West Bloomfield, is a senior at Michigan State University studying graphic design.
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for college students by college students
WHATEVER IS
Julia Bretschneider of JBBakes with her baked goods.
NEXT
Butter, Flour and Hillel
For Grand Valley students, next is opportunity and innovation. Next is global, connecting and uniting us. It’s local, shaping the spaces in which we work and live. It’s a commitment to progress. Next is where minds are free to imagine what could be. At GVSU, next is now. And whatever’s next for you, we will help you get there.
gvsu.edu/next
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This is your moment Find your path at Lawrence Technological University, and become a leader who solves the challenges of today while building a better future.
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teams, with new teams forming now
registered for graduate school at commencement
ltu.edu/applyfree Architecture and Design | Arts and Sciences Business and Information Technology | Engineering
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Southfield, Michigan
New MSU Hillel Circles program connects people with shared interests.
L
ike most of the world, I found comfort in the kitchen during COVID-19 lockdowns. Baking has always been a passion of mine, but it wasn’t until a global pandemic that I realized it is what I am meant to do. To document my baking journey, I started Julia a brand called Bretschneider JBBakes (@ jbbakes_ on Instagram) in March of 2020. It began as a creative outlet to share the things I was baking with friends and family, and it became so much more. Throughout the summer, JBBakes grew from a hobby into my very own small business. With a small following at home, I was so eager to bring JBBakes back to East Lansing. I immediately felt the support of my friends and my community. The Michigan State Hillel staff not only supported my dreams, but also embraced my business. I received an overwhelming amount of support not only from a sales aspect, but also by being given a platform. HILLEL CIRCLES This upcoming semester I will be leading a baking club
through MSU Hillel’s new program, MSU Hillel Circles. This program gives students a space to meet people with similar interests by joining a niche shared interest group called a circle, plan programs for the group and gain leadership experience. Over the next few months, I will have the opportunity to teach my peers about the fundamentals of baking as well as collaborate with them on new and exciting techniques. I am looking forward to talking about everything from the creaming method, to adding our own spin to classics like rugelach and hamantashen. When I moved to Michigan from New York for school, I was nervous about the change in culture and pace. I didn’t think there would be a place for me to fit in until I went to MSU Hillel. Now, almost four years later, I owe so much of my personal and professional growth to the staff, students and community at Hillel. I am so grateful for the overwhelming support here at Michigan State, and I am so excited to share my love of baking with my fellow Jewish students. @ Julia Bretschneider, 21, of Melville, N.Y., is a senior at Michigan State University studying nutritional sciences.
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for college students by college students
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• BHS offers 26 AP courses • 70% of Seniors, 66% of Juniors and 48% of Sophomores are taking at least one AP class. • Berkley Schools is a 2012-20 Best Community for Music Education, designated by the NAMM Foundation
Questions? 248.837.8104 www.berkleyschools.org
engage. inspire. achieve.
The Eastern Michigan University Center for Jewish Studies offers classes in Jewish life and culture, both on-campus and on the road (in places as close as New York City and as far away as Germany, Poland, Spain, and Israel). We sponsor faculty and student research—including the groundbreaking project, Jewish Life and Language in Southeast Michigan. We are responsible for a lecture series, which, over the years, has brought students and community members together to sample latkes for Hanukkah, taste “kosher soul” food, dance to klezmer music, laugh at “Old Jews Telling Jokes,” and sing with Israeli singer-songwriters.
Trivia Night at Hillel of Metro Detroit Benji Rosenberg } jewish@edu writer
Hillel of Metro Detroit (HMD) has been hosting a monthly trivia night as a way to gather students together virtually for a fun, competitive, Jeopardy-style contest. Students have been submitting suggestions for trivia categories, and the HMD staff has been using those to create a variety of topics to formulate the content. Categories have included Pop Culture, Jewish Athletes/ Celebrities, Worldwide Jewish Holiday Traditions, TV Shows and many more. HMD has had tremendous
positive feedback from all participants. Winners of the contest have won Amazon gift cards. Winners have included Yuval — one of our Israeli Shinshinim — and me! One question that no one got right was in the Worldwide Chanukah Traditions category, “In this country, latkes are made from fried plantains instead of potatoes?” The answer is Colombia. @ Benji Rosenberg is a sophomore at Wayne State University.
MLK Day Service: Seed Sorting For more information visit www.emich.edu/jewish-studies or email jewish.studies@emich.edu
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Hillel of Metro Detroit students sorted seeds provided by Keep Growing Detroit, a local farm that is a garden resource center for Detroit farmers and gardeners. These seeds will be distributed to hundreds of people in Detroit and will be a food source by next autumn. @
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sports HIGHlights
brought to you in partnership with
NMLS#2289
West Bloomfield resident Brandon Rothenberg steps up to the plate each week on the Blue Wire platform. STEVE STEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
B
randon Rothenberg has found his voice. It’s on his new baseball-themed podcast called Motor City Hardball that is available through Blue Wire, a California-based sports podcasting platform that was launched in 2018. Rothenberg, a 23-year-old West Bloomfield resident, has done 10 weekly episodes of Motor City Hardball since December. Each episode is released at 3 p.m. EST Wednesday on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. “Baseball is my passion,” Rothenberg said. “Hopefully this podcast will get my foot in the door to a career of covering baseball.”
quick hits BY STEVE STEIN
Mat Ishbia Sends a $32 Million Thank You to MSU
Mat Ishbia was a team player when he played basketball at Michigan State University, doing all he could to make his teammates better players. He did the same thing Feb. 4, only on a much larger scale. Ishbia, president and CEO of
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Rothenberg sometimes has a guest on his podcast. His guest in episode No. 5 was longtime friend David Vinsky. A Farmington Hills Harrison High School graduate who was selected in the 15th round of the 2019 Major League Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, Vinsky should resume his professional baseball career this summer in the Cardinals’ farm system after an unexpected season off because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The conversation between friends on Rothenberg’s podcast episode was informal, humorous and informational. It ran the gamut from discussing Vinsky’s days as a three-sport Pontiac-based United Wholesale Mortgage and a 2016 inductee into the Michigan Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, donated $32 million to Michigan State’s athletic program. It’s the largest donation from an individual in MSU’s history. “This donation is not about me,” Isbhia said in a news release issued by UWM. “This is to give credit to and thank coach Tom Izzo, the business school and Michigan State University for the incredible impact they have had on my life.” Izzo, in turn, praised Ishbia in the release. “From the first day he joined our basketball team and, in the years following, I’ve watched Mat continue to make an impact for the betterment of others, taking the lessons he learned at Michigan State and instilling them in his company,” Izzo
Brandon Rothenberg records an episode of his Motor City Hardball podcast.
high school athlete, baseball star at Northwood University and professional ballplayer to talking about Vinsky’s renewed interest in collecting baseball cards while trying to pass the time during the pandemic. Vinsky told Rothenberg the amazing story of opening a pack of baseball cards and finding a rare card autographed by AllStar Mike Trout. Eli Weil, another longtime friend of Rothenberg and fellow North Farmington High School and 2020 Michigan State University graduate, is trying said. “Every day, as a member of our team, Mat wanted to improve himself and others around him, knowing that on every successful team, just as in business, everyone has a part to play. He has never relented that attitude. “This gift speaks volumes to Mat’s character and the way he runs his business today; always focusing on creating a family atmosphere and being there for one another.” The largest part of Ishbia’s donation to MSU — $20 million — is for the football program. The money will be used for an expansion of the Skandalaris Football Center. Some $2 million will go to the MSU basketball program’s Excellence Fund. Izzo will decide how that money is used. Ishbia was a star basketball play-
DYLAN BRESSLER
MSU Grad Plays ‘Motor City Hardball’ On His Podcast
to make Rothenberg’s dream of being a baseball media member a reality while giving his own career a boost. Weil is studying at the Blackbird Academy in Nashville, Tenn., with the goal of getting into music production or audio engineering. He created original theme music for Rothenberg’s podcast that is played at the beginning and end of each podcast and in the middle to break up the conversation. “It took a couple tries before Brandon made his decision on er at Birmingham Seaholm High School (1996-98) and he was named a Jewish News High School Athlete of the Year when he was a senior. He was a member of three straight Big Ten champion and Final Four teams (1999-2001) at MSU, and he was a graduate assistant coach for the Spartans for one season. He also was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree (2000-2002) at MSU, and the winner of the President’s Award for having the highest grade-point average of all senior athletes. He graduated from MSU’s Eli Broad College of Business in 2003. Ishbia became a billionaire Jan. 22 after his company went public. Look for a feature profile of Mat Ishbia in an upcoming JN.
BRANDON ROTHENBERG
FIND A HOME YOU
Brandon Rothenberg met former Detroit Tigers great Al Kaline on May 18, 2019 at Comerica Park.
the theme music for his podcast,” Weil said. “I wanted to create music that fit Brandon’s show. I think the music has an old-school Motown feel. I hope it creates a familiarity when you hear it, like ESPN’s theme.” Rothenberg’s podcasting work has caught the attention of Tyler Chin, Blue Wire’s head of operations. “You can tell Brandon is becoming more comfortable with each episode,” Chin said. Blue Wire has a main roster of about 140 sports podcasters that includes several professional athletes, and — using baseball terminology — a separate place for promising minor league podcasters to hone their craft so they can move up to the big leagues. That separate place is called Blue Wire Hustle. Rothenberg is among more than 100 so-called “Hustlers” who have come on board since October. For $15 a month, Blue Wire provides Hustlers with what Chin calls the “back end” part of a podcast, including artwork and hosting. Plus, through group chats and question-and-answer sessions with main roster podcasters, Hustlers can learn podcasting skills and how to grow a podcast. “We emphasize community in Blue Wire Hustle. Having a support system,” Chin said. That’s a comforting place for Rothenberg, who has found the journalism job market to
be tight in the midst of the pandemic. Rothenberg came out of Michigan State last May with an impressive resume that included internships with the United Shore Professional Baseball League in Utica in the summer of 2018 and the NBC Golf Channel in Orlando, Fla., in the summer of 2019. During his junior year at MSU, he earned one of eight spots available for MSU journalism students to cover a Detroit Pistons-Cleveland Cavaliers exhibition game at MSU’s Breslin Center. “I was assigned to the Cavaliers and wrote a story,” he said. “It was a great experience.” Also when he was a junior, Rothenberg took a play-by-play class that was taught by Detroit Tigers play-by-play radio announcer Dan Dickerson. Rothenberg and Dickerson became friends, and Dickerson invited Rothenberg inside the Tigers’ broadcasters Comerica Park radio booth twice to listen to the pre-game show and first inning of a game. On one of his trips to the radio booth, on May 18, 2019, Rothenberg met former Tigers star Al Kaline after Kaline walked into the booth, and the two had a photo taken. Sponsorships are available for Rothenberg’s podcast. He can be reached at Brandonrothenberg123@gmail. com.
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FEBRUARY 18 • 2021
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A Natural on the Ice
COURTESY OF MARIA BIEDERMAN
SPORTS
Hockey star, 16, has her eyes set on bigger goals. JENNIFER LOVY CONTRIBUTING WRITER
A
s a little girl, Elyssa Biederman cried the first time her parents laced up her tiny white figure skates. She does not remember sobbing throughout the entire preschool learnto-skate class. Still, the story is a family favorite, especially now that Biederman will be playing women’s ice hockey for Colgate University in New York State. She’ll join the Division 1 college team in the fall of 2022 after graduating from Birmingham Groves High School. Biederman’s disdain for skating was brief. By the time she was 4 or 5, she ended up back on the ice — this time in hockey skates. The reintroduction came when her family participated in a hockey event organized by her older brother’s coach. There was something about shooting a puck that captivated Biederman, and she left the arena that day with a newly discovered passion. Her parents, Maria and Jason Biederman, enrolled their middle child in a hockey skills clinic, where she spent the next few years honing her skills. “I don’t remember not having hockey in my life,” said Biederman, who lives in Franklin. “If I weren’t playing the game, it wouldn’t feel right. There’s a creativity that comes with playing. It’s not like football or baseball. In hockey, there is a flow. You have to read and react.” Around the age of 8, Biederman joined an all-boys team where she stayed for five years. During that time, she would come across other female players who were also the only girls on their respective teams. “She played with the same team for many years, so it always felt very normal for her and her teammates,” said her mom, Maria Biederman, who described her daughter as “this little firecracker on ice. Some people call her the ‘Energizer Bunny’
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FEBRUARY 18 • 2021
because she darts off the bench, ready to engage.” Biederman, now 16, switched to a girls’ team in eighth grade and currently plays on a Little Caesars 16-and-under team. Little Caesars is one of only four organizations in Michigan offering Tier 1 (AAA) girls’ hockey. She switched teams when she got to a level where the boys were checking. The thought of Biederman, who stands at 5”-1’, being knocked against the boards or pushed to the ice by a male player, made it an easy decision for this hockey forward. FEWER OPPORTUNITIES Being the only girl on a bench of boys and playing a sport dominated by male athletes has never been an issue. What bothers Biederman is the fact that there aren’t as many opportunities for female hockey players. There is a six-team National Women’s Hockey League. Biederman said NWHL players are poorly compensated compared to NHL players, and most of the women must have other careers in addition to playing the game. “I don’t think it’s fair that men can survive on a salary from hockey, but women can’t,” explained Biederman. She went on to say that if she has a chance to go to the Olympics, she plans to use the opportunity as a platform to advocate for equality within the sport. Kenny Ryan coaches Biederman and describes her as “one of those naturally gifted players with a work ethic that separates her from the others. She has a real love for hockey. In terms of girls’ hockey in Detroit, I think everyone probably knows of Elyssa Biederman. She’s a very gifted athlete with a bright future.”
Elyssa Biederman plays forward on the Little Caesars girls 16-and-under team.
Twice so far, she has been among an elite group of players from around the country selected to participate in a player development camp. This puts her on a path to potentially being invited to play on the U.S. National Team and, ultimately, the Olympics. In addition to her individual accomplishments, she and her Little Caesars teammates have been to Nationals twice. They were expected to go a third time as the No. 2 ranked girls’ 16U team in the country. However, COVID forced the cancellation of the tournament. When she’s not on the ice, Biederman spends much of her time watching NHL highlight clips and videos from her games to help her grow as a player. She also runs cross country and plays guitar. She’s a student coach for the Little Caesars girls 12U team, works as a madrich (volunteer assistant) at Adat Shalom’s Hebrew school and is a National Honor Society member.
ARTS&LIFE BOOKS
Constance Harris
S
ome years ago, at an age close to 90, Constance Harris felt bored. “What can I do with the rest of my life?” the Californian and former Michigander asked her son, Stephen. “Write another book,” he suggested, and she did just that, dedicating it to him and his wife, Ruth. The Many Ways Jews Loved: A History from Printed Words and Images (McFarland) came out this year and follows her two other books also published by McFarland — The Way Jews Lived: Five Hundred Years of Printed Words and Images (2009) and Portraiture in Prints (1987).
Her Lifelong Love Affair with Judaism History buff, 95, writes a 200-page “love letter” to the Jewish people. SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
DETAILS
The Many Ways Jews Have Loved is available on Amazon.
The new book explores types of love with varying ethnic outlooks — toward God, people, country, food, traditions, artistry and humor. “Because I had finished the book on how Jews lived throughout history, I was trying to take some other angle, and I thought about relationships,” said Harris, 95, whose studies and research might touch upon her experiences as an English literature major at Hunter College in New York City. “There are so many versions of relationships, and there are so many versions of Jewish life. I tried to suggest interpretations of them.”
In the process of developing her latest text, Harris went through the Bible and across centuries of writings to find diverse examples described by Jewish authors addressing loving relationships, from love associated with fun to love associated with tragedy. “I was always interested in the collective identity of Jews,” said Harris, who practices Orthodoxy but also has had membership in a Conservative synagogue, Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield, and a Reform congregation, Temple Isaiah in Lafayette, Calif. “I’ve tried to look at the history of Jews with slightly different interpretations and create cultural understandings.” When she finished the manuscript and before submitting it for publication, Harris asked for the impressions of Howard Lupovitch, associate professor of history at Wayne State University and director of the Cohn-Haddow Center for Judaic Studies. “There’s a real scholar at work in this book, but her writing is very accessible,” Lupovitch said. “She’s writing for a lay audience, Howard and there’s a transLupovitch parency to the way she writes. Her analysis is sophisticated, but it’s not done in a way that’s opaque. “She’s using familiar characters and familiar themes, and she does a good job of connecting older sources and how they made their way into more recent literature. For example, she [calls attention to] Portnoy’s Complaint, a book many people have read. “She’s not confining herself to a narrow definition of romantic love or love of God. It’s a feeling and a state of mind that she understands as broadly as possible.” Love for Judaism has been
shown by the author in ways beyond writing. She has held memberships in traditional organizations that include Hadassah and the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles, and she started a group in California to introduce members of different faiths to each other. Launched in 1970, the Women’s Interfaith Committee continues. JEWISH ARTIFACTS Throughout her life, Harris has had a love for Jewish artifacts, amassing a large collection with her late husband, Theodore. It was given to the Special Collections Library at the University of Michigan, and that artistic interest made its way across the pages of her book, which contains many noted images, such as an 1860 engraving of a Jewish family shown in the Illustrated News of the World. Arranged as The Jewish Heritage Collection at the library, the collection holds some 3,000 items — ritual objects, artworks and books. Sections of the collection have been borrowed by other universities for temporary displays, and she recently found and added a rare Ladino Haggadah. As Harris worked on her third book, she seems to have adhered to the advice of the late Jewish comedian Milton Berle, who starred in the stage production Always Leave Them Laughing. The book, which includes favorite traditional recipes, from kreplach to rugelach, ends with Jewish jokes. “I’m grateful for good health, friends and family that includes two adult grandsons living in the East and calling their grandma regularly,” Harris said. As author, Harris could add gratitude for many good reviews, such as the one by Deborah Lipstadt, renowned history professor at Emory University in Atlanta. Lipstadt defined the book as “interesting, illuminating and engaging.” FEBRUARY 18 • 2021
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Lots of Reasons to Celebrate Purim is coming up soon — better get baking!
T
he word “Purim” means “lots,” or using today’s language, lottery. And from a particular lottery, we’ve created an entire holiday that is the most outwardly joyous of the Hebrew calendar. Back in the sixth century BCE, Haman, the vizier to the King of Persia, ordered the annihilation Annabel of Jews. The Cohen Contributing writer event was to take place on the 13th of Adar. Through a series of actions, which included the Jewish wife, Esther, of the King of Persia and her uncle, Moredechai, the Jews were spared, and the evil Haman executed. On the day after, the 14th, there was a celebration their survival. It’s a story that’s read in its entirety — the whole Megillah — not once, but twice, in case you didn’t hear it right the first time, on Purim. Then there’s the eating and drinking. Gifts are given (mostly sweets) as packages and hamantashen (the cookie kind — not the yeast type made at many bakeries) are made to celebrate. Here are some great recipes for making and giving and eating.
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EASY HAMANTASHEN (COOKIE DOUGH TYPE) Great to make with kids because there’s no electric mixer involved! Ingredients 2¼ cups flour 1 tsp. baking powder ¼ tsp. salt 2 large eggs ⅔ cup sugar ¼ cup vegetable or oil (not extra-virgin) 1 tsp. vanilla Ice water or orange juice (as needed) Filling Suggestions Canned pie filling (I use Solo brand) — fruit or poppyseed or thick filling such as lemon curd, fruit preserves or peanut butter, hazelnut chocolate spread or cookie butter. Directions Position the oven rack to the center of the oven and preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Set aside. Combine 2¼ cups flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl and whisk well. Set aside. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, oil and vanilla. Stir the mixture together with a spoon until crumbly. Lightly flour a clean surface and turn the dough onto the surface.
Shaping, Filling and Baking Directions Use your hands to “knead” (or start turning the dough over and over) until smooth. If the dough is too dry, add juice or water, a few drops at a time and continue kneading until the dough is smooth. If the dough is too wet, knead in the extra ¼-cup of flour. Flour the surface lightly again and use a rolling pin to roll out the dough to about ⅛-¼ inch thickness. Gather the scraps and roll them out again and repeat making circles until you have 24-36 (depending on the thickness and size of circles). Place about teaspoon of filling into the center of ONE circle — this is your “test hamantash” (too much filling will make the hamantashen break open or ooze filling). Fold the dough over the filling, overlapping the overlapping the edges to make a triangle (Do not pinch the edges together). A bit of filling should be visible. Press down on the edges to seal. Place the “test” hamantash on the baking sheet and freeze for 20-minutes before baking. bake for 15-20-minutes or so until the pastry is lightly golden. If the size and amount of filling are all correct, continue making hamantashen as the test or correct the amount of filling and dough folding. Makes 24-36 hamantashen, depending on size. NON-DAIRY CHOCOLATE CHIP DOUGH Ingredients ½ cup (1 stick) non-dairy margarine or vegetable shortening, at room temperature ⅓ cup sugar ½ cup brown sugar 1 large egg 1 Tbsp. almond milk or coconut cream (stirred) or water 1¼ cups flour
¼ tsp. baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt 1¼ cup non-dairy mini chocolate chips Directions In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the margarine and sugars together until smooth. Add the egg and almond milk vanilla until mixed until incorporated. In a separate bowl, add the flour, baking powder and salt and whisk well. Add the flour mixture to the mixing bowl and mix until incorporated. Mix in the chocolate chips. Place the mixing bowl into the refrigerator for one hour to chill. Use the shaping, filling and baking directions above to finish the recipe. Makes 18-24 hamantashen. CITRUS NUT DOUGH Ingredients 1½ cups sugar 1 cup (2 sticks) butter (at room temperature) 2 large eggs 1 tsp. lemon extract (optional) ½ tsp. Grated orange or lemon zest, or a combination ½ tsp. salt 4 cups flour 1 tsp. baking powder 2 Tbsp. orange juice ¾ cup chopped nuts Directions In a bowl of a stand mixer, beat sugar and butter until creamy. Add in the egg, vanilla, zest and salt. Mix until incorporated. Add the flour, baking powder and juice. Mix until incorporated. Mix in the nuts. Place the mixing bowl in the refrigerator and chill for 1 hour. Use the shaping, filling and baking directions as above. Makes about 2-3 dozen cookies.
CELEBRITY JEWS
NATE BLOOM COLUMNIST
AMAZON’S NEW CEO & RAP AND ALLIANCES On Feb. 2, we learned Jeff Bezos would step down as CEO of Amazon sometime in the third quarter of 2021. He would “transition” into the role of executive chairman. His replacement as CEO will be Andy Jassy, 53. (Bezos will retain a lot of oversight power in his new role.) Jassy is currently the head of Amazon’s successful cloud computing division (“AWS”). A Harvard business school grad, he joined Amazon in 1997 and worked in several positions before he and Bezos decided to launch AWS in 2005. He
has a reputation as being even-tempered and low-key, like Bezos. His even-temper will be tested in the public arena. Big tech, including Amazon, is facing a storm of varied criticisms. Jassy grew up in an affluent NYC suburb. His father, Everett, now 83, is a Harvard Law School grad and was a partner in a major law firm. Andy Jassy’s mother, Margery, 82, was born and raised in Detroit, the daughter of Emil Rose and Shirley Hibler Rose. The Rose family appeared now and again in the Jewish News. Margery is a graduate of Mumford High and the University of Michigan. In 1960, she married Everett Jassy in Detroit. Rabbi Richard C. Hertz of Temple Beth El presided. Andy Jassy is married to Elana Caplan Jassy, 53. The
Andy Jassy
AMAZON
ARTS&LIFE
couple have two children. At the time of their marriage, Elana was a Los Angeles fashion designer, and her father was a partner in the same firm as Andy’s father. He was also then head of the Jewish Television Network, a production company. Hulu is hosting a live virtual concert featuring five African American music stars on Feb. 18 at 8 p.m. (Also available on the Hulu YouTube channel through
March 18). One of the performers is hot rapper 24kGoldn, 20. His real name is Golden Landis Von Jones. His father is black and not Jewish, and his white mother is Jewish. Last December, 24kGoldn appeared at a Chanukah event with Mayim Bialik, 44, at Temple Sinai in Los Angeles. A few weeks ago, his name was on a list of 170 black and Jewish entertainment leaders who announced the launching of a Black-Jewish Alliance. (At least three signers are “both”: 24kGoldn, comedian Tiffany Haddish, 40, and David Blu, 40, an American who was a top Israeli pro basketball player). The Alliance aims to fight antisemitism and racism and foster better relations between the two communities.
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ON THE GO
PEOPLE | PLACES | EVENTS
gone through hell and the efforts to keep memory alive. Register at jcpainfo@thejcpa. org.
HUMAN RITES TRIO 7:30 PM, FEB. 19 TOUR ISRAEL NOON-1PM, FEB. 18 Temple Shir Shalom is offering a live, virtual tour “Latrun and the Six Day War” with Rabbi Daniel Schwartz and Israeli tour guide Beni Levin. Begin in Egypt and then travel back to Latrun to hear the story of the taking over of Jerusalem. The tour concludes with the Golani Brigade’s battle for the Golan Heights. There is a charge. To register: shirshalom.org/event/israel-5.html or call 248-737-8700. PURIM IN-A-BAG 4:30-5:30 PM, FEB. 20 Temple Shir Shalom presents Purim In-A-Bag for families with babies through age 7. Celebrate Purim with your family and Temple Shir Shalom on Zoom. When you register, choose your date to pick up your bag of supplies you need to celebrate Purim and a few surprises. RSVP by Feb. 18 to reserve your bag, 248-737-8700. MUSIC SCENE 7:30 PM, FEB. 19 The Kerrytown Concert House in Ann Arbor, 415 N. 4th Ave., will host the Human Rites Trio: Jason Hwang (violin/viola), Ken Filiano (bass), Andrew Drury (drums, percussion). For ticket info: kerrytownconcerthouse.com or (734) 769-2999.
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NEW CAJE 4 PM, FEB. 21 At the second Lehrhaus program, NewCAJE will offer 12 workshops, music and a story. After the program, there will be teatime with NewCAJE family. Cost: $18; reduced rates available for students, retirees and those affected by COVID-19. For registration: newcaje.nirsham.org. BOOK CLUB 7 PM, FEB. 22 NEXTGen Detroit will host this virtual event. The book this month is Black, White & Jewish: Autobiography of a Shifting Self by Rebecca Walker (2002). There is no cost to participate. This online event is intended for young adults ages 21 to 45. Info: Mimi Marcus, (248) 642-4260, mmarcus@jfmd.org. MOVIE & PANEL DISCUSSION 8 PM, FEB. 22 Join Jewish Council for Public Affairs and the JCRC of Reading, Pa., for a screening of Guardian of Memory, a documentary following Carlos Spector, a Jewish immigration lawyer living on the U.S.Mexico border, as he fights to obtain political asylum for Mexicans fleeing from violence. It is a story about the kindness and hope that still exists in people who have
COVID FACTS 7 PM, FEB. 22 Hadassah Greater Detroit Nurses Council presents “COVID-19 Vaccine Facts vs Fake News.” Dr. Allison Weinmann of Henry Ford Health System discusses what processes were sped up to get the vaccine out to the public, how it works, who can receive it, and potential side effects. Please register by Feb. 18 for this free online event that is open to everyone. Register at: hadassahmidwest.org/GDvaccine and for questions contact greaterdetroit@hadassah.org or 248- 683-5030. Fran Drescher
SIGNATURE EVENT 7:30 PM, MARCH 4 The Women’s Philanthropy Group of Federation will present “An Evening with Fran Drescher.” A minimum of $75 must be pledged to Federation’s Annual Campaign for each ticket purchased; tickets are $25 per person. With each ticket comes a gift, snacks and other surprises. Register before Feb. 22 to have the gift delivered to your door. Register between Feb. 23 and March 1 and
gifts may be picked up at the Federation Bldg., 6735 Telegraph, Bloomfield Hills. Info: goodwin@jfmd.org or 248-203-1470. IMMIGRATION LESSONS 12:30-1:30 PM, FEB. 23 The Cohn-Haddow Center for Jewish Studies at Wayne State University will host a free lecture on Zoom by Prof. Howard Lupovitch. For info, go to judaicstudies.wayne.edu/events. HADASSAH MINGLE 7 PM, FEB. 23 Hadassah Greater Detroit will hold a Mahj Mix & Mingle. Play mahj and mingle with fellow mah jongg lovers at this fun, friendly virtual event. Participants must have a real mahjongg. com account and a 2020 mahj card to play. Two devices (i.e. smartphone, iPad and/or laptop) will help you to Zoom and play at the same time. Register by Feb. 21 at hadassahmidwest.org/GDmahjmingle, call 248-683-5030 or email greaterdetroit@hadassah. org. Cost: $10. ON PRAGMATISM 7-8:30 PM, FEB. 23 The Sterling Institute for Jewish Studies and Modern Israel in East Lansing will present a lecture by Rabbi Matthew Kaufman: “Thoughts on Horace M. Kallen, An American Jewish Pragmatist.” Visit: jewishstudies@list.msu.edu. Compiled by Sy Manello/Editorial Assistant. Send items at least 14 days in advance to calendar@thejewishnews.com.
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FEBRUARY 18 • 2021
A Commitment To Serve
D
r. Ned Chalat of Grosse Pointe teens, Jacob graduated from Central died Feb. 5, 2021, at the venera- High School and then enrolled at the ble age of 95. University of Michigan Medical School. As a lifelong resident of the Detroit He served as a physician in the United area, a practicing physician and active States Army, 1917-1918. Upon his leader in many civic organizations, Dr. return, Jacob turned down more lucraChalat had a profound impact on the tive job offers to work for the Detroit community and his family. City Physicians Office, making house His legacy includes more than 50 calls and tending to the poor. years as a practicing ear, nose and Eventually, as Jacob’s own health detethroat physician in Downtown Detroit, riorated, his young son, Ned, accommost of which was devoted panied him on house calls. As to residents of the inner city. recently as this year, Ned Chalat He was also a revered clinical claimed that his exposure to professor of otolaryngology at a variety of epidemics during Wayne State University School those house calls made him of Medicine and was credited immune from the coronavirus for his pioneering research on pandemic. “I’m a doctor; I transplanting eardrums. should be out there helping,” Dr. Chalat believed that he told his daughter in a recent a physician’s role extended phone call.” Dr. Ned Chalet beyond treating individuDr. Chalat followed his father al patients. He wrote, “It has into medicine, attending the long been my feeling that we as physiUniversity of Michigan for his B.S. in cians have never sufficiently exercised zoology, in 1945, and to the University our potential in facing society’s real of Michigan Medical School for his difficulties.” M.D. in 1948. He did his internship and In that regard, Dr. Chalat’s comresidency in otolaryngology at Harper mitment was unwavering. During the Hospital. In 1952, he took a fellowship Detroit riots in 1968, he refused to at the esteemed Lempert Institute in abandon his patients and drove through New York City. In 1953, he served in police barriers to make rounds at the United States Air Force as an Air Harper Hospital. During the AIDS criForce surgeon with the rank of captain sis, he trained as a Red Cross instructor (1953 -1955) at Parks Air Force Base in and berated doctors who refused to treat Livermore, Calif. those patients. And, as a member of the Dr. Chalat’s staunch ideals were receditorial board for the Detroit Medical ognized in every organization he joined, News, he wrote a series of essays promot- as evidenced by a raft of leadership ing awareness about domestic violence, positions over his lifetime. He served as poverty and civil rights. He took every president of the Wayne County Medical opportunity, in writing and in lectures, Society, chief of the Ear, Nose and to prod members of his profession to Throat Departments at Harper and Sinai help address those issues. Hospitals, and he held leadership posiDr. Chalat inherited his empathy for tions at the Michigan Otolaryngological the underserved from his father, who Society, the Michigan Chapter of exemplified the grit and idealism of the American Medical Writers Association, immigrants who arrived in America at the Detroit Academy of Medicine, the the turn of the century. Jacob Chalat, Southeast Michigan Red Cross AIDS a young Jewish refugee, arrived in Education Committee and the Children’s Detroit in 1910 after escaping from a Center in Detroit. Russian prison camp. Barely out of his Dr. Chalat retired from his medical
practice in 1990, which gave him more time to devote to a variety of intellectual pursuits. He began writing poetry, and he and his wife, Joann, expanded their travels to include Vietnam, Russia and Africa. His adventures also included frequent visits with his children — a fishing trip in Alaska with his son and grandson, camping in the Utah desert with his daughter and numerous family ski trips to the Rocky Mountains. His favorite camping partner was his younger son, Andrew. The two loved to camp out in Northern Michigan, to fish, hike and view the Northern Lights. Andrew and his father shared an interest in the Boy Scouts. Dr. Chalat had made Eagle Scout in 1941. Andrew was pushing toward that goal in 1977 when, at the age of 15, he died from an undiagnosed congenital heart defect. This was a crushing blow to Ned and Joann, but they turned their sorrow into a renewed commitment to the community. Throughout his life, social activism kept Dr. Chalat engaged. His energy and leadership abilities propelled him to the head of several organizations including the Prismatic Club of Detroit, Friends of the Grosse Pointe Library, the Ann Arbor Culinary History Society and the Grosse Pointe Men’s and Women’s Garden Club. One of the high points of Dr. Chalat’s retirement came in September 2000, when he and Joann donated a rare collection of illustrated children’s books to the University of Michigan Library where they were honored with a special event. On the same weekend, they celebrated the publication of Ned’s collection of poetry, Love, ‘N’. Dr. Chalat was a regular attendee at the Grosse Pointe Men’s Ecumenical Breakfast for which, on Oct. 18, 2012, he wrote and delivered a prayer that said, in part: “Lord God, we thank you for our ancestors who had the foresight to establish a government that glo-
rifies equality among races, color, religions and sexuality. Perhaps, most of all, we thank you for the gift of love with family, children and friends. Amen.” Dr. Chalat’s life, both personal and professional, was guided by the principles of compassion and equality, values that are underscored in Jewish teachings. Jewish tradition also suggests the best way to remember a loved one is to carry on their legacy. Those whose lives were touched by Dr. Chalat in some way are asked to honor him by continuing his efforts. Dr. Chalat is survived by his son, Jim (Linda Chalat); daughter, Nancy (Tom Noaker); grandchildren, Alexandra Chalat Pearson (Jonny Pearson), Rachel Chalat Steudle (Brett Steudle), Grace Chalat, Harris Chalat (Sofia Panero), Dylan Noaker; his great-grandson, Finnigan Steudle. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 65 years, Joann Steinberg Chalat, whom he referred to as his “muse;” his sister, Ruth; and son, Andrew. Dr. Chalat will be interred during a private ceremony at Beth El Memorial Park in Livonia. Due to the pandemic, his family will host a virtual shivah at a time to be announced and a memorial event later in the year. In lieu of flowers, consider contributing in Dr. Chalat’s memory to the charity of your choice. Some of the organizations that Dr. and Mrs. Chalat supported include: the University of Michigan Medical School, Michigan Humane Society, Doctors without Borders, the Wayne State University School of Medicine, the NAACP, Heifer International and the American Red Cross. Remembrances can be sent to: Jim Chalat, 33212 Meadow Mtn. Road, Evergreen, CO 80439, jchalat@chalatlaw.com; or Nan Chalat Noaker, P.O. Box 98, Oakley, Utah 84055, nanchalatnoaker@me.com. Arrangements by the Ira Kaufman Chapel.
PHYLLIS BIGELMAN AGREE, 90, of Palm Harbor, Fla., passed away on Jan. 19,
2021. She was fiercely independent until the end; her dog, Chivas, was her constant companion. Mrs. Agree was born in Detroit. She attended the University of Michigan and graduated with a dental hygiene degree. She practiced until age 80. She was married for 61 years to the love of her life, Lawrence Agree. She will be remembered for her kindness, sense of humor, amazing energy and unconditional love for her entire family. Mrs. Agree is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Cathy and Gregg Herman of West Bloomfield; daughter, Lynn Elliott of Palm Harbor, Fla.; son, Kenneth Agree of Clearwater, Fla.; grandchildren, Emily and Alex Horn, Jeffrey and Nicole Herman, Daniel Herman and Katie Holland, Jennifer and Harsha Saddanathan, Mellisa Elliott; great-grandchildren, Zachary Horn, Victoria and Natalia Herman, Avi Saddanathan. ROBERT “BOB” COHEN, 87, of Mayfield Heights, Ohio, died Jan. 29, 2021. He was an amazing person, kind, loving and generous. He and Shirley were married for 63 years and were consummate snowbirds, flying down to the warmer climes of Florida for the winter. Bob loved stained-glass art and created beautiful stained-glass pieces, which
are hanging throughout both homes. He owned and ran Empire Glass Company, working alongside his son, Dale. Bob was heavily involved in the glass industry and served as president of the Ohio Glass Association. Always up for an adventure, he included his family on many trips to the National Glass Association’s annual conventions throughout the country. Bob was always involved in his children’s lives, from working with his sons’ Boy Scout troops to helping with his daughter’s Bluebirds group. He enjoyed fishing and boating and caught lots of fish with his kids and extended family members Roger and Chucky. He loved spending time with his nine grandchildren and keeping up on their comings and goings. His sense of humor was passed down to his children and grandchildren, who always have a joke or offthe-cuff remark on the tips of their tongues; it meant so much to him. Bob was so happy to meet his new, great-grandson, Asher Bennett Epstein, through a video. He will be greatly missed but will always be remembered with love and laughter. Mr. Cohen was the dearly beloved husband of Shirley (nee Brody); devoted father of Dale Cohen (Cindy), Steven Cohen (Susan) and Lisa Keffer (Bryan); cherished grandfather of Robin, Ryan and Rachel Cohen, Jaymie Epstein (Matthew), Samuel, Noah and Joshua Cohen, Haley and Jayme Keffer; loving great-grandfather of Asher Bennett Epstein; dear brother of Sharon Ishee (Roger) and continued on page 46 FEBRUARY 18 • 2021
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FM Rock Pioneer Jerry Lubin
G
erald Lubin, 80, of La Quinta, Calif., formerly of Michigan, died Feb. 4, 2021. A graduate of Mumford High School, Mr. Lubin was a pioneer of radio, best known for his work in the 1960s-80s at local Detroit radio stations WABX-FM, WRIF-FM, WWWW-FM and WLLZ-FM. He was considered a mentor to many in the industry. John O’Leary of Detroit wrote on his tribute wall: “I worked with Jerry in radio here in Detroit in the 1970s and ’80s but, more importantly, we were lifelong friends … Jerry spoke his mind which may account Gerald Lubin for his success as an air personality on radio. He was a mentor to me, and in many tangible and intangible ways he made me (and others) a much better radio personality and a better human being. May his memory be a blessing.” After his career in radio, Mr. Lubin went to work for the U.S. Postal Service. He moved from Oak Park in 2014 to southern California to be closer to his family. Mr. Lubin is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law, Adam and Lauren Lubin of North Hollywood, Calif., Ethan and Erika Lubin of La Quinta; brother, Vincent Lubin of Troy; sister and brother-in-law, Beverly Lubin and Mark Beltzman; grandchildren, Zachary, Sebastian, Colin, Ellie. Mr. Lubin was the beloved husband for 45 years of the late Rosalie Lubin. Contributions may be made to Jewish War Veterans, P.O. Box 725066, Berkley, MI 48072-9998. A family graveside service was held at Beth Ahm Cemetery in Roseville. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.
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the late Leonard Cohen (Gloria Cohen). To view the service, navigate to YouTube and search Robert Cohen Funeral Service Jan. 31, 2021. Contributions are suggested to Temple Israel Ner Tamid in Mayfield Heights, Ohio, or Children’s Wish Foundation.
Ruth Frishman. Contributions may be made to Chabad of Commerce, 810 Sleeth Road, Commerce Township, MI 48382. A family graveside service was held at Adat Shalom Memorial Park in Livonia. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.
HYMAN FOX, 102, of West Bloomfield, passed away quietly at home on Feb. 6, 2021. Hyman was a first-generation American. He grew up during the Depression, served in WWII, raised a family in post-war America and worked during the day while studying at night to become a CPA. He was a selfless and modest man who will be dearly missed. Mr. Fox is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Mayer and Sarita Fox; granddaughter, Dr Eryn Fox; sister, Lillian Freedland; nieces, nephews and friends at Congregation B’nai Moshe. He was the loving husband for 63 years of the late Rose; father of the late Aaron Fox; brother of the late Rose Richman, Ted and Paul Fox. Contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice. A family graveside service was held at Beth Ahm Cemetery in Roseville. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.
RUTH “RUTHIE” GOLDBERG, 92, of Scottsdale, Ariz., passed away on Jan. 20,
DONALD FRISHMAN, 85, of Southfield, died Feb. 9, 2021. He is survived by many loving relatives and friends. Mr. Frishman was the beloved nephew of the late
2021. She was born in Detroit on July 22, 1928, to Sam and Eda Lefkowitz. She graduated from Central High. Ruth married Donald Goldberg at Temple Israel in Detroit in 1974. She was a true balabusta, wife, mother and, most of all, an amazing bubbie. Mrs. Goldberg was very social, a phenomenal fundraiser and was an active member of B’nai B’rith, having been a former president of the Louis Stone Chapter. She was involved in many organizations in Detroit and Phoenix and had a passion for life, friends, family, activities and learning. Ruth will be deeply missed by friends and family. Mrs. Goldberg is survived by her husband of 46 years, Donald Goldberg; sister-inlaw, Marilyn; nieces, Beverly and Marla; daughter, Linda Weisberg Lober; son, David Alan; grandchildren, Erynn (her “best friend”), Jason and Erika. Memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at greenacresmortuary.net for the Goldberg family.
SYLVIA HOLLANDER, née Genser, 91, of Boca Raton, Fla., died peacefully on Jan. 22,
2021. Sylvia, the eldest, beloved daughter of William A. and Goldie Genser, was born on July 1, 1929, in Detroit. She graduated Central High School in 1946; after high school and later in her life, she attended Wayne State University. A natural athlete from a very young age, she completed a triathlon at the age of 12 and excelled on her high school swim team. Throughout her life, she enjoyed swimming and water sports and became an accomplished synchronized swimmer. After sustaining a serious back injury during an automobile accident, Sylvia healed by practicing yoga. As a longtime volunteer at the Jewish Community Center, she was a pioneer in encouraging hundreds of women to heal using yoga exercises. She became a real estate agent with Real Estate One and was recognized as one of the company’s top real estate agents. Sylvia married Ramon Hollander in 1949 and became the beloved daughter-in-law of Lester and Rose Hollander. She was preceded in death by Ramon, from whom she was divorced, and by Sidney Debin, of Brooklyn, N.Y., whom she married in 1988 and with whom she shared a love of swing music and dancing. Herb Segal of Boston was a cherished companion until
his passing. Herb’s daughter, Sandi Meixner, remained a devoted friend. Sylvia was honored in life and will be deeply missed by her sister, Beverly Gold (the late Bernard); brother, Arthur Genser (Fern); her daughter, Carol (aka Aaron Rachel Rose); sons, Robert (Debra) and Richard (Romana Auth); her granddaughter, Jessica Rosen (Daniel); grandsons, Evan Hollander and Leonard Hollander (Maddalena Breveglieri); great-grandson, Max Asher Rosen, by whom she was known as “GiGi.” She will also be greatly missed by her nieces and by her cherished, lifelong best friend, Rhoda Raderman (the late Stanley) of Detroit. Sylvia was laid to rest at Beth Abraham Cemetery, which was supported over time through the dedicated efforts of her father, a distinguished member of Congregation Beth Abraham. She rests next to her parents, and her adored sister, Annette Leckart, who died in April 2020. Her baby brother, Aaron, who died at the age of 7, also rests at Beth Abraham Cemetery. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel. HOLLY NEMOFF HOOVER, 63, of Niceville, Fla., formerly of Oak Park, died Feb. 1, 2021. She is survived by her beloved husband, Ron Hoover; daughter and son-inlaw, Lauren and Kristopher Shold; son, Dylan; grandchild, Amelia Shold; sisters and brother-in-law, Beth Nemoff and Peggy (Mike Potter) Nemoff; nieces, nephews and cousins. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered as a light in everyone’s
life and a true superhero. Mrs. Hoover was preceded in death by her parents, Alex Nemoff and Bunnie (CooperNemoff), Ashley and Larry. Interment took place in Florida. Contributions may be made to the Lupus Foundation, any animal rescue shelter, Animal Protection League, S.O.C.K or Alaqua Animal Rescue. Arrangements by the Dorfman Chapel. LOIS JEANNE KABECK, 93, of Costa Mesa, Calif., formerly of Farmington Hills, died Feb. 8, 2021. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Muffy and Charles Rudner; grandchildren, Lanny Rudner and Tracey Freed, and Mark Rudner and Esther Jeong. Mrs. Kabeck was the beloved wife of the late Gerald Kabeck; the devoted daughter of the late Ruth Block Burnstine and the late Perry Burnstine. Interment was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Hadassah Medical Center, P.O.Box 12000, Jerusalem, 91120 Israel, hadassah-med.com/giving. aspx. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. WILLIAM KAYE, died Jan. 19, 2021. He was born Wolf Kornblum in Łódź, Poland, on April 4, 1928. He was a survivor of Auschwitz and Buchenwald camps, and his dream was to come to America and become a success. He achieved that and more. Mr. Kaye is survived his loving wife, Eleanore (Ellie); two
devoted sons, Michael Nathan (Irit) and David Aaron (Alex); four grandchildren, Eliyahu (Elijah) Mordecai, Yonatan (Jonathan) Chananel, Yosef (Joseph) Malachi and Yiska (Jessica) Tzivia. A celebration of life will take place at a future date. EDYTHE KLEIN, 91, of Farmington Hills, died Feb. 4, 2021. She is survived by her daughter, Marsha Mitnick; sons and daughter-in-law, Micheal Klein, and Howard and Paige Klein; grandchildren, Scott and Nicole Mitnick, Rachel and Seth Fisher, and Emily and Brad Kopitz; great-grandchildren, Izzy Mitnick, Mira and Ryan Fisher, and Sasha and Raya Kopitz. Mrs. Klein was the beloved wife of the late Sheldon M. Klein; the loving sister of the late Julian and the late Ruth Lefkowitz, and the late Ruth and the late Seymour Wayne. Interment was at Machpelah Cemetery. Contributions may be made to the Learning Center Preschool, Temple Shir Shalom, 3999 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield Township, MI 48323, shirshalom.org/payment.php. If contributing online, complete the payment details and choose Preschool Fund for the type of donation. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. MARTIN LIEBERMAN, 69, of West Bloomfield, died Feb. 5, 2020. He is survived by his sisterin-law, Renate Lieberman; nieces and nephews, Lisa and Dan Mendelson, Rachel and Rabbi Lee Buckman, Patty Lieberman and Jeff Knishkowy; many loving grandnieces and grandnephews.
Mr. Lieberman was the dear brother of the late David Lieberman, the late Raymond Lieberman and the late Feannie Lieberman. Contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice. A family graveside service was held at Adat Shalom Memorial Park in Livonia. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel. MICHAEL J. LIPPITT, 67, passed away Feb. 6, 2021. Michael gradc. 1971 uated from Cass Technical High School in Detroit in 1971 and attended Michigan State University for two years before falling ill to schizophrenia. He continued to valiantly battle the disease for the rest of his life. He was a talented musician, artist and chess aficionado. Mr. Lippitt was the beloved son of the late Calvin and the late Roberta; he was the loving brother of Robert; dear uncle of Jeremy. Private services have been held. Charitable contributions to the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Easter Seals, Jewish Hospice & Chaplaincy Network and NARSAD Brain Research Foundation. www. mccabefuneralhome.com. GERALD LORENCE, 92, of West Bloomfield, died Jan. 31, 2021. Born in 1928 in Detroit to immigrant parents from Hungary during the Depression, Gerald came from humble beginnings. He lived on Pingree. He went to Thirkell, Roosevelt and Durfee and graduated from Central High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1946 with the G.I. Bill at the end of WWII and continued on page 48
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DAVID BURLESON David Burleson, 68, of Atlanta Georgia died Feb.7, 2021. He was the son of the late Lucy and Tex Burleson. He is survived by his sisters Nancy (Dave) Crane of Georgia and Susan (the late Jim) Costello of Florida; as well as his five nephews Eric, Matthew, Stephen, Adam and Kevin. David’s death was due to the result of complications following a fall in his home. David grew up in Oak Park MI (OPHS class of ‘70), attended the University of Michigan and WSU. He moved to Houston TX for some years and later settled in Atlanta. He remained friends with many of his schoolmates across the country and loved visiting with them and keeping up with their families. He was a caring person and generous with his time. He could tell a great story and loved to laugh and revisit old hilarious common experiences. Considering David wasn’t Jewish (though new acquaintances disbelieved him) he would be tickled to know about this obit in the Jewish News. He will be missed deeply by his family and his many friends who loved and cherished him. Contributions in his memory may be made to: LOST-N-FOUND YOUTH, 2585 CHANTILLY DR., ATLANTA, GA 30324
He will be cremated in Atlanta and buried in the Detroit area at the end of the summer when family and friends will be able to gather and remember his life.
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was part of the first wave of occupation troops in Japan. After his time in the service, he attended Wayne State University and eventually Eastern Michigan University (Michigan State Normal College) and graduated in 1952 with a degree in education. He taught English at various schools in Detroit for many years, earned a master’s degree in education before enrolling and graduating from law school at Wayne State University. He was licensed, admitted to the bar association and began practicing law in 1968; he had an extraordinary career as a criminal defense attorney and appellate lawyer for more than 50 years. He felt blessed to have had two successful careers that he loved. Gerald met and married Sandra Sussman in 1961. He loved Sandi dearly. They lived in Detroit on Stratford Road. In 1968, they had their first child, Jeffrey; and in 1971, they had their second child, Matthew. They moved to the suburbs and raised their two children. Gerald loved spending time with his family. He also loved his work and cherished the relationships he established and maintained throughout his life. He loved being a father. One of his great passions was witnessing the sunset in Petoskey, where he had another residence for 28 years, enjoying many years since childhood in this wonderful town Up North. He welcomed four beautiful grandchildren into his family during the last 20 years and loved Zachary, Mallory, Noah and Lorelai.
Gerald was a kind, gracious and faithful man filled with humility, pride in his family and a tenacious, passionate desire for life in everything he did. He was a teacher, mentor, guide and respected authority in both of his careers as well as at home, within his community and family. Being Jewish was also important to him and his strong faith was apparent to anyone who knew him. He truly was a mensch. He lived to 92 years of age and died peacefully with his family around him. May his memory be a blessing. Mr. Lorence is survived by his wife of 60 years, Sandra Sussman Lorence; sons and daughters-in-law, Geff and Pepi Lorence, and Matthew and Hannah Lorence; grandchildren, Mallory Lorence, Zach Lorence, Noah Lorence and Lorelai Lorence. He was the devoted son of the late Elemer and the late Shari Lorinczi. Interment was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. LILLIAN PRICE, 83, of Oak Park, died Feb. 6, 2021. She is survived by her daughters and son-inlaw, Adrienne and George McClintock, and Alison Price; son, Brian Price; grandson, Nolan McClintock; many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Mrs. Price was the loving sister of the late Selma Fisch, the late Betty Strickstein, and the late Dee Dee Meyers. Interment was at Adat
Shalom Memorial Park. Contributions may be made to Meals on Wheels, National Council of Jewish Women, 26400 Lahser Road, Suite 306, Southfield, MI 48033, (248) 355-3300, ext. 0, ncjwgds.org; or Yad Ezra, 2850 W. 11 Mile Road, Berkley, MI 48072, yadezra.org/ donate. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. BERNARD “BOB” RIVKIN, 90, of Plantation, Fla., formerly of West Bloomfield, died Feb. 7,
2021. He is survived by his wife, Toby Rivkin; son and daughter-in-law, Steven and Pamela Rivkin; daughters and sons-in-law, Nancy and Eric Winer, and Kim and Larry Novak; Toby’s children, Sherri Zack and Dr. Doug Miller, and Mindy Zack; grandchildren, Nicole and Patrick Hayes, Ryan Rivkin, Aaron Rivkin and his fiancee, Samantha Will, Dustin Feinberg, Rachel Winer and her fiance, Simon Behrmann, Molly Winer, Eli Winer, Rivka Leah Novak, Sam Novak, and Jacob Miller; great-grandchildren, Fiona Hayes and Penelope Hayes; nieces and nephews who loved him dearly. Mr. Rivkin was the beloved husband of the late Rae Rivkin. Interment was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to American Heart Association, 27777 Franklin Road, Suite 1150, Southfield, MI 48034, heart.org/
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9 Adar February 21 Michael G. Bardi Max Citrin Alan Coleman William Goodman A. Isaac Korman Rose Krentzin Max Langwald Fannie M Levin Abram Nuss Milton Ribiat Sara Rubenfaer Helen Schwartz Eva Topor Isadore Warren
10 Adar February 22
Julius Cohen Dr. Joseph Raymond Eder Bertha Fischer Minnie Fisher Aryeh Fuchs Lottie Gerson Richard Green Pearl Holtzman Sara Isser Aaron Lankin Helen M. Levinson Israel Malik Sophy Meisner Irwin Rosenbaum Herman Schwartz Max Shnay Robert Sosnick Rose Temchin Benjamin Topor Lillian Weiss
11 Adar February 23 Rose Aronoff Esther Janet Bragman Max E. Charness Harry Faber William Fischel Anne Kaufman Bertha Kole Samuel Liberson Zalman Lopata Ida Mandelsohn Louis Menenberg Solomon Rosenberg Libby Simons Natalie Wagman Ida Weider Ernest Wolfsheimer Michael Yahre
12 Adar February 24 Risha Benjamin Susan Bernstein Esther A Bolton Bessie Cohen Louis Daniels Clara Eisenberg Lena Farber
David Grossman Henry Grossman Golda Guttman Isadore Kramer Sam Mendelsohn Louis Moss Bess Osborne Samuel Techner Rela Yahre
13 Adar February 25
Morris Abel Harry Altman Ethel Arden Rebecca Barron Abraham Berkowitz Morris E. Bloomberg Benjamin Bruseloff Sally Danzig Rabbi Joseph Eisenman Kalman Solomon Florence Pearl Herskovitz Simcha Kleinemus Gerald A Lobel Karl Loewenstein Esther Nusbaum Sarah Rotofsky Ada Shapiro
14 Adar February 26 Myron J Armon Gertrude Bunin Tillie Cohen Abraham Eisenman Samuel Gittleman Frieda Gottlieb Bertha Greenspan Celia King Bessie Kushner Ellis Markofsky Isaac Mickelson Morris Music Samuel Plotkin Edward Rothenberg Sarah Seppen
15 Adar February 27 Annette Borovitz Eva Bunin Belle Diamond Betty Dinkin Bertha Feldman Alfred C. Funke Steven B. Goldstein Morris J. Hart Sarah Horowitz Morris Karbal Louis Kukes Herman Miller Mendel Poss Meyer Ephraim Revzin Alvin Bernard Spector Simon Waterstone Helen Weiss
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en/affiliates/michigan/ detroit; Alyn Hospital, alyn. org; or Friendship Circle, 6892 W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322, wfriendshipcircle. org/donate. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. PAUL RUSSMAN, 90, of Southfield, died Feb. 4, 2021. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Elaine Tanzman Russman; sons and daughters-in-law, Steven Russman and Ruth Taubman, Matthew and Lisa Russman, and Andrew and Alicia Russman; daughters and sons-in-law, Laurie Russman and Ricardo Borisonik, and Pamela Russman-Chambers and Dexter Chambers; grandchildren, Daniel, David, Maximo, Rafael, Abby, Mia, Becca, Josh, Darius and Talia; sisters-in-law, Sandy Russman and Marcia Tanzman; many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Mr. Russman was the devoted son of the late Tillie and the late Louis Russman; the dear son-in-law of the late Anna and the late Joseph Tanzman; the loving brother of the late Robert Russman, and the late Alvin (his closest friend) and the late Sherry Russman; the dear brother-in-law of the late Arnold Tanzman and the late Burton Tanzman. Interment was at Adat Shalom Memorial Park. Contributions may be made to University of Michigan (In Memory of Paul Russman), Attn:
Gifts and Records, 3003 S. State St., Ann Arbor, MI 48108, donate.umich.edu/ nzPQJ: By mail, make check to University of Michigan and write on check In Memory of Paul Russman and LSA’s Endowment Pemding Account 732598; or Foundation for Jewish Camp, 253 W. 35th St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10001, jewishcamp. org: write on check In Memory of Paul Russman. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. HARVEY ALAN SHAPIRO, 96, of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., died Feb. 5, 2021. He is survived by his wife, Margaret Wells; daughter, Julia Shapiro; son, Eli Shapiro; grandchildren, Danielle Shapiro, Carly and Adam Mitchell, Melissa DiDonato and Daniel Cassar, Danielle Vernon, and Nicole Webber; great-grandchildren, Isaac, Micah, Bella, Noah, Jacob, Amelia and Joshua; brother, Robert Shapiro. He was the beloved husband of the late Leah Shapiro; the loving brother of the late Harold Shapiro. Interment was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Allied Jewish Campaign, 6735 Telegraph, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301, jewishdetroit. org/donate-online; or to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
ROBERT IRVING SOLOMON, 94, of Livonia, died Feb. 8, 2021. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Stuart and Michele Solomon; other children, Pamela Rosenberg, Jeri (Dr. Victor Strecher) Rosenberg; grandchildren, Candace (Angelo) Barbara, Adam Solomon, Ryan (Lauren) Solomon, Rachel; great-grandchildren, Jake, Amber, Kayla, Corey, Justin, Maddi and Jonah; great-great-grandchildren, Jayce and Mason; sisters, Margie Gold, Marilyn Erlich; sister-in-law, Sharon (Lew Greenberg) Baker;
many loving nieces, nephews, other family members and friends. Mr. Solomon was beloved husband of the late Marilyn Solomon, grandfather of the late Julia; brother of the late Ernie (the late Gloria) Solomon, the late Emily (the late Sonny) Rogow, the late Edie (the late Ira) Albion; brother-in-law of the late Oscar Gold, the late Howard Erlich. Interment took place at Machpelah Cemetery in Ferndale. Contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.
ROCHELLE “SHELLEY” SOLOMON, 84, of Boca Raton, Fla., died Feb. 10, 2021. She is survived by her partner, Jack Strumeier; son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Gary Weiner and Phyllis Avery; daughter and son-inlaw, Carol Weiner and Henry Levy; grandchildren, Ethan, Emily and Matthew Weiner, Judah, Micah and Dov Levy; brother, Sandy Pearl; many other loving family members and friends. Mrs. Solomon was the beloved wife of the late Laurence Weiner and the late Jerome “Jerry” Solomon. Interment took place at Beth
El Memorial Park Cemetery in Livonia. Contributions may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel. ADELINE STERN, 97, of West Bloomfield, died Feb. 6, 2021. She is survived by her son c. 2003 and daughter-in-law, Myles and Laura Stern; daughters and son-in-law, Leslie Stern, and Marcia and Marc Keys; grandchildren, Rebecca and Mitchell Klausner, Karen Stern and Jeffrey Bayson, Jonathan and Juliana Stern, Joshua Stern and Shawna continued on page 52
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Palm, Lisa Keys and Julian Voloj, and Amy Keys and Isak Sjursen; great-grandchildren, Alter, Raffi, Ezra, Yaffa and Zev Klausner, Lillian and Solomon Bayson, Ana Beatriz and Luca Burton Stern, and Leon and Simon Voloj; many loving nieces, nephews and cousins. Mrs. Stern was the beloved wife of the late Albert Stern; the loving sister of the late Shirlee and the late George Ingber, and the late Alan Teitel; the dear sister-in-law of the late Sandra Gale. Interment was at Machpelah Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Jewish Hospice & Chaplaincy Network, 6555 W. Maple, West Bloomfield, MI 48322, jewishhos-
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pice.org; or Hospice of Michigan, 43097 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302, hom.org/donations. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
Interment took place at Adat Shalom Memorial Park Cemetery in Livonia. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.
GEORGANN WOLF, 78, of Farmington Hills, died Feb. 7, 2021. She is survived by her beloved husband, William Wolf; sons and daughters-inlaw, Bruce and Sheila Wolf, Marc and Andrea Wolf; daughter and son-in-law, Sheri and Brad Handelman; grandchildren, Matthew and Aaron Wolf, Jamie, Josh and Cole Handelman, Barri, Jordyn and Lindsey Wolf; many other loving family members and friends.
CORRECTION The obituary from Joyce Booke (Feb. 4) should have indicated that she is survived by sister-in-law Arlene Licht; she was the sister-in-law of the late Anita Kaplan.
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
THE BEST OF EVERYTHING
Remember Billy’s Deli? Plenty of sandwiches with unheard of combos.
D
id your taste weary of juicy strip sirloins? … Had your taste for other dining elegant dishes changed for the moment? … If the answer was yes, then you might have had lunch or dinner at Billy’s Delicatessen on Livernois with its boodle of shopping goodies on the Avenue of Danny Fashion. Raskin Owned by Senior Columnist Bernie Litt and Bill Kohlback, Billy’s deli was a well-appointed delicatessen that listed plenty of Jewish delights, such as gefilte fish, lox, borscht, corned beef, etc., to solve your taste cravings. Together they built up a thriving business serving some of the tastiest sandwiches and dinner plates in the city. The sandwiches deserved special recognition at Billy’s … The sandwich menu was large and varied and the potions were huge.
Their biggest seller was the corned beef sandwich … available in numerous combinations to satisfy the innards of many. The Billy Combination was a top favorite … with corned beef, pastrami or tongue with Swiss cheese and Russian dressing. In their efforts to come up with something “a little different,” Billy did some noodling one day and invented a Corned Beef Burger … This was just what the name suggested, grilled and served on a sesame seed bun with lettuce and Russian dressing … There were plenty of sandwiches with unheard of combinations … even sardine combos … and that great American institution then … Paul Zuckerman’s favorite … peanut butter. BOO BOO DEPT. … New owner of Uptown Parthenon Restaurant in Crosswinds Mall, West Bloomfield, is Markos Goulas, not Tom Goulas whom I wrongly told you recently … Like Tom, he also owns Honey
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Tree restaurants … Markos came from Greece in 1990 and graduated from Wayne State in 1995, becoming owner of the Atheniam Café at Eastland Mall … and then a Honey Tree owner in his family’s business … Markos also owns Greens & Grain Salad Co. at Somerset, Honey Trees in Bloomfield Township and Northville … Plus the Black Label Tavern in Livonia with a second location slated to open this June in Milford … Uptown Parthenon is open for carryout and delivery … Its dining room is completing its remodeling. LOOKING BACK … Years ago when the inmates at thencalled Jackson State Prison were given fried matzah with chicken dinners for the Passover seder that Jewish inmates used to have, brought by Rabbi Joshua Sperka, Jewish chaplin there, and me, many of them would eat the fried matzah and stuff the chicken in their shirt … One time, Sammy Fleisher, Harry’s brother, ate the chicken
Nibbles
and over-stuffed his shirt with fried matzah … When the other inmates found out, they kept slapping him in the chest … which was filled with fried matzah! OLDIE BUT GOODIE … On the sixth day, God turned to his angels and said, “Today I am going to create a land called Israel. It will be a land of mountains full of snow, sparkly lakes, forests full of all kinds of trees, high cliffs overlooking sandy beaches with an abundance of sea life. I shall make the land rich so to make the inhabitants prosper, I shall call these inhabitants Israelis.” “But Lord,” asked the angels. “Don’t you think you are being too generous to these Israelis?” “Not really,” God replied, “just wait and see the neighbors I am giving them!” CONGRATS … To Joyce Millman on her birthday. Danny’s email address is dannyraskin2132@gmail.com.
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NIBBLESandNUTS.com FEBRUARY 18 • 2021
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Looking Back
From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History accessible at www.djnfoundation.org
Let’s Talk … Chicken!
I
apologize. I should have written this Looking Back earlier this month. My subject — chicken wings — would have been perfect reading for Super Bowl weekend. I know, I know. You are asking yourself — why the heck would he write about chicken wings? Well, I decided to explore the subject after reading an article about Masbia, a New York kosher emergency food provider. It was experiencing a severe shortage of kosher Mike Smith chicken wings, which Alene and Graham Landau are a cheap source of Archivist Chair good protein. Moreover, the shortage was Super Bowl-related since chicken wings are a popular party food and TV-watching sports snack and, according to the National Chicken Council, “the perfect pairing with a pitcher of beer.” A search in the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History bears out the popularity of chicken wings. I found 233 pages that mention chicken wings and another 18 that cite Buffalo wings, that hot and spice variety of chicken wings invented in 1964 at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York. Now, to be sure, chicken wing mentions in the JN are most often found in grocery store or kosher meat market advertisements. Indeed, the first citation for chicken wings was an ad for Reisman’s Kosher Poultry Market on Seven Mile in Detroit ($.49 per pound) in the Oct. 23, 1964, issue of the JN. And, by the way, long before the COVID-19 pandemic, Reisman’s would deliver your food to you. The first mention of restaurant chicken wings was in Danny Raskin’s “Best of Everything” column in the Nov. 3, 1967, issue of the JN. It seems
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that Danny had taken a fancy to the fare at the Golden Galleon, which included “Tahitian Drums of Heaven,” which he described as tasty “barbequed chicken wings made into tiny drumsticks.” Over the past 40 years, chicken wings have become increasingly popular in restaurants. It is a rare tavern or family-style restaurant that does not offer chicken wings. Proof of this can be found in numerous columns by Danny Raskin, and other JN food writers over the years such as Ryan Fishman and Esther Allweiss Ingber, that mention chicken wings in their restaurant reviews. Then, there are the chicken wings in the home. A family profile in the April 4, 1999, JN features Noah and Cherie Levi and their kids — Lani, Estee, Raffi and Chava Reena — and their weekly Shabbat celebrations. While their menu varied, there was always one staple on it. You guessed it. Chicken wings! The kids loved them. Now that the kids are older, I wonder if they still eat their chicken wings on Friday night? Finally, there are the recipes that have been published over the years. See Betty Rosbottom’s “Hot and Sassy Wings” in the March 3, 1997, issue of the JN. Or for an Asian twist, see the recipe for Teriyaki Wings (Dec. 6, 1985). This was the earliest publication of a chicken wing recipe that I could find. Or as a munchie for the Super Bowl, “Brown Sugar Glazed Lemon Ginger Chicken Wings” (Feb. 3, 2011). The story of chicken wings and Jewish Detroit is an interesting one. Perhaps, it could be considered another perfect pairing? Want to learn more? Go to the DJN Foundation archives, available for free at www.djnfoundation.org.
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