May 2020Iyar/Sivan5780 , Age 56,Aregistered Nurse at , Age 42,Aregistered Nurse Page 7-10 Culture and Art

Home , Abby Stein, Jeff Wilbusch, The Chanukah Song

Sarah Rigg Sarah expose inequities acrossWashtenaw racialdisparitiesinYpsilanti COVID-19 County David Lieber Adrianne Neff, 54, a hospitalist physician terviewed: For of article, this we purpose the have in go fromall strength to strength. minutes to contribute to article. this May we graciously and generously took precious free is timeless. individuals show, and our for respect them, may have changed. But dedication the these early April. By May some of particulars the work. reflections were These in collected essential this grateful does to who everyone pandemic daily in their lives. We are so care workers to report on effects the theof accountspersonal Jewish from health local L Fran Martin, special to the WJN Jewish pandemic healthprofessionalsLocal ontheCOVID-19 Karen Rappaport Karen Gary Freed A their coverage at concentratemedia.com next for Washtenaw County. Read more of Media, an online magazine covering what's This piece originally appeared Concentratein died fromdied COVID-19, including he’s afriend says he knows more than 20people have who diagnosis, death, and despair.” nonprofitty NEW. “Mineblackwithfilled is son, executive director of Washtenaw Coun Facebook timelines,” says Yodit Mesfin John ing on a project where we’re comparing our peers. dramatically different wayfrom whitetheir arecodes, COVID-19 experiencing ina In issue… this Oakland. assistant at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Thank youthese respondentsall to who floor at MottChildren’s Hospital. on Pediatric the Hematology- Oncology Pediatrics at University the of Michigan. associate chair of Department the of Mott Children’s Hospital. Ypsilanti community Foley activist Bryan “A white and activist friend Iare work The The ofhas affected all us insome way. iving under cloud the of COVID-19

those in the 48197and inthe 48198zipthose County residents, particularly Washtenawfrican-American WASHTENAW , age and 58,apediatrician an Washtenaw Jewish News sought May 2020Iyar/Sivan5780 , age 56,aregistered nurse at , age 42,aregistered nurse page 7-10 Culture and Art

- - - - - Alize Asberry PayneAlize Asberry Pam Shore Gary Freed WJN: How hasyour life changed since Aronson Steve 48% of residents have who hospitalized been arecases from Additionally, zipcodes. those 48197 and 44%of 48198zipcodes, confirmed 29% of county’s the population lives inthe Health Department found that only while data fromleased Washtenaw the County Adrianne Neff DavidGary FreedPam Shore Rappaport Karen Lieber Steve Aronson

changed? Are you getting time off? HaveFebruary? your work hours Emergency Roomsettings. surgical,medical, Intensive Care Unit and Center. Steve works exclusively inthe at Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Medical in Internal Medicine. physician private inthe practice Partners outpatient three setting to three days every limit our face-to-face encounters inthe orvideo telephone. We have organized to to do as manytrying visits as we can through as we consolidate sites clinical and adjust to : Our work: Our schedule has changed , age 57, an internal medicine Diversity Jewish page 12 , chief of the psychiatry service , chief of service psychiatry the

Foley says. sonally know,” to people Iper here inYpsilanti happening right in Detroit. That’s happening (only) life. known his all Recently re “That’s not - - Steve Aronson: Steve the countythe and bringing around resources in ing alight on equity health or inequities in we’ve doing, already shin been particularly muchvery building on alot of work the equities inour county,” Loveluck says. “We’re and community leaders to address in health active inworking with community members about disparities health community. inthe is inline with what county the already knew says department’s the report on COVID-19 Washtenaw County Health Department, moment into change social long inthe run. are working to turn despair the of current the disparities county, inthe activists and local that only 12%of county residents are black. due are to virus the black, despite fact the answer patient messages. and calls portal other two weeks, wevisits dovideo [and] with to time recover For in-between. the back oncan be line the for our next shifts become sick during three days those we so weeks.allows This for downtime case in we do in a viral infection. Rather,do inaviral Ihad one not cluster together way the usually they and Interestingly, chills. symptoms the did of headache, mild muscle cough ache, dry My symptoms were flu-like mild symptoms Michigan. Iisolated at home for 14days. firstthe COVID-19-positive persons in decision was made to test me. Iwas among symptoms, and as ahospital physician, the in early March. flu-like Ihad mild “The health department health very has been “The Jimena Loveluck, health officer thewith Those numbers shine a spotlight largeron Rose for Looking page 24

Volume XVIVNumber8

I tested positive for COVID-19

Ann Arbor, MI48108 2939 BirchHollowDrive c/o JewishFederationofGreaterAnnArbor Washtenaw JewishNews

- - HEATHER NASH PHOTOGRAPHY NASH HEATHER Yodit Johnson Mesfin to have underlying conditions health like County, where black residents are more likely white That peers. in holdstrue Washtenaw have harder been hit by than their virus the of part Americans United the in every States “face to name” the has of my So illness. the tohopefully allay fears and perhaps put a persons. My intention is to humanize this, with coronavirus-positiveexperience bystruck how few people have had personal guidelines. Since my return to work, Iam clearedthen me to return to work CDC per maintained essential daily contact with me, at home. The county department health of “cabin fever” to complete my 14days The worstthe waspart followingdays 6 Symptoms disappeared after eightdays. would attenuate to symptoms ifneeded. by other symptoms. Tylenol Low-dose would replaced be then aday or two later or two symptoms for aday or two, which Continued onpage 4 Continued onpage 5 cause. racism” as aroot environmental “structural and bush, naming beat around the ing data doesn’t dishearten the statement on department’s .” e s on p s re Permit No.85 Ann Arbor, MI U.S. Postage PAID Standard Presort African- healthThe FREE - IFrom the Editor

espite COVID-19, not much has Washtenaw. ganizationally. We’ve had plenty of experi- 2935 Birch Hollow Drive changed at my Washtenaw Jewish Please note that WJN will continue special ence. There was never any question regarding Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108 D News home office. I still haven’t advertising rates for community greetings and whether we would continue to do our things: (734) 395-4438 cleaned off my terribly messy desk; I still love ads for artists and musicians. Contact our Ad- the only questions related to “how.” And of www.washtenawjewishnews.org putting out a monthly local Jewish newspaper. vertising Manager, Gordon White, wjn.ads@ course, the “how” has been answered with [email protected] Unless the cur- gmail.com with any questions. energy, determination, and creativity. Many rent administration Washtenaw County’s political primary will articles in this issue of the WJN attest to that. Editor and Publisher destroys the United be August 4 and through the summer months I’m feeling how each of us is vulnerable to Clare Kinberg States Postal Service, we hope to publish profiles and discussion of this virus against which humans do not yet have Advertising Manager the WJN will con- local candidates, beginning this month with immunity. As Sarah Rigg points out in our front Gordon White tinue to publish and a report on a panel discussing justice reform page article on racial disparities, our vulnerabil- be delivered to your featuring Eli Savit, candidate for Washtenaw ities are exacerbated by longstanding inequities. Design and Layout home. A couple of County Prosecuting Attorney. Though all of our lives are touched by fears Dennis Platte adjustments: We will As I heard this month from each Jew- of sickness, sadness and grief, there are so be publishing month- ish group, I encountered first-hand the Jew- many stories in these 32 pages of new connec- Staff Writers Clare Kinberg ly issues through ish community’s preparedness to weather tion and growth. Chazak chazak v’nitchazak/ Lonnie Sussman the summer, but no annual Guide to Jewish storms—spiritually, economically, and or- May we go from strength to strength. n Contributing Writers Rabbi Jared Anstandig, Emily Burack, Shelby Bruseloff, Debra Nussbaum Co- hen, Eileen Freed, Rabbi Aharon Gold- stein, Dave Greenwald, Daryl M. Hafter, Sarah Schneider Hong, Joanne Brown- IIn this issue… stein Jarvi, Beth Jarvis, Janet Kelman, Advertisers ...... 31 Rabbi Robert Levy, Randy Lubratich, A MESSAGE FROM CHAVERIM B’SHIRIM Fran Martin, Efrayim Mintz, Steve North, Book Review ...... 15 Sarah Rigg, Jennifer Rosenberg, Ellen C. WE ARE POSTPONING OUR CONCERT Schwartz, Clara Silver, Sabena Stark, Han- Calendar...... 28 UNTIL THE VIRUS IS BEYOND US. nah Steinkopf-Frank, Jessica Weil, Dina Hebrew Day School...... 7 White, Lior Zaltzman WATCH THE WASHTENAW JEWISH NEWS FOR UPDATES. Jewish Family Services...... 6 The Washtenaw Jewish News is published IN THE COMING MONTHS, WE WISH EVERYONE monthly, with the exception of January and Kosher Cuisine...... 14 July by JCMWC, LLC. Opinions expressed Obituaries...... 29 HEALTH AND JOY IN LIFE AND SONG! in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of its editors or staff Rabbis Corner ...... 20 --MARILYN KRIMM AND HER TRUSTY BAND OF SONGSTERS.-- ©2020 by the Washtenaw Jewish News. All rights reserved. No portion of the Washtenaw Vitals...... 31 Jewish News may be reproduced without Washtenaw County ...... 13 permission of the publisher. Signed letters to the editor are welcome; they should not exceed 400 words. Letters can be emailed to the editor. Name will be withheld at the discretion of the editor. Circulation: 4,500 Subscriptions: Free inside Washtenaw County $18 first-class subscription

MANY THANKS TO CLARE KINBERG, The deadline for the June 2020 issue of the Washtenaw Jewish News is EDITOR AND PUBLISHER, Friday, May 8. Publication date: Monday, June 1 AND ALL THE CONTRIBUTORS Extra copies of the Washtenaw Jewish News TO THE WASHTENAW JEWISH NEWS are available at locations throughout Washtenaw County. FOR KEEPING US CONNECTED.

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Washtenaw Jewish News A May 2020 3 ICOVID-19

Local Jewish health professionals on COVID-19 pandemic, continued from page 1 professional life changed, in addition to the The second day, we were told to wear street can’t be delivered to the room and only coronavirus symptoms, so I think this is personal impact of this illness? You bet. clothes in and out of the hospital, and to one parent can be with the child. I think more rampant than the numbers in the Pam Shore: On March 16, we cancelled all change into scrubs inside. We would get all the nurses want to do as much as we news reflect. patient appointments and scheduled only a fresh surgical mask every day on the can for the children during this outbreak. Dave Lieber: This Mott nurse wants to thank patients with urgent medical problems that way in. As the supply situation changes, This time we are living in now makes their all those essential workers out there keeping seemed to require a face-to-face visit and a we realize that everyone who works in stay and our jobs even more challenging. this community together and minimally physician to “lay hands” on them. We tried the hospital is coming into contact with Karen Rappaport: My children, my patients, functioning! And a huge thank you to the to especially deter patients who were ill with COVID-19 patients. my family and my coworkers are all public for doing your part in staying home, symptoms that might be coronavirus from WJN: How are you practicing self-care? the motivation I need. I’m also a huge staying safe and supporting all of us. Please, coming into the office. We ended up with Gary Freed: I try to take a walk with one of “Survivor” fan and enjoy watching “The people, don’t cut corners on the stay-at- very few patients needing to be seen and a my kids and/or my wife every day to make Voice.” With three toddlers, every day is home order. Michigan Medicine will be a massive number of phone calls to handle. sure I take advantage of everyone being at a miracle. Someone is always learning or war zone. While most Michiganders are We have been all mostly working from home. I make sure to practice banjo for 30 growing in some way. I must thank Rabbi adhering to the rule, I still see many who home, with one physician being at each of minutes each day as well. Josh Whinston at Temple Beth Emeth are not. Essential workers of all fields need our two offices every day to see patients. Steve Aronson: Even though I have been told for hosting a children’s singalong every to stay healthy to do our jobs. We need Patients do not want to go to the ER, so I I am immune, I am still following CDC morning. It is reminiscent of camp as we your help keeping yourselves healthy. We am handling many conditions by phone or guidelines, even when leaving the house, shout, “Boker tov!” and sing various songs are literally fighting for our lives trying at the office that I would normally refer to wearing a mask and gloves. and prayers. My kids love it and so do I. We not to overload our hospital, but I think it the emergency room.” Pam Shore: I have been able to go for walks have been participating in Friday virtual will be overloaded. We need every doctor Dave Lieber: We all wear masks at work, every and bike rides during the week. Tot Shabbat too. and nurse and thousands more volunteers employee, from the time we enter to the Dave Lieber: I make sure I go on long walks Adrianne Neff: I feel a commitment to being to make it through this. Every day we time we leave. I still work 40 hours per week, with our dogs and take extra supplements to there for my patients no matter what. And transform as many beds as possible into and sometimes pick up overtime to help boost my immune system. Other than that, working is how I take care of my family as ICU beds. Every part of UH and Mott look out our unit. The biggest change: Our unit, when I am out, I just assume that everyone well. Those are really motivating. I have nothing like it did a few weeks ago. With 12E, was dedicated as the regional isolation and every surface is infected. It helps me been working for several years to move no visitors, you can only imagine what it unit (RICU) when the hospital was built. It focus my attention on staying safe. back into inpatient medicine, which is must be like being in one of those ICU beds was designed as a 32-bed negative-pressure Karen Rappaport: I am on a vigorous what I did as a new grad. I’m really happy hooked up to a ventilator without spouses, unit that could be sealed off from the regimen of vitamins, hydration, a strict to be doing this job, working with really children, parents and friends at your side. remainder of the hospital. Because of the sleep schedule and eating protein. I wish sick patients, even though it’s a very hard Think about that the next time you go out outbreak, we had to move our unit down to my acupuncturist and masseuses were still time to start this particular job. and think it’s fine to cut a corner here or the seventh floor, so they could transform able to practice. WJN: Is there anything that news coverage there. It’s not. Just stay at home so that we the twelfth floor from an acute care unit Adrianne Neff: Just trying to do the regular of COVID-19 seems to miss, based on can go to work for you. On behalf of so many into an ICU unit. As far as time off, I have things we are all advised to do — washing your experience? nurses, thank you all that have showered us not personally taken any, but the hospital hands, not touching my face or my mask Gary Freed: We have underfunded and not with your messages and treats and pizzas. is very generous with paid time off. They and not bringing objects that could be prioritized public health in this country for Karen Rappaport: Feeding us and little favors cover time off if we need to stay at home contaminated from the hospital to my the past two decades. This is a wake-up call are always very much appreciated. The because of any reason related to COVID-19. home. I have a wife and two kids at home that we must heed. outpouring of support has been helpful. They provide additional time off if we get in a very small house. If I get sick, I will Steve Aronson: Things are changing quickly Adrianne Neff: Just the usual. Stay home, sick due to taking care of patients with probably have to move into a hotel room and guidelines are changing every day. Press take it seriously and try not to get “back COVID-19. On a more personal note, after to avoid infecting them. I worry about conferences are politically tinged. to normal” prematurely. 35 years together, my husband and I were that. I feel scared for them, and for myself, Pam Shore: I feel that the news coverage has WJN: Thoughts about anything especially legally married at the end of February. If because I have rheumatoid arthritis and underplayed the extreme shortages of tests, “Michigan” or “Jewish” about the it were another two weeks, we probably take medications that suppress my immune and how incredibly slow Michigan has been COVID-19 health crisis? would have had to cancel the wedding. As system, so I am at high risk. Pretty much to ramp up testing. Steve Aronson: Jewish Federation set up an it was, we had to cancel our honeymoon everyone in the hospital assumes that they Dave Lieber: I think everyone would agree Emergency Response Fund. We’re looking cruise. We’ll just postpone that journey are going to be infected eventually. I’m just that news coverage is extensive. I think at this seriously. Lead by example. Be more until next year. hoping for a mild case. they do a good job of focusing on the involved with Jewish organizations. Call Karen Rappaport: Since February, we nurses WJN: Do you have something that motivates work and stress of the health care workers. and check in with people to make sure have dealt with a lot of change and some fear you to get up in the morning and get Michigan Medicine specifically has been they are all right. of the unknown. My unit has made some through the day? very transparent in how overwhelming it Pam Shore: It will be a very quiet Passover, and significant modifications to better protect Gary Freed: Actually, it is starting to feel is daily, but it is needed. one that I am sure we will all remember. our patients with compromised immune a lot like the movie Groundhog Day in Karen Rappaport: I have seen recent footage I hope it is the only Passover of its kind. systems related to their treatments and/ many respects. Not meaning to be too from personnel that seems to appropriately Dave Lieber: I am just thankful that our or transplants. Some staff on my unit have corny about this, but I do think there is an capture what is going on. Everyone is going governor took the steps she did early on. I been offered low census [paid time off when innate desire among most, if not all, health to lose someone they know. It is scary. can remember when she first announced over-staffed] as the hospital has reduced the professionals to try to be of service when Adrianne Neff: I haven’t read much about what the closure of bars and restaurants, and inpatient census by canceling surgeries in we can. Certainly, this is one of the most an isolating and frightening experience it even when she issued the stay-at-home anticipation of the surge to treat COVID-19 important times to do that. is for patients to be in the hospital at this order, there were so few cases in Michigan. patients. My instinct has been to conserve Steve Aronson: My motivation to get up and time, when every person you interact with I can only imagine how much worse this my hours in case one of my children or I get through the day is that both patients wears a mask, and you can’t have visitors outbreak would be in our state if we delayed get sick. I am currently working my same and staff are very stressed. Going to work and everyone is trying to avoid contact and response as other states have done. An appointment and schedule, though I will is therapeutic. exposure. Being a patient in a hospital is underlying principle of the Jewish people remain flexible to the hospital’s needs. We Pam Shore: What motivates me to get up in disorienting and frightening in the best of is a sense of community. In my lifetime, have been told to expect changes. the morning is wanting my patients to times, and these are the worst of times. Also, there has never been a more important Adrianne Neff: I started a new job as a know that during this frightening time, how profoundly frightening the experience reason, as a community, to come together, hospitalist at St. Joe’s Oakland April 1. my coworkers and I are available to them, of being short of breath is. It’s awful, and help each other, give what you can, be kind Before that, I was working at an outpatient to answer their questions and to be used these patients are experiencing it for hours to and patient with one another. clinic in Jackson. My last outpatient shifts as a resource to help them navigate health and days on end. I wish there was some way Karen Rappaport: I could not be more proud were when community spread was just issues related or unrelated to COVID-19. to alleviate it. I want to be able to take off to work at Michigan Medicine or to be starting in Michigan. I began my new job Because this situation is new to all of us, the my mask [and] gloves and sit at a patient’s an alumna of the University of Michigan in a totally changed world. My hospital is “right” decision or path is often not clear. bedside and hold their hand and be with Business and Nursing Schools. We are in opening new COVID-19 units every day. I enjoy talking things out with patients, so them. I can’t and this is really hard. uncertain, nerve-wracking times, but I On my particular service, on the first day, I we can decide on the “most right” course WJN: Anything you wish people outside work with the bravest and the best in every was told we weren’t going to see COVID-19 of action. of health care workers would do to be possible scope imaginable. I find this very patients. By the third day, two of my non- Dave Lieber: Honestly, I truly love the work helpful in this crisis? comforting. There is no place I would rather COVID-19 patients had tested positive. On that I do. I have been a pediatric nurse at Pam Shore: Everyone that I have spoken be. I found my truest faith as a patient on my first day, I was handed one N95 mask Mott for nine years now. It is the kids in the to, patients and providers, [has] been an operating table which was a primary and one surgical mask, [and] paper bags hospital who motivate me to get up every very open and understanding about the motivation for my changing careers to to keep them between shifts, and told they morning. It’s been harder on the children in limitations and unknowns. I was on call become a nurse. I carry my Jewishness with had to last indefinitely. On the first day, we the hospital since the outbreak. Visitation one weekend recently, and had about 10 me everywhere and always. Healing the sick were wearing our scrubs in and out of the is nonexistent. There is no access to the times the usual number of phone calls, is a mitzvah. Saving a life is paramount to hospital, and to change into scrubs outside. playroom anymore, no volunteers, toys most of them people with mild continued on page 5 4 Washtenaw Jewish News A May 2020 ICOVID-19

COVID-19 racial disparities in Ypsilanti, continued from page 1 asthma and diabetes that make them more nity Conversation about COVID-19” that at- room on the South Side of Ypsi, surely we can with vital COVID-19 messages to all the non- vulnerable to COVID-19 while also being less tracted more than 330 participants. get printed material out,” she says. She adds profit’s contacts. He says he hopes the sense of likely to have access to quality health care. “We’re working with community partners that text messaging, posters, and other cultur- community and mutual aid people are expe- The health department statement noted to make sure we have information that is go- ally-relevant content needs to be pushed out riencing during the COVID-19 outbreak will that poverty is a risk factor in a pandemic ing out through correct channels and people immediately. continue and grow. because people living in lower-income com- feel the information is coming from sources Asberry Payne says Michigan Gov. Whit- Foley also points to a sense of community munities tend to live closer together, which they feel are credible,” says Alize Asberry mer’s message of “Stay Home Stay Safe” is fan- as a good that has come out of something ter- makes transmission easier. Additionally, black Payne, Washtenaw County racial equity of- tastic, but that it’s “not practical advice for some rible. and Latinx residents are more likely to work ficer, who is working with the health depart- of our community who are working in essential “We need to get back to neighbors call- in service, production, and transportation ment on messaging about COVID-19. “We’re services, like healthcare or grocery stores.” ing on neighbors and become a community jobs that don’t lend themselves to telecom- making sure those messages are tailored and Those workers need good information again,” Foley says. “It’s terrible, but not every- muting or even taking paid time off. accessible.” about what they can do to reduce their risk thing is doom and gloom. You can choose to Ypsilanti resident Darryl Johnson is the Some of the messages that activists and of contracting the disease. But they also need use social platforms to inform, uplift, and tell executive director of Mentor 2 Youth but also health officials want to get out include dispel- resources that back up current health recom- jokes.” works as a supervisor for A-Ride, a paratransit ling the myth that African-Americans and mendations, such as stockpiling two weeks’ Mesfin Johnson says it shouldn’t have service of the Ann Arbor Area Transportation young people are less vulnerable to the virus, worth of food or wearing masks while con- taken these tragic statistics to wake people up Authority. He says he can isolate himself in his that praying is good but doesn’t replace social ducting tasks where social distancing is dif- to the racial disparities in the community and office and is more concerned about his driv- distancing, and dispelling conspiracy theories ficult. how health outcomes are directly impacted by ers, though he appreciates steps his supervi- that encourage young people to rebel against “Social safety net providers have increased issues such as affordable housing, food access, sors have taken to screen passengers to make social distancing and stay-home orders. funding and resources so they can do things and lack of a living wage. sure they’re not actively showing any signs of Foley isn’t waiting for the government to like put in bulk orders for basic household “If we don’t have to pay a premium for tele- respiratory illness. step up and put out public service announce- necessities the county doesn’t normally sup- medicine, we never should have had to pay it,” “My wife’s first cousin was a Detroit po- ments that target the local African-American ply, like toilet paper and cleaning supplies,” Mesfin Johnson says. “If you tell me we can lice captain who died (from COVID-19), and community. He has been creating videos with Asberry Payne says. If they don’t have to get food and figure out how to meet children that’s when I started taking this seriously,” he Ypsilanti residents that many people know hunt through stores for those items, “it keeps where they are, why were we not doing so says. “I came into the office to make sure ev- and trust, like Pastor George Waddles Jr. of people at home and stops the spread of infec- before now? Why does it take a pandemic to eryone understood this is not a joke, that they Ypsi’s Second Baptist Church and local at- tions,” she says. dismantle systems that oppress black, brown, needed to keep their distance in the office and torney Erane Washington, and then posting As various leaders and community mem- vulnerable, and poor citizens? It would be be mindful.” them to Facebook. bers discuss the social determinants that have a shame to go back to the status quo, and I In light of the situation, a number of con- “Many people who are trying to address our led to the current health disparities, they are question the leadership of anyone who thinks versations have been convened to address community don’t know our community,” he says. drawing lessons that will inform the way they that’s what we should do.” n the topic of COVID-19 and social justice in “People need to hear from respected voices.” operate in the future. Ypsilanti, including a NEW webinar called Mesfin Johnson calls the videos “brilliant.” In his work with Mentor 2 Youth, Johnson “Centering Justice: A Washtenaw Commu- “If Bryan can make those from his living is working on a project to send text messages Community comes together during COVID-19 pandemic By Eileen Freed s I write this, our community has As difficult as this period has been, we and adding a new service, prepared meal de- The work of caring for the community spent five weeks under Michigan’s have witnessed an incredible amount of posi- livery, to over 300 clients. cannot happen without the tireless efforts of A “Stay at Home” order and with at tivity and creativity in our community. Every Like JCCs across the country, the Ann the many professionals and volunteers who least another two more to go until the order Jewish congregation and organization, large Arbor JCC has faced considerable financial lead and implement the important programs is lifted. Hopefully, by the time you are read- and small, has creatively and deftly shifted strain, as much of its revenue is based on tu- and services offered by our Jewish commu- ing this, we will have begun the slow and programming and operations to remote plat- ition and fees for service. The JCC leadership nal institutions. Our health care workers and gradual process of shifting from this long forms. If anything, there has been an explo- has made important adjustments in order first responders and other essential employ- and bizarre period of physical distancing to sion of local opportunities to join us together to continue to pay all employees, including ees have kept us safe and supplied. We cel- reconnecting with one another and resum- spiritually, culturally and educationally. This teaching staff, who are not able to work re- ebrate and appreciate their dedication and ing the activities of “normal” daily life. year, our seders were most definitely differ- motely. JCC staff have developed creative new commitment. There’s no question that we have been ex- ent than all other nights. Our congregations avenues for connection, offering children and In the coming days and weeks, our com- periencing exceedingly challenging times as provided wonderful resources to help indi- families in the Early Childhood Center on- munity will continue to face challenges as we all have found ourselves – personally, pro- viduals create their own remote experiences line Shabbat and Havdalah celebrations and the economic impact of this pandemic con- fessionally and organizationally – in com- and offered engaging communal Zoom seder providing a range of programs through the tinues to affect individuals and organiza- pletely unchartered territory. Each of us has experiences for those who wanted to gather “Virtual Ann Arbor JCC.” tions and as we try to figure out the safest been struggling with the anxiety of physical, with community. Hebrew Day School and synagogue reli- way to begin to gather and re-establish our emotional, and/or economic uncertainty and Jewish Family Services, always dedicated to gious schools have adapted to the new reality operations, activities and programs. the many ways “social distancing” has im- meeting the social service needs of our com- of on-line learning and have worked tirelessly Federation is looking forward to its An- pacted our lives. There are those among us munity rapidly adjusted its operations even to ensure their students have the tools and ed- nual Meeting, Wednesday June 10. As of this who are ill and scared or who have lost loved while demand for their services increased. ucational experiences necessary to complete writing, it is unclear if we will gather remotely ones, and we extend our prayers for refuah JFS’s food pantry is one of a few local pantries the school year and prepare them for the next. or in person, but we look forward to the op- shlema – a full and speedy recovery – and able to shift operations to delivery-only, deliv- The Jewish Federation has focused at- portunity to celebrate the achievements of the condolences to those in mourning. ering much-needed items to 400 households tention on convening and serving the com- past year and welcome our new board leader- munity to ensure our local institutions have ship together with you. We are delighted that Continued from page 4 the means and tools to weather this storm. Eric Fingerhut, President and CEO of JFNA, most commandments. I wear my Star of Trump and friends, it’s being seen as a With the help of Jewish Federations of North will be keynote speaker. He will provide in- David around my neck, so that if applicable, Chinese virus. I know Asian Americans and America (JFNA), we provided information sights into how the Jewish community, na- patients and families may know they are Asian immigrant communities have seen and resources to prepare organizations and tionally and globally, came together to help not alone. Also, if I fall ill, the chaplains hate crimes and increased discrimination congregations to apply for loans through the one another during this crisis. will know whom to call. I fiind comfort in as a result. But as a Jew, and given our Small Business Administration’s Paycheck As restrictions ease, we eagerly anticipate the Shema and Mi Sheberach. history, I’m always very cognizant of the fact Protection Program. A Jewish Commu- working with our partners to provide opportu- Adrianne Neff: It scared me when a few of the that there are anti-Semites who seize on any nity Emergency Fund has been established nities to join together as a community, and we early clusters were centered around some such opportunity. I also worry about Gaza, to address the emergent financial needs of look forward to seeing you – in person – soon! synagogues and a Hasidic community. They and how Israel’s oppression there inevitably the community, and The Community CO- For more information about COVID-19 were unfounded fears, because this virus result in unnecessary deaths. That’s similar to VID-19 Resource Page was established to resources, what’s happening in our com- spread so widely and seems to have reached how I worry about incarcerated folks in the into every community. But I felt twinges of U.S., who are crowded, can’t practice social provide important information about how munity, and how you can receive or provide worry that it might be seen to some people distancing, don’t have access to sanitation or community members can get help, help oth- help, please visit www.jewishannarbor.org/ n as a “Jewish disease.” Instead, thanks to the same medical care we take for granted. n ers, and stay Jewishly connected. covid19. Washtenaw Jewish News A May 2020 5 IJewish Family Services

JFS: cultivate resilience with gratitude: it’s science! by Sarah Schneider Hong, LMSW s we find ourselves coping with chal- Step three of 3GT: For maximum im- lenges ranging from the merely in- pact, repeat this daily for a minimum of two A convenient to the existential, many weeks. Anecdotally, many report even a few of us reminisce to the quaint days of our “bor- times helps, but the research validates effects ing, stressful lives.” The unprecedented Co- with a two week or longer practice. vid-19 pandemic has created novel adversity There can be added value with practicing and challenge and many are seeking resources gratitude at bedtime since there is research to cultivate resilience to face the demands of linking it with improved sleep. Another pos- the moment and what lies ahead. The good sibility is to record the daily practice in a news is that considerable research has been journal so that on particularly melancholy or conducted in the field of resilience and that stressed days, one can review days and weeks science offers many resources for those seek- of “good stuff” for a boost and change of per- ing more tools to add to their well-being and spective. Families can share good things at stress management toolbox. the dinner table. Colleagues can end meet- There is robust science on the positive ef- ings by each sharing a good thing. The appli- fects of feeling and expressing gratitude, far cations are endless but the dividends are the beyond gratitude being simply a pleasant same: gratitude practice offsets the negativity emotion. There is credible data supporting bias (a cognitive phenomenon whereby we gratitude practice effects on mood, perceived pay more attention to the negative than the social support, prosocial behavior, feelings positive), boosts positive emotion, and en- of connectedness, positive affect, improved hances perceived well-being. happiness, reduced depressive symptoms and Those looking for evidence-based well- myriad improvements in well-being, includ- ness trainings for their businesses and orga- ing, but not limited to, emotional exhaustion. nizations can contact the Amster Center at One frequently researched, well-validated Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw Coun- gratitude intervention which is easy to imple- ty. The training team offers many cutting ment is known as “3 Good Things (3GTs).” edge classes emphasizing good science and Step one of 3GT: Write down 3 positive accessible tools for practice. Those seeking experiences from the last 24 hours (from the one-on-one support to boost coping skills, mundane to the awe-inspiring); cultivate resilience, manage stress and cope Step two of 3GT: Briefly reflect on the with depression or anxiety, can contact JFS’ sources of each good thing (and write this Thrive Counseling Services for expert coun- down), by answering one of these ques- seling (conducted remotely with telehealth tions—Why did the good thing happen? during the Covid crisis.). n How did others contribute? Or, What does the good thing mean to you?; JFS launches economic safety net Joanne Brownstein Jarvi, special to the WJN hroughout, its history, Jewish any Washtenaw county resident who is Family Services has worked with facing an acute crisis related to housing, T the most vulnerable in our com- health, or other basic needs; for whom the munity, and has a reputation of offering crisis may be imminent (such as facing high quality professional help to older a lay-off, with limited savings or assets); adults and immigrants. JFS services in- and/or who may face additional barriers clude case management, counseling, help to accessing traditional assistance sources for caregivers, English language educa- (stigma, ineligibility, cultural barriers, tion, immigration, citizenship, and career etc.). Those in need may contact JFS for a assistance, in addition to refugee resettle- screening and a case consult appointment ment, and other services. All JFS programs to review the request. Recipients of the are offered with the purpose of insuring assistance will be asked to donate to the that everyone has opportunities to be eco- fund in the future, if able, so others will be nomically and socially self-sufficient and able to also benefit. no one falls through the cracks. If you need services, please con- Early in 2020, a member of our com- tact JFS at 734 769 0209 or complete a munity, Larry Hauptmann, generously screening online at https://form.jotform. pledged $20,000 a year to JFS for the es- com/91475743520155. tablishment of a safety net fund. With For information about setting up a this fund, and with what we know now as fund at JFS to support individuals facing incredible foresight, Larry wanted JFS to economic crisis, contact development@ help community members with any sud- jfsannarbor.org. To make a contribution den or unforeseen unfortunate circum- online, please visit jfsannarbor.org/do- stance—to prevent crises from becoming nate. catastrophes. If you are a part of an organization that Now, with the Covid Crisis, former en- would be interested in hiring JFS clients gineers, former consultants, and former or obtaining services for your employ- small business owners find themselves in ees, please contact JFS at 734 769 0209 or need and are coming to JFS for services email [email protected] n and for just this kind of safety net. Larry could not have known just how timely and necessary his fund would become. Those best served by this fund include 6 Washtenaw Jewish News A May 2020 IHebrew Day School

HDS superpowers online community learning Jennifer Rosenberg, special to the WJN reparation is everything, but noth- our still-developing plans for a transition to ing. We also have a responsibility to continue flexibility, for it was inevitable, of course, that ing prepared us for this. remote instruction. The very next day, Gov- living our lives as best we can in the modified some HDS families would confront significant P By mid-February it was clear ernor Whitmer ordered that all Michigan ways this situation requires. We will endeavor challenges. Parents would be forced to manage that COVID-19 was coming. None of us at K-12 public, private, and boarding schools to do so with kindness and compassion. their own work responsibilities (remote or oth- erwise) while supervising, assisting, and caring for their children (indeed, so would teachers and administrators). Some children would have more direct supervision and assistance from parents than others. And while the assigned work would prove to be just the right amount for some children, it would be too much or too little for others. We worked hard to commu- nicate to parents that we understand that they are carrying a heavy load and may feel overwhelmed at times, and we provided guidance in the form of suggestions for daily routines, work space planning, and access to our amazing school psychologist, Dr. Beth Pearson. More than anything, we committed to supporting our students not only as learners, but as people—we committed (as always) to tending to their emotional lives every bit as much as their academic ones. We are a small school. We don’t have a lot of people to share the work required to make this transition. But the people we do have are bona fide superheroes. Our teachers’ heroic commitment to their students was summed up by an HDS parent in an email sent just before Passover: “I want to take a moment,” the parent wrote, “to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the effort, energy, and love you put into smoothly transitioning our children to remote learning. I am overwhelmed by the gratitude and pride I feel for you all and every- Hebrew Day School of Ann Arbor were sure be closed, effective March 16th. Limmud (learning) thing you give to our children every day despite how we would be affected, but we were pretty In the days and weeks that followed that the circumstances.... I am constantly amazed by sure we were going to need to act, and that announcement (and similar announcements Ye’hi veyt’kha bayit va’ad your passion, dedication, and consistent avail- we would need to act courageously, decisive- from Governors across the country), some- la’khakhamim ability. Whether a hello and smile while on a ly, and with compassion. We knew this was thing amazing happened. People from all (Let your home be a meeting place for walk, excitement for receiving a phone call or not something that could be addressed at the over the world began collaborating to ensure sages.)—Pirkei Avot 1:4. yet another email, a sweet message by mail or last minute—we needed a plan. that learning could continue even with school As a school, our most important job is to email, you have brought smiles to our family We started with early contingency plan- buildings closed and face-to-face instruction educate our students, and we are doing our during a difficult time. You are truly my super- ning—with a list of every possible what if we prohibited. Learning platforms of every sort best to keep them engaged in learning during heroes and I wish you a peaceful break from could think of—and we began brainstorm- were made available at no cost in an effort to this crisis. This will be both challenging and always ‘holding it together.’ Thank you.” ing solutions to problems we hoped we ensure that students could access valuable re- exciting for students, parents, and teachers. Sara Goldshlack, HDS teacher and par- would not have to confront. When the CDC sources and tools as they endeavored to learn It is essential that we all remain flexible and ent of three current HDS students, sounded asked all Americans to prepare for the po- from home. Jewish Day Schools from across open to feedback. similar themes: “I keep coming back,” she tential spread of COVID-19, there were still North America and beyond began work- wrote, “to the idea that HDS exists as more no confirmed cases in Washtenaw County. ing together to craft plans, locate resources, Kehillah (community) than just a place, it exists as a community. We Nevertheless, we began sharing important share language, and quell fears. Prizmah, an “Community is society with a human expect that students and families can remain recommendations with our community as international organization that provides sup- face—the place where we know we’re not connected to the HDS community after they to how best to remain healthy, safe, and in- port to Jewish Day Schools, expertly led the alone.” Rabbi Jonathan Sacks have aged out of the school, but now we are formed. I received daily (indeed, sometimes way by offering consistent, meaningful we- More than ever, we need to offer and feel the seeing that people can remain connected hourly) communications from the Washt- binars and workshops, curating and sharing support of our community. We will do this in sev- from a distance as well. This is a beautiful ex- enaw County Health Department and the materials, connecting leaders and teachers, eral ways, including offering some all-school vir- ample of the idea that learning is not about Washtenaw Intermediate School District providing access to experts in every area of tual celebrations for Kabbalat Shabbat, Havdalah, location, but about connection.” providing me with much needed guidance, need, and generally cheerleading the entire and Rosh Chodesh. We encourage our families At times like this, we are particularly resources, and support. It was a tense time, field. My informal group comprising heads to reach out to HDS teachers and staff and to rely grateful for the strength and togetherness but still the prospect of dramatic change in of Ann Arbor independent schools became on one another for empathy and support. Social of the entire Ann Arbor Jewish community. the rhythm of our lives felt very far away. very active as well, serving as a sounding distancing may make some of us feel very alone. We pray for the health and wellbeing of our With each passing day, however, it board and source of information. It is our job to make one another feel connected. students, staff, our extended community and seemed more and more likely that the spread Hebrew Day School’s remote learning With these core values as our guideposts, we the beyond. n of COVID-19 would require schools to re- program began on Tuesday, March 17, and it embraced a mindset of support, patience and frain from face-to-face instruction, and so is rooted in three core values: we expanded our planning efforts. We scheduled an emergency staff meeting to discuss Achrayut (responsibility) our contingency plans for learning. We sur- Kol yisrael arevim zeh lazeh veyed parents to better understand our com- (All of Israel are responsible for one an- munity’s access to technology (including/ other.) especially internet connectivity) and to get This phrase reflects Jewish law’s orientation a sense of how much adult supervision our toward communal responsibility. At this time, students were likely to have. When the Uni- it is our responsibility to do our part to reduce versity of Michigan announced the suspen- the spread of this virus and to help those in sion of face-to-face classes on March 11, we need. We are doing this through vigilant, pre- knew we didn’t have much time; and in fact ventative health practices and social distanc- later that day, I shared with our parent body Washtenaw Jewish News A May 2020 7 IArt and Culture

The Prince of Egypt composer on the musical theater adaptation, his career and his family’s Passover tradition Steve North

(JTA) — The 1998 animated film on Moses Stephen Schwartz, was moved by the return 100 in June, and their mother Sheila, a phasize the relationship between the two and the Exodus story has been turned into a marks. He’s written music for a range of other teacher who’s now 95. [adoptive] brothers [Moses and Rameses, recent musical in London. It’s streaming on blockbusters, from Wicked to Pocahantas. “We always celebrated Passover and con- who became Pharaoh]. That really appealed Hulu. And in the wake of the coronavirus “This is the most gratifying thing a writer tinue to with my parents every year,” Schwartz to me, because I like to do stories where real crisis, the original movie’s music is getting can hear,” he said. “We write to communi- said. “When my children Scott and Jessica human relationships are caught up in big events.” Schwartz’s 1991 musical Children of Eden was actually his original interpretation of the book of Genesis. While it didn’t run on Broadway, it has become one of the most frequently licensed pieces of theater around the world. He also wrote the lyrics to the 2012 choral piece “The Chanukah Song – We Are Lights.” “A friend of mine was directing a performance of Christmas songs at the Lincoln Center tree lighting and wanted to do a Ha- nukkah song as well,” he said. “I was very pleased to get an opportunity to contribute a Hanukkah song because I feel there aren’t nearly enough of them.” Schwartz’s place in the pantheon of leg- endary Broadway and film composers was well established before the 21st century, but he’s perhaps best known for Wicked. Some 60 million theater-goers worldwide have seen the clever Broadway musical take on The Wizard of Oz, which has grossed $5 billion. He often hears from fans who tell him the show’s song “Defying Gravity” has changed their lives. “All of us who worked on Wicked are as- tonished by what’s happened,” Schwartz said. “Obviously we were passionate about the idea and tried to do the best show we pos- sibly could, but for it to have become such a cultural phenomenon was completely beyond our expectations.” Schwartz’s parents and grandparents were all born in America, but his Jewish roots date back to the Austro-Hungarian The Prince of Egypt is having another moment in the desert sun. Empire, and many ancestors were from Vi- enna as well. While working in the Austrian cate, to share our were young, my father wanted to make the capital, with the help of the Jewish museum feelings and philoso- story more interesting for them, so he invented there, he found records about relatives from phies with the world. two characters named Charlie and Susie, who both sides. “A lot of times you were stand-ins for them. They appeared in the Now Schwartz is looking forward to the put stuff out there Passover story, assisting Moses, and that went expected release next year of the film version and don’t know how on for six or seven years when they were little.” of Wicked and the presumed reopening in it’s being received. So Schwartz has been creating memorable London of The Prince of Egypt, of which he’s if people have found music since his college days. While still in his quite proud. something inspir- early 20s, he had two massive hits on Broad- “It was a very exciting experience theat- ing or comforting, way: Godspell and Pippin, which ran for nearly rically, extremely imaginative, with athletic there’s just no greater five years and 2,000 performances. choreography,” he said. n gift a writer can ask He worked consistently throughout the for.” 1970s and ’80s, creating lyrics and/or music Stephen Schwartz has won multiple Grammy and Academy For The Prince for various productions, including Rags, about Awards. (Nathan Johnson) of Egypt musical, Jewish immigrants in the “shmatta business” Schwartz over the (also known as the garment industry). online love from fans who are being soothed past five years has written 10 new songs that By the 1990s, Schwartz was collaborat- by soundtrack tunes such as “When You Be- tell the Passover story. The play was at the ing with Alan Menken on scores for Dis- lieve,” which won an Oscar. beginning of a West End run when the pan- ney movies such as Pocahontas, for which “Hearing this amid the Covid-19 virus demic forced it and all the other shows to he received two Academy Awards, and The situation just comforts me,” one listener close for now. An original cast recording of Hunchback of Notre Dame. wrote on the song’s YouTube page. the songs was released shortly before Pass- In 1998, he wrote five songs for The Prince “You made me cry from joy; this is what over on Ghostlight Records. of Egypt, the first animated feature produced we need to hear right now. Italy thanks you!” Schwartz, 72, said he’s been “very aware by Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg’s another comment read. of the dramatic implications” of the Exodus DreamWorks studio. “This song fills my heart so deeply in saga since early childhood. “I have to say,” Schwartz recalled, “when these times, and gives me strength,” a young Born in New York City, he and his sis- they first approached me about doing an fan said. ter were raised on suburban Long Island by animated feature, I didn’t really see it, until Stephen Schwartz at the piano at age 7. The song’s prolific composer and lyricist, their businessman father Stanley, who will Spielberg said the idea he had was to em- (Courtesy of Schwartz)

8 Washtenaw Jewish News A May 2020 IArt and Culture

Netflix’s ‘Unorthodox’ is Yiddish, feminist and controversial Lior Zaltzman This story originally appeared on Kveller. ack in 2012, when Deborah Feld- a two-dimensional portrayal of ultra-Ortho- her to remain with him — is heartwrenching. feels a bit didactic, but still powerful. man’s memoir “Unorthodox” came doxy, let me assuage your fears. Sure, unlike Yanky offers to love Esty, quirks and all, Motherhood is an important part of B out, several people recommended I the show — both the read this tale about a young woman leaving void that Esty’s absent the Hasidic Satmar sect. mother created as well I didn’t follow the advice, but I should as Esty’s fear that she have. It’s an important and engrossing auto- will not know how to biographical work. be a mother because of “Unorthodox” has inspired an incredible it. It is never addressed new Netflix miniseries by the same name. in the show, but under- Starring Shira Haas of “Shtisel,” this is rever- going the journey to ent and beautiful television. find her own happiness Haas plays Esther “Esty” Shapiro, a wom- is not only something an struggling to find her place in the same that Esty does for her- Brooklyn Satmar community where Feld- self, but for her future man grew up. Like Feldman, who wrote in children and their well- secret, Esty has a secret passion: music. Like being. She does not Feldman, her father is incapacitated, her want them to grow up mother has left the community and she is with an unrealized, an- raised in part by her bubbe. gry or absent parent, as But Esty’s story isn’t a carbon copy of she did. Feldman’s. It’s more of an amalgam of the “Unorthodox” is many high-profile tales of those who left a beautiful show, and ultra-Orthodoxy, such as Shulem Deen, Jeri- Esty is a magnificent cho Vincent and Abby Stein, who has a small character. Her harrow- role in the show. ing coming-of-age tale Haas brings a powerhouse performance, is universal, and I feel and Esty’s character is powerful and specific. like many of us, reli- Yet it’s a universal tale found in the stories of gious and secular, will Hasids who have gone “off the path” — those see ourselves in certain who feel like a square peg in a round hole in moments of the por- their restrictive and tight-knit communities. “Shtisel,” the Israeli show about haredi Jews, and at first she is thrilled by the concept. On trayal. In each instance, for every chunk of freedom this show centers on someone who rejects their wedding day, the exhilaration on Esty’s A show this profoundly human is exactly sought, there is a price — ultimately, the dis- their religious community. But the portrayal face is intoxicating — you see that she truly what we need now, in days where we all feel solution of the relationship with your family of Orthodoxy is handled with utmost sensi- believes that in marriage she will find free- so lonely and so detached from our com- and the only community you’ve ever known. tivity and care. dom. But it all sours as the couple work to munities — and so scared that things will be That is a heavy and constant price to pay. For a start, the show is partly in Yiddish — consummate their marriage. Esty feels op- this way forever. “Unorthodox” reminds us In the show, which came out last week, a novel choice that feels very respectful and pressed by her husband’s sexual desire and that life is a constant search, that happiness is Esty keeps searching for her happiness — in very right. Both Haas and her co-star, Amit her physical inability to return it. not always the end goal, and that sometimes clandestine piano lessons, in a marriage that Rahav, learned the Jewish tongue spoken by The marriage scenes are the most inti- you just have to work through some — par- she hopes will bring her freedom (spoiler: it the Satmar community for the show. It was mate. A journey to the mikvah before the don my French — real tough shit before you does not), and then by escaping from Brook- a difficult for both actors, entailing hours wedding shows Esty dipping in the ritual come through on the other side. n lyn to Berlin, where her ex-Hasid mother of lessons from Eli Rosen, the rabbi in the bath, impatient and giddy with excitement. lives. While she finds a new community of show and himself an ex-Hasid (Rosen and As a viewer, the scene felt even more shock- musicians in the German capital, and a way actor Jeff Wilbusch, who is also ex-Satmar, ing than the lovemaking scenes of the two to follow her love for music, it’s safe to say helped make sure every minute detail in the — they entail no nudity but can be stomach- there is no way to neatly tie this story in a show was accurate, down to the length of the churning because of Esty’s discomfort. But happy-ever-after knot. There is no place in socks.) intimacy and sacredness are communicated the world that will be a square hole for this It’s striking to see a show in which Yid- in the show, and nothing feels salacious. square peg. Just a place that perhaps feels a dish is front and center. I found myself ad- Yanky is distraught when Esty leaves him little less painful, a little more right. miring the show for its beauty, musicality without saying a word. And he follows her Many do find their place and happiness and warmth. One scene that features a song to Berlin — a complex place for the Satmar within ultra-Orthodoxy: It offers them faith, in Yiddish is breathtaking. And the choice of community. For Esty it’s where her mother community and comforting rituals. But for Yiddish helped engross me in the commu- sought freedom from her community, and those who grow to feel out of place, the exit is nity being portrayed — a complex one, like where she comes looking for her own. But arduous and incredibly painful and, in some all communities, with villains and heroes and the Satmar community was started in Europe ways, never truly complete. “Unorthodox” everything in between. and re-established itself in New York in the portrays this journey with emotional elo- Esty’s husband, Yanky, played by Rahav, is wake of World War II, on the ashes and trau- quence. a particularly strong and complex character. ma of the Holocaust. The show really drives If you are worried that this show contains His love and devotion — his desperation for home that point — in a way that sometimes

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Washtenaw Jewish News A May 2020 9 IArt and Culture

These 7 Jewish actresses were ahead of their time Hannah Steinkopf-Frank This story originally appeared on Alma. lishing the Baghdadi Jewish community. the Tear,” by Scott O’Brien eventually converted to Catholicism, she Some of the first women to act in Indian said that she could never forget her Jewish oth on screen and behind the 5. Luise Rainer (1910-2014) scenes, Jewish directors, produc- movies came from this Jewish Diaspora. heritage and her life was richer because of Luise Rainer, who was born in Ger- ers and writers are credited with Myers, who was working as a telephone it. In 1955, “I’ll Cry Tomorrow” was made B many, made history as the first actress to developing the Hollywood system as we operator when she was discovered, was into a movie of the same name and was win multiple Academy Awards and to win know it today. These seven pioneering hesitant to pursue acting. But she went on nominated for four Academy Awards. multiple back to back. Despite a burgeon- Jewish actresses defied expectations of to star in films including Typist Girl (1926) Read more: “I’ll Cry Tomorrow,” by Lil- their gender and many survived religious persecution, fleeing Europe during World War II. Their films are testaments to their talent and prove the power of cinema as both a realm of escapism and a vehicle to explore some of the world’s most pressing issues. 1. Elisabeth Bergner (1897-1986) The Austrian actress Elisabeth Bergner was nominated for a best actress Oscar in 1935 and even may have helped create the titular character in the film All About Eve. Bergner was one of Germany’s most re- nowned theater and film actresses, known for her androgynous, pants-wearing roles (something pretty unheard of at the time). After moving to London, she helped fellow actors escape Nazi Germany. Dur- ing a screening of her movie “The Rise of Catherine the Great” in Berlin, Nazis staged a riot as part of their larger campaign to ban Jewish art. Bergner and her husband, director Paul Czinner, soon fled to the U.S., where she starred with Lau- rence Olivier in “As You Like It” (1936). She returned to Europe after the war, acting in the 1973 film Der Fußgänger (“The Pedestrian”), which was nominated for an Academy Award and Golden Globe. A Berlin city park was named for Bergner. Read more: “Elisabeth Bergner,” by Ar- thur Eloesser 2. Libby Holman (1904-1971) (Elisabeth Bergner via United States Library of Congress’s Prints and Photographs division; Libby Holman via Confetta/Flickr; As an openly bisexual American actress Ruby Myers via Bollywoodirect/Medium; Sylvia Sidney via Vintage Everyday; Luise Rainer by Paramount/ Wikimedia Commons; who was charged with murdering her hus- Lillian Roth via Wikimedia Commons; Hedy Llamarr by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images band (inspiring three films), Libby Hol- man led a controversial life. Even though and Wildcat of Bombay (1927), in which ing career on film and stage in Vienna and lian Roth it was ruled a suicide, the death of Hol- she played eight characters. When talkies Berlin, she moved to Hollywood in the man’s husband, Zachary Smith Reynolds, took over, she learned Hindustani. In the 1930s because of Hitler’s rise to power. Af- 7. Hedy Lamarr (1914-2000) tarnished her reputation and coverage of 1930s, Myers opened her own production ter only a few years in the U.S., she won her Hedy Lamarr is maybe the only person the incident was marred by anti-Semitism. house, Rubi Pics, and in 1973 was award- first Oscar for The Great Ziegfeld (1936). to both have a star on the Hollywood Walk She was also the youngest woman to grad- ed the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s She played Anna Held, the common-law of Fame and be inducted into the National uate from the University of Cincinnati and highest award for cinema. wife of theater producer Florenz Ziegfeld, Inventors Hall of Fame. Lamarr began her went against social standards by playing Read more, “Voices of the Talking Stars: in the movie inspired by true events. After career in European cinema, most nota- shows with African-American musicians. Women of Indian Cinema and Beyond,” winning a second Academy Award for The bly performing nude in the controversial Holman befriended Martin Luther King Jr. edited by Madhuja Mukherjee Good Earth (1937), her career at MGM fal- Czech film Ecstasy (1933). After leaving and helped pay for his 1959 trip to India to tered and she later described her Oscars Europe, she became a Hollywood star, with study the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. 4. Sylvia Sidney (1910-1999) success as a curse. But her contributions her first role in “Algiers” (1938), followed In addition to her involvement in the Born to Russian-Jewish immigrants, have been recognized with stars on both by a slew of MGM films. During World civil rights movement and taking part in stage and film actress Sylvia Sidney rose to the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Bou- War II, the self-taught inventor worked the experimental film “Dreams That Mon- fame in the 1930s for playing the partner levard der Stars in Berlin. with George Antheil, an avant-garde com- ey Can Buy” (1947), Holman is largely re- of gangsters. Sidney starred alongside the Read more: “Seen from the Wings: Lu- poser, to create a radio guidance system membered as a stage actress. She has been leading actors of her day, including Hum- ise Rainer My Mother, The Journey,” by that would thwart Axis attempts to jam credited as well for popularizing the strap- phrey Bogart, Cary Grant and Spencer Francesca Knittel-Bowyer Allied torpedoes. This frequency-hopping less dress, which was her signature look. Tracy. She also was one of the first Ameri- transmission method would prove founda- Read more: “Dreams that Money Can can actresses to work with Alfred Hitch- 6. Lillian Roth (1910-1980) tional in the development of Bluetooth and Buy: The Tragic Life of Libby Holman,” by cock, appearing in Sabotage (1936). The Lillian Roth began her career as a child other technology. She was also one of the Jon Bradshaw character actress also had a strong career star, making her Broadway debut in The inspirations for Disney’s Snow White and in theater and television. Inner Man and going on to star in Para- the original Catwoman. 3. Ruby Myers (1907-1983) Later in life, Sidney was nominated for mount Pictures films including the Marx Read more: “Hedy’s Folly: The Life and Ruby Myers, who went by the stage an Academy Award for Summer Wishes, Brothers’ Animal Crackers (1930). In her Breakthrough Inventions of Hedy Lamarr, name Sulochana, was an Indian actress of Winter Dreams (1973). She went on to act personal life, Roth dealt with alcoholism The Most Beautiful Woman in the World,” Middle Eastern origin who defied the so- in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice and Mars At- and lacked autonomy in many of her ro- by Richard Rhodes. n cial norms of her era by starring in early tacks!, which was her last movie. On the mantic relationships: She married many Hindi silent films. During the late 1700s, side, she raised pug dogs for competitive times. She detailed her tribulations in the Jews from Iraq, Syria, and other parts of show and wrote two books on needlepoint. 1954 memoir “I’ll Cry Tomorrow,” which the Ottoman Empire came to India, estab- Read more: “Sylvia Sidney — Paid by was an international bestseller. While she

10 Washtenaw Jewish News A May 2020 Washtenaw Jewish News A May 2020 11 IJewish Diversity

Native American Jewish justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis tells us how she made history Emily Burack, This story originally appeared on Kveller. hen Justice Raquel Mon- ments, other entities, really sought to wipe room of the house, and take a seat and eat state and federal court systems. In fact, she toya-Lewis was sworn in to us out,” she says. “My father really instilled with everyone else. It’s been my experience says, “It’s completely atypical.” W Washington’s Supreme Court in me the importance of recognizing that over my life when I’ve done that, that you According to Montoya-Lewis, there are earlier this month, she became the second I came from people who persisted, people are always sitting with people you don’t only a handful of state court judges who Native American person to serve on a state who were lucky enough to survive, and know, and often in houses where you don’t are Native Americans, and “maybe one Supreme Court. that my existence is dependent upon those know the people who are feeding you,” other” who worked for tribes then moved “This was never something I really people’s persistence and resilience. That’s Montoya-Lewis says. “That tradition, to to the state court system. And in the fed- planned on or expected to happen,” Mon- something I hope I pass on to my own me, is kind of the essence of what it means eral court system, Montoya-Lewis named toya-Lewis tells Kveller via phone from children. I hope they pass it on to their to be Native: Our homes are open, our the two other Native people she knows her offices in Olympia. of currently working: Diane Humetewa, Upon hearing of her appointment by a U.S. District Judge who is currently in Gov. Jay Inslee, her reaction was “disbe- Arizona, and Anne McKeig, a justice in lief,” she says. You see, Montoya-Lewis Minnesota who has Native heritage and is never intended to be a lawyer or a judge. currently on the Minnesota State Supreme “My intention when I went to law Court. (Michael Burrage, a member of the school was to study how institutions Choctaw nation, served as a federal judge impact people,” she says. “The law was from 1994 to 2001.) something that I looked at as being an in- “And then there’s me,” Montoya-Lewis stitution that had incredibly widespread says. impact. My goal was to be a professor “When I applied for appointment to rather than be a lawyer.” Superior Court — which is the trial level Montoya-Lewis was born in Spain in in Washington state where we do civil tri- 1968 to a Native American father and an als and criminal felony trials, among other Australian-Jewish mother. Growing up, things — there really was no example that I the importance of education was instilled could see in the country of someone having in her by her parents. had a career working for tribes and tribal “From both sides of my family, [there courts making the leap to the state court is] a very heavy emphasis on the impor- side,” she says. (Montoya-Lewis served tance of education, which is something on the Whatcom County Superior Court that has really been the key to my ability to from 2015 until she started on Washing- do what I’ve done,” she says. “To take my ton’s Supreme Court in January.) “It was education seriously, and to be able to go Raquel Montoya Lewis answers questions from the press after Gov. Jay Inslee an- not something I ever expected to happen to college and beyond that has absolutely nounced her appointment to the Washington State Supreme Court. because I think it really took some courage been foundational to my success. (Office of the Governor) and vision on the part of Governor Inslee, “I think that [my] story is an unusual who made [my] initial appointment to Su- story and also a very American story,” she [children] because that’s a very important hearts are open and we feed people. The perior Court, to imagine not only that I explains. “My father grew up in the Pueblo concept for both the Jewish side of my spirit of that is something that’s very im- could do it, but that the community I was of Isleta in New Mexico, and joined the family and the Native side of my family.” portant to me.” going to work with would recognize I was Air Force as a means of being able to go As it happens, there are very few Native Her judicial career began with her own capable of doing that work.” to college. He never really had a plan of American Jewish people. tribe. Montoya-Lewis graduated from the Montoya-Lewis had no role models staying in the Air Force long term, but that “I have met maybe three others,” Mon- University of Washington School of Law when she moved from the tribal court sys- was what he ended up doing. He loved the toya-Lewis says. “So I certainly can’t call in 1992, then she earned a master’s degree tem to the state courts. But now her career military.” that number a community. But we do in social work. After graduating, however, is paving the way for others to follow. Due to her father’s career, the family exist, and I think that those communi- she quickly started her judicial career. “When I’ve looked for my own role moved around. Some of the stops: Spain, ties have a lot in common with respect to “I was asked by my own tribe to hear models and people I wanted to model my England, Texas and South Carolina. But those awful histories and those powerful one case, a very complex civil litigation career after, it certainly took some imagi- they always returned to New Mexico to histories of survival.” case that the tribal court didn’t have a nation and some leaps of faith,” she says. the family’s reservation for important Her favorite Jewish tradition is display- judge with my kind of legal training to “I’m hopeful that what I’m doing will be times in her life. Her father retired when ing the menorah in the window at Hanuk- hear it,” she recalls. “It was really advised an example, but I also think it’s important she was a junior in high school, and they kah. by my father, as well as Justice Pamela that I am actually out there actively men- moved to New Mexico permanently. (He “There’s a lot of power in the menorah Minzner, the justice I had clerked for right toring people who are interested in this passed away about 14 years ago.) in the window,” she says. “I really felt that after law school and before I started prac- path, who think that there is not a way for Moving to New Mexico “was an oppor- strongly this past holiday season. After the ticing law, that I needed more time to be a them.” tunity for me to really connect with my horrible events in New York, I really felt it lawyer before I became a judge. And that Montoya-Lewis is acutely aware of the Native community,” she says. “Growing was really important to be visible in that was good advice. struggles facing many Native Americans up, I had a lot of connection with my cul- way. I like the idea of having a presence “But I didn’t take that advice,” she adds, in the judicial system. While Native judges turally Jewish heritage from my mother’s that says that we’re still here.” laughing. “I chose to do it anyway.” are rare, Native Americans are “dispropor- side of the family.” And her favorite Pueblo tradition is at It started out with just one case, then tionately represented on every level of the Montoya-Lewis sees an overlap of her “the essence of what it means to be Na- another, and eventually being a tribal criminal justice system,” she says. In her Jewish and Native identities — namely, tive,” as she calls it: a feast day. judge became a consistent part of Mon- new role, she is continuing her commit- persistence and resilience, which is some- “On those days, many homes are open toya-Lewis’ work. ment to justice for all. thing she hopes to transmit to her own to anyone — not just tribal members — While working as a tribal judge, Mon- “Before you called, I was downstairs children, ages 14 and 17. who can come in, and sit at what are typi- toya-Lewis also taught at the University of by the Supreme Court courtroom, and “On both sides of my family, govern- cally very long tables set up in the biggest New Mexico Law School. She then ended there was a classroom of third- or fourth- up in Washington as a professor at West- graders, getting a lesson on the way the ern Washington University. court system works,” Montoya-Lewis says. “I, again, didn’t really have any inten- “It gives me hope that those kids will see tion to continue being a judge,” she says. themselves as having any courthouse in But soon enough, in Washington, she their own communities as being a place served as a chief judge for the Lummi Na- where they belong. What gives me hope is tion, the Nooksack Indian Tribe and the that there are many doors that are opening Upper Skagit Indian Tribe, as well as an that have been closed.” n appellate judge for the Nisqually Tribe and the Northwest Intertribal Court System. It is rare for tribal judges to enter the

12 Washtenaw Jewish News A May 2020 IWashtenaw County

Eli Savit, candidate for Washtenaw County prosecutor, on panel discussing justice reform amid COVID-19 dangers Dave Greenwald, reprinted with permission from The Davis Vanguard an the end result of the global pan- implement what has been common sense for all the credit in the world—took swift action spread behind bars” it “keeps all of us safer” demic threat of COVID-19 be a a long time.” and she invoked what’s called the jail over- and that “decarcerating our prisons will stop C fairer and more equitable justice He pointed out that Rikers Island has crowding act,” which gave sheriff and local the spread.” system? That’s what prosecution candi- been an “historically awful penal colony” jurisdictions “authority to release people Janos Marton added that “it raises funda- dates from across the country—Janos Mar- just outside of the city on the water, hosting from jail.” In Washtenaw County, they moved mental questions about what’s broken about our current criminal justice system that a lot people… are reluctant to admit. What is the public safety reason to keep someone who is 70 years old in prison?” he said, not- ing a lot of studies that people’s public safety risk goes down signif- icantly when they hit 40 years old. “There are 170 clemency re- quests, sitting on the [New York] governor’s desk, who have done at least 30 years of prison time,” he said. “There is no public safety argument for 113 or 114 to be kept behind bars.” The point was raised that there is a national movement to release nonviolent offenders, but the violent offenders are often left out of that discussion. Melba Pearson said the tough part of being a prosecutor is making sure you balance the safety of the community and being just and equitable in how the law is applied. The problem you get is one person gets probation for a serious offense, like the guy at Stanford, ton from Manhattan, Melba Pearson from as many as 23,000 people a day in the early swiftly, and “our jail is currently at under but people of color in similar positions end Miami-Dade, and Eli Savit from Michigan 1990s. The Close Rikers campaign began in half capacity.” He said, “If you doubt that this up with 15-year sentences. That inequity is talked about in a panel discussion hosted by 2016. It is now on a path towards closure. works, look at Washtenaw County because a problem. She argued on the one hand we Dasheika Ruffin, a former Senior Advisor to “For people to understand how hard it is we have yet to have a single confirmed case need to hold people accountable for their ac- Warren for President. to contain a virus in a jail,” he said, “Rikers of coronavirus in our jail despite the fact that tions, but, at the same time, accountability “The coronavirus crisis has shone a light Island is like a cruise ship boarding more Michigan is one of the states hardest hit. This needs to be equitable with these options and on a lot of the inequities in our society and passengers recklessly every single day.” works, it saves lives,” he said. not give “people with a certain complexion a lot of the things that we are doing wrong,” People are usually in jail for short amounts Eli Savit added that they need to listen to or a certain wealth base a lighter sentence Eli Savit, the candidate for the Washtenaw of time which, he said, “means you have 500 the public health experts, who have recom- and then giving a hammer to people who are County Prosecutor, which includes Ann Ar- people coming onto Rikers every single day.” mended that we decarcerate our prisons. poor. We need a middle ground… so every- bor, Michigan, explained. “I think we need to Anyone with health or medical experience What they are telling us right now, he one is treated fairly.” learn from this crisis.” saw this as a crisis. said: “It is imperative that we decarcerate our Eli Savit argued that the criminal justice “It is beyond the pale right now to ar- While some of these people have commit- prisons.” system is “arbitrary” and that it is “impervi- rest someone into a jail,” he said, “which is ted violent and dangerous crimes, there are He noted that in Michigan—unlike in the ous to study or research or any sort of intro- a petri dish for the virus, and to hold them a lot of people with either low level offenses, jail system, which he gave credit for dealing spection about whether what we are doing is for a small, low level, quality-of-life offense. mental health problems or some who have with the issue well—the virus is spreading actually working.” A crime for which they don’t really pose a committed a technical violation of parole or rapidly. He said, “We do things in the criminal threat to the community.” probation. “We need to focus on thinning the prison justice system without any sort of data or He suggested instead doing citations and For technical violations, these are not new population as much as possible to allow for theory to back it up. Jail and prison is not appearance tickets for these lower level of- crimes, but a violation of rules and terms of adequate social distance to happen,” he said. rehabilitative,” he said. “It serves the function fenses. parole. “That means we release people who do not of separating someone who is a danger to so- “I’m hopeful that if any good can come “In New York that means you can end pose an imminent threat to the commu- ciety from the community—there’s a place out of this crisis, it’s that we can learn from up on Rikers Island,” Mr. Marton explained. nity. We need to release the most vulner- for that for some offenses.” this, we can recognize that what we’ve been Many of these now have no resource to get able people in our prisons,” he said. Elderly He noted that “people age out of crime.” told about what public safety demands for off Rikers. prisoners and those who are frail and sick. He noted about elderly prisoners, that “we so many years is just not true,” he said. “We Melba Pearson said, “We’re facing simi- “Also people who are nearing the end of their know that they’re not likely to offend again. can start to build a fairer and more equitable lar challenges here in Miami.” She said that sentences. You cannot make the case that you That’s true regardless of what their initial of- justice system.” on any given day about 4000 people are in are more dangerous now than you would be fense was.” One of the big problems is that putting county jail, 3000 of those are there for pre- in six weeks,” he said, but they could get the Even among juveniles, “we know that people into custody exposes them to the sentencing, “they are waiting for their cases virus, die, or take up valuable resources in they’re fundamentally not the same person virus. Rikers Island, for instance, has seven to go to trial or take a plea.” that time. when they are 16 years old as they are at age times more cases per capita than even the She said, “A majority of the people are Savi agreed that “you shouldn’t empty out 32.” city and state of New York, which is leading there for non-violent offenses or violations all of the prisons, 100 percent, there are peo- He said, “We are holding people for re- the nation in infections. of probation.” ple in prison who pose an imminent threat ally lengthy sentences that don’t need to be Dasheika Ruffin said, “If the pandemic She said that many of them have symp- to people in society.” But, he said, “there are there.” He noted also that that is costing us a continues at this pace, the entire local popu- toms of the virus but are lying in open ar- a lot of people in prison who don’t pose a lot of money. n lation in jails will be infected in a matter of eas—coughing and hacking, still spreading threat.” weeks.” the virus. He noted that people in prison for parole Across the country, a key debate is who Eli Savit noted he is in a “jurisdiction that violations—“that’s not a public safety threat needs to be released from jails and prisons. has done it well—at least with regards to jail.” right now.” Janos Marton said, “We are just trying to He said, “Our governor—and I give her He argued that if they can “check the Washtenaw Jewish News A May 2020 13 IKosher Cuisine

Spring has sprung Lonnie Sussman, special to the WJN s I write this column, we are still under quarantine, most businesses are closed, Salt to taste and/or herb mixtures like rosemary or Italian mixes) there is very little noise from traffic, and we are still learning how to deal with this Or…sweet mixture of 2 tablespoons sugar or honey,1 tsp. vanilla, ½ tsp. cinnamon and A new “normal.” Maybe by the time you read the Washtenaw Jewish News issue for maybe some sugar to roll the hot fritters in. May 2020 our lives will look a bit more like they did in May of 2019, but maybe not. So why Whisk all the ingredients together except the dandelion flowers. Heat the oil and then dip the write a food column? Maybe we are still eating leftovers from Pesach or more cans from our flowers in the fritter mix and fry flower side down. Flip and fry a bit more. Drain on a towel pantries or packages from the back of the freezer. But we still need to eat and to enjoy the and serve hot. blessings of friends and family whether or not we are seeing them in person. So, I dedicate this column to the hope that we will have opportunities to break bread together sooner rather than later. Cheese Beiguele May is also be the month we celebrate Shavuot, Z’man Matan Tora- (Food of Israel Today, Joan Nathan) tenu, the Time of the Giving of the Torah. We celebrate our traditions, serves 12 our heritage and the sense of hope for the future that our holidays And for Shavuot, make your favorite kugel, spinach pie, blintz recipe or try this recipe for a bring. This is usually a time of dairy meals celebrating the new life of change. It is originally from Argentina and it came to Israel in the 1970’s. springtime. Our food can be simple, vegetables, fruit and cheese. Sim- Dough ple salads, pasta dishes, blintzes and cheesecakes are usually served. It’s 1-1/2 cups plus 1 tsp. all- purpose flour also the time in Michigan where the trees are in bloom and the annuals 7 TBS. butter at room temperature are growing. It might be fun to try to forage some of the plants and ½ tsp. salt Lonnie Sussman turn them into holiday meals. I’ve included three foraging recipes that ½ cup boiling water are really simple and a couple of Israeli Shavuot recipes that are a bit lighter than kugels and ½ tsp. white vinegar blintzes. In a food processor fitted with steel blade, process the flour and butter until smooth. Add the salt, boiling water and vinegar and process until the dough forms. Divide the Nettles dough into 3 balls, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours. Maybe you have walked in the woods or a field and Filling brushed into a plant that stung your hand? It is called 1 large egg “Stinging Nettles” but it is actually edible, highly 1-1/2 pounds farmer cheese (or ricotta or feta, or a mix) nutritious and tasty. Here are two recipes using this 1-TBS sugar plant. It combines a walk outside and a meal. All you 5 leaves (the green part) of scallions, chopped (about ¼ cup) need is a pair of gardening gloves, a bag and a knife Preheat oven to 325 degrees and grease a baking sheet or spray with non-sick spray. Beat the or scissors. When you find the plant cut off the top egg well in a mixing bowl and add the rest of the filling ingredients. Mix very well. Roll out leaves that sting but are tender, about 4 inches or so. each ball on a lightly floured surface into a rectangle about 10 by 12 inches. Spread about 1/3 Collect several cups of them or even more if you want of the filling in a 3-inch strip lengthwise down the center of the dough. Fold the rectangle to try a few recipes. You can rinse them at home in lengthwise over the filling and roll up jelly-roll style and pinch the edges together firmly. Use a bowl of water with a bit of vinegar and then drain a little water to seal the ends completely. Place the rolls seam side down on the baking sheet and let dry. The next step will be blanching them in a and bake for about 1-1/4 hours, until they are golden in color. Cut with a serrated knife when pot of water for just a few minutes. They will then no they have cooled a little bit. longer be stinging nettles, just a pot of greens. Think of them as spinach on steroids and use them in any recipe that calls for spinach. Roasted Pepper Pashtida (Foods of Israel Today, Joan Nathan, originally from a cookbook 100 Pashtidot Shel Nira Rous- so/100 Casserole Dishes by Nira Rousso). Sauteed Nettles If anyone wants to buy me a present, look for the Rousso cookbook. It’s in Hebrew but I can simple and tasty still use it. A “pashtida” is a Hebrew word that came from a Polish word that means a one pot Use your drained, blanched nettles and saute in a pan with your choice of fat (olive oil, but- dish that may be layered. During our year in ter, coconut oil) and stir for a few minutes. Add salt or a few pinches of chili pepper. Serve Israel we learned how to make many of these immediately. dishes. This one will serve 8-10 people. 10 bell peppers, red, green and yellow 1 tsp. salt Nettle Souffle Pepper to taste (from a blog “Eatwell 101”) 6 ounces Swiss cheese, sliced (or your Start with 3 large handfuls of nettles that you then clean and blanch and chop. preference) 3 TBS unsalted butter Use a frying pan and make a roux with 3 tablespoon of butter and 3 tablespoons of flour. 3 TBS all -purpose flour When they are blended add about 1-1/2 cups milk. Season with salt, pepper, a dash of nutmeg 1 cup milk and stir until the mixture thickens. Add your choice of grated cheese, about ½ cup. Separate 2 large eggs, lightly beaten 4 eggs and beat the whites until they are stiff. Mix the yolks separately. Gently combine the Roast the peppers and let them cool. This can nettles with the yolks and the cheese and then carefully mix in the whites. Grease and flour a be done the night before you want to make souffle casserole or pan and add the mixture. Bake at 390 degrees for about 20 minutes. this. Let them sit and dry out so you can remove the skins easily. Squeeze out any excess Dandelion Fritters water but letting them dry overnight in the oven should help remove the liquid. Try and (from the blog “Red & Honey”) keep the peppers in one or two large pieces. You all know what dandelions look like, but did Lay half the peppers open, insides up, in the bottom of a 9 -inch glass pie dish. You can ar- you know they are edible and incredibly high range them colorfully and even overlap them, so they fit. Sprinkle them with the salt and pep- in minerals and vitamins. Pick your dandelions per. Layer the cheese slices over the peppers in the pie plate. Set aside while you make a roux from a lawn that you know has not been sprayed and preheat the oven to 350. In a small frying pan, stir in the butter and then the flour and with chemicals. 1 cup of fresh dandelion flower heads (with- cook for several minutes until the mixture starts to color. Slowly add the milk and stir until out the leafy bracket will be less bitter but heated. Remove ½ a cup and cool slightly and then mix with the lightly beaten eggs. Gradu- you can leave them on as well) ally return the milk and egg back to the roux and stir constantly until it is thick and smooth. 1 cup of whatever kind of flour you like. You Season with more salt and pepper to taste and then spoon this sauce over the cheese in the can use a mixture with cornmeal and flour pie plate. Then add the rest of the peppers over the top, overlapping to enclose completely. as well for more crispness Bake in the oven for about 40 minutes. Cool slightly and drain off any excess fluid. To serve, 1 cup of milk, any kind place a serving platter over the top and carefully flip the pie plate over on the platter. Serve 1 egg warm, sliced into wedges. n 1 tsp baking powder Lots of heat tolerant oil (including coconut oil or canola but not olive oil) 14 Washtenaw Jewish News A May 2020 IBook Review

The persistence of love A review of The World That We Knew by Alice Hoffman (372 pp. Simon & Schuster 9/24/19) By Sabena Stark lice Hoffman said she didn’t want to perate Jewish mother, becomes trapped in the nant and destructive in a society. She remem- Hoffman went to France to interview adults write about the Holocaust. A fan at increasingly hopeless machinery of the Nazi bered her reader’s request from years before who were among the hidden Jewish children A one of her readings once asked her to destruction. Not able to save herself or her and decided that her story would be the perfect sequestered in secret schools and sanctuar- write the story of the hidden child survivors in infirm elderly mother, Hanni brings all of her vessel for exploring these themes. ies. She met with Father Patrick Desbois, the France, a chapter from this woman’s own child- resources to saving her beloved 12-year-old In one passage that mirrors the hateful anti- French priest and founder of Yahad In-Unum, hood. But Hoffman said no. She didn’t believe daughter Lea. She seeks the help of the town’s immigrant rhetoric that blossomed during the who works tirelessly to uncover mass kill- she could rightly represent that time in history. most knowledgeable rabbi, a scholar who has 2016 election, the author describes how Nazi- ing sites throughout Europe. She traveled and It was many years later that the author secret knowledge which could be employed for dominated German media fostered the dehu- spoke with Holocaust survivors from many cit- changed her mind. The World That We Knew is mystical purposes. But it is the teenager Ettie, manization of the Jewish community. ies and towns across the European continent. one of the recent additions to the growing fam- the resourceful and learned daughter who, to- Throughout her travels, she hoped to learn ily of Jewish literature that employs “magical re- gether with Hanni and Lea, form and breathe “She had seen children and from survivors and witnesses how they main- alism.” The novel is historical fiction imbedded life into a golem, a soulless but powerful entity their mothers standing in the tained the strength to go on living in the face of with kabalistic mysticism and the earthy tropes formed solely to protect Lea and bring her to snow, begging for food, while such overwhelming loss in a world dominated of Jewish folktales. To readers of the history of the the relative safety of Paris and beyond. by immorality and brutal bigotry. The World Nazi genocide, this style can be somewhat strange For Hoffman to draw upon the legends of the the newspapers printed captions That We Knew is Hoffman’s love letter to the and could almost seem a blasphemy of the mem- golem makes perfect sense. In this case, the crea- beneath photographs of Jewish survivors, the fighters, to those who did and ory of those who perished. Indeed, few prayers ture made of mud is given the name Ava. Her ap- businessmen and lawyers and didn’t make it, to the Jews of Europe and their were answered and no magical protective forces pellation is a diminished form of Chava, mother professors. Here are the animals. non-Jewish helpers. And most of all, it is a bril- arose for the communities who were erased nor of humankind in the book of Genesis. Ava offers Do you know this Beast? That liant tribute to the persistence of love in all of its for those people who endured and survived. Lea the transcendent protection that Lea’s own many forms. n And yet the book’s otherworldliness pro- mother is powerless to provide. But, the reader was how evil spoke. It made its vides the reader with a sense of hope, even as is told, Ava’s protection is an act of obedience to own corrupt sense; it swore that the inevitable tragedy unfolds. We are com- her creator, not as an offering of maternal love. the good were evil, and that evil pelled by Hoffman’s richly visceral writing to And yet, even this supernatural monster evolves had come to save mankind. It follow her light through the tunnel of darkness. profoundly in emotional complexity along with brought up ancient fears and And with this light we begin to imagine that the other characters in this tale. scattered them on the street like perhaps these characters, who we come to love, Hoffman began researching and writing will prevail. this book in 2016, during a moment in history pearls. To fight what was wicked, The book opens in 1941 when, “In Ber- when she saw the re-eruption and re-animation magic and faith were needed. lin evil came to them slowly and then all at of racism and anti-Semitism. She felt compelled This was what one must turn to once.” In this maelstrom, Hanni Kohn, a des- to tell the story of how hate can become malig- when there was no other option.”

Senior Living

Washtenaw Jewish News A May 2020 15 IArtists

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16 Washtenaw Jewish News A May 2020

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Washtenaw Jewish News A May 2020 17 Food banks are essential service providers. Food Gatherers has expanded our food distributions to help feed those in need.

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18 Washtenaw Jewish News A May 2020 Mazel Tov to Adina Schoem, Joseph Vainner, and Noa on the birth of their daughter and sister, Talia Johanna, on March 23, 2020; also niece of Shana Schoem and Garrett Schumann and granddaughter of Karyn and David Schoem.

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Jim and Trina Fuller Magen David Adom has been on the front lines against the coronavirus, but the fight has taken an extraordinary toll on MDA’s resources. We need your support to keep saving lives. Observe Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s independence day, by keeping the people of Israel strong.

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Washtenaw Jewish News A May 2020 19 IRabbis’ Corner

in a camper. After I ate my dinner of cold Who’s a stranger? soup straight from the can, the people with Why shmita? Rabbi Robert Levy, special to the WJN the RV began to carry over, one after another, Rabbi Jared Anstandig, special to the WJN deep fried plates from their dinner. Finally, few years ago, I cycled across the they invited me to come over to the RV for his fall the Land of Israel goes on to Israel ‘You shall seed the land for six American south. Each week I rode coffee and deep fried cookies. Just amazing. Sabbatical. The Torah describes years and release it on the seventh in or- A my bike alone over four days and And when they learned what I was doing T in Parashat Emor (which we read der that you know that the land is Mine.’” arrived on Thursday afternoon in a town and who I was, these folk opened their hearts this month) that every seven years, “The The purpose of the shmita year is to force with a small Jewish community to visit for to their very temporary rabbi. Life is struggle land shall have a sabbath of complete rest, the Jewish people to see that the land is not Shabbat. The Shabbat days were intensely and joy and love no matter who you are or a sabbath of the Lord: you shall not sow really theirs. There is a joke about a scien- Jewish. I led services in a suit I carried in where you are from. your field or prune your vineyard. You tist endeavoring to demonstrate that God a pannier, gave the The next morning was cold, so I bulked up shall not reap the does not exist: he takes dirt, mixes it with same sermon many with every sweater I owned. As I was strug- aftergrowth of your various chemicals, give it an electric shock times and worked gling to walk the bike out of camp, a large harvest or gather and–lo and behold–it spontaneously pro- with the synagogue young man with a crew cut and tattoos asked the grapes of your duces a living organism. At the instant that youth and adult me what I was doing. He was the essence of untrimmed vines; the scientist is gloating about proving the members. what I was supposed to fear on this journey. it shall be a year of true origin of life, God calls out, “Nope! And the four With the comfort I had felt the night before, complete rest for You have to get your own dirt!” As this days between being I told him exactly who I was and what I was the land.” (Leviticus joke highlights, everything that we have is the rabbi were as in- doing. “Can I take your picture?” he asked. 25:4-5). From Rosh not really ours. It is simply on loan to us. tensely American as “Will you send me a copy?” I replied. Hashana to Rosh Shmita reminds us of this fact. the three days had Hashana, the land And, the lessons of shmita go even fur- Rabbi Robert Levy Just about the time I stopped for break- Rabi Anstandig-jared been Jewish: BBQ fast, about 30 kilometers into the day, I re- of Israel lies unculti- ther. The crops that remain in the fields and donuts. And I would meet the most de- ceived an email from Butch with the picture. vated, no planting and no harvesting. In during shmita do not remain there, but in- licious people on the road and in the parks He wrote that our meeting was a gift. The Hebrew, this is called shmita (from the He- stead become ownerless. The Torah high- where I camped. feeling was mutual. brew root Sh.M.T. which means “to let go” lights (in Leviticus 25:6-7) that the most While I prepared for the journey, my Ann When our present situation ends, we will or “release”). impoverished members of society, the ser- Arbor congregation expressed real concern reconnect with friends and family. I want to What’s the point of this mitzva? What vants and foreigners, have access to these for my safety. They implied that rough, un- go outside. And, I also want to meet strang- value is behind the notion of refusing to crops. Not only is shmita beneficial for the kind, and even dangerous people lived in the ers and learn their stories and share mine. n work the land for an entire year? Is it an poor, it is meaningful for the land owner American south. Sometimes they did more ancient form of crop rotation, or is there as well. Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch than imply. Bob Levy is the Emeritus Rabbi of TBE and something deeper happening? (19th century, Germany) elaborates on One evening proved them wrong. I en- the rabbi of Shir Hadash, Florence, Italy. He The Talmud in Tractate Sanhedrin 39a the important impression it creates. Rabbi tered a camp grounds that gave me and my lives in Washington, DC. imagines the following dialogue between Hirsch writes (on Exodus 23:10-11): bicycle a place to set up my tent and permis- God and the People of Israel regarding this By doing so the people acknowledge sion to share electricity with an older couple mitzva: “Said the Holy One, Blessed be He that they are strangers and sojourners on their own land, dwelling on it only by the grace of the Owner. Then the arrogance that causes people to become callous and Reading from the Torah on Yom Kippur harsh in dealing with the unpropertied, melts away, yielding place to love and By Janet Kelman kindness toward the stranger and the poor. orah reading is not a skill in my above the table. I continued to read, think- fidence to stretch myself in participating in As Rabbi Hirsch highlights, when peo- toolbox, but when an opportunity ing No! Stay here! You can’t leave! You have Jewish ritual life at the AARC. As Pesach apple believe that everything they have is Tpresented itself last Yom Kippur, I hard earned by them alone, then they may grabbed it. I had joined the Ann Arbor Re- become greedy and selfish. In our society constructionist Congregation (AARC) the we have come to accept the notion that previous winter. Rabbi Ora Nitkin-Kaner is what is mine is mine and what is yours marvelous. In addition, I had many friends is yours. However, as the Sages teach in in the congregation, so it felt like a good Pirkei Avot (5:10) such was the attitude of choice. the wicked people of Sodom. The laws of Late last summer, Deb Kraus, AARC’s shmita teach us that what is mine is not re- Torah wrangler, said she needed one more ally mine; it is a gift from God. I therefore person for an aliyah (Torah portion) on Yom have a responsibility to use these gifts in a Kippur. I volunteered, even though I can’t manner consistent with God’s will. carry a tune and was not familiar with the In Ann Arbor, we are unable to put the special cantillation for the High Holidays. laws of shmita into practice. Nonetheless, I had to find a very good recording that I we can apply their values. We can humbly could mimic. acknowledge that we are not the masters Searching the internet, I discovered a of our world. And, we can realize that the website posted by Rabbi Amy Joy Small. Ev- gifts we enjoy are not only for us, but for ery aliyah was chanted clearly in her lovely others as well. May we always be able to voice. But her pitch was too high for me. use these blessings that we have received When I tried to follow her, I squeaked. Dave, to help others. n my husband, found Audacity, a program that Rabbi Anstandig serves the Ann Arbor allows you to change the pitch without alter- Orthodox Minyan ing the tempo. He lowered Rabbi Amy’s voice to match my own. Then, for several weeks, he patiently listened to me practice the aliyah until he knew it as well as I did. AARC member Keith Kurz leads a workshop on caring for the congregation's Torah On Yom Kippur, October 9, 2019, I was very nervous, as though I were thirteen and to finish! Somehow, I did finish reading. The proaches, I prepared to read from the Torah celebrating my bat mitzvah. The text of the words swam before my eyes so that the gab- on Shabbat, April 11. But this time, with each fifth aliyah, during the morning service, pre- bai had to point to the end of my aliyah three of us sheltered at home due to COVID-19, scribes that on the tenth day of the seventh times before I could touch it with my tzitzit I will participate via Zoom, another first for month we must afflict ourselves and abstain (corners of the prayer shawl). Afterwards, me. n from work. At the fifth aliyah, I went up to my friend asked me how it felt to use the yad For more information about the Ann Arbor the table where the Torah was laid out, said (pointer). I had no memory of using the yad. Reconstructionist Congregation, please visit the blessings, and began to read. As I read, The experience of reading the Torah in https://aarecon.org/ I experienced a sensation of being lifted up, front of the congregation gave me the con-

20 Washtenaw Jewish News A May 2020 IChabad House

Serving God in this world: Abraham vs. Rabbi Akivah Rabbi Aharon Goldstein, special to the WJN he first Shabbat of May, on May 2, the act stops the soul from its proper role in between them seems to be upon their leaving terest was to do God’s will and to spread the we will be reading the Torah portion this world and in their lives, then it is con- the “orchard.” But in reality, we see that only news of the One God throughout the world. Tof Acharei. In the beginning of the sidered by God as a sin. One has to be care- of Rabbi Akivah is it written that he entered He wasn’t one to say that he would desire to reading the Torah mentions the sin of Na- ful not to do such an act of self-sacrifice that in peace. That’s why he went out with peace. have the opportunity from God to give up his dav and Avihu. These were two of the sons of it will interrupt their service to God here in This means that when he went into the life for holiness. He didn’t think of his own Aharon who passed this world. “orchard” his concentration and intent was wants, he only thought about the mission he away at a young age. The Talmud, in Chagigah, tells us a sto- that he was doing this because he wanted to was to accomplish. They passed away ry about four rabbis that entered into an do God’s will. God’s will is that one should The way of our Father Abraham is the way because they got too “orchard“ in order to explore and experi- get closer to Him but not so close as to pass we should emulate–not to serve God in a way close to God which ence the greatness of God. Three of them away from being too close. As long as he got that emphasizes what we get from it, the hon- caused them to ex- did not survive the experience. Ben Azzai close enough to be considered close to God ors, merits, etc., but rather to serve God in a pire. According to said that he had a great experience but he without getting too close, without crossing way that we do everything for His purposes– the interpretations passed away. Rabbi Akivah was the fourth the forbidden boundaries that would cause in all of our ways doing what He wants–not of the Rabbis, even one who survived. It is said about him that the soul to leave the body, he could experi- what we want out of the relationship. Taking though they com- he entered into the “orchard” in peace and ence the maximum allowable closeness to this approach makes certain that we “go in mitted a mortal he left in peace. He survived and was whole God and still remain “at peace” to take that in peace” and “come out in peace”. This is a sin by crossing a Rabbi Aharon Goldstein afterwards. Entering into the “orchard” was experience of closeness to God and bring it complete service to God. boundary and get- a test to attempt to reach very high levels of into his service in this world. So, to briefly recap the differences be- ting too close to God’s presence, neverthe- holiness. They wanted to study the esoteric, Now we come to an even higher level with tween Rabbi Akivah and Abraham: Rabbi less they were righteous and holy people. To mystical aspects of the Torah. Through this, Rabbi Akivah. This is related to our Father Akivah also wanted only to do God’s will the extent that when Moses was consoling they wanted to become much closer to God, Abraham’s service to God. Despite, as men- but he wished that God would grant him the Aharon on the loss of their passing, he said, and have a very strong bond with Him. The tioned above, Rabbi Akivah’s knowledge and great merit to give up his life for God. The as- “Now we see that your sons were greater than experience that Ben Azzai had that caused respect for God’s boundaries of closeness, sumption is that God would provide the op- me and greater than you.” So if they were so him to pass on was similar to the experience Rabbi Akivah always longed for an opportu- portunity and situation if He wanted Rabbi great and righteous what was their sin? Their that Nadav and Avihu, the sons of Aharon, nity from God to give up his life. Not for his Akivah to give up his life. And, in the end, sin was that they got closer to holiness than had. They all had a sincere desire to get clos- own desires, but only to fulfill God’s desire Rabbi Akivah got his wish. they were supposed to. They got so close er to God, but they went too close and their for him to do so. As he told his students at the Abraham had a different approach. His that their souls just left their bodies and they souls left their bodies and ended their mis- end of his life, when the Romans were killing was that he only wanted to do God’s will, passed on. By doing that, they went against sions in this world. Because they had such him, just before his soul left his body, that for whatever it was. He never felt like he wanted God’s will. His will is that our souls should a strong thirst for the holiness of God they his whole life he wanted this opportunity to or needed anything for himself except the remain in this world, in a body, working with crossed the boundaries and went too far–to give up his life for God. honor of doing whatever God told him. He the body through the study of Torah and the extent that they passed on. However, as However, when it comes to Abraham, he was interested in spreading the word of the performing mitzvos. Their sin was that they we mentioned, only one of the four rabbis did not seek to have this type of experience. One God and would do whatever it takes to didn’t think about that–they were thinking survived– that was Rabbi Akivah who en- He didn’t think about the great merits that fulfill God’s will. If it takes giving up one’s about themselves not about their mission on tered in peace and left in peace. The question are accrued from doing this or that, he only life, so be it! As long as it was God’s will. He earth, they just wanted to be close to God. is when you say he entered in peace which thought about God. His mission was that would prefer to go on living in this world in This type of self-sacrifice that the sons of means to say his soul was in his body and people around the world should know about order to keep fulfilling his mission of sharing Aharon did is not the type of self-sacrifice he was a regular, normal person. If so, the the One God. If in the course of this mis- the good news of the One God. n that a Jew is required to do, even though other three rabbis also entered into the “or- sion he would be called upon to give up his Rabbi Goldstein serves Chabad Ann Arbor this was a form of self-sacrifice to God. They chard” with their soul intact–in peace as it life–he was willing to do so. But this would wanted to become extremely close to God. If were–just like Rabbi Akivah. The differences be only if he had to do so. But his prime in- Chabad spring class: explore biblical secrets Efrayim Mintz, special to the WJN eginning Wednesday, May 13 at 9:30 pretative process that begins with the Bible a.m., and 7:30 p.m., Chabad Ann itself (interpreting its own past) and goes on BArbor will be offering a new six- to awaken the interpretive impulse in later session course from the Rohr Jewish Learn- readers exploring the experience of their ing Institute (JLI), titled “Secrets of the Bible: own era.” Iconic Stories, Mystical Meanings, and Their Like all JLI programs, this course is de- Lessons for Life.” signed to appeal to people at all levels of “People tend to read biblical stories as knowledge, including those without any they do primitive mythology,” says Rabbi prior experience or background in Jewish Aharon Goldstein of Chabad House, the lo- learning. All JLI courses are open to the pub- cal JLI Instructor in Ann Arbor. This course lic, and attendees need not be affiliated with a presents a whole new way of reading these particular synagogue, temple, or other house stories. of worship. The course will look at the stories of Interested students may call 734-995-3276 Adam and Eve and the Tree of Knowledge, x 2 or visit www.myJLI.com for registration Noah and the great flood, the lifelong feud and for other course-related information. between Jacob and Esau, Joseph’s multicol- JLI, the adult education branch of ored coat, the golden calf, and Korah’s rebel- Chabad-Lubavitch, offers programs in more lion. For each of these stories, this course than 800 locations in the U.S. and in numer- seeks to answer the questions: What is the ous foreign countries, including Argentina, deeper meaning behind the story? How does Australia, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, it shape the Jewish worldview? What wisdom and navigating parallel spiritual and mate- remain a secret.” Colombia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Fin- does it hold for us today? rial life paths. “‘Secrets of the Bible’ brings to an intel- land, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Throughout its six sessions, “Secrets of “‘Secrets of the Bible’ presents wonderful ligent lay readership texts so formative to so India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, the the Bible” explores major life themes, in- ancient biblical stories in fresh and modern many cultures worldwide that they cannot Netherlands, Panama, Russia, South Africa, cluding human subjectivity and bias, the ways that deal with universal human dilem- be ignored even by cultures looking on from Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, the underpinnings of relationships, negotiating mas,” explained Dr. Erica Brown, director without,” commented Dr. Joel Rosenberg, a United Kingdom, Uruguay, and Venezuela. spiritual growth with practical impact, why of the Mayberg Center for Jewish Educa- professor of biblical literature at Tufts Uni- More than 400,000 students have attended inspiration is fleeting and how to make it tion and Leadership at George Washington versity. “By embracing post-biblical Jewish JLI classes since the organization was found- last, understanding equality and privilege, University. “The wisdom it shares should not tradition, the course recognizes an inter- ed in 1998. n Washtenaw Jewish News A May 2020 21 giraffe Giraffe Design Build has been designing homes remotely for many years. 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22 Ad Number: PP-BOAA-21458A Trim: Washtenaw4.8125" x Jewish6.375" News A May 2020 Perich Job No: 21458 Bleed: NA Colors: 4/C Live: NA Format: 1/4 Page Ad Version: 03.13.20 Viral: Antisemitism in Four Mutations Dina White, special to the WJN

ass murders, vandalism, social producer/director Andrew Goldberg has bringing immigrants to the U.S.—and he In the end, we did not use around 20% of media abuse, propaganda, as- executive produced and directed thirteen opposed immigration. In England, the far- the people we filmed. Msault—by virtually every yard- primetime documentary specials for public left antisemitism comes from many of the What was the most difficult thing to shoot? stick, antisemitism in the United States and television. He has also produced numerous very progressives that the far-right dislikes. It Listening to victims tell the story of their friends Europe is rising and worsening in ways not long and short-form segments for outlets, is very focused on its dislike of Israel, in ways and families being murdered has always seen since the 1930s. Like a virus, it mutates including CBS News Sunday Morning, ABC far beyond its dislike of any other country. been the hardest thing. I have done this a and evolves across cultures, borders and ide- News, and National Public Radio. Goldberg What’s more, this criticism of Israel often long time and have listened to countless ologies, making it all but impossible to stop. has been honored with over twenty major stories like these. For some reason, some Filmmaker Andrew Goldberg explores its awards, including five CINE Golden Eagles, are much harder than others. One woman infectious behavior in his film Viral: Anti- 10 Telly Awards, a NY Festivals World Medal, in France, who viewers will see in the film, semitism in Four Mutations premiering Tues- The Genesis Award (Guest of Honor), The St. was particularly hard to get through while day, May 26, at 9 p.m. on PBS. Vartan’s Award, and The Joachim and Anne remaining clear headed as she told us of Written, produced and directed by Gold- Humanitarian Award. Some of his previous her murdered husband. On the flipside, berg, and produced and edited by Diana films includeThe Armenian Genocide, Jeru- one of my favorite things to shoot is a Robinson, the 90-minute documentary— salem: Center of the World and They Came to person with very set political views who which had a short theatrical release earlier America. will literally do gymnastics to make their this year— visits four countries to speak first point. For example, there is a Hungarian from the WWII era named Horthy who hand with victims, witnesses and anti-Sem- Q&A with director Andrew Goldberg called himself an antisemite, both out loud ites. Interviewees include: Former President Why a film now on antisemitism? and in writing. But when I interviewed one Bill Clinton; Former UK Prime Minister, Antisemitism spreads like a virus and has infected Hungarian politician, he repeatedly denied Tony Blair; journalists Fareed Zakaria and countries, communities, organizations and that Horthy said that. George Will, and Professor Deborah Lip- individuals around the world for some stadt. The film is narrated in part by Julianna 2,000 years. About three years ago, there What did you learn that surprised you? Margulies. were a number of high-profile antisemitic It may not be a popular answer, but it was frustrating to see how little non- Viral: Antisemitism in Four Mutations incidents in the United States that caught my Jews care about this issue. We went to examines the mass shooting at the Tree of attention, and I realized there were few if any films that really explored what antisemitism many foundations that have well-known Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh and the rise of public reputations for supporting film, antisemitism on the far right. In Hungary, it is, where it comes from, and how it harms. In researching more, our team learned that documentary, journalism or public television looks at how Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and 100% of them turned us down. Only launched a massive campaign reminiscent of while antisemitism was growing in the U.S., it had been growing much faster in recent years Jews and foundations that had an interest Nazi propaganda against Jewish billionaire in Europe and needed a lot more attention. in Jewish causes were willing to support us. George Soros. In England, members of the turns directly to blatant antisemitism. So here Why did you put yourself in the film? traditionally anti-racist, far-left Labour party How did you come up with the idea of the you have two forms of antisemitism which We needed a through line and did not want a conflate Israel and Jews with antisemitic vit- “Four Mutations?” come from the polar opposite ends of the manufactured one. At the beginning, we had riol, causing tremendous pain for the Jewish We realized that we needed to be very focused in political spectrum yet lead to the same result. no intention of this, but since I had to keep community. And in France, the film illumi- what we would cover in the length of a feature. Can you discuss the relevance of the film interacting with these people and it often nates the seemingly endless wave of violence We explored quite a few other countries seemed to “work,” we decided to run with it. against Jews by Islamists and radicals. but ultimately settled on the far right in the today? What do you want the audience to take away The increasing bigotry and, at times, U.S., the far left in England, a government Since we started this film the number of violent from the film? violence within each of these four countries propaganda campaign in Hungary, and antisemitic acts in the U.S. has skyrocketed. I am a filmmaker and journalist, not an activist. paints a terrifying portrait of how global violent acts including murder in France. Pittsburgh had not even happened when we started production. Today, antisemitism is We tried very hard to make a documentary hatred disseminates and harms. As activist Why did you choose to focus on these that was not just a report, but an actual feature Maajid Nawaz says in the film, “If we don’t all over the headlines. It could not be more particular incidents and locations? relevant. film people would want to see. Many asked draw a red line in the sand when it comes to We wanted to pick examples that were entirely us if we had a “call to action” for how people antisemitism, Muslims will be next, gays will different from one another. Far-right How did you find the participants? could help fight antisemitism, or if we offered be next and everyone else who is deemed a antisemitism, for example, is often driven The project took three and a half years, and we solutions. We purposefully did neither. I minority will be next.” by people who challenge social progress and filmed in six countries. We cast a wide net, have always believed that a well-educated With a career spanning more than twenty progressives. For example, the Pittsburgh Skyped people, interviewed them over the populace is where we need to begin for people years, Emmy Award-winning investigative shooter blamed a Jewish organization for phone, and walked up to them on the streets. to make the best decisions. n

JYP offers virtual programming Jessica Weil, special to the WJN hile the world has changed Member Rachel Katz shares. “JYP is es- drastically, the Jewish Young pecially important because it is providing W Professionals group has me the opportunity to connect with my found new ways to connect with one an- peers and talk about our specific needs other! In just the first two weeks of “stay in and challenges. The opportunity to hang place,” JYP hosted a Netflix watch party, a out with Jews my own age is super special virtual happy hour, and a discussion about right now.” an article by Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin. A high- All upcoming remote JYP programs light was gathering (remotely, of course) can be found by visiting www.facebook. to make a flourless chocolate cake with com/jypa2. JYP is a program of the Jewish the monthly baking club. These experi- Federation of Greater Ann Arbor. To learn ences have provided the opportunity for more, contact Jessica Weil at Jessica@jew- young adults to have fun and meaningful ishannarbor.org. n conversations in a time that can feel isolating, especially for those far from the rest of their families. “As an extrovert, every interaction I get to have with another person is precious to me right now,” shares former JYP Board

Washtenaw Jewish News A May 2020 23 IFeature

Looking for Rose: Two cemeteries By Clare Kinberg, fifth installment in a series n my first visit to Vandalia, Michi- to our aunt Mary. It was in the first years of great, great grandparents. On Memorial Day, ring of a weedwhacker wielded by a small gan to find evidence of my father’s the cemetery, when the Chesed Shel Emeth 2018, Marshall agrees to take me on a tour of figure in the gully near the road. Chain Lake Oestranged sister Rose, I met the (Kindness and Truth) Society buried Russian the cemeteries. Cemetery and the church overlooking Chain sexton Bill Vaughn at her unmarked grave in Jews who didn’t have the money for a plot or a We’d started to plan this trip in October, Lake are a Michigan Historic Site, the second the Calvin Community Chapel Cemetery. It headstone. Chesed Shel Emeth in my mind’s but winter snow came the very night of our oldest Black church in Michigan, visited by was Monday Sept 5, 2016, Labor Day, when eye is a shtetl, a first conversation Booker T. Washington and Sojourner Truth. my wife Patti, my daughter Zevi, and I made small Jewish vil- about going to- In 1903 (around the time Rose’s mother Yetta the two hour trek to the other side of Michi- lage–the home of gether to Vandalia. Schwartz arrived in the U.S. from Romania) gan and pulled into the drive of a small cem- the poor, and the Snow continued Washington published a laudatory essay on etery next to a stone church. I recognize the very poor, all laid for six months, the prosperous, self-sufficient Black commu- building from Marshall Sander’s photos. The up next to the bet- through April. nity in Vandalia, “Two Generations Under cemetery is sparse, with little hillocks, not ter off. There’s a Driving to rural, Freedom,” in The Outlook. I touch the grave- more than an acre or two. At the end of the plethora of ped- hilly Vandalia is stones of the people Washington interviewed small drive is a pickup truck facing the road. dlers, tailors, and unwise in win- for the essay. As I get out of our car, a man my age, in his junk dealers like ter, so we’d been Marshall’s relatives seem to be in every early 60’s, steps out and we walk toward each my father, grand- waiting for a day corner of the cemetery. I wander around on other. Bill Vaughn is a tall man, with a ruddy, father and great just like this one, my own, giving Marshall and Sharon a little light brown face and pinkish cheeks. The first grandfather. sunny and breezy privacy to sort out the flowers and the graves. thing he says to me is, “I believe you favor When my with unthreaten- From Chain Lake we go to the secluded Mt your aunt.” mother died a few ing clouds. Since Zion Cemetery. There’s no marker for this “Oh really?” I say, “You knew her?” months after my Marshall and Sha- one, just a break in the trees. Marshall shows “I remember meeting her when I was first visit to Vanda- ron were driving me the corner where some of the oldest younger, I think I hauled some gravel for lia, I found invoic- from another part graves are almost melting into the earth. her driveway.” Bill is now the first person I’ve es and paid checks of Michigan, we Sharon and Marshall are running out of talked to in Vandalia who knew Aunt Rose. from my father made a plan to flowers and we still have one more cemetery And he had dug her grave, literally. and his brother to meet in Vandalia to go, but we pause here for some snacks. In Patti and Zevi stayed in the car while Bill the Chesed Shel at 10:30am, across the shade of large oak and maple trees they and I walked through a few rows of grave- Emeth burial so- from the fire sta- pull three chairs out of their trunk; a cooler stones to an empty spot in the row closest to ciety, beginning tion on Paradise with cut up watermelon appears along with the church. Bill tells me this is where Aunt in 1951, the year Lake Road. plates, forks, napkins, and several variety of Rose is buried. I wander around the space, their mother died. They paid on some sort of A brief rain freshened the air during my chips. Marshall tells some colorful stories in taking note of the names of the nearest regular basis through the 1960s. two-hour drive. I arrived at the agreed upon great detail of the early settlers, as if he’d seen marked graves. Sanders, Wilsons, Mifflins Every name on a headstone in Chesed time, but couldn’t find the fire station even it all himself. Yet I imagine it is his mother and a McGee. Perhaps her friends, her ad- Shel Emeth echoes with the voices of familiar after circling the lake twice. Paradise Lake and grandmother talking through him, sto- opted family. teachers, neighbors and schoolmates, gro- Road hugs the north and east shores of the ries they had heard from their grandparents. I wonder whether Rose feels embraced cers and shoe salesmen, teammates, cousins, lake where inviting cabins look ready for I tell them I’m working on a book about here, among her community, so far from her and friends. Of the 17,000 people buried in summer. Brownsville Road, where my fa- Aunt Rose, about Vandalia. birth family. The cemetery where our family Chesed Shel Emeth—so many families like ther’s sister Rose had lived for 40 years, runs On to the third stop, Calvin Commu- rests, Chesed Shel Emeth in University City, mine with generations buried there—I think along the south side of the lake, with homes nity Cemetery, where Marshall’s parents and Missouri is very familiar to me. Several doz- I am connected, through marriage and prox- set back into overgrown fields and down hid- Aunt Rose–are buried. Marshall and Sha- ens of my relatives are buried there, includ- imity, to each and every one. I look at each den drives. ron, and Marshall’s brother Maurice, have ing Rose’s mother and father, her grandfather headstone and think, I know you, I know After twenty minutes of circling, I find already bought black granite headstones, and grandmother, too. All three of her broth- you, I know you. Marshall and Sharon waiting for me at the engraved with their genealogy. They dust off ers and a sister. This must be something of what Marshall appointed corner. I apologize for getting lost the freshly mown grass while I wander up to I’ve walked the narrow paths of Chesed Sanders feels when he visits his parents in and delaying their day. They show me a bag the unmarked spot the cemetery sexton, Bill Shel Emeth countless times. I love to stand in Calvin Community Chapel Cemetery where full of bright plastic flowers they plan to leave Vaughn, had pointed to on my first trip to the midst of the gravestones and be enclosed I know now my aunt Rose is buried. A few on graves, and we head off to the first cem- Vandalia a year and a half earlier. The spot into its familiarity. In 1897, my great grand- times each year, Marshall and his wife Sha- etery on Marshall’s list. Aunt Rose chose to be buried. n mother (my father’s--and Rose’s—grand- ron visit several African American cemeter- Rolling hills of old stones in family plots, mother) was buried in Chesed Shel Emeth ies in Calvin Township. The oldest, Chain freshly mown grass, the quiet of the first when she died ten days after giving birth Lake, was founded in 1838 and includes his cemetery on our tour is broken by the whir- GI Jews at Beth Israel Daryl M. Hafter and Ellen C. Schwartz, special to the WJN iscussion of Jews and World others’ histories in future exhibits. service will also be evoked, War II inevitably calls to mind The exhibition for the showcase in with the Red Cross uniform D the Holocaust. Amidst the dev- Beth Israel’s entry lobby will explore the and pins worn by Ellen’s astating history of loss, however, there is careers of two individuals: Monroe Z. mother, Sylvia Schwartz. another story to be told. This is the expe- Hafter, late husband of Daryl, who served The exhibition will open rience of Jewish members of the armed as Quartermaster 3rd Class, US Navy and when operations return to services who served in a wide variety of Sid L. Schwartz, Ellen’s late father, an in- normal after the Covid19 positions and places. It is this story a small structor of photography in the US Army pandemic. We hope to be exhibition, entitled GI Jews, is endeavor- Air Corps (which became the Air Force able to make an announce- ing to tell. in 1947). The show will include various ment in the near future. Enthusiastic sup- Dr. Daryl Hafter, Professor Emerita of His- types of memorabilia: Monroe’s sailor suit port has been offered by the BIC staff. tory, Eastern Michigan University, realized and discharge papers, Sid’s decorations Rabbi Caine has offered a sermon includ- that there was just such an interesting history and patches, along with photographs of ing discussion of such service. right here within Beth Israel families. Teamed both men at work. Items of particular If you would like to make a display of up with Dr. Ellen C. Schwartz, an art historian interest to a Jewish audience include a your own family experience, we would be and former teaching partner at EMU, they portable mezuzah, a pocket-sized prayer happy to help. We are hoping to showcase began exploring the idea and its possible pre- book, and a medal from the US Jewish more families and their history of service sentation. The two decided to focus on their Veterans of War, along with sheet music, in the future! n own families, with the possibility of including entitled, “Any Bonds Today?” Women’s

24 Washtenaw Jewish News A May 2020 IBeth Israel Congregation

Join Beth Israel virtually! Online Services Shabbat Morning Services Magical Musical Shabbat - Online Friday, May 29, and Saturday, May 30, During this unprecedented time of closings Saturday at 9:30 a.m. May 1, 6 p.m. 9:30 a.m. and social distancing, it is important to still Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/359791284 Join Rabbi Caine and family for a musical Beth Israel’s celebration of Shavuot includes be able to come together in new ways as a Meeting ID: 359 791 284 service and light Shabbat candles together. study sessions (Tikkun Leil Shavuot) on community. While all in-person services, Audio only is available at: http://mixlr. Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/657949107 Thursday evening. For more information classes, events, and programs remain sus- com/beth-israel-congregation/ Meeting ID: 657 949 107 about the Tikkun, please visit Beth Israel’s pended until further notice, we invite ev- website. eryone to take part in services and minyan Havdalah Lunch and Learn with Rav Nadav: The Shavuot, the “Feast of Weeks,” is celebrated online via Zoom. Below is a list of the links Saturday at 9:00 p.m. Eight Most Misunderstood Things in seven weeks after Passover. Since the count- to participate in services at Beth Israel. Beth Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/121983146 the Torah ing of this period begins on the second eve- Israel is now live streaming services on the Meeting ID: 121 983 146 ning of Passover, Shavuot takes place exactly Wednesdays, 12:00 p.m. 50 days after the first seder. It marks both the Beth Israel YouTube channel (Beth Israel Bring your lunch to your computer and share Congregation AA MI). All links will also be Theology Book Club - Online giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai and the Wednesdays, 8 p.m. in this learning opportunity. We will consid- time of the ancient grain harvest festival. The available on the Beth Israel homepage (www. er the possibilities that: bethisrael-aa.org). Beth Israel Congregation’s Theology Book Club book of Ruth is chanted during this holiday welcomes you to join them to read together and · Revelation is not a voice from the sky and at Beth Israel on the first day of the holiday. Evening Minyan discuss books on Jewish thought and beliefs. the Torah was not delivered on Mount Sinai Its story takes place during a barley harvest · Judaism, Christianity, and Islam don’t Sunday – Thursday at 7:30 p.m. The books are in English. Contact Paul Shifrin and Ruth’s assumption of Naomi’s religion is share a common foundation Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/267845102 at (248) 514-7276 for more information. said to reflect the Israelites’ acceptance of the · Prophecy is not clairvoyance (or schizo- Meeting ID: 267 845 102 Torah at Sinai. Shavuot is one of the holidays Challah Baking with Mira phrenia) on which both Hallel, the Psalms of Praise, is Friday Evening Services Fridays, 11 a.m. · A surprise topic sung and Yizkor, the memorial service, is ob- Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/914571864 Friday Minchah at 5:45 p.m. Join Beth Israel’s own Mira Sussman for served. Yizkor takes place on Saturday, May Meeting ID: 914 571 864 Kabbalat Shabbat Service at 6:00 p.m. Challah Baking! Kids and parents are wel- 30 at approximately 11:00 a.m. n Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/657949107 come to participate. A list of the ingredients Shavuot at Beth Israel Meeting ID: 657 949 107 is available on the Beth Israel homepage. Thursday, May 28, 8 p.m. Tikkun Leil Audio only is available at: http://mixlr. Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/927616777 Shavuot com/beth-israel-congregation/ Meeting ID: 927 616 777 EMU Hillel finishes the year strong with virtual programming Shelby Bruseloff, special to the WJN

hroughout the school year, Jew- Hillel friends in a casual setting that allowed discuss wellness practice in the new age of pe every day along with a picture of the final ish students at Eastern Michigan participants to pop in and out at any point. social distancing. result in the Hillel at EMU Facebook group. T University regularly plan programs The virtual coffee hour was followed up with Farquharson discussed the Rosh Chodesh Once Passover started, she shared kosher for on and off campus, working to build and a virtual Shabbat dinner. Students said the program saying, “the circle created an open Passover recipes to inspire students to think strengthen their Jewish community through prayers, reflected on the week, and shared a space for productive venting. During it, stu- outside the box, including a kosher for Pass- Hillel. On March 11 students at EMU were meal together. dents talked about how it has been for them over apple cake and matzah kugel. told that all classes were being moved online For Rosh Chodesh Nisan, Hillel at EMU’s to live at home again, being away from their As students at EMU end their academic until March 31, and have now been notified Nefesh intern, Alexis Farquharson, led a friends, etc. but in a format that focused on year, student leaders within Hillel at EMU that they will remain online for the remain- virtual Rosh Chodesh circle with several listening and helping each other. Hearing feel proud that they continued to strengthen der of the semester. As students packed their students. Supported by the Jewish Women’s and talking to your peers can help you feel their Jewish community during such difficult belongings and headed home, many were Foundation, the Nefesh internship creates less alone. We also discussed strategies for times. Even during a pandemic, they sup- devastated that their college experience was programming for women to gather, learn, self-care.” ported and built each other up in new ways cut short. discuss, and celebrate women’s issues. With Hillel at EMU’s Shabbat Coordinator, Sa- that they will always remember. n Hillel at EMU’s President, Zoey Lutz, a focus on mental health and wellness pro- mantha Cohen, wanted to bring her passion shared her thoughts, “After countless hours gramming, this virtual Rosh Chodesh circle for baking to the Hillel community. During of our executive board planning programs for provided students with the opportunity to the week of April 6, she posted a Jewish reci- the second half of the semester, it was difficult to comprehend not seeing any of them come to fruition. It was especially difficult to cancel our larger events, such as bringing Holocaust survivor, Irene Butter, to speak to over 400 Eastern students.” The Hillel at EMU executive board came together online to revise their programming for the rest of the semester. Stick- ing by their commitment to build and sustain Jewish community at EMU led student leaders to create a new online programming calendar. Similar to programs planned when students are on campus, all of the virtual programming was created based on student interest and need. The executive board started their online programming by hosting a virtual coffee hour. This gave students a space to check in and catch up with their

Washtenaw Jewish News A May 2020 25 I Community

QuaranZINE: Camp Tavor creativity for Ann Arbor JCC recreated online Clara Silver, special to the WJN community in crisis ue to the Coronavirus public health fessional, Jessica Gillespie, has offered live Randy Lubratich, special to the WJN threat and consequent social dis- streamed story times, as well as connecting n the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Goldman-Nagel, Camp Tavor alum and coor- D tancing, the Jewish Community families to the daily schedule of concerts, au- everyone is navigating the challenge of dinator of Camp Tavor’s year-long social justice Center of Greater Ann Arbor took the unprec- thor readings, and other activities provided via I distance from friends and family and programming for high school-aged students. edented step to recreate itself entirely online. PJ Library nationally. Camp Raanana and Kid- heartbreak in the daily news. Even in this chal- “We wanted to give people tools to keep The Ann Arbor JCC first cancelled all non-es- Zone have offered a variety of programs includ- lenging time, the Camp Tavor community is themselves busy, and feel productive and re- sential programs as of Friday, March 13. Then, ing virtual song sessions, KidZone check-ins, flective, but doing something on Monday, March 16, the building closed at recommended reading, and activities based that was also practicing self- the end of the business day in order to follow on the Camp Mensch values. Other program care because it was taking a break from the internet too.” QuananZINE creators asked campers and alumni to share their artistic interpretations of the following questions: What is COVID-19 teaching you about justice and equity in our society? How are the social issues that you feel most connected to being affected by this crisis? How are you building community during social distancing? How do we adapt Jewish practice to meet this moment? What are you grateful for? Sahar says she is grateful the newly released health department recom- ideas included virtual bingo, scavenger hunts, for the art and the ability to mendations. It remained closed in fulfillment of art projects, baking, STEM activities, and more. share it. the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order by Governor The Israel Center at the J moved its guest “I made it (painting) one Gretchen Whitmer. speaker, Rabbi Joshua Ladon, to an online for- evening while sitting with The Ann Arbor JCC worked diligently to mat. The program, in partnership with Shalom my upstairs neighbors mak- maintain its full complement of professional Hartman North America, which originally was ing art to relieve some tension staff. While initially many previously scheduled to include a dinner, moved seamlessly online, finding inspiration in creative ways of support- caused by the pandemic. I shared it for the zine programs were simply cancelled, engagement using Hartman’s Zoom account to continue to ing and sharing with one another. because I felt it captured a feeling I was hav- and community building were already a major provide the expected “beit midrash” experience One of the ways Camp Tavor and Habonim ing, of being so constrained (the source of the component in the Ann Arbor JCC’s operational for participants. Dror North America are trying to cope with limited color palette) and I felt proud of myself model, enabling a pivot with astonishing speed. Due to the online nature of programing dur- the crisis is coming together through art. for accomplishing literally anything during this Within days, the Ann Arbor JCC was providing ing the national self-isolation period, the Ann “I believe art-making always has an effect difficult time.” its constituents with virtual programming and Arbor JCC was able to take advantage of wider of lifting up spirits because of the engagement The concept of social distancing can seem resources. reach virtual programs. The Israel Center at the with materiality coupled with the release of so foreign and isolating especially when a per- According to Executive Director, David J offered the Shalom Hartman Institute’s latest creative energy,” says Sahar Steiner, 22, a Camp son’s work and values center on social outreach Stone, “before this unprecedented public health iEngage curriculum, “Together and Apart: The Tavor alum from Evanston, Illinois. and justice. It’s sometimes hard to remember crisis, some staff had already been experiment- Future of Jewish Peoplehood,” but instead of lo- Sahar is one of a handful of campers and that by staying home, society is helped. ing a little with virtual programming, and our cal facilitators, the Ann Arbor JCC participated counselors from across the country participat- “This crisis is bringing into focus some of social media presence was relatively active, but in a special virtual course facilitated by Hart- ing in a project designed to lift our community the values that our Tavor community has long we had no focus on virtual space. The moment man North America’s Vice President, Rabbi spirit through a zine. lifted up: our interconnectedness and our re- we made the decision to close, our staff, already Lauren Berkun, at no charge. For Passover, the A zine, pronounced “zeen,” is defined as “a sponsibility to take care of one another,” says exceptional professionals, became a creative Ann Arbor JCC participated in BBYO’s Great noncommercial often homemade or online Amit Weitzer, Camp Tavor Executive Direc- force of excellence, completely re-imagining Afikoman Hunt, along with over 120 other publication usually devoted to specialized and tor. “Sometimes, taking responsibility for one how the J can serve our community online. Our organizations, which entailed placing a special often unconventional subject matter.” another means gathering with our camp com- social media following has actually increased.” afikoman icon on a page inside the website. In QuaranZINE was created to highlight the munity to protest the separation of families at Immediately following the building closure, addition, the Ann Arbor JCC participated in Camp Tavor community’s increasing attention the border or working together to grow food the Ann Arbor JCC’s Early Childhood Center the national Facebook watch party for “It’s Pass- to social justice and how socially distancing is in our camp chava (farm) for nourishing Tavor staff implemented a plan for classroom teachers over, Grover!” hosted by the JCC Association of affecting community interactions and our abil- meals. Right now, it means doing what we can to provide a daily activity email to their fami- North America via its special partnership with ity to effect change. to keep our physical distance, and developing lies, along with a weekly online schedule that Shalom Sesame. “We wanted to give people an opportunity meaningful ways for our campers and staff to included Monday all school Havdalah, Tuesday Ann Arbor JCC professional staff also to engage with equity and justice while getting support and inspire one another through shar- and Thursday classroom gatherings, and Friday provided personal messages shared via social off the computer for a minute.” Says Naomi ing their art and creativity.” n all school Shabbat. In addition, the ECC cre- media channels. They continue to email their ated a private Coronavirus Support Facebook constituents with additional ideas for things to Group to share resources to help parents with enjoy while at home. Resilience builder videos kids being home 24/7. ECC professionals have from J Response, the crisis response team of Ann Arbor Jewish Film Festival moves to August shared everything from resources on how to JCC Association of North America, and vir- Clara Silver, special to the WJN talk to children about Coronavirus to coloring tual programming from other JCC’s around pages normalizing wearing masks, and more to the country were made available on the Virtual ue to the social distancing order able through August. In order to ensure the the group. The ECC has also rolled out a new Ann Arbor JCC page of the Ann Arbor JCC’s required to ensure public safety continuation of the festival, sponsorships YouTube channel featuring its teachers reading website. Stone notes that, “online programming during the Coronavirus outbreak will be more important than in previous D stories and singing songs. Meanwhile, the ECC and engagement has been really well received, the Ann Arbor Jewish Film Festival, part years due to the change in timing. Informa- professional staff made use of the time out of so we may continue to host future online of- of Cinetopia, has been moved to August tion is available at film.jccannarbor.org and the classroom to take advantage of online pro- ferings even after we are able to return to in 23, 2020 through August 27, 2020. Cineto- cinetopiafestival.org. n fessional development opportunities, as well as person programming.” For more information pia will take place August 21, 2020 through scheduling virtual parent-teacher conferences. about the Ann Arbor JCC and its offerings, visit August 30, 2020. Sponsorships for the Ann The Youth department also pivoted to jccannarbor.org. n Arbor Jewish Film Festival will remain avail- online. The Ann Arbor JCC’s PJ Library pro-

26 Washtenaw Jewish News A May 2020 IMG_9060- 659x44

I Temple Beth Emeth

Temple Beth Emeth Online in May

Tot Shabbat Services Join Rabbi Whinston each morning via Zoom Women’s Torah Study Move Your Body w/ Nikki Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/780410150 for a short morning blessing. Mondays, 7 pm Mondays & Thursdays, 1-1:20 pm Meeting ID: 780 410 1503 Daily Afternoon Blessings Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/4997644651 Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/794210090 Fridays, May 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29, 5:45 pm Tuesdays-Thursdays, 3 pm Meeting ID: 499 764 4651 Meeting ID: 794 210 090 Join Rabbi Whinston and Cantor Hayut for Tot Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/4997644651 Join Cantor Hayut for a weekly women’s Torah Join TBE’s Youth Director for a short program Shabbat services. Meeting ID: 499 764 4651 study, as we explore the weekly Torah portion focused on moving your body! Friday Shabbat Services Join Cantor Hayut each afternoon via Zoom for and check in with our female members. Game Time w/ Nikki Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/7804101503 a short afternoon blessing. Shabbat Music Session Tuesdays, 5 pm & Fridays, Noon Meeting ID: 780 410 1503 Meditation w/ Linda Greene Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/4997644651 Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/5197895452 Fridays, May 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29, 7:30 pm Meeting ID: 499 764 4651 Meeting ID: 519 789 5452 Thursdays, 1 pm Rabbi Whinston and Cantor Hayut lead tradi- Tuesdays-Thursdays, 7 pm Join Nikki for an hour long, virtual game! Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/2522844325 tional Shabbat services. Learn new Friday evening service melodies Meeting ID: 252 284 4325 with Cantor Hayut, and review selections that Kol HaLev Rehearsals Join Linda Greene for an hour-long meditation Saturday Shabbat Services are part of our current repertoire. Each session Sundays, 7 pm session. Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/7804101503 will run approximately 15 minutes. Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/4997644651 Meeting ID: 780 410 1503 Torah Study Meeting ID: 499 764 4651 Youth Shabbat Services Join Cantor Hayut for Kol HaLev rehearsals on Saturdays, May 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30, 10 am Saturdays, 8:50 am & Wednesdays, 7 pm Saturdays, 9:30 am Sunday evenings. New members welcome! Saturday morning Shabbat services, led by Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/7804101503 Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/7129628444 Rabbi Whinston. Meeting ID: 780 410 1503 Meeting ID: 712 962 8444 Teen Talks w/ Rabbi Alter & Rabbi A study session that explores the weekly Torah Programming Join Rabbi Alter for Shabbat services - geared Whinston portion, led by Rabbi Whinston. Please Note: All of TBE’s online programming towards TBE’s youth. Sundays, 7 pm is linked on our calendar. Havdalah from the Whinston Home Parent Talks: How Are You Holding Up at Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/7129628444 If a Zoom link is not yet listed for a program, Saturdays, 7:30 pm Meeting ID: 712 962 8444 check our calendar the day of. Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/7804101503 Home w/ Your Family? Join Rabbi Alter and Rabbi Whinston for a Morning Song Session Meeting ID: 780 410 1503 Thursdays, 8 pm weekly check-in about the week’s world events. Join Rabbi Whinston and his family for a short Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/644488837 We ask each participant to choose either A) Daily, 8:30 pm, Live on Facebook Here: prayer marking the end of Shabbat. Meeting ID: 644 488 837 an article that sparks an emotion in you or B) https://bit.ly/JW_Morning_Song Join Rabbi Whinston for a weekly check-in for identify an emotion you are feeling about the Rabbi Whinston leads a daily song session to Lunch & Learn parents navigating being at home with children. world and to find an article about that aspect of start the day. Fridays, Noon the world. This weekly event is open to grades Daily Morning Blessings Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/7804101503 6-12. n Daily, 9:15 am Meeting ID: 780 410 1503 Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/7804101503 Rabbi Whinston leads a weekly Lunch & Learn Meeting ID: 780 410 1503 session via Zoom.

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Washtenaw Jewish News A May 2020 27 I Calendar

May 2020 The Calendar has been updated to reflect Tot Shabbat Service: TBE. Zoom. 5:45 p.m. Omer Day 39 and 7:30 p.m. events that are happening only online. Al- Friday Shabbat Services. TBE. Zoom. 7:30 p.m. Monday 18, Lunch and Learn with Rav Nadav: BIC. Zoom. ways check websites or call for updates before Noon. Women’s Torah Study: TBE planning to attend anything listed here. Omer Day 30 . Zoom. For ques- Torah Study: TBE Saturday 9, tions, contact Cantor Regina Hayut at can- . Zoom. Weekly discussion [email protected]. 7–9 p.m. of the Torah portion led by Rabbi Whinston Friday 1, Omer Day 22 Torah Study: TBE. Zoom. Weekly discussion 7 p.m. of the Torah portion led by Rabbi Whinston Tuesday 19, Omer Day 40 Theology Book Club: BIC. Online Join the The- Baking Challa with Mira: BIC. Zoom. 11 a.m. 8:50-9:50 a.m. ology Book Club to read and discuss books on Shabbat Services: TBE. Zoom 10:00 a.m. Jewish thought and beliefs. 8 p.m. Paul Shifrin Lunch and Learn: TBE. Zoom. Rabbi Whin- Tea and Torah on Tuesday–for Women: Havdallah from the Whinston home: TBE. Zoom. at (248) 514-7276 for more information ston meets on Fridays for an informal dis- Chabad. 8 p.m. cussion about religion. Noon–1 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Tot Shabbat Service: TBE. Zoom. 5:45 p.m. Second Saturday Shabbat Morning Service: Thursday 28, AARC. Zoom Wednesday 20, Omer Day 41 Magical Musical Shabbat: BIC. Online. . Miles Hall Bar Mitzvah. 10 a.m. Omer Day 49, Erev Shavuot Friday Shabbat Services. TBE. Zoom. 7:30 p.m. Explore Biblical Secrets: Chabad. Sunday 10, Omer Day 31 9:30 a. m. Meditation with Linda Greene: TBE. Zoom. and 7:30 p.m. 1 p.m. Saturday 2, Omer Day 23 Lunch and Learn with Rav Nadav: BIC. Zoom. Tanya–Jewish Mysticism: Chabad Tikkun Leil Shavuot. BIC: 8 p.m. . Delve into Noon. the basic text of Chassidim and discover the Shavuos: Chabad Torah Study: TBE. Zoom. Weekly discussion Torah Study: TBE . Celebration, festive dinner, beauty and depth of Judaism. 11a.m.- noon. . Zoom. Weekly discussion of the all night study. 8:45 p.m. of the Torah portion led by Rabbi Whinston Torah portion led by Rabbi Whinston 7 p.m. 8:50-9:50 a.m. Monday 11, Omer Day 32 Theology Book Club: BIC. Online Join the The- Shavuot Shabbat Services: TBE. Zoom 10:00 a.m. ology Book Club to read and discuss books on Friday 29, Havdallah from the Whinston home: TBE. Zoom. Jewish thought and beliefs. 8 p.m. Paul Shifrin Women’s Torah Study: TBE. Zoom.. For ques- Shavuot Shaharit: BIC. 9:30 a.m. 7:30 p.m. at (248) 514-7276 for more information tions, contact Cantor Regina Hayut at can- Shavuos: Chabad. Children hear Ten Com- [email protected]. 7–9 p.m. Sunday 3, Omer Day 24 Thursday 21, Omer Day 42 mandments, ice cream party. 9:45 a.m. Tuesday 12, Lunch and Learn: TBE. Zoom. Noon–1 p.m. Tanya–Jewish Mysticism: Chabad. Delve into Omer Day 33: Lag B’Omer Meditation with Linda Greene: TBE. Zoom. 1 p.m. Tot Shabbat Service: TBE. Zoom. 5:45 p.m. the basic text of Chassidim and discover the Talmud–Jewish Civil Law: Chabad. 8 p.m.. Friday Shabbat Services. TBE. Zoom. 7:30 p.m. beauty and depth of Judaism. 11a.m.- noon. Tea and Torah on Tuesday–for Women: Virtual Counting the Omer: Pardes Hannah. AARC Book Group: Discussing The Yid- Chabad. 8 p.m. See first Tuesday of month. 8:30– 9 p.m. Saturday 30, Shavuot Yizkor dish Policeman’s Union. Info: Greg at [email protected]. Noon. Wednesday 13, Omer Day 34 Friday 22, Torah Study: TBE. Zoom. Weekly discussion Omer Day 43, Yom Yerushalayim Omer Day 25 of the Torah portion led by Rabbi Whinston Monday 4, Explore Biblical Secrets: Chabad. 9:30 a. m. 8:50-9:50 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Baking Challa with Mira: BIC. Zoom. 11 a.m. Shavuot Shaharit with Yizkor: BIC. 9:30 a.m Meditation with Rabbi Jeff Roth: Pardes Han- Lunch and Learn with Rav Nadav: BIC. Lunch and Learn: TBE. Zoom. Rabbi Whin- Shabbat Services: TBE nah. Online. 9 a.m. . Zoom 10:00 a.m. Zoom. Noon. ston meets on Fridays for an informal dis- Havdallah from the Whinston home: TBE. Zoom. Women’s Torah Study: TBE. Zoom. An in- Torah Study: TBE. Zoom. Weekly discussion of the cussion about religion. Noon–1 p.m. 7:30 p.m. depth study and lively discussion of the Torah portion led by Rabbi Whinston 7 p.m. Tot Shabbat Service: TBE. Zoom. 5:45 p.m. week’s Torah portion led by Cantor Regina Kabbalat Shabbat: AARC Hayut. For questions, contact Cantor Re- Theology Book Club: BIC. Online Join the The- . Zoom. Visit Sunday 31 gina Hayut at cantorhayut@templebethe- ology Book Club to read and discuss books on aarecon.org for the Zoom link. 6:30 p.m. Friday Shabbat Services. TBE meth.org. 7–9 p.m. Jewish thought and beliefs. 8 p.m. Paul Shifrin . Zoom. 7:30 p.m. Tanya–Jewish Mysticism: Chabad at (248) 514-7276 for more information . Delve into the basic text of Chassidim and discover the Tuesday 5, Omer Day 26 Saturday 23, Omer Day 24 beauty and depth of Judaism. 11a.m.- noon. Thursday 14, Omer Day 35 Tea and Torah on Tuesday–for Women: Torah Study: TBE. Zoom. Weekly discussion Chabad. 8 p.m. Meditation with Linda Greene: TBE. Zoom. 1 p.m. of the Torah portion led by Rabbi Whinston Phone numbers, websites and ad- Talmud–Jewish Civil Law: Chabad. 8 p.m.. 8:50-9:50 a.m. dresses of organizations fre- Wednesday 6, Omer Day 27 Virtual Counting the Omer: Pardes Hannah. Shabbat Services: TBE. Zoom 10:00 a.m. quently listed in the calendar: 8:30– 9 p.m. Havdallah from the Whinston home: TBE. Explore Biblical Secrets: Chabad. 9:30 a. m. Zoom. 7:30 p.m. Ann Arbor Orthodox Minyan (AAOM): and 7:30 p.m. Friday 15, Omer Day 36 1429 Hill Street, 248-408-3269, annar- Lunch and Learn with Rav Nadav: BIC. Zoom. Sunday 24, borminyan.org Noon. Baking Challa with Mira: BIC. Zoom. 11 a.m. Rosh Hodesh Sivan, Omer Day 45 Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Congrega- Torah Study: TBE. Zoom. Weekly discussion Lunch and Learn: TBE. Zoom. Rabbi Whin- tion (AARC): 2935 Birch Hollow Drive, of the Torah portion led by Rabbi Whinston ston meets on Fridays for an informal dis- Tanya–Jewish Mysticism: Chabad. Delve into 734.445.1910, aarecon.org 7 p.m. cussion about religion. Noon–1 p.m. the basic text of Chassidim and discover the Beth Israel Congregation (BIC): 2000 Theology Book Club: BIC. Online Join the Tot Shabbat Service: TBE. Zoom. 5:45 p.m. beauty and depth of Judaism. 11a.m.- noon. Washtenaw Ave, 734-665-9897, bethisrael- Theology Book Club to read and discuss Friday Shabbat Services. TBE. Zoom. 7:30 p.m. Rosh Chodesh Sivan Virtual Minyan: Pardes aa.org books on Jewish thought and beliefs. 8 p.m. Hannah. For questions, please contact Chabad House: 715 Hill Street, 734-995- Paul Shifrin at (248) 514-7276 for more in- Saturday 16, Omer Day 37 Gabriell Pescador: 3276, jewmich.com formation [email protected]. 9 - 10:15 a.m. Jewish Community Center (JCC): 2935 Birch Hollow Drive, 745-971-0990, jccan- Torah Study: TBE. Zoom. Weekly discussion Omer Day 46 Thursday 7, Omer Day 28 of the Torah portion led by Rabbi Whinston Monday 25, narbor.org 8:50-9:50 a.m. Jewish Cultural Society (JCS): 2935 Birch Meditation with Linda Greene Women’s Torah Study: TBE : TBE. Zoom. 1 Shabbat Services: TBE. Zoom 10:00 a.m. . Zoom. For ques- Hollow Drive, 734-975-9872, jewishcultur- p.m. tions, contact Cantor Regina Hayut at can- alsociety.org Havdallah from the Whinston home: TBE. Zoom. Talmud–Jewish Civil Law: Chabad. 8 p.m. [email protected]. 7–9 p.m. Jewish Family Services (JFS): 7:30 p.m. 2245 South Virtual Counting the Omer: Pardes Hannah State Street, 734-769-0209, jfsannarbor.org . Tuesday 26, Omer Day 47 8:30– 9 p.m. Omer Day 38 Jewish Federation: 2939 Birch Hollow Drive, Sunday 17, 734-677-0100, jewishannarbor.org Omer Day 29 Tea and Torah on Tuesday–for Women: Pardes Hannah: 2010 Washtenaw Ave, 734- Friday 8, Tanya–Jewish Mysticism: Chabad. Delve into Chabad. 8 p.m. See first Tuesday of month. 761-5324, pardeshannah.org the basic text of Chassidim and discover the Baking Challa with Mira: BIC. Zoom. 11 a.m. beauty and depth of Judaism. 11 a.m.- noon. Temple Beth Emeth (TBE): 2309 Packard Wednesday 27, Omer Day 48 Road, 734-665-4744, templebethemeth.org Lunch and Learn: TBE. Zoom. Rabbi Whin- Foundations of Jewish Family Living: AAOM. ston meets on Fridays for an informal dis- At JCC, if open. 10 a.m. UM Hillel: 1429 Hill Street 734-769-0500, cussion about religion. Noon–1 p.m. Explore Biblical Secrets: Chabad. 9:30 a. m. michiganhillel.org 28 Washtenaw Jewish News A May 2020 I Obituaries

Bernard Klein, a resident of South- of progress in contract negotiations, called guished Teaching Award in 1990. His three and Rivka Grover, her nephew, Judah Mora, field, Michigan, died on April 12th at the age in sick with what had been dubbed “the blue terms as acting chancellor occurred in a and her husband, Kirk Kitchen. Shana was of 91. Klein, whose quick mind, rollicking flu,” said to be the first police work stoppage span in 1979 and 1980, from September to born in Pittsburgh, PA, but the most for- sense of humor and political skills served by police in any major U.S. city since 1919. December 1992, and between July 1999 and mative years of her childhood were lived in him well throughout a long career in aca- A few months later, in July, the U.S. Army June 2000. Morristown, NJ. It was there she began to demia and government, died at Beaumont and Michigan National Guard were sum- “We would joke that he was the Kelly Girl show her deep insightfulness, her unwaver- Hospital–Farmington Hills from complica- moned to restore order during the July civil of higher education,” said Mary Tobin, a for- ing loyalty to her friends, and her sense of tions of the COVID-19 virus. He was 91. His disturbance that claimed 43 lives. By 1969, mer colleague and longtime friend. adventure. When her family moved to Ann death was confirmed by Cynthia Christen, the city’s budget stood at $456 million, up Each time he had to ride herd over a Arbor, MI at the onset of her teen years, his niece. from $324 million in 1962, when Cavanagh group of professors who could be self- she quickly met the friends who became a In 1971, one year after leaving a high- took office. The city was running a $15 -mil obsessed and prickly. He was known as a second, chosen family throughout her life. profile City of Detroit post as then-Mayor lion deficit — $107 million in 2020 dollars. peacemaker who could talk people into ac- The new proximity also allowed the family Jerome Cavanagh’s top financial officer, The city had arrived at a desperate turn- cepting something short of total victory to to spend a great deal more time together at Klein joined the University of Michigan- ing point, and Cavanagh was undergoing a resolve a dispute. their property in Greenbush, MI, which, at Dearborn as a political science professor. By difficult divorce. Klein recalled a frequent The job also involved getting money the age of five, Shana named Guppy Lake, the time Klein retired a little more than two conversation with Cavanagh amid the city’s from Lansing, which supplied more than and where her parents now live full-time. decades later, he had been asked to serve as troubles. “What’s next, Bernie?” a dispirited three-quarters of the school’s budget at the Shana’s ties to her friends, communities, the university’s interim or acting chancellor Cavanagh would ask. “Locusts?” time. Here, his long list of friends made him and family meant the world to her. She was on three occasions. Klein had fast become a power in City invaluable. “Bernie got called in when they needed Hall. “He was probably closer to my father The first draft of a study of Michigan col- than just about anybody in that second leges and universities once concluded that term,” Mark Cavanagh said. U-M Dearborn was “expendable.” Klein Josephine Gomon, who understood made a call to Lansing. Suddenly, the uni- municipal financial difficulties from her versity was no longer expendable. Gov. work as a top aide to Detroit Mayor Frank James Blanchard would write a letter stating Murphy during the Great Depression in the as such, just in case anybody had any doubts. 1930s, wrote: “His (Klein’s) management Blanchard was a good example of Klein’s of Detroit’s finances at a time when budget wide circle of friends. The guest list at one problems were beginning to threaten the of his retirement parties included the late Ed orderly operation of government services is McNamara, the former Wayne County Exec- best evaluated by comparison with the con- utive; former Attorney General Frank Kelley, fusion that has followed his term of office.” and the late Zolton Ferency, the Democratic Klein became close with the entire Ca- gubernatorial candidate in 1966. vanagh family, a friendship that lasted into “I first met Bernie when I was a page succeeding generations. “He’d take time out at the Democratic National Convention in someone,” said Ron Stockton, a U-M Dear- to talk with us, and he’d talk to us as adults,” Atlantic City in 1964,” Blanchard recalled. dedicated to addressing injustice, whether born political science professor. “He had in- remembers David Cavanagh, another of the “From that time forward, he was always protesting heartless immigration policies stitutional knowledge. He knew the people mayor’s sons. “Not a lot of people took time encouraging, positive and helpful to me. or supporting local LGBTQIA health ser- in Ann Arbor. He knew the people in Lan- out to do that.” He gave great advice, wrote great humor, vices. Her nieces held a special place in sing. Everybody respected him.” After leaving the controller’s job in and told truth to power. Like everyone her heart, and she was looking forward to “He’s probably the only person in higher 1970, Klein served as a top administrator else, we always enjoyed his company and building a meaningful relationship with her education who was chancellor of the same at Wayne County Community College, and his spirit.” infant nephew, as well. Over the last twelve university three times,” Stockton said. “No- also as a member of Detroit’s Charter Com- He retired in 1993, and most recently years, Shana overcame hardships that once body will beat that record, or even match it.” mission, which overhauled the rulebook for lived in a senior living facility in Southfield. seemed insurmountable. It has been one of Klein was the son of Louis, a Brooklyn tai- municipal governance. He is survived by his niece; his niece’s hus- the most profound joys to her parents and lor, and Sarah, a seamstress and housewife. When Klein joined U-M Dearborn’s band, Ronald, and two cousins, Kenneth sisters to have her in their lives, the best He was a lifelong Democrat who proudly re- political science faculty in 1971, his sense McCullers and Sid McCullers. Shana of all possible Shanas, funny, smart called running alongside President Franklin of humor had preceded him. He was often and compassionately present. She was a D. Roosevelt’s motorcade as it made its way called upon by some of the state’s top elected Shana Nova Borenstein, 9/24/1982 gift to all of us, and to the world. And she through Brooklyn on a campaign swing in officials who needed a humorous line for a - 4/9/2020 Chicago, IL: Shana Nova Boren- is indescribably missed. In lieu of flowers, 1944. speech, on deadline. stein, beloved daughter, sister, aunt, and donations can be made in Shana’s memory He earned a B.A. from Brooklyn College, “Bernie had a joke for every occasion friend, died suddenly of unknown causes. to Howard Brown Health Centers, https:// an M.A. from the University of Missouri, and every person,” Mark Cavanagh said. “As She is survived by her parents, Trina and howardbrown.org/ n and a Ph.D. from Michigan State University. long as I knew him, I don’t recall ever hear- Nathaniel Borenstein, of Greenbush, Michi- He was supervising the U-M Institute of ing the same joke twice.” gan, her grandfather Lawrence Glasser, her Public Administration’s Lansing office when He was described in a Detroit Free Press sisters, Lea (Michael) Grover and Miriam he met and was hired by Cavanagh, who was story in 1970 as a “witty Ph.D.” A check of (Daniel) Mora, her nieces, Sophia, Deborah, already Detroit mayor. the Free Press database suggests that is the The mayor’s office was dominated by only time those words have been used in a mix of University of Detroit Law School combination since the newspaper began Pardes Hannah Events in May graduates and former newspapermen. Many publishing in 1831. A unique sense of humor and years of lease check the Pardes Hannah Cal- Shabbat Morning Meditation Service had worked on Cavanagh’s historic 1961 endar at https://pardeshannah.org/ mayoral campaign. All were close person- practical experience made him a valuable Saturday, May 9, –10:30 a.m. – noon asset as a professor. P calendar-3/ for Zoom links, chang- ally. Even after Cavanagh’s death in 1979, es and additions. Kabbalat Shabbat his former appointees met for decades on “He’d have to let class out early because Friday, May 15–7– 9 p. m. the last Friday of every month. Perhaps sur- he had us laughing so hard that he gave up A Virtual Counting the Omer trying to rein us back in,” said Bill Liebold, prisingly, Klein quickly entered the mayor’s Thursdays, May 7, 14, and 21-8:30 – 9 p.m. inner circle. president of The Liebold Group LLC, a for- Rosh Chodesh Sivan Virtual Minyan Klein was named controller, city govern- mer student and 48-year friend of Klein. Sunday, May 24,–9– 10:15 a.m. ment’s top financial job. As for practical experience, Stockton “My dad had this ability to size people up said: “He had been controller of the City of very quickly and figure out what they could Detroit. He knew inside out what was go- do,” said Michigan Court of Appeals Judge ing on. He had worked for Jerry Cavanagh. Mark Cavanagh, Mayor Cavanagh’s eldest He knew all of these personalities. Bernie son. “He thought Bernie could fit right in. brought a relevance to the classroom that In appreciation to our parents And he was right.” you couldn’t get from anywhere else. He As it turned out, Klein walked into the job knew the way the world worked. And that Aaron and Rachel Levy just as City Hall was about to be swamped by style carried over to his leadership on this a tsunami of problems, long in the making. c ampu s .” In 1967, Detroit police, frustrated by lack U-M Dearborn gave Klein its Distin- Washtenaw Jewish News A May 2020 29 Helène Aylon, 89, feminist artist whose work reflected her evolution as a woman and a Jew Debra Nussbaum Cohen NEW YORK (JTA) — When Helène Aylon ral on the wall of a youth employment center In 1969, Aylon started experimenting with Nations. Ten years later, in celebration of the was a girl in Borough Park, Brooklyn, it was in Brooklyn. When a news photographer who the idea of creating “painting that revealed end of the Cold War, a variation of the piece impossible to imagine she would one day arrived to take her picture asked her name, itself, in an attempt to introduce an evolving was presented at the Brooklyn Bridge An- become a barrier-breaking fine artist. After she spontaneously gave it as Helène Aylon. feminist consciousness to a medium that had chorage. all, the principal of the Shulamith School for She was known by that name for the rest of been firmly dominated by the notion of a he- In 1985, to mark the 40th anniversary of Girls, where Aylon was a student, persuaded her life. roic, and almost exclusively male, American the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, her parents not to allow her to attend an arts As a single Aylon worked with young Japanese women to high school in Manhattan. It just wasn’t some- mother of two place sacks filled with rice, grain, pods, and thing a good Jewish girl did. young children, seeds in a river to float toward the two cities. But after marrying at 18, Aylon began tak- Aylon struggled “She was a rare person and artist, fear- ing art classes at Brooklyn College, where one to be present for less, truly inspirational, but we are so blessed of her professors mentioned her to the artist them and for her to have had her example,” said artist Archie Mark Rothko, who invited her to his studio. art. Rand. “As under-appreciated as it is, it will ac- The two connected over their shared Jewish- “I felt guilty cumulate the sediment of recognition in time. ness even more than their art. all the time,” she Of that I am sure.” Aylon went on to become a force in the art wrote in her mem- In the 1990s, Aylon began turning toward world, motivated by feminism, nuclear disar- oir, “Whatever is Judaism in her nine-part work “The G-D Proj- mament and concern about what we now call Contained Must ect.” The first installation, “The Liberation of climate change. She worked first as a painter Be Released: My G-d,” was constructed from shelves lined with and moved into experiential and installation Jewish Orthodox open copies of the Hebrew Bible. Instances art, which was the focus of her later years. Her Girlhood, My Life of misogyny, violent language, or a woman’s work was often deeply autobiographical, re- As A Feminist name omitted from the text were highlighted flecting her own evolution as a woman and as Artist” (The Feminist Press, 2012). idiom,” wrote her art dealer, Leslie Tonkonow. in pink. a Jew. Aylon’s liberation came with the rise of “I think of my multimedia work as a rescue Another installation featured a Jewish Aylon died in New York of COVID-19 on the feminist movement, which she called “my of the Body, the Earth, and G-d — all stuck marital bed covered in the cloths that some April 6. She was 89, and one of 731 New York- salvation.” It was “a rebirth that dazzled my in patriarchal designations,” Aylon once said. observant women use to check if they have ers to die that day. imagination like a sunrise, and plucked me In 1982, she created the Earth Ambulance, had enough “clean days” after menstruation Aylon was born Helène Greenfield in out of the guilt that was caving in on me,” she a truck disguised as an ambulance that she to immerse in a ritual bath. “My Notebooks” Brooklyn in 1931. At 18, she married Rabbi wrote. drove across the United States, visiting mili- consisted of 54 blank notebooks with im- Mandel Fisch and they went on to have two After her daughter departed for college, tary bases, uranium mines and nuclear reac- ages of schoolgirls projected across them that children. The week Aylon turned 30, her hus- Aylon moved to Wesbeth, an artists’ residence tors. At each location, she scraped earth into Aylon dedicated to the wives of the medieval band died of cancer. in Manhattan, where she remained, but for a pillowcases, arriving back in New York in time Jewish scholars Rashi and Maimonides — “for Aylon’s first artistic commission was a mu- decade in Berkeley, California, until she died. for a nuclear disarmament rally at the United continued on page 31

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30 Washtenaw Jewish News A May 2020 I Vitals

Mazel Tov Karen Shill and Henry Beitz and Merton and Linda Shill on the engagement of their son, Gregory Shill,to Jaime Braverman. Maya and Daniel Stern on the birth of their son, Jacob Bennett Stern, brother of Eric and Sadie, grandson of Amy and Uri Lavi, and great grandson of Eileen & Saul Hymans. Adina Schoem and Joseph Vainner on the birth of their daughter, Talia Johanna, sister of Noa, niece of Shana Schoem and Garrett Schumann, and granddaughter of Karyn and David Schoem. Sklya Shea on her bat mitzvah, May 9. Miles Hall on his bar mitzvah, May 9. Charlotte Derrow on her bat mitzvah, May 16. Eva Bernstein on her bat mitzvah, May 16. Kyra Kahana on her bat mitzvah, May 23. Nathanyel Sarment on his bar mitzvah, May 30. Mazel Tov to Susan and Neal Weinberg on the birth of their granddaughter, Eva Miriam Weinberg, to parents Steven Weinberg and Kate Zahn, on Wednesday, April 15, in Chapel Hill, NC.Adler on her bat mitzvah, May 25. Condolences William Rosenthal on the death of his grandmother, Wanda Gene Thomas, March 22. Heather Dombey on the death of her mother, Clarice Malach, April 5. Valerie Galler on the death of her mother, Vivian Lichter, April 9. Nancy Szabo (Steve Ratner) on the death of her mother, Corrine Szabo, March 11. Toby (Greg) Lewis on the death of her mother, Roberta (Bobbie) Lewis, April 11. Shana (Kevin) Olson on the death of her grandmother, Tova Salinger, April 14. Amy (Andrew) Paberzs on the death of her mother, Ilene Coffman, April 24.

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Heléne Aylon, continued from previous page surely they have something to say.” Jewish Institute of Religion in New York and “She was one of the most powerful human is in the permanent collections of the Whit- beings I ever met,” said Rabbi David Ingber, ney Museum of American Art in New York, the spiritual leader of Romemu congrega- the Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco tion in New York who, like many rabbis, was and The Jewish Museum. It was also featured invited by Aylon to dialogue about her work in the show “Matronita” at Israel’s Ein Harod at the places she exhibited. “She was fiercely Museum of Art and at Pittsburgh’s Andy War- unique, energetically rigorous in her truth- hol Museum. telling, a woman who touched so many lives Aylon is survived by two sisters, Linda Sil- with her art and her heart. I was so privileged berstein of Los Angeles and Sandy Ferziger to call Helène a friend, a congregant and an Gottleib of Jerusalem; a son, Nathaniel Fisch, inspiration.” a professor of astrophysics at Princeton Uni- At once fierce and fragile, Aylon often versity; a daughter, Renee Emunah, a drama dressed in a turban-like headwrap and flow- therapist and author based in Bolinas, Cali- ing clothes, her voice breathy and her manner fornia; four grandsons and a granddaughter. gentle, even as her ideas were revolutionary. In a 2016 article about being one of “She stood by her beliefs, undaunted, and four women to be honored with a Lifetime was happy to take on controversy,” said her Achievement Award by the Women’s Cau- daughter, Renee Emunah. “She was visionary, cus for Art, Aylon said, “I hope I would be and at the same time that she was an activist remembered in a loving way because I’m We hope to see you in the Fall! she also cared about aesthetic beauty.” not trying to defame Judaism but I wanted Aylon’s work was exhibited multiple times to tell the truth about it to see what we can at the museum of Hebrew Union College- do about it.” n

Washtenaw Jewish News A May 2020 31 כל ישראל ערבים זה לזה Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh L’Zeh All of Israel is Responsible for One Another -Talmud In these uncertain times Our Jewish Community is Here to Help

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