Washtenaw Jewish News Presort Standard In this issue… c/o Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor U.S. Postage PAID 2939 Birch Hollow Drive Ann Arbor, MI Ann Arbor, MI 48108 Help for Israeli Found Permit No. 85 Puerto Artists Photos Rico Tour

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February 2020 Shevat/Adar 5780 Volume XIX Number 5 FREE Reform Jewish movement votes to support reparations for BIC congregant files African-Americans lawsuit against Ben Sales CHICAGO (JTA) — The Reform movement, picketers and city the country’s largest Jewish denomination, Special to the WJN declared its support for reparations for he Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported African-Americans at its biennial conference. on December 24, 2019 that a member The resolution, which was approved by T of an Ann Arbor synagogue has filed a voice vote at the 5,000-person gathering of federal lawsuit against the groups and individuals the Union for Reform Judaism, calls for “a who have been picketing with antisemitic signs federal commission to study and develop outside of Beth Israel Congregation every Shab- proposals for reparations to redress the bat morning for 16 years. The suit also names historic and continuing effects of slavery Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor and four and subsequent systemic racial, societal, other city officials as joint defendants. The groups and economic discrimination against Black have been named as Deir Yassin Remembered Americans.” and Jewish Witnesses for Peace and Friends. It said that reparations can take the form Detroit attorney Marc Susselman filed of anything from an expression of remorse to the 85-page complaint on behalf of his client education to monetary compensation. Marvin Gerber, a member of Beth Israel Reform leaders painted the resolution Congregation. The congregation itself is not as the next step in the movement’s histori- party to the lawsuit. Beth Israel board president cal support for civil rights. The movement TBE members at the Reform Biennial in Chicago: Front Row: David Gitterman, and Rabbi Nadav Caine issued this statement in passed its first resolution in support of civil Susan Gitterman, Rachel Glick, Cantor Regina Hayut, Bette Cotzin, Midge Cone response to the news of the lawsuit: “While Beth rights in 1950 and has passed four more. Back Row: Rabbi Daniel Alter, Candace Bulkley, Greg Lewis, Ketl Freedman-Doan, Israel Congregation is in no way associated with Two came in the past five years, addressing Abbie Egherman, Trina Fuller, Sonya Lewis, Joe Pollack this lawsuit, the activity outside of our house of reforms to the way law enforcement treats worship every week continues to be offensive African-Americans, and racial inequities of the Union for Reform Judaism, said in a as Reform Jews to continue this fight. We must and reprehensible, and includes anti-Semitic within the Reform movement. keynote address Thursday night. “We must face down the structures of racism and we must hate speech. Our decision not to participate in “Combating hate is the most urgent call be anti-racist. That means taking an active part knock them down.” this particular lawsuit was based on discussion of our time,” Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president to eliminate racism in our society. It’s our job Continued on page 13 Continued on page 14 JFS in permanent home Joanne Jarvi, special to the WJN n Wednesday, January 8, Jew- “We are commanded to put a mezuzah It is a reminder that what is happening in Thanks to the brilliant and tireless work of JFS ish Family Services of Washt- up with the Shema to remind us that life’s transitions and in need is love. And Board Member Mark Berg and the support of enaw County made 2245 S. our dedicated Space Committee, JFS purchased O it is in life’s transitions that holiness is that’s what you make possible here.” State our permanent home. Over five our home of more than a decade. It had been years ago, a special mezuzah was opti- important: When you are going from one a longstanding goal for our agency to mitigate mistically purchased for what seemed place to another or when you fear going potential displacement. When the opportunity like an unattainable dream by immediate to bed and not knowing what the next arose this year to secure a permanent home, we past JFS Board President, Susan Fisher, day will bring. seized it. None of this would have been possible on a trip with her dear late husband to without the profound support of our commit- Morocco. That special mezuzah was at ted advisors, supporters, and friends. last affixed to the front door of 2245 S. The people who are going to be passing When the McKinley Executive Building State by Carol Amster and Mark Berg through this door, that join us all here was placed on the market, JFS strategically ap- recognizing the latest milestone of many, in spirit, are those people going through proached this complex, timely, and nuanced including the establishment of The Herb life’s transitions. It could be aging, it could opportunity to finally own our own space. Amster Center, that changed the trajec- recovery, it could be mental struggles, it Sustainability is of paramount concern to all tory of JFS’s development and growth. agencies such as ours and while our ongoing Rabbi Nadav Caine of Beth Israel Con- could be trying to find how they fit in to challenges still include lack of sufficient fund- gregation offered these words along with a larger family. A family that you have ing and recruiting and retaining talent, we can the mezuzah blessing: made possible through holy services. now remove addressing long-term physical Continued on page 5 THE ASSURANCE OF

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Washtenaw Jewish News A February 2020 3 I International Community

Two ways to help Puerto Rico recover from earthquakes Special to the WJN he earthquakes in southwestern to carry on and not can find out about my prior work at www. Puerto Rico that began in late De- be detained due to auroralevinsmorales.com. Since December T cember 2019 have continued for at these unfortunate 28, 2019 Puerto Rico has been experiencing least one month, often with dozens of quakes events. Your dona- hundreds of earthquakes, two of them over 6 each day. Ann Arbor Jewish community ac- tions will allow us on the Richter scale. The quakes have caused tivist Fran Martin reported early in January to continue our ed- heavy damage along Puerto Rico’s coast, that her daughter-in-law Angeline Sina was ucation programs, but small mountain communities have also in Puerto Rico visiting relatives when the mentoring them been hit hard and get far less attention. In largest of the earthquakes hit on January 7. and teaching them Maricao there are many seriously damaged Sina writes, “I arrived in my home town to leadership and life houses, and our community store, which has celebrate Three Kings Day, our special holi- skills. It will pro- been the heart of the barrio for sixty years, day that tributes the three wise men. That vide students an has been destroyed. The owners have put evening, we had our first earthquake. When I alternate safe loca- up a temporary kiosk style shop to continue asked my Mom, what it was, she responded: tion, healthy meals, supplying food, and are distributing contri- ‘The ground has been shaking for the last “Image of the 612 recorded earthquakes affecting Puerto Rico school materials butions. My family members and friends are few months.’ On January 7, the Southwest between December 26 2019 and January 2, 2020 and items lost in raising funds to help rebuild the store, and of Puerto Rico was struck by 6.4 magni- the schools due to in the meantime, help restock the kiosk. We or access to clean water, sleeping in tents, un- tude earthquake, the strongest of a series the earthquake.” will divide the funds between support for der the sun and the 90-degree weather, many of quakes and the most powerful to hit the The Ann Arbor community also had the the store, and supplies for displaced people without any hope of knowing if they will be island in over a century leading to an island- opportunity to learn from Jewish Puerto in our community to meet basic needs. We able to return to their homes or how to re- wide power outage, limited water service, Rican activist and writer Aurora Levins plan to buy camping supplies, food, water build it. Many homes were built informally and school closures. Morales when she visited Ann Arbor two menstrual supplies and blankets for people and don’t have insurance. “Thousands of families are in shelters years ago as a guest lecturer in the Jewish who are sleeping out. I am not working with “Our organization, Friends of Puerto because their homes were destroyed or Communal Leadership Program. Morales a specific organization, but I have a lifetime Rico, which supports the economic develop- they fear they will collapse while they sleep. has since moved back to her hometown of of relationships I am relying on to help me ment of the people of Puerto Rico through Puerto Rico’s governor has declared a state Maricao, Puerto Rico, which has been se- distribute supplies equitably and will consult entrepreneurial initiatives, education, and of emergency, thousands of students are out verely affected by the earthquakes and she with the storekeeper, the priest, the school creating opportunities for women and girls of school and at least 500 schools could col- is raising money to help the community get director and community elders.” You can has launched the SEEDS fund: https://www. lapse after the recent seismic activity. This is back on its feet. From the GoFundMe page donate at https://www.gofundme.com/f/ friendsofpuertorico.org/donate. Funds extremely worrisome as many schools have that she set up: “ I recently moved back to indiera-earthquake-recovery. n raised will be directed towards students that been closed due to Hurricane Maria in 2017. my home community of Indiera, Maricao, in survived both Hurricane María and the re- Families are once again living without power the western mountains of Puerto Rico. You cent earthquakes to allow for their education

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4 Washtenaw Jewish News A February 2020 I Jewish Family Service

THRIVE Counseling offers “Crucial Consultations” Joanne Jarvi, special to the WJN Counseling. “It’s not unlike a walk-in clinic at f, by some miracle, you wake up tomorrow your physician’s office,” Smith said, adding that and a pressing problem is now gone, what people using the service will walk away with a I would your life be like? plan to address an immediate need. In answering this question, people tend For those who may need more than just to reveal what they want most, whether it’s a that one session, there will be an opportunity peaceful relationship with a spouse, a lifting of to refer them on to other services. depression, or a more fulfilling job. Most likely candidates for SST are those who Advocates of “Single-Session Therapy” want to deal with a specific problem or need (SST) argue that what is so often a person’s reassurance that their reaction to a troubling only therapeutic encounter should be used situation is normal. Good candidates also to maximize its effect. But they also contend include those who have dealt successfully with that for many, if not most, people, one therapy life problems in the past or who have managed session can leave them with the tools and the the current one for some time on their own, encouragement to handle their problems on or those who are tired of feeling “stuck” in a their own. strong reaction to past events. “Some of what we are trying to do is Single Session Therapy is not right for those help clients get unstuck or back on track,” who need immediate hospitalization, includ- says Deana Smith, Clinical Director. “Single ing suicidal, psychotic or intoxicated patients session therapy, this kind of model, can be or those suffering from conditions requiring extremely effective getting people unstuck medication, like manic depression and schizo- or see something from a new perspective. phrenia. This approach is best for people seek- Clients sometimes just want to deal with their ing a solution to a problem rather than more problems, not rework their whole life story. The in-depth self understanding. SST approach is appealing to clients because it For more information or to make an ap- targets their key concerns.” pointment, please contact Caroline Kennedy Crucial Consultations is a Single Session Butler, LMSW, THRIVE Counseling Clinical Therapy service meant to complement the Services Manager at 734-769-0209. n existing mental-health services at THRIVE

JFS in permanent home, continued from page 1

space from the list. We are extremely grateful tion, Specialty Food Pantry, Older Adult Ser- to more than a dozen agency friends who pro- vices and other core mission services. As we vided loans towards a down payment which wish all of these looming variables were in our allowed us to secure a mortgage from the Bank orbit of control, we are comforted for the abil- of Ann Arbor. NOMA Real Estate Services was ity to address at least this one. selected to manage the property. We embark on a great journey to protect Ultimately, JFS’ ownership of 2245 and and grow the future of JFS. Any contribu- holding it for a social purpose may be a bul- tion to our agency will provide vital support wark, along with the Protecting Our Future for our community. Campaign, that help us secure our future. It is a universal dream of every family, refu- While we celebrate this milestone, we also an- gee, older adult, and community member we ticipate a challenging year ahead, affected by work with to have a safe and secure permanent changing policies and dwindling non-profit home. Every family needs a home and it gives resources. National, state, regional, and local us great pride and pleasure to announce that funding landscapes have shifted dramatically our family now has one. n leaving several JFS programs underfunded or completely un-funded, such as Transporta-

Washtenaw Jewish News A February 2020 5 I Federation

Towards a more inclusive, united, and secure community Eileen Freed, special to the WJN n December 28, dozens of local com- “Conversations with 7” were held in which information will be essential for applying for At the beginning of this new decade, we munity members, led by Ann Arbor people from across all segments of the Jewish future Homeland Security grants. resolve to continue to bring light into the world O Chabad House, gathered to light a community gathered over dinner to talk about Preparedness training opportunities are by connecting with one another, sharing our giant Chanukah menorah at Liberty Square the issues that concerned them as Jews and about being explored and will be offered to the simchas (joyous times), and supporting each in downtown Ann Arbor. A central theme of what a JCRC might look like in Ann Arbor. community in the coming months. A “Stop the other in times of need. We will deepen our Chanukah is to be proud and comfortable in Several participants gathered in January for a Bleed” (trauma first aid) training will take place relationships with the broader community in our Jewishness and to share the light with those “convening” to explore the common themes Tuesday, February 4, 9-10:30a.m. at the JCC and which we live and foster understanding and around us. We are fortunate to live in a place and and begin to develop a plan to move forward. is open to the public. connection across faith, ethnic, racial, political, time in which we can do so safely and with the In another effort to connect with the All of these activities, which were prioritized and economic divides. We will continue to participation of community leaders like Ann wider community, Federation is partnering by the CSC this fall, have been funded by work together with our communal partners to Arbor Police Chief Michael Cox and City Coun- with 2 for Seder, a project developed by the generous contributions to the Community be a prepared, safe, and welcoming community cil Member Julie Grand. daughter-in-law of Joyce Fienberg z”l, one of Security Campaign. To date, over $67,000 has for all. We invite you to be our partner in these Sadly, that same evening, the light and joy of eleven people murdered at the Tree of Life in been raised toward the goal of $100,000 to efforts and welcome your involvement. Chanukah was dimmed by a horrific attack on Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Last year, over 1000 securing and preparing our community. The To learn more about and participate in the a Chanukah party at the home of Rabbi Chaim Jews participated by inviting their non-Jewish Community Security Committee is convening a rich variety of programs and services offered by Rottenberg in Monsey, New York. friends, neighbors and colleagues to their task force to develop allocations guidelines and Federation and all our local Jewish communal This attack was one of the latest in a wave seders in this effort to “directly address biased processes for distributing security campaign organizations or to make a pledge to the of antisemitic activity that has shaken many of attitudes and general ignorance–the seed of all funds where they are needed most, based on the Community Security Campaign, visit www. us. We’ve seen a growth in violence against Jews, antisemitism.” More information about this assessments from SCN. jewishannarbor.org. n such as the shooting at a kosher supermarket in initiative will be available in the coming months. New Jersey and Jews being beaten on the streets We must also be proactive to ensure we of New York, graffiti and vandalism of Jewish have the resources to safeguard our community JYP partners with organizations across communal institutions, anti-Jewish tropes used members and visitors. In order to augment by politicians in the United States and abroad, the excellent work being done by individual community and even weekly blatant antisemitic hate congregations and organizations, in the last few speech and harassment outside one of our own months, the Community Security Committee Jessica Weil, special to the WJN community synagogues. (CSC), chaired by Dave Nelson and comprised n the last few months, Jewish The recent proliferation of such attacks of representatives from our communal Young Professionals has been against Jewish people and institutions is organizations, congregations and Federation I busy, partnering on Shabbat disturbing and infuriating. We cannot let this staff have been working to advance community programs with Jewish organizations defeat us nor cause us to be any less proud or preparedness. in Ann Arbor and Detroit, including visible as a community. In November, community-wide threat Michigan Hillel, Beth Israel Con- We must be proactive in fostering positive assessments were conducted by the Secure gregation, and Repair the World relationships with people of other cultures Community Network (SCN), the national Detroit. JYP also participated in and faiths. For the past year, Federation board homeland security initiative of The Jewish the community Mega Challah Bake member Decky Alexander has been laying Federations of North America and the coordinated by Ann Arbor Chabad the groundwork for a Jewish Community Conference of Presidents of Major American House. JYP’s involvement with Jewish Young Professionals participated in the Relations Committee (JCRC), which, as JCRCs Jewish Organizations. These assessments other Jewish organizations connects Mega Challah Bake with other women from across do in communities around the United States, will provide important recommendations young adults with exciting learning the greater Ann Arbor community. will provide a framework for engagement as regarding facility upgrades and community opportunities and experiences. Jews with the broader community. A series of crisis and communication protocols. This Shabbat team member Rachael the most bags for Repair the World’s food pro- Dawson-Baglien shares “In addition to the gram!” monthly Shabbats, I’ve really been enjoying the All upcoming programs can be found by Chai Mitzvah celebrates 1 year! opportunity to get together with JYP and dif- visiting www.facebook.com/jypa2. JYP is a ferent organizations in the community, whether program of the Jewish Federation of Greater Marci Sukenic, special to the WJN it’s kneading challah together at the Mega Chal- Ann Arbor. To learn more, contact Jessica Weil hai Mitzvah is celebrating one year sions, and groups are creating a warm com- lah Bake or competing to see who can create at [email protected]. n since it was brought to Washtenaw munity and heating up their Jewish life as C County by the Jewish Federation they participate. The newest Chai Mitzvah of Greater Ann Arbor. Over the course of group is a group at Beth Israel Congrega- the year, the community has been buzzing tion, specifically to bring together the emp- Women’s Philanthropy series on food ty-nester and senior community. Chai Mitzvah’s theme for November was and the environment Tzedekah and Philanthropy. The groups all Stephanie Glass, special to the WJN participated in different discussions and he Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Ar- Judy Freedman of Women’s Philanthropy and many participants were involved in group bor’s Women’s Philanthropy Committee Amanda Glucklich, Director of Engagement and mitzvah projects such as volunteering Twill be hosting two engaging and timely Programs at Beth Israel, will also be sharing their at the Alpha House, participating in a events on food and the environment. On Thurs- experience with creating a more environmentally Jewish Family Service coat drive, exploring day, February 6 at 7 p.m. there will be a Wine conscious home and agro-Judaism. As a co- meaningful projects for the holidays season, and Cheese tasting at York in which participants planner of the event, Amanda Glucklich is and supporting Mott Children’s Hospital will have the chance to learn more about differ- excited about what this event will offer our through the One Candle Chanukah event. ent wine pairings and how Federation supports community. “Attendees will learn in depth about As the community begins another year food rescue in Israel. Marci Sukenic, a Women’s how to compost year-round successfully in Ann of engagement, the Chai Mitzvah themes Philanthropy Committee member shared “we Arbor and will come away with the knowledge of include relevant and interesting topics hope this event provides women in our commu- Jewish values that will inform choices we make such as Interpersonal Relationships and nity with a way to connect in a fun environment in regards to our environment. Participants will Mindfulness/Conscious Living. The while also getting the chance to learn more about also hear about on-going initiatives in Ann Arbor possibilities are limitless and each group local food and Federation!” Registration for this and Detroit that raise awareness about how we Participants, Rachel Portnoy and Katie and participant has the flexibility to event is now open at www.jewishannarbor.org/ can be more eco-conscious both in our Jewish Chosid, volunteer at Alpha House discover what is meaningful to themselves wine&cheese20. communal spaces and home.” Registration for as participants come together for commu- both individually and as a cohort. On Thursday, March 19 at 7 p.m. the this event is now open at www.jewishannarbor. nity building, mitzvah projects, meaningful New Chai Mitzvah groups are forming committee will host an immersive event on org/ecoJudaism20. discussion, and engagement. Small cohorts, in 2020 and there is a place for everyone. Judaism and the environment. Representatives For more information about these events or ranging from young adults to seniors, are Interested? Questions? Contact Marci from Hazon and Ann Arbor Recycling and Women’s Philanthropy, please contact Sharyn J. getting together to socialize and engage. Sukenic ([email protected] or Compost will be on site to share more about their Gallatin, Chief Development Officer at sharyn@ Monthly themes–along with Chai Mitzvah 734-677-0100, ext. 226). n organizations and ways individuals can be more jewishannarbo.org or 734-773-3533. n prepared source books–guide the discus- environmentally friendly through simple actions. 6 Washtenaw Jewish News A February 2020 I Federation

Teen travel to Israel: Let the Federation help you get there! Stephanie Glass, special to the WJN y visiting Israel on a gap year, semes- ously funded by Dr. Paul and Carolyn Lichter ter, or summer trip, youth in our in memory of their daughter, Susan L. Lichter. B community are able to foster a con- Ms. Lichter had a deep connection to Israel nection with Israeli culture, experience Jewish and through this scholarship, the Lichters are life outside of the diaspora, and make memo- able to help other teens develop a relationship ries and friendships that will last a lifetime. with Israel and our worldwide Jewish com- To help make participation in these trips pos- munity. This scholarship awards two $2,500 sible, the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann stipends for Israel travel. Scholarship applica- Arbor offers two opportunities for financial tions are due by March 2, 2020. assistance: The Federation funded travel sub- Ryan Lechtner, a previous awardee of the sidy program and the Susan L. Lichter Memo- Susan L. Lichter Scholarship, shared partici- rial Endowed Israel Scholarship fund. These pating on a summer trip in Israel was “a once opportunities are open to Washtenaw County in a lifetime experience I will never forget. I high school students and those participating was surrounded by new and old friends and in gap year programs between high school made memories I will never forget. Whether and college. Funding is available for programs it was getting up at 4 am to climb Masada or that are a minimum of 21 days of length and walking across all of Israel in four days, I can are organized by an approved provider. safely say this was the best summer of my life!” Israel Teen Travel Subsidies are made pos- The application for both the Israel Travel sible through an allocation from the Fed- Subsidy and the Susan L. Lichter Scholarship eration’s Annual Community Campaign. is now available on the Federation’s website Recipients may receive a grant of up to $1,000 (www.jewishannarbor.org/israel/israel-trip- based on the number of requests received by scholarships). For more information, please the preferred applicant date of March 2, 2020. contact Stephanie Glass, Development and The Susan L. Lichter Memorial Endowed Is- Planning Associate, at stephanie@jewishan- rael Scholarship, founded in 2009, is gener- narbor.org or 734-773-3534. n Federation welcomes Margaret Schreiber to coordinate LIFE & LEGACY Eileen Freed, special to the WJN

he Jewish Federation of Greater Ann ity that led her married to David Sitz, and they institutions long into the future. Eleven local Arbor is delighted to welcome Mar- to join the Fed- have a teenage daughter Julia. A fun fact about organizations committed to the LIFE & LEGA- T garet Schreiber to the team as its LIFE eration team. Margaret is that Elie Wiesel z”l was her profes- CY program after participating in an introduc- & LEGACY Coordinator. Margaret will work She was born sor at Boston University! tory program, “Why Legacy? Why Now?” on closely with Federation Chief Development and raised in “I am thrilled to have Margaret join December 11, 2019. The first hands-on work- Officer Sharyn Gallatin in shepherding this im- Madison, Wis- the LIFE & LEGACY team,” says Gallatin, shop for LIFE & LEGACY teams led by national portant communal project. consin, and her who recruited Margaret to the team. “She director Arlene Schiff took place January 9. After practicing as an attorney for several family was ac- will be instrumental in the implementa- Since its inception seven years ago, LIFE & years, Margaret established and operated a le- tively involved tion of a program which will ensure the LEGACY has generated 17,627 legacy commit- gal staffing service in Chicago for 12 years. Her as leaders in the future sustainability of our community.” ments with an estimated value of $672 million strong entrepreneurial, organizational and in- Madison Jew- LIFE & LEGACY provides matching funds, in future gifts from 558 partnering organiza- terpersonal skills are a great match for her vital ish community. training and support to help integrate legacy tions. role in building this new initiative. Margaret has continued her involvement in giving into the philanthropic culture of the For more information about LIFE & LEG- Margaret’s strong commitment and connec- Jewish communal life in Chicago, Bexley, Ohio community in order to maintain strong and ACY, contact Margaret at margaret@jewishan- tion to the Jewish community is another qual- and since arriving in Ann Arbor in 2015. She is vibrant Jewish communal organizations and narbor.org or 734-677-0100, ext 238. n Four Months In Israel By Eva Zaientz tanding in Israel, praying at the West- family-oriented. I ate meals and celebrated holi- mysticism in the city where Kabbalah was de- system and the issues the country faces are very ern Wall (the Kotel), I felt a feeling I days with the kibbutz families, shopped at the veloped. Tzfat is a beautiful city that sits up in different than what we experience in the United S had never experienced before, a feeling kibbutz store, and played with kibbutz dogs the hills in the north, with very narrow streets States. Israel, unlike the United States, does not of acceptance and belonging. Lines of women that were al- lined with 500 year-old synagogues. These syna- have an agreed upon border. Learning about filled the small space, all trying to make their ways running gogues were home to some of the most famous the dynamic between political groups within way to touch the 2,000 year-old wall. Everyone around. rabbis in Jewish history, such as Rabbi Isaac Lu- Israel and surrounding countries and how they was there for the same reason, to feel what it’s Heller High ria. I was able to learn about Kabbalah in Rabbi deal with these border tensions made me real- like to pray at the holiest place in Judaism. I felt is a high school Luria’s ancient synagogue. ize that every country has its own politics, goals, the warmth and joy overcome me, a sense of program for While Heller High kept us really busy, we strengths, and weaknesses. unity was surrounding me that Spring morning. international still had time to explore on our own. I was able Spending four months in Israel at Heller I was connected to Judaism and to the world in Jewish stu- to spend time with my friends exploring Jeru- High was a life-changing experience. It inspired a way I had never felt before. This emotion only dents. I was salem, which was only a few miles from Tzuba. me to continue my education in world politics grew stronger as I lived and studied in Israel for able to take all Spending time in Jerusalem gave me a chance and Judaism by studying International Rela- the next four months. my usual high to get to know Israeli culture and to practice my tions and Jewish Studies this fall in college. I From January to May 2019, I attended the school classes, Hebrew. One of my favorite routines was order- would not have been able to have this experi- Union for Reform Judaism’s Heller High (for- and also took immersive Hebrew and Jewish ing lamb shawarma with hummus at Moshiko ence without the amazing support of the Jewish merly NFTY-EIE), in Kibbutz Tzuba, Israel. studies, history, and geography. The semester Falafel on Ben Yehuda Street. I did it almost ev- Federation of Greater Ann Arbor, the Susan L. Kibbutz Tzuba is in the Judean Hills, about I attended, I was there with 35 students from ery week. Lichter Memorial Endowed Israel Scholarship, 15 minutes outside of Jerusalem. From Tzuba American and Canadian high schools. The Jew- Being in Jerusalem also helped me shape Rabbi Whinston and Cantor Hayut of Temple you could look out over an entire valley which ish History class was immersive. We had day and my worldview. Being there for four months Beth Emeth, as well as the support of my family. included both Jewish and Arab villages. It was overnight field trips all over Israel. In addition to really helped me to see the world without the I will never forget my time in Israel. I will forever sunny, bright, and welcoming. The kibbutz very learning from texts and lectures, we learned at center-point being America. I learned how Is- have a home there. n quickly became my second home. The culture the actual historical sites. For example, we trav- rael’s political system works through experienc- of Tzuba really spoke to me. It was warm and eled to Tzfat (Safed) and learned about Jewish ing their national election. Israel’s multi-party

Washtenaw Jewish News A February 2020 7 I Opinion I Community

Opinion: Why I went to Iowa with JVP Naomi Chazan on Israeli democracy by Miriam Saperstein Beth Dwoskin and Judy Musket, special to the WJN The writer is a junior at the University of Michigan. They are majoring in Judaic studies. n November, 2019 the New Israel Fund of equal justice for all. Netanyahu and others ast December, Donald Trump ad- Action for a week of bringing a simple mes- brought Israeli political scientist and have labelled everyone from Arabs to Benny dressed a roomful of Jewish people sage to Democratic presidential candidates: I former member of Knesset Naomi Cha- Gantz as traitors, something that was just L taunting them that they would vote It’s not that complicated. Palestinians de- zan to Ann Arbor. The public event was held “not done” in the past. for him because they wanted to protect their serve freedom and justice just like everyone at Beth Israel Congregation. Speaking just Chazan called for “democratic rehabilita- money. Within the week, he signed an execu- else. Candidates need to commit to ending after the U.S. State Department announced tion” in Israel. She wants to see Netanyahu tive order attacking the free speech rights of U.S. military funding for Israeli injustices. that the West Bank settlements did not vio- removed from office through elections, and

late international law and the Israeli Attor- she wants to see a new, value-driven vision ney General charged Netanyahu with fraud, for Israel that recognizes that democracy bribery, and breach of trust, Chazan still cannot coexist with occupation. managed to carry a message of realism and Chazan took several questions from the hope. audience. When asked about the power of Jewish Voice for Peace Action activists on the “Palestine Freedom 2020” bus in Naomi Chazan, born and raised in Israel, religious parties in Israel, she stated that she Iowa, January 7, 2019. (Courtesy of Jewish Voice for Peace Action) has had a career as an honored academic doesn’t blame them for pursuing their goal and a lifetime of service to the state of Israel, of a halakhic state. Rather, she is angry at activists criticizing the Israeli government. Palestinians should be free. which give her a profound understanding of the parties who make bargains with them to He claimed this was in the name of fight- Together, we engaged with voters over Israel’s political landscape. She was a mem- maintain power. ing antisemitism, the very antisemitism that hot chocolate, put the pressure on candi- ber of the Knesset on the Meretz list and was Even though Chazan stated at the outset he himself perpetuates with his disturbing dates, and celebrated Shabbat. Many of the director of the New Israel Fund from 2008 to of her speech that she didn’t believe in draw- comments. This executive order is designed voters had questions. A lot of people asked 2012. She works tirelessly for women’s rights, ing parallels between countries, people asked to punish students for questioning, critiqu- what the United States military funding paid peace, and justice. her about the political situation in the Unit- ing, and working towards a world in which for, a list that includes the detention and tor- Chazan spoke about democratic erosion ed States. She said that America is better off everyone is free. ture of children, walls restricting freedom of in the state of Israel. She described a slide because the ideal of a just society is founda- Trump is one of many antisemitic politi- movement, and the development of military from true liberal democracy to what she tional in America, enshrined in our constitu- cians who hide behind their support of the technology that is sold all over the world, called formal, procedural democracy, where tion. Israel has no constitution. In Israel, the Israeli military while stoking the flames of an- including to surveil migrants at the U.S.- the voice of the people becomes increasingly desire to build a just society is historic. tisemitism in their words and policies. These Mexico border. Together, we asked, what muted. This slide has been happening in In addition, young people in America are politicians will often do something antise- else could that money be used for? Educat- eastern and central Europe in recent years, as more likely to be liberal. She quipped, “Ev- mitic then immediately justify their bigotry ing children? Health care? Rebuilding homes well as in Israel. With this “democratic reces- ery day another progressive in Israel dies of by demonstrating their support for military demolished by the Israeli military? sion” happening everywhere, the world is at a old age.” In truth, she said that while youth injustices against Palestinians, as if the op- I’m returning to campus at the University low and dangerous point. Chazan explained as a whole are more conservative in Israel, pression of one group can elevate another. of Michigan for the winter semester feeling that this process happens legitimately–peo- opinions break down along ethnic and edu- Following the executive order, I wanted to held by a beautiful community of friends ple aren’t alarmed until it’s too late. This pro- cational lines. do something. I wasn’t going to be silenced and fellow activists, across Iowa, and be- cess, she explained, has three components: Chazan sees hope in recent elections in by this scare-tactic. I was mad that Jews and yond. The stakes are high. People’s lives are 1. Anti-liberalism—the pernicious chip- Europe and elsewhere, and in polls showing non-Jews alike were being punished for in danger—medics, journalists, children, ping away at individual and minority rights. that 60-70% of Israelis think that Netanyahu asking hard questions that disentangle being everyday Palestinians—so I will continue to There is a silencing of dissent and attacks on should resign. Even as she spoke, she was Jewish from unconditionally supporting the exercise my right to free speech to advocate freedom of speech. This is occurring in Isra- checking her phone for the latest polls. She Israeli military. I had a feeling that this was alongside Palestinians, despite white nation- el, especially, in regard to the territories. Laws said that for her, being Jewish in America an important moment to act. alists’ scare tactics. I deserve to ask questions against boycotts have been passed. People is about caring for the other. She also feels So, I went to Iowa, a place the entire about where my tax dollars are spent. We all who call for boycotts are being blocked from that in spite of all our familial squabbles, for country is focused on ahead of the Demo- deserve a world in which everyone has access entering Israel. This process of anti-liberal- American and Israeli Jews, the future is in- cratic caucuses. I wasn’t alone. Fourteen to clean water, education, and health care. ism has culminated in the Nation State bill. tertwined. other young people from around the United And Palestinians deserve freedom, just like 2. Dismantling checks and balances, the Naomi Chazan’s talk was co-sponsored by States joined me with Jewish Voice for Peace everybody else. n media, and the independence of the justice Temple Beth Emeth, Beth Israel Congrega- system. Such creeping neo-authoritarianism tion, the Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Con- leads to centralization and personalization gregation, the Jewish Community Center, the of power. The process is so esoteric that it’s Jewish Federation, the Jewish Cultural Soci- hard for people to get excited about it. ety, and the Jewish Communal Leadership 3. Populism–the democratic norms that Program at U of M. n have been understood as forbearance are unraveling. There are behaviors that in the past were just “not done.” Previously in Is- rael, the desire to build a just society was a norm. Now, charismatic leaders play on fear, distrust, and anger to tinker with the norm 8 Washtenaw Jewish News A February 2020 I Jewish Community Center

Benji Lovitt explains what’s so funny about Israel Clara Silver, Special to the WJN n Sunday, February 23 4 to 5:30 J, a program of the Jewish Community Cen- made aliyah in 2006. Since then he has cu- p.m., Benji Lovitt performs ter of Greater Ann Arbor which provides rated his experience as a new immigrant O What’s So Funny About Israel?, opportunities for individuals to engage acclimating and assimilating into Israeli cul- an interactive presentation about the differ- thoughtfully and respectfully with Israel ture into bold and humorous observations ences in the way Israelis and Americans see as a community; Beth Israel Congregation, about both American and Israeli cultures. each other. Lovitt, a comedian, comedy his- where the presentation will take place; and These observations inform his standup torian, educator, and writer, uses humor and the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor. comedy performances as well as his writing laughter to narrow the gap in understand- As these organizations discussed aspects of and workshop facilitation. His educational ing between Israelis and Americans, as well Israel that would be meaningful to explore, programming is not only about humor and as combat stereotypes and misconceptions. Beth Israel Engagement and Program Direc- cultural differences, but helps participants His presentation in Ann Arbor will be a cus- tor, Amanda Glucklich notes that, “humor explore the human need to face real threats tom experience combining other presenta- came to mind because Benji, Eileen [Freed, and contentious issues by finding the humor tions that he has given around the world Executive Director of Federation], and I are in them. which focus on the history of the Middle connected through Young Judaea. Clara [Sil- What’s So Funny About Israel? is open to East through its comedy and the cultural ver, of the Ann Arbor JCC] and I agreed that the community and presented free of charge differences in perception that come from the “Israel” and “funny” aren’t usually words you via generous support from the D. Dan and different sensibilities of the Middle East ver- hear in the same sentence, however, laughing Betty Kahn Foundation through a grant sus the West via pop culture character, Larry at cultural differences brings people togeth- supporting the work of the Israel Center at David from Curb Your Enthusiasm. er, and humor allows people with opposing the J. For more information on this program, What’s So Funny About Israel? is a co- Benji Lovvit viewpoints to relate to each other.” visit jccannarbor.org. n sponsored event by the Israel Center at the Lovitt was born in the United States and JCC Hosts Party and Events Showcase Clara Silver, special to the WJN n Sunday, March 15 from 11 a.m. According to Zoldan, “If you’re looking to 2 p.m. the Jewish Community to connect with DJs, photographers, florists, O Center of Greater Ann Arbor is invitation designers, and event planners, once again hosting the “Ann Arbor Party & the Ann Arbor Party & Event Showcase Event Showcase,” an expo featuring regional is the place you want to check out. It is vendors who provide services for celebra- designed to be one-stop shopping for all tions large and small, such as weddings, bnai your event needs.” Vendors from previous mitzvah, and graduations, among other oc- years have offered taste tests and examples of casions. custom party favors, one-of-a-kind custom The Showcase is presented in partnership invitations and décor, and party activities with event production expert, Staci Kennedy, and custom favors that range from the founder and operator of Who’s Got The Time classic photo booth to the unique custom event planning, and décor/design specialist, air-brushed while-you-wait apparel. Yael Zoldan, owner-operator of Designs The Ann Arbor Party & Event Showcase that Matter custom party design studio. is free of charge to attendees and open to the Kennedy and Zoldan are both based in Ann public. Registration is requested to help vendors Arbor, and their extensive experience and prepare by visiting jccannarbor.org. For more professional relationships with area service information on attending or to participate as providers allows them to curate a best-of- a vendor contact Staci Kennedy, staci@whos- the-best event for Showcase attendees. Ann Arbor Party & Event Showcase gotthetime.com or Yael Zoldan, yael@designs- Attendees will have the opportunity to that-matter.com. For information on reserving meet local vendors and explore options for like a wedding or Bar or Bat Mitzvah can feel their clients. The lounges at the JCC, where spaces at the Ann Arbor JCC for celebrations upcoming milestone events. Kennedy notes really overwhelming. This is the perfect way this event will be held, are intimate spaces, or other events, contact Clara Silver, director that, “Yael and I love hosting this community- to meet and get to know some of our favorite conducive to asking questions and really of operations, [email protected] or wide Showcase at the JCC. Planning an event vendors who always do a fantastic job for getting to know the different vendors.” (734) 971-0990. n

Third Thursday ahead of the curve and more Clara Silver, special to the WJN he Jewish Community Center of bers identify at-risk, isolated older adults, and link care for or know seniors with the resources to This month’s presentation will be held on Greater Ann Arbor hosted Catholic them to existing community resources before a help them. Older adults can also take a hands- February 20 and will feature singer/songwriter, T Social Services of Washtenaw County’s crisis occurs. on approach by completing the online self- Robin Beck, performing a program of love Project Coordinator, Rachael Dawson-Baglien, Dawson-Baglien explained that “Ahead assessment, which selects resources specific songs. Beck’s performances are interlaced with at its Third Thursday lunch-and-learn program of the Curve,” consists of a searchable online to their responses.” Ahead of the Curve is interesting trivia about the composers of the on January 16, “Senior Resource Directory” website, listing supported by the Michigan Health Endowment music she performs, as well as stories about where Daw- more than 300 county-wide resources for older Fund (Healthy Aging), which works to improve what made those songs famous. son-Baglien adults. In addition there is an online quiz to the health and wellness of Michigan residents Third Thursday presentations are free and introduced help older residents and their caregivers get and reduce the cost of healthcare, with a special open to the public and always run noon to 1 p.m. attendees to connected with resources, as well as a blog that focus on children and seniors. Information Lunch is available through the WISE at the J’s “Ahead of the covers a range of topics written by interesting about the Health Fund can be found at lunch café program for a small charge for those Curve,” a new older adults in Washtenaw County and mihealthfund.org. under 60, with a suggested donation for those 60 innovative interviews with local agencies that serve seniors. The Ann Arbor JCC serves as an important and over. For more information on upcoming web-based pro- Her presentation included visuals of the online connector between older adults and new Third Thursday presentations, contact Noemi gram that aims resources, which will include methods to programs in the community like “Ahead of Herzig, Director of Jewish Cultural Arts and Rachael Dawson-Baglien to make Washt- identify and report elder abuse. the Curve.” For more information on this Education, at [email protected] or enaw County a According to Dawson-Baglien, “This program and the role everyone has in building by calling (734) 971-0990. Lunch reservations more caregiver-friendly community. The goal is to initiative is unique because it engages everyone. a more aging-friendly community, visit are required and can be made by calling (734) help traditional caregivers and community mem- Ahead of the Curve connects people who getaheadwashtenaw.org. 971-0990 or visiting jccannarbor.org n

Washtenaw Jewish News A February 2020 9 I Arts and Culture

The minds behind The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on how they aim to represent Jews on screen Emily Burack NEW YORK (JTA)—The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel them. But, from the very beginning, these two didn’t add to its large collection of awards at the actresses [Alex Borstein and Rachel Brosnahan] about it, or you won’t see anything about it,” just very real world. And of course, Lenny Bruce is a Golden Globes this year. But the third season — with their very different backgrounds and one girl will have dark curly hair. very real person — of the celebrated series, now streaming on acting styles — came together and just really Again, it’s a comedy. Jews own this cadence. Palladino: He’s based on Lenny Bruce! Amazon Prime, is keeping audiences hooked as gelled together. So, you pick up that we should They made it… Listen to Lenny Bruce, what he Why did you decide to include Lenny as the it expands the world of Midge Maisel. talks about. In between all this other stuff, he reality anchor? It also comes at a time of increasing talks about his mother; he has a whole bit about Palladino: Talk to any comic today, and awareness and discussion about how his mother and he had a tattoo and she says everyone will acknowledge that he’s the minorities — especially Jews, during this “you can’t be buried in a Jewish cemetery.” And godfather of today’s comedy. He died for other period of rising antisemitism across the U.S. you could say, well, that’s all stereotypical Jews, people’s sins. Not that he didn’t sin but he was — are portrayed on screen. As one of the but no, that’s Jews. Those are Jewish mothers. — most Jewish series currently on television, That’s how they are. You can’t please everybody. Sherman-Palladino: Not that he didn’t have Mrs. Maisel is involved in a lot of these You just can’t. We try to please most of the a little hand in it. discussions. people, if possible. Palladino: He was a guy trying to point “I think what Mrs. Maisel does is to [The Jews have] such an amazing story. It’s the way to a new way to communicate with draw on the stereotypes while constantly the story of people who have been ostracized an audience. He wasn’t a guy just desperately undermining them [by] showing you the and kicked out and chased from country to trying to shock people. He was trying to start complexity of her character,” a professor said country to country and have lived through one a conversation and trying to deal with topics to the Los Angeles Times recently. of the most horrific, devastating tragedies of all that were, at the time very, very taboo. There’s Amy Sherman-Palladino and Dan time, and yet, they’re the ones with the jokes. some of them that are still a little taboo. But Palladino, the married couple behind the They are the ones who come through with the he certainly changed the way that a lot of the humor. We should just own that because it’s comedians that everybody loves today are show — Sherman-Palladino the creator Alex Borstein, left, and Rachel Brosnahan survival. Comedy and humor and jokes are able to speak. And, quite frankly, the language (who alone has won four Emmys for the in season three. (Amazon Prime) series) and her husband, a co-producer and survival. And if anything, the Jews know how we use on the show may have been generated co-writer — spoke on the topic with the write more scenes for them. to survive. from Lenny Bruce trying to open doors. If he Jewish Telegraphic Agency recently, in what Some of the discussion around the show How do you decide what Jewish places and overstepped the bounds, then that’s what a was likely their most Jewish interview to date. now centers on the depiction of Jewish moments to include in the show? maverick does: they overstep the bounds and JTA: How do you go about making sure stereotypes. How do you deal with that issue in Sherman-Palladino: We don’t set out going, then they often pay the price. the Jewish community feels represented our hyper-aware culture? “Okay, this year, we’re going to show a bar He wasn’t intended to be a big part of the authentically on “Maisel”? Palladino: We knew that if we show a Jewish mitzvah.” But you know, they’ve got children, show. He was maybe just going to be in the Sherman-Palladino: I’ve always viewed family at temple — if we show them and talk things come along with that, and you have to pilot, if the character didn’t work. But Luke comedy, especially at this time, as a Jewish about Yom Kippur and all those kinds of things follow the traditions and family. It’s all based Kirby came in — he’s tall, he’s handsome, all creation — like the rhythm, the cadence. As — there are going to be people who are going on life. The reason we [went] to the Catskills is you girls love him. We guys like him too, he’s a kid, I had the 2,000-year-old man and Mel to nitpick at specifics that maybe we didn’t get because bringing back parts of vanishing New a cool guy. Brooks and Carl Reiner on a loop. That’s my exactly right. But we do it all lovingly. A lot of York is part of our fun. It felt like a cultural I feel like his death is in the back of my mind rhythms and my father’s rhythms. And so, television shows will say “here’s a Jewish family” moment in time that’s gone. That’s what we as I watch, but I don’t know if that’s intentional it didn’t even occur to me to make [Midge] and you’ll never see them doing anything wanted to bring back. or not. anything other than a Jewish girl from the specifically Jewish. That’s why the garment district was so Sherman-Palladino: It always will be. I Upper West Side. It didn’t even occur to me Sherman-Palladino: They talk about important to show because it was a thriving, mean, the minute you put Lenny Bruce, you to make her anything other than that. Hanukkah once in a while. bustling [part of Jewish life]. And it was a way can’t [not think of his death]. And I don’t think [The Maisels and the Weissmans] are two Palladino: Yeah, every once in a while, there for someone like Moishe, who probably didn’t that’s a bad thing. Especially not for her, who’s Jewish success stories in New York, at a time will be a mention of Hanukkah, or a Yiddish have a lot of education, [and] was just a tough, trying to navigate which way is right. when the world was wide open for them… word spoken. And other than that, they’re self-made guy, to build a whole company for This conversation has been edited and n We just leaned right into it. Episcopalian! So we’re trying to lean heavily himself. It was a place where that was possible. condensed for length and clarity. It’s such a fundamentally New York into Jewish practices. We just want to show it, While Midge’s story is fictional, it’s set in a Jewish story, but in season three, her world celebrate it, and sometimes laugh about it. really expands. I’m not Jewish, but I married a Jewish Sherman-Palladino: We always have a foot woman and I’ve been working with — and in New York. We will never be a show that have been friends with — Jews all my adult life. National Jewish Book Award 2019 winners will be gone from New York. It’s a New York I have learned to love the laughter and the joy Marcy Oster show, first and foremost. Wherever she goes surrounding the traditions. We don’t hang on (JTA) – A book tracing the history of Jewish Kraft category. and travels, her home is New York. It’s just the internet a lot because it’s — women in America won the Jewish Book Jewish Cuisine in Hungary: A Cultural History something that now, hopefully, is ingrained Sherman-Palladino: No, we are not on any Council’s top national award. with 83 Authentic Recipes, by András Koerner, in the show; you can’t separate [New York] social media, because we will die. America’s Jewish Women: A History from which the council calls a comprehensive and from what the show is. Palladino: But a lot of the feedback that Colonial Times to Today, by Pamela Nadell, unique contribution to the field, received top When you started, when you pitched the we’ve gotten, has been “Thank you. Thank was recognized with the Jewish Book of the honors in a new category, the Jane and Stuart show, did you know it was going to end up you for leaning into it and showing Jews being Year Everett Family Foundation Award. Her Weitzman Family Award for Food Writing and where it is now? Did you have a plan that Jewish, as opposed to just name checking them book breaks down the path of American Cookbooks. she’s going to go on tour, and all that? as Jewish.” Jewish women from colonial Jewesses to Winners in the fiction categories include Sherman-Palladino: We had the Sherman-Palladino: And there are many 19th-century domestic mothers, turn-of-the- Fly Already: Stories, by Etgar Keret for the JJ touchstones for the first three seasons. different kinds of Jews! To say, “oh, Jewish century immigrants, mid-20th century semi- Greenberg Memorial Award for Fiction; The Dan Palladino: She’s following a certain stereotypes,” well, what are you talking about? assimilationists and to today. World That We Knew, by Alice Hoffman, for The path. While she’s had a setback or two of Because we have an educated Jew, we have The council announced the winners of the Miller Family Book Club Award in Memory of different sizes, she still is going forward — a woman who was happy to be a mother, we 2019 National Jewish Book Awards, the 69th Helen Dunn Weinstein and June Keit Miller; even when she goes backwards. She’s going have another woman striking out as a stand-up edition, on January 16. and Naamah, by Sarah Blake, for the Goldberg to brush herself off and figure out a way to comic, and, you know, Susie Myerson’s a Jew! Robert Alter received a Lifetime Achievement Prize for Debut Fiction. move forward again. So it’s a little bit two steps We’ve got a broad range of Jews in there. Award for his decades-long project The Hebrew Other categories included biography, forward, a step back — Like I said, a lot of this is based on my family, Bible: A Translation with Commentary. Holocaust literature and children’s literature. Sherman-Palladino: Like any career in show or people that I know. I think that anytime you Two books on antisemitism received top See the complete list of award recipients on the business. lean into anything, somebody is going to say, honors. Deborah Lipstadt’s Anti-Semitism: Jewish Book Council’s website. Palladino: We try not to set things in stone “Oh, you’re leaning into the Jewish stereotype.” Here and Now was recognized with the Jewish The winners will be honored March 17 at a too much because we have to be open to how Or if [we showed] a Chinese family, it’d be like, Education and Identity Award in Memory of dinner and ceremony in New York City hosted the actors are working together and what the “Oh, you’re leaning into the Chinese stereotype.” Dorothy Kripke, and Bari Weiss’ How to Fight by Jeffrey Yoskowitz, author of The Gefilte dynamics are. When we first started, I don’t I don’t think you can avoid that — except for Anti-Semitism was named in the Contemporary Manifesto. n know if we really knew how much we were going doing what a lot of shows did for many years, Jewish Life and Practice in Memory of Myra H. to spend with Susie and Midge, just the two of which is like, “We’re Jewish, but we won’t talk 10 Washtenaw Jewish News A February 2020 I Arts and Culture

Trust Exercise author Susan Choi on not exploring her Jewish background in her writing Josefin Dolsten she has been working intermittently on a proj- NEW YORK (JTA) — On the day she found out Choi, whose father is Korean and mother is Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. ect inspired by her paternal grandfather, Choe she was being considered for the National Book Jewish, started working on Trust Exercise about She grew up in South Bend, Indiana, the Chaeso, a prominent Korean intellectual, and Awards, Susan Choi was swimming laps at her five or six years ago, but it came further into daughter of a Korean immigrant father and an how he portrayed Japan in his writings during gym, trying to busy herself. focus with the explosion of the #MeToo move- American-born Jewish mother whose parents its occupation of Korea. “Early in my career I just learned to close my ment. In a first for the author, current events had emigrated from Eastern Europe. There she But Choi says it’s with her Jewish identity ears to awards season,” she said. “I think it’s dis- influenced her to the extent that she decided to saw no families that looked like hers — in fact, that she feels the most at home. tracting and really stressful.” tweak the ending of the novel before its publica- Choi says there were no other Jewish or Asian “I’m like a latke-and-menorah Jew,” she said. When Choi emerged from the water, she tion earlier this year. people in her neighborhood. “I didn’t even have a bat mitzvah. My mom was found her phone “I kept saying to my agent, ‘I just don’t think “My mother and father equally stuck out like just not up for it, which was fine, but culturally I flooded with emoji- the ending is what I want it to be,’” she told the sore thumbs,” she said. feel much more comfortable in a Jewish context filled congratulatory Jewish Telegraphic Agency in a phone interview Things changed when she was 9 and her than I do in an Asian context.” text messages. Her Thursday. parents divorced. Choi moved with her mother Though she was the only partly Asian per- novel Trust Exercise As dozens of allegations against Hollywood to Houston, settling into a heavily Jewish neigh- son in her Houston Jewish community, she was had made the first cut. producer Harvey Weinstein came out in the fall borhood where many of her mother’s relatives exposed to a different type of diversity. In October, she of 2017 and then against other prominent men, lived. There Choi fit in as a Jewish person but “I grew up in a large extended family of Jews was named a finalist Choi said she was especially influenced by con- not as partly Asian. who were vegetarians and atheists and left-wing and last month she versations on the topic with other women. “Suddenly I was much more of the anomaly,” and middle-of-the-road and more observant took home the presti- Choi, 50, is no stranger to critical acclaim. she recalled. and less observant, and so I guess I internalized gious award. Her novel American Women, which was A reader might surmise that it is with her that there were so many ways to be Jewish, and The Brooklyn- based on the 1974 kidnapping of heiress Patty Asian identity that she feels more comfortable I’ve never felt inadequate or worried about my based author’s coming-of-age novel follows a Hearst by a left-wing terrorist organization, was — given its appearance in her work compared Jewish identity,” she said. group of students at a suburban performing arts a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for fiction and was to her Jewish roots. Choi never had a similar experience that re- school in the early 1980s. Two students there turned into a film that premiered earlier this Choi’s first novel, The Foreign Student, which lated to her Korean roots. navigate the fallout of an intense relationship. year. She has won a number of awards, includ- is inspired by her father’s immigrant experi- “My Asian identity is much more tentative, The novel tells its story, which deals with issues ing the Asian American Literary Award, the PEN ence, tells the story of a young man who moves and I think about it more and I feel less secure of consent and sexual assault, from multiple per- Emerging Writers Awards and the Lambda Liter- to the United States after being traumatized by there because I always feel like I don’t under- spectives that at times leaves the reader unsure of ary Award, and has received fellowships from the the Korean War. It won the 1999 Asian Ameri- stand or I don’t know enough about it,” the what actually transpired. National Endowment for the Arts and the John can Literary Award for fiction. And for six years, author said. “I don’t speak a word of Hebrew because I went to Hebrew school four times and then I didn’t wanna ever go back, and my mom was At 17, I’m the youngest woman to complete the seven-plus year like ‘Whatever’ — but it doesn’t make me feel bad about myself,” she continued. “But the fact study of the Talmud that I don’t speak Korean makes me quite in- By Hila Schlakman secure. I do think it has to do with upbringing, EFRAT, West Bank (JTA)—I didn’t start learn- grandfather too. (Jewish law) was applied to new situations that and just growing up in a very diverse Jewish en- ing the Talmud to take a stand or voice an opin- In my experience, the hardest part of learn- arose. vironment where there was that space to just be ion. When I started learning a page of Talmud ing the Daf is starting the practice. Deciding to I learned how to follow complicated discus- Jewish however you happen to be Jewish.” per day (Daf Yomi) at age 10, I didn’t realize learn every day for seven and a half years is an in- sions and seek deeper meaning in topics I would Still, Choi has yet to explore her Jewish iden- that anyone would even notice. To me, it was timidating goal. Luckily, my dad was very deter- otherwise never have thought relevant to my tity in her writing. just something I did, a part of my day that was mined, so once we decided we were starting, that daily life. I learned that it’s okay to be wrong or “It’s something that I’ve thought about for dedicated to learning Torah with my brother was it. There were no exceptions: if you missed a to admit what you do not know. I learned that years mostly because I find my mom’s fam- and father. Daf, you had to make it up another day. It can be one should stand up for their opinion, but that ily’s stories so interesting,” she said. “But part of At ages 9 and 10 respectively, my brother hard at times, but that’s part of the beauty of it— the real challenge is to truly listen and learn from what has made me not go in that direction with and I had no idea what the commitment really the Torah is always a part of our lives, no matter what others have to say. my writing is there’s so much amazing literature meant. I knew that what else we are doing. One of the truly remarkable things about the about Jewish identity and Jewish experience, our being so young It wasn’t always easy. Not every Daf is inter- great rabbis in the Gemara is that most of them and I’ve never yet felt like I have something I was pretty unusual. esting (although my dad might say otherwise), had other jobs. Learning Torah was of central can really add to this.” When my older and with everything going on in our lives, it can importance, but they understood how Torah But she doesn’t rule out writing about it. brother had finished be hard to find the time for learning. Thankful- was to be integrated into people’s lives. My goal “I think there are also possibly future proj- the Daf Yomi cycle ly, I had tons of support. My father always took in studying the Daf was never to decide on in- ects for me that are going to draw on my fam- at 17-years-old, it time out of his day to learn with us, make sure tricacies of Jewish law, but to similarly integrate ily’s history — other aspects of it that I haven’t was considered a big that we understood the page, point out all of the Torah into my daily life as a Jewish woman. really explored — but I don’t know what those deal. But other than interesting details and encourage us to develop This Siyum HaShas — or celebration of the projects will be,” she said. that, studying Tal- our own thoughts and opinions. My family and completion of the 7 and a half year reading of For now, however, Choi has her hands full. mud daily seemed friends were always there for me, displaying pa- the Talmud a page per day — was a very proud She is in the process of adapting Trust Exercise very normal to me. I tience, understanding and encouragement. moment, as three generations of our family fin- into a screenplay for a miniseries. She is also fig- wasn’t even aware that the fact that I am a girl The experience has taught me many things. ished the Talmud Bavli together in our home in uring out if she is ready to return to the project was a factor to consider. I now have an understanding of what our reli- Israel. I could not imagine a more special family about her paternal grandfather — from which The Daf Yomi has been a part of my home gion is based on—the concepts and ideas that experience. she took a break to write Trust Exercise — or for as long as I can remember. My father and my go beyond mere technical points of Jewish law. I This chapter of learning, at times leaning whether it still needs more time to stew. older brother, Ari, first finished Shas (the 2,711 enjoyed reading the stories about Jews who lived on my father’s shoulder with my brother on his She is also raising her two sons, aged 12 and page Babylonian Talmud) in 2012. They had during Talmudic times, the way our ancestors other side, later to be joined by my younger sis- 15, from her marriage to New York Times res- started learning Talmud together in 2005 when thought and how they shaped our religion and ter and my Zaidy, has now ended. As I prepare taurant critic Pete Wells, from whom she is now I was three years old. I always saw them learning practice. These things have changed the way I to finish high school and move on to the next separated. and bonding together. It seemed very natural, think about Judaism and life in general. chapter of my life, I can’t imagine a better expe- That’s all in addition to teaching classes at meaningful and important to me, but not out Often, I found that what I learned in the Daf rience to have bonded me to my family and to Yale University, where she is on the English fac- of the ordinary. was directly connected to my life at the time. I prepare me for a life of continued learning and ulty, and trying to find time to go swimming, As a new cycle was approaching, my younger think that anyone can relate to the Gemara (Tal- new experiences. hiking and kayaking. Oh, and prepare for Ha- brother Yosi said he wanted to begin learning mud) and that it affects each person differently, Want to study Daf Yomi? Click here to sign nukkah. with my dad as well. I was ten at the time and depending on who they are and how they think. up for My Jewish Learning’s free email series ex- “I bought Hanukkah candles this year on looking for a project that I could take on for my The rabbis in the Gemara challenged every ploring insights from each page of the Talmud. time, so I won’t be scouring the [store],” she Bat Mitzvah, so I decided to join. A few years imaginable idea, but always with the under- The views and opinions expressed in this ar- said. “I actually have them in the house already later my younger sister, Bracha, joined as well. standing of the importance of Torah and belief ticle are those of the author and do not necessar- because often it’s the case that I’m like, ‘Oh my n And ever since my grandparents moved to Is- in God. Respect was always maintained for the ily reflect the views of JTA or its parent company, God, it’s Hanukkah and I have no candles.” rael, I’ve had the privilege of learning with my generations that came before, even as halacha 70 Faces Media. n Washtenaw Jewish News A February 2020 11 I Community

JCLP plan programs on money, Teaching ourselves to confront racism, activism, and more antisemitism Paige Walker, special to the WJN Molly Kleinman, special to the WJN fter a brief recess following the ex- ern Michigan University in Ypsilanti. They have end the Arc Ann Arbor’s Moral Bend the Arc Ann Arbor members see ams at the end of the Fall semester, proposed a workshop on Jewish involvement Minyan is kicking off 2020 with a Trump’s comments and actions being cel- the students of the Jewish Commu- in progressive movements. “Stand Up or Step A series of learning and reflection ebrated by white nationalists because they see nal Leadership Program are already hitting Back? OR Show Up for Who?” aims to provide B opportunities focused on race, antisemi- him as speaking in code to them and affirming the ground running with their Winter Semes- a space to discuss the responsibility and chal- tism, and white nationalism. In January, the their world view in which the United States is ter. By the time of publication, JCLP will have lenges of Jews in social justice movements. group is partnering with the Anti-Defama- experiencing an invasion by black and brown already hosted their first public program of The semester wraps up with the annual tion League of Michigan for an opportunity people, orchestrated and masterminded by a the term. An afternoon with Rabbi Michael graduation celebration. This year’s intimate Lerner is expected to be an engaging event ceremony and brunch reception will feature on the afternoon of Friday, January 31 at the keynote remarks from Beth Huppin of JFS School of Social Work. Additionally, both the Seattle. Huppin, Director of Project Kavod/ first and second year students find themselves Dignity, was a visitor to the JCLP weekly busy preparing for their own programs. The seminar last year and was a unanimous pick annual Communal Conversation, a commu- amongst the graduating students when de- nity event created and facilitated entirely by ciding their speaker. The ceremony will take the second year students, will take place this place at the School of Social Work on Sun- year on Sunday, March 29th at the School of day, May 3rd at 10:15 a.m. Social Work. The theme will explore attitudes Finally, in addition to programs, JCLP towards and relationships with money within will be doing a bit of traveling. Day-long the Jewish Community. A list of speakers and Site visits will focus on the range of services day of event logistical information will be provided by organizations in Metro Detroit available in the coming weeks. and Dearborn. After many years in the mak- With the graduating students focused on the ing, Karla Goldman, JCLP Director, is plan- Communal Conversation, first year students ning a 10-day trip to Israel for JCLP students to reflect on our own relationship to race. global elite led by Jews. The work Bend the Arc have their attention on the upcoming Limmud and alumni. Updates on all of these exciting In February, hosted by the Jewish Commu- Ann Arbor is doing, they say, is needed all the Michigan event on Sunday, March 22 at East- things will follow! n nity Center of Greater Ann Arbor and the more given that Trump will be in Ann Arbor Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor, at Crisler Arena for a presidential debate in Oc- parents of children ages 10 and under are tober. invited to learn from social justice educators On January 26, in partnership with the about how to talk to Jewish children about Anti-Defamation League of Michigan, Bend December 14, 2019 race. Later events planned for the Spring will the Arc is hosting a learning session to explore By Lev Raphael explore coalition building across difference participant’s experiences and assumptions s a Jewish author dedicated to tik- tion. I can travel there; I can enjoy German and interfaith work to counter white nation- about race, including the extent to which white kun olam since I started publishing movies and food; I can speak to Germans– alism. Jews benefit from white privilege and need A books, it’s always been important in German and even–maintain friendships “As the horrific antisemitic events during to do more to build a welcoming anti-racist to me to build bridges, so I’ve been happy with Germans, knowing that the historical Chanukah in New York, last year in Pittsburgh, Jewish community and to strengthen ties with to speak to non-Jewish audiences whenever breach is enormous and always will be. and the growing number of incidents other communities experiencing hate. I can. Sometimes, though, I’m startled to I moved on, felt that I had put the fear, occurring around the country make clear, On February 2 at the JCC of Greater Ann hear myself introduced as anxiety, and dread I’d white nationalism and the hatred it encourages Arbor in partnership with the JCC and the “a second generation Ho- grown up with to rest. threatens all of us–Jews of all colors, people Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor, Bend locaust survivor.” But when Jews were mas- of color, immigrants, LGBTQ people, and the Arc is hosting an afternoon of learning from In my opening re- sacred in Paris in 2015, more,” said Moral Minyan co-founder Naomi social justice educators about why and how to marks, I gently point out I had nightmares. And Goldberg. talk to Jewish children about race. Advanced that my experience as an each time in the last few That’s why, Goldberg says, Bend the Arc registration is required. Email bendthearc.a2@ American-born son of years that Jews have been Ann Arbor Moral Minyan is gathering over gmail.com to sign up. survivors isn’t at all like gunned down anywhere the next few months to examine ways in which Later in the spring, Bend the Arc’s Moral what my parents suffered. because they were Jews, or racism impacts Jews, how antisemitism and Minyan will gather to reflect on how best to I don’t belabor the point, cemetery headstones have racism motivate white nationalism, and how to work with coalitions to achieve policy and but I need to be clear: I’m been defaced or knocked grow the connections between Jewish identities social change while recognizing the ways in not a survivor, I’m the son over, it’s been like another and actively combating racism and white which racism and anti-Semitism threaten those of survivors. gut punch. nationalism. The end goal of Bend the Arc Moral very coalitions; and building relationships with Like many “2Gs,” I’ve My sense of security Minyan is to create spaces where multiracial multiracial and interfaith communities to done therapy to deal with in the world has been Jewish communities can be in solidarity with counter white nationalism in the Ann Arbor the legacy of my parents’ profoundly shaken and communities of color to build an inclusive, community and across the country. suffering. And I’ve been I haven’t fully recovered. diverse democracy in which all can thrive. “This work isn’t easy or simple, but now is fortunate to find healing Lev Raphael The mid-December day I Bend the Arc Ann Arbor sees urgency in these the time to engage deeply in reflecting on our through writing. I’ve been read about a Beverly Hills conversations. Rebecca Epstein, a co-founder own assumptions and biases, gaining skills to thrilled to see my work taught in college synagogue being broken into and trashed, of the Ann Arbor Moral Minyan, explained, create the world we want, and reaching out to courses alongside books by luminaries like and saw photos of Torah scrolls ripped and “Since the early days of his presidential others who are targeted and vulnerable. We Saul Bellow and Toni Morrison. desecrated, my first thought was, “Fire.” campaign, President Trump’s comments about hope people will consider joining us,” Goldberg In the mid-2000s my life changed dra- That’s all that was missing to make this a ver- immigrants, people of color, and women have said. Bend the Arc Ann Arbor describes itself matically when I published, My Germany, a sion of Kristallnacht or a scene going back to brought back into the mainstream harmful and as a multiracial, multiethnic, and multi- memoir about what that country has meant the horrors of the Middle Ages. dangerous ideas that were relegated to the dark denominational Jewish space where Jews to me as a Jewish writer. It led to two book I cried that morning. But I also started corners of the internet just a few years ago. His can learn and engage in meaningful social tours across that taboo land itself. I was even writing, with my late mother’s voice in my administration’s cruel and inhumane policies justice work. All Jews (unaffiliated, secular, asked by some hosts if I would do readings head. Before I even knew what God was, be- toward migrants dehumanize those seeking or belonging to any faith community) are in German. I studied German to make that fore I had even thought about what I wanted safety in our borders.” welcome to participate. n possible, something I had never imagined to do with my life, my mother would tell me doing. Honestly, I never even imagined own- that her father always said “You have to use ing a German coffee maker. the gifts that God gave to you.” No matter I crossed a bridge on those tours, but I what happens, that is still my goal, in honor want to be 100% clear. I’m not remotely talk- of her memory and his. To keep writing, to ing about forgiveness: what I have been able keep remembering. n to achieve is something closer to reconcilia- 12 Washtenaw Jewish News A February 2020 I Temple Beth Emeth

TBE Events February 2020 Buenos Aires ordains its first Reform rabbi Families with Young Children (FYC): Tot with questions. JTA Staff Tot Shabbat Tastes Ann Arbor BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (JTA) — The first Rabbinical leaders of the Reform move- Shabbat Service Reform rabbinical school in Buenos Aires has ment in Latin America — Reuben Nisenbom, Fridays, February 21, Tot Service at 5:45 p.m. Fridays, February 7, 14 & 21, 5:45 p.m., TBE ordained its first rabbi. Roberto Graetz, and Sergio Bergman – made Sanctuary and Dinner at 6:15 p.m., Tot Shabbat Tastes Ann Arbor is resuming for up the court. 5:45 p.m. | Tot (0–5 year olds) Shabbat Graetz, who trav- Services with Rabbi Whinston and Cantor the 2019-2020 year! We will meet on the third Friday of each month, and enjoy a rotating eled from San Francisco Hayut to Argentina to serve on 6:15 p.m. Dinner for Tot Shabbat | 6:45 p.m. menu from local, kid-friendly restaurants. $5/ children, $8/adults, $25/maximum per family. the beit din, stressed the Shira Service importance “of having All of your favorite songs led by TBE’s tot TBE Families Meet-Ups arrived at this auspicious team, Cantor Hayut and Rabbi Whinston. Sundays, February 9, 10:00 a.m., Offsite moment for the consoli- Join us for macaroni and cheese, fish sticks, Join TBE Families for our rotating monthly dation of a liberal Jewish applesauce, and a salad bar immediately meet-up! There will be opportunities for play, movement in the region.” following the short service. Dinner is just snacks, and socializing. Contact Beth Pearson, Ibero-America is a re- $5 per person. Buy a punch card ahead of [email protected], with questions. gion in Central and South time for a discounted price. Punch cards are America made up of areas available in the TBE office. Women of TBE: Historical Novel Rabbi Diego Elman, holding his ordination certificate, where Spanish or Portu- Weekly Lunch & Learn Reading Group is flanked by, from left, Rabbis Roberto Graetz, Reuben guese are the predomi- Nisenbom and Rabbi Sergio Bergman.. (Courtesy of Ibero Fridays, February 7, 14, 21 & 28, TBE Adult Monday, February 10, 12:30 p.m., TBE Library nant languages, usually The WTBE Reading Group meets on the sec- American Institute for Rabbinical Education of the World Union for Lounge, Noon former territories of Por- Progressive Judaism) Rabbi Whinston meets on Fridays for an in- ond Monday of each month, October through tugal or Spain. formal discussion about religion. Sessions are June. Contact Molly Lindner, burnham@ Rabbi Diego Elman has started working at In addition to Elman, the court evaluated open to the entire community. Feel free to bring umich.edu. Mishkan: The Jewish Spirituality Center in the eight other students from Argentina, Brazil and your lunch. Adult B’nai Mitzvah Classes Argentine capital following the approval of his Chile. They were promoted to the final stage of Saturday Torah Study Mondays, February 3, 10, 17 & 24, 12:30- rabbinical studies by a specially convened rab- the school’s rabbinical training. 1:30 pm & 6:00-7:00 p.m., Adult Lounge binical court, or beit din, late last month. The institution, which was launched in Saturdays, February 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29, 8:50 Elman is the first rabbi to be ordained by 2016, also has students from Belgium, Colom- a.m., TBE Adult Lounge Join Cantor Regina Hayut for either an Join us for this weekly discussion of the Torah afternoon session or an evening session for one the Ibero American Institute for Rabbinical bia, Guatemala, Peru and Spain. portion led by Rabbi Whinston. hour. To join the class, or for more information, Education of the World Union for Progressive Buenos Aires also is home to the Latin contact Cantor Hayut, cantorhayut@ Judaism, or WUPJ, in Buenos Aires. The official American Rabbinical Seminary, founded in Women’s Torah Study templebethemeth.org. ordination ceremony will be held in mid-May 1962 by Rabbi Marshall Meyer, which has or- Mondays, February 10 & 24, 7:00 p.m. at the city’s iconic Temple Libertad, the oldest dained approximately 110 Conservative rabbis An in-depth study and lively discussion of the Genesis Concert Series Live Jewish house of worship in the country. since 1972. n week’s Torah portion led by Cantor Regina Ha- Saturday, February 1, 7:00 p.m., TBE Sanctuary yut. The group will explore various passages from Featuring the brightest young artists on the the portion looking at several translations and brink of their professional careers in music, commentaries from a variety of scholars from with the adult choirs of TBE and St. Clare’s. Talmudic times to the modern day. No Hebrew Free admission. knowledge necessary to participate in the discus- Women’s Rosh Chodesh Circle sion. For questions, contact Cantor Regina Hayut Monday, February 24, 7:00 p.m., TBE Cha- at [email protected]. pel & Rooms 7 & 8 Guitar-led Shabbat Service Please join us as we initiate a monthly Women’s February 28, 6:30-8:30 p.m., TBE Sanctuary Rosh Chodesh Circle. We seek to create an in- Join us for a special, musical Shabbat service timate community of women that strengthens led by Rabbi Whinston and Cantor Hayut. This our ties to each other through our connection service is engaging and open to all members of to Shekinah, the feminine indwelling Divine the community. presence. Join us for socializing at 6:30 pm before the circle begins. Contact Trina Fuller, Meditation with Linda Greene [email protected], with questions. n Thursdays, February 6, 13, 20 & 27, 1:00 p.m., TBE Chapel Linda Greene offers brief Jewish teachings and leads a 20-30 minute meditation time. Contact Linda Greene, [email protected],

Reform Jewish supports African-Americans, continues from page 1 The resolution is part of a growing seeks a ban on private prisons and the closure of those that currently exist. Another calls movement in progressive American circles to 2245 S. State Street support reparations that was galvanized in 2014 on the government to increase funding and by an essay in The Atlantic called “The Case for encourage medical treatment to combat the Ann Arbor, MI Reparations.” Democrats have introduced bills opioid addiction crisis. 48104 in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate Jacobs said the reparations resolution is part to create a commission on studying reparations. of the movement’s ongoing efforts to work on Several Democratic presidential candidates, behalf of people of color. In his speech, he including Sens. Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren mentioned the movement’s fellowship for and Cory Booker, have supported the measures. Jewish minorities. The biennial conference also Booker introduced the Senate version. included sessions on addressing racial justice Need to get unstuck The Reform resolution cites the biblical precept and creating space for Jews of color and other or back on track? CRUCIAL that humans are created in God’s image and the marginalized groups in Reform synagogues. NOW rabbinic emphasis on all of humanity being equal “Schedule a training about equity, inclusion CONSULTATIONS given its shared descent from Adam and Eve. The and anti-racism in your community,” Jacobs OFFERING: Single Session resolution also calls on Reform congregations said. “Learn about unconscious and implicit to study systemic racism, undertake efforts to bias and how to be a better ally. When Therapy combat it and actively promote racial equality. marginalized members of your community Two other resolutions approved Friday also find the courage to speak up, treat this as a gift address issues in American society at large. One and listen deeply to what they have to say.” n Washtenaw Jewish News A February 2020 13 I Beth Israel Congregation

Beth Israel Illuminated Amanda Glucklich, special to the WJN luminate: An Experiential Festival of fantastic! Our family enjoyed the art project, box program to celebrate Hanukkah and completely dark except for rainbow LED Lights” was the first fundraiser of its black light dance party, and exploring the bring together our synagogue’s community,” tealights, giving the space a totally different I kind at Beth Israel Congregation. The vibe and feel, the perfect space for mystical event successfully raised funds through discussion. multiple sponsorship levels and ticket sales Longtime congregant Meira Miller said, for Beth Israel’s expanding offering of fam- “Illuminate was a wonderful congregational ily programs. Spearheaded by Beth Israel’s event, drawing people of all ages to a warm, new Director of Engagement and Programs, festive evening, full of good food and music Amanda Glucklich, “Illuminate” engaged and lots of interesting activities!” Leftover participants with the concept and physical- food was boxed up and donated the next day ity of light in untraditional ways. to the Mission. n The event began with a beautiful Havdal- lah service led by Rav Nadav. Participants of all ages then gathered to feast on a Chanu- kah-inspired meal prepared by in-house chef Amanda Fisher and volunteers. There were multi-colored beet, zucchini-kale, curried sweet potato and traditional potato latkes, a sumptuous lentil and sweet potato soup and a salad bar. Homemade cookies, donuts and a hot chocolate bar rounded out the plant- based dinner. After enjoying the nourishing meal, there were multiple experiences to partake in: you could get your face painted with glow-in- the-dark face paint, learn how to juggle with a roller-skating Detroit Circus performer in Beth Israel campus as well as the tasty, casual said Marie-Adele Kress, another Beth Israel the Disco Room, and play light-up bowl- dinner. We appreciated the whole evening, congregation member. “While my young ing or ring-toss. Though the planetarium from the welcoming Havdalah through the kids had fun dancing disco, playing with presentations were cancelled, participants active events,” said Rachel Levy, a Beth Israel slime in the blacklight room, and eating had a blast making personalized menorahs Congregation member. sufganiyot, they (and I) also greatly enjoyed with sustainable materials. “Illuminate was “Illuminate was an exciting, out-of-the- the reflective mysticism session with Rabbi Caine.” Rav Nadav’s learning session, Spin the Dreidel of Jewish Mysticism, engaged participants in the sanctuary which was

Lawsuit against picketers and city, continued from page 1 with legal experts, and consideration by the because its members deny the Holocaust and Board and the Protest Response Committee. sympathize with Nazi Germany. Mark Potok, This decision is part of an ongoing process, Senior Fellow at the SPLC and a leading au- and our most appropriate path forward is thority on political extremism, in an interview under continual review. We encourage you to with Michigan Radio February 28, [2017]ex- read the pamphlet from the Protest Response plained the SPLC ’s position as follows: ‘We list Committee, available in the lobby, that explains them because over the years they have come why we have taken the approach we have up to more and more explicitly embrace real-life to now. We are also continuing to engage with Holocaust denial. The kind of Holocaust de- the City of Ann Arbor and our City Council nial that these people practice is essentially a representatives regarding this issue.” defense of Germany and National Socialism, The lawsuit has been assigned to Judge that is to say, Nazism.” Victoria Roberts of the United States District Though the picketers have over the years Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. included up to a dozen people, for the last year The lawsuit includes twenty counts that the numbers have dwindled from 3 to 5 people, claim violations of city, state and federal stat- who between 9:30 and 11:30 during Saturday utes ranging from the First and Fourteenth morning services place up to 20 placards that ENROLL YOUR CAMPER BEGINNING TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11 Amendments to the Federal Constitution read “Resist Jewish Power,” “Jewish Power Cor- to local Permit and Code ordinances. The rupts,” “No More Holocaust Movies,” “Boycott JUNE 15 - SEPTEMBER 4, 2020 counts include a charge of conspiracy be- Israel,” “Stop U.S. Aid to Israel” and “End the tween the picketers and the city due to lack Palestinian holocaust.” of enforcement of City Code sign provisions. The synagogue’s “Protest Response Group” Ann Arbor Rec & Ed The lawsuit seeks to show that the “deliberate- has over the course of many years actively pur- ly harassing conduct of the protestors week sued a strategy of continuing congregational Summer Camps after week for 16 years, is not protected by life as usual, denying the picketers the atten- the free speech provision of the First Amend- tion they seek, making sure applicable city Enriching programs to meet the individual needs and interests for each ment,” and is rather prohibiting the plaintiff’s ordinances are followed, and creating commu- age group with sports, creative arts, outdoor education and MORE! exercise of his First Amendment right of free- nity alliances for support and understanding. dom of religion. This strategy has resulted in several limitations 200+ CAMPS EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT The lawsuit also requests a jury trial and placed on the picketers including narrowing EASY REGISTRATION seeks damages for emotional distress. their location on the public sidewalk and pre- EXTENDED CARE AVAILABLE ENDS 4/1/20 The Washtenaw Jewish News has reported venting them from videotaping congregants. SMALLER CAMP SIZES on the antisemitic and harassing nature of the City officials have said they cannot fur- ACADEMIC & TECHNOLOGY CAMPS picketers many times over the years, including ther intervene citing free speech rights. Mayor the front page story on April 2017 announcing Christopher Taylor told the Associated Press that the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) “The city has worked with synagogue leader- 734.994.2300 had added Deir Yassin Remembered to a list ship and congregants for years on this issue. I aarecedcamps.com of hate groups because of its embrace of Ho- recognize the pain caused by the protesters and locaust denial. “Last month the SPLC placed it’s disgusting. We believe we’ve acted in accor- Deir Yassin Remembered on its hate register dance with our legal obligations.” n 14 Washtenaw Jewish News A February 2020 I Beth Israel Congregation

February Events at Beth Israel Congregation World Wide Wrap Tu B’Shvat with Black Diesel Applied Prayer Session (formerly Volunteer Appreciation Brunch Sunday, February 2, 9:30 a.m. Coffee Learner’s Shabbat) Sunday, February 23, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. About the time two NFL football teams Please join all past, present, and future Sunday, February 9, 1 p.m. Saturday, February 15, 9:30 a.m. begin wrapping athletic tape in prepa- Explore the coffee tree with local Black Rav Nadav is leading alternative Saturday BIC volunteers for a delicious brunch as ration for the Super Bowl, Conservative Diesel Coffee proprietor Nick Ferris and morning service experiences in our beau- well as a short educational program on Jews around the world – and at Beth Is- Beth Israel’s own barista, Rav Nadav. tiful new M&M Chapel from 9:30 to 10:15 the 2020 census. The brunch is free, but rael - will be wrapping themselves in te- Learn about how Black Diesel works di- am, at which time we’ll move upstairs to RSVPs are requested. Please contact the fillin for World Wide Wrap. Every time rectly with small farms, roast coffee with join the main service. During this time Beth Israel office by Monday, February 17, we read the V’ahavta portion of the Sh- Rav Nadav, enjoy a fresh cuppa and some we focus on a single prayer. We learn the at [email protected]. This program ema, we read “Uk’shar’tam l’ot al yadekha light refreshments (and give thanks to meanings of the prayer, practice it, and is sponsored by the Social Action Com- v’hayu l’totafot bein einekha” – “And you trees)! For more information, contact then deepen our davening through medi- mittee. shall bind them as a sign on your hand, Amanda at [email protected]. tation or healing. We hope you will join and they shall be for frontlets between us in the spirit of experimentation and What’s So Funny About Israel? your eyes.” This is one of the four times Theology Book Club learning as we gather in the chapel. Sunday, February 23, 4 – 5:30 p.m. Benji Lovitt, comedian, educator, and (and twice in the full Shema) that we are Wednesdays, 8 p.m. commanded to put on tefillin. The World Beth Israel Congregation’s Theology Parent’s Night Out writer, comes to Beth Israel and helps us use humor and laughter to narrow the Wide Wrap was created 20 years ago to Book Club welcomes you to join them to Saturday, February 15, 6 - 9 p.m. help us learn or in many cases re-learn read together and discuss books on Jew- Parents’ Night Out is a new Beth Israel gap between our understanding of Israel how to lay tefillin and make it an impor- ish thought and beliefs. The books are in program for PARENTS! Drop off your and our understanding of ourselves as tant part of our life. We invite everyone English. children (ages 5-15 years old) at the syna- American Jews. Sponsored by the Israel (post-Bar/Bat Mitzvah aged) to join us for gogue and enjoy an evening to yourselves. Center at the Jewish Community Center this meaningful morning. Shabbat Limmud Children will be served dinner and there of Greater Ann Arbor. For more informa- If you have never put on tefillin before Saturday, February 8 and 29, 9 a.m. will be a movie playing along with some tion, please contact Amanda at engage@ (or think you have forgotten how) we will Held before Shabbat morning services by crafts. Cost for members is $10 for the bethisrael-aa.org. have spare sets available and many people Rabbi Robert Dobrusin, this session offers first child and $8 for each additional; non- a lively discussion on Parashat HaShavua, experienced to assist you in laying tefil- members are an additional $5 per child. Save the Date! Rosenberg Scholar- lin. Lessons will be followed by a short the Torah portion of the week and other Please direct any inquiries to Amanda at shacharit service, our annual polar bear traditional texts. Join us in the library for [email protected]. in-Residence Weekend Featuring picture, and bagels and lox. Torah study over coffee and cake! Deborah Sacks Mintz Quiz Night Thursday, March 19 – 22, 2020 Intro to Judaism with Rav Nadav Tot Shabbat Saturday, February 15, 7 - 9 p.m. A transformative prayer leader and Sunday, February 2 and 16, 2 p.m. Saturday, February 8 and 22, 11:15 a.m. This 13th annual Beth Israel Quiz Night musician, Deborah Sacks Mintz has served Tot Shabbat is our special Shabbat morn- Though directed at people who are con- promises to be another fun competitive innovative institutions around the coun- ing program for preschoolers and their sidering conversion, this serious examina- evening for adults. The social program try as a teacher of Torah and communal parents with songs, stories, prayers, and tion of the main dimensions of Judaism is a team based multi-media trivia game. Jewish music. As the Community Sing- the Shabbat “Mystery Box” Tot Shabbat --from mysticism, to Talmud, to Jewish Whether one comes with their own team ing Consultant of Hadar’s Rising Song meets on the second and fourth Saturday Holidays and rituals – is open to anyone or forms one at the game, participants Institute, Deborah combines musical of each month. who wants to deepen their Jewish literacy. are sure to have a great time as they work scholarship and practice to cultivate the This course is open to members and non- together to answer trivia questions, de- grassroots musical and spiritual creativity members. cipher puzzles, and complete other chal- of the Jewish people. Watch for more de- lenges in order to earn the title of Beth tails soon! The Rosenberg Lecture Series Israel’s Trivia Masters. is endowed through a generous contribu- The cost is $10 per person. You can reg- tion by Vic & Val Rosenberg in memory of BIC joins Seal of Sustainability Cohort ister online by using the link on the Beth Cantor Alfred & Alice Rosenberg. n Israel homepage (www.bethisrael-aa. Amanda Glucklich, special to the WJN org) or by contacting Beth at 665-9897 oining the ranks of Jewish institu- on. As a new partner with the Washtenaw or [email protected]. If you need tions across the country, Beth Israel County Division of Public Works & Water babysitting for your children (ages 5 - 15) J will be a part of the 2020 Hazon Resources Commissioner, the Conserva- Parents’ Night Out has been conveniently Seal of Sustainability Cohort. Hazon: The tive/Masorti synagogue implemented a scheduled for the same evening. Jewish Lab For Sustainability is a nonprof- campus-wide composting program. All it organization that seeks to “create new snacks and meals are served using 100% Mitzvah Day! vision” in the Jewish community through compostable products: plates, cups, cut- Sunday, February 16, 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. outdoor and environmental education. In lery, napkins, tablecloths, etc. Compost is Mitzvah Day is Beth Israel’s day of giving. Hebrew, hazon means “vision.” The Hazon collected weekly by the county. By partici- The congregation will support food collec- Seal of Sustainability is “is an annual pro- pating in these initiatives the congrega- tion for Alpha House (stay tuned for more gram that provides guidance and support tion has taken on the task of being shomrei information). BIRS Middle School students to advance sustainability related educa- adamah, guardians of the Earth. and their families will prepare and serve tion, action, and advocacy in your Jewish Over the course of the next year, Beth meals at Alpha House. Alpha House is a institution, organization, and community. Israel will work in tandem with Hazon to residency and support program for families Rooted in Jewish tradition, participation develop its own ‘roadmap’ to becoming experiencing homelessness that was created in the Hazon Seal program will, over time, a more sustainable and environmental- by the Interfaith Hospitality Network, of make your community healthier and more ly-friendly congregation. In addition to which BIC is a member. For more infor- sustainable, both Jewishly and environ- maintaining the garden at County Farm mation and to get involved, please contact mentally!” Park, Beth Israel will develop a future ac- Amanda at [email protected]. For over a decade, a team of BIC vol- tion plan for 2020 and beyond. For more unteers has maintained a community gar- information and to get involved, contact den plot at County Farm Park from which Director of Engagement and Programs, fifty percent of the harvested produce is Amanda Glucklich, at engage@bethisrael- donated to Food Gatherers (a local orga- aa.org. n nization which exists to alleviate hunger and eliminate its causes). The other fifty percent of produce is used for communal meals at the synagogue. Affiliating with Hazon is just the lat- est environmentally-friendly and sustain- able initiative that Beth Israel has taken

Washtenaw Jewish News A February 2020 15 I Book Review

Family Papers Reviewed by Eeta Gershow his book will be catnip to anyone family throughout the world, many of who loves genealogy and historic whom had preserved documents and T reconstruction. Family Papers: A pictures, which they readily shared with Sephardic Journey Through the Twentieth her. She acknowledges that this kind of Century traces the extensive Levy family research is made easier today with internet from Salonica, the Ottoman Empire, (now technology that allowed materials to be Thessaloniki, Greece) from the early 1800s scanned and transmitted. Nevertheless, to the present. Diaries of Sa’adi a-Levy she was tireless as she worked with this (circa 1820--1903) have been preserved far-flung family, all of whom were proud and form the core of the story. His eleven to have their story known. The review children who survived to adulthood and in The New York Times describes her as their offspring and close relatives are having ‘’ferocious research talents...and a represented in a two-page family tree with writing voice that is admirably light and more than sixty names. human...that has produced a book about Following World War I, that ended the frailty of ties that hold together places the Ottoman Empire, Salonica’s large and people. Jewish population left what then became Stein has authored or co-edited eight Christian-dominated Thessaloniki, earlier books, with a particular interest Greece. The Levy family scattered, with in the Sephardic Jewish community. This most settling in France, England, Portugal, includes publishing the diaries of Sa’adi Spain, India, South Africa and the United a-Levy, the basis of this current book. She States. The last two of Sa’adi a-Levy’s holds an endowed chair at University of children lived long enough to be killed at California-Los Angeles, where she teaches Auschwitz. Several generations ago, the achieved prominence in their countries trial for war crimes were relatives who had Sephardic studies. name was modernized to Levy. Today, there and professions of choice. One of survived Auschwitz. It is a measure of the The Ann Arbor Reconstructionist is a museum in Thessaloniki honoring the Sa’adi’s great-grandsons, Vital, had been trust the family members developed with Congregation book group will be Sephardic Jewish population, of which a the family’s shameful secret. He was a the author that she was given this material. discussing Family Papers at its April small remnant remains. particularly sadistic member of Hitler’s Sarah Abrevaya Stein is a master meeting, Sunday, April 12, noon to 2 p.m. The book is divided into chapters SS troops and was known as “the Jews’ detective and storyteller. Over several Contact for more info: Gregory Saltzman devoted to 32 family members. Many nightmare.” Among the witnesses at his years, she tracked down members of the [email protected]. n

ith theF Fill your Plates, ing w am in ily D AnnouncingFeed the return of everybody’s your favorite fundraiser Soul (and friendraiser): DINING WITH THE FAMILY!

SAVE THE DATE to come together May 15-17 to connect, engage and dine to raise significant dollars to support JFS’ vital mission. We will feast at different homes, restaurants, and gathering M spaces on meals donated by generous hosts. ay 15-17, 2020 Now Seeking Hosts!! Interested in hosting a breakfast, lunch or dinner in support of JFS’s most basic, yet underfunded, services: our Specialty Food Pantry and Transportation.

Contact Jacob Singer at 734.769.0209 Ext. 363 or [email protected] or sign up at www.jfsannarbor.org/diningwiththefamily

16 Washtenaw Jewish News A February 2020 I Book Review

When you’re the only Jew Review by Deborah Katz hat do Dodge City, rural west raised scientist husband, that Joynton ex- City, Joynton is a pioneer creating a map for mentor during her conversion process re- Michigan, and Judaism have plores how she will be Jewish. her own way of living. As a Jew, she feels like minds her that Jews practice together. Is W in common? In Welcome to Assuming that their life in the country a stranger in a strange land. At the same time, it really possible to have a Jewish life so Replica Dodge, Natalie Ruth Joynton shares will not be permanent, Joynton learns about she makes connections and creates commu- far from a community, particularly with her story of reimagining herself. From her a non-Jewish husband? Christian upbringing in big city Hous- Joynton looks to biblical ton, Texas to embracing herself as a Jew- texts, American and Jew- ish adult living the country life in Mason ish history, and even to an County, Michigan; Joynton chronicles the economics research jour- challenges and the joys of becoming. Along nal in her quest. What has the way she gives her readers a glimpse happened to the Jewish into what life may be like for Jews who connection to farming and live in rural America, far from the support to the land? Why has Juda- systems provided by synagogues, Jewish ism become so associated Community Centers, and Jewish social with urban life? And, most networks. Readers come to appreciate the importantly, could Jewish resilience and commitment this lifestyle Natalie Ruth Joynton ad- requires along with the joys it offers. just to life in rural Mason With Joe, her fiancée raised in Alpena, County? Michigan, Joynton moves to a farmhouse fif- Welcome to Replica teen country miles from their jobs as profes- Dodge is a memoir to be en- sors at the community college in Ludington. joyed through many lenses. In the front yard of the four acre property It is a sensitive, touching is a collection of buildings and a sign saying story of finding one’s self Dodge City. The nine buildings–including a and making connections general store, a schoolhouse, a saloon, and a with others. It is a story of church–are outfitted with antiques arranged the blessings and challenges to mimic the actual Kansas frontier town of the challenges of winter near Lake Michi- nity for herself with those around her. of country life. It is a deeply Jewish story of the same name. It is here, with no synagogue gan and finds her physical strength stacking Throughout Welcome to Replica Dodge, knowing what it means to be a stranger and in reach, no Jewish community to support enough firewood to warm their house for the Joynton muses about the relationship be- of creating community wherever one is. And her, and preparing to marry her Catholic- winter. Like the people of the historic Dodge tween Jews and life in the country. Her it is a love story. n

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18 Washtenaw Jewish News A February 2020 I Feature

Adler’s Balak und Bilam performed in Potsdam By Marianne Adler Aaron hroughout my lifetime, I’ve taken performed about 20 times between 1934- December was the original version. Kristallnacht, but there is now a viable Jewish part in numerous discussions about 1938, including several times in Palestine, Balak und Bilam features a narrator, three community, which has built a handsome new T whether there is life after death. My and a radio performance over the BBC radio soloists, string orchestra, piano, organ and structure. After the concert, they dedicated belief has always been that we live on in the network. It uses the biblical translation chorus. This performance in Potsdam took the hall in honor of my brother, naming it the people we have touched and the family we by Martin Buber/Franz Rosenzweig, since place in the magnificent cathedral-like setting Samuel Adler Saal and they put up a plaque in have loved. For those, however, who have Buber was a personal friend of my father. of the Nikolai Church. Participating were three the sanctuary with my father’s name and the been blessed with special talents like com- Because of the tremendous success of unique choirs, Boston’s Zamir Chorale, the dates that he had served the Jewish community. Balak und Bilam, my father was encouraged Jerusalem Academy Chamber Choir, and The My parents could never have dreamed that we to write large works for the Jüdischer Synagogal Ensemble of Berlin. would experience such events in our lifetime! Kulturbund. The Kulturbund, established As I sat there listening to this beautiful Eighty years after my family fled this city, the in 1933, hired Jewish artists, musicians, and piece of music written by my father, of blessed mayor of Mannheim publicly thanked my actors who had been fired from German memory, surrounded by my husband, Ron, brother for all he has done to bridge relations institutions and were prohibited from of 66 years; our oldest son, David, who is a between the United States and Germany performing with or for non-Jews. His work professor of Hebrew Bible at Hebrew Union through his music. During the 1950’s, while with the Kulturbund inspired my father to College in Cincinnati; his wife, Marjory, a in the United Sates Army, Sam had formed compose the Akeda in 1937, the story of law professor at University of Cincinnati; the 7th Army Symphony Orchestra, touring the binding of Isaac. It was to premier in and their two grown sons, Joshua and Elisha, Germany and showing that, in addition to March of 1938. This work was written with now living in Europe, my thoughts wandered jazz, Americans can produce classical music. the hidden aspect of comparing Isaac’s near to the miracle of the whole happening. My He established many relationships at that sacrifice with the persecution of the Jews of brother, Sam, a renowned composer in his time and as a result has been commissioned to Germany. The meaning was very cleverly own right, was next to me, smiling at his wife, write music for several special celebrations for disguised so that the censor did not catch Emily Freeman Brown who conducted the different German cities. the inference and passed the text. However, performance brilliantly. Here we were, proof positive that although someone in the censor’s office must have It also reminded me of another unique Hitler was able to wreak havoc with the Jews of Marianne Adler Aaron and her brother reread the text and the SS came to the incident which happened just a little over Europe, including murdering many members Sam Adler a year ago, when twenty of our family of our own family, he did not succeed! These members (we have three sons, their wives concerts have been somewhat surreal, but and six grandchildren) were also in Germany, certainly thrilling for our family and I am so attending a performance of my brother’s music very grateful that we were fortunate enough in Mannheim, where we were born. Of course to be given the privilege and opportunity of our beautiful synagogue had been destroyed on attending these historical moments together. n

FEBRUARY CALENDAR Dept. of Dance At the Nikolai Church in Potsdam LATIN XPRESSIONS posing music, producing art, or writing, dress rehearsal and forbade the work to be their legacy is even broader. On December performed, confiscating all scores and parts Feb. 6-9 • Power Center 19, 2019, during the week of my father’s 64th and burning them. After that, no major work yahrzeit, he was alive and well with us in of my father’s was performed in Germany, Dept. of Theatre & Drama Potsdam, Germany at a performance of his since one scheduled for the 9th of November Federico GarcÍa Lorca’s classic of Spanish Theatre oratorio, Balak und Bilam, which he com- 1938 (the night of Kristallnacht) obviously posed in 1934. could not take place. YERMA (BARREN) The performance was part of the 9th Although many in my father’s congregation Annual Louis Lewandowski Festival Berlin, were leaving Germany, my father kept insisting Feb. 20-23 • Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre celebrating 200 years of music for the that his congregation needed him; it wasn’t ‘til Synagogue of Southern Germany, featuring the spring of 1938 that he even took steps to music by German Jewish composers who emigrate. The German quota at that time was Dept. of Musical Theatre Studio Production had to flee Germany in the 1930’s. Louis filled but because of his mazal of being born A new work by Tony Award nominee Michael McElroy Lewandowski (1821-1894) became one of in Antwerp, where my grandparents lived for the first to compose music for cantor and only three years, we were able to come under SONNETS, SOLILOQUIES, AND SOUL choir, continuing what had begun with the Belgian quota. We were still in Mannheim chazzan and musicologist Maier Kohn. Kohn during Kristallnacht (but that’s a story for Feb. 20-23 • Arthur Miller Theatre had published the first modern collection of another time). Fortunately, in December 1938, synagogue chants in 1839. My father, Hugo my family – father, mother, my brother Sam Chaim Adler, was born in 1894. Throughout and I were able to leave Germany. his life, he felt that the significance of the After we came to the United States, my League Ticket Office year of his birth, coinciding with the death father became the cantor of Temple Emanuel 734.764.2538 of Lewandowski, destined him to continue in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he Lewandowski’s work. continued to compose several more biblical tickets.smtd.umich.edu My father was the chief Cantor at the cantatas, including Jonah, and he wrote much Haupsynagogue in Mannheim, Germany liturgical music as well. He decided to re-write and a composer of liturgical as well as secular Balak und Bilam; it was translated into English music. He wrote several oratorios or cantatas; and the score was changed considerably. Balak und Bilam was his most popular, being The performance that we heard in Berlin in umichsmtd 2019–20 SEASON

Washtenaw Jewish News A February 2020 19 “

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2020-Janurary-Ad-Letter-FINAL_v2.indd 1 1/15/20 12:58 20 Washtenaw Jewish News A February 2020 I Israeli Art

Visiting Israeli artists in their studios and galleries By Idelle Hammond-Sass or years, I’ve been interested in visit- Israel Museum who explained the way the ex- pack our bags and left in the morning due to a were rerouted. As our tour continued we had ing Israel, but it was never the right hibit on Jewish life from birth to death was or- missile strike south of Tel Aviv. After being relo- opportunities to discuss the situation and the F time, or political events intervened. ganized. While there I discovered their treasure cated to another Kibbutz resort we continued ways in which artists process their reality. The opportunity came in an email from the trove of Judaic objects, actual Synagogues from with a new itinerary. It was a nimble shift in Artist Tzippi Orovitz welcomed us into American Guild of Judaic Artists who were India and Surinam, and amazing Jewish tribal her home studio and showed us her unique organizing a trip focused on the art and artists jewelry from the Middle East and North Africa. sculptural indoor mezuzot, jewelry made from of Israel. The Guild has an international mem- Also in Jerusalem concurrently was the Jerusa- mulberry paper and found objects. She studied bership and working with Makor Educational lem Biennial which showcases work from Israe- in Boston and had worked as an art therapist. Journeys, they created an outstanding trip that li and international artists exploring identity, Another artist, Koby Sibony, is a sculptor who introduced us to individual artists, curators, prayer, gender, diaspora and other issues under works in iron binding wire in his studio at the museums, schools, incubator spaces, galleries the umbrella of “Heaven Can Wait.” Magdelena Ghetto Fighters Kibbutz. His work is playful and historical sites all over Israel. I would finally Abramovich used the YMCA pool to install a and intuitive, his studio a former chicken coup. bank of video screens with chanting Tibetan At this kibbutz there is also a monumental and Monks that became a waterfall of sound that moving museum which holds artifacts and sto- transcended culture. Another exhibit, “Living ries of the residents. Underwater” A Jewish Exploration of Climate We returned to Tel Aviv and spent the day Change, included Detroit artist Llyn Avadenka, in the Florentin neighborhood visiting con- and was underwritten by Hazon and the Beit temporary art galleries. Our last visit was to Venezia in Venice, Italy. The artists in Venice silversmith Rachel Rowen, who demonstrated created the images in a workshop atmosphere some of her techniques and shared her inspi- while climate change was made real by the ris- rations for her elegant Judaica. ing waters. Before I left I took a half day tour of the Old We later had an opportunity to engage in City with Medji Tours. They specialize in dual- art and midrash at Kol Haot Center, located in narrative tours on Mondays with two guides. the Hutzot Hayotzer near the old city, where Our Israeli guide Yael was from Jerusalem and their mission is to illuminate Jewish life with Noor, who is Palestinian, was from Bethlehem. art. We paired up in Chevruta and then made For four hours we visited historic sites, learned collages about moral values (Middot) such as history, and compared sometimes contradic- loving kindness, humility and truth. We also Mathew Berkowitz tory and complementary narratives. After a met with Mathew Berkowitz, the creator of the week of art, history and reality converged to add Lovell Family Haggadah. On this street you can our plans and while nervous we realized that all depth to my understanding of the country. n also find many other working studios includ- of Tel Aviv was closed down and most tourists ing those of David Moss, silversmith Sari Srulo- vitch, among others. Before we left for Tel Aviv, we explored the Ein Karim area and visited Behefetz Kapea, a center for traditional handcrafts. We were treat- ed to a spinning lesson led by Hadar Kleidman Hadar Kleidman spinning wool as she quoted “And all the wise hearted did spin visit, see some of my family, and explore places with their hands…”Exodus 35:25. I had heard so much about. As an artist, jewelry We later spent Shabbat with Robin Misgav, designer, and metalsmith this was a meaningful the liaison from Makor Educational Journeys way to experience the country. Beginning in the Galilee, we stayed at kib- butz-owned Kinar Hotel on Lake Kinneret. Our group of eleven included artists working in diverse mediums as well as a physician and a collector. We were tasked with considering the questions: “What is Israeli art? Jewish art? and Judaic art?” Over the next week we covered many aspects of these questions. After seeing the ancient Galilean Synagogues of Tiberius and Capernaum, we explored Safed, (Tzvat) where mystical rabbis and their follow- ers settled in the sixteenth century. It is still a place of pilgrimages and Kabbalistic learning, filled with wonderful art galleries. We spent time at the studio and gallery of Avraham Lowenthal whose paintings and calligraphy refer to the sound of the Shofar as it ascends and descends. By coincidence he had lived in Ann Arbor and studied at University of Michigan, and studied at the Art Institute of Chicago, where we both had the same professor. At a cemetery at Kinneret that honored some of Israel’s early kibbutz movement, the settle- ment of Kvvustzat Kinneret, we visited the grave of Naomi Shemer, who sang Jerusalem of Gold. Avraham Lowenthal in his gallery She was born in 1930 at this kibbutz which her (our tour organizers) and her husband, Eliahu parents helped found. We listened to her sing as Misgav, a calligrapher and graphic designer. We we drove next to the artists’ colony Ein Harod explored the old city, the Mahane Yehuda mar- in the Jezreel Valley. There we visited home stu- ket, and the Museum of Islamic Art. The exhibit dios and the Janco Dada Museum, built in 1953. “Jewelry Making Past and Present” exhibited Notable in the village are numerous sculptures metalsmiths of all faiths who made pieces in- done by residents over the years. spired by the collections in the Museum. In Jerusalem we met with the curator at the After one night in Tel Aviv, we were told to

Washtenaw Jewish News A February 2020 21 I Kosher Cuisine

Mid-Winter Comfort Food Lonnie Sussman, special to the WJN e’ve been through some dark As I write these words the gloom has not Hawayij Rice Custard Pudding days, both literally and figura- quite lifted, but I have hope. Recently, I asked This can be used to season almost anything From , by Mimi Sheraton W tively. While life always has ups a number of people about their comfort 2 TBS whole black peppercorns My Mother’s Kitchen and downs, sometimes the downs feel deeper foods. Many referred to a time they were 3 extra large eggs 1 TBS. black caraway seeds 4 cups milk and longer lasting. I’m not just talking about younger and a relative made something they 1 tsp. cumin seeds myself but also about others I know, about loved. For them, comfort food is love, family, 2/3 cup sugar 1 tsp. coriander seeds Pinch of salt the state of our country, and the state of the tradition. Others have newly discovered food 1 tsp. cardamom seeds world. At the Hebrew Day School winter that really makes them feel warm and fuzzy 1¼ tsp vanilla 2 tsps. turmeric. 1 generous tsp grated lemon rind music festival in December, I found myself inside. Okay, that may be a shot of whiskey, Use a spice grinder or coffee grinder to grind 1 generous tsp grated orange rind crying during the singing of “The Star Span- a new food for my husband and me that all the spices together. Makes about ¼ cup. ¼ cup raisins or dried currants gled Banner” and “Hatikvah.” The concepts started when our son, Ari, started distilling. Store in airtight container. 1 cup cooked rice, room temperature of “pride,” “freedom,” “hope” jumped out at Most people I asked about their comfort Powdered cinnamon or nutmeg to taste me as I watched graduates of the school lead foods mentioned soups: chicken soup, len- Hilbe Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat the eggs the crowd in these anthems. The beauty of til soup, and vegetable soups. Other com- A Fenugreek Sauce that is very spicy. Some into the milk and strain into a mixing bowl. their voices and the poignancy of the mean- fort foods were warm milk, spaghetti and add some chopped tomato to the blend. Add all the remaining ingredients except the ing of the songs was overwhelming. meatballs, kugel, kasha varnishkes, any- It’s often added to soups. 3 Tbs. fenugreek cinnamon or nutmeg. Butter an 8-inch glass Sometimes we need the kind of comfort thing their mom made, mac and cheese, powder soaked in ½ cup water for about 3 or ceramic baking dish and turn the pudding that comes from familiar foods. Sometimes and a bowl of cereal. My personal favorite hours. Drain off most of the water but leave mixture into it, smoothing the top so the the trendy and the exotic don’t help but is chocolate pudding, the homemade kind, enough to have a paste. Beat until smooth. depth is even. the smells and tastes of home, wherever especially with the skin on top. This is a no Add a tsp. of z’hug and the juice of a lemon Place the baking dish in a large pan. Pour in that home is, are exactly what we need. A judgement zone so whatever comforts you and a bit of salt. friend recently made my family a vegetarian fits the category. enough hot water to come halfway up the lasagna that should have fed lots of us. I Here are some recipes that take a spin on sides of the rice pudding dish. Bake for 30 guess I needed a lot of comfort because I ate your comfort foods. Spring is on the way. Lentil and Vegetable Stew minutes, then gently stir to make sure the the vast majority (over a few days, not all Indulge in something tasty and homey and rice is evenly distributed and smooth the top Moosewood Restaurant Cooking for Health n again. Sprinkle the cinnamon or nutmeg on at once). Of course, comfort food is in the comforting. by the Moosewood collective mind and mouth of each individual. top. Continue baking for another 20 minutes Serves 6-8 or until the custard has set. Lift the pudding Yeminite chicken soup rot, celery, curry powder and cumin, cover Here is an alternative to lentil soup which is dish from the water bath and let cool. and simmer another 20 minutes or until a bit more filling. from , by Joan Na- The Foods of Israel Today the chicken pieces are cooked all the way ½ cup French Green Lentils (or other than Chocolate Pudding through. You can do this ahead of time and types) serves 8-10 refrigerate overnight. 1 bay leaf (optional) from the website //www.spendwithpennies. Not all chicken soup comes from Eastern 1 garlic clove com Remove the marrow bones and the fat that 3 cups water Europe, but it was the number one food item 8 servings forms on the top of the pot and remove the 2 TBS olive oil on my informal survey of comfort foods. 1-1/3 cup sugar chicken and beef from the soup. Cut the 1½cups chopped onions Here is the Yemenite version of chicken soup. 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder meat into bite-sized pieces and scrape the 3 cups coarsely chopped cabbage or I wouldn’t dare mess with your Mother’s 1/3 cup cornstarch skin and bones from the chicken. Return the cauliflower soup recipe. Leave off the meat and bones if Pinch of salt meat to the soup pot. Dice the cooked celery 1 cup carrots, cut into 1-inch chunks 4-1/2 cups milk it’s not your thing. and carrot and return to the pot. ½ tsp. salt 3-4 Tbs. butter 8 cups water 3 cups red or yellow bell peppers cut 1 pound slightly fatty beef cut into Add the zucchini, potatoes, hawayij and salt 1 tsp. vanilla and pepper to taste and simmer, covered, into 1-inch chunks 2-inch pieces. Mix the sugar, cocoa powder, salt and corn- another 10 minutes or until the vegetables 4 cups sliced or quartered mushrooms 2 marrow bones starch in a saucepan. Mix well to avoid lumps. are soft. Pour the lemon juice over the soup. (cremini or others) 8 garlic cloves, peeled 1 TBS sweet paprika Add in cold milk and whisk until combined. 2 large onions, peeled and quartered Serve a portion of rice in each soup bowl and 1 tsp. chopped fresh rosemary Increase the heat to medium, stir constantly 1 large tomato, quartered but not cut all top with the chicken, vegetables and broth. ½ tsp. red pepper flakes or ¼ tsp. until the mixture reaches a boil. Allow the the way through Garish with the cilantro or more parsley and cayenne mixture to boil for 1 minute while stirring ¼ cup chopped parsley dill. Serve the z’hug and hilbe in separate 1-28 oz. can diced tomatoes constantly. Remove from heat, stir in butter ¼ cup snipped dill, plus more for bowls for people to choose. ¼ cup red wine or sherry garnish and vanilla. Let mixture cool while stirring 2 TBS chopped fresh dill occasionally to keep the pudding smooth. 1 chicken, cut into 8 pieces (about 3-4 Ground pepper to taste pounds) Yemenite spice blends Store in the refrigerator. 2 large carrots, peeled and left whole In a small pot bring the lentils covered in 4 celery stalks Z’hug water, the bay leaf, if you are using that, and the garlic to a boil, then lower the heat and 1 tsp. curry powder Yemenite hot sauce that you could switch ½ tsp. cumin simmer until the lentils are tender, about 20- out for Tabasco, but it won’t be Yemenite 30 minutes. Drain the lentils and set aside. 1 zucchini, diced in 1-inch pieces 4 ounces fresh green serrano or jalapeno 3 potatoes, peeled and diced in 1-inch peppers, stems removed Meanwhile, in a large soup pot on medium pieces 1 whole head of garlic heat, warm the olive oil and cook the onions, 1 TBS hawayij spice (see below) ½ cup cilantro, rinsed and dried carrots and salt for about 5 minutes, stirring Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste ½ cup parsley, rinsed and dried frequently. Then add the cabbage and bell Juice of 1 lemon ¼ tsp. whole black peppercorns peppers, cover and cook on medium-low 8 cups boiled rice ¼ cup olive oil and a bit more to cover heat for about 10 minutes. Then, add the 1 cup chopped cilantro (I know, not all ½ tsp. ground cumin mushrooms, paprika, rosemary and red pep- of you can eat cilantro) 2 green cardamom pods, peeled per flakes and cook for a minute, stirring to 2 TBS z’hug, or to taste (see below) 1 tsp salt, or to taste prevent the spices from sticking. Add the to- 1/3 cup hilbe, or to taste (see below) Place everything in a food processor except matoes and wine, cover and simmer until the Bring water to boil in a large soup pot and the olive oil. Chop until almost pureed and vegetables are tender, about 10 or 15 min- the beef and marrow bones, if you are using then add the olive oil and puree. Place in utes. Stir in the dill and the cooked lentils. them. Skim the foam from the surface. glass jar and cover with some more olive oil. Add more salt and pepper to taste. Top with Lower the heat and add the garlic cloves, on- Store in refrigerator for up to 3 months. yogurt, sour cream or crumbled feta. ion, tomato, parsley and ¼ cup of dill. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Add the chicken pieces. Bring to a boil and skim the surface of the foam. Add the car-

22 Washtenaw Jewish News A February 2020 I Kosher Cuisine

Do Yiddish and vegetarianism go together? An interview with Eve Jochnowitz By Lonnie Sussman wo years ago, I wrote an article about The translator of The Vilna Vegetarian based, only after the Flood meat eating was Recipes from The Vilna Vegetarian Cookbook cookbooks and included a paragraph Cookbook, Eve Jochnowitz is a Fellow at the permitted. Dr. Jochnowitz pointed out that Tand a recipe from The Vilna Vegetar- Frankel Center for Judaic Studies at the Uni- Yiddish speaking vegetarians were found all Buckwheat Pudding ian Cookbook, by Fania Lewando, translated by versity of Michigan this year. We recently had over Europe and were especially connected a conversation about the book, her work in to culinary and political movements in the (Riestainis in Lithuanian and Prazucha in the field of Yiddish and Jewish food, and other early part of the Twentieth century. She is re- Polish. In Yiddish this is Kasha) topics. Dr. Jochnowitz is a Yiddish instructor at searching the vegetarian Yiddish speakers of You will notice that the instructions leave YIVO Institute and the Worker’s Circle and has North America from that time. out some details. How hot an oven? Probably been teaching Yiddish language, culture and lit- Jews adapted the available foods of the nearby about 400 to 425 degrees. How many servings? erature, as well as Yiddish foodways and dance cuisines in every area they lived. So, what made Maybe 4? This is typical in the cookbook for 25 years. She earned her PhD in Jewish cu- eastern European Jewish recipes different from and offers us some more insight into the linary ethnography from New York University. their neighbors? According to Dr. Jochnowitz, personality of Fania Lewando. Dr. Jochnowitz is studying Yiddish speakers there are at least two major differences. The first Brown 1-1/2 cups buckwheat flour with ½ cup and vegetarianism during her stay at the Fran- was how foods were prepared with onions and fine semolina in a pan. Pour into a bowl and add kel Center. She has been looking at a variety of garlic as a common flavor enhancer. salt, 1 tablespoon sugar and some cinnamon. printed materials including the Yiddish press. In The context in which the foods were used Eve Jochnowitz Pour on enough hot water to make a soft batter. the first half of the Twentieth century in North was another difference. For example, blintzes Saute’ 1 grated onion in 1 cup of melted butter Eve Jochnowitz. The cookbook is a remarkable America the Yiddish papers were mostly pro- were everyday foods in Polish homes while they and mix into the batter. Grease a pan with tribute to a woman, to a time, to a place, and to gressive, liberal and often secular. were connected to the holiday of Shavuot in vegetable oil, sprinkle with breadcrumbs and a moment in Jewish history. It was originally Perhaps surprising to our contemporary Jewish cuisine. Another example was borscht. pour in the batter. Bake in a hot oven for 1 hour. published in Vilna in 1938. At that time Vilna sensibilities, the Yiddish press had an angry re- It was a regular dish for Poles but became con- was a part of Poland; Germany was about to action to vegetarianism. The press editors were nected to Pesach for the Jews. A third and very unleash the horror of World War II and the vast very concerned with Yiddish culture including interesting example, was cabbage rolls. For Chickpea Cutlets: majority of the Jews of Lithuania as well as the food traditions. Dr. Jochnowitz explained to me the Jewish homes they became connected to This is one of twelve cutlet recipes using vegetables, six million in other parts of Europe were about that vegetarianism was seen as anti-tradition, an Hoshanna Rabba, the seventh day of Sukkot. nuts, beans and grain. All use a similar method. to be murdered. Fania Lewando was, accord- assault on the culture. They were also opposed The Yiddish word “kroyt” meant “cabbage” but Some include chopped onions in the mix. ing to the dedication of this translated book, “a to the popularity of Jews going to Chinese res- in some regions it was “kohl” which sounds like After soaking them overnight, cook 3 cups pioneering thinker and cook and a passionate taurants. One article in a Yiddish paper was the Hebrew word for “voice.” One prayer recited dried chickpeas until soft. Push them through educator, who devoted her life to promoting titled “The War Between Chop Suey and Gefilte on Hoshanna Rabba has the line “Kol Mevaser/a a food mill, or puree in a food processor. Add 3 health and vitality.” Her cookbook is inspira- Fish.” voice proclaimed,” which could be re-interpret- raw eggs, some salt, 4 tablespoons breadcrumbs, tional and heartbreaking at the same time. Fa- At the same time, vegetarianism has had ed as “cabbage cooked with water.” Creative, yes? and 3 tablespoons melted butter. Shape into nia, her husband, and most of the people who a Jewish connection from the beginning. I look forward to reading the paper or book Dr. cutlets, dip in breadcrumbs, and fry in butter attended the cooking classes or who ate at the Literally, the Book of B’reishit speaks of Jochnowitz’ research produces. until brown. You may also serve some boiled, restaurant were dead within the next few years. the food available before the Flood as plant thinly sliced potatoes along with these. n

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Washtenaw Jewish News A February 2020 23 I Hebrew Day School

Child-inspired integrated learning at HDS Jennifer Rosenberg, special to the WJN et’s make it a restaurant!” exclaimed in both Hebrew and English. five-year-old Seth. “A pizza restau- All of this learning came together with Lrant!” squealed Lilah, eyeing the plastic the capstone activity–another field trip–this pizza slices sitting on the table in the dramatic one to the Back Door Food Pantry to deliver play area in the far corner of the classroom. food for those in need. A grant from Kroger Excitement started to build slowly in the He- enabled the students to purchase the food to brew Day School kindergarten classroom. donate, but before they did, there was work to Considering the space, two friends brain- be done. They examined transit maps to plot stormed ways they might separate the kitchen their route on the city bus. The children sorted, from where the diners would eat. Even more counted, and used the canned foods to practice children joined, and the group began to en- their math skills. And they contemplated their thusiastically suggest menu items and fur- work as an exercise in tikkun olam (mending niture. Peering over a dry erase board, one the world). Milka Eliav, the Gan Hebrew and student carefully documented the growing Judaic Studies teacher, was thrilled to expose list of items they would need, spelling them her students to such a meaningful project. She in the ways kindergarteners do: cheez, saus, says, “Helping out in the local community is doh, sald, oter food, tabls, chrs. Pretty soon, one step towards mending the world. Also, the whole class was in on the plan. when students work together as a team, it “As we probed deeper into our restaurant brings these notions right back into our design, the opportunities to authentically own Gan community and makes us better address a wide range of content and skills friends and helpers to each other.” Providing seamlessly presented themselves.” says gen- cues and inspiration are taken from the chil- reusing, which they now understand are the young children with meaningful, real world eral studies teacher, Debbie Carbone. “A child- dren, is a hallmark of the educational philoso- steps before recycling. experiences sets a foundation upon which they centered pizza restaurant served as the catalyst phy in the HDS Gan (kindergarten). It inspires Back at school, the students learned about will build for a lifetime. for a rich and integrated unit that eventually students and teachers alike. the life cycles of various fruits and grains and “Building a pizza restaurant in our classroom turned into a perfect opportunity to teach the The pizza restaurant motivated a field trip explored the concept of food traveling from sparked logical and creative thinking, inspired students about providing for others.” Indeed, to a local grocery store where students learned farm to table. They learned which blessings we collaboration among peers, and encouraged the unit incorporated reading, writing, lan- about healthy food choices, access to food say before eating and how different foods grow. our students to construct and expand their guage acquisition, science, and math. It also resources, and recycling. The kindergarteners The pizza restaurant came alive again with understanding of the world around them,” provided opportunities to explore Jewish easily made the connection between the Jewish new Hebrew vocabulary that was a natural and reflects Carbone. “A little imagination and values, brachot (blessings), and healthy food value of shmirat hateva (protecting nature) and integral aspect of this learning. The students’ some plastic food (specifically pizza!),” she choices, and to expand students’ Hebrew vo- the store’s recycling program. They also learned reading and writing were incorporated through continues, “led us on a fruitful path of learning cabulary. This type of rich, developmentally about the great importance of reducing and labeling items and designing restaurant menus, that embraced play, student participation, and appropriate, integrated unit, in which content the tenets of tikkun olam.” n

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24 Washtenaw Jewish News A February 2020 I Features

Looking for Rose: memory and history By Clare Kinberg, second installment in a series or forty years, beginning in 1975, I fist, ready for a powerful defensive punch, or lonian exile is historically accurate. Only our brand-new parent to start to answer him, my unsuccessfully tried to find my fa- pack my bags for the long-planned escape. memory of these people and events matters, mouth opened and closed before the knife- F ther’s sister, an aunt I’d never met. I I didn’t grow up with the tools to deal with he says. point of his racism reached bone. grew up in St. Louis, in an Ashkenazi Jewish anti-Black racism. But for that racism, I might I struggle to understand the implica- Patti and I began our search for lists of family I thought was completely segregated have grown up knowing the Arnwines as ma- tions of this distinction between history and “best cities for interracial families,” and fit from African American families. But memory, even though I have turned these these into our other criteria: affordable and the separation was a lie. ideas over and over for decades. The histo- friendly to lesbian families. The affordable I now know that sometime in the rian YH Yerushalmi explains in his widely- part nixed all of California and many large late 1930s my aunt Rose moved to Chi- read book Zakhor: Jewish History and Jewish cities. We’d never lived in the South and were cago with her African American hus- Memory that memory structures the stories reluctant to search there. We took a road trip band. Her young son Joey remained Jews tell about ourselves. Historians gather to Evanston, Illinois; Yellow Springs, Ohio; behind with her mother and siblings. facts, he writes, and then interpret what they Montclair, New Jersey; Mount Airy, Pennsyl- One day in 2016, I found Rose’s death mean. However, with memory, the mean- vania; and Ann Arbor. Patti got a scholarship certificate on the internet. She had ing of the story precedes and determines the to attend graduate school at the University died at the age of 76 in a hospital in events related. of Michigan, which finally made the decision South Bend, Indiana. Her last residen- When my wife Patti and I decided to for us. tial address was in Vandalia, Michigan, move to Michigan from Oregon in 2003, we Unbeknownst to me, my aunt Rose had about two hours from my own home had searched long and intensively for a place moved to Michigan sixty years earlier. She in Ypsilanti. we wanted to raise our African American settled in Vandalia in 1943 when she was 35 Finally, knowing Rose’s married daughters. Oregon, where our family was an years old. Looking at her decisions through name as it was listed on the death cer- attention-grabbing oddity and the girls were the lens of my own life, I assume Rose and tificate, I could investigate the outlines often not seen beyond the color of their skin, Mr. Arnwine were looking for a place where of her adult life through census docu- was not the place. When our oldest was still an interracial couple could live safely. Patti ments. In the late 1930s, she lived in an infant in arms, I took her on an errand and I have spent so much time analyzing the strictly segregated Chicago with her to the local supermarket. As we were walk- demographics of places where we might live, husband, Mr. Arnwine. Though Ash- ing across the parking lot returning to the thinking about the Black and Jewish, inter- kenazi Jewish, with birth parents from car, a young white guy, from two rows away racial and lesbian communities our family Russia and Romania, Rose is listed as yelled to catch my attention, “Did you just would call our own. My life shapes the con- Negro on the 1940 census, as is every- get that from Africa?” In pure Oregon style, versations I wish I could have had with Aunt one in her building, her block, and the he added something like, “That’s really beau- Rose, and my telling of her story, the ques- surrounding neighborhood on South Michi- chatunim (Yiddish for the in-laws’ family) tiful, man.” I was still vulnerable enough as a tions I want her life to help me answer. n gan Avenue. and perhaps have been exposed to the skills I Rose and Mr. Arnwine lived about three am acquiring as an adult. blocks from where Lorraine Hansberry’s I began my search for Rose and Mr. Arn- My experience as a black woman in family lived before they bought the house in wine’s lives with questions I knew would defy the strictly white neighborhood at the south answers. Without talking directly to them, end of Washington Park where they were at- how could I find out why they bought land in Israeli society tacked with bricks. The year Aunt Rose and Vandalia? Why did she stay? How did she feel By Chava Reichman Mr. Arnwine lived in Chicago, the Supreme about her decisions? Would she have wanted Translated from the Hebrew by Teddy Weis- grow up in any kind of African culture; so Court settled in favor of the Hansberrys, but to meet me? berger: I have been writing my bi-weekly col- I’m not really African and yet people put me the court did not make restrictive covenants, Even if I could interview them, their an- umn on life in Israel since 1998, beginning into a slot. Why? Because of my skin color. deeds containing language that enforces racial swers to my questions about their choices to with the Omaha Jewish Press (my wife is a A few years ago a friend suggested that I segregation, illegal. make a life together and settle in Vandalia native Omahan), and then self-syndicating go out with a guy. She told me a little about Lorraine Hansberry turned her family’s would have depended on their mood, how to a few more papers three years later. Before him, gave me some details, and I decided to experience into the play “A Raisin in the Sun.” much they trusted me, or even the time of making aliyah in 1997 with my wife and five go for it and try. She contacted him and told Aunt Rose and Mr. Arnwine moved on. From day. Their memories of reasons for buying 25 small children, I was an assistant professor him a little about me; he was interested. Be- Chicago they moved to the resort town of acres of land in 1943, far away from any city, of religious studies at Florida International fore they ended their call, he asked about my Benton Harbor, Michigan and then in 1943, would certainly have altered as they aged. Yet, University in Miami. My “day job” today is as family background and she told him that I Mr. Arnwine and two other men from their even with the fickleness of memory, I mourn writer and editor of academic articles for Ono was dark skinned, and at the last minute he Chicago neighborhood bought 25 acres of the loss of their stories: For a historian, mem- Academic College in Israel. When we made decided that he was not interested. I don’t land in southwest Michigan on a lake out- ories are imprecise and of questionable value; aliyah to Givat Ze’ev in 1997, Katriel and know what his reasons were and I didn’t give side of Vandalia. After close to twenty years but for a storyteller, every memory conveys Naomi Reichman were crucial to our success- this much attention, but surely skin color together, Rose and Mr. Arnwine divorced in significant meaning. ful absorption, and their daughter Chava be- was decisive here. 1957 and had no children together. Rose lived I love history, but in the back of my mind came best friends with our daughter Ruthie. It A friend and I went to the bathroom at a on the shore of Paradise Lake near Vandalia the refrain keeps playing that in Jewish tra- is with great pleasure that I present (in trans- mall a few years ago, and while I’m waiting for the rest of her life. dition, memory is more important than his- lation) Chava’s words here, in honor of Martin outside the cleaning woman (who happened Seeing Rose’s death certificate, I felt a flood tory. According to the stories Jews tell, when Luther King Day. to be light skinned) turned to me and with- of regret that I hadn’t found her while she the Israelites returned to Jerusalem after the was born in Israel and was adopted out hesitating suggested that I talk to her was still alive. I became determined to find Babylonian exile (538 B.C.E), the scribe Ezra when I was about two months old by manager for a job as a restroom cleaner at her burial place. I was awash with wonder cobbled together various manuscripts of the I “light skinned” American-born parents. the mall. I am inclined to believe that her in- at the coincidence of her closeness to me in Israelites’ origins and redemption from slav- I grew up in a small community in a kind tentions were good, but her generalizing and Ypsilanti. ery. Stories that might have been memories; of warm and friendly bubble: family, friends, associating me as a black woman with some My wife is descended from enslaved Black stories that certainly created memories. The acquaintances from the neighborhood, ev- group or social class is a problem. women and their white owners and our ad- stories were gathered into one scroll, the writ- eryone knowing my family and my story. There is a story my family loves me to opted daughters were born of Black women ten Torah, which was copied many times over So sometimes I was called blacky, or sambo tell because the end result was in my favor. in the United States. For me, being in an inter- to be read out loud in gatherings. This is the blacky, but it’s kids--everyone goes through One evening as I was driving home, I went racial family has meant navigating persistent origin of Jews reading sections of the Torah some sort of teasing in childhood, so ev- through an intersection that apparently had racial segregation and living intimately with each week in synagogue, completing a full erything’s fine. Over the years, there came a stop sign. Suddenly there was a police car the effects of racism on those most close to reading of the “Five Books of Moses” each other voices, looks, and behavior regarding behind me and I got pulled over. The police- my heart. I am conscious of race in every in- year. my skin color that left me with little room man asked for my license and registration teraction I have. Like a woman walking alone After an emphatic explanation of the work for confusion concerning my belonging to a and returned to the police car. Meanwhile at night considers her safety, like a Jew reads of the scribe Ezra and Jewish life thousands specific “group.” I’m waiting in my own car, feeling very dis- the daily news with an eye to implications of years ago, the author Joel Lurie Grishaver I think that when people see a black per- appointed. When the policeman returned, of antisemitism, awareness of race is always writes in Talmud with Training Wheels it son they put them in some sort of slot, and he told me he had to give me a significant there. But I often don’t know what to do with doesn’t really matter to Jews if Ezra was a real to me that’s where the problem starts. I am my awareness, whether to clench keys in my person or if the story of return from the Baby- indeed a black woman but I didn’t really Continued on page 27 Washtenaw Jewish News A February 2020 25 I Calendar

Tea and Torah on Tuesday—for Women: Chabad. program is for preschoolers and their parents February 2020 Reading the Torah may be easy, but understand- with songs, stories, prayers, and the Shabbat Thursday 13 ing it is no simple matter. Study of the text with “Mystery Box.” 11:15 a.m. the classical Rashi commentary. 8 p.m. Jewish Meditation with Linda Greene: TBE. 1-2 p.m., Back Door Food Pantry: TBE. 4–7 p.m. Saturday 1 Sunday 9 Erev Tu B’Shvat Talmud–Jewish Civil Law: Chabad. See first Thurs- Wednesday 5 day of month for details. 8 p.m.. Shabbat services: See listing at the end of the TBE Families Monthly Meet-Up: Offsite. 10a.m.- Judaism’s Gifts to the World: Chabad House. A Noon. calendar. six-session course by the acclaimed Rohr Jewish Book Group: AARC. The History of Love by Nicole Friday 14 Torah Study: TBE. Weekly discussion of the Torah Learning Institute (JLI), unearthing the Jewish Kraus. This book was suggested by Rabbi Ora portion led by Rabbi Whinston 8:50–9:50 a.m. roots of some of the most cherished values of Nitkin-Kaner, and she will lead the discussion. Lunch and Learn: TBE. Adult Lounge. Rabbi Genesis Concert Series: TBE Sanctuary. Featuring Western civilization. 9 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Event will be held at the home of Greg Saltzman Whinston meets on Fridays for an informal dis- the brightest young artists on the brink of their Yidish tish Yiddish Conversation & Reading and Audrey Newell. For address and further de- cussion about religion. Sessions are open to the professional careers in music, with the adult Group): JCC, Conference Room. Combines the tails, please RSVP to Greg at gsaltzman@albion. entire community. Feel free to bring your lunch. choirs of TBE and St. Clare’s. 7 p.m long-time JCC Yiddish reading group and the edu, 10a.m. to noon. Noon–1 p.m. former UM conversational one, about 45 min- Tu B’Shvat with Black Diesel: BIC. Explore the cof- Speed Friending Shabbat: JYP & jUnion. Second- utes each of conversation and reading. Free and fee tree with local Black Diesel Coffee proprietor Friday-of-the-month Shabbat dinner gathering Sunday 2 open to all who are interested in Yiddish lan- Nick Ferris and Beth Israel’s own barista, Rav with JYP and jUnion! This month, we’ll host guage, literature, and culture; level of proficiency Nadav. Learn about how Black Diesel works speed-friending over dinner. Come alone or World Wide Wrap: BIC. About the time two NFL and age of no consequence. For more informa- directly with small farms, roast coffee with Rav bring a friend, we provide the rest. Service and football teams begin wrapping athletic tape in tion or to make certain that we are meeting on Nadav, enjoy a fresh cuppa and some light re- dinner at Michigan Hillel, moving to Arbor preparation for the Super Bowl, Conservative a specific day, please e-mail Elliot H. Gertel at freshments. 1 – 2:30 p.m. Brewing Company about 9 p.m. 114 E Washing- Jews around the world – and at Beth Israel - will [email protected] or call Lily Ladin at (734) Tanya–Jewish Mysticism: Chabad. Delve into the ton St. Questions, contact Jessica Weil jessica@ be wrapping themselves in tefillin for World 662-6613 at least one day before scheduled meet- jewishannarbor.org. 5:15 – 10 p.m. Wide Wrap. Everyone is invited (post-Bar/Bat ing day. 10:30 a.m. -- 12 noon. basic text of Chassidim and discover the beauty and depth of Judaism. 11a.m. noon. Tot Shabbat: TBE. Tot Shabbat (0-5yrs) from 5:45– Mitzvah aged) to join us for this meaningful Theology Book Club: BIC - GSAC 2010 Lower Lev- 6:15 p.m. morning. Lessons will be followed by a short el. Join the Theology Book Club to read and dis- Illuminated Calligraphy Workshop: Women of shacharit service, the annual polar bear picture, cuss books on Jewish thought and beliefs. 8 p.m. TBE. With Marianne Aaron Part 2: 1-4 p.m. Friday evening services: See listing at the end of and bagels and lox. 9:30 a.m. Tu B’shvat Seder: Chabad. The Holiday of Jew- the calendar. How to talk to Jewish kids about race. JCC. Bend ish Arbor day in Ann Arbor, featuring a full Tu the Arc Ann Arbor presents a discussion and Thursday 6 B’Shvat Seder of the special foods and drinks hands on training about how to engage Jewish from Israel, study session on the meaning of the Saturday 15 children in conversations about race. Space is Jewish Meditation with Linda Greene: TBE. day, and the Jewish prospective on ecology. 8:00 limited. A $10 registration fee is required to se- 1-2 p.m., p.m. Torah Study: TBE. Weekly discussion of the Torah portion led by Rabbi Whinston 8:50 – 9:50 a.m. cure your spot. 1-3 p.m. Back Door Food Pantry: TBE. 4–7 p.m. Applied Prayer Session (formerly Learner’s Shab- Illuminated Calligraphy Workshop: Women of Wine & Cheese Tasting: Women’s Philanthropy of Monday 10 Tu B’Shvat bat): BIC. Rav Nadav is leading alternative Sat- TBE. With Marianne Aaron Part 1: The first Federation. at York (1928 Packard St Ann Arbor urday morning service experiences from 9:30 to session will teach the basics of calligraphy and MI 48103): Registration fee: $36. Please register at WTBE Historical Novel Reading Group: TBE. 10:15 am, at which time we’ll move upstairs to the second will concentrate on writing a prayer, www.jewishannarbor.org/wine&cheese20. 7 p.m. poem, psalm etc, with illumination. $18 fee in- This month’s read is Shanghai Girls by Lisa See. join the main service. During this time we focus Talmud–Jewish Civil Law: Chabad. Sharpen your cludes the cost of all materials and refreshments. 12:30–2:30 p.m. on a single prayer. We learn the meanings of the wits and knowledge of the Jewish legal system RSVP and pay here: https://wtbe.org/whats- Women’s Torah Study: TBE. An in-depth study and prayer, practice it, and then deepen our davening by following the intriguing discussions in the happening/2019-2020-programs/caligraphy/, lively discussion of the week’s Torah portion led through meditation or healing. 9:30 – 10:15 a.m. Talmud. The Talmud is a composite of practical or email Trina Fuller, [email protected], to by Cantor Regina Hayut. The group will explore Parent’s Night Out: BIC. Drop off your children law, logical argumentation and moral teachings. RSVP and pay at the door. 1-4 p.m. various passages from the portion looking at (ages 5-15 years old) at the synagogue and enjoy Study from the original Talmud tractate. 8 p.m. Intro to Judaism: BIC. Though directed at people several translations and commentaries from a an evening to yourselves. Children will be served who are considering conversion, this serious ex- variety of scholars from Talmudic times to the dinner and there will be a movie playing along amination of the main dimensions of Judaism Friday 7 modern day. No Hebrew knowledge necessary with some crafts. Cost for members is $10 for --from mysticism to Talmud to Jewish Holidays to participate in the discussion. For questions, the first child and $8 for each additional; non- contact Cantor Regina Hayut at cantorhayut@ members are an additional $5 per child. Contact and rituals – is open to anyone who wants to Lunch and Learn: TBE. Adult Lounge. Rabbi templebethemeth.org. 7–9 p.m. Amanda at [email protected] for more deepen their Jewish literacy. This course is open Whinston meets on Fridays for an informal dis- info or to sign up.6 – 9 p.m. to members and non-members. 2 p.m. cussion about religion. Sessions are open to the Tanya–Jewish Mysticism: Chabad. Delve into the entire community. Feel free to bring your lunch. Tuesday 11 Quiz Night: BIC. This 13th annual Beth Israel Quiz basic text of Chassidim and discover the beauty Noon–1 p.m. Night promises to be another fun competitive evening for adults. The social program is a team and depth of Judaism. 11a.m. to noon. Families with Young Children (FYC) Tot Shabbat What Ifs of Jewish History: Frankel Center. Gavriel based multi-media trivia game. Whether one Service: TBE. All of your favorite songs led by Rosenfeld, Fairfield University in conversation comes with their own team or forms one at the TBE’s tot team, Cantor Hayut and Rabbi Whin- with Devi Mays and Jeff Veidlinger, University of game, participants are sure to have a great time Monday 3 ston. Join us for macaroni and cheese, fish sticks, Michigan. What if the Jews of Spain had not been as they work together to answer trivia questions, applesauce, and a salad bar immediately follow- expelled in 1492? What if Adolf Hitler had been decipher puzzles, and complete other challenges Caring For You, Caring For Me: JFS. To educate ing the short service. Dinner is just $5 per person. assassinated in 1939? What if a Jewish state had in order to earn the title of Beth Israel’s Trivia and support professional and family caregiv- Buy a punch card ahead of time for a discounted been established in Uganda instead of Palestine? Masters. The cost is $10 per person. Register on- ers in a relaxed setting. Facilitated by a licensed price. Punch cards are available in the TBE office. In his talk, Gavriel D. Rosenfeld discusses how line by using the link on the Beth Israel homep- master social worker at Retirement Income Solu- 5:45 p.m. 0-5yrs, 6:15 dinner, 6:45 Shira Service. these and other counterfactual questions would tions, 2301 Platt Rd. Contact Roberta Hirshon, age (www.bethisrael-aa.org). 7 – 9 p.m. First Friday: JCS. Secular readings, songs, candle have affected the course of Jewish history. Room 734.769.0209 ext 374. 4- 6 p.m. Shabbat services: See listing at the end of the lighting, wine, and challah. Dinner and Jewish 2022, 202 S. Thayer St. 4 pm calendar. Traditions Entwined: Writing Judeo-Persian Jeopardy will follow the short observance. Chil- Tea and Torah on Tuesday—for Women: Chabad. Poetry in Fourteenth-Century Iran: Frankel dren are welcome. The cost of dinner is $10/per- Reading the Torah may be easy, but understand- Center, Room 2022, 202 S. Thayer St. Julia son or $25/family. At the JCC, 6:30 p.m. ing it is no simple matter. Study of the text with Rubanovich, of the Hebrew University of Jeru- Sunday 16 Friday evening services: See listing at the end the classical Rashi commentary. 8 p.m. salem will look into several episodes from the of the calendar. Bereshit-nama with an aim to explore Shahin’s Foundations of Jewish Family Living: AAOM and (fl. in the first part of the 14th century) retelling Wednesday 12 PJ Library. Monthly at the JCC. 10 a.m. of the Biblical story from a comparative angle, Aliyah & Rescue Missions to Israel with Vicki Saturday 8 Angel: JCC. Light brunch, Vicki Angel former- vis-à-vis both Jewish and Muslim exegetical Judaism’s Gifts to the World: Chabad House. A sources. 4 pm ly of the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI). She Shabbat services: See listing at the end of the calendar. six-session course by the acclaimed Rohr Jewish will be sharing stories from her time rescuing Fiber Arts with Women of TBE 7-8:30 p.m. Learning Institute (JLI), unearthing the Jewish Torah Study: TBE. Weekly discussion of the Torah Jews from around the world. To RSVP for the roots of some of the most cherished values of portion led by Rabbi Whinston 8:50-9:50 a.m. event, please email events@jewishannarbor. Western civilization. 9 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Shabbat Limmud: BIC. Held before Shabbat morn- org. 10 am. – noon. Tuesday 4 Yidish tish (Yiddish Conversation & Reading ing services by Rabbi Robert Dobrusin, this ses- Mitzvah Day: BIC. Mitzvah Day is Beth Israel’s Group): JCC, Conference Room. For more in- sion will offer a lively discussion on Parashat Ha- day of giving. The congregation will support From Cairo to the Cloud: The World of the Cairo formation or to make certain that we are meeting Shavua, the Torah portion of the week and other food collection for Alpha House (stay tuned Geniza. Frankel Center. A Documentary Film by on a specific day, please e-mail Elliot H. Gertel traditional texts. We invite you to join us in the li- for more info). BIRS Middle School students Michelle Paymar. The Cairo Geniza archive has at [email protected] or call Lily Ladin at (734) brary for Torah study over coffee and cake! 9 a.m. and their families will prepare and serve meals been digitally reunited in the “cloud,” freely ac- 662-6613 at least one day before scheduled meet- Ta’Shma Come and Learn: AARC. Before each Sec- at Alpha House. For more information and to cessible online to everyone, everywhere. Profes- ing day. 10:30 a.m. -- 12 noon. sor Ryan Szpiech will provide a historical back- ond Saturday Shabbat morning service, Rabbi get involved, please contact Amanda at engage@ ground about the Geniza, discuss the film with Ora Nitkin-Kaner leads an educational discus- Theology Book Club: BIC - GSAC 2010 Lower Lev- bethisrael-aa.org. 11 a.m. el. Join the Theology Book Club to read and dis- the filmmaker, and answer questions from the sion about a relevant topic. At the JCC of Ann Intro to Judaism: BIC. Though directed at people cuss books on Jewish thought and beliefs. 8 p.m. audience. Rackham Amphitheater, 915 E. Wash- Arbor, 10 - 10:30am who are considering conversion, this serious ex- ington St. 4 pm Tot Shabbat: BIC. This special Shabbat morning amination of the main dimensions of Judaism 26 Washtenaw Jewish News A February 2020 Yiddish Conversation) יִידיש שיט Yidish tish

--from mysticism to Talmud to Jewish Holidays Volunteer Appreciation Brunch: BIC. Please join Shabbat Services: AARC. Second Saturday of each and rituals – is open to anyone who wants to all past, present, and future BIC volunteers for Friday 28 month at the JCC. 10 a.m. Ta-Shma/Come and deepen their Jewish literacy. This course is open a delicious brunch as well as a short educational Learn. Service begins at 10:30 a.m. Shabbat to members and non-members. 2 p.m. program on the 2020 census. The brunch is free, Lunch and Learn: TBE. Adult Lounge. Rabbi Morning Service, Meditation, prayer, discus- Tanya–Jewish Mysticism: Chabad. Delve into the but RSVPs are requested. Please contact the Beth Whinston meets on Fridays for an informal dis- sion, community. All are welcome! At the JCC of basic text of Chassidim and discover the beauty Israel office by Monday, February 17, at office@ cussion about religion. Sessions are open to the Ann Arbor, 10:30a.m. to noon. For information, and depth of Judaism. 11a.m.- noon. bethisrael-aa.org. This program is sponsored by entire community. Feel free to bring your lunch. email [email protected], phone (734) 445-1910, the Social Action Committee. 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Noon–1 p.m. or visit www.aarecon.org. Tanya–Jewish Mysticism: Chabad. Delve into the Guitar-led Shabbat Service: TBE. Sanctuary 6:30–8 Shabbat Services: Chabad. Friday night services at Monday 17 basic text of Chassidim and discover the beauty p.m. Shabbat candle lighting time. Saturday morning and depth of Judaism. 11a.m.- noon. Friday evening services: See listing at the end of the services at 9:45 a.m. Afternoon Mincha services Tuesday 18 Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus Kickoff. calendar. 45 minutes before sundown. Call (734) 995- With Debbie Dingell. 3-5p.m. 3276 for Home Hospitality and Meals for Shab- bat and Jewish Holidays. Tea and Torah on Tuesday–for Women: Chabad. 8 What’s So Funny About Israel? BIC. Benji Lo- Shabbat Services: Pardes Hannah. Generally meets p.m. See first Tuesday of month. vitt, comedian, educator, and writer, comes Saturday 29 to Beth Israel and helps us use humor and the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month. Call laughter to narrow the gap between our un- Torah Study: TBE. Weekly discussion of the Torah (734) 663-4039 for more information. 10 a.m. Wednesday 19 derstanding of Israel and our understanding portion led by Rabbi Whinston 8:50 – 9:50 a.m. Led by Rabbi Elliot Ginsburg. of ourselves as American Jews. Sponsored Shabbat Limmud: BIC. Held before Shabbat Shabbat Services: TBE. Torah Study at 8:50 a.m. Judaism’s Gifts to the World: Chabad House. A by the Israel Center at the Jewish Commu- morning services by Rabbi Robert Dobrusin, Morning Minyan with Rabbi Josh Whinston six-session course by the acclaimed Rohr Jewish nity Center of Greater Ann Arbor. For more this session will offer a lively discussion on Para- and Cantor Regina Lambert-Hayut at 9:30 a.m. Learning Institute (JLI), unearthing the Jewish information, please contact Amanda at en- shat HaShavua, the Torah portion of the week Sanctuary Service at 10 a.m. most weeks. Call roots of some of the most cherished values of [email protected]. 4 – 5:30 p.m. and other traditional texts. We invite you to join the office at (734) 665-4744 or consult website Western civilization. 9 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. us in the library for Torah study over coffee and at www.templebethemeth.org for service details. Yidish tish (Yiddish Conversation & Reading cake! 9 a.m. Home Hospitality and Meals: Chabad. Every Shab- Group): JCC, Conference Room. For more in- Monday 24 bat and Holiday. Call (734) 995-3276 in advance. formation or to make certain that we are meet- Women’s Rosh Chodesh Circle and Women’s To- Weekly Friday night Shabbat services ing on a specific day, please e-mail Elliot H. Shabbat Service: AAOM. Services held at UM rah Study: TBE. First monthly Women’s Rosh Phone numbers and addresses of Gertel at [email protected] or call Lily Ladin at Hillel at candle lighting. Contact rabbi@annar- Chodesh Circle combines on this date with the (734) 662-6613 at least one day before scheduled borminyan.org to confirm time. organizations frequently listed in the ongoing Women’s Torah Study led by Cantor meeting day. 10:30 a.m. -- 12 noon. calendar: Hayut. Socializing at 6:30 pm before the circle Shabbat Service: BIC. 6 p.m. Ann Arbor Orthodox Minyan (AAOM) Theology Book Club: BIC - GSAC 2010 Lower Lev- begins. Contact Trina Fuller, tfuller817@gmail. Shabbat Service: TBE. Tot Shabbat at 6 p.m., fol- el. Join the Theology Book Club to read and dis- com, or Cantor Regina Hayut at cantorhayut@ lowed by tot dinner. Traditional Service at 7:30 1429 Hill Street 248-408-3269 cuss books on Jewish thought and beliefs. 8 p.m. templebethemeth.org. 7–8:30p.m p.m. Once a month Middle School Service at Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Congregation (AARC) 7:30 p.m. For information, call (734) 665-4744. 2935 Birch Hollow Drive 913-9705 Shabbat Service: AARC. Every fourth Friday at Beth Israel Congregation (BIC) Thursday 20 Tuesday 25, the JCC. Tot Shabbat from 5:45–6:15 p.m. Pizza 2000 Washtenaw Ave. 665-9897 for the little ones at 6:15 p.m. Service at 6:30 Chabad House Does Time Stop in the World of Talmud Torah? Rosh Hodesh Adar p.m., followed by vegetarian potluck at 8 p.m. 715 Hill Street 995-3276 Frankel Center. Jonathan Boyarin, Cornell Uni- Childcare during service. All are welcome to at- versity, in conversation with Jack Kugelmass. Tea and Torah on Tuesday–for Women: Chabad. 8 Jewish Community Center (JCC) tend. For information, email [email protected], 2935 Birch Hollow Drive 971-0990 Longtime Lower East Side resident and veteran p.m. See first Tuesday of month. phone (734) 445-1910, or visit www.aarecon. Jewish Cultural Society (JCS) anthropologist Jonathan Boyarin will present his org. autoethnography of study at the neighborhood’s 2935 Birch Hollow Drive 975-9872 Shabbat Service: Chabad. Begins at candle light- last yeshiva. His paper will focus on the qualities Wednesday 26, Jewish Family Services (JFS) ing time. Home hospitality available for Shabbat of time in a world where, as his brother Daniel 2245 South State Street 769-0209 Rosh Hodesh Adar meals and Jewish holidays. Call (734) 995-3276 Boyarin once wrote, “A question asked in the six- Jewish Federation in advance. teenth century can be answered in the twelfth.” Judaism’s Gifts to the World: Chabad House. A 2939 Birch Hollow Drive 677-0100 With a response by Boyarin’s mentor and long- six-session course by the acclaimed Rohr Jewish Pardes Hannah time collaborator Jack Kugelmass. Room 2022, Weekly Shabbat services 2010 Washtenaw Ave. 761-5324 Learning Institute (JLI), unearthing the Jewish Shabbat Services: AAOM. Morning service at UM 202 S. Thayer St.1 pm Temple Beth Emeth (TBE) roots of some of the most cherished values of Hillel, 9:30 a.m. Home Hospitality for Shabbat Jewish Meditation with Linda Greene: Western civilization. 9 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. 2309 Packard Road 665-4744 TBE. 1-2 p.m., and Holiday Meals: Contact: welcome@annar- Yidish tish (Yiddish Conversation & Reading borminyan.org. UM Hillel Back Door Food Pantry: TBE. 4–7 p.m. 1429 Hill Street 769-0500 Group): JCC, Conference Room. For more in- Shabbat Services: BIC. 9:30 a.m. For other service Brotherhood Guys’ Night Out: TBE, Offsite. formation or to make certain that we are meet- times, visit www.bethisrael-aa.org. 6:30-8:00 p.m. ing on a specific day, please e-mail Elliot H. Talmud–Jewish Civil Law: Chabad. See first Gertel at [email protected] or call Lily Ladin at Thursday of month for details. 8 p.m.. (734) 662-6613 at least one day before scheduled My experience as a black woman continued from page 25 meeting day. 10:30 a.m. -- 12 noon. Theology Book Club: BIC - GSAC 2010 Lower Lev- ticket but he would waive it on condition the difference. The experience of the differ- el. Join the Theology Book Club to read and dis- that I tell him how I got my Ashkenazi family ence as a black person is not simple. There Friday 21 cuss books on Jewish thought and beliefs. 8 p.m. name. Of course I told him, and luckily I was is always the feeling that I am different, that saved from a ticket. I was happy that finally I am different from the rest of society. If I Lunch and Learn: TBE. Adult Lounge. Rabbi Thursday 27 my story and my skin color were in my favor. compare my values, my contribution to so- Whinston meets on Fridays for an informal dis- I was working as one of the cashiers at ciety, my life to a white person’s life, we are cussion about religion. Sessions are open to the entire community. Feel free to bring your lunch. Work in Progress Screening & Discussion: (Ver a store a few years ago and there was a long similar. But when put to the test, in Israeli Noon–1 p.m. Vet Blaybn?) Who Will Remain?: Frankel line. A customer was impatient and asked society we are different. Center. Christa Whitney, Yiddish Book Cen- Tot Shabbat Tastes Ann Abor: TBE. 6:15-6:45p.m. that we hurry up, adding “You blacks: Who Translated by Teddy Weisberger: I have ter’s Wexler Oral History Project, will present brought you here? Go back to where you been writing my bi-weekly column on life in Friday evening services: See listing at the end of a work-in-progress version of Ver Vet Blaybn? the calendar. Who Will Remain?, an hour-long documen- came from.” It’s sad to think that people look Israel since 1998, beginning with the Omaha tary following Israeli actress Hadas Kalderon upon blacks as a group that doesn’t belong Jewish Press (my wife is a native Omahan), as she retraces the extraordinary life journey of here, as a group set apart. And again, color and then self-syndicating to a few more pa- Saturday 22 her grandfather, the renowned Yiddish writer is decisive. pers three years later. Before making aliyah Avrom Sutzkever. Drawing on archival footage, There have been more than a few such in 1997 with my wife and five small chil- Torah Study: TBE. Weekly discussion of the Torah never-before-seen home videos, and interviews portion led by Rabbi Whinston 8:50 – 9:50 a.m. stories in my life, whether at work, in dating, dren, I was an assistant professor of religious from the Yiddish Book Center’s Wexler Oral in different interactions, or just with people studies at Florida International University in Tot Shabbat: BIC. This special Shabbat morning History Project, Ver Vet Blaybn? Who Will Re- program is for preschoolers and their parents main? is a personal and poetic tribute to one of who are very surprised to see me with my Miami. My “day job” today is as writer and with songs, stories, prayers, and the Shabbat our greatest and most courageous Yiddish writ- family. editor of academic articles for Ono Academ- “Mystery Box.” 11:15 a.m. ers. 2022 202 S. Thayer, 1-2:30 p.m. There are many types of racism and they ic College in Israel. When we made aliyah Jewish Meditation with Linda Greene: TBE. 1-2 are not absent from the State of Israel. But to Givat Ze’ev in 1997, Katriel and Naomi p.m., there is something about color and my visual Reichman were crucial to our successful ab- Sunday 23 Back Door Food Pantry: TBE. 4–7 p.m. appearance as a black woman that is espe- sorption, and their daughter Chava became Talmud–Jewish Civil Law: Chabad. See first Thurs- cially significant. It is a feature that cannot best friends with our daughter Ruthie. It is Taste of Gan: HDS. Hebrew Day School of Ann day of month for details. 8 p.m.. be ignored. Many things can be hidden or with great pleasure that I present (in transla- Arbor event for preschoolers and their family, at the JCC. Contact Esther Jakar office@hdsaa. blurred when you are “different,” but when tion) Chava’s words here, in honor of Martin org. 10 a.m. you are black you are black and people see Luther King Day. n Washtenaw Jewish News A February 2020 27 I Community

Twenty years and only the beginning Shternie Zwiebel, special to the WJN lot can happen in twenty years. The minutes from the center of town, the air- daily. arts and crafts for their Monday/Wednesday creation of the iPhone and rise of conditioned facility boasts a large cafeteria, But the upgrades don’t stop there. “We schedules, led by a special coach and art A social media, and the sad fade of impressive sports field, and an amazing love getting feedback from both our campers teacher specially picked for this demographic. cassette players, floppy disks, and CDs into playground. After seeing how much the and their parents,” said Zwiebel. “We recently Other changes affect the whole camp, such obscurity have all occurred in the last two campers enjoyed the campground last year, had a meeting with several camp parents and as changing the swim schedule to Mondays decades. But the last two decades have also and Wednesdays, and designating Fridays as seen the emergence of Camp Gan Israel of “Fun Friday!” dedicated to challah baking, Ann Arbor into a summer staple that the the ever-popular Shabbat celebration, and Jewish children of Ann Arbor look forward special surprise visitors and shows that the to attending year after year. campers are sure to love. Registration for the 2020 summer CGI’s twenty-first summer will also session, which runs from June 29 through feature an expanded iCamp schedule, as August 7, opens on February 1st, and camp well as additional family programming director Shternie Zwiebel believes that spots during camp, so that everyone can feel will fill up fast. “This is CGI’s twenty-first like part of the warm and welcoming CGI summer, which means that we have two family. Despite all these changes, one thing full decades worth of experience to build will remain the same, much to the delight on to make Summer 2020 the best one yet, of camper and counselor alike: Trip Week and parents know this,” she explains. “We’ve is here to stay! This year, trip week will take proved year after year that CGI is the place place the week of July 27, and as always, will to be, and this is even more true this year feature a field trip every single day. This with all the exciting updates we have made has been immensely popular in the past, to our program. Every summer at CGI is an and is sure to be equally popular for many amazing experience, but this year is truly one summers to come. that can’t be missed!” A lot can happen in twenty years. But one One such update is the relocation of the the decision to stay at Woodland Meadows we are excited to say that there are some big thing is certain–over the next twenty, and the campgrounds from the Clonlara School to for the 2020 summer session was an easy changes coming to the CGI schedule… for twenty after that, CGI Ann Arbor will keep Woodland Meadows, a location that CGI one. Of course, CGI will once again offer the better!” These changes include a new and growing and giving amazing summers to its used as a test-run last summer. Zwiebel their popular shuttle bus from Burns Park improved Pioneer Program for 5th through campers, year after year. n initially decided to relocate to Woodland to Woodland Meadows so that campers can 7th graders that allows the Pioneers to Meadows out of convenience–only twenty have a safe, smooth trip to and from camp choose between two tracks of either sports or

Building my future, thanks to Camp Tavor Chabad teaches course on Jewish by Hadas Kluger am writing from Israel, where I am on word “kvutzah” to mean our intimate and origins of Western civilization” Workshop 69, an 8-month gap year supportive community of friends who take Rabbi Mintz, special to the WJN I program coordinated through Habonim responsibility for one another. Currently, I’m Dror North America. Workshop is a program living collectively in an apartment in Rishon his winter, Rabbi Aharon Goldstein explained Rabbi Mordechai Dinerman, the in Israel where we volunteer, balancing study Litzion with fifteen other people from four of Chabad House Ann Arbor, Michi- director of curriculum at JLI’s New York and service while experiencing collective other Habonim Dror camps. As a part of the T gan will offer “Judaism’s Gifts to the headquarters, who is also the course’s editor. living. It gives us a chance to grow together program, I coordinate and facilitate youth World,” a new six-session course by the ac- “Even this contribution is often viewed development programming for high school claimed Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI), rather narrowly, as a religions contribution, students. I would have never come on this unearthing the Jewish roots of some of the which is only meaningful to those interested program if it weren’t for Camp Tavor and I most cherished values of Western civilization. in religion. But as this course demonstrates, will continue to be grateful for that. Beginning Wednesday, January 29, at 9 the universal change effected by the Torah is I have been going to Camp Tavor since a.m and 7:30 p.m, students will face toward much broader.” 2011 and have loved literally every minute Jerusalem to discover how common ideas of Dr. Darrin M. McMahon, the Mary of my Tavor experience. The people at Tavor personal responsibility, the inherent sancti- Brinsmead Wheelock Professor of History at have taught me so much about who I am as ty of human life, institutionalized universal Dartmouth College, has praised “Judaism’s a person and my life would be truly different education, human equality, the dignity of Gifts to the World” as timely and important: without my formative Tavor experiences. a day of rest and devotion to family, and a “There can be no doubt that the Jewish I’ve learned incredible lessons at Tavor, sense of purpose have their origins in an- contribution to the civilizations of the such as how to be a true friend, how to cient Judaism. West and the world is immense. At a time respectfully challenge ideas and how to voice “At a moment in which we are witnessing when noxious critics would doubt that my opinions. a rise in antisemitism, it is important to ex- contribution, or deny it altogether, the Back in the day, my dad worked at Camp plore what has been the true impact of Jews Jewish Learning Institute has offered a Tavor. Since then, my sister, brother, and and Judaism on civilization,” Rabbi Gold- timely reminder of the many gifts the Jewish I have all attended camp. I am so thankful stein of Chabad House, told WJN. “Under- tradition has bestowed. “Judaism’s Gifts to to have this family connection to Camp standing Judaism’s historical contribution the World” is a gift of its own, providing a Tavor and I can’t wait to bring back all the gives us a deeper appreciation for its con- scintillating course in the history of ideas knowledge I have learned on Workshop! tinuing relevance and a better understanding and culture by leading experts from around Camp Tavor is an inclusive and nurturing of how the moral and ethical institutions we the globe.” community where campers cultivate a strong take for granted came into being.” As with all JLI programs, “Judaism’s Gifts sense of social justice and environmental “Judaism’s Gifts to the World” explores to the World” is designed to appeal to people and connect deeper to Israeli culture and its responsibility, a connection with Israel, and tensions between social and individual at all levels of knowledge, including those history. Workshop is the longest running gap a positive personal Jewish Identity. responsibility, the implications of without any prior experience or background year program in Israel. Tavor has camp programs from five monotheism, the sacredness of human life, in Jewish learning. All JLI courses are open Deciding to go on Workshop was one of days to seven weeks for campers entering the meaning of social equality, how Sabbath to the public, and attendees need not be the hardest, yet most rewarding decisions I’ve 3rd grade through 12th. To learn more observance laid the groundwork for the affiliated with a particular synagogue, made. Ultimately, I decided I wasn’t ready about Camp Tavor summer and year-long modern weekend, and the underpinnings of temple, or other house of worship. Interested for college and wanted to live in Israel with programming check out our website at www. our morality. students may call 734-995-3276 x 2, or visit a loving and amazing “kvutzah.” At Camp camptavor.org, or contact us at 269-215- “It is widely known that Judaism gifted www.myJLI.com for registration and for Tavor–Habonim Dror’s summer camp in 1399 or [email protected]. n monotheism to the world, but for many, other course-related information. n Three Rivers, Michigan–we use the Hebrew that’s where the Jewish contribution ends,” 28 Washtenaw Jewish News A February 2020 I Rabbis' Corner

Understanding the Plague of Darkness Rabbi Jared Anstandig, special to the WJN e are generally familiar with the so severe. might disagree about the plague’s affect, Twilight Zone television series, a character ten plagues, reading them an- Rashi (11th century, France), in his neither explain how this plague had such a remarks about our ability to artificially fulfill W nually in the Torah and reciting commentary on this plague, references a severe impact. Dr. Devora Eshpizai, a retired human needs: “We can feed stomach with them (sometimes singing them?) yearly at rabbinic tradition that the darkness was more professor of Bible at Bar Ilan University, concentrates. We can supply microfilm for the Passover Seder. But, we don’t necessar- than just the absence of light. According to suggests that the secret to the severity is reading, recreation, even movies of a sort. ily pause to consider how the plagues actu- Rashi, the plague was a palpable thickness stated explicitly in the text itself. The Torah We can pump oxygen in and waste material ally impacted the that descended upon the Egyptians. This states (Ex. 10:22): “[Egyptians] could not see out. But there’s one thing we can’t simulate Egyptians. Some substance surrounding them was so thick, one another, and for three days no one could that’s a pretty basic need – man’s hunger for are easy to iden- Rashi elaborates, that the Egyptians were get up from where he was.” This, Dr. Eshpizai companionship, the barrier of loneliness.” tify, such as the completely immobilized. Rashi writes on notes, highlights the pain of the plague. Our greatest asset as people is our ability first plague when Exodus 10:22 that the thickness prevented In reality, the plague was not darkness. to bond together to create social groups for the water in Egypt even the simplest of motions: “One who was Darkness was merely a means to get to the supporting each other. At the same time, turned to blood, sitting was unable to stand, and one who was impact of this plague. The true plague was our greatest liability is our tendency to or the sixth plague standing was unable to sit down.” social isolation. For three days, the Egyptians exclude others from those very groups. Our when boils erupted Rabbi Baruch Epstein (19th century, could not communicate or interact with one responsibility to ourselves, to our neighbors, on the Egyptians. Belarus), in his Torah commentary called another. and to our community is to ensure than none Rabbi Jared Anstandig But, what of the Torah Temimah, also references this rabbinic Companionship is significant in Judaism. live in isolation, and that we offer all people ninth plague of darkness? What exactly was tradition. However, he understands this When Adam was all alone before Eve was the opportunity to feel a sense of belonging this plague and how was it so damaging to “thickness” of the darkness not as an created, God testifies, “It is not good for and camaraderie. the Egyptians? No doubt, an inability to see atmospheric thickness, but as an ocular one. man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). When a May we merit to see that which our is discomforting and difficult. But, as a the He explains in a comment to Exodus 10:21: certain Talmudic personality named Choni ancestors were granted during the plague of penultimate plague that immediately pre- “A thickness developed across the pupils of faced social isolation, he exclaims, “Give me darkness, that “all the Israelites enjoyed light ceded the most severe plague of the death of the Egyptians.” According to Rabbi Epstein friendship or give me death!” (Taanit 23a). in their dwellings” (Exodus 10:23). n the firstborn, one would expect something the plague of darkness was, in reality, a All of us, as humans, desire companionship. with more gravitas. Let us explore two un- plague of blindness. Without it, we cannot live. Indeed, in derstandings of this plague and why it was Still, while Rashi and Rabbi Epstein the inaugural episode of the original The

The Power of Repentance Rabbi Aharon Goldstein, special to the WJN n Shabbat, February 1 we read the God decided to remove the free-will from earlier plagues, when he had his own free- forgiveness, eventually God will accept the portion of the Torah that deals Pharaoh and make him suffer through the will, to release the Jewish people. repentance. True, that Heaven will not help O with the last three plagues and, last plagues as a punishment for his previous True, it was Pharaoh’s choice, in his this person, but through their own sincere, eventually, the exodus from Egypt. The read- arrogant choices to defy God’s will even wickedness to prevent the Jewish people persistent efforts eventually God will relent ing begins with God telling Moses that he though he had the opportunity to comply. from going out of Egypt and, therefore, at and forgive. should go to Pharaoh and warn him about This punishment of the locusts and the end, didn’t have the free-will to let them This is similar to Pharaoh’s predicament. the plague of the locusts. While God is telling subsequent plagues were “measure for out, so the question arises that since he He didn’t have any free-will to let the Jews Moshe to go to Pharaoh, He also tells him measure” punishments. This means that didn’t have free-will at the end, how could out so why should he be punished for that? that Pharaoh is not going to listen because God punishes people proportionately to he be punished for not letting the Jewish But, nevertheless, if he had pushed himself to his heart will be the degree of wickedness of their sins. In people out when it’s not within his ability? go against his impulse to keep the Jews, and hardened by God. this case, for example, when Moses came He didn’t have the ability or possibility to let vehemently and persistently pushed himself Consequently, to Pharaoh and told him, in the name of them out. If he had no ability to decide in to let them go, he could have overcome the Pharaoh will re- God, to let the Jewish people out of Egypt, favor of the Jewish people another question hardened heart and let the Jewish people go. fuse to release the Pharaoh’s immediate response was “who is arises: Why did God tell Moses to warn Therefore, he was punished because he didn’t Jewish people from this God that I have to obey Him?” So God Pharaoh about the plague of locusts, and try hard enough to overcome his urge to go their bondage in said, “Fine. You don’t know who I am? I’ll those that would follow, if Pharaoh had no against God’s will. Egypt. show you who I am! I’ll show you that you free-will to make the proper choice? The This story leads us to an important What do we don’t have full control of your actions. I can answer to this question can be found in the lesson regarding the power of Teshuva. Even learn from this? harden your heart and direct it to any way I book The Tanya, by Rabbi Schneur Zalman someone as wicked as Pharaoh still has the We learn that the desire in spite of what you think you desire.” of Liadi. In it the author says that there are ability to have his repentance accepted if he Rabbi Aharon Goldstein plague of the lo- This is what He showed to Pharaoh–that two levels by which a person can commit a insists on changing his ways and sincerely custs was not a punishment for Pharaoh’s even in areas where people think they have sin. One is a regular sin resulting from giving asking for forgiveness. refusal to release the Jewish people–because free-will, Pharaoh didn’t have it. He had to in to improper desires. This can be followed So if repentance is still available to a person God almighty hardened Pharaoh’s heart do what God wanted him to do. This was the by sincere repentance, which God accepts. as unimaginably wicked as Pharaoh, for sure to not let the Jewish people out! Why then “measure for measure.” Pharaoh said, “Who But what if a person deliberately sins with forgiveness is available to a person whose sins did God punish Pharaoh with the plague of is God?” God showed him: “Now you know the thought that they will use Teshuva and are much fewer and milder. Especially if that locusts when it was He who hardened Pha- who God is!”. receive forgiveness? They might think, “Since person has a portion of their soul that is a raoh’s heart to say no to Moshe’s demand? This verse tells us about the plague of the God is forgiving, I’ll do whatever I want part of God, as the Jewish soul. If they believe Some commentators answer this question locusts that showed Pharaoh how he was not and ask for forgiveness after the fact.” The in God, even while sinning, they always have by saying that Pharaoh got punished with in control of his own domain, he didn’t have Talmud says that, in a case like this, the ability the ability to do Teshuva and return to doing this plague because Pharaoh had free-will the full freedom to do whatever he wanted to do Teshuva and be forgiven is taken away God’s will. God even anticipates with joy the in the previous plagues and he chose to keep even when his slaves, servants, deputies and because the sin was committed deliberately return of this Jewish person even if they went the Jewish people enslaved. God did not advisors told him to “let the Jewish people with the premeditation that Teshuva will so far as to fall into the category of one who intervene in Pharaoh’s decision to refuse to go before all of Egypt is destroyed!” Pharaoh save them. A general rule is that Teshuva “can’t do Teshuva.” But that is only externally let the Jewish people go. It was Pharaoh’s called for Moses and intended to tell him to doesn’t help when the sin was pre-meditated and technically. If the person truly and decision in spite of Moshe’s warnings. take his people and go. But, at the last minute, and deliberate and with the intention to do sincerely cares to do Teshuva, they can always During the first plagues he had the ability to he made it conditional–in order to prevent Teshuva in this manner. Nevertheless, The return to God in “the blink of an eye.” n let the Jewish people out–but wickedly chose Moses from taking his people out. So at that Alter Rebbe, Rabbi Schneur Zalman says if to go against God’s will. As a punishment point, God again had hardened his heart and a person genuinely felt great remorse after for exhibiting arrogance toward God when he didn’t have the free-will to let the Jewish committing this type of sin, and knows that Moshe told him that it was God’s will that the people go. This is the answer to the question repentance (Teshuva) will not work–if they Jews be released and making the incorrect of why God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. It was are persistent in their feelings of sincere choices in the plagues prior to the locusts, to punish him for not choosing, during the remorse and in their pleadings to God for

Washtenaw Jewish News A February 2020 29 I Around Town

Snapshots in time: a review of “Take Your Pick” at UMMA By Deborah Dash Moore ver since Eastman Kodak invented “You press the button, we do the rest,” con- reminders of divorces or quarrels or deaths Nineteenth Century, should be chosen? Or the box camera in 1888, all sorts of vinced everyone that anyone could take a that didn’t bear remembering. What one should UMMA acquire one of the World E people who could afford to purchase photograph. As someone seeking to raise generation wanted to preserve, the next War II photographs of young men in uni- a camera have indulged its power to fix the caliber of photography to an art form, generation often considered a burden. form that documented a crucial period in and transform vision. The famous Jewish Stieglitz recognized how the box camera Many of these anonymous photographs American history? American photographer Alfred Stieglitz popularized photography as a democratic ended up in flea markets or other random The exhibit offered seemingly end- despised the box camera. He compared it pastime rather than an elite mode of art. places where collectors could cheaply ac- less choices prompting viewers to reflect to the bicycle craze that swept America in Snapshots, the term for the type of pho- quire them. Peter J. Cohen started col- upon which pictures moved them, which the same years. Kodak’s alluring slogan, tographs taken with a simple box camera, lecting discarded snapshots, or “found ones they really liked. It invited people soon competed with more photographs,” and categorizing them, see- not just to choose but to write down what formal studio portraits. ing them as unparalleled social documents they thought about specific photographs. As the word suggested, offering a window into worlds and times UMMA subsequently scanned both photo snapshots captured all past. His storied collection of over 60,000 and comments and put them together on- sorts of moments. Pic- photos divided into a hundred categories line. This democratic process included all tures of family outings, has provided the source for books and, age groups. of prized possessions most recently, an exhibit, “Take Your Pick: When I visited in December, another and scenes of beauty, of Collecting Found Photographs,” at Univer- woman commented how several of the celebrations and times sity of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA). photographs could have been hers: same of triumph soon crowd- Assistant Curator of Photography Jen- living room window, same style furniture ed living room mantels nifer M. Friess selected 1000 photographs and wallpaper. Just different people sitting and filled photo albums. from Cohen’s collection, mounted them on the couch in front of the window. These photographs pri- on walls of UMMA in its new ArtGym At the time of my visit, photograph marily pictured the mid- gallery, and invited the public to choose number 1000 had the most votes. It por- dle class. The subsequent their favorites. On the wall she posted key trayed a young couple in bathing suits invention of the Brownie questions: “Who and what should be rep- standing on the sand, with the sea behind camera transformed resented in the Museum’s collection, and them. He has his arm around her and looks snapshots. They became how should we decide? What will future at her solicitously while she looks at the ubiquitous; so much so, audiences think is important for the Mu- camera. The date stamped on the side of that tons of them were seum to display and study from twentieth- the print is 1954. Looking at the photo to- discarded. century American life?” day, however, what stands out is that he is There were lots of rea- The opportunity to play curator attract- white and she is black. The photo reminds sons to throw out pho- ed tens of thousands of entries. Should the us that even in the 1950s, before the Civil tographs: perhaps they photograph of a brick wall be acquired? Rights movement transformed America, were blurred, or they Should the somewhat blurry picture of a women and men actually bridged the bar- portrayed people who person leaping join the collection? What riers segregating African Americans. had died and could no about the young African American man For this article I nominated two photo- longer be identified, or standing next to his automobile? Or may- graphs with specific Jewish content. they conveyed memories be one of the scenic shots? Perhaps one of One (848) is a version of the classic that left a bitter taste— the very old photographs, dating to the bar mitzvah boy photo and appears to be posed. A bespectacled young man wearing a tallit stands in front of what may be the parochet covering the ark (there is Hebrew lettering on the cloth). He holds an open book and looks down, pretending to read. The yarmulke on his head is white and he wears a white shirt and tie for the occasion. The mood is reverent. The second photograph (430) captures a moment in Jewish time. It depicts a boy in short pants playing in front of a fire- place with a Chanuka menorah with can- dles on the mantelpiece. Bookcases filled with books flank the fireplace. The books include a number that appear to be part of a series, perhaps an encyclopedia. A large stuffed chair with a white crocheted doily stands to the right of the fireplace. Above it, in front of the window, sits a heavy met- al clock. Over the fireplace is a painting of the city with tall buildings, while next to the menorah are a pair of framed photo- graphs. Although the frame and placement next to the menorah suggest ancestors, one cannot know. All of the details indicate a type of prosperous Jewish home. Found photographs invite storytelling, and an attention to details to try to imag- ine what motivated the photographer. Professional photographers similarly seek out stories. For a chance to glimpse the world of New York City’s Vanished Caf- eterias, visit the Lane Hall exhibit of pho- tographs taken in 1975 by Marcia Bricker Halperin. n

30 Washtenaw Jewish News A February 2020 I Frankel Center

Vanished Cafeterias: Marcia Bricker Halperin exhibit Kelsey Robinette Keeves, special to the WJN n exhibit of photographs of the store windows, my fingers froze solid onto the process of developing, it hooked me.” from teaching, she has been revisiting her cafeterias that fed New Yorkers in my Honeywell Pentax camera,” recalled Hal- After graduating with a Master of Fine Arts early work, which inspired her to approach A the early to mid-Twentieth Cen- perin. “That’s when I headed through the from Brooklyn College, she was selected to be future work with a fresh lens. “There was tury will be featured in the Institute for Re- revolving doors into Dubrow’s Cafeteria. I a part of the CETA Artists Project in New York a drive to be creative and do things that is search on Women and Gender’s gallery in took a ticket from the man at the door and City, a federally funded employment program kind of hard to recreate. I think I’m striving Lane Hall during the 2020 Winter Semester. found myself looking out at a tableau of for artists that operated from 1978 to 1980. toward to that again. I’m trying to inspire Marcia Bricker Halperin kicked off the ex- amazing faces. There was light, reflections, The program connected unemployed artists myself through my past work.” hibit of her photographs with a lecture titled patterns, textures, sweeping architectural with community sponsors to develop pub- She is currently working on a documen- features and remarkable subjects lic artworks, give performances, and teach tation project of Hasidim celebrating Jew- all for the price of a cup of coffee, classes. One of her projects was working with ish holidays at Coney Island that originally then 25 cents.” tenant organizers at Housing Conservation started in 1981. She remarked that between Her lecture focused on the Coordinators. She documented the Hell’s archiving her photos from the 1970s and role cafeterias played assimilat- Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, taking 80s, and her current documentation work ing Jewish culture into the main- pictures of apartments that were neglected by she can see a thread that connects her work stream of twentieth-century landlords to help the tenants win lawsuits and from the very beginning to now. “I have America and vice versa. Cafete- advocate for homesteaders. found that over the years photography is my rias like Dubrow’s served popular After the CETA project ended, she way to understand my place in the Jewish Jewish style dishes, like blintzes, worked for the New York City Department community.” n as well as less traditional dishes, of Education, teaching art and special educa- like shrimp salad. “It became a tion for over 35 years. Since her retirement place to experience the world outside of what you would have at home,” stated Halperin. “I look forward to having people learn about the golden era of cafete- rias, a time when self-serve res- “Kibitz & Nosh: NYC’s Vanished Cafeterias” taurants were in every city and contributed at the Frankel Center on January 16. to vibrant civic life.” As a young art student, Halperin found She first discovered her passion for pho- that cafeterias gave her a window into the tography while studying art at Brooklyn Col- lives of people she wouldn’t usually come lege. “The subtlety of tone in photography across in her everyday life. “One Febru- just touched me. It appeals as an art to me. ary day, while photographing reflections in To control tones and light, when I got it to

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Washtenaw Jewish News A February 2020 31 I Inside Israel

Celebrating Novy God and Hanuchrismas in Israel by Shifra Epstein first observed the holiday of Novy God, year on the night of December 31, was actu- dolls and synthetic spruce trees adorned pality of Kiryat Ekron on the border with the Russian New Year, celebrated by ally invented by Stalin who introduced the with tinsel and baubles. Especially popular Rehovot. Goliyan is one of the largest com- I Israelis from the former Soviet Union Novy God after the 1917 Bolshevik Revolu- among Israelis and Russians were colorful panies in Israel specializing in importing (FSU) during my residence in Rehovot, Is- tion as a secular alternative to the religious lights to wrap around the tree. and retailing household decorations. Each rael in 2017. It coincided with the new hip holiday of Christmas. When I visited the shop several days be- year, two weeks before Christmas the com- trend of celebrating Hanuchrismas among Novy God was brought to Israel during fore Novy God, I noticed a woman with her pany conducts an exhibition of thousands Israelis. Novy God in celebrating the new the great wave of immigration of nearly a daughter, an officer in the Israeli army, con- of objects for Christmas, mostly imported million Russian speakers (known in Israel sulting with Alon about which tree to buy. from China. It seems that Christmas has as Russian Jews). The holiday incorporates From my conversation with the daughter, I also arrived to Israel. However, Christmas several features from the Christmas holiday discovered that it was quite common to re- in Israel is a topic for another article. n including decoration of the home with a lease FSU soldiers so that they can celebrate tree, Yolka; and with the Santa-like char- Novy God with their families. They bought acter known as Ded Moroz, “Grandfather a palm tree, as a Yolka, and were on their Frost,” or “Father Frost.” way to Tiv Taam (Best Taste), the supermar- An interesting perspective on Novy God ket known for its Russian delicacies from is provided by one of my favorite stores in the old country such as herring, caviar, and Rehovot, Arayot Haaretz (The Lions of the jellied calf’s foot, as well as vodka and bub- Land), located downtown on Had Ha’Am bly wine to toast the New Year. Street in the midst of a cluster of shops Both Novy God and Hanuchrismas have owned by Jews of the FSU. Arayot Haaretz taken over restaurants and shop windows specializes in books and souvenirs mostly where Christmas trees and Santa Clauses made in Russia. Alon, the owner, who are exhibited side-by-side with Chanukah sports a knitted kipa, is a member of Dati- menorahs lit with candles. On TV, perform- Leumi, the National Religious party. He has ers dressed like Santa Claus sing Chanukah no problem selling a red string bracelet to songs to Christmas melodies. In the picture, guard against evil side by side with icons of you can see how the supermarket Tiv Taam Russian Saints. My visit there in 2017 was has appropriated the Hanuchrismas trend the Chinese Year of the Rooster, and the to package and sell Sandman Port sparkling shop was crowded with miniature colorful wine “for members only,” with Happy Ha- glass roosters. nuchrismas Ho Ho Ho printed on it. Two weeks before Novy God, the shop While in Rehovot, I also visited the M. Y. twinkled with a bountiful display of Santa D Goliyan company, located in the munici-

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32 Washtenaw Jewish News A February 2020 I Obituaries

Toby Citrin, a long-time adjunct Universi- Elizabeth Brown Ensor (Thomson), with his beloved Ellie, chatting with neighbors member of Temple Judah in Cedar Rapids, ty of Michigan professor in the Department born January 14, 1927 in Glasgow, Scotland, along the way.The family would like to thank including serving on the synagogue board. of Health Management and Policy, died Jan- died November 23, 2019 in Belmont, the staff at Aurora St. Luke’s Neuro ICU for From his youth he loved classical music and uary 6, 2020, at the age of 85 in Santa Barba- Michigan. Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, their outstanding and compassionate care. enjoyed concerts at home and away. Anyone ra, California. He was a and great-grandmother. Betty was born in who knew him was aware of his relentless lawyer by training, but Glasgow, Scotland to James and Elizabeth optimism. Jerry is survived by his wife of 69 his first love was advo- Evelyn Lillian Liberman (nee Horow- years, Ina; his children, Deborah (Richard Brown Thomson. While her parents were was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1928, cating for social justice. itz) Ball) and Michael; brother-in-law, Barry Head; becoming established in the U.S., she spent and attended Central High School. In 1947 she Toby grew up in De- grandchildren, Sarah (Joshua Hakala), Joshua most of her youth living in Scotland with her married Murray Liberman and remained hap- troit, attended Harvard and Jacob Ball and Zoë Loewenberg; and three beloved “Nanny,” her grandmother Catherine pily married for 70 years. She and Murray ran College and Harvard great-grandchildren. Online condolences MacLachlan Brown. Liberman’s Delicatessen in Detroit until they Law School, and spent may be sent to www.lensingfuneral.com. Betty’s skill and ingenuity in solving prob- sold it in 1961. She then the next 10 years work- lems of all kinds were grounded in her mantra, worked as a secretary in ing in his Detroit-centered family business. “What would Nanny the Southfield school Darlene Weisblatt Mood, 6/24/1936 - After the business was sold he transitioned do?” Betty immigrated system and later opened 1/11/2020 Ypsilanti. Darlene Weisblatt Mood into academe when a series of voluntary to the U.S. in the height a knit shop in South- died suddenly in the evening on 1/11/2020. She positions in Detroit’s and Michigan’s health of World War II, on the field. Eventually she was a mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, cousin, systems led to his being invited to join the last military convoy that worked for Hospice of and very dear friend to many. She was a devot- UM Public Health faculty. evacuated civilians from Southeastern Michigan ed wife to her husband of many years. Darlene Throughout his career, Citrin held nu- the British Isles. She (now called Hospice of was born in Watertown, Wisconsin to a her merous positions on state and local public excelled academically, Michigan), where among beloved father, Arnold Weisblatt and mother health planning, policy, and advisory bod- graduated from high other accomplishments she was instrumental Rose Weisblatt. Her younger brother Edward ies and chaired the governor’s commission school at age 16, and at- in starting The Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy was born several years later. Darlene was the that developed Michigan’s new public health tended business school, often tutoring her older Network. In the 1970s she and Murray opened apple of her father’s eye and was devoted to code in the late 1970’s. Citrin’s research fo- classmates in shorthand and bookkeeping. Betty Liberman’s Meat Products; while there Evelyn him throughout her life. She spent her early life cused on community-based public health lived with her parents in Hamilton, Ontario and worked on getting the Worker Compensation with her beloved Grandmother, Aunts, Uncles practice and public health genomics and pol- Vancouver, British Columbia before settling in bill signed into law in Michigan. and cousins in Chicago icy development, where he worked to bring Detroit, where she met and, on August 14, 1948, Illnois and later moved to awareness on the effects of genetics and the She was the daughter of the late Sarah married the love of her life, Ronald Ensor. Betty Milgrom Horowitz Kalish and the late Elia Michigan to pursue her environment on health to communities of worked as an administrative assistant at a large undergraduate degree in color and to K-12 schools across Michigan. Horowitz; sister of the late Louis (the late insurance company in Detroit before starting a Helen) Horowitz, the late Joseph (the late music therapy. Later in life Well known for his advocacy, Citrin family. She then turned her formidable skills to she returned to school and played a significant role in developing and Doris) Horowitz, the late Max (the late running her household. Betty’s many talents in- Beatrice) Horowitz, and the late Lawrence (the graduated with a doctoral coordinating community public health pro- cluded gardening, handicrafts of all kinds, and degree in psychology. She grams. This work led to the establishment late Phyllis) Horowitz; and the wife of the late writing poetry. Her greatest gift was her genuine Murray Liberman. Evelyn and Murray moved was a valued professor at of groundbreaking community-based pub- interest in, and compassion for, other people. Wayne State University in lic health initiatives including the Detroit- from Southfield to Detroit and enjoyed living She doted on her family and friends with un- in the city for 31 years before moving to Glacier the college of nursing and contributed a great Genesee County Community-Based Public conditional love, kindness, and generosity; as deal to our understanding of patient self-care. Health Consortium, which laid the founda- Hills Senior Living Community in Ann Arbor. one friend put it, “She made me feel like what She is survived by her children Anita Liberman- Darlene developed a number of tools utilized tion for the school’s community-academic I did mattered, and also like I was enough no by cancer survivors which helped improve both partnerships in Detroit and Flint. Lampear (Alan Lampear), Reena Liberman matter what I did.” (Peter Nagourney), and Wallace Liberman their quality of life and survival rate by teaching Citrin was director of the W.K. Kellogg Betty was deeply loved by everyone whose them skills in self-care. She cared deeply for the Foundation-funded Community Health (Stephanie Dickinson); her grandchildren lives she touched. Betty is survived by her son Sara Lampear, Ari Lampear (Caren Minkoff), people she helped as well the many colleagues Scholars Program, which trained a group of Douglas (Joy Wolfe) Ensor and daughter Debra and students she worked with over a very long postdoctoral scholars in community-based Tal Nagourney, Micah Nagourney, Shayna Martin; grandchildren Sarah (Ingrid Diran) Liberman, Tori (Cameron) Burke, and Kayli and successful career. Darlene had a wide and participatory research based at Michigan Ensor, Will (Katie) McConnell, Tim (Melissa) varied circle of close friends. She was known Public Health, the University of North Caro- Liberman; and her great-grandchildren Eva McConnell, and Hannah (Aisha Sabatini and Ammi Lampear. She is also survived by for her intelligence, loyalty, deep commitment lina at Chapel Hill, Johns Hopkins Univer- Sloan) Ensor; and great-grandchildren Taylor, many loving cousins, nieces and nephews. to her friends and the joy with which she gave sity, and Morgan State University. Citrin Crystianna, Brayden and Sullivan McConnell parties and gifts. Darlene loved music and art was also instrumental in the creation of the and Lily and Beau Taylor. She was preceded in and played a mean game of Bridge. She loved Community-Based Public Health Caucus of death by her parents, infant grandson Daniel Gerhard “Jerry” Loewenberg, 91,of Io- the water and traveling and enjoyed many eve- the American Public Health Association. Ensor, sister Cathie Falin, son-in-law Randy was City, died peacefully at home on Dec. 28, nings in the large gardens of her home of 30 In addition to his work as an adjunct pro- Howard, and her beloved Ron. In lieu of 2019. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be years. Darlene loved to relax with friends in fessor in the Department of Health Manage- flowers, donations may be made to Emmanuel made to Iowa City Hospice or Temple Judah. deep, thoughtful conversation. She was deeply ment and Policy, Citrin was also director of Hospice, the University of Michigan LSA He was born in Berlin, loved by many and will be missed. Donations the Center for Public Health and Commu- Emergency Scholarship Fund at https:// Germany, Oct. 2, 1928, to can be made in her name to the American Can- nity Genomics (CPHCG) and co-director leadersandbest.umich.edu/find/#!/give/basket/ Walter and Annemarie cer Society. of the University of Michigan Life Sciences fund/314649, or the charity of your choice. (Cassirer) Loewenberg. and Society Program (UMLSSP). Through- He, his parents and his sis- ter, Marianne, emigrated Renée Eisenberg out his career he was highly regarded for his Jay H.Lessing, of Milwaukee, passed away Renée Eisenberg passed away peacefully to New York in 1936. Jerry commitment to social justice, community peacefully on November 1, 2019 at the age of in the arms of her immediate family, and graduated from Bronx engagement, and integrity in scholarship. 64 years. Beloved husband of Jo-Anne Lessing surrounded by other High School of Science in He had a broad network of colleagues at the (nee Barczak) for 32 years. Loving son of Fan- family members, on 1945, and continued his school and in universities and communities chon Lessing. Dear brother of Louise (Alan) December 8, 2019, in education at Cornell Uni- across the country who counted him as a col- Fligiel. Fond brother-in-law of Craig (Barbara) Santa Cruz, California. versity, where he earned his bachelor’s, master’s laborator, mentor, and friend. Barczak, Cheryl Barczak, and Janice (James) She is survived by her and doctoral degrees in government. His work in Public Health connected him Wilkins. Further sur- three children, Sharon Jerry married Ina Perlstein on Aug. 22, 1950. to another of his social justice engagements, vived by nieces, neph- Mullowney, Joseph In 1953, he joined the faculty at Mount Holyoke work for a two-state solution of the Israeli ews, other relatives and Eisenberg and Andrea College in South Hadley, Mass., where he taught Palestinian conflict. After the Oslo Accords friends. Jay worked in Eisenberg, her sister in the department of political science until were signed in 1993, Citrin worked to form the machine trades for Gitta Ryle, and grand- 1969, serving also as acting academic dean of a connection with Palestinian health organi- 15 years before leaving to children Chloe and Heather Mullowney, Sophie the college in the turbulent year, 1968 to 1969. zations conducting research and developing finish his college degree and Thea Spindel and Eli and Celeste Meisel. Jerry moved to the University of Iowa in 1969, community-based clinics throughout the at the age of 46. After Renée was born Renée Spindel in Vienna where he was a professor of political science un- West Bank. His continuing relationship with completing his Bachelors Austria in 1929, where she lived until the age of til his retirement in 2003. During that period, Palestinian colleagues and his many visits of Arts degree in 2002, 10, when the Nazis invaded. She and her sister, he also served as chair of the political science to Israel and the occupied territories led to he became a Para Pro- Gitta, age 7, escaped on their own to France department more than once, and was dean of his conviction that the status-quo could not fessional Teacher’s Aide at Milwaukee Public through the support of the “OSE” Oeuvre de the College of Liberal Arts from 1984 through last. He became active in J Street where he Schools working with special needs and autistic Secours Aux Enfants while their mother re- 1992. Jerry founded the Comparative Legisla- became a national leader, and coordinated its children. He retired in 2015. He loved fishing; mained behind to look after her parents. The tive Research Center at the university and the advocacy activities in Michigan. with an emphasis on fly fishing and fly tying. two girls were taken in by a string of brave orga- professional academic journal, Legislative Stud- Citrin was a founding member of De- His love of the sport only increased as he and his nizations, individuals, a convent and finally the ies Quarterly. He was an elected member of the troit’s Temple Israel in the 1940s; a creator, wife took many trips out to Montana to fish and Rivoires, a farm family in the south of France. American Academy of Arts and Sciences. with Carl Levin, of a Reconstructionist con- explore the beauty of the west. His last trip out Renee maintained a close relationship with the After his retirement, Jerry continued to gregation in Detroit; and a few years ago was a “guys” trip in September. Jay had many in- Rivoires for the rest of her life. write and publish as well as to teach courses joined Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Con- terests and hobbies including hiking, road trips, Seven years later, the girls reunited with regularly. He also taught popular classes at the gregation. history, music, and walking the neighborhood their mother in England, and the three of them Iowa City Senior Center. Jerry was a longtime Continued on page 34 Washtenaw Jewish News A February 2020 33 I Vitals We can’t help Condolences Louise Fligiel and Fanchon Lessing on the death of brother and son, Jay Lessing, November 1. you pronounce Anita Liberman-Lampear on the death of her mother, Evelyn Liberman, November 10. Albert Hermalin on the death of his wife, Jolene Hermalin, November 14. Doug Ensor (Joy Wolfe Ensor) on the death of his mother, Elizabeth Ensor, November 23. Trina Romolino Fuller (James Fuller) on the death of her father, Benedetto Romolino Jr., “Worcestershire.” November 24. Renee Pinsky on the death of her mother, Hannah Wayne, November 20. Valerie Galler on the death of her sister, Ruth Ferguson, December 2. Nanette Gill on the death of her husband, Stephen Gill, December 4. Joe Eisenberg and Ella August on the death of Joe’s mother, Renée Eisenberg on December 8. Nanette Gill on the death of her mother, Ina Mae Goodman, December 17. Deborah Ball, Sarah Hakala, Jacob Ball, and Joshua Ball on the death of father and grandfather, Gerhard Loewenberg, December 28. Zevi Bareket on the death of his father, Arie Buchwalter, December 29. The family of Toby Citrin on his death, January 4 in California.

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moved to Detroit, Michigan within a year. and daughter Sharon and family friends. Until Though Renée had to learn English and catch the end of her life, Renée cherished being with up on formal schooling that she missed during family and consuming lots of chocolate and pas- the war, she persevered, becoming a nurse a few tries, going to concerts, and enjoying the ocean. years after being relocated to the United States. In lieu of flowers, please consider sending While in nursing school Renée met her donations to: “OSE” Oeuvre de Secours Aux husband Morris Eisenberg (Nov. 23, 1925 – Enfants - May 16, 2016) to whom she was married for Stephen Joel Gill, 72, of Ann Arbor, Michi- 63 years. Renée and Morris raised their three gan, died on December 4, 2019. Beloved husband children in Northridge, California, near Los of 49 years of Nanette Gill. Angeles. She made sure that her children expe- Devoted son of the late rienced the things that she missed out on dur- Udell and the late Jessie ing her childhood: they participated in sports, music, dance, art lessons. She used her nursing Gill. Loving son-in-law of skills by volunteering for the Red Cross. She Ina Mae Goodman and also volunteered in nursing homes to teach the late Gene Goodman. arts and crafts. She enjoyed biking at the beach, Cherished brother of Through its dedicated staff and volunteers, and in cooperation playing tennis and exploring new places in LA Daniel (the late Rose Mc- with a wide range of community partners, JFS strives to be a with her walking group. She and Morris trav- Nulty) Gill and Charles eled the world, and Renee especially loved her (Sylvia) Gill. Dear broth- catalyst for meeting the human service needs of all people of many visits to her French family. er-in-law of Robert (Patricia) Goodman. Proud Washtenaw County In 2016, Renée and Morris relocated to uncle of Matthew Gill and Aaron Gill. Interment Santa Cruz to be near family. The last years of at Arborcrest Memorial Park. n Renée’s life were connected to her sister Gitta Sixth consecutive 4-star rating (734) 429-1040 More from Charity Navigator - the www.capstonetf.com(734) 429-1040 www.capstonetf.com Financially Healthy, highest possible rating Accountable, and than 2019 GuideStar Platinum Seal Your Taxes Made Easy. Transparent MentionYour Washtenaw Taxes Jewish Made News and Easy. receive $50 off. 91% of other of Transparency- the highest Mention Washtenaw Jewish News and receive $50 off. 511 E. Michigan Ave, Saline (Located in the Busch’s Shopping Plaza) Charities level of recognition offered 511 E. Michigan Ave, Saline (Located in the Busch’s Shopping Plaza) Gabriel Sandler, EA Gabriel Sandler, EA

34 Washtenaw Jewish News A February 2020 Israel Center @ the presents What’s So Funny About Israel? Benji Lovitt brings his unique insider/outsider perspective to the absurdities and realities of Jewish life on both sides of the planet. Join us to narrow the gap between Israel and the US by laughing together.

Presented free of charge via generous support from the D. Dan and Betty Kahn Foundation. Sunday, February 23, 2020 45:30PM @ Beth Israel Congregation 2000 Washtenaw Avenue Co-sponsored by Beth Israel Congregation and Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor.

Washtenaw Jewish News A February 2020 35 The Summer 2020 fun Begins June 29- August 7 CAMP GAN

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36 Washtenaw Jewish News A February 2020