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 Tavor Looking Harold Ann Arbor, MI 48108 Permit No. 85 Musicale For Grinspoon Rose page 6 page 8 page 20 October 2020 Tishrei/Cheshvan 5781 Volume XX Number 2 FREE Shake Local By Rabbi Nate DeGroot and Hazon Detroit tic core, the particular species that are to be 50 metric tons of carbon pollution. Does that to Michigan’s local plant-life, while honoring ur rabbis say (Tosafot, Suk. 37b) shaken. That was a later rabbinic interpreta- add to the joy of the singing trees? Shaking a the Torah roots of the lulav instruction? that when we shake the lulav tion and discussion. So then, returning to our bundle of plant life where only one of the four On Sukkot, we shake the lulav to bring O and etrog on Sukkot, “the trees original question: What are the conditions species, willow, grows in Michigan — does down rain from the sky to water our crops of the forest sing with joy.” So that got us and give us new life come spring. Do we to wondering, what are the conditions that think we’ll be able to conjure more rain with might allow the trees around us to sing with plants that are foreign to this soil, or plants the greatest amount of joy during the holi- that were once rooted in this soil? We asked: day season? In a normal year on Sukkot, the How might using local lulavim impact our United States imports upwards of 500,000 ability to connect with the earth that sur- lulavim from Israel and Egypt so that we can rounds us and how might using local lulavim construct our traditional lulavim bundles us- impact the forest’s ability to “sing with joy”? ing the familiar palm fronds, willow, myrtle, With all of this in mind, last year Hazon and citron. This combination of species has Detroit supplied local lulavim and local lu- become so definitional that most of us prob- lav education to a variety of programs and ably don’t even consider that a lulav could organizations, from synagogues to a food be constructed any other way. But the origi- pantry, from a religious school to The Jew- nal text is not so clear. In Torah (Lev 23.40), ish Federation. And each time, we posed where we’re first told about the four species, these questions and gave folks an opportu- the text simply says: nity to make and shake their own local lulav On the first day you shall take the fruit bundles. This year we also supplied lulavim of beautiful trees, fronds of palm-shaped made of local plants. trees, branches of woven trees, and valley- that might allow the trees around us to sing that make for joyous tree singing? Or what Of course, this is just one example of willows, and you shall rejoice before YHVH with the greatest amount of joy? would it look like and feel like to harvest spe- what it might look like to continue to rei- your God for seven days. Importing 500,000 lulavim from over cies that grow nearby with our own hands, magine and reconstruct a Judaism that is re- 6,000 miles away could produce an estimated and assemble a lulav bundle that pays homage Nowhere does it determine, at its linguis- Continued on page 2 Power of the collective: A source of strength, resolve and renewal by Eileen Freed and Randy Milgrom he new Jewish year of 5781 has begun. in innovative Jewish programming from On the other side of the Now comes Sukkot — a time to cel- around the world, and connect with family world, our partners at the Tebrate, but also to contemplate and and friends in new ways. Jewish Agency for Israel have experience the fragility of life, as represented Jewish Federations of North America made loans to devastated Jew- by the Sukkah. Who would have anticipated, (JFNA) leaders quickly assembled the national ish communities in Europe in the fall and winter of 5780, how imminently networks representing the core organizations and South America, and the fragile we are — that a global COVID-19 pan- of Jewish life, as well as leading philanthro- JDC has supported the strug- demic would bring such tremendous instabil- pists — and swung into action. Here in gling nonprofit sector in Israel ity and uncertainty, immediately changing the Washtenaw County, with JFNA’s guidance, the as well as the needy in other way we work, teach our children, care for one Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor (JF- countries. Our own 2020 another, and maintain our Jewish traditions. GAA) convened our local Jewish communal Annual Community Cam- Schools and businesses, closed. Millions of organizations and provided information and paign allocated funds to our jobs, gone. Cherished lives, lost. resources to successfully apply for Paycheck partners in Israel — such as Yet we’ve also seen remarkable resilience Protection Program loans that helped them Hand in Hand Schools and and leadership. Essential workers — those stay solvent while continuing to pay dedicated Youth Futures — to help them who care for the sick, keep us safe, and ensure employees even as they were forced to halt or continue to provide essential we have food on our tables — have inspired us adjust programming. Eileen Freed Randy Milgrom services in new ways as they with their courage and dedication. As our 2020 Annual Community Cam- $83,000 of their own — to support local or- likewise have adjusted to the Jewish congregations and organizations, paign was winding down, our new COVID ganizations, congregations, and individuals realities of physical distancing. both large and small, have deftly shifted pro- Emergency Fund was ramping up. From its facing pandemic-related financial crises. Fed- As long as this crisis persists, the Jewish gramming and operations to remote plat- reserves, the Jewish Federation seeded the erations across the country have collectively Federation of Greater Ann Arbor — along forms. Using Zoom, we’ve gathered to console fund with $75,000 — which generous com- raised $175 million in emergency funds to ad- mourners, provide crisis counseling, engage munity donors more than matched with dress the needs of their communities. Continued on page 10 IFrom the Editor am still feeling the shock wave from the pers, physically held and read by members erev Rosh Hashanah death of Justice of a community. Last night I watched the IRuth Bader Ginsburg. While Justice 1999 documentary The Black Press: Sol- Stephen Breyer was reciting the mourn- diers without Swords, as a reminder of the ers kaddish during virtual livestreaming critical role of community newspapers, as 2935 Birch Hollow Drive services with Central Synagogue in New sources of advocacy, varied opinion, per- Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108 York City, he got the call from U.S. Mar- sonal achievements and news of important (734) 395-4438 shalls about the Justice’s death. Soon, the current events. If you have a story you www.washtenawjewishnews.org entire Jewish world, and then the rest of the want to tell, news or an opinion you want [email protected] world would know. I am struck that because to share, send them to me. of the holiday and because so many of us The Washtenaw Jewish News is en- Editor and Publisher were using electronic communication to be tirely supported by advertising. Do you Clare Kinberg together, nearly the entire Jewish commu- have a service or business you’d like the nity experienced the sadness of the Justice’s entire Washtenaw Jewish community to Advertising Manager death together. And then thoughts of her know about? Contact me. And, please, let Gordon White optimism, her view of humankind’s ability advertisers know that you saw their ad in Design and Layout to move forward, one step at a time, also the WJN. Dennis Platte washed over us, together. All on the eve of a Chag sameach, find a Sukkah to enjoy, new, and fateful, year. Do yourself a favor: Clare Kinberg or as the article on page 4 suggests, step Staff Writers when you’re done reading this, watch the outside and appreciate the fall air! n Lonnie Sussman five minute video on YouTube “Ruth Bader I am an old-fashioned news junkie; I’m Ginsburg Tribute/Hallelujah, Central Syna- online all day reading news, and at the Contributing Writers gogue- Rosh Hashanah 5781.” same time, I’m still committed to newspa- Marianne Aaron, Yuni Aaron, Rabbi Jared Anstandig, Michael Appel, Leah Berger, Rabbi Robyn Frisch,, Rabbi Nate DeGroot, Eileen Freed, Stephanie Glass, Rabbi Aha- Shake local continued from page1 ron Goldstein, Emily Gordon, Joanne sponsive to the natural world around us, and forget the core intention of this heightened of environmental teshuva, as we create the B. Jarvi, Kelsey Robinette Keeves, Randy that is responsible to the global environment period of our communal calendar — tes- legacy by which future generations will re- Milgrom, David Nelson, Eileen Pollack, that we all share. How could this concept huva. Return, renewal, and repentance. This member us. n Ali Reingold, Danny Schwartz, Martin Stolzenberg, Jessica Weil extend to other Jewish rituals and celebra- year, 5781, let us deepen our continued in- Rabbi Nate DeGroot is Associate Director, tions? How might it apply to other consumer vestment in the natural world, the one in our Spiritual & Program Director, Hazon Detroit The Washtenaw Jewish News is published choices that we make in our day to day lives? own backyards. Let us deepen our continued monthly, with the exception of January and As we transition out of this High Holi- investment in ourselves and in each other.