The Rabbi with a Blog (Rabbi Jason Miller)

Abraham Foxman's Legacy Fighting Hate

2026-05-11T20:31:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, we lost a giant in the Jewish world with the passing of Abraham Foxman. For decades, Abe Foxman stood on the front lines fighting antisemitism and defending the Jewish people with strength, dignity, and moral clarity. He did not simply speak about hate, but confronted it directly, tirelessly, and without fear.

His passing feels especially personal because today I received an email from a bar mitzvah parent who shared the painful reality her son faced at school: “Last Friday at school another student shouted ‘Jew’ and ‘gas chamber’ at my son at recess. Later in the day the student blocked his locker and there was an actual physical confrontation.”

Those words should stop every one of us in our tracks.

Foxman understood that antisemitism was never just history. It was present, dangerous, and always waiting to resurface if good people stayed silent. He spent his life making sure Jewish children could grow up proudly and safely as Jews.

I first learned about Foxman’s work during the summer of 1996 when I interned with my mentor Dick Lobenthal at the Michigan ADL office. Lobenthal devoted his life to fighting hate and extremism here in Michigan, often quietly and without recognition. That internship shaped so much of how I understand Jewish advocacy, antisemitism, and the responsibility to speak up. Through Lobenthal's work, I came to appreciate the enormous impact Foxman and the Anti-Defamation League had on protecting the Jewish community and defending democratic values. While Lobenthal didn't always see eye to eye with Foxman, the men had a mutual appreciation for each other.

Years later, I had the privilege of serving as a Glass Fellow with the ADL and attending the organization’s centennial celebration in Detroit, where I had the chance to meet Abe Foxman in person. I also met him at the ADL National Conference in Washington, D.C. Meeting someone whose voice had carried such moral authority for decades was incredibly meaningful.

One of the most powerful stories connected to Abe Foxman took place in 1945 in the Great Synagogue of Vilna on Simchat Torah. Five-year-old Abe had survived the Holocaust after being hidden by a Catholic nanny and raised as a Christian child during the war. After being reunited with his parents, he was brought to the synagogue, where a young Jewish soldier in the Soviet Army, Rabbi Leo Goldman, noticed there were almost no Jewish children left.

Rabbi Goldman, then only 19 years old, lifted young Abe onto his shoulders and danced with him through the synagogue crying out, “This is my Torah scroll.” In that moment, he saw not just a surviving child, but the future of the Jewish people.

Sixty-five years later, Rabbi Leo Goldman, who would eventually become a rabbi in Detroit, and Abe Foxman were reunited. It remains one of the most moving symbols of Jewish survival and continuity I have ever heard.

That child on the shoulders of a young soldier grew up to become one of the strongest defenders of the Jewish people in modern history.

May the memory of Abe Foxman be for a blessing. May we honor him not only with words, but by standing up to antisemitism whenever and wherever it appears.

Reading the Comments: A Jewish Response to Online Hate

2026-03-29T18:45:00.003-04:00

In a press conference following the terror incident at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said, “Antisemitism and antisemitic behavior has become normalized. It’s been allowed, and that’s unacceptable… We have to stand up and say: ‘No, this is unacceptable.’” He was then asked how to deal with the hatred and virulent antisemitism in online comment sections, to which he quickly responded, “Don’t read comments… social media is terrible when you have people empowered to say things about situations they know nothing about.”

Not long ago, if you wanted to engage with a news story, you might discuss it over coffee, at the Shabbat dinner table, or after services at the synagogue. Today, the conversation often unfolds in the comments section following an online article, a social media post, or a YouTube video, and that is not always a healthy place to be.

Spend a few minutes scrolling through comments and it becomes clear how much hostility exists just beneath the surface. For Jews, that hostility often takes a very familiar form. Antisemitic and anti-Israel comments appear with alarming frequency, often posted by anonymous users hiding behind fake names and profile pictures.

Recently, I came across a comment on a New York Magazine article about the attack at Temple Israel. One commenter wrote that Jews were safer before the creation of the State of Israel. It was a striking statement, not only because it was offensive, but because it was so historically detached from reality. The Holocaust took place before 1948, and Jewish persecution spans thousands of years across continents and cultures. Yet there it was, presented as fact.

Moments like this raise an important question: How should we respond? Should we stop reading the comments altogether, or should we engage and try to correct misinformation? Should we report hateful content, even when it feels like nothing will come of it? There is no single answer, although Jewish tradition offers a helpful framework for thinking about these questions.

First, there is wisdom in knowing when not to engage. The Book of Proverbs teaches, “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you become like him.” Not every comment deserves a response. Many are written not to inform or persuade, but to provoke. Engaging with someone who is committed to hate rarely leads to productive conversation. More often, it amplifies negativity and draws us into a cycle that leaves everyone worse off. Sometimes these are not even human commentators, but bots, and it is certainly not worth the time or effort to respond to automated posts. In that sense, choosing not to respond can be an act of strength, not weakness.

At the same time, Proverbs offers a second teaching that appears to contradict the first: “Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.” There are moments when silence can be misinterpreted as agreement, and when misinformation spreads unchecked, it can shape how others understand an issue. This creates a delicate balance.

If a comment is clearly hateful and intended to provoke, it may be best ignored or reported. Most platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, provide tools to flag abusive or harmful content. Even if the commenter is anonymous or a bot, reporting helps platforms identify patterns and enforce their own standards.

On the other hand, if a comment reflects a genuine misunderstanding, there may be value in responding thoughtfully and respectfully. This is not necessarily to convince the person who posted it, but for the sake of others who are reading. The comments section is rarely a private conversation. It is a public forum where silence and speech both carry weight.

There is also the question of emotional well-being. Jewish tradition places great importance on guarding one’s inner life, and constant exposure to anger and hatred can take a toll. The Talmud teaches that words have the power to harm, even when they are not directed at us personally. In the digital age, we are exposed to far more words than any previous generation, so it is worth asking whether reading the comments is beneficial.

For some, it may be healthier to avoid them altogether, especially on platforms like TikTok, where there are clear boundaries of unacceptable speech, but the comment section is often inconsistently moderated. Choosing not to scroll through a stream of negativity is not denial. It is a conscious decision about where to place one’s attention.

At the same time, these comment sections can serve as a wake-up call. They remind us that antisemitism has not disappeared. It has simply found new platforms, and what might once have been whispered in private can now be broadcast instantly to a global audience.

Consider a seemingly harmless TikTok post about Israeli NBA player Danny Avdija. The content itself may have nothing to do with politics or religion, yet the comments quickly fill with references to the “promised land” or other mocking remarks about Jewish history and identity. The hostility often has little to do with the topic at hand. It is simply looking for a place to land.

This reality underscores the importance of how we conduct ourselves online. Jewish tradition emphasizes k’vod habriyot, respect for all people, and warns strongly against lashon hara, harmful speech. Even when others abandon those values, we are not free to do the same, and responding with dignity matters.

That does not mean remaining silent in the face of hatred. It means choosing responses that reflect our values rather than mirroring the tone of those who seek to provoke. A calm, factual reply can sometimes carry more weight than a heated argument.

There is also a communal dimension to consider. When we encounter antisemitism online, we are not only individuals. We are part of a people with a long memory and a shared responsibility. Reporting harmful content, supporting organizations that combat hate, and standing up for truth are all ways of fulfilling that responsibility.

At the same time, we must recognize the limits of what can be accomplished in a comments section. Not every battle needs to be fought there, and arguing with an anonymous commenter is often a futile exercise.

In the end, the question is not only how to respond to online hate, but how to live with integrity in a digital world that often lacks it. We can choose when to engage and when to step away. We can choose to report what is harmful and ignore what is meant only to provoke. We can choose to respond with clarity and dignity when it serves a purpose.

Perhaps most importantly, we can remember that the comments section is not the whole world. It is only a small, often distorted reflection of it. Jewish history reminds us that hatred is not new, and neither is resilience.

The challenge of our time is to bring that same resilience, along with wisdom and restraint, into the digital spaces we inhabit every day. And sometimes the answer, as Sheriff Bouchard advised, is simply to ignore the comments altogether.

JewPT - a Look at the Future of Jewish Learning

2026-02-16T17:27:00.005-05:00

Artificial intelligence keeps asking Judaism an old question in a new way: Who gets to answer?

Last year, I wrote about whether AI might someday replace rabbis. My conclusion was fairly clear. No matter how sophisticated these tools become, they lack the depth, context and human relationship that sit at the heart of Jewish life. But as AI continues to evolve, a more interesting question has emerged. If these tools are not replacements, what are they becoming instead?

One possible answer is JewPT, a new free AI assistant designed specifically for Jewish textual learning that was created by Jonathan Gugenheim, who lives and works in London in the FinTech industry. JewPT bills itself not as an “AI rabbi” but as a study partner (chevruta in Hebrew) for exploring Torah, Talmud and Jewish wisdom. The distinction is not just semantic. It sits at the center of an increasingly urgent conversation about authority, transparency and ethics in Jewish-facing technology.

The idea for JewPT did not come from a think tank or a synagogue boardroom. It began at home. Jonathan told me the project started when his girlfriend began her conversion journey.

Like many people entering Jewish life, she had questions. Lots of them. Each answer led to three more, in classic Jewish fashion. Some were simple. Others felt too basic or too vulnerable to bring directly to a rabbi. He realized there was no easy place for those questions to land.

“We should have a place where it is easy to ask these questions, get a sense of Jewish perspectives on it, and find helpful jumping-off points for deeper research or a full conversation with a rabbi,” he explained.

JewPT was built for the moments when curiosity sparks late at night, or when embarrassment becomes a barrier to learning.

That posture of approachability is intentional. Jonathan describes JewPT as friendly and nonjudgmental by design, encouraging users to ask even the questions they think they should already know the answers to. In that sense, it resembles a digital chevruta more than a decision-maker.

Even the name reflects that goal. JewPT is a play on OpenAI’s ChatGPT, but with a theological twist. GPT stands for Generative Pre-Trained Transformer. Jonathan reframed it as a Jewish Pre-Trained Transformer. He dropped “generative” on purpose.

“I want this model to be extremely pre-trained on understanding and presenting core Jewish texts and prominent rabbinic writings, not generating new info,” he said. The goal is synthesis, not invention. That distinction matters, especially when it comes to rabbinic authority.

Not a Real Rabbi

Jonathan is explicit that JewPT is not an authority and should not be treated as one. When users ask detailed halachic (Jewish legal) questions or seek yes-or-no rulings, the model is trained to redirect them to a real rabbi. This is something ChatGPT does not do. He argues that JewPT helps users understand the range of opinions, identify key variables and prepare for a meaningful conversation. In other words, JewPT can help someone know what to ask, even if it does not decide the answer.

That boundary is also enforced structurally. Certain categories of questions are blocked outright, not for theological reasons but for safety ones. Building a public website with “Jew” in the name attracts antisemitism, and Jonathan has already had to create a separate moderation model to filter hateful messages. As a result, many questions about the Holocaust or modern Israel and Palestine are currently blocked, even when they might be asked in good faith.

“It’s not ideal,” he admitted, “but for now they are mostly blocked at the source.” When answers do touch on real-world religious behavior, the model signs off with disclaimers and reminders to consult human rabbis.

Transparency is a recurring theme. JewPT provides citations whenever possible, including Hebrew and English texts, especially when it draws from sources it has full access to, such as Torah, Talmud, select midrashim and the Shulchan Aruch.

That transparency is part of Jonathan’s effort to avoid geneivat da’at, misleading someone into thinking an answer carries authority it does not actually have. “False authority comes from how tools are interpreted by users,” he said. “I never want someone to say, ‘JewPT told me this is right.’ I want them to say, ‘JewPT pointed out an interesting connection and helped me find the books and knowledge to form my own opinion or bring it to my rabbi.’”

That is why he deliberately avoided branding it as an AI rabbi. In Jewish learning, labels matter.

Of course, no AI system is perfect, and Jonathan is candid about the challenges. Hallucinations, or instances when an AI model generates incorrect or fabricated information while presenting it as factual, remain a real risk, particularly with Aramaic texts like the Targumim. Much of the improvement process relies on users flagging errors so he can retrain the model. It is a reminder that, despite the polish of modern AI, these systems are still tools built by humans with limited oversight.

The audience, for now, is primarily the curious. JewPT excels at providing overviews and showing how ideas developed across Jewish history. It is less equipped for the kind of deep, cross-disciplinary synthesis that scholars do. That may change with time, but Jonathan is realistic about its current strengths and weaknesses.

The Challenge of JewPT

What surprised him most was the reach. Since launching in late October 2025, JewPT has attracted thousands of users from around the world. Rabbis and educators have been among its most enthusiastic testers, pushing it with difficult questions and offering feedback. Jonathan would welcome more rabbinic involvement, acknowledging that his own Jewish knowledge has limits.

Looking ahead five years, his definition of success is modest and telling. He is a solo developer with a full-time job in FinTech. If people are still asking meaningful questions and finding the confidence to pursue Jewish learning, he would consider that a win.

The real story of JewPT is not whether it gets every answer right. It is what it reveals about where Jewish curiosity lives today. In a world where people are used to asking machines everything from travel advice to medical questions, Jewish learning is inevitably part of that shift.

The challenge, as always, is not the technology itself. It is how we frame it. If AI becomes another voice claiming authority, we should be wary. If it becomes a doorway, a chevruta or a late-night nudge toward deeper engagement, it may play a role.

Judaism has always valued questions. The task now is to make sure we still know who is answering and why.

How the Internet Redefined Jewish Community

2025-12-12T06:24:00.003-05:00

A little more than thirty years ago, as a senior at James Madison College at Michigan State University, I wrote my undergraduate thesis on how the internet would change Jewish life. I argued that this new technology would redefine the very meaning of “community” in Judaism because the virtual borders were being erased by globalization. At the time, it felt like a bold prediction. Today, looking back on the past two decades, I see how completely that vision has come true. The internet has expanded Jewish life far beyond the walls of synagogues, JCCs, and college campuses, connecting Jews across the globe in ways that my grandparents could never have imagined.

AOL, Listservs, and the First Digital Jewish Neighborhoods

In the mid-1990s, Jewish life online was in its infancy. I remember logging into America Online (AOL), after waiting minutes for the dial-up modem to connect and seeing many vibrant Jewish chat rooms with names like “Torah Talk” or “Jewish Singles.” For many Jews, it was the first time they could instantly connect with others who shared their identity, no matter where they lived. The virtual Jewish community was open to all, had no membership dues, and was quickly redefining synagogues, JCCs, and Jewish federations.

Listservs soon became popular. I was on a couple of Jewish educator listservs in the late 1990s, and I remember how surprising it felt to send a question into the digital void and then receive thoughtful responses from people in Israel, New York, and Los Angeles within minutes. That was the beginning of something. Jewish conversation had gone global.

MySpace, for a moment, gave Jewish teens and college students a platform to showcase their Jewish identity, often with links to Jewish bands or photos from summer camp. And then came YouTube. I recall when rabbis first started posting sermons in short video format. Suddenly, a rabbi in Chicago could share words of Torah that reached Jews in Australia and South Africa. Suddenly, Jewish people were asking why their own rabbi wasn’t talking about the same hot topics other rabbis were and why their congregation’s cantor wasn’t inspiring them with such spirited melodies to the prayers. Jewish musicians, comedians, and educators found an international stage, and the Jewish world felt smaller in the best possible way.

Social Media Takes Hold

The mid-2000s were a turning point. With the advent of Facebook on college campuses in 2004, Jewish communities began to flourish online. Synagogues set up official pages. Grassroots groups formed around everything from Jewish cooking and Jewish film to Jewish day school alumni. I joined some of these groups myself, fascinated by how quickly friendships and support networks formed among people who might never meet face-to-face, and I was also surprised to see how friends of mine from diverse groups were connected through the social network.

Twitter created a new kind of Jewish conversation. Rabbis, educators, and activists could share insights in real-time, weighing in on everything from the weekly Torah portion to breaking news out of Israel. I still remember seeing rabbis post their first tweets about their Torah insights and thinking, “This is the new Torah commentary of the 21st century with a 140-character limit.”

Reddit became another gathering place. A college student in Texas could post a question about kashrut, and within minutes, receive a dozen thoughtful answers from people around the world. It was raw, unfiltered, and sometimes messy, but it was also community.

The big shift was that Jewish life online was no longer a curiosity. It was becoming a parallel space for connection, learning, and belonging.

The Pandemic and the Jewish Digital Boom

Then came the COVID pandemic in 2020, which pushed Jewish life online in ways that none of us could have anticipated. Practically overnight, every rabbi I know had to become somewhat of a tech expert. I’ll never forget helping a synagogue board member set up his iPhone on a tripod so their congregation could stream Friday night services on Facebook Live. The sight of a camera phone recording a Shabbat service would have my childhood rabbi rolling in his grave.

Zoom became a lifeline. I began to hold bar and bat mitzvah lessons over Zoom exclusively, while this had previously only been for my out-of-state students in a pre-pandemic world. I officiated virtual bar and bat mitzvahs in places like Mexico, France, Scotland, India and Tokyo, where grandparents watched from different countries, beaming as if they were right in the same room and giving thanks for the technology that prevented them from missing this lifecycle event. Families joined virtual Passover seders where the youngest child read the Four Questions from hundreds of miles away. Like thousands of other rabbis, I officiated shiva minyans where people told stories of a loved one, trying to sync their voices during the Mourner’s Kaddish which overlapped from different time zones, yet creating the same sense of comfort and presence that an in-person gathering brings.

There was an important distinction between Zoom and live streaming. Live streaming allowed people to watch, but it was one-directional. Zoom was participatory. People could unmute, share, sing along, and ask questions. That gave Jews in small or remote communities the chance to become real participants, not just passive viewers. Someone in rural Nebraska could feel part of a service in New York City or Los Angeles. For the first time, geography no longer defined who belonged. Even if you were an unaffiliated Jew in Wichita or a paying dues member at a congregation in Metro Detroit, you could virtually attend a Yom Kippur service in San Francisco or Buenos Aires to enjoy a talented cantor’s voice or listen to a famous rabbi preach a sermon for the first time.

Hybrid Life and the Next Frontier

In the years since the pandemic, Jewish communities have kept many of these tools in place. Hybrid models are now the norm. A synagogue might have 200 people in the sanctuary on Shabbat and another 50 on Zoom. Hillels coordinate Shabbat dinners through WhatsApp groups. Jewish organizations host board meetings with participants spread across multiple time zones. New members of the Jewish community converted after being inspired by the vibrancy of Judaism they experienced virtually during the pandemic.

And now, we are beginning to see the first steps into the world of artificial intelligence. Some Jewish educators are experimenting with AI to create custom lesson plans for students. Others are exploring how AI can make Jewish texts more accessible, offering instant translations or commentary at the click of a button. These are early days, but it is clear that AI will become part of how Jews connect, study, and build community in the decades to come.

The larger question is how we define community itself. For most of Jewish history, community meant a physical place. It was a synagogue, a neighborhood or a shtetl. Today, community is increasingly definted by shared identity and digital presence. A Jew in South America can study Torah with Jews in Canada and Europe, and together they form a real, living community, even if they never meet in person.

Looking Forward

When I wrote that senior thesis three decades ago, I suggested that the internet would dissolve the barriers of geography and allow Jewish life to flourish without borders. That prediction turned out to be true in ways that were hard to imagine at the time.

The internet has not replaced the beauty of gathering in person. Sitting around a Shabbat table, dancing with the Torah on Simchat Torah, or standing together in prayer will always be at the heart of Jewish life. But digital tools have enriched the Jewish community and expanded it far beyond physical walls.

As we look ahead, the challenge will be to continue using these tools to deepen the connection and not just broaden it. Technology should not only make Jewish life accessible, but it should also make it more meaningful. If we can keep that balance, the Jewish community of the 21st century will be more vibrant, inclusive, and global than ever before.

Originally published in the Detroit Jewish News

My Isiah Thomas Story

2025-12-10T11:44:00.003-05:00

In 1985, I was nine years old at my first Detroit Pistons game. It was at the Pontiac Silverdome. My dad had somehow managed to get us courtside seats. I still remember how enormous the players looked from that close. My dad leaned toward me and said that Kelly Tripucka was the best player on the team. I told him that I liked number 11, Isiah Thomas. My dad replied with something about Isiah being great in college, although he thought he might be too short for the NBA and had not yet proven himself. Time would show that Isiah knew exactly how to answer critics.

When the Pistons moved to the new Palace of Auburn Hills, my family bought a partial season ticket package. That became a treasured part of my childhood. I started going to about a dozen games each year and Isiah quickly became my favorite player. I watched him carry the team through the playoff runs in 1987 and 1988. Then came the unforgettable back to back championships in 1989 and 1990. Seeing him hoist the trophy with Chuck Daly and the entire team is still one of my clearest memories from those years at the Palace.

After Isiah retired following the 1993-1994 season, after suffering a career-ending torn Achilles tendon in his final home game with the Detroit Pistons, I saw a different side of him. My father’s tech company (which I took over in August 2010) was hired by Isiah to help with a new business idea he was developing. My dad built a database for a project Isiah was working on with a group of investors. They wanted to sell gift certificates at Somerset Mall in Troy that could be used at any store throughout the mall. At the time I wondered why one of the greatest point guards in NBA history was not coaching, running a front office, or doing television commentary. What I did not yet understand was that Isiah was a true entrepreneur. Looking back, he was not the only one from that iconic team. Bill Laimbeer went on to help grow his father’s company, Laimbeer Packaging. Vinnie Johnson launched Piston Automotive, which eventually became a billion dollar supplier in the auto industry.

Isiah’s entrepreneurial work has been impressive. One example is his champagne company, Cheurlin Champagne, formed through a partnership with one of the oldest champagne houses in France. He became the first African American to own an international champagne brand and brought a focus on healthier wine production with lower sugar and no chemical additives. It is a remarkable shift from basketball legend to beverage industry innovator.

Today, Isiah leads a growing business portfolio under the name Isiah Enterprises. The company, based in Troy, has gone public and represents the evolution of what began years ago as One World. They now operate in sectors that include consumer goods, sports and entertainment ventures, and strategic global partnerships. The public offering reflects both the stability and the ambition of the company. Recent press releases highlight their plans for continued expansion along with a renewed confidence in the leadership Isiah brings to the business world.

Several years ago, I had the chance to interview Isiah in Las Vegas. It was a memorable conversation, not only because of his accomplishments but because of his warmth and humility. Here is that interview:

Congratulations to Isiah. He remains one of the greatest point guards in the history of the NBA, a gracious person, and a hardworking entrepreneur. Detroit should be proud of everything he continues to build.

Using Modern Technology to Transmit Timeless Jewish Stories at Museums

2025-10-22T20:35:00.005-04:00

I was in Poland this past summer to officiate a b’nai mitzvah for two brothers from Miami. My wife joined me, and together we toured Poland with the bar mitzvah brothers, their parents and their extended family. The meaningful bar mitzvah ceremony took place in their ancestral homeland of Łódź, but first our journey took us from the solemn ground of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps to the historic streets of Kraków.

We then ventured to Warsaw. Given its communist past, I did not expect Warsaw to showcase cutting-edge technology, so the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews’ multimedia exhibits were a striking surprise. What many expected to be a quick one-hour walk through the sprawling museum became a four-hour experience, fully immersing us in the remarkable space. It was powerful how 21st-century technology could bring a millennium of Polish Jewish history vividly to life.

From the moment you enter, the museum communicates in both design and substance. The cavernous main hall, framed by soaring glass and copper walls, sets a reflective tone before you even begin exploring. The exhibit then unfolds across eight galleries, tracing Jewish life in Poland from its medieval roots through the Reformation, the Shoah and into the present. The Holocaust is treated with care and depth, using powerful survivor testimonies, poignant archival footage and interactive displays, yet it is placed within the broader continuum of Jewish history.

What struck me most was the museum’s use of technology to tell stories. Projections, oral histories, animated reconstructions and an awe-inspiring replica of the 17th-century Gwoździec synagogue ceiling surrounded me with experiences that felt alive rather than static. Instead of merely presenting artifacts behind glass, the POLIN Museum draws visitors into the narrative itself.

The curators clearly envisioned a living museum, one that breathes through technology. Every gallery weaves in new media, from interactive maps to immersive soundscapes. This design allows history to be accessible without ever losing its dignity.

Back home in Metro Detroit, the Zekelman Holocaust Center in Farmington Hills has also embraced digital storytelling through a major renovation completed in January 2024. Its multi-million-dollar renovation centers on survivor voices, blending archival film, photographs and interactive testimony into a powerful learning experience. Visitors walk through 15,000 square feet of carefully designed space that guides the emotional journey from tragedy to resilience.

During my recent visit to the Zekelman Holocaust Center, I was reminded of my first trip to its original location at the JCC with my late grandfather in the 1990s. I couldn’t help but contrast the early exhibits, which showed grainy VHS footage on small monitors, with the current displays that use high-definition screens and the latest video technology.

Both the POLIN Museum and the Zekelman Holocaust Center teach us an important lesson: When multimedia is applied with scholarship and sensitivity, technology becomes a vessel for memory rather than a distraction. These institutions remind us that the power of narrative rests not only in what is told, but also in how it is conveyed.

Yet there are challenges. The rapid pace of technological change can outstrip the capacity of museums to keep up. Visitors today expect seamless, high-resolution experiences. When systems age, they quickly feel outdated. Studies show that many museums still devote less than 5% of their budgets to digital initiatives, leaving them vulnerable to falling behind. Staff are often occupied with maintaining existing systems rather than developing new innovations.

This is why institutions must treat technology as a core investment, not an optional expense. Developing interactive content requires expertise in design, software and preservation. It demands long-term planning and recognition that multimedia is no longer a novelty but a central tool in education.

For Jewish educational settings, the lessons are clear. First, storytelling must remain the anchor. Technology is powerful only when it serves the message. Second, sustainability is crucial. Just as the Zekelman Center made a generational investment in its digital redesign, other institutions must plan for the ongoing upkeep and renewal of their multimedia resources.

Finally, we must honor tradition even as we innovate. Jewish education, whether in the synagogue classroom or at the bar and bat mitzvah tutoring table, is rooted in memory and transmission. Multimedia can deepen this by giving students the chance to explore shtetl life through interactive maps, enter reconstructed synagogues in 3D or hear survivors’ voices in vivid ways.

Standing in the POLIN Museum, I felt not only the weight of centuries of Jewish history but also the potential of technology to carry that story forward. At the Zekelman Holocaust Center, I saw local survivor voices preserved through the same thoughtful use of digital tools.

Our tradition teaches us to pass on our stories with diligence. Technology will continue to change. But when used with respect and intention, it becomes more than just a tool. It becomes a companion in our sacred responsibility to ensure that Jewish memory, and the lessons it carries, live on for generations to come.

Israel: A Global Hub for Technological Innovation

2025-06-26T09:17:00.001-04:00

Over the past two decades, social media posts and email chains have circulated touting Israeli ingenuity—highlighting companies like Waze, Mobileye, and the Israeli engineers behind the iPhone and Intel chips. While these headlines tell part of the story, they only scratch the surface of Israel’s impact on the global tech industry. The truth is, Israel has become one of the world’s most dynamic and influential technology hubs—home to innovations that are transforming nearly every area of modern life.

Those of us who care deeply about Israel—and understand how much this tiny nation contributes to humanity—should take enormous pride in the creativity, problem-solving, and game-changing advances coming out of the Jewish state.

From Start-Up Nation to Tech Powerhouse

Israel’s evolution into a high-tech powerhouse didn’t happen by chance. It’s the result of a uniquely fertile environment: a startup culture that rewards risk-taking, world-class academic institutions, robust government investment in R&D, and a defense industry that often births technologies later adapted for civilian use. In this innovation ecosystem, success is often built on earlier failures—and that’s not only accepted but encouraged.

Let’s take a closer look at just a few of the groundbreaking companies putting Israeli innovation on the map:

Mobileye: The Brains Behind Autonomous Driving

Based in Jerusalem, Mobileye is a global leader in autonomous vehicle technology. Their computer vision and AI-based driver assistance systems are found in millions of cars on the road today. The company has partnered with auto giants like BMW, Ford, and General Motors to help prevent collisions and make driving safer. When Intel acquired Mobileye in 2017 for $15 billion, it signaled just how essential this Israeli technology had become to the future of mobility. What started as an ambitious research project is now shaping the future of transportation worldwide.

Waze: Your Road Companion

Anyone who’s ever avoided a traffic jam or a speed trap thanks to a real-time alert knows the power of Waze. Developed in Israel and acquired by Google in 2013 for over $1 billion, Waze revolutionized navigation with its community-powered updates and intuitive routing. Integrated with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Waze has become a household name—showing how user collaboration and smart design can change the way we drive.

Check Point Software Technologies: Cybersecurity at the Forefront

As the digital world becomes more connected, cybersecurity becomes more critical—and Israel is leading the charge. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Tel Aviv, Check Point Software Technologies is one of the largest cybersecurity firms in the world. Their innovations in firewall protection, VPN technology, and advanced threat prevention are used by governments, corporations, and institutions globally. In a world plagued by cyberattacks, Check Point stands as a fortress of digital defense.

Intuition Robotics: A Smarter Way to Age

While many Israeli tech firms are focused on hardware and software, Intuition Robotics is using artificial intelligence to address one of society’s most pressing needs—caring for an aging population. Their flagship product, ElliQ, is a voice-activated companion robot that helps older adults combat loneliness and maintain their independence. Developed in Tel Aviv, ElliQ engages users in conversation, encourages physical activity, and helps them stay connected with family and caregivers. As the global population ages, technologies like ElliQ will become increasingly vital.

Annapurna Labs: Powering the Cloud

Tucked inside Israel’s rich tech ecosystem is a lesser-known gem with a global impact—Annapurna Labs. Founded in 2011 and acquired by Amazon in 2015 for $350 million, this Israeli company now plays a central role in Amazon Web Services (AWS). Annapurna developed the Graviton processors that power many AWS data centers, making cloud computing faster, cheaper, and more energy-efficient. While not a household name, Annapurna Labs is helping to build the backbone of our digital world.

Innovation Born from Necessity

What makes Israel’s tech scene so unique? A culture of creativity born out of necessity. Israel’s national security challenges have led to some of the most significant technological advancements in drones, surveillance, and cybersecurity. These innovations often migrate from military use to the private sector, spurring new industries and transforming everyday life.

Universities like the Technion and Hebrew University are breeding grounds for research, while incubators and accelerators across the country nurture the next big idea. The Israeli government’s Office of the Chief Scientist (now the Innovation Authority) has invested heavily in supporting startups and emerging technologies. And it shows—Israel consistently ranks among the top countries in R&D spending per capita and startups per capita.

BDS: Boycotting Progress?

While Israeli tech continues to lift the world, the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement seeks to punish Israel economically, often targeting its most successful companies. But here’s the irony: BDS advocates rely daily on Israeli technologies embedded in their smartphones, their online banking, their cars, and even their healthcare.

You can’t boycott Israeli innovation without rejecting modern life itself.

A Legacy of Impact

Whether it's in autonomous driving, cloud computing, aging with dignity, or protecting our digital borders, Israel’s impact on the world stage is undeniable. These innovations aren't just making our lives more convenient—they're making them safer, healthier, and more connected.

So the next time you’re rerouted around traffic, protected from a cyberattack, or talking to a grandparent who lives alone—think of the Israeli minds that made it possible.

We should all feel proud of what Israel continues to contribute to the global community. In the face of criticism and challenge, Israel's response has been to lead, to innovate, and to inspire. That’s the real story—and one worth sharing far and wide.

Originally published in The Detroit Jewish News.

Will AI Replace Rabbis?

2025-02-12T11:15:00.004-05:00

The debate around AI in the rabbinate parallels conversations in other fields.

The buzz around artificial intelligence (AI) has reached nearly every profession, from law to medicine to accounting, and yes, even to the rabbinate. As more people discover the power of AI tools like ChatGPT, rabbis are experimenting with how this technology might assist them in crafting sermons, teaching Torah and connecting with their communities. But as with so many technological innovations, the rise of AI has sparked both fascination and fear. Could AI actually replace rabbis?

In December 2022, I watched my colleague Rabbi Joshua Franklin of the Jewish Center of the Hamptons put this question to the test in a Facebook video. He delivered a sermon written entirely by ChatGPT and only revealed the source at the end. The reaction was mixed — some congregants were amazed at the technology, while others were disturbed at the thought of a “robot rabbi.” Rabbi Franklin himself admitted that the AI sermon was coherent but lacked the depth, emotion and human connection that make one of his typical sermons truly impactful.

The Human Side of the Rabbinate

The debate around AI in the rabbinate parallels conversations in other fields. In medicine, AI helps with diagnostics, but it can’t comfort a patient in distress. In law, AI can review contracts, but it can’t stand before a jury and passionately argue a case. In accounting, AI can crunch numbers but can’t weigh complex ethical considerations. Similarly, while AI can generate sermon ideas or provide commentary on Torah texts, it lacks the human qualities that are essential to rabbinic work — empathy, wisdom, and a deep connection to tradition and community.

Serving as a rabbi isn’t just about delivering a well-crafted sermon. If that were the only function, maybe rabbis should be concerned about the future of AI technology. Rabbis guide families through life’s most joyous and painful moments. They mediate conflicts, inspire spiritual growth and serve as a moral compass. These roles demand emotional intelligence, creativity and authenticity — qualities no algorithm can replicate.

Geneivat Da’at and the Ethics of AI

For rabbis experimenting with AI tools like ChatGPT, there’s another Jewish value to consider: geneivat da’at, the prohibition against deceit or misrepresentation. If rabbis use AI to assist in writing a sermon or crafting an email, they must be transparent with their congregants. Trust is the cornerstone of the rabbi-congregant relationship and failing to disclose the use of AI risks eroding that trust.

Rabbi Geoffrey Mitleman, co-founder of Sinai and Synapses, an organization that bridges the scientific and religious worlds, has explored the ethical challenges of AI. He warns that while AI can process data and generate ideas, it cannot grasp the complexities of human relationships or make moral judgments. This is where rabbis — and all professionals — must tread carefully, ensuring that technology supports their work without compromising their integrity or the trust of those they serve.

In his new book, Technology and Theology: How AI is Impacting Religion, Rabbi Andrew Bloom addresses the ways AI functions in religious practice and how it can enhance and transform worship. He looks at how AI is “increasingly embedded in Jewish religious practice like virtual prayer services, AI-enhanced Torah study platforms and digitally mediated communal experiences.”

While Rabbi Bloom points out positive outcomes of AI integration, he also cautions about the risks of depersonalization and over-simplification. The ethical and Jewish legal factors of AI becoming a regular part of Jewish life, he explains, “will determine how AI shapes the religious landscape for generations to come.”

Partnering with AI Not Competing

Rabbi Joshua Bennett of Temple Israel in West Bloomfield sees AI as a tool to enhance, not replace, rabbinic leadership. In a recent sermon, he acknowledged AI’s potential to assist with everything from brainstorming sermon ideas to facilitating Torah study.

But he also emphasized that the heart of the rabbinate — building relationships, offering pastoral care and inspiring a sense of purpose — cannot be automated. “AI can help us with the ‘what,’ but only we can deliver the ‘why,’” he explained.

Rabbi Franklin’s experiment with ChatGPT underscored this point. While AI can produce text that is coherent and even thought-provoking, it cannot replicate the unique voice, lived experiences and personal connections that rabbis brings to their roles.

The Future of AI and the Rabbinate

There has been plenty of speculation — and some alarmist headlines — about AI taking over jobs. But the reality is more nuanced. AI is not here to replace rabbis, doctors, lawyers or accountants. Instead, it’s a tool that can help professionals work more efficiently, freeing them to focus on what only humans can do.

In the rabbinate, this might mean using ChatGPT to generate ideas for a sermon’s introduction or to gather insights on a Torah portion or to help a bat mitzvah student brainstorm ideas of where to volunteer for a mitzvah project. It might mean leveraging AI to streamline administrative tasks, so rabbis have more time for counseling and teaching. But no matter how sophisticated the technology becomes, it will never replace the human connection, spiritual insight and moral leadership that define the rabbinate.

AI, like ChatGPT, represents an incredible technological leap, and rabbis are right to explore its possibilities. But as Jewish tradition teaches, technology must always serve humanity, not the other way around. The principle of geneivat da’at reminds us to use these tools with transparency and integrity.

As Rabbi Franklin demonstrated, AI can write a sermon, but it takes a rabbi to truly deliver one. And as Rabbi Bennett suggested, AI can assist in the “how,” but it will never replace the “why.” Like other professionals, rabbis will increasingly rely on AI to enhance their work. But when it comes to guiding and inspiring Jewish communities, there’s no substitute for the human touch.

The rabbinate may evolve, but its heart and soul will always remain deeply human.

Originally published in The Jewish News

Michigan's Car Dealership Mogul Jay Feldman: Driven to Give Back

2024-12-23T17:15:00.006-05:00

Over the past decade, Jay Feldman has established himself as one of Michigan’s most impactful philanthropists. Starting his career in the automotive industry at just 15, selling cars at his father’s Chevrolet dealership in Milford, Feldman demonstrated an entrepreneurial spirit early on. By age 25, he owned his first dealership. Through strategic acquisitions and partnerships, he expanded his business from a single dealership to a thriving network.

Today, the automotive mogul and Northwood University graduate combines his business acumen with a deep sense of compassion. Partnering with actor and business associate Mark Wahlberg, Feldman has raised millions for causes close to his heart, supporting children’s hospitals, abused children, first responders, and wounded veterans.

Feldman’s portfolio includes numerous car dealerships and RV centers across Michigan and Ohio, many co-owned with Wahlberg. While running his automotive empire occupies much of his time, philanthropy has become a second full-time passion.

“Jay’s generosity and philanthropy are impressive,” said Rabbi Michael Moskowitz of Temple Shir Shalom in West Bloomfield, where Feldman is a member. “We’ve had many conversations about the importance of giving back to the community. His work with the Children’s Miracle Network is truly inspiring, and we look forward to seeing the continued impact of his efforts.”

Dr. Jeffrey Ditkoff, Senior Vice President and Chief Quality Officer of Corewell Health, echoed this sentiment: “We are extremely grateful for Jay Feldman’s support. His generosity and commitment have greatly benefited our patients and health system.”

At the recent Feldman Automotive Children’s Miracle Celebrity Invitational golf outing, which supports the Children’s Miracle Network, I had the opportunity to sit down with Feldman to discuss his philanthropic drive and vision for lasting change.

Rabbi Jason Miller: Where does your drive to give back come from? Was this instilled in you growing up?

Jay Feldman: Absolutely. My dad was always very charitable, though he preferred to give anonymously. I remember him quietly paying for funerals or helping family members in need. Watching him taught me the importance of giving back. His example of quietly helping others left a lasting impression on me.

For me, success in business has provided a platform to make a real difference. We’ve grown from one dealership in Milford to 21 dealerships across three states. That success enables us to host large-scale events like our golf fundraiser—the largest of its kind in Michigan—where we raised $1.6 million last year.

RJM: Tell me about your Jewish upbringing. Did it shape your values?

JF: I grew up in a connected Jewish household. I had my bar mitzvah at Temple Israel and attended Andover High School in Bloomfield Hills before graduating from Northwood University.

Bar mitzvahs weren’t as elaborate back then, but mine, which was at Nifty Norman's, had a guitar theme because I’ve played guitar all my life. While mitzvah projects weren’t a big focus then, I’ve come to see giving back as central to living a meaningful life.

RJM: You’ve made a significant commitment to the Children’s Miracle Network. What does this organization mean to you?

JF: Over the past 20 years, our company has grown significantly, allowing us to make a greater impact both locally and nationally. About nine years ago, I became friends with Mark Wahlberg, and that friendship evolved into a partnership. Together, we’ve donated to many causes.

During COVID, Mark’s brother, Jim Wahlberg, approached us with the idea of donating tablets to hospitals so patients could stay connected with their families. We ended up donating 1,300 tablets to hospitals like Beaumont (now Corewell Health), Providence, and Wexner Medical Center.

That initiative inspired us to launch our annual golf outing. We were debating doing it in Columbus or Detroit, and Mark decided he’d really like to do it in Detroit. Over the past four years, we’ve raised over $5 million to help 200,000 families in Southeast Michigan. This should be a record year for the golf outing.

RJM: You’re also involved with Tunnel to Towers. Tell me about your work with that organization.

JF: Tunnel to Towers was founded in honor of Stephen Siller, a New York firefighter who lost his life on 9/11. After hearing about the attacks, Stephen ran three miles through the Battery Park Tunnel with 60 pounds of gear to assist at the World Trade Center, where he ultimately perished.

The foundation, started by his brother Frank Siller, helps homeless veterans, builds smart homes for wounded soldiers, and pays off mortgages for families of fallen first responders.

I joined the board five years ago after meeting Frank at an event in Detroit. Today, the organization raises $350 million annually, with 95.5% of donations going directly to its programs. Locally, we’ve supported families like that of an Oakland County Sheriff’s deputy who died in the line of duty, ensuring their mortgage was paid off immediately.

RJM: How do you plan to pass your commitment to charity on to your children?

JF: I have two kids, both living in New York. My son, a Frankel Jewish Academy graduate, is now attending Cardozo Law School. My daughter is at FIT studying fashion. While neither is interested in the car business, I believe they’ve inherited the compassion and generosity my dad instilled in me.

RJM: What’s next for you and Mark Wahlberg?

JF: Mark and I are great friends, and we’re always looking for new ways to give back. Recently, I joined him at his movie premiere in Los Angeles for The Union, and he has a big golf outing in Palm Beach this fall. Whether it’s supporting hospitals or helping veterans, our partnership is rooted in shared values and a commitment to making a difference.

Through his business success and partnerships, Jay Feldman continues to turn compassion into action, creating meaningful change in the community. With a deep commitment to philanthropy, Feldman’s legacy of generosity inspires those around him, ensuring that his impact will be felt for generations to come.

Originally published in the Detroit Jewish News.

The Rise of Live Streaming High Holiday Services: A Blessing or a Challenge for Jewish Communities?

2024-09-18T20:27:00.005-04:00

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Jewish world, like many religious communities, witnessed a dramatic shift in how synagogue services were conducted. With social distancing measures and public health concerns, synagogues across the globe turned to technology to keep their congregations connected. Now, several years later, the impact of live streaming services, especially during the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, continues to reshape synagogue attendance patterns. Like most changes to synagogue life sparked by technological innovation in the 21st Century, there are both positives and negatives.

Traditionally, the High Holidays have been a time when Jewish community members, regardless of observance level throughout the year, attend synagogue to reflect, pray, and connect with others. However, since the onset of the pandemic, streaming services have emerged as an alternative to in-person High Holiday attendance. What began as a necessity has become an option that many Jewish individuals and families now prefer. This shift is particularly noticeable this year, as Rosh Hashanah falls on weekdays, providing a convenient way for people to “attend” services from their home or office without missing work.

The Technology Boom: Zoom and Live Feeds

Synagogues have embraced various platforms to accommodate their congregants. Zoom has been one of the most popular options, offering interactive elements like chat features and virtual gatherings. Some synagogues utilize live feeds through their own websites or platforms like YouTube or Facebook, allowing members to watch services in real time. These technological tools have made services more accessible to those who may have otherwise faced barriers, such as physical distance or health issues, from attending in person.

Rabbis and the Virtual Experience

Many rabbis and cantors grapple with the implications of streaming services. They recognize the benefits, like more Jews partaking in the High Holiday experience, especially those who are geographically distant or unable to attend in person due to illness or other personal constraints, like serving as a caregiver for children or the elderly. However, clergy and synagogue executives are also concerned about the weakening of in-person attendance, a trend that has extended beyond the High Holidays to regular Shabbat services as well. After all, it is difficult to replicate on a computer monitor or iPad screen the sense of community and shared energy that is created during prayer services in a sanctuary.

Pros and Cons: The Streaming Dilemma

The positive implications of streaming are clear. Congregants can attend services from anywhere, which is especially convenient for those with busy work schedules, who are not concerned about the Jewish legal restrictions on technology use during the sacred holidays. The technology allows elderly or immunocompromised individuals to participate safely. Additionally, many synagogues offer their live streams for free, whereas in-person tickets for the High Holidays can be costly. Membership fees, often required for High Holiday ticket purchases, can run into the thousands of dollars. For families facing financial strain, streaming provides an accessible way to fulfill their spiritual obligations. It also allows for more choice in terms of which congregation’s services one attends. For example, a college student who lives far from her family’s congregation is now able to log in and feel connected to her home synagogue during the High Holidays. Also, families who have recently relocated can still be part of their former congregation’s services through Zoom or video streaming. Others enjoy a particular congregation’s services or wish to be inspired by a particular rabbi so the virtual option is the most ideal way to overcome the geographical constraints.

Rabbi Shalom Kantor of Congregation B’nai Moshe in West Bloomfield, where all services are streamed and available to anyone, explained, “Streaming has allowed those members who are homebound or even out of town to be able to join our services. Our congregants appreciate that our daily services continue to be streamed and [that] has greatly increased attendance and participation in a post-Covid world.”

While there are certainly pros to virtual attendance at High Holiday prayer services, the cons are equally significant. In-person services create a sense of community that is difficult to reproduce through a screen. The social connections formed and nurtured during synagogue attendance are vital for the cohesion of Jewish life. The isolation of attending virtually can detract from the communal essence of Judaism.

There are also Jewish legal factors that some will consider when it comes to streaming High Holiday services, including the question of whether hearing the shofar blasts on Rosh Hashanah is allowed over a video streaming service or an interactive application like Zoom.

For Rabbi Daniel Nevins, the former rabbi at Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills and the author of the new book, Torah and Technology: Circuits, Cells, and the Sacred Path, the focus is more on the halakhic (Jewish legal) considerations. “We are taught to differentiate Shabbat and holidays from regular days by avoiding ‘labor’ such as writing and recording, and by ‘resting’ from ordinary behaviors. Given that most people today carry smartphones and other devices,” Nevins explained, “looking at various screens throughout the day, dedicating Shabbat and the holidays as days that are screen-free is enormously important. This allows us to reclaim social engagement with other people in real time and space, and to declare ourselves free of digital devices for a few hours each week. During the height of the pandemic, there were health arguments that overrode our normal practice, but those concerns remained in place. There are always special circumstances that override these concerns, especially for people with fragile health and disabilities. For them, the need to participate safely with the community may override the concerns listed above.”

The Financial Impact on Synagogues

Some rabbis and community leaders fear that the ease of streaming services might lead to a longer-term decline in synagogue membership and attendance. Many synagogues rely on High Holiday ticket sales and membership dues as a major source of income. The increasing popularity of free live streams could create financial strain for synagogues, potentially leading to closures or mergers. In the U.S. and Canada, there are already reports of synagogues consolidating as membership dwindles. The traditional model of sustaining synagogues through membership fees and High Holiday ticket sales may need to be reimagined in light of these technological changes.

What the Future Holds

Looking toward the future, it’s clear that the streaming option is here to stay for many non-Orthodox congregations, but the future of synagogue attendance is uncertain. Some congregations may need to innovate further to create hybrid models that blend the convenience of virtual services with the community-driven aspects of in-person gatherings. It is also imperative that synagogues create more inclusive membership models that acknowledge the financial realities of modern Jewish life while sustaining synagogues as vibrant community hubs.

One possible outcome could be a restructuring of how synagogues operate, with more emphasis on smaller, localized gatherings and a broader virtual presence. Others fear that if this trend continues, more synagogues may face closure or merger, particularly in regions where Jewish populations are already declining.

As we enter this new era of digital Judaism, the challenge will be finding the balance between accessibility and community. For many Jewish people, the High Holidays will continue to be a sacred time of reflection, repentance, and renewal—whether they are sitting in a sanctuary or watching from home or the office on a screen. Since technology is not going away, we must answer the question: how can we ensure that the sense of belonging and feeling connected to the community remains intact?

The Jewish Ethics of Google Reviews

2024-09-01T21:03:00.001-04:00

A generation ago, if you experienced bad service in a restaurant or a dirty hotel room, you told a few friends about your unfortunate experience. It might have influenced their decision about future dining choices or where to stay on vacation, but the impact on those businesses was insignificant. In today’s digital age, the power of the internet allows users to broadcast their displeasure to thousands of people around the world within minutes.

The effects of an online review cannot be underestimated. Whether you’re choosing a venue for your daughter’s wedding, a tour guide for your family vacation or a new orthodontist to put braces on your kids, chances are you’ve consulted online reviews to help guide your decision. These reviews have become an integral part of how we interact with businesses, yet the ethical considerations of leaving a review are often overlooked. As both a rabbi and the owner of a technology company that manages Google reviews, I’ve given much thought to the Jewish ethical perspective on this modern phenomenon.

The Evolution of Online Reviews

Online reviews have revolutionized how consumers make decisions. Historically, word of mouth and personal recommendations were the primary ways people learned about a business. Today, anyone with internet access can instantly share their opinions with the world. Websites like Google, Yelp, and TripAdvisor have become go-to sources for evaluating everything from restaurants and hotels to doctors’ offices and service providers.

Businesses understand the significance of these reviews. A few negative comments can significantly hinder a business’s success, especially if they are unjustified or exaggerated. Some individuals allow their pent-up emotions regarding their less-than-ideal experience to influence the way they write their online review. It’s crucial, therefore, to approach the act of leaving a review with a sense of responsibility and ethics. We might not think that Jewish wisdom weighs in on the phenomenon of the online review, but Jewish sages through the ages have certainly had much to say about how one's public opinion can hinder another business’s interest.

The Impact of a Review

When you leave a review, you’re not just expressing your opinion; you’re influencing the decisions of countless others. For businesses, especially small ones, a negative review can be detrimental. Restaurants, for example, are often judged harshly for minor infractions. A resort might receive a low rating because the check-in process was slow, despite providing a comfortable stay with wonderful amenities that led to an enjoyable vacation. Doctors, whose reputations are critical to their practice, can be unfairly criticized over a single interaction.

Service providers and vendors are also frequently reviewed, and their livelihoods can be affected by the words of a dissatisfied customer. While feedback is important for growth and improvement, the ethics of how that feedback is delivered should be carefully considered.

Jewish Ethics and Online Reviews

In the Jewish tradition, the concept of ethics in speech is paramount. The Torah warns against lashon hara (negative speech), which includes making derogatory or harmful comments about others. While lashon hara typically refers to speech, the principle can easily be extended to written communication, including online reviews. Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, in his book A Code of Jewish Ethics, explains that even truth-telling can be regarded as lashon hara in certain contexts. A bad experience at a store might have been an isolated incident at an establishment that usually prioritizes the highest level of customer service. What might have been a bad day for a store clerk can lead to a significant loss of revenue for the business if others read your critical review without considering that it was an anomaly and certainly not the norm for that store.

One important Jewish principle that should guide us when leaving a review is dan l'kaf z'chut—giving the benefit of the doubt. This means assuming the best in others and being cautious before passing judgment. If your experience with a business was generally positive, but one minor issue didn’t meet your expectations, it may not be ethical to leave a scathing review. Instead, consider the overall experience and whether the issue was significant enough to warrant a public complaint.

When a reviewer is dishonest or exaggerates the truth, they violate Jewish ethical principles. Misrepresenting an experience can cause undue harm to a business and its employees. It’s essential to be truthful and fair in your reviews, recognizing that your words have power.

A Balanced Approach

This doesn’t mean that all negative reviews are unethical. Constructive criticism can be valuable for businesses seeking to improve their services. However, the way in which this criticism is delivered matters. Before posting a negative review, ask yourself whether you’ve given the business a chance to rectify the situation. Could the issue have been a one-time occurrence? Did you communicate your concerns to the business before going public with your dissatisfaction?

By approaching reviews with empathy and fairness, we can uphold the Jewish ethical principles that guide our lives. Behind every business are people striving to do their best. Your review should reflect the whole experience, not just one aspect that might have fallen short.

In the age of digital communication, the Jewish values of truthfulness, fairness, and compassion are more important than ever. As we navigate the world of online reviews, let us strive to be mindful of the impact our words can have on others. Whether reviewing a restaurant, a hotel, or a doctor’s office, let’s commit to being honest, fair, and giving the benefit of the doubt whenever possible. If you feel compelled to leave a negative review, consider writing two positive 5-star reviews of other businesses you frequent. Also, consider that too often, online reviews are seen in black and white. Annoyed customers might rush to write a 1-star Google review when they really experienced 3-star service. Many experiences fall somewhere between a 1-star rating and a 5-star rating. Perhaps the waitress messed up your order, but overall, you enjoyed a good dining experience. If you still feel the need to leave a review, maybe you could grant them a 4-star review with an explanation of why it wasn’t a full 5-star experience on that particular occasion.

Businesses spend money on review maintenance software and agencies to handle their online reputation management. These services help business owners improve how they request reviews and respond to negative ratings. However, the costs spent on these services are passed along to the consumer with higher prices.

It’s important to consider the Jewish ethics of lashon hara and dan l’kaf z’chut when publishing a negative review. By doing so, we not only support ethical business practices but also contribute to a more just and compassionate world—both online and off.

Israel's Memorial Day 2024

2024-05-13T12:15:00.001-04:00

As I drove through Basel, Switzerland in my rental car yesterday, many thoughts raced through my head. Only a short five-minute walk from my hotel is the Stadtcasino in Basel, the location where the First Zionist Congress was held in 1897. This meeting was convened and chaired, of course, by Theodor Herzl, the founder of the modern Zionism movement.

It was at this event they adopted the poem "Hatikvah" as the official anthem of the new Zionist Organization. Meaning the hope, it would later become the national anthem of the State of Israel. I often remark at bar and bat mitzvahs how fitting it is that the national anthem of Israel translates as "the hope" because that is what keeps us feeling optimistic for the future. We must remain hopeful to pass our Jewish heritage to the next generations.

As I drove I thought of how the city of Basel played such a prominent role in the story of the miraculous Nation of Israel. I also thought about how Yom Hazikaron, Israel's Day of Remembrance, would begin later that evening in Israel. Yom Hazikaron, a day in which we pay our respect to the fallen who died protecting the Jewish State, was built on the ashes of the Shoah. I smiled as I considered the irony of these thoughts while driving my rented Volkswagen.

As we honor those who defended the State of Israel today on Yom Hazikaron, I salute all those who serve Israel so that the Jewish people continue to have a homeland. At a time when anti-Semitism is once again permeating throughout the world and there are anti-Israel protests on most American college campuses, it is so dire that Israel be protected from its enemies on all sides. When the sun sets in Israel this evening on Yom Hazikaron, the Jewish people worldwide will celebrate Israel's 76th year of independence. We will sing Hatikvah with pride and be hopeful for the future. That is all we can ever do.

Norman Lear and Starbucks

2023-12-06T22:42:00.011-05:00

With the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike meaning no Daily Show with Jon Stewart or Colbert Report (although the writers are putting funny stuff on YouTube), I've been forced to find other TV shows to watch.

One of my favorites has been the Iconoclasts series on the Sundance Channel. I first saw one of these programs several months ago when they featured Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder and surfing icon Laird Hamilton. The other day I watched the Iconoclasts episode matching Starbucks Chairman Howard Schultz (with me at below) and Norman Lear. The two men are very fond of each other, have much more in common than anyone would imagine, and have teamed up in some very lucrative ways. The combination made this a very Jewish episode.

I actually knew a great deal about Howard Schultz before I saw this program. I heard him speak about his upbringing, influences, and vision at a Jewish Federation event in Ann Arbor a few years ago. Earlier in the day of the event, I happened to be at a local Ann Arbor Starbucks having a meeting with a Hillel donor and Howard Schultz walked in. I observed him doing exactly what he says he does and what is portrayed in the Iconoclasts episode about him. He walked up to each worker ("partner") in the Starbucks store, shook their hand, patted them on the back, and told them that he genuinely was proud of their hard work. He then made his way over to our table, sat down, and shmoozed for a few minutes as if he wasn't the busy executive running a billion-dollar corporation that opens eight new stores per day. At the Jewish Federation event later that evening he remembered our conversation without any prompting.

Schultz speaks openly that his Judaism influences his code of business principles and I have used him as an example many times when teaching about Jewish business ethics. Our nanny, who has become a part of our family, moonlights as a part-time Starbucks manager and has confirmed to me that it really is a great place to work (full health care benefits for all part-time staff).

How much I knew about Howard Schultz is how little I knew about Norman Lear, the Jewish creator of all those 70's TV shows (All in the Family, Good Times, the Jeffersons, Sanford and Son, etc.). As Norman Lear describes in an online interview with Aish.com, Judaism has infused his life's work. In the interview, as in the Iconoclasts presentation, Lear explains the Talmudic story that he loves and and lives by:

There's a Talmudic story that I love, that seems to cover everything to me. A man should have a jacket with two pockets. In the first pocket there should be a piece of paper on which is written, "I am but dust and ashes." In the second, a piece of paper on which it is written "For me the world was created." That's mama loshon to me, real common sense. The person who can live between that ying and yang has it made.

The two men appear like a loving father and son that had been separated for years. They share similar ethics and have each revolutionized their own trade (Schultz by selling coffee in new ways and treating his workers in better ways, and Lear with racy TV characters like Archie Bunker to get Americans to think about racial and religious tolerance in new ways). Together, they have teamed up on entrepreneurial initiatives like selling music at Starbucks (the award-winning Ray Charles CD -- the last of his life -- being their first attempt) and on social and political issues (getting young people to vote).

The highlights of the presentation are in Lear's home, where he shows his original copy of the Declaration of Independence to Howard Schultz, and in their tour of the Seattle warehouse where Starbucks coffee is produced. Each man shows remarkable pride in the other and the Jewish people should take great pride in these men. It is their Judaism that has made them who they are.

Sam Woll - A Charismatic, Passionate Pursuer of Peace and Justice

2023-10-21T20:28:00.016-04:00

“Rabbi, our Hillel needs to stop buying Coke products.”

This was the first thing Samantha Woll said to me when I started my new job at the University of Michigan Hillel Foundation in 2004. It was odd hearing Sam call me “Rabbi.” First, I had only very recently been ordained so I still wasn’t used to the title. And, second, I had known Sam since she was in elementary school – a classmate and friend of my younger brother – so the formality felt unnecessary and perhaps dramatic. But Sam was being respectful.

Ban Coke at Hillel? I thought the request seemed odd. I grew up in a home that never had Pepsi because that company adhered to a boycott of Israel when I was a kid. I seem to recall my mom telling me that Jews drink Coke and non-Jews drink Pepsi. Looking back it seems like she was getting her information less from Middle East politics and more from Lenny Bruce.

I listened to Sam’s impassioned arguments that the Coca-Cola corporation was complicit in human rights abuses and environmental violations in Colombia and India. She knew her stuff. I would come to learn that about Sam Woll – agree or disagree with her, she always knew the facts of the case. As Sam continued her argument about why not only Hillel should stop buying Coca-Cola products, but the entire University should suspend their contracts, my mind immediately went to the more than 100 two-liter bottles of Coke and Sprite in the Hillel basement. We put two bottles on every table for Shabbat dinner every Friday night, not to mention all the Coke bottles we served in our daily kosher lunch program and just about every event we hosted in the building. Weekly, we’d receive deliveries of pallets of these Coke bottles. I likely had a 6-pack of Diet Coke in my office at the time and I was most likely sipping on a can as Sam pleaded her case with me. Two thoughts crossed my mind after that conversation with Sam. One, this energetic young person was going to be an amazing congresswoman someday. And, two, what had I gotten myself into with this new job?

I hadn’t planned to be a Hillel rabbi. After six years at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York, I had only looked for jobs at synagogues around the country. But, with a newborn baby and all of our family in the Metro Detroit area, when I got a call from the executive director I jumped at the opportunity. Looking back it was the ideal first job for me as a rabbi. Precisely because of students like Samantha Woll.

Sam taught me how to listen. She would ride her bicycle with the wide handlebars to Hillel wearing her hippy-slash-Modern Orthodox chic clothing with a large scarf and a bandana in her jet-black curls. Sam was a regular at Shabbat dinners and holiday meals, often bringing her non-Jewish friends to join her. She had friends in just about every faith community on campus. She was involved in anything related to social justice. Sam was the chairperson of both the Tzedek (social action) group and the VIA (Volunteers in Action) group. She seemed to show up at every event. Usually at the tail end. And she’d stay long after most people had left, sticking around to engage in heated discussions. Sam was captivating when she spoke. She always spoke from her heart, but she was whip-smart too. What a combination! When you talked with Sam she would always look you directly in the eyes and her gaze stayed there throughout the discussion. She would let you talk and her active listening skills were evident as she nodded repeatedly to your every argument. But then she would take over and you had no choice but to listen. Our mantra at Hillel was that the students run the show and the staff was there in a supporting role. It was an important first stop for me in my rabbinate because it taught me the value of stepping back and letting the students develop their leadership skills. I learned to hear others' opinions and consider different ways of thinking about a myriad of important topics. I was the rabbi at Hillel, but Samantha Woll was my teacher there.

Oftentimes, Sam and I would be engaged in a deep conversation at Hillel after Friday night dinner and she would want to continue the discussion so she'd join me on my walk home. I remember watching in awe as Sam debated with an Orthodox student about the Jewish view of abortion during a Passover lunch. From Muslim-Jewish relations to Israel to income inequality to the Coca-Cola corporation, Sam was always fired up. She was a Zionist. She was an advocate. She wanted to fix our broken world. This was Sam’s agenda on a daily basis.

I might not have always agreed with her opinion, but I respected it and I was always left in awe of how much she knew and how much she cared. She truly exemplified tikkun olam, which came from a deep place in her heart. In 2005, Sam was presented with an award at our annual end-of-the-year gala for her dedication to tzedakah (charitable righteousness) and social action.

In more recent years, I relived these discussions with Sam and that fire was still there. Whenever I saw her, she would ask me, "How's Jake?" She was genuinely interested to know how my brother was doing. We sat together at a Hillary Clinton event in 2016. We immediately became engaged in a discussion about the campaign, the impact of the upcoming election, and the issues with which Sam was involved. As Hillary approached our section, Sam handed me her phone and I took a photo of these two remarkable women.

At the end of February 2020 (right before the pandemic), I was a guest rabbi at a synagogue in Lansing for Shabbat. Seeing Sam's friendly face in the congregation made my day. When I saw her walk into the hallway, I left the service and followed her out so we could catch up. Sam invited me to an Elissa Slotkin event the next day and explained why she found Elissa to be the type of politician she could back 100%. Again, Sam's passion was remarkable and her insight into so many issues was impressive.

The past couple of summers, Sam and her parents and her sister's family have been at Camp Michigania during the same week as our family. This past summer, Sam eagerly told me about the renovation project of her beloved Downtown Synagogue, where she had been serving as the congregational president. She told me about the work she was doing with Dana Nessel, Michigan's Attorney General. And of course, she told me (with that same fire) about the many social justice initiatives she was working on in the City of Detroit. The revitalization of Detroit was one of Sam's righteous causes and her role as a change agent has been obvious.

Sam was such a kind and generous soul. Sam loved all people. She cared deeply about the livelihood, freedom, and fairness that everyone, from all walks of life, deserved. There’s a photo that’s been circulating on social media of Sam holding a Torah scroll close to her body on the Detroit River Walk. When I first saw the photo I immediately thought that Samantha Woll is literally holding the Torah close to her heart just as she has always held her own torah close to her heart. Her deeply held convictions and her sense of justice – those were the values that made up Sam’s torah.

What happened to her is so horrific, so tragic and so terrible. Our broken world is even more broken now that Sam has left us. We've lost one of our globe's best and brightest. May the memory of Samantha Woll be for blessings and may her family and all who loved Sam find comfort during this time of shock and sorrow.

Rabbi Jason Miller taught Samantha Woll’s 8th grade Mishna class at Hillel Day School as a substitute teacher and had the honor of learning with and from her at the University of Michigan Hillel. He is not the least bit surprised that the University of Michigan suspended its contracts with the Coca-Cola corporation in 2006 as a result of pressure from students like Sam. He also considers himself a better human being for having known Sam Woll, z”l.

Magen David Adom (MDA) Saves Lives in Israel with Advanced Technology

2023-09-07T20:07:00.003-04:00

In the ever-changing medical industry, Israel stands out as a frontrunner in making significant technological strides in the field. Leading this advancement is Magen David Adom, an organization founded almost 100 years ago that has harnessed Israel’s advanced technology to develop faster ways of saving lives throughout the country. On a recent visit to Metro Detroit, MDA leaders spoke about the tech innovations that are helping the organization respond quicker to medical emergencies, both large and small. This tech innovation is also being shared with other emergency response organizations throughout North America.

Yoni Yagodovsky, senior paramedic and director of international relations, along with his colleague, Raphael Herbst, senior paramedic, and trainer, visited Midwestern U.S. cities to conduct life-saving training sessions called “First 7 Minutes.” The program’s name is derived from the first seven minutes it typically takes for first responders to arrive on the scene of an emergency. Yagodovsky and Herbst taught participants at local Metro Detroit synagogues how to remain safe and offer critical first-aid assistance during the hectic time following an attack. Rather than focusing on specific protocols, the training covered seven principles for the first seven minutes: safety, call for help, saving lives together, organizing the scene, bleeding control, reporting, and assisting EMS.

L to R - Richard D. Zelin (American Friends of Magen David Adom in Chicago MDA), Yoni Yagodovsky, Raphael Herbst, Rabbi Jason Miller, Jonah Miller, and Robert Rosenthal (American Friends of Magen David Adom in NY)

At the heart of MDA’s groundbreaking initiatives is an innovative app that empowers people across Israel to swiftly request assistance during medical emergencies. Yagodovsky and Herbst provided a demonstration of the app, showing that with only a few taps on a smartphone, users can instantly notify MDA for life-saving help. The app uses location-based technology to ensure that medics in the vicinity are promptly alerted. Calls are answered within two seconds and this guarantees an ambulance will arrive in under four and a half minutes.

What sets this app apart, the MDA leaders explained, is its seamless integration with emergency services beyond Israel’s borders. In the event a user presses the help button while in the United States, the app automatically notifies 911, providing them with the user’s precise location. Additionally, users can upload their medical history and a baseline ECG for paramedics to compare should that user ever experience a medical emergency.

Magen David Adom’s commitment to direct communication is another key aspect of its service. Unlike traditional emergency hotlines where calls are directed to operators, MDA ensures that when you call, you speak directly to a paramedic. This approach facilitates a speedier assessment of the situation and enables immediate guidance and instructions.

With such cutting-edge innovation, MDA has helped other organizations outside of Israel adopt its advanced medical technology. Hatzalah South Florida, the Philippine Red Cross, and Hatzalah Chicago are only a few examples of entities preparing to adopt MDA’s innovative approaches into their own emergency response procedures.

Collaborations with innovative companies around the world have further enhanced MDA’s capabilities. For example, MDA has established a partnership with Waze, the Israeli-founded navigation app, to optimize ambulance routes with shorter response times. By taking advantage of Waze’s user-reported accident feature, MDA can swiftly learn about incidents and dispatch emergency personnel accordingly, whether the accidents are minor or major.

Recognizing the importance of efficient resource management, Magen David Adom has introduced Medical Vending Machines in hospitals. These machines allow paramedics to replenish their ambulances with precisely the supplies they need, reducing unnecessary spending on unused medical devices. This cost-saving measure has proven highly effective, saving thousands of dollars annually.

Harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, MDA is now able to predict the locations of future accidents. By analyzing data and patterns, the organization strategically deploys more medics to areas where they are likely needed. Additionally, MDA collaborates with car manufacturers to tap into their vehicle sensors, which can detect impact during accidents and predict the nature of injuries sustained by passengers and drivers strictly from the force of impact and the angle hit. This valuable information is relayed to MDA in real-time, enabling its emergency response workers to prepare the necessary resources and provide tailored care swiftly.

Magen David Adom is using its in-house team of around to design all of its technology that is being used all over the world. As Israel’s Magen David Adom continues to push boundaries with its pioneering technologies and innovative approaches, led by 55 developers, it serves as an inspiration to the global medical community. With thousands of lives being saved through its rapid response, seamless communication, and predictive capabilities, MDA shows Israel’s advancement in technology in the 21st century.

Originally published in the Detroit Jewish News

Snapchat’s Effect on Our Teens’ Mental Health

2023-06-02T11:46:00.002-04:00

Co-authored by Joshua Miller

Parents are more concerned than ever about their children’s mental health. Studies show that social media use has a strong effect on our teens’ daily emotions and behavior. Rather than write yet another article lamenting teens’ social media usage, I invited my nineteen-year-old son, Joshua, to co-author this Jews in the Digital Age column with me to ensure it includes perspectives from both a parent and a teen.

Parents of teens are familiar with and use social network applications like Facebook and Instagram. They have also, in recent years, begun to use TikTok, the popular video application. However, Snapchat is different since most parents do not use it and are generally unaware of their teens’ activity on the platform.

Snapchat’s own annual reports explain that it is used primarily by high school and college students. The mobile application allows users to share photos, videos, and messages. As of February 2023, Snapchat has approximately 750 million monthly active users, 63% of which use the application regularly, and more than three billion snaps are created and exchanged each day.

Snapchat causes negative mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, in high school and college students, making it an activity that should be high on the concern list of parents, teachers and mental health professionals. There exists a worldwide mental health crisis among teens and college students, and the use of Snapchat is prevalent among this age demographic. Studies have been conducted to show a causal relationship between Snapchat use and this mental health crisis.

Many teens will be enjoying a fun experience with family or friends, and then experience a sudden mood swing upon opening the Snapchat application on their phone. The phone screen will display photos of their friends' activities, who they’re with, and where they are currently located using Snapchat’s “Snap Map” GPS (global positioning system) feature. The teen who seemed to be happy and content is now feeling lonely, anxious and depressed thanks to the “fear of missing out.” Commonly known by the acronym “FOMO,” Snapchat contributes to this fear by making it appear that others in the teen’s peer group are enjoying life more. The teen often feels that they have not been invited or included in a competing activity even though they were satisfied with their situation prior to looking at the “Snap Map.” Seeing what others are posting on Snapchat, the teen loses focus and cannot be present with the people they are actually with in real life (“IRL”).

Teens feel that Snapchat is necessary to have on their mobile devices because it is one of the most popular forms of communication for this age demographic. Many young people prefer communicating quickly through Snapchat over text messaging, phone calls or video chatting apps like FaceTime. Snapchat messaging has become the norm for young people making the app essential to their daily lives. A teen who removes the app from their phone over concerns that it leads to increased FOMO, and thus anxiety and depression, soon find that they are not able to stay in contact with their friend group because their peers are using Snapchat to communicate and make social plans. Thus, it is a vicious cycle.

In a Journal of the American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry article titled “Patterns of Social Media Use Among Adolescents Who Are Psychiatrically Hospitalized,” experts explain that adolescents’ use of Snapchat “has critical implications for youths’ psychosocial development. Research increasingly supports a differential susceptibility model of media effects, whereby certain adolescents show an increased risk for negative effects of social media use. In addition, youth with suicidal thoughts or behaviors are more likely to experience cyber victimization and may be at risk for exposure to suicide-related social media content.”

Teens are still developing important psychological aspects of their being and persona. Many young people desperately want others to believe their life is wonderful so they post photos and videos to Snapchat to cause jealousy among their peer group. Studies show that Snapchat users very infrequently post photos and videos when they are depressed or sitting alone without friends around. They tend to only post when they are at social gatherings, on fun vacations, or generally enjoying “the good life.” This is not an accurate expression of their actual life and experiences, but it is a fabrication only showing what they want others to see. This causes envy and animosity among Snapchat users. According to Melissa Magner, in her article about social media’s negative implications on teens’ mental health, “It is important to understand that social comparison is especially prominent in the lives of young people who are simultaneously developing their ideas about who they are and where they fit in amongst their peers.”

While clinical depression and anxiety have plagued humans since the beginning of time, we are currently seeing a mental health crisis among teens, who use Snapchat regularly. What can be done to curb these negative mental health effects? Snap (the parent company of Snapchat) is a publicly traded company. It has a moral responsibility to ensure its product is safe for its users, the majority of whom are impressionable teens. Snapchat should remove its “Snap Map” feature that shows where one's connections are located using GPS as this would help minimize the FOMO feelings among Snapchat users. Additionally, Snapchat should limit the number of connections a user has. This would keep users from seeing what people outside of their core friend group are doing.

Snapchat must make changes immediately to its platform. Likewise, parents must do more to understand how Snapchat works and the detrimental effects it has on this highly impressionable generation. Users of Snapchat, especially adolescents, must seek to change the way they use the app. They should try to limit content that will cause others to feel left out, which leads to depression and sometimes suicidal tendencies.

They should attempt to show more realistic portrayals of their activities rather than sugarcoating their experiences of filtering reality. We all must work together to ensure the social media experience of our teen generation is a positive one. Their mental health depends on it and the future of our society is at stake.

Rabbi Jason Miller is a local educator and technology entrepreneur, who writes the Jews in the Digital Age column for the Jewish News.

Joshua Miller will begin his sophomore year at Michigan State University in the Fall. He is a Media and Information major in the College of Communication, Arts and Science.

The Off-the-Derech Viral YouTube Star from Williamsburg, Brooklyn

2023-01-16T11:29:00.002-05:00

Jews and non-Jews alike were drawn to “Unorthodox” and “Shtisel,” the two popular Netflix miniseries dramas about Hasidic life. These voyeuristic deep dives into the ultra-Orthodox lifestyle of the adherents of Hasidism were the first exposure many had to these insular communities. “Unorthodox” is based on the book by Deborah Feldman, who cut ties with her ultra-Orthodox Williamsburg, Brooklyn community in 2006. Her insider’s perspective was candid and insightful, revealing much of the secretive culture of the Satmar neighborhoods.

I too was mesmerized by both “Shtisel” and “Unorthodox,” binge-watching them during the early months of the COVID pandemic. So when I was asked to take a guided walking tour of Williamsburg with tour guide Frieda Vizel, whose “Off the Derech” (the label for those who leave their ultra-Orthodox lifestyle behind) biography sounded a lot like Deborah Feldman’s, I was intrigued.

I had planned to be in Brooklyn to officiate a bat mitzvah, so I scheduled the tour for a Friday morning, which is a wonderful time to walk around Williamsburg as men, women and children are hurriedly shopping to prepare for the Sabbath. My mother and my teenage daughter joined me as well. They had already planned to spend the weekend in New York, and I thought it would be meaningful for these two Jewish women in my life to see how Hasidic women live.

There were about a dozen of us on Frieda’s tour that morning and my family members were the only Jewish people other than the tour guide. Frieda’s tour was insightful and fun. It was interesting to see the way the residents reacted to her as we walked the streets of her childhood. She explained that many locals had warmed up to her over the years and to her approach of bringing outsiders into the tight-knit community to explain their experience.

Frieda, who went “Off the Derech” in 2010 at age 25, was introduced to YouTube and realized the video medium was the best way to connect with those interested in the reality of the Williamsburg community. Recently, as her YouTube following has grown and some of her videos have gone viral, Frieda has been surprised to find that Satmar Hasidim are tuning into her YouTube channel as well. She’s become something of a YouTube star – even among her former friends and neighbors whose rabbis restrict their usage of the internet and consider social media to be taboo.

I had the opportunity to talk with Frieda at the conclusion of our tour. Over kosher deli food in Williamsburg, we discussed her evolution from a Hasidic teen to a popular blogger and YouTube influencer.

When did you decide to start giving tours of Williamsburg to "outsiders"?

In 2013 when I was a graduate student and my professor told me that a summer program was looking for a tour guide for Hasidic Williamsburg.

When did you discover that YouTube could be a good medium for you?

People have been urging me for years to do videos. I've been writing a blog for more than ten years, collecting all sorts of little interesting bits on Hasidic life, and it's been demoralizing to see that my work garnered little interest. I was reluctant to make videos because I try to keep a low profile in the Hasidic community. I was worried that drawing attention to myself would bring out the zealots who would set out to make my life very miserable. I was also worried that if people knew me, I wouldn't feel comfortable walking the streets. Also, Hasidim are very camera shy and that's ingrained in me too.

Despite my reluctance, I did believe that it's important to reach a wider audience with the story of the Hasidic community. The New York Satmar community seems to be one of the most understudied subcultures and most of the pop culture representations are dark and misleading, creating this narrative of an "other." So I think it's important to get beyond that. It's incredible that such a unique, misunderstood world shouldn't get more sensitive, nuanced coverage. So, in the past year, I relented and began been publishing various videos on a YouTube channel.

What has been the reception to your YouTube channel among Satmar residents of Williamsburg?

It's been very surprisingly positive. A lot of people stop me while I'm on my tours and thank me for my videos. To my surprise, many people have seemingly appreciated this kind of coverage. They have been incredibly supportive.

Tell me about your experience getting local Williamsburg residents to appear in videos.

It's very hard to get people to agree to be on my channel. Many people will stop me on the street and talk to me, but when they realize that my cameraman is with me and he's rolling, they'll beg me not to publish the footage. It's an interesting contrast with the non-Hasidic kids from the neighborhood who, when they see a camera, will often come up to us and ask us if they can appear in our show. Hasidim are incredibly camera shy, in part, I think because it's a very closed and small world and anyone who stands out can end up feeling ostracized.

Pearl, who showed us her home in an episode of my YouTube series, "Inside a Hasidic Home," was different. She is a fierce lady who manages to at once have so much respect in the community while also agreeing wholeheartedly to be on film. I think a part of why Pearl was comfortable being on film was because she is older, and she has no kids in the school system or shidduch (marriage) system. Pearl was eager to help me from my very first phone call to her. My video with her ended up getting a hundred thousand views in a month, which absolutely shocked us.

I've also managed to get some other people to agree, and the process often involves showing people the edited version before it goes live on YouTube to make sure they are comfortable with it. I will never publish something that is disrespectful, and I think people trust me.

What have you learned since taking your “inside baseball” perspective to YouTube?

I've learned that my most eager audience are Hasidim themselves! While I think of my target audience as outsiders, Hasidim have a great interest in their own world, in seeing the representation and sharing insights in the comments. We all want to understand the society that we are in, and for Hasidim, there's a great dearth of anthropology. I am guessing in the future there will be a growing self-awareness as more people start to study the culture from a bird’s-eye view.

What do you hope to accomplish with your YouTube channel?

I hope to help build a non-judgmental curiosity into Hasidic culture. I'm hoping to inspire others to share different parts of this world and to inspire others to go beyond black and white. I hope that the world's understanding of this community will be much more nuanced, and I think I can contribute to that end through my own work.

What are some types of videos you plan to make for your YouTube channel in the future?

I hope to do more "In the Streets" videos. I am also going to film a video on the Yiddish language. I would love to capture the vibrancy of the culture in videos, so special occasions are my go-to. I dream of getting a Hasidic woman to show me her wardrobe. I also like to do food videos and I look forward to sharing the Hasidic Shabbes meal and other special Hasidic foods.

What do you hope to accomplish as more Hasidim watch your YouTube videos?

I think at this time, so many locals watch my YouTube channel that I have lost all my coveted anonymity. I miss it! On the other hand, I get a lot of fascinating information through their engagement with my work, and I'm honored that people take me seriously. But ultimately, I think my videos are giving locals a bit of a vocabulary with which to talk about their own world to outsiders, which I think is important.

Seniors: Don’t Get Taken Advantage of Online

2022-07-12T17:42:00.003-04:00

Did you know there is an actual law in Judaism prohibiting the theft of one’s knowledge? Known as geneivat da’at, the principle states that fooling someone and causing them to have a mistaken assumption, belief or impression leads the deceiving individual to be held responsible for the deceived person’s actions.

In Judaism, geneivat da’at is considered to be a worse offense than lying or cheating. The repercussions often negatively affect many more people than only the original individual who was duped.

In the internet age, I have seen many instances of geneivat da’at occur when innocent people are misled by fraudulent email messages, websites, text messages or social media posts. Many times, the result of these individuals being victims of geneivat da’at is that their identity is stolen, which is a nightmare scenario. Not surprisingly, it is usually older people who fall victim to this.

Facebook is certainly one of the most common places in which users over a certain age (we’ll call them “Boomers”) become deceived. Most of the duplicate friend requests I receive on Facebook are from fake accounts posing as older users. These illegitimate Facebook requests are part of a scam. The Facebook user often will post a legitimate message on their Facebook account letting their friends know that they shouldn’t accept any new Facebook friend requests from them because their profile has been duplicated, but they may not realize the seriousness of this act.

This scam involves a nefarious person (often in a foreign country) making virtual copies of real Facebook accounts by copying the photos and information from the real account’s “About” page to the fake ones. They then send friend requests to the friends listed on the real account. While some might find it humorous that so many seniors have had their Facebook accounts mirrored, the scam is more insidious than many realize.

After the scammer has fooled enough of the person’s friends to accept the friend requests on the fake account, there are many ways the scammer can trick others now that they have stolen someone’s identity on the social networking site. The scammer may request a gift card, entice you to play a game that downloads malicious software (malware) to your computer or trick you into downloading a virus that shares your personal data.

If you receive a friend request from someone you are already friends with, search your friend list to see if you are still friends with that person. If you are, you have likely received a friend request from a fake Facebook account that was duplicated from a legitimate account. You can contact your friend by Facebook Messenger, by phone or send them an email or text message to verify if the new friend request was intentional. If it was not, they can report the duplicate account to Facebook to shut it down.

There are many other ways seniors are being taken advantage of on the web by hackers and scammers. Through my company, Access Technology, I am often contacted by seniors unsure if an email message they received is legitimate. The email may be very confusing to them because it alerts them that their password was compromised and there’s a link to change it. If they click the link, they’re providing their credentials to a hacker.

Oftentimes, they receive an alarming email that their identity has been stolen or that their personal information is available on the Dark Web, and they can’t decipher if the message is genuine.

The older generation is much less technology-savvy than the younger generations who have grown up with the internet. Seniors also tend to be more trusting, which can lead to vulnerabilities with regard to maintaining security with personal information.

Keeping Personal Information Secure

Investing in a subscription plan with a trusted company like McAfee, Norton, Kaspersky or Avast can help keep your personal data secure and your computer safe from viruses.

It’s also important to never feel pressured to give information like your Social Security number, credit card information or account passwords over the phone. This is especially true if the call was unexpected or from an unusual number.

Scammers may try to use calls, texts and emails to impersonate customer service representatives from companies you use and trust (like the electric company, your internet provider or Amazon). If you are ever unsure, it is always safest to end the call and reach out directly to customer support using a trusted number.

With email messages, it is always recommended to check the email address that sent the message to determine if it looks authentic.

Additionally, remember that reputable companies will never ask you to provide payment information over the phone or demand that you purchase a gift card for payment.

When in doubt about the legitimacy of any website, email message or phone call, it is always best to dig a little deeper or ask someone for help before succumbing to geneivat da’at.

Originally Published at The Detroit Jewish News

5 Jewish TikTokers to Follow

2022-04-06T10:54:00.001-04:00

TikTok has given rise to a new crop of Jewish personalities who are profiting from creating popular content for the Jewish community (as well as Jewish content for non-Jews, too).

Unless you’ve been hibernating for the past couple of years, you’ve probably heard of TikTok. It’s a social networking app that features short videos and has taken the world by storm. Today, you can watch the latest dance craze or see teens doing pranks and stunts. You can also watch actual video footage of the Russian invasion of Ukraine shot on cell phones along with stay-at-home dads telling their favorite jokes and highlights of the latest sporting events.

The Chinese-owned TikTok only allows the upload of short (15 seconds to three minutes) videos and has gained in popularity since the demise of similar apps like Vine and Musical.ly (another Chinese-owned app that merged with TikTok). It became the first non-Facebook mobile app to reach 3 billion downloads globally this past summer.

Like YouTube, Facebook and Instagram, Jewish content is readily available on the TikTok platform. The app has given rise to a new crop of Jewish personalities who are profiting from creating popular content for the Jewish community (as well as Jewish content for non-Jews, too). A recent NBC News article interviewed several Jewish creators on the TikTok app who said they feel they have been subjected to a type of censorship, with the app regularly flagging and removing their content. Additionally, there have been many antisemitic slurs in the comment section of videos uploaded by these Jewish content creators. Nevertheless, these new Jewish internet celebrities have persevered and continue to churn out videos that go viral, even educating people about Judaism and dispelling myths along the way.

So, who are these Jewish TikTok content providers?

Crazy Brothers-in-Law (@JewCrazy)

Tommer and Yossi are brothers-in-law who must have looked at the typical dance memes on TikTok and determined that they could do those with a Jewish flavor. This duo has half a million followers, 10 million likes, and make money selling JewCrazy-branded merchandise.

In one of their most popular videos, the two men appear to be getting into a fight with a gangster who tells them to come back to the alley strapped. Instead of returning strapped with guns, they reappear wearing the leather straps of their tefillin.

Tommer and Yossi regularly answer questions from commenters in a cynical manner, but ultimately educate the public about what it means to be observant Jews. Many of the comments on their videos bring up millennia-old stereotypes about Jewish people (e.g., do Jews have horns, do Jews control the banks, etc.), but @JewCrazy responds to these misguided commenters by setting the record straight.

Many of their videos just put a Jewish spin on viral TikTok dances and memes. For example, they remade the famous Island Boys video substituting the lyrics with “I’m a Menorah Boy.” Like other popular Jewish TikTok users, @JewCrazy has had Jewish- and Israel-related videos censored on the app and has even been banned for several weeks. The pair does not do anything more obscene or offensive than many other accounts on TikTok, but they have been targeted for their Jewish content.

The Jewish Home (@RealMelindaStrauss2.0)

Despite being kicked off the TikTok platform several times for no apparent reason, Melinda Strauss continues to build her following by offering practical Jewish advice. As her website explains, “Melinda Strauss rose to fame with her Kosher Food Blog … Over the years, she has become a health coach, podcaster, influencer, conference organizer, business coach and amassed an impressive TikTok following where she shares the nuances of life as an Orthodox Jew.”

Her TikTok channel is essentially answering viewers’ questions about all things Jewish. In recent videos, Strauss has discussed how Jews repent, how to get the home ready for Shabbat and what Type 1 diabetics should do on a fast day.

She’s dispelled the myth that kosher food is healthier, shown how to find kosher food at a farmer’s market and, of course, how to braid a challah. One of her most popular videos is showing her son, who has diabetes, putting on tefillin after his bar mitzvah (a proud Mom moment).

Talmud TikTok (@miriamanzovin)

Miriam Anzovin has been spreading Talmudic teachings to the world thanks to her popular TikTok account. Anzovin began the new cycle of Daf Yomi before the COVID pandemic started in January 2020, and she’s amassed a whole following of students who start their day with her TikTok channel. She opens each video with her motto, “Shalom, Friends!”

Anzovin is certainly not what most people think of when they think of a Talmud scholar, but her modern, creative way of teaching the daily page of Talmud (known as Daf Yomi) has caught on and helped a whole new generation of Talmud students fall in love with the ancient Jewish learning process.

Anzovin’s approach is to bring the sometimes bizarre stories of the Talmud to life by adapting them to 21st-century language, full of analogies and references to pop culture. The way she makes the ancient Talmud (written in Aramaic) accessible to the modern student is akin to retelling Shakespeare as a high school love drama set in the current period.

Jewish Jokes (@SalvadorLitvak)

There’s a certain skill involved in telling Jewish jokes well. Salvador Litvak has that skill. The Chilean-born filmmaker and social media influencer in his mid-50s has a wonderful cadence to telling age-old Jewish jokes. Known as the Accidental Talmudist, Litvak has close to 40,000 followers and a quarter of a million likes.

While some of the 72 greatest jokes of all time that he tells will undoubtedly be familiar to most, you’ll still chuckle with Litvak’s delivery. He often makes himself laugh after telling the joke. A longtime Jewish educator, Litvak peppers some Jewish teachings into each video, often explaining Jewish concepts that non-Jewish viewers might find confusing.

Challah Time (@challahprince)

Baking and braiding challah became a very popular activity during the COVID pandemic. In fact, at the beginning of the quarantine period, it became impossible to buy yeast at the grocery store because everyone seemed to be staying home and baking.

Idan Chabasov has taken the lead as the most popular challah baking artist of TikTok. His tens of thousands of followers learn to bake the most creative challah breads and rolls by watching his TikTok channel. A Sephardic Jew with roots in Turkey and Uzbekistan, Chabasov says that he didn’t grow up watching his mother braid challah dough. He considers himself an artist who didn’t have much of a connection to Judaism. That was until he was in Germany and was seeking out Shabbat dinners. As a guest at these meals, he began baking challah and, then during the COVID lockdown, he would watch YouTube videos for challah-braiding tricks. After creating an Instagram account to show off his heart-shaped challah creations, Chabasov discovered how many others were equally passionate about new ways to shape traditional bread. His artistic challah baking creations have provided him with a huge global following and brought him closer to his Jewish roots.

Originally published in the Detroit Jewish News and at thejewishnews.com

Nostalgically Making it a Blockbuster Night

2021-12-08T15:02:00.000-05:00

I’d characterize myself as a nostalgic person. I have every ticket stub from every sporting event, concert, theater performance, and even movie that I’ve attended going all the way back to the 1984 World Series. Every once in a while, I like to go through these tickets, recall the friends and family members I went with and see what I can recall from our experience together.

I also have a hard time throwing out things like membership cards. That would explain why many years after all Blockbuster video stores in the State of Michigan closed their doors, I still have my Blockbuster membership card. For years, this Blockbuster card was just sitting in my desk drawer with no purpose. If only I had an opportunity to use it one last time.

Over the summer, I was scrolling through the virtually endless options on Netflix when I found perhaps the most delightful and ironic choice among the 36,000 hours of content available: The Last Blockbuster. The documentary tells of the meteoric rise and rapid decline of Blockbuster Video, as symbolized by the very last Blockbuster Video, in Bend, Oregon.

Then — like a copy of The Matrix in the return bin just before closing time — it struck me. I realized why the place sounded so familiar. I had begun working with a bar mitzvah student in Bend and would be heading to Oregon in just a few months to officiate his service at Smith Rock, about 30 minutes from there. I immediately put a reminder on my calendar for my brief trip: Visit the last Blockbuster Video on Earth.

So, a couple of weeks ago I grabbed my Blockbuster card and headed for Central Oregon. After the bar mitzvah ceremony (he did great), I looked up the Blockbuster in Google Maps — the first and last time I ever put a Blockbuster location into GPS — and excitedly hurried over to see (Wow) what a difference there was about this lonely outpost and its departed family of franchisees.

When I arrived, there were a dozen tourists standing outside the store taking photos. It would have never occurred to me 25 years ago that a Blockbuster in a strip mall in Oregon would become a popular tourist destination. I offered to take a photo for a group that had driven for hours just to see the last Blockbuster and someone from the group reciprocated, taking a photo of me in front of the store proudly holding the membership card I’d refused to discard.

When I walked into the store, I felt a wave of nostalgia wash over me. There was something about the smell of the place, the Blockbuster blue under neon lights, that brought me back to those Saturday nights walking the aisles with friends as we tried to find a newly released movie on VHS tape we could all agree to watch. Admittedly, we’d spend an hour reading each synopsis on the back of the plastic case only to once again rent Major League so we could continue our attempt at memorizing every line from the movie.

Being at Blockbuster once again made me appreciate the advances in how we watch movies, and even how we select which movie to watch. We used to wander around a store scanning the titles of the white Blockbuster VHS or DVD boxes. Now we scroll through the streaming lineup on the TV in our homes. We used to defer to the giant wall of “guaranteed in stock” new releases or rely on that section in the store of employee-recommended movies. Now, the Netflix algorithm recommends titles for us based on our prior movie-watching history and how we rated past movies.

After my half-hour rewinding through time and space, I made my way to the exit. As far as I know, my membership card would have worked, if I wanted to check out a Mission Impossible sequel, but I think I still have some late fees from the copy of Major League that fell behind my TV. I couldn’t help but wonder about the couple browsing for a DVD. What would they rent? Something they’d never seen or Love Actually for the eighth time? Would they watch on a TV that could have streamed the very same movie? Maybe, I thought, they have Netflix and Hulu and Amazon Prime and Disney+ and Paramount+ and Apple TV and Peacock, but tonight — tonight they decided to make it a Blockbuster Night.

Genetic Genealogy for the Digital Age

2021-12-01T13:56:00.002-05:00

Several years ago, I was contacted by a representative at ancestry.com who offered me the opportunity to submit my DNA using a saliva collection kit. I figured I would be able to get the results and then complete my family tree going back many generations. I set up an ancestry.com account and started to add relatives to my family tree. When I received the DNA test results back, they did not yield any surprises (99% Ashkenazi Jewish), and, unfortunately, there were not any matches of my close relatives or ancestors. This is because there were not enough people paying for and submitting the saliva DNA to the website.

Fast forward to this past summer when I received an email alert from ancestry.com. I had actually forgotten I ever set this account up. The alert told me that my first cousin was a DNA match and was likely my first or second cousin. This was not earth-shattering news to me since I already knew my first cousin was related to me, and I also knew how she was related. However, this piqued my interest yet again in my genealogy.

I returned to the website, and sure enough, more DNA matches showed up for potential cousins. I began looking through other family trees that distant cousins had set up as well as 100-year-old documents that gave me hints about my long-lost relatives.

I immediately got lost in the genealogy black hole, spending hours researching my family tree and sharing my findings with my family members. I was amazed to see photographs of my great-great-grandparents. I located photographs of my ancestors’ grave monuments, which provided details including their Hebrew names, when they were born and when they died.

I discovered an ancestry.com account belonging to my mother’s first cousin, who had already spent a lot of time adding relatives’ vital information and photographs to his family tree. In his collection, I was amazed to see photos of my grandparents (his aunt and uncle) I had never seen before. I started connecting the genealogy dots that led me to extend my family tree back several generations, and I was able to do this for my wife’s family tree as well.

While monthly or annual membership to ancestry.com (or to other genealogy websites) can be quite costly, I learned that many local libraries offer complimentary access to ancestry.com and other online genealogy resources. I was able to take advantage of the access provided by the Farmington Hills Library, which gives library members full access to the ancestry.com website by logging into the library website.

In addition to the Ancestry website, I also have used both familysearch.com and myheritage.com to look up birth and death records and other helpful documents, like immigration records and high school yearbooks. The only time I spent money on this hobby was when I ordered a copy of my great-grandparents’ New York City marriage license.

One resource very helpful to me in doing this genealogical research is the website findagrave.com. In a few instances, I was able to identify a cemetery in which a relative was buried, but no other information about that relative or a photograph of the monument was available. I simply clicked a button on the website that reads “Request a Photograph” and within one day I was notified by email that photographs of my ancestors’ grave monuments had been updated to the website.

Being able to use genetic ancestry testing together with historical documentation has been an exciting and very interesting way for me to delve into my genealogy. Had I not submitted that saliva DNA sample several years ago and created an online account at ancestry.com, I would never have discovered the fascinating hobby of genetic genealogy. Now, every time I receive an email from ancestry.com with another DNA match or a clue about where one of my distant ancestors might have come from, I’m intrigued and drop whatever I’m doing to log into the website.

Back in 2019, it was estimated that more than 26 million people had added their DNA to the four leading commercial ancestry databases, which includes ancestry.com. At that time, it was predicted that if the pace continued, the gene troves could hold data on the genetic makeup of more than 100 million people within the next two years. That means that there’s a very good chance that there are DNA matches to long-lost relatives just waiting to be discovered on websites like ancestry.com.

In addition to discovering your roots, there are countless health benefits to identifying your relatives as well. I highly recommend the intriguing hobby of genetic genealogy.

Cross-posted to the Detroit Jewish News

The Bar Mitzvah that Felt Like a Shiva

2021-08-24T08:45:00.001-04:00

Zachary’s family had hoped to celebrate his bar mitzvah in Israel. Instead, they opted to host local and out-of-town guests in their hometown of Atlanta in July. I had worked with Zachary over Zoom to prepare for his bar mitzvah and was getting ready to travel to Atlanta to officiate his service when I received an email from his mom.

She wrote that Zachary’s uncle (her ex-husband’s brother-in-law) had been visiting his brother in Miami the prior week. They were home at his condo in Surfside when the building collapsed. Both men were unaccounted for and presumed dead.

She said the bar mitzvah would go on as planned, albeit with a very different mood.

I called her right away and offered my deepest sympathies for what the entire family must have been going through at that time. I knew that this would no longer be just another bar mitzvah that I would officiate. I suspected that I would now be called upon in a pastoral role to offer comfort and to try to help the grieving family that had not yet received confirmation of their loved one's death.

Surfside Miami Florida Condo Collapse 2021 (ABC News)

Some family members, including the children of the uncle who was missing in the condominium collapse, had not originally been planning to attend the bar mitzvah but were now going to be there to represent their side of the family. During the entire flight to Atlanta, I tried to think of how to talk with the family members who were not yet in the formal period of mourning because they still were holding out hope that their two relatives would be found alive in the wreckage. I have comforted many families after the death of a loved one, but never following such a tragic accident that had been covered in the news on a global scale.

In my role as a rabbi, I inevitably become close with the family of the bar or bat mitzvah. Even if I’m traveling from Metro Detroit to their community to officiate the simcha and have only met the family members virtually on Zoom, there’s a certain bond that occurs when a family celebrates a life-cycle event with a rabbi. In this case, I felt that bond as soon as I entered their home.

It felt more like a shiva than a bar mitzvah. We sat and talked about the tragedy in Surfside and how the family could remain hopeful while beginning to accept the reality that their loved one would not be found alive in the wreckage. We talked about trying to celebrate life with the bar mitzvah ceremony even — or especially — amidst such tragedy.

I reminded them of the story in the Torah when the Israelites were prepared to consecrate the Mishkan (God’s tabernacle) in the wilderness. That event was set to be a purely joyful event with great anticipation and celebration. Then tragedy befell the nation when two brothers, Aaron’s sons, died tragically. The Israelites had to deal with grief and consolation together with their feelings of joyous celebration.

Zachary did great. His mom shared that, as unreal as Surfside still seemed, she was grateful that we had the opportunity to gather and grieve together. For me, the entire experience serves as a stark reminder that Judaism commands us to come together in times of joy and in times of suffering.

I Knew Jack - Remembering Jack Aronson

2021-08-12T10:33:00.002-04:00

I found it very telling when I received a phone call from a contributing writer at the Detroit Jewish News the day after Jack Aronson passed away. She said she was working on an obituary for Jack but was confused. I asked what she was confused about and she told me that she was having trouble verifying if Jack was Jewish. I started to laugh.

Jack Aronson was not Jewish. But I immediately understood why she was confused. The man was so beloved throughout the Jewish community and he received loving tributes from notable Jewish leaders in the immediate hours after his death that it was not surprising this Jewish News writer had begun working on his obituary before realizing that he wasn’t a member of the Jewish community — at least not officially.

Jack Aronson of Garden Fresh Gourmet with Rabbi Jason Miller in Taylor, Michigan

I looked up to Jack Aronson. Both literally and figuratively. Jack was a big man. He was tall, but he loomed even larger when it came to business. And to the community. And to philanthropy. In the food industry, he was legendary.

The first time I met Jack, I told him about my kosher certification agency. He said he wasn't happy with the agency that Garden Fresh was using and so I jokingly told him to have his people give me a call. Not long after that, I received a call from his manager to set up a meeting. Before that meeting ever took place, Jack had sold Garden Fresh to Campbell's for almost a quarter billion dollars. What stuck with me is not that Jack actually followed through and had someone contact me, but that several people told me that he had contacted them to learn more about me and Kosher Michigan. Jack did his research.

In April of 2019, Jack called me and said he was ready to work together. He invited me to Great Lakes HPP in Taylor to show me his innovative food freezing and drying machines. After the tour of the facility, we went to a conference room and talked. Well, mainly Jack talked. I listened. This went on for a couple of hours. Jack told me the inside scoop on selling his company to Campbell's and how he had recently tried and failed to buy it back.

He talked about eating healthy and how he was going to beat cancer in any way necessary. We talked about family and community, entrepreneurship and philanthropy. He was a wealth of information.

One of the last times I talked to Jack was at the beginning of the pandemic when we were under the stay-at-home order. Knowing that people were struggling, he was determined to give away thousands of meals. He contacted me to let me know that he could have his delivery guy drop off a free meal box at the home of anyone I knew who was having a difficult time during the quarantine.

I shared this information with my Facebook friends and several people took Jack up on his offer, having meals delivered to elderly parents and co-workers who were in need. It should be mentioned that Jack was in the middle of a cancer treatment when he called me. That was Jack — always caring about others.

Kosher certifying Great Lakes HPP was a gift for me because I got to know the great Jack Aronson. May his memory endure for blessings for his family and for everyone who knew him.

Rest in peace, Jack. I am a better person for having known you.

CES 2021 - A Much Different CES Experience

2021-04-26T12:40:00.004-04:00

The year 2020 was so full of changes and disappointments that it is no wonder we began 2021 eager for things to return to normal. That certainly was not the case for my CES experience in January. The annual international electronics show has become a regular activity on my calendar at the start of each year and I was especially looking forward to this year’s convention for several reasons. First, it would be my tenth CES in Las Vegas. Second, I had to miss the 2020 event because I had to travel to Phoenix to officiate a bar mitzvah.

While I was able to attend this year’s CES, it was certainly a change from past experiences. The Consumer Technology Association, which produces CES, made the difficult decision of making this year’s show fully virtual. I am glad they were able to still convene the world’s best tech showcase, but virtually attending from home was vastly different than actually being in Las Vegas and being able to touch the cutting-edge tech gadgets and futuristic electronics.

Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Technology Association opens CES 2021, the first virtual CES

Surprisingly, this was one of my favorite CES experiences yet. That must sound surprising since it lacked the sights, sounds and feels of a typical CES. However, this year, I found myself much more available to sample the panel discussions, lectures and new product presentations (I also didn’t have sore feet from walking miles around the mammoth convention floor). Tech luminaries from around the world addressed the challenges brought on by the COVID pandemic and put forward their revolutionary solutions as we face an unpredicted future. I learned a new term from a leader at Procter and Gamble, who referred to the way tech companies have been forced to adapt this past year as “Constructive Disruption.”

It was fascinating to hear some of the world’s most creative and innovative technologists explain how they were forced to shelve the products they had been working on for years in order to quickly create the new technologies our world required as we battled a global pandemic. I heard government leaders explain their role in helping to democratize high-speed internet and ensure the infrastructure was in place for 5G. I was intrigued by how rapidly the field of digital health has been growing and how new technology owes so much to space exploration.

I remain in awe of how the Consumer Technology Association was able to pivot so quickly to a fully virtual show this year and I am grateful I participated. I learned a lot and truly experienced a different aspect of this phenomenal tech show. Hopefully, next year I will be back in Las Vegas and will be able to have a tactile CES experience once again.

Originally published in the Detroit Jewish News

New App Enhances Prayer During Pandemic

2020-12-28T09:03:00.001-05:00

Prayer in Judaism is an interesting concept. While there is nothing inherently wrong with one praying by oneself, there is certainly a preference for communal prayer. Worshiping k’yachid, or individually, satisfies the Jewish obligation for daily prayer, but there are several sections of the prayer service that can only be done when a minyan (prayer quorum of ten people) is constituted.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the strong desire we have for communal worship has posed a challenge to clergy. Certainly, technology has solved many of the inherent problems that occur when it is impossible for community members to congregate in person due to health risks. We have seen how video conferencing apps like Zoom have become commonplace for group worship. But we have also seen examples of what happens when technology fails, as it did for dozens of congregations dependent on the synagogue website company Shul Cloud, whose servers failed on Yom Kippur, the most heavily trafficked day of the year for virtual synagogue prayer.

Congregations are not simply relying on Zoom to be the savior of communal prayer during the pandemic. New, innovative options are being created to give congregants the feeling of truly being together in a community, whether for Shabbat and holiday prayer services, bar and bat mitzvah ceremonies, or funerals and shiva minyans.

A new cutting-edge technological prayer program that is gaining in popularity amid the pandemic is Visual T’filah. Created by the Central Conference of American Rabbis, this app was used by nearly half of the Reform community during the recent High Holidays to enhance prayer and help worshipers find deeper meaning in prayers.

Rather than simply show the prayer leader and pages from the siddur (prayer book) on Zoom, Visual T’filah creates a multimedia experience while participants are engaged in the prayer service. It utilizes contemporary technology to display liturgy intermingled with art and other visual imagery. Interestingly, Visual T’filah has existed for several years but because of the pandemic the resource has gained newfound, widespread use as congregations look to enhance their remote services using Zoom. The technology is rather simple since it is a collection of PowerPoint files. Each congregation can use the multimedia files as they see fit during the virtual prayer service and can create custom slides as well.

Local congregations in Michigan have adopted Virtual T’filah already. "We have used Visual T'filah since we began meeting virtually this spring,” explained Rabbi Matthew J. Zerwekh of Temple Emanuel-El in Oak Park. “I am thankful to have an artistic and easy-to-use tool that can help make our services accessible to our congregation, no matter if they have a prayerbook at home or not. Visual T'filah allows us to be flexible and creative with our liturgy and music while presenting a beautiful and meaningful presentation of the service."

When hundreds are gathered in a sanctuary, we are engaged in many sensory experiences. This is not the case when we are looking at a computer, tablet or phone screen and only seeing other people in boxes, as is the case with Zoom. Virtual T’filah seeks to provide some of those sensory experiences that add so much to our prayer experience making it feel more spiritual.

Rabbi Hara Person, chief executive of the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) made the case for Visual T’filah. “While this remarkable technology has been used successfully by congregations nationwide for years,” she said, “we’re very proud to see how rabbis and their communities have embraced Visual T’filah to find new opportunities for meaningful spiritual experiences during this challenging time.”

Visual T’filah was created by Rabbi Dan Medwin, who serves as Director of Digital Media for the CCAR. Congregations do not have to be affiliated with the Reform Movement to purchase a license for Visual T’filah. In fact, the files can be edited to adapt to any congregation and for any type of prayer service, from a high holiday gathering to an intimate bat mitzvah celebration.

Visual T’filah is just another example of the ingenuity that Jewish leaders are demonstrating during these unprecedented times. While it is still difficult to believe that we haven’t been able to gather as a community in our houses of worship since the early part of this year, we have been making due and technology has played an important role in helping us feel as if we are gathered together to worship and give thanks to God.

Originally published in the Detroit Jewish News.