A Wedding in Cleveland

By ALAN SMASON, Special to the CCJN

Last weekend (August 13-15),  I journeyed for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic back to Cleveland, my home of refuge for nearly two years during the diaspora from Hurricane Katrina. It was the first time since the American Jewish Press Association (AJPA) held its annual conference there in 2018, but the occasion this time  was the wedding of my niece, Nori Wieder, to Dr. Dilusha William, a cardiologist she met while beginning a legal career as a public defender for Cuyahoga County.

Rabbi Matt Eisenberg, center, conducts the marriage ceremony of Dr. Dilusha William with Nori Wieder holding their ketubah. (Photo by Alan Smason)

The ceremony was conducted by my friend Temple Israel Ner Tamid Rabbi Matt Eisenberg under a chuppah constructed especially by the bride’s father, Doug Wieder, and his nephew David Smason, my son. 

The wedding brought members of both my maternal and paternal family members from New Orleans and both the East and West coasts to Cleveland to celebrate.

As a 6-year-old boy in 1960, I had been the ring bearer and my sister, Arlene S. Wieder, had been the flower girl at the wedding ceremony for my paternal uncle and aunt, Dr. Joel Smason and Evelyne Berger. The union between those two, now, sadly, both of blessed memory, had been suggested by someone from my mother’s side of the family, and to our delight they were married for more than 50 years. Almost exactly three decades ago to the day, my only son David repeated my duty as the ring bearer for Joel and Evelyne’s elder daughter Renee to Stephen Gingold. Nori had been their flower girl, so the Gingolds and their younger daughter Paris were also in attendance.

To add to my own joy on this return trip to Cleveland, my own granddaughter, who now lives in Texas, served as  a flower girl for Nori’s nuptials, thus continuing a chain that I suspect will continue for generations to come.

Flower girls. (Photo by Alan Smason)

The opportunity to revisit Cleveland, my sister’s home  since 1977,  and to reflect on my days as a staff reporter and web producer at the Cleveland Jewish News (CJN) 15 years ago was also high on my agenda.

Once the flurry of activity at the rehearsal dinner on Friday night and the wedding and reception at Acacia Country Club were over. I got to revisit places and friends I had not seen for a long time.

Among them was Violet Spevack, the now 105-year-old former columnist for the Cleveland Jewish News, whom I visited while family members headed down to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Violet, who established a record for her 50 years as a single columnist for her “Cavalcade” feature in the CJN, is spending her last days in comfort at Menorah Park, the nursing and assisted living facility just down Cedar Road from the wedding site.

Although she rested easily with her eyes mostly shut, there were still moments when her eyes would open as her daughter Bonnie and I spoke to her and there was that sparkle and just a bit of that unmistakable “vi-vi-vacious” smile would shine forth.

Former CJN editor Cynthia Detellbach with CCJN editor Alan Smason. (Photo by Carol Guilcrease)

In addition to Violet, I had occasion to visit with Cynthia “Cindy” Detellbach, the former three-decades long editor of the CJN, who was widowed a few months after my last visit to Cleveland and is now keeping busy writing as a playwright and producing several one-act plays. Cindy graciously opened her home in order for me to stop by.

Rob Certner, the CJN’s former CEO and a past AJPA president, and I were also able to meet for an all-too-short visit. As the current AJPA president, I was acutely aware of how valuable Rob’s time is, but we did manage to catch up at Slyman’s Restaurant and Deli (the original downtown location), where only take-out was allowed due to the pandemic. We enjoyed a lovely al fresco lunch under threatening skies at the nearby Burke Metropolitan Airport.

Meanwhile, current CJN CEO and publisher Kevin Adelstein (and the current AJPA treasurer), met me for breakfast at Corky and Lenny’s Delicatessen on my final morning in Cleveland along with CJN senior account manager Ron Greenbaum. Remarkably, Greenbaum, who has been selling ads for the newspaper for more than 40 years, still looks as young and vibrant as he did 15 years ago.

The CJN’s senior account manager Ron Greenbaum with CEO Kevin Adelstein. (Photo by Alan Smason)

It was Greenbaum’s client, Jack’s Deli in Beachwood, where I returned to make my last connection to my former days as a Clevelander. Both owners – Alvie and Gary – were on hand to welcome me back to one of my favorite places to dine when I lived in nearby University Heights a few blocks off the heavily Jewish corridor along Green Road. 

As the Lennon-McCartney song “In My Life” so perfectly begins:

There are places I’ll remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever, not for better
Some have gone and some remain…

(© Sony/ATV Tunes LLC)

That, to me, is Cleveland. It is still very much a vibrant Jewish community and while I was delighted to return to my own native New Orleans with its much smaller Jewish community, it was very much a blessing to be able to visit it again and to renew friendships at a special time of family celebration.

Like New Orleans, much of the hubbub of business has slowed during this uncertain time, but there is continuity. Even at a time when far off corrupt regimes fall to religious zealots, life goes on both here and there. As as we prepare for yet another new Jewish year in both locales, it is important to consider that it is family, friends and familiar places which make life special.

L’Shana Tovah to everyone here and there and a special siman tov and mazel tov to the bride and groom.