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100th Anniversary of Detroit Jewry
Continued from Page 1
for a synagogue building was
purchased on Rivard street. It
was the old First Methodist
Church near Congress street.
This house of worship was dedi-
cated on Aug. 30, 1861, by Dr.
Isaac M. Wise, -of Cincinnati,
founder of the Reform Jewish
movement in. America. The ten-
dencies of Beth El Congregation
towards Reform practices cre-
ated a rift in the synagogue and
a group of members withdrew
to form, in 1861, Congregation
Shaarey Zedek, which today is
considered one of the leading
Cons ervative synagogues in
America. '
From the handful of Jewish
settlers in 1850, the Jewish com-
munity of Detroit has grown in
the 100 years of its existence to
a community of nearly 100,-
000. There are two Reform Con-
gregations—Temple Beth El and
Temple Israel; three Conserva-
tive synagogues—Shaarey Zedek,
Bnai Moshe and Northwest Con-
gregation, and 35 orthodox syna-
gogues ranging in memberships
from as small as 25 to as high
as Bnai David's 650.
Temple Beth El's Rabbis
A number of distinguished
men served Temple Beth El as
rabbis. Samuel Marcus was fol-
lowed by the following rabbis:
Liebman Adler, 1854-1861; A.
Laser, 1861-1863; Isidore Kalisch,
1863-1864; Elias Eppstein, 1864-
1869; Kaufman Kohler, who
later became president of He-
brew Union College, 1869-1871;
Rev. Greenblatt, 1871; E. .Ge-
rechter, 1871-1874; Leopold
Wintner, 1873-1876; Henry Zirn-
dorf, 1876-1884; Louis Grossman,
1885-1889; Leo M. Franklin,
1899-1948. Dr. B. Benedict Gla-
zer, the present rabbi, has Sid-
ney Akselrad as his educational
assistant.
Rabbi Judah L. Levin, father
of Prof. Samuel M. Levin of
DR.. A. M. HERSHMAN
Wayne University, was among
Detroit's most distinguished or-
thodox rabbis. Rabbi Leon
Fram is spiritual leader of Tem-
ple Israel. Harry C. Levine is
president of Temple Israel.
Shaarey Zedek's Rabbis
Dr. A. M. Hershman, Rabbi
Purely Commentary
. By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
More About Bearers of False Messages
The chap whcr- became peeved because he had to pay duty on
a refrigerator he took with him to Israel; and the sorehead who
could not bring back the profits he made on the sale of the car
he brought to the Jewish state, came back like the "meraglim" of
old with bad reports about Israel. They are making comparisons
between Israel and the United States, they seek to inject enthusi-
asm for the Alps in order to play down the sentiments about the
Hills of Judaea.
These unhappy men remind us of this story related by Bennett
Cerf:
"A gentleman was needled by his wife into buying a pair of
seats for a benefit in Madison £quare Garden at fifty dollars a
throw. Every star in town was included on the program, and
the cause was a worthy one, but even so, the price seemed too
steep to the gentleman, and he approached the proceedings in a
super-critical mood. The singers were off-key, he insisted, the-
dancers clumsy, and the jokesters inaudible. .
"Finally came the piece de resistance. Across a thin, taut
wire stretched high above the arena, a daredevil hopped on one
foot. On the free foot he balanced a lighted lamp. There was
no net spread under him. And while the spellbound audience,
two hundred feet below, followed his every move, he. played
`Some Enchanted Evening' on a violin!
"The gentleman's wife nudged him and said, `Isn't he won-
derful? Are you still sorry you came?' The gentleman snorted
and observed, Reifetz he ain'ti' " .
The fellow who brings ill tidings from Israel is like this
disgruntled chap who fails to see the wonders before him because
his heart is in his pocket. There are _no comparisons between
Israel and Switzerland or the U. S. In the latter, the. work of
centuries is visible in expanding progress. In the former, 20 cen-
turies of neglect and destruction 'are being defied by pioneers
who are carrying on successfully in spite of the bearers of false
messages. Israel's achievements are too vast to justify com-
parisons. But the disgruntled insist, "Switzerland she aint!"
In a sense, those who bring false reports from Israel are an
unhappy lot. In some instances, they prove the point that Money
can not buy happiness; but unfortunately Israel needs American
dollars—both for the. settlement o,k newcomers and to improve the
state's economy. Apparently Grade Allen is equally correct in
stating that "happiness can not buy money."
The major attacks by the meraglim were leveled at the
Histadrut and the "socialist" government of Israel. Fortunately,
an American capitalist—Mr. Julius Simon, president of the
Palestine Economic Corporation—and Israel's Finance Minister
Eliezer Kaplan have joined in repudiating these charges. (See
Editorial in this. issue.) Here is hoping that the truth which
inevitably triumphs, 'will establish better relationships between
Israel and the Jews of America.
Israel needs American Jewry's encouragement. Amet4can
Jewry needs inspiration from Israel. Let's get together and put
an end to nasty rumors.
Are All Tourists Alike?
Perhaps all tourists are alike. Blair Moody, reporting to The
Detroit News a few days ago on his trip to Europe, told of the
very bad impressions made by U. S. Senators and others who,
during visits in European countries, expected magic carpets to be
spread out for them. The evil effects left by such visitors are
not doing the U. S. any good.
Are we expecting too much when we ask for derekh Eretz
from Jews visiting in Israel?
Another Bennett Cerf _Atory is in order here. Cerf relates
that a prominent American literary critic, upon leaving his hotel
to make a train, asked a porter to see if he had left his • new
pajamas' on the bed in the room he occupied and pointed out
to him that he had only 12 minutes to make the train. The
porter returned, all out of breath, with the report: "Yes, your
pajamas ARE on the bed."
That's the trouble with some of our tourists. Like the porter
Emeritus of Congregation
Shaarey Zedek, whose present
rabbi is Morris Adler, is one of
America's most distinguished
scholars. He has served this
community for 45 years. Rabbi
Benjamin N. Gorrelick is 'Shaa-
rey Zedek's educational director.
The following served as pres-
idents of Temple Beth El since
its founding:
Jacob Silberman, 1850; M.
Hirs chm an,1859; Emanuel
Schloss, 1860; Simon Freedman,
1861-1865; D. J. Workum, 1866-
1868; Simon Heavenrich, 1868-
1874; Martin Butzel, 1874-1878;
Seligman Schloss, , 18/8-1881; Ju-
lius Robinson, 1881-1891; Samuel
Heavenrich, 1891 - 1893; Julius
Freud, 1893 897; Louis Blitz,
1897-1905 Samuel Heavenrich,
1905-1907; Henry M. Butzel, 1908;
Bernard B. Selling, 1909-1912;
Benjamin L. Lambert, 1912-1913;
Louis Welt, 1912-1913; Bernard
Ginsburg, 1918-1919; Isaac Gil-
bert, 1919-1923; Adolph Finster-
wald, 1924-1925; Milford Stern,
1925-1929; Melville S. Welt, 1930-
1932; Israel. Himelhoch, 1932-
1936; Morris. Garvett, 1936-1939;
Harry C. Grossman, 1939-1941;
Joseph M. Welt, 1941-1944; Leo-
nard T. Lewis, 1944-1947; Dr.
Herbert I. Kallet 1947-1949.
Nate S. Shapero, president
of Cunninham Drug Co. and a
prominent civic leader, is the
present president of. Temple
Beth El under whose leader-
ship the congregation is pre-
paring to celebrate its 100th
anniversary.
Harry M. Shulman is the pres-
ent president of Congregation
Shaarey Zedek. The past presi-
dents of Shaarey Zedek include
the following:
Hiram Kranshaur, Max Hertz-
berg, Reuben Mendelsohn, Louis
Blumberg, Aaron Simon and
Samuel N. Ginsburg, all of whom
served from 1862 to,1902; Wil-
liam B. Saulson, 1903-1908; -Da-
vid W. Simons, 1908-1920; Jo-
seph Wetsman, 1920-1921; Louis
Granet, 1922-1923; Robert Mar-
wil, 1926-1926; A. Louis Gordon,
1929-1932; Isaac Shetzer, 1932-
1934-1938-1940; Maurice H. Zack-
heim, 1924, 1935-1937; Morris H.
Blumberg, 1941-1943; Harry Co-
hen, 1944-1947. Two leaders serv-
ed as chairmen of the Shaarey
Zedek‘board of directors* 'Tarry.
B. Kean, 1923-1924, an ta-:
ham Srere,. -1925-1926. .
The other two Conservative
congregations, their rabbiS and
presidents are : Bnai Moshe,
Rabbi Moses Lehrman, Theodore
M. Curtis; Northwest Hebrew
_Congregation and Center, Rabbi
Jacob E. Segal, Ira G. Kaufman.
Orthodox Synagogues, Rabbis
The existing orthodox syna-
gogues, -their rabbis and presi-
dents (in instances where there
are no rabbis- only the presidents
are listed). are:.
_ -
Adas Yeshurun, Rabbi Leo
Goldman, Meyer, Freedman; Ah-
avath Achim- Bnai Abraham, Al-
bert Burke; Anshe Bereznitz,
Nathan Rose; .Beth Aaron, Rab-
bi Pinchos Katz, Dr. .Marvin
Last; Beth Aaron v'Israel, Sol .
Lapinsky; Beth Abraham; Rab-
bis Joseph Thumin, Rabbi Is-
rael Halpern, Louis Ellenbogen;
Beth Itz,chock, Rabbi Jacob Ho-
berman, Isidore Rosenthal; Beth
Joseph, Abraham Walter; Beth
Moses, Rabbi Gerson Frankel,
Emil Kahn; Beth Shmuel, Rabbi
Joseph Rabinowitz, Isador Ros-
enberg; Beth Tikvah, Rabbi Lei-
zer Levin Jerome. Kagan; Beth
Yehudah, Harry Stolsky; Beth
Tenlo Emanuel, Rabbi M. J.
Wohlgelernter, Jacob Shevitz;
Bnai David, Rabbi Joshua S.
Sperka, Joseph Gorman; Bnai
Israel, Jacob Lesser; Bnai Ja-
cob, Sam Rosenberg; Bnai Zion,
Rabbi S. Gruskin, Morris Snow;
Chesed shel Emes, Sam Nelson;
Cong. Dov Frenkel, Max Kaplan;
Ezras Achim (Turover Temple),
Rabbi David .Bakst, Isadore Sos-
nick; Gemiluth Chasodim, Rab-
bi Leopold Neuhaus, Max Marx;
Mishkan Israel, Rabbi Isaac
Stollman, Philip Stollman; Mo-
gen Abraham, David I. Berris;
Nusach Ari, William Axelrod;
-Shaarey Shomayim, J. L. Ber-
man; Shaarey Zion, Rabbi Leo
Goldman, Benjamin Assik; First
Hebrew Congregation of Delray,
Sam Klein; Young Israel
branches, Rabbi Samuel .Prero,
who failed to bring the pajamas, they come back. to tell us that
there is an Israel, but they are too inarticulate to be able -to tell
the glories that are Israel's. That's why. this Commentator finds
it necessary, at the risk of repetition, to ask his fellow-American
Jews to refuse to listen to bearers of of ill tidings and not to let 2
Israel down—no matter what the cost. •
THE JEWISH NEWS
Friday, January 6, 1950
—
Louis Berry Named to AK
National Campaign Cabinet
Fourteen key Jewish leaders
representing the entire country
and including Louis Berry of
Detroit, chairman of - the 1949
Allied Jewish. campaign, have
Samuel W. Platt, Alter Green-
baum.
In addition to congregational
schools, Detroit has two Yeshi-
voth (theological Schools)—Beth
Yehudah and Chachmey Lublin;
the United Hebrew Schools,
whose nine branches have a
daily afternoon school attend-
ance of 1,200; Farband, Sholem
Aleichem and Arbeiter Ring
Schools.
Detroit's Jewish Welfare .Fed-
eration, an affiliate of the Com-
munity Chest •and United Foun-
dation, is the central fund-
raising body for local, national
and overseas philanthropies and
educational movements. I t s
president is Julian Krolik. The
Jewish Community Council su-
pervises the civic - protective
and community relations pro-
grams for Detroit Jewry. The
Zionist' movement, Bnai Brith
and the Jewish War Veterans
are the leading community or-
ganizations next to the organ-
ized synagogue functions.
HIAS Asks Amended
DP Immigration Law
NEW YORK, (JT4.)—A reso-
lution asking Cong Ass for the
adoption of a new DP immigra-
tion law or an amended form of
the present act was .clopted at
the 20th annual convention of
the HIAS Council of Organiza-
tions.
Another of - the eight resolu-
tions adopted unanimously de-
nied charges of dual. allegiance.
which have been "carelessly lev-
eled at some Jews in this coun-
try:'
Dr. Dubrovsky. Re-Elected
Argentine Jews'. Head
IATEI∎124 AIRES, (JTA)—The
assembly of DAIA, central Jew-
WI representative -body of Ar-
gientiria;' re-;elected Dr. _Ricardo
bubrOVSky as president.
been named to a national cam-
paign cabinet for the 1950
United Jewish Appeal, in an 'un-
precedented step in campaign
planning and direction.
The new setup was announced
by Henry Morgenthau, Jr., UJA
general chairman.
"The 1950 UJA campaign must
mobilize active support of 5,600
communities," Morgenthau de-
LOUIS H. BERRY
dared. He pointed out that the
election of a national campaign
cabinet will "give us a campaign
high command of the tried and
proved communal leadership
which will be most important
for the success of our effort."
In addition to Berry, the cam-
paign cabinet includes Herbert
R. Abeles of Newark, N. J.; Mor-
ris W. Berinstein of Syracuse,
N. Y.;._ Charles Brown of Los : .
Angeles; Eddie Cantor of Bev?
erly Hills, Calif.; Joseph Cher-.
ner of Washington, D. C.; Sam-
uel H. ,Daroff of Philadelphia;„
Melvin ; Dubinsky of St. .Louis;.
Sol Luckman. of Cincinnati; Jor.
eph : Mazer of New .York; : ,_
Charles J. Rosenbloom of Pitts-
burg; Samuel Rothberg pf Pe-
oria., Ill.; Rudolf G. Sonneborn
of New York, and Julian B. Ve-
nezky of Peoria.
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Between You and Me
• By BORIS SMOLAR
(Copyright, 1930, Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Inc.)
Zionist Affairs
The future of the world Zionist movement is now being
mapped quietly in New York by the Jewish Agency . . Two com-
mittees have been set up to prepare a program for remolding the
Zionist movement throughout the world . . These committees
are also to define the relationship between the Israel government
and the Jewish Agency ... The issue will now come under'=dis-
cussion before the -Jewish Agency executive session this month
in Jerusalem . . . A final decision ',on it will be reached at the
forthcoming World Zionist Congress ... In preparation for the
fight at the Congress, American Zionists are now making a strong
effort for a maximum sale of Shekolim in this country . . . The
More Shekolim sold, the more American delegates .will go to the
Congress And if .there will be any fight at the Congress, it
is expected to develop chiefly between 'the American and Israel
delegations . . . The Americans will probably be outnumbered by
the Israelis inasmuch as the Shekel -system permits Israel twice
as many delegates as any other country for the amount of Sheko-
lim sold . . • The only way for American Zionists to have as many
delegates as the Israelis, is to sell twice as many Shekolim as the
total sold in Israel . .. It must be remembered that the Ameri-
can delegates come to the Congress not as a solid -unit but as
representatives of different groups in Zionism . .. So do the dele-
gates from rsrael ... However, the latter represent mostly the
labor wing in the Zionist movement.
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Communal Issues
The year has shown a great deal of activity among Jewish
'communities in this country in the reorganization of governing
bodies to allow for broader representation .. . Detroit, Denver,
Jacksonville, Hartford, Houston and Elmira - have made signifi-
cant changes in this direction . . . Thus the talk one hears now
in New York -about the necessity for "democratizing" Jewish fed-
erations, welfare funds and community councils throughout the
country sounds like breaking into an open door .. . These cen-
tral Jewish community bodies are themselves now seeking a broad-
er base from which to draw their leadership .. . They realize that
one important aspect of any 'central community body is that it
must be representative of the community which it is serving .
They are aware that the general community must have the great-
est possible voice in the Selection of the leadership of that body
. . . The ques_tion of what constitutes democratically-selected lead-
ership is now a topic of discussion in community gatherings . . .
The answer has not as yet been. found .. . On one hand com-
munities have come to recognize that in Jewish community life,
where all activities are based on voluntary association of indi-
viduals for the common welfare, they cannot guide themselves
wholly by governmental procedures which hold sway in our na-
tional political life . . . On the other hand, communities try to
achieve effective organization by including in their governing
bodies representatives of all the diversified religious, ideological
and other interest groups ip-the community.
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