The Suburban Community
Oak-Woodser in Bad Taste?
Clarifies a Misunderstanding
•
By the Oak-Woodser
Our recent story on the ap-
proval granted to Cong. Bnai
David by the Southfield Town-
ship Zoning Board to begin con-
struction on its synagogue build-
ing has elicted a letter =from
Bernard Edelman, 10300 Wood-
ward, in which he says that por-
tions are "in bad taste."
To clarify the air, we quote
here from Mr. Edelman's letter:
"A portion of the item is in
bad taste . .. It states that the
`dodge of lack of sewage, ques-
tionable parking and other con-
venient excuses' were raised in
attempts to keep out the syna-
gogue.
"Sewage- is a major prob-
lem in this and other com-
munities and substantial hous-
ing his been held up for long
periods pending solution . .
Lack of parking as everyone
knows has presented many
hardships. It is further the
privilege of any community to
gather and submit petitions
for one reason or another. It's
the normal, legal function of
our democracy ."
"The Jewish News owes an
apology to the members of the
Southfield Township Zoning
Board and a pledge to end this
kind of hate reporting."
When this story was written,
Inclusion of certain facts to
which Mr. EdelmaQ makes ref-
erence were used not to pro-
Mote "hate reporting," but only
to indicate that there exist prej-
udiced people who will go to
any • length to discriminate
against others.
The anti-Semitic implications
in the story, however, did 'not
refer to the Southfield Township
Zoning Board, nor to any of-
ficials of the Township.
As a matter of record, we
commended the action of the
zoning board in 'allowing the
building to- commence. The
charges against the synagogue
were not raised by the Town-
ship, but by residents of the
area.
And we agree that were the
problems of sewage and park-
ing valid, they had every rea-
son to object. We deliberately
chose the term "dodge" to indi-
cate that, although these could
be legitimate reasons, in the
case of both the Oak Park con-
gregation and later Cong. Bnai
David, they were trumped up
charges and not valid.
We, further agree that "it is
the privilege of any community
to gather and submit petitions
for one reason or another .. ."
We don't, however, have to
agree with the distributors of
these petitions, 'nor do we feel
we erred in calling attention to
the underlying motive of anti-
S e m i ti s m which originally
started them on their way.
Often, Jews will debate
with themselves and bend
over backward to believe a
person or an organization is
not anti-Semitic. In the sub-
urban areas we have reported
frequently on the fine racial
and religious feelings which
truly do exist among most
residents.
However, when spokesmen
for a congregation smile cyni-
cally when asked: "Was the
halting of the building justifi-
able," and nod that there was
some anti-Semitic ' feeling, we
feel justified in reporting the
incident.
This, not for the sake of "hate
reporting," but for the sake of
vigilance. You don't turn your
back on existing issues.
'Saturday Fun Trips,'.
New Youth Program
"Saturday Fun Trips.," a pro-
gram for 7 to 9 year-olds, will
begin June 30 under the direc-
tion of Prof. Aaron Krasner to
give youngsters an opportunity
to visit interesting places in,and
around Detroit.
There will be group singing,
games and dancing, under the
supervision of professional per-
sonnel. Door-to-door transpor-
tation is' planned to the indoor
recreation hall in Oak Park.
Prof. Kr a s n e r, currently
teaching group work to univer-
sity students, will be assisted
by Mrs. Lila Stern, registrar
and assistant director of the
Saturday Fun Trips.
Registration for the program
is currently being taken. For in-
formation, call Mrs. Stern, KE
7-3336. •
Ike Names Chairman
President Eisenhower has
designated the president of the
Synagogue Council of America,
Rabbi Abraham J. , Feld-
man of Hartford, Conn., as the
Jewish co-chairman of an in-
ter-religious committee which,
together with representatives
from all walks of American life,
have been invited to help the
United States "wage peace
through person-to-person com-
munication in .foreign lands."
CAMP
PETOSEGA
Petoskey, Michigan
BOYS and GIRLS
Ages 7 to 16
Name Loewenberg
to Direct. Center's
Suburban Branch
Frank Loewenberg has been ,
named supervisor of the Jewish
Community Center's new 10
Mile Rd. branch, which will
open in September. .
A graduate of Harvard Uni-
versity, the:;
New York' .
School of
cial Work and';
Columbia Uni-
versity, Loew-
enberg served:
as program as-
sistant at the
12th Stree t:
Council Center
from 1949 to 51
He has hact..
wide experi
ence in group
work at the
Bronx YMHA,..
Camp Wet-Met'
osvd
and the Syna- Loewenberg
gogue Center in Chicago. He is
a member of the National As-
sociation of Jewish Center
Workers, the National Associa-
tion of Social Workers and
HapOel Hamizrachi.
Despite his busy professional
schedule, Loewenberg finds time
for photography. His favorite
subjects are his three-year-old
son and year-old daughter.
Mrs. Loewenberg is the for-
mer Adeline Subar, a nursery
school teacher at the 12th Street
Center, where she met her hus-
band.
UAW-CIO Fetes Local Leaders
One of a number events held
this week by the UAW-CIO in
celebration of the automobile
union's 20th anniversary was a
luncheon .Tuesday, at the Vet- ,
erans Memorial Bldg., honor-
ing Detroit's communal lead-
ers.
In the words of Emil Mazey,
UAW-CIO secretary-treasurer,
"no celebration is complete
without recognition to our
community leaders who have
helped not only the union but
all mankind."
Mazey, who was toastmaster
at the banquet, introduced Dr.
Leon Fram, of Temple Israel,
Dr. Richard C. Hertz, of Tem-
ple Beth El, and Boris Joffe, of
the Jewish Community Council.
Rabbi Morris Adler, or Cong.
Shaarey Zedek, who sat at the
head table, gave the closing
benediction.
Four awards for aiding the
union cause over the past 20
years, especially in its early
days, were given to the follow-
ing:
Judge Lila Neuenfelt, of Cir-
cuit Court; Fr. Raymond S.
Clancy, Dr. James. J. McClen-
don, a founder and past presi-
dent of the NAACP; and Judge
George B. Murphy, of Circuit
Court. The latter was a post-
humous award to the Murphy's
brother the late Supreme
Court Justice Frank Murphy.
Temple Emanu El Services
Ages: From 6 through 13
Cong. Emanu-El will hold its
weekly summer sab ,ath -eve
service at 8:15 p.m., today, at
Burton Schoo 1, Huntington
Woods. Dr. Frank F. Rosenthal
will officiate.
4OURS: 9:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
Your summer can be filled with
joy — while we take care of
your girl or boy.
ENROLL NOW
OAK PARK
DAY CAMP
Four two-week periods beginning
June 25, 1956
Eighty-five per cent of the
vehicles involved in accidents
were passenger cars.
Monday through Friday
For Further Information Call
MAX PLEASANT
VE. 8-6689 — Detroit
BEN KATZ
LI. 7-8024 — Oak Park
NOW IN OAK PARK
SINGER'S KOSHER MEAT MARKET
(Formerly of Dexter)
Featuring the Finest
Quality and Choice Meats and Poultry
13721 W. 9 MILE RD. at Coolidge
WE DELIVER — LI 7-8111
Joe Singer, Phil Swarin, Proprietors
Sweet, tangy pine-
apple stays fresh for a
whole year in a home
food freezer or two-in-
one refrigerator-freez-
er. It's wonderful the
way you can pick
summer treats fresh
from your freezer all
year long. No wonder
smart homemakers
say:
"Freezer Living
is Leisure Living."
Limited Openings for Boys and Girls
.1
for the Second Session
J uly 25th to August 23rd
Leonard Baruch
UN. 4-7629
Bertram Sandweiss
LI. 6-0522
SEE YOUR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE DEALER