THE DETROIT JEW IS H NEWS—Friday, March 13, 195 9- 12
The Suburban Community
Jews in Suburban Politics:
Beware of Popularity Polls
By the Oak-Woodser
The game of politics has
always been particularly intrigu-
ing in our American system of
government, and, for as many
years as our country has
existed, there have been Jews
who have been active in the
political arenas.
In past years, with only rare
exceptions, Jews worked as
party people, mostly behind the
scenes, content to receive oc-
casional appointments but not
too actively seeking elective
office.
Mishkan Israel Starts
Drive for Membership
Cong. Mishkan Israel, which
was dedicated at 9 Mile Rd. and
Parklawn, Oak Park, only a few
months ago, is currently em-
barked on a membership drive.
Under the chairmanship of
Sheldon N. Salzman, the mem-
bership committee is available
from 2 to 5 p.m., each Sunday,
at the synagogue. Working with
Salzman are Nathan Wolok, past
president of the Chesed shel
Emes.
The synagogue is guided spir-
itually by Rabbi Isaac Stollman,
national president of the Miz-
rachi-Hapoel Hamizrachi Organi-
zation of America. Plans are
currently- being made for an ex-
tensive program of educational
and social activities on the adult
and child level.
For information on member-
ship, call Salzman, LI. 8-1396, or
Wolok, LI. 7-8290.
Oak-Woods BB Lodge
Sets Paid-Up Party
A combination paid-up mem-
bership party and initiation of
new members is being planned
by Oak-Woods Lodge of Bnai
Brith for 8:30 p.m., March 21,
at Young Israel Center of Oak-
Woods, Coolidge and Allen Rds.
According to Irving Lopatin,
chairman of the program, mem-
bers and their wives are invited
to participate.
Special features of the party
will be dancing to the music of
the Keynotes and refreshments.
Initiating the new members
will be the degree team of the
Metropolitan Detroit BB Coun-
cil, comprised of Walter Berlow,
Alfred Bounin, Hy Crystal, Eli
Springer and Harry Seifert.
Beth Shalom Women
Slate Purim Dance
"Swing into Spring" is the
theme of a Purim dance being
held by Cong. Beth Shalom at
9 p.m., March 21, in the syna-
gogue, 14601 W. Lincoln, Oak
Park.
Music will be provided by the
Dominoes, and there will be a
lesson for all in the popular
cha-cha-cha.
Sponsored by the Sisterhood,
the dance is under the chair-
manship of Mesdames Sidney
Fishman and Louis Goldman.
The public is invited to attend.
Tickets are available at sev-
eval Oak Park stores or by call-
ing Mrs. Robert Lewin, LI
5-3555. They also will be sold
at the door the night of the
dance.
PWO
Whether it was fear of the
snub from voters or perhaps
just a case of not wanting to
make politics a full-time career
is a debatable question. And
while Jews have held office in
all ages of this country's devel-
opment, they have been in
small numbers, unequal even to
the percentage of the popula-
tion.
Today, the Jew no longer
avoids public office. Through.
out the nation there are U.S.
Senators and Congressmen,
judges, state, city and county
officials elected at every level
and there are a great many
more who run for office but
are defeated.
We read all this as a healthy
sign—that the Jewish commun-
ity has become aware of its
obligation to serve in elective
positions and to actively con-
tribute to the progress of all
strata of government.
It is particularly interesting
that in the suburbs the Jew is
especially active as an office
seeker. At each election the list
of Jewish candidates in sub-
urban Detroit areas grows
longer—in Oak Park, Hunting-
ton Woods, Southfield, Livonia
and many other communities.
Much of this interest is
obvious—it's merely a matter of
wanting to make each of these
communities better towns in
which to live. And the same
interest, it may be pointed out,
exists among all peoples, Jews
or non-Jews.
We sometimes, however,
question the motives of both
our fellow kinsmen and
others who run for these
offices. We wonder at their
sincerity in wishing to serve,
to devote a goodly amount of
time and attention to govern.
ment matters.
At other times we get the
feeling that suburban areas are
staging one great big popularity
contest, and the candidates who
know the most people are bound
to win.
In the instance of our Jewish
community, we question the
wisdom of organizations, or
individuals obviously represent-
ing organizations, using mem-
bership in these groups as
levers to pry votes at the polls.
And we personally dislike
phone calls reminding us that
Brother Harry is a candidate
for office, so let's all get out
and vote for him.
More often than not, these
candidates are as fully qualified
as any other, but we are not
asked to vote on the basis of
qualifications, sincerity and
judgement, but solely because
they happen to be members of
the same group.
In the coming election in
April we feel certain that some
of our Jewish candidates will be
elected. We hope they are the
ones who are capable and able
to expend the effort for the
jobs to which they are elected.
The annual husbands and
wives meeting of the South
Oakland County Chapter of
Hadassah will be held at 8:30
p.m., Tuesday, at Cong. Bnai
David, 24350 Southfield.
The program will feature
Kalman Benyamini, now study-
ing clinical psychology on an
Hadassah scholarship at the
University of Michigan, as guest
speaker. .
Also planned is "Hadassah's
TV Guide," a preview of the
group's annual spring produc-
tion, which this year is en-
titled, "Now, Hear This."
Participants in the preview
will be Mesdames Maurice
Schiller, Daniel Mandelbaum,
Robert Bonus, Stanley Waxen-
berg, Herbert Stoorman, Harold
Ross, Maurice Reizen, Ernest
Mendelsohn, Abel Selburn and
Mr. Benyamini and Dr. Herman
Bennett.
A social hour will conclude
the evening's activities, which
have been arranged by Mes-
dames Abel Selburn, Norman
Graff, Marshall Fisher and
Ernest Beck.
Bnai David Service
to Mark Bas Mitzvah
of 22 Young Girls
A unique service. at which 22
girls who have fulfilled re-
quirements of the Bnai David
Religious School will be hon-
ored at a group Bas Mitzvah
ceremony, is planned by the
congregation at 8:30 p.m.,
M a r c h 20, at the synagogue,
24350 Southfield.
In announcing the service,
Rabbi Hayim Donin, spiritual
leader, stated that this is the
first time in the congregation's
67-year history that the Bas
Mitzvah ceremony will be
observed.
"Although there is no tradi-
tional precedent for any formal
ceremonies to mark this reli-
giously valid and important oc-
casion in a girl's life," Rabbi
Donin explained, "it becomes
imperative in modern times to
give some recognition and pay
formal honor to those girls who
have been preparing themselves
through a full program or reli-
gious study to take their places
eventually as understanding and
practicing Jewesses.
The girls to be honored at
the Bas Mitzvah ceremony are
between 12 and 14 years of age.
The ceremonies represent the
completion of only their ele-
mentary program of studies.
The girls will continue in the
secondary division, completion
of which is marked by consecra-
tion services.
DRIVING LESSONS
LESSON $
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Dual Controls
No Permit Needed to Start
Professional Instructors
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Safeway Driver Training
TO. 9-7600 LI. 2-6742
Packed houses on all three many fine performers was Mrs.
nights greeted the second an- Sam Zacks at the piano.
nual Oak Park Follies, present-
ed by the Oak Park High School
PTSA, last week, in the school
auditorium.
On Men's and Women's
The 23 variety acts thorough-
Clothes.
ly delighted crowds on each
night, as did the student band
Complete Selection of
which performed before the
Brand Name:
show and during intermission.
• Suits • Topcoats
Harry Mayer, Follies chair-
• Slacks • Sportcoats
man, stated that the funds re-
ceived were sufficient to con-
TUXEDO RENTALS I
tinue the PTSA's Francis V.
Baad Scholarship, which will
be given to a worthy '59 gradu-
ate and also to help carry out
other PTSA activities.
Clothiers & Cleaners
Parents, teachers and stu-
22155 COOLIDGE
dents all joined in the show,
SO. of 9 MILE RD.
and there was even participa-
tion by a community organiza-
Free Pickup & Delivery
tion, the "Going Like 60 Club."
LI 7-1511
James Rachleff emceed the
OPEN SUNDAYS 11-3
show, and accompanying the
Expert Alterations
I
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Sets Convention Date
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Invite Husbands
to SOC Event
`Oak Park Follies' Scores Second Hit
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