▪
•
Bargaining Table
to the Bargaining
Federal Mediator Brings Wi sdom of the Talmud
Ethics of the Fathers: "If I am seeks to apply "human ethics
to
I United States. married and with most of his love of learning
BY CHARLOTTE DUBIN
who will be for me? day-to-day industrial life," Tanz-
from his own traditionally Jew- not for myself,
For a born fighter. Dave Tanz- families; some still keep loose
man explains. Asked by the Jew-
ish home and from a father And if not now, when?"
man makes a pretty good profes- contact with Tanzman. He recalls
c i 1 to be
A mediator, Tanzman explains, ish Community C o u ti the
the visit of one young man who told who practiced a hamishe brand
sional peacemaker.
board,
to
take
1
its representative on
must be impartial. able
of psychology.
As top man in the Detroit field him the girl he wished to marry
DIM
Tanzman, the youngest of five an unpopular position without being Tanzman has lectured the
office of the Federal Mediation would not do so wit h o u t her
staff on Jewish ideas and ideals;
in his role as judge.
and Conciliation Service, Tanzman "father's" permission. Tanzman children, was born. to Hayim Ahron swayed
Tanzman occupies a small, aus- the staff, in turn, carries the les-
tackles union-management scuf- sized the man up and gave it . . • and Ida Tanzman in Queens Aug.
sons into the plant office and union
8. 1919. At age 6, he sang with a tere office totally bereft of decora-
in a father's fashion.
Others were assisted by Tanz- synagogue choir, and all through tion — but filled with cartons, file meeting.
In his own unique language of
man in setting up a new life. But high school he performed on stage cabinets, papers — on the four
religion and industry, Tanzman
he explains it away with "It says with a classmate ("When FDR floor of the Federal Building.
manages
to relate the two at semi-
He works in his shirt sleeves as
in the Tora, if people are poor, won in 1933. the Republican head-
nars. (Just as a nation, for exam-
quarters down the street emptied do the men whose grievances he ple must buy spare parts from the
give them strength."
out, and we set up quite a nice handles. Normally, these cases in- country where it bought the ma-
In spite of Tanzman's knowl-
office.") The team made beautiful volve the building trades, auto
edge of Tora and of Judaism, music together until Tanzman's companies and other important De- chine, so a man must return to
he refuses to be called Orthodox.
other half deserted. troit industries. Right now, his big his Maker to fill his need. One of
Ile belongs to Young Israel of
An honors graduate and vice baby is the UAW contract negotia- Tanzman's lessons.)
Greenfield "because I like an
Tanzman is positive that much
tions.
president
of his high school,
Orthodox service" but also be-
Just what his role is during of the inspiration is God's work—
Tanzman toyed with the idea '
longs to the Conservative Beth
the talks Tanzman cannot say; "you know, like the notebook by
of taking up veterinary surgery
Shalom Synagogue Men's Club.
the rapport he enjoys with both the bed? Very often, my solution
with the scholarship he won to
He sears a yarmulka at Jewish
sides has been built up over too come at odd times and in a con-
Cornell. But Tanzman's parents
s
text totally unrelated to the issue
at hand ... I do believe in mira-
cles."
communal functions "because I were both invalid, and working
long a period to jeopardize with
feel comfortable with one," and
an incautious word.
hands were necessary in those
he eats fish in restaurants "be-
Bargainers know that Dave Tanz-
Depression years.
cause I can't remove myself from
At age 16, David Tanzman set man is likely to bring in the
the world." His three daughters, off on his career — as a part-time Talmud as he wheedles and ca-
DAVID TANZMAN
Beth Jacob alumnae, attend page. He attended CCNY at night joles them into "wanting a settle-
fles with gusto and imagination. classes at the Conservative Jewish
and in between learned to be a ment."
For the Jewish Community Coun- Theological Seminary, and his son radio technician, sang on radio and
"A fter all, talmudic insights
cil's arbitration and conciliation goes to the Orthodox - oriented
managed to meet the girl who that sharpen one's mind are par-
subcommittee, he has handled dis- Akiva Day School, where Tanzman
ticularly
valuable in the area of
would become his wife.
putes with the same flourish.
serves on the board.
In the same year he married, mediation," he insists, "and the
1941.
Tanzman
left
school
to
ac-
Talmud
has
as much application in
Tanzman
explains
his
strong
Each morning, when he places
the tefillin on his forehead, feelings against labels: "Labels cept a job as messenger for the non-Jewish areas as in Jewish
Tanzman reminds himself of his force organization on us. When we U.S. government in Washington. areas."
As as example, he recalled the
role in life: "Supreme God, Thou have many splinters, we weaken He was the first employe of the
wilt imbue me with thy wisdom the value of Judaism. By some, National Defense Mediation Board, talmudic suggestion on what to
All through the agency name do when two men claim the same
and Thy intelligence; in Thy I'm considered an avid Orthodox,
grace Thou wilt do great things by others a super-duper Conserva- changes — from Defense Media- garment. If one man concedes
tor me: by Thy might Thou wilt tive and by still others an extreme tion Board to National War Labor half the garment to bring peace
cut off my foes and my adver- 'cultural' Jew. The most important Board and National Wage Stabili- when the other man still insists
saries." group is 'Kahal Yisrael,' the com- zation Board — Tanzman moved on having the entire garment,
munity
of Israel. When we start up the ladder in government me- "there is reason to doubt the word
m
Throughout his life. there have
been many foes and adversaries. bowing down to labels rather than diation activity. of the first man. If it were his gar-
He took time off from writing ment, why would he be willing to
But Tanzman is a religious man: philosophies, then we're in trouble.
"God is the one label I'm all procedures analysis for the War give up half of it?"
God is his strength. the Tora his
And so in a union-management
inspiration, the Talmud his guide. for." he added . . . "Our purpose I Labor Board to join the infantry
squabble over representation,
From 1944, when he entered the in life can only be to serve the in 1944. Tanzman's knack for the why
was the company so willing
chaplaincy outstripped his exten-
service, it was Pet. Tanzman's own Creator."
The Creator had His eye on sive training in radio communica to grant half representation to the
private war. and he generally won
it. Tanzman at an early age. And al- tions but returning to Washing- union? The mediator found out
ton after the war, he went back management wasn't really entitled
Like the time barracks inspec- ! though he looks placid and corn- to labor peace making. to half.
fortable enough, with greying hair
tion interrupted his reciting of
Tanzman has carried the con-
Tanzman presented the last
on
slight
paunch.
Tanzman
the Shmone Esre. "The cow- and a
cepts and ethics of Judaism still
budget
of
the
Wage
Stabilization
betrays
the
youthful
wander was very surprised to occasion
further into industrial life as a
Board before the body went out
find me standing at attention, "bandeet."
board member of the Detroit In-
of existence, and with the pas•
A Queens Talmud Tora alum-
but in the wrong direction. The
dustrial
Mission.
sage of the Taft-Hartley Law in
sergeant yelled: 'Tanzman!' and
nus at age 13, young David drew 1947 went to work for the secre-
The 11-year-old mission, with a
I wouldn't budge." Pvt. Tanzman
staff
of
clergymen
and a board of
tare of labor.
later reported to the captain and
Tanzman was beginning to think labor and management leaders,
explained why he couldn't pray
the time had come to get the
before dawn.
college degree that always seem-
Henceforth, inspection was held
ed to elude him. He registered at
before or after Pvt. Tanzman's •
Georgetown University.
Shmone Esre, by order of th - -
Two photographs by ALLEN , But his government had other
com ma tiding officer.
STROSS and another by LEO plans. Tanzman had apparently
The fighting private didn't bat-
KNIGHT, both Detroit photogra- done such a good job of setting up
ARTHUR M. KRETCHMER has
become associated with Profes-
sional Planning Associates. Kretch-
mer attended Wayne State Uni-
versity. He was born in Brooklyn,
N.Y. After graduation he worked
as assistant sales manager for an
industrial manufacturer. Kretch-
mer is married to the former
Claire Ettlinger and has a son,
Geoffrey and daughter, Linda.
For the HY Spot
Of Your Affair
Musk by
Hy Herman
And His
I
342-9424
Assisting Rabbi Max Braude,
who is today the head of the
World ORT Union, Tanzman
conducted the first High Holy
Day services after the war at the
Heidelberg City Hall. Two thou-
sand remnants of the concentra-
tion camps and Jewish soldiers
of the army of the United States
attended that service.
(Tanzman was no slouch as
cantor. In his younger days. while
attending night school at the City
College of New York, his hefty
Italian baritone had earned him a
job singing on radio as "David e
Ballerina." "Tanzman" translated
from Yiddish is Dance Man. On
High Holidays, he serves as hazan
for Congregation of Moses in Kala-
mazoo.)
Out of the meager beginnings,
Tanzman helped establish a Heidel-
berg Jewish center, and "the good
Lord's plan" — as he likes to
refer to it — was put into effect.
Fifteen girls who had miraculously
escaped death in the camps were
taught to type and to speak Eng-
lish; their adopted father was Pvt.
David Tanzman.
All of them are now in the
I8 Friday, August 4, 1967
—
phers. have been accepted for the the union registration division
76th annual exhibition of Profes- under the secretary of labor that
sional Photography. the largest the newly created Federal Media-
*
ENTERTAINMENT
*
Professional Shows
for Any Occasion
*
*
*
*
People
Make News
tle for himself alone. Tanzman
won leave for Rosh Hashana and
Yom Kippur. but he also won
Christmas leave for the Christian
boys. In the European theater. he
was named field chaplain. and it
was Tanzman who made the ar-
rangements for Gen. George Pat- i
ton's funeral, when the officer was
killed in an automobile accident
on the German Autobahn.
Orchestra
(Hy Utchenik)
• Distinctive Ceremonies
a Specialty!
I
41(
4(
SEYMOUR SCHWARTZ "4 (
AGENCY
4(
356-8525
4 r
***********I
Berkley, Mich.
ORCH ESTRA
and most comprehensive exhibition tion and Conciliation Service de-
CALL: LI 7-0896 or LI 5-2737
of professional photography in cidd he was the man to establish
North America. It opened July 23 a regional office in Detroit.
Tanzman has been here ever *************************************************
in the Portland. Ore.. Coliseum in
PRE-VACATION SPECIALS — BUY NOW AND SAVE!
conjunction with the 76th Inter- since, his title "special assistant to
WILL BE CLOSED AUGUST 27 to SEPTEMBER 4
national Exposition of Professional the regional director and officer
4'
*
Photography. More than 4,000 in charge of the Detroit field
prints were judged by professional office."
In
1953.
Tanzman
decided
he
photographers from across the na-
Lb.
tion, all of whom have earned the would risk registering at another
coveted PP of A Master of Pho- university. It clicked. Ten years
More
tography degree. Only 800 were later, he graduated with a bache-
Lb.
lors degree in industrial sociology
accepted for the exhibition.
from Wayne State University. Tak-
* * *
When the first investiture of the ing a few night school courses a
recently established Order of Can- semester, "and with the patience
ada is made this fall, there will be of both school and wife," Tanzman
five Jews among the recipients. at last organized his wealth of
Qt.
Jar $109
II
The list is limited to 50. Among practical knowhow into a cohesive
the recipients will be LAWRENCE whole and graduated Phi Beta
LANDE, Montreal poet, author, Kappa. ("Someone at ayne was
composer and director of the Mani- keeping track of my grades for
toba Theater Center. He is the 10 years; I don't know how.")
Tanzman has paid back the
,.%.`::"Lge
son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. Meyer
university with his knowledge.
•
He has been an instructor in
* s
adult educational programs at
Returning from a month-long
Wayne State University, Uni-
visit to Israel, Mrs. ROSE L. HAL-
PRIN, chairman of the Jewish versity of Michigan and Miehi-
Agency-American section, said gan State for the past 10 years.
that "the key word in Israel today Recently, he completed a course
is ' • . ' It dominates the think- in causes of labor-management
Above Specials Good August 4 thru August 10
ing of the whole country and of shift at the Wayne State Ap-
all who are concerned for its piled Management and Tech-
future." Mrs. Halprin, who at- nology Center and will repeat
tended the meetings in Israel of the course for the center in the
fall at Oak Park High School.
the executive of the Jewish Agency
When that class opens in Sep-
and other world Jewish organiza-
13400 W. 7 MILE RD., Cor. Snowden
tions, said that "Israel has re- tember. the students will possibly
get
Tanzman's
customary
first
quested additional volunteers."
DI 1 4 525
AMPLE PARKING
FREE DELIVERY
labor-management lesson on the
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS blackboard, a quotation from iiPricfrOcit
* *
*
*
* * *
*
STRICTLY FRESH WHITEFISH .....
FANCY FRYERS 4 or
3 BEST 15 KOSHER HOT DOGS
•
59C
29`
I p*,• 69c **
GEFILTE FISH
MOTHER'S KOSHER PARVE MARGARINE 4,: 29`
MA COHEN'S HERRING
49'
69`
• CHASE & SANBORN INSTANT COFFEE
DOMINO PURE CANE SUGAR
9.
CANADA DRY ASSORTED POP
REISMAN'S 14:1 1 .7y MARKET
*
-
* *
**