36—Friday, May 7, 1971

Aaron Droock, Bnai Brith Leader,
Past President of Community Council

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

Rothberg Uses Legend of Golem
as Basis for Historical Novel

Aaron Droock, a longtime leader
in Bnai Brith, which he served
in many capacities, died Tuesday
at age 80. He was a founder of
the Jewish Community Council and
its president for four years.
The death of Mr. Droock, 2484
Edison, followed by little more
than one month a testimonial din-
ner held in his honor by Pisgah
Lodge, of which he was the oldest
living past president.
Mr. Droock, an attorney for 55
years, had offices in the Penob-
scot Building. He leaves a sister,
Sarah.
A member of Bnai Brith since
1915, the year he was graduated
from the University of Michigan
law school, Mr. Droock joined
Pisgah when it was the only Bnai
Brith lodge in Detroit.
After World War I, in which
he was an Army officer in
France and Germany, Mr.
Droock became active in Bnai
Brith. He served as Pisgah pres-
ident in the 1920s and led in
organizing Louis Marshall, De-
troit and East Side lodges. Pres-
ident of District Grand Lodge
6 in 1939-40, Mr. Droock also
headed the Anti-Defamation
League for a period and served
on the board of governors of
the Supreme Lodge.
He was active in the United
Jewish Charities and in the Jewish

Naturally, the poetic and narra-
tive license is resorted to here.
Rothberg treats the Golem, names
Joseph Golem by the rabbi in the
story. He is the factor in defense
of Jews, in exacting vengeance
for wrongs done to Jews and de-
tecting plots planned for the de-
struction of the Jewish community
on the banks of the Moldau.
Much study has gone into the
writing of this novel. Rothberg
uses correctly all the references
to the Golem's actions in the He-
ISRAEL ROGOSIN
brew -derivations. He has made
use of legendary tales about the
superstitions and fantasies that re-
AARON DROOCK
volve around a hoped-for redeemer
who would come to the aid of
member
of Temple Beth El
A
Jews in the years of many crises,
for more than half a century, Mr.
as when Jews were herded into the
Droock served on the board of
Prague ghetto and were con-
NEW YORK — Israel Rogosin,
trustees.
stantly threatened by clerics and textile industrialist, and philan-
As an attorney, he served as
officials.
thropist, died here April 28 at age
chairman of the Michigan Bar
The references to historical 85. He was a resident of Allen-
Association's committee against il-
occurrences in that era, on the hurst, N.J.
legal practices and turned down
eve of the Thirty Year War,
Mr. Rogosin was founder of two
an appointment to the Circuit
the actual threats to Jewish major textile operations — Beau-
Court bench offered by the late
existence, the need for inter- nit Mills, leading producer of ray-
Gov. Fred Green.
cession for the oppressed and on yarns in the U.S., and Rogosin
the hounded—much of what is Industries, Ltd. in Ashdod, Israel.
Making War Unpopular
in this story is based on actual
He donated more than $50,000,000
As long as war is looked upon
to charities and foundations dur-
Mizrachi Hakotel Group happenings.
as wicked it will always have its
Even the relationships with roy- ing his lifetime, including $500,000
Marks Israel Anniversary
fascination. When it is looked upon
in
Beaunit
stock
to
employes
on
his
alty
have
historical
truth
in
the
Mizrachi Hakotel Chapter will.
as vulgar it will, cease to be pop-
celebrate Israel's 23rd anniversary Rothberg story. But the reader 60th birthday.
ular. —Oscar Wilde
Born
in
Poland,
Mr.
Rogosin
was
will
be
amazed
by
the
form
in
Welfare Federation for 50 years
at a gathering 9:30 p.m. Saturday
at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Abe which this novel assumes reality. brought to the U.S. as a child. He and also helped in the organiza-
and
his
brother-in-law
opened
a
tion of the United Foundation.
Selesny, 15574 George Washington, Nowhere in the legend as it first
Southfield. Hostesses for the eve- originated is there the hint that the knitting plant when Mr. Rogosin
During World War II, Mr.
Golem not only assumed human was 18.
ning will be Myra
Droock was active in behalf of
Beaunit
Mills,
later
known
as
texture
but
also
learned
to
love
Selesny, Ronnie
the American Jewish Conference
and desired to be as human as the
Beaunit Corp., was founded in
Berman and Shif-
and served as a member of a
people among whom he lived. But
1921. Mr. Rogosin served as pres- job
for your party
ra Zwick.
anti-discrimination commit-
that's
in
the
Rothberg
story
in
ident
and
chairman
of
the
board
This gathering
tee
by
appointment
of
President
which there is a genuine love af- until his retirement in 1965.
also will serve as
By
Rogosin Industries in Israel, Roosevelt.
fair.
a welcome for
founded
in 1957, also is a great
Then,
as
he
was
gaining
the
new members to
desire to continue in human form, rayon producer.
join this newly-
Mr. Rogosin contributed to the
and was becoming dangerous—he
formed group.
BY POPULAR DEMAND!
murdered during the pogrom and New York Hospital-Cornell Medical
One of the activi-
Now Booking .. .
Jews were also his victims—Rabbi Center Fund for Medical Progress
ties of this chap-
Lowe, in the Rothberg story, found as well as giving $2,500,000 to the
Berman
ter is to support
the local Bnei Akiva Youth. In himself impelled to return the Israel Education Fund in 1965.
and his Orchestra
connection with this project, the Golem to whence he came—into
LI 4-9278
Israel Bnei Akiva shaliakh to De- dust, by removing the Shem.
troit, Chaim Hopman, will addresi
In the course of the difficul-
Comedian Billy Fraye, a former
ties encountered by Jews with
the group Saturday.
Ronald F. Berman, president of their neighbors, the rabbi was Detroiter who played in many local
SPECIAL GROUP RATES (5 ROOMS OR MORE)
Hakotel Chapter, is a graduate of
forced into a disputation with clubs during his long career, died
Yeshiva University and Michigan
the anti-Semitic cleric Thad- here April 19 at age 51. Born Wil-
State University. He is the son of deus. This is where Rothberg liam Freiden, the son of a can-
REGISTER YOUR OUT-OF-TOWN GUESTS AT THE BEAUTIFUL
tor, Mr. Fraye was in the second
Mr. and Mrs. P. A. Berman of
introduces at length the argu-
Grand Rapids, long-time Mizrachi ments in the disputations draw- week of an engagement at the
ing upon historic ones, including Playboy Club when he was stricken
leaders.
with a fatal heart attack.
the one in which Nahmanides
Funeral services were held in
Ideally Located 1 /4 Mile From Northland
Tackle Youth Drug Abuse was involved in the 12th Century.
Chicago.
There
also
is
the
element
of
TV - Heated Pool - Hi-Fi - Restaurant
COLOR
in Knoxville Workshops
In a tribute to Mr. Fraye, local
SAUNA, I N DOOR POOL, WHIRLPOOL, ETC.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (JTA)—The fright that was occasioned by the nightlife columnist Chuck Thurs-
availablo wit door)
Jewish Community Center, in a ritual murder charge against Jews, ton commented about the come-
Ben Halpern, co-owner
and in one instance the Golem
Airport Transportation Available
follow-up to a meeting on the
is the one who exposed the real dian:
548-8877
14380 W. 8 MILE, OAK PARK
problem of drug abuse among criminals who tried to place the
"A dependable little fellow who
Knoxville Jewish young people, is
could always be called on at a
blame on Jews.
planning a series of workshops for horrible
While it may sound unrealis- moment's notice, he pulled many
both youth and adults to develop tic, "The Sword of the Golem" a show out of trouble. As often
approaches to dealing with the as constructed by Abraham Roth- as not, he'd be in the audience
problem.
berg deals with a very famous when a friend's kid was breaking
Some 50 Jewish parents attended legend and results in a well-told in an act, or Billy would be in a
the meeting at the Jewish Center
club just to greet old friends . . .
which had been arranged "in re- narrative. —P. S.
Fraye was an entertainer's enter-
sponse to the center's recognition
tainer, something that there are
of a pressing need and a realiza- PEARL Charges Ploy
not too many of."
tion that the center had a viable
to
Restore
Parochiaid
role in providing the means that
could offer a needed service," ac-
NEW YORK (JTA)—A "political WJCongress May Make
cording to the center publication, ploy" is in the making in Albany Changes at Next Conclave
TEL AVIV (JTA)—Dr. Nahum
that would restore budget cuts to
the Menorah.
the city in welfare, health or reve- Goldmann, president of the World
LESLEE FAITLER, daughter of nue sharing while giving state aid Jewish Congress, has said that the
Mr. and Mrs. Irving Faitler of Gard- to parochial schools—thus forcing WJC will hold an international
ner Ave., Oak Park, a member of city legislators opposed to parochi- convention next year and that it
the Wayne State University Dance aid to vote for the bill "to save will consider possible structural
Workshop, will present her first New York City from bankruptcy." changes in the organization.
WOOLS — CREPES — ORLONS
Laborite Knesset member Yitzhak
Mrs. Florence Flast, vice chair-
major choreographic work in con-
cert today and Saturday at WSU. man of the Committee for Public Korn, head of the political com-
OPEN TIL 6:30
The dance which she has choreo- Education and Religious Liberty mittee of the WJC's Israeli execu•
graphed is entitled "La Guerra" (PEARL), made the charge at tive, has suggested the creation of
TUES.-WED.-SAT.
and was inspired by Picasso's recent public agenda meeting of a "small" WJC cabinet to run
the organization's affairs, replac-
"Guernica" a n d Penderecki's the Board of Education.
22930 EVERGREEN
8:00 THURS.-FRI.
She spoke in behalf of the 31 ing the current presidentially led
"Threnody for Victims of Hiro-
AT NINE MU ROAD
setup.
civic,
religious
and
educational
or-
CLOSED
shima." She has united three art
SOUTHFIELD, MICH.
The
Jewish
Telegraphic
Agency
forms to present an image of the ganizations that make up PEARL
MONDAY
354-6620
viciousness of war. Miss Faitler in urging the board publicly to has learned that the WJC conven-
also will be performing ,three other oppose any legislation giving pub- tion will be held somewhere in
Europ.e in the fall of 1972.
lic funds to non-public - schools. ,
twobb 9di
dances.
4 * 4 4.

Rabbi Judah Ben Bezalel Lowe,
the famed 16th Century scholar,
was known as Der Hohe Rabbi
Lowe. He also was known as the
Maharal of. Prague.
He was the teacher of many
prominent rabbis and befriended
some Christians. He had a long
audience with Emperor Rudolph
II on Feb. 16, 1592.
He is especially famous as the
creator of the Golem--:a grotesque
figure which was to protect Jews.
He made it out of clay and made
it work, according to legend, by
injecting the Shem—Name of God
—in it. The remains of the Golem
were said to have been placed
to rest in the attic of the Prague
synagogue where Rabbi Lowe wor-
shiped and preached.
The Golem became an object
for fiction writers and as means
for theatrical performances. Go-
lem became famous as a Habima
play.
-
Now it is popularized again as
the subject for a novel by Abraham
Rothberg, published by McCaal
under the title "The Sword of the
Golem."

Israel Rogosin, 85,
Textile Magnate,
Public Benefactor

Caricatures

SAM C,FIELD

ED BURG

Comic Billy Fraye

399-1320

HAVING A WEDDING or BAR MITZVA!

EMBASSY MOTEL

1 i2and 1/3 °FF

Spring Clearance
• PANT SUITS
• JUMP SUITS
• PANT DRESSES

* * 4 * *

* 44