THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Friday, December 30, 1977 47
Mourning
Traditions
Defined
By RABBI SAMUEL FOX
(Copyright 1977, JTA, Inc.)
Chaskiel Slabiak,
Accident Victim
Chaskiel Slabiak was
killed Tuesday when struck
by a double-bottom tanker
truck that swerved at the
intersection of 10 Mile and
Coolidge Ftds. and
exploded. He was 66.
Born in Poland, Mr.
Slabiak lived 23 years in
the Detroit area. He was a
carpenter. He was a
member of Young Israel of
Oak-Woods. Mr. Slabiak
resided at 24270
Westhampton, Oak Park.
He is survived by his
wife, Hanna; four sons,
Rubin, Jacob of California,
Sam and Freddie; two
daughters, Mrs: Esther
Palvinik and Mrs. Michael
(Denise) Buchzeiger; a
brother, Rubin of Paris,
France; and seven
grandchildren.
A tuft of grass is torn
out upon leaving the
cemetery after burial.
Some claim (Aburdaham)
that this is done as a symbol'
of our belief in the resurrec-
tion of the dead as
expressed in the Psalms by
the verse "They shall blos-
som out of the city like the
(---.-rass of the earth - (Psalms
'•16). This indicates that
the dead will some day
come to life like the grass
that sprouts forth from the
seemingly lifeless soil.
Others claim that the
grass, the tuft of earth
that is torn out with it
and the water that is
later used to wash one's
Ruth Van Zile,
hands when leaving the
cemetery, are symbolic of
of Butzel Family
some of the mixture that
Ruth Butzel Van Zile,
was used in biblical times
member of a prominent,
to purify the living after
pioneer Detroit Jewish
their contact with the
dead. The original mix-
family, died Dec. 22 at age
61.
ture consisted of the
ashes of the red heifer,
A native Detroiter, Mrs.
grass and water (also
Van Zile was graduated
some wood).
from Sarah Lawrence
There are some who College in 1937. She was a
claim that this procedure member of the Ibex Club,
symbolized the departure Planned Parenthood, the
of the soul from the body
Country Club of Detroit,
like the departure of the Detroit Club, University
survivors from the grave,
Club and the Founders
an act somewhat symbolic Society
the Detroit
of the immortality of the Institute of of
Arts.
soul.
Services were held at
A glass of water and a
white cloth are placed in Christ Episcopal Church,
Grosse Pointe Farms.
the house of the mourner.
She is survived by her
The water is meant to
be a symbolic representa- husband, Philip T. ; a son,
tion of purification. The Philip III; a daughter,
Carolyn; a brother, Martin
white cloth is supposed to
L. Butzel; and a sister,
be a symbol of forgiveness
achieved by the deceased Mrs. Leonard T. Lewis.
since death brings
atonement and one
Albert Holtzman
should remember the
Albert Holtzman, a
dead with good feelings.
former real estate broker
Some authorities saw an and partner in real estate
historic element in this projects with the firm of
custom. There were times Holtzman and Silverman
in Jewish history when all Builders-Developers, died
Jewish rituals, such as cir- Dec. 22 at age 82.
Born in St. Louis, Mo.,
cumcision and marriage
were forbidden by the Mr. Holtzman lived in
power of the non-Jewish Detroit from 1915 to 1930
government. Jews, how- prior to moving to Los
ever, persisted in carrying Angeles, Calif. He was the
out these rituals secretly son of Lena Holtzman, a
behind closed doors.
founder of Yeshivath Beth
Yehuda, and often assisted
A candle was placed . in her in charitable tasks.
the window to signal
He opened a radio store
other Jews that a happy in St. Louis in the 1920s,
ritual was being observed
at the time. Since a candle and in the 1930s he founded
is also lit in the house of Holtzman Office Furniture
mourning and passersby Co. in Los Angeles. He was
might mistakenly inter- a member of Temple
Isaiah in Palm Springs,
t the presence of the
die to indicate a joy- . where he had resided.
He is survived by his
ous occasion, a glass of
water and a white piece of wife, Esther M. (Etter) ; a
son, Paul of State College,
cloth symbolizing or
taken from the shrouds
Pa.; three sisters, Mrs.
was added to prevent
Meyer (Bertha) Simon of
such a
misunder-
Palm Springs, Jean of
standing.
Detroit and Mrs. Nathan
(Esther) Silverman of
l3alal-Perazim was a lo-
Birmingham; four
cality- near Jerusalem
grandchildren and two
great-grandchildren.
where David defeated the
Philistines in their attempt
to conquer Jerusalem from
the Israelites. Modem pro-
posals for the identification
of the site include the moun-
tain of Sharafat, the moun-
tain of Ramat Rahel, and
Deir Abu Tor, , n 3,
Bessie Krell, 89
Bessie Krell, founder of
the Women's Sabbath
Observance League, died
Dec. 28 at age 89.
A native Detroiter, Mrs.
Krell was a member of
Cong. Shaarey Zedek and
its sisterhood for more than
50 years (a second
generation member), a
member of Pisgah Chapter
of Bnai Brith Women,
Jewish Home for Aged
Auxiliary and volunteered
for the USO during World
War II.
She leaves a son,
Raymond L. ; three
daughters, Mrs. Alfred
(Blanche) Berger of
Riverdale, N.Y., Mrs.
David (Harriet) Steinhardt
of Long Island, N.Y., and
Mrs. Irving (Marilyn)
Rollinger; three brothers,
Louis J. Goodman, Samuel
Goodman and Jack
Goodman; a sister, Mrs.
Frank (Esther) Barcus;
seven grandchildren and
two great-grandchildren.
Services 11:15 a.m. today
at Ira Kaufman Chapel.
Charles B. Leiter
Charles B. Leiter, who
for more than 40 years
owned a bar in the New
Center area of the city,
died Dec. 24 at age 83.
Born in Lithuania, Mr.
Leiter was a member of
Daylite Lodge of the
Masons and the Animilo
Club.
He leaves a brother,
Samuel of Hallandale, Fla.;
a sister, Mrs. Gertrude
Breyer of Glendale, Ariz.;
two grandsons and one
great-grandson.
Samuel Scharg
Samuel S. Scharg, a
practicing attorney in
Detroit since 1935, died
Dec. 24 at age 67.
Born in New York, Mr.
Scharg was graduated from
the Detroit College of Law
and was a member of
Lawrence Jones Post of the
Jewish War Veterans and a
member of Cong. Bnai
David.
He leaves his wife, Ruth;
two sons, Henry M. and
Donald H. ; and a brother,
Benjamin.
I
OBITUARIES
SARAH ATKINS, 78, died
Dec. 23. She leaves two
sons, Sol of Hallandale,
Fla., and Norman of Los
Angeles, Calif.; a daughter,
Mrs. Leonard (Lillian)
Meyers; two brothers,
George Stutz and Nathan
Stutz; a sister, Mrs. Rose
Fox; and eight
grandchildren.
* * *
IRWIN BERMAN died
Dec. 28. He leaves a son,
Dr. Merle; two sisters,
Mrs. Lee Griff and Mrs.
Fay Bloom, both of
Cleveland ; and three
grandchildren.
* * *
YETTA BERMAN, 84,
22175 Church, Oak Park,
died Dec. 22. - Survived by
three daughters, Mrs.
Phillip (Sally) Chapnick- of
North Miami Beach, Fla.,
Mrs. Max (Bertha) Broder
of Plantation, Fla., and
Mrs. Nathan (Blanche)
Pollack, a brother, Hyme
Sains; a sister, Mrs. Sylvia
Gelles of Jamaica, N.Y.;
six grandchildren and three
great-grandchildren.
* * *
HARRY SIDNEY BUCH,
71„ 3160 Second, Detroit,
died Dec. 24. Survived by
two sons, Alvin S. and
Robert L.; a daughter Mrs.
Jerome (Michelle)
Sturman; a brother, Morris
Buchzeiger; and four
grandchildren.
* * *
ANNA LEVINE, 90, 26051
Lahser, Southfield, died
Dec. 27. Survived by a
nephew, Joseph
Silberschein; and a niece,
Mrs. Myron (Gertrude)
Grodin; and grandnephews
and grandnieces.
* * *
DONALD M. RUSKIN,
40, 31215 Verona,
Farmington Hills, died Dec.
22. He leaves his wife,
Maxine; a son, IVlichael; a
daughter, Randi; his
parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Harry (Anna) Ruskin; and
two brothers, Dr. William
and George.
* * *
DIANA SCHWARTZ,
25581 Briar Dr., Oak Park,
died Dec. 23. Survived by
two sons, Dr. Harold A.
and Joe; two daughters,
Mrs. Alfred (Rachel)
Schwartzenfeld and Mrs.
Sylvia Adelman; six
grandchildren and five
great grandchildren.
* * *
BEN A. SHAPIRO, 70,
former Detroiter of Los
Angeles, Calif., died Dec.
18. Survived by his wife,
Mickey; a son, Sheldon of
Los Angeles ; a daughter,
ROSE LEWIS, 79, died
Dec. 27. She leaves two
sons, Alvin and Ernest; a
daughter, Mrs. Arnold
(Dorene) Levine; three
brothers, Meyer Epstein of
Sioux City, Iowa, Martin
Epstein and Sam Epstein of
Chicago, Ill. ; and eight
grandchildren. _
She spoke Hebrew
fluently and was honored
by the Midrasha by having
an article published in its
journal, a privilege usually
reserved for its staff or
outside scholars and not its
students. Mrs. Ascher
resided at 23481 Wildwood,
Oak Park.
Besides her husband,
Mrs. Ascher leaves a son,
Daniel; a daughter,
Adeena; her mother, Mrs.
Solomon (Naomi) Ben
Asher of East Orange,
N.J. ; and a brother Hillel
Ban Asher of Convent
Station, N.J.
Sidney A. Deitch
DETROIT
MONUMENT WORKS
14441 . W. 11 Mile Rd.
Gardner, Petw. Coolidge & Greenfield
399-2711 Eve. 626-0330
MONUMENT CENTER, INC;
661 E. 8 MILE, FERNDALE
11/2 Blocks E. of Woodwarci
6 Blks. from 3 Jewish
Cemeteries on Woodward
LI 2-8266
JO 4-5557
MONUMENTS BY'
BERG
URBACH
AND
FINE MONUMENTS
SINCE 1910
13405 CAPITAL at Coolidge
OAK PARK --
LI 4-2212
Next to Stanley Steamer
Ito
bvvt.wtrz rtrol4
Monuments For -
All Jewish Cemeteries
SHELDON GRANITE
COMPANY
SAM GORLICK
(owner)
Serving the Jewish Community
for over 60 years
368-3550
19800 WOODWARD
Ira Kaufman Chapel, Inc.
18325 W. 9 MILE RD., SOUTHFIci-D
Susan of New York; two
sisters, Mrs. William
(Dorothy) Merkow of Van
Nuys, Calif.; and one
granddaughter. Interment
Los Angeles.
* * *
WILLIAM L. SUMMERS,
72, former Detroiter of
Dallas, Texas, died Dec. 25.
Survived by his wife,
Esther; a son, Mark; a
daughter, Mrs. Harold
(Lynn) Frolick of Hartford,
Conn. ; two brothers,
Joseph of Baltimore, Md.,
and Frank of Farmington
Hills; three sisters, Mrs.
Miriam Lurie, Mrs. Anne
Spector and Mrs. Dora
Cherry, all of Baltimore.
Interment Dallas.
WE REMEMBER I
During the coming
week Yeshivath
Beth Yehudah will
observe the Yahr-
zeits of the follow-
ing departed
friends, with the
traditional Memo-
rial Prayers, recita-
tion of Kaddish
and Studying of
Mishnavos.
-
* * *
Peninah Ascher, Teacher,
Student of Midrasha College
Peninah Ascher, a former
Hebrew teacher at Temple
Israel and student of the
Midrasha, died Dec. 22 at
age 47.
Born in Jersey City, N.J.,
Mrs. Ascher came to
Detroit in 1972 when her
husband, Albert, took over
the executive directorship
of the Jewish Vocational
Service-Community
Workshop.
Mrs. Ascher was a Phi
Beta Kappa graduate of
Smith College and earned a
master of education degree
with honors from Boston
University.
ALAN LEONARD
PIERCE, 37, former
Detroiter of Los Angeles,
Calif., died Dec. 27.
Survived by a sister, Diane
Ruby of Farmington Hills;
and his mother, Mrs.
Martha Pierce of Oak
Park.
(Betw. 7 & 8 Mile)
TEVES JAN.
MIRIAM BERRIS
ff-- 1
IDA BOESKY
22 1
A.L. DAMEN
22 1
HERMAN EIZEN
22 1
ANNE HARRIS
22 1
RACHEL KAIMAN
22 1
JACOB LIEBERMAN
22 1
MAX LINOVITZ
22 1
ROBERT MARGOLIS
22 1
JACOB POSS
22 1
MYRON ROSENTHAL
22 1
BEL1A BERLANT
23 2
ESTHER BRANDMAN
23 2
HERMAN K. COHEN
23 2
JOSHUA GITLIN
23 2
DAVID HESS
23 2
BECKIE MASON
23 2
SARAH REPITOR
23 2
ROSA SCHLOSS
23 2
SARAH YUNIS
23 '2
EVA ALPERT
24 3
DAVID DRAZIN
24 3
KOPEL DWORKIN
24 3
ESTHER FLAYER
24 3
CHARLES T. GELLMAN
24 3
NATHAN GOLDMAN
24 3
STEVEN D. GROSS
ISAAC HENIG
24 3
ARCHIE HOFFMAN
24 3
JOSEPH LEIBOVITZ
24 3
SOLOMON LUMBERG
24 3
HARRY MORRISON
24 3
ADELLE STILLERMAN
24 3
SAM YUSTER
24 3
LOUIS BERMAN
25 4
BENJAMIN COOPER
25 4
ROSE FELDMAN
25 4
ALLEN L. LEACH
25 4
FANNIE WEINGARDEN
25 4
STELLA HELFAND
26 5
HELEN KAPLAN
26 5
SARAH LAPINSHK
26 5
SADIE MALTZMAN
26 5
MAX SCHLANGE
26 5
NANCY I. SOTEROPOULOS 26 5
JACOB SUKENIC
26 5
RUTH UNGERLEIDER
26 5
ISSIE WROTSLAVSKY
26 5
ROSE EISENMAN
27 6
MEYER MIRSKY
27 6
HELEN RADNER
27 6
FANNY SHER
27 6
BEATRICE STEPSAY
27 6
ROSE BLOCH
28 7
BENJAMIN DANZER
28 7
LILLIAN EPSTEIN
28 7
HELEN GLADSTONE
28 7
HELEN MANDELL
28 7
JACOB ROTHBARD
28 7
BORUCH SHAPIRO
28 7
NATHAN SPEVKOW
28 7
MOLLIE WEINGARDEN
28 7
Yeshivath Beth
Yehudah
15751 W. Lincoln Dr.
Southfield
557-6750
569-0020
Ira Kaufman-Herbert Kaufman