51 Friday, February 24, 1918 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS The Cohodas Family A Dramatic Story of an Impressive Upper Michigan Dynasty "Cohodas"—The Story of a Family" is the title of a remarkable book veiled in. simplicity. The narrative, by Wilbert H. Treloar, is re- plete with so many details about one of Michigan's most interesting families that it could well have been described as the history of a dynasty and of industrial empire builders. The heroes of this book, the eminence of the author, the fact that the book car- ries the imprimatur of the Northern Michigan Uni- versity Press (Marquette, Mich.) combine to give the 250-page, interestingly il- lustrated volume consider- able significance. The Cohodases have created such fame for northern Michigan with their many industrial ac- complishments that the name is almost synonymous with the area in which they have operated for more than 50 years. Treloar, a distinguished newspaperman with many news records to his credit, writes the story authorita- tively because of his long friendship with the dynamic leader of the fam- ily, Samuel Cohodas. 'Pre- boar's son, James A. Treloar, follows in his father's footsteps as a member of the editorial staff of the Detroit News. That the book should have been published by Northern Michigan Uni- versity Press, is the mark of SAM COHODAS recognition given the Cohodas family by the uni- versity which has been among the favorites of Sam Cohodas in the many philanthropic gifts he has made to advance education in this state, in this country and in Israel. The appreciation of Northern Michigan Uni- versity for the interest shown by Sam Cohodas in the expansion of the college programs is expressed in a preface to the book by the university president, John X. Jamrich. There is genius in the Cohodas story. They came as immigrants and built an empire. Sam Cohodas was the acknowledged leader of the family, and he was not the only creator of the vast empire in the many Cohodas projects that were centered primarily in the produce business. The five brothers — Hyman, Morris, 'Al Tir'ah' Fear Not! By MERIAM MARGOLIS To the victor belong the spoils: To him the right to draft the peace, But when it comes to Israel Rules change, accepted standards cease. In wars, on her by Arabs forced, No one her valor could excell! Ringed by her foes and outnumbered, No nation ever fought so well! Each war she won, but not the peace. Her efforts bashed against demands From the aggressors she defeated That she, to them, make all amends! Astride the world with oil power, On crest of glory newly found, Do they presume that Israel Her own death knell will meekly sound? That she, like beaten Jews of old, Can to a Ghetto be confined And grateful for "right to exist" Accept the bounds by them defined? Land she obtained is drenched with blood She sacrificed to Arab hate. The price she paid is unhealed wound For sons' untimely tragic fate! Her grieving heart this won't forget, The dead shall not have died in vain! Each backward step she'll take with care That she secure and strong remain! Harry, Sam and Max — were a cooperative quintet. While Sam managed, he never worked alone. He al- ways consulted his brothers; and the two sisters played their roles as well. Not to be underestimated is the influence of their mother. She was a practical woman. The lessons of the poverty she experienced in Russia stood her and her family in good stead. She was Jewish in every respect. She had a kosher home. During her lifetime religi- ous services were conducted regularly in their Ishpem- ing home. Her Jewish spirit was carried into all branches of the family and Sam became a benefactor of many projects in Israel, which he visited several times. They started as youngsters of 10 and 12 who left school to go to work at $5 and $7 a week. They en- tered the produce business and their progress was so immense that their firm served seven countries on two continents. The map displaying this form of dynasty is among the im- pressive accounts given by Treloar. The many industries Sam Cohodas and his brothers created form a veritable en- cyclopedic account. Soon Sam entered the banking business and his holding company includes eight of Northern Michigan's banks. While his home is in Ishpeming, scores of North- ern Michigan cities echo the triumphs accredited to the Cohodas family. They were self-made men and they attained a love for learning. Their philan- thropies are recorded in Michigan's universities and in the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. The Honorary Fellowship accorded to Sam Cohodas is only one of the many notable honors given the man who created an empire and headed a group that can well be called a dynasty. Indeed, while the start was from poverty, the offspring now are in several states, in many professions, the youngest of the Cohodas sisters and all of the grand- children being university graduates. Sam had many accolades. He was once called Michi- gan's Apple King. He was named an empire builder. The vastness of the farms on which they grow the pro- duce, the dominant roles they had among the leading produce distributors in the country, their pioneering in mining and other projects— the creativity of the Cohodas clan is the - cast that the author had as rich sub- jects to deal with and he treated it deservedly. Sam Cohodas and his family emerge as genuine indust- rial and philanthropic heroes in "Cohodas -- The Story of a Family."- L.A. Israel Expo Offering Historic Collector's Cover LOS ANGELES — A spe- cial commemorative collec- tors envelope, in a limited edition of 1,000 has been made available by the Westside Jewish Commun- ity Center in Los Angeles, following its recent Israel Expo. This multicolor, standard-size 6% envelope, called a cover by collectors, uses as a cachet, a photo of Prime Minister Menahem Begin and President Anwar Sadat at their first historic dinner meeting in Jerusalem. The cover also carries a genuine Israeli stamp is- sued in 1954 honoring the High Holy days and pictur- ing the first fruits brought out from Israel in the time of Moses. This significant stamp is tied to the envelope by a rubber stamp cachet depicting the Star of David, eternal symbol of Israel and the Jewish people, with the inscription, "State of Israel 1948-1978." A limited number of these covers with a History of Is- rael album page, are avail- able at a nominal charge from: Israel Cover, Westside Jewish Commun- ity Center, 5870 West Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif. 90036. Boris Smolar's `Between You . . and M e' Editor-in-Chief Emeritus, JTA (Copyright 1978, JTA, Inc.) CARTER'S GENTLE HINT: Is President Carter at- tempting in a gentle manner to involve the American Jewish community in pressuring Israel on the stalled talks between Egypt and Israel? This question is now very much on the minds of many Jews in this country following the dinner which Carter gave in the White House to a group of invited leaders of important Jewish organizations. The dinner was arrant by the President ostensibly to give his evaluation private_ to the Jewish leaders on the present state of affairs in the Egyptian-Israeli dispute in the light of the discussions he had with President Anwar Sadat of Egypt during the lat- ter's visit in the United States. Carter seemed hopeful at the dinner of the possibility of resuming the Sadat-Begin talks. However, he emphasized — and this was apparently the real purpose of his dinner invitation — that should these talks not show any progress, Sadat may give them up altogether. This, he warned, may mean losing a unique._ possibility for peace. This warning is now being taken as a gentle prod to Jewish leadership in this country to see to it that the oppor- tunity is not lost. It was a subdued appeal by the President for Jewish support of moves which he is apparently plan- ning to make. The Jewish sentiment conveyed to him by the guests at the dinner was, that Jews in this country would like to see renewed and intensive face-to-face talks between Egypt and Israel, with the United States continuing to make its good offices available to mediate between the two parties, but as an honest broker, not as an arbiter. This means not to impose any conditions upon the negotiating sides. THE JEWISH FRONT: For American Jews, whom the Washington administration would like now to see involved in its attempt to pressure Israel, the hostile statements against Israel emanating from the White House and the State Department constitute a very serious problem. All major Jewish organizations made their positions clear. Their view is: only direct face-to-face negotiations between Egypt and Israel — without any outside pressure — can bring desirable results. This is the unanimous stand of all the Jewish groups affiliated with the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. The American Jewish Committee, which is not affiliated with the conference but cooperates with it on important problems affecting American-Israel relations, foresees now that Sadat will follow up his visit to the United States with a strategy of making intensified attempts to split off the American Jewish community from the general U.S. public opinion. The AJCommittee anticipates that local Jewish com- munity leaders may be approached in a number of com- munities with a suggestion for a meeting with Egyptian officials in their community. The communities are being advised that the policy of the AJCommittee is not to en- courage public meetings at this point; however, that there may be occasions when informal off-the-record meetings may be helpful. In any case, the local Jewish community leaders are urged to check with the national headquarters of the AJCommittee before undertaking any such activity in the community. In general, the AJCommittee advises not to be drawn into answering provocative questions on such intricate is- sues as the establishment of secure and recognized borders, and the rights of the Palestinians. It takes the attitude that these are properly the subject of the 'Egyptian-Israeli government-to-government negotiations which are now hanging in the air. It emphasizes its confidence tha+ equitable compromise can be achieved, if Sadat is prei to negotiate with Israel in good faith. It makes it clear strongly the American Jewish community will not become a party to an imposed peace, nor will it allow its loyalty to be impugned. A leading newspaper in Miami has tried to raise the issue of dual loyalty of American Jews several times. . Women to Speak to Rabbis Group NEW YORK — Although Hotel March 28-30, the there are no women mem- speakers will range from bers of the Rabbinical As- newspaper columnist "Dear sembly, speakers at the Abby" Van Buren to women 78th annual convention of the Conservative rabbinate professors and students at will include an unpre- the Jewish Theological cedented number of women Seminary of America and program participants, ac- other academic institutions. cording to Rabbi Bernard S. There are also three women Raskas, program chairman. members of the 35-member To be held at the Concord convention committee.