14 Friday, February 12, 1982 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS The Writer's Corner: Life's Experiences in Prose and Poetry (Editor's note: Publish- ing a miniature com- munal Who's Who of this nature is extraordinary. Yet it merits the serious attention given it by The Jewish News. The echoes of scores of experiences by a group of Jewish ac- tivists, the cross- sectional sources de- picted in the brief life stories of the 18 members of the Writer's Corner of the Jimmy Prentis Mor- ris Branch of the Jewish Community - Center, af- firm the uniqueness of the interest created by this group. of Detroiters who have already estab- lished an enviable record for literary achieve- ments.) Compiled by Norma Goldman and Allen A. Warsen Introductory , note by Allen Warsen: The authors of these brief autobiographies are mem- bers of the Writers Corner of the Jewish Community Center of Metro-Detroit. This "literary group, whose history is a saga of creativity, has been under the idealistic and inspira- tional leadership of Prof. Norma Goldman. The writers, grand-and- great-grandmothers, are talented poets and story tel- lers. Their work reflects their life experiences and Jewish heritage. JEAN H. BROOKS: Born April 16, 1908 in De- troit to Goldie R. and Louis I. Sherman, youngest of seven children. I went to Bishop School and High School of Commerce. I met my husband Jack and was married April 7, 1932; we have two children. After a marriage of 44 years, my husband died in 1976. After working 27 years, I retired at 62 years of age. My goal has been to treat everyone fairly. EVE DISHELL: Until the age of 12, I was an intro- vert, interested only in reading. Then I was enrolled in a dramatic club, Campfire Girls and summer camp by Blanche Hart, the first paid professional direc- tor of the United Jewish Charities, whose headquar- ters was at the Hannah Schloss Building, Detroit's first Jewish Community Center. She changed my life. My family first lived on Columbia near Hastings, followed by Benton, Eliot, Harper, Holbr000k; my own homes were on Philadelphia and Ohio, all in Detroit. Now I enjoy Oak Park. My hobbies are contests, writing poetry and prose, and dancing. I'm a member of Writers' Corner and Old Timers. FRANCES DRIKER: I was born in Russia in 1905. I lost my parents and lived through war, pogroms, pov- erty and hunger. I crossed the Dnester in a canoe in Romania. it took me 18 months to come to America. I arrived in Detroit in 1922. I stayed with my brother and attended night school, where I met Charles. We married in 1924, and have a daughter, two sons and seven grandchildren. I have been active in the Sholem Aleichem Institute and reading group. In 1950, I joined Pioneer Women and was first president of Kinneret Chapter, a life member. In 1971, I joined the Writers' Corner. Now I attend English classes and current events at the Lin- coln Towers, where we live. ESTHER FRANCES FRIEDMAN: Manhattan's eastside was my birthplace. I was youngest of four chil- dren. I remember a four- flight walk-up, three rooms, stove for heating, cooking and tub baths. Rooftops, streets, stoops were my playground. High school' by subway was adventure. My recently deceased husband was first intro- duced to me by my father. Michigan was my honey- moon and T. stayed. My only son was born seven years la- ter. Necessity made me an employee for 19 years. My achievements are my won- derful son and devoted daughter-in-law, three beautiful. grandchildren and 46 years with a grand guy, Max. ROSE GOLDSMITH: I was born in Grodnow, Po- land, in the year 1900, to a poor family with nine chil- dren. When I was seven years old, my father enrolled me in a Russian school. I attended school for three years; after I finished, my father found a job for me in a wholesale dry goods store. I worked in the store until World War I started. Then we had to move and hide from the shooting. I re- member the Russian Revo- lution, the police chasing the people on the street. After a lot of hardship, we managed to come to the Goldene Medina in 1920. GERTRUDE GRAY: I was born in the early 1900s. My teen years were the happiest. At house parties the wildest we got was "Spin the Bottle." Jobs were hard to get, since there was no Fair Employment Practices Law. I always remembered my eighth grade teacher's advice: "Aim high and be- lieve yourself capable of doing great things." I followed her advice and joined the Writer's Corner. I had some articles pub- lished. A friend said, "That's great." I have achieved my goal. RAE KENDLER: My world was family, home and cooking, but when my chil- dren left, I looked for some- thing new. I walked into Harry Slavin's discussion group 12 years ago and my life changed. There were heated debates on world af- fairs, home affairs and eco- nomics. Ben Tait became the sec- ond leader. He understood' the needs, wants and de- sires of seniors. His class grew larger and larger. When my husband Leonard retired, his interests be- came mine. After 10 years with the Writers' Corner, I became editor of "Senior Happenings" and was the first woman Volunteer of the Year of the Jewish Community Center. BESSIE ' LOPATIN: Glasgow, Scotland was my birthplace in 1914, but I have resided in New York, Chicago and Detroit. I was married in Canada. I lost an only child aged 34. I sur- vived this devastating loss by joining the "Compas- sionate Friends," a group for bereaved parents. My greatest joys are my husband and darling granddaughter. I joined the Jewish Community Center, became active in several clubs, made some dear friends. I have found an interest in the Writers' Corner. My goals are keep- ing busy and learning new ideas. REGINA MANTEL: I am born in Romania in a town named Hermanstadt. Population spoke German, Hungarian and Romanian languages. I grew up in an Orthodox home, and mar- ried a scholar of Talmudic knowledge. Till the Iron Guard, German soldiers came to our country and the occupation from the Rus- sians, life was satisfactory. My four children grew up in a country with tension. It affected my children's health. Waiting 14 years for an exit visa, we arrived in the United States and now know what freedom means. BERTHA MIS- HCOVSKY: I was born in Bialystok, White Russia. We were 10 children. My father died very young, and another sister was born a few months after his death. I lived in Europe through the first war; first Germany and afterwards Poland occupied our country. The Germans confiscated our copper, which included our bathtub and water hea- ter. It was a hard life. Food was scarce; not a la carte, but a la card. We were given ration cards to get the food. My husband came from Grajevo, Poland. During the war, he emigrated to America. In 1925, he came to visit his mother and then I married him in Bialystok. He returned to America and sent me papers to join him by boat. During World War II, I was in America, but my heart and soul were in Europe, as I lost my big fam- ily there. Now I live in a senior citi- zen apartment. As I grow older, I have become a writer, a humorist. I joined the Writers' Corner in the Jewish Center. sion for me! Blue moods, happy happenings, daily observations, love lyrics, fun poems are all easily and quickly created whenever the mood prevails. My files are overflowing with choice bits of verse. Recently — on popular demand — I have read my own writings over WMZK radio twice weekly for six weeks. HILDA REED: Happy childhood — good parents, three sisters, one brother — good memories. I graduated from high school and reli- gious school at the same time. I continued two years more and then I taught reli- gious school kindergarten 22 years. I worked as stenographer and secretary from graduation until mar- riage. I had a happy marriage, a good man for 42 years. God took him. I have one son. At the Jewish Community Center, the "Writers' Corner" and "For Women Only" clubs are my inter- ests at present — helping others. JEAN RUBACH: How can I write my autobiog- raphy of 80 years in 75 words? Even at a word a year, I do not have enough words. My life has been a great adventure, having lived through many histori- cal events, from the horse and buggy stage to the in- credible Space Age. It has been gratifying to have seen tremendous strides in the sciences, cures for various diseases, pre- ventive medicines and transportation. Despite .heart-rending loss of loved ones, wars and depressions, I have been wondrously happy through youth, mid- dle age and my senior years. FANI SIEGEL: I was born 1901 and I left my roots in Ladigin, Russia. I became engaged. My future hus- band's father was in America. He sent for the family, including me. We came to Baltimore, Md. Our reception was very warm. In a short time we got married and raised two sons. We struggled to sur- vive. It didn't interfere with our happiness. Times changed. I lost my husband and a dear granddaughter. I take the bad with the good. It is very hard, but I do. My children give me love and shelter. P.S. Thank you, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, for help in my coming to America. ETHEL SILBER: I am a child of the 20th Century. I was born' and brought up in New York City, and moved to Detroit to complete my training as a schoolteacher. After teaching for several MOLLIE PORTNER years, I married, had two PITZAK: My first best ef- sons, saw them grow up, and fort, "A Winter's Reverie," then lost my husband. Since then, my life has was published in the Bridgeport Post in Connec- had its compensations. My ticut in the winter of 1922. three grandsons are a great From that time on, writing joy to me. I keep my mind has become part of my life. active with classes and lec- Thinking in Yiddish, and tures at. the Jewish Center. And what changes have I rhyming in Yiddish is a fas- cinating vehicle of expres- seen in the world during my lifetime! We now have in- stant communication, mechaniiation, air and space travel. It is my fervent hope and prayer that we will soon have lasting peace for all mankind. MINA STONE: The city of Vilno was Russia when I was born there. I attended a Russian school My father was a rabbi who died before I was born. I was probably the only four-year-old female to stand on the bima of an Orthodox synagogue to say Kadish. In the year 1922, I came to New York, where I lived with my uncle's family. My cousin Lee taught me English. In 1926 I married and settled in Detroit. My husband was a great sports fan. He passed away in 1956. I have one son. LILLIAN ZELLMAN: Writing a mini-bio isn't easy — like squeezing 140 pounds into size 10 Calvin jeans! — or looking into the small end' of binoculars. Mt. Carmel, Pa.; the min- ing town in which I was born in to a family of five girls and three boys, is just a blur in my memory. Here my father was rabbi, mohel and hazzan to a community of 40 Jewish families. I must have inhereted his musical interests. Life in Detroit opened up a whole new world — school, a career, marriage and fam- ily — these gave scope and meaning to my adult life. Add to these the friendships and activities encountered, and I feel de- eply grateful and fulfilled. NORMA GOLDMAN and the Writers' Club: Twenty-five years ago, Grace Zellman organized a Schreibers Winkel, a Writers' Club, whose mem- bers gathered each month to read and prepare for modest publication their poems, es- says and short stories. Grace Zellman encouraged these first writers to de- scribe their early lives in Europe, their migration pattern, their early days in America, their families_, their pains, their plea; and their loves. The n_____ bers varied from being com- pletely amateur to being almost professional. Some, eager for social progress, were encouraged to write to Congressmen, Senators and even the President. Some had love poems waiting for an audi- ence, poems about nature, about the seasons; some produced essays about reli- gion and philosophy. Al- most all wrote about their love for Israel. Many, Euro- pean born, were writing in English as an acquired lan- guage, being fluent in Ger- man, Polish, Russian, He- brew and/or Yiddish. My father, Benjamin Wynick, was one of the orig- inal writers. He had always loved to write verses, each birthday or holiday being the occasion for a poem. Be- fore he died, he was able to see his poetry in print. He called the group, not the Writers' Club, but the "Ar- thwriters' Club." Since the death of Grace Zellman, I have (Continued on Page 15) EMMA CASS: A little house was given me When I was born, and came to be; Love and peace, and tender care shall reign within while I was there. As- I grew big the house enlarged and many things got camouflaged. Integrity and truth and good intention were pushed aside, to please the prevalent convention. Opulence, prestige, decor, were forging issues more and more. The simple things were crowded out, my life had taken a different route. Now, when I look back I see that success has its price to pay, it takes its toll from day to day. Excitement and glitter are not so enticing, . it is just a cake with flashy icing. The true values are always there, if you look, you find them everywhere. BERNICE KONIKOW: North Carolina born one February morn— Inherited sentimental, slowpoke ways From childhood's Southern days. Family feeling intense- ✓ Influences, impressions, immense. To Orthodox grandmother, Goldsboro Temple trace, Judaism's special place. Deep love of people molded personality— Revere education, music, literature— Hobby composing poetry. Secretarial skills came in handy— Worked for Army Captain and Hillel Rabbi: Students dandy. Happily married, two children dear— Participation community activities here. Conscientious, tolerant, optimistic, . Smiling, friendly, idealistic. Retirement rewarding—with husband still— Senior expectations, challenges hopefully fulfill.