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62 Friday, April 9, 1982

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

Rabbi Sperka's Spiritual, Literary
Gifts Acclaimed by Community

Dr. David Mirsky Dies

NEW YORK (JTA) — Dr.
David Mirsky, professor of
English at Yeshiva Univer-
jubilee banquet of the sity and an authority on
Vaad in 1963. In 1976, the American and British liter-
Detroit Committee for ature and Hebraic culture,
Shaarey Zedek Hospital died March 30 at age 60.
Dr. Mirsky had been affil-
dedicated the depart-
ment head office in the iated with Yeshiva Univer-
physical medicine and sity for almost 50 years as a
rehabilitation section of student, teacher, dean and
the new Shaare Zedek acting vice president.
In 1968, he was named
Medical Center in his
dean of the university's
honor.
Stern College for Women,
He is listed in "Who's the nation's first under-
Who in American Jewry," graduate school of liberal
"Who's Who in World arts and sciences for women
Jewry," "Dictionary of In- under Jewish auspices. In
ternational Biographies," 1975, he was named acting
"Men of AChievement" and vice president for academic
"Who's Who in Israel."
affairs at the university,
In 1978, he received the holding both positions con-
Shofar Award from the Na- currently.
tional Council of Young Is- •
Mirsky also transmit-
rael in New York.
ted his expertise in edu-
cation and literature to
Rabbi Sperka is survived New Yorkers through the
by his wife, Yetta; two sons, creation and develop-
Shlomo and Rabbi Yoel; two ment of radio and televi-
daughters, Mrs. Matthew
(Judith) Clark of Silver
Spring, Md., and Mrs.
Eliezer (Ahava) Ehrenpreis
of Brooklyn, N.Y.; and 19
grandchildren.

Spearheaded by the Or-
thodox community's repre-
sentatives, all elements in
the community joined in
paying tribute to the mem-
ory of Rabbi Joshua S.
Sperka, at funeral services,
Sunday afternoon at He-
brew Memorial Chapel. He
was 76.
Rabbi Sperka's important
roles here and in many
other spheres were defined
RABBI JOSHUA SPERKA
as major gifts to Jewry by
Rabbis Leizer Levin and
He wrote four books, "Et-
Feivel Wagner, sons ernal Life," "Proverbs to
Shlomo and Rabbi Yoel and Live By," "Ecclesiastes —
son-in-law Prof. Eliezer Stories to Live By" and
Ehrenpreis.
"Mankind on Trial — The
Rabbi Sperka, who died Book of Job." At the time of
Saturday night, was a pul- his death, he was working
pit orator, scholar, author of on a commentary on the 12
several books that became Prophets.
guides for rabbinic and lay
Rabbi Sperka was the of-
students, and a Zionist. He ficial chaplain of the Coun-
had one of the longest re- cil of Orthodox Rabbis to the
cords in the rabbinate hav- Jewish patients in nursing
ing served here for 53 years.
homes in Detroit. He also
Born in Poland, Rabbi served on the Vaad's Beth
Sperka attended the He- Din.
Rabbi Sperka was
brew Theological College
in Chicago and was or- honored at the silver
dained in 1930. He pur-
sued undergraduate
studies at Columbia Uni-
By RABBI SAMUEL FOX
versity and earned a BS
(Copyright 1982, JTA, Inc.)
degree at the Illinois In-
A Jewish tradition con-
stitute of Technology. In
1933, he received an MA siders it an obligation to
degree from the Univer- visit the sick.
Maimonides included
sity of Michigan.
Rabbi Sperka held pulpits such obligations under the
at Cong. Beth Tephilath general heading of the bib-
Moses in Mt. Clemens, Beth lical commandment "Love
Israel Congregation in Ann thy neighbor as thy self
Arbor, Cong. Bnai David (Leviticus 19).
It is from this source that
andfor the last 24 years was
affiliated with Young Is- the rabbis drew their
rael, serving more than a
decade as rabbi of Young Is- Tillie Russman
rael of Greenfield. In 1969,
Tillie Russman, a
he was elected rabbi member of Morgenthau
emeritus of Young Israel of Chapter of Bnai Brith, died
Greenfield. He also served March 31 at age 78.
as rabbi of Cong. Bnai
Born in Russia, Mrs.
Israel-Beth Yehudah.
Russman lived 70 years in
Rabbi Sperka was the Detroit.
She leaves three sons,
Jewish chaplain in Michi-
gan prisons from 1141 to Robert, Paul and Alvin; a
1959. He was the former sister, Mrs. Joseph (Rose)
president of the Jewish Na- Altman of Anaheim, Calif; a
tional Fund Council, past brother, Irving Sachs; 13
president of the Detroit grandchildren and seven
Chapter of the American great-grandchildren.
Jewish Congress, vice
president of the American Mary Kabeck
Prison Chaplains Associa-
Mary Kabeck, a member
tion, president of the of Jewish women's organ-
League for Religious Labor, izations, died April 4 at age
vice president of Mizrachi 90.
Hapoel Hamizrachi and a
Born in Poland, Mrs.
former board member of the Kabeck was a member of
Jewish Welfare Federation. Pioneer Women, Hadassah
and Bnai Brith.
The Orthodox leader was
She leaves a son, Gerald;
the secretary of the Vaad a daughter, Mrs. Samuel
Harabonim — Council of (Rosalind) Schiff; a brother,
Orthodox Rabbis, president Max Stark of California;
of the Detroit Committee for three grandchildren and
Shaare Zedek Hospital in three great-grandchildren.
Jerusalem, on the boards of
the Jewish Community Grace Stone
Center, Yeshivath Beth
Grace M. Stone, a
Yehudah and Akiva He-
member of Cong. Shaarey
brew Day School.
Zedek, died April 4 at age
Rabbi Sperka also
served on the internal re- 69. Born in Toledo, Mrs.
lations committee of the Stone lived many years in
Jewish Community Detroit prior to moving to
Council.
Palm Springs, Calif.
She leaves three sons, Dr.
He previously was the
secretary of the Michigan Dale of Rancho Palos Ver-
Synagogue Conference, des, Calif., Sheldon and Dr.
president of the Federation Miles of Rancho Palos Ver-
of Polish Jews and was on des; and seven grand-
WWJ radio for many years. children.

Visiting the Ill an Obligation

authority to make it incum-
bent upon everyone to do
something for his fellow
man, including the act of
visiting the people who are
ill. Other rabbinic sources
say that the source for this
requirement is the scrip-
tural requirement to im-
itate the Almighty.

The Almighty displayed
the quality of visiting the
sick when he visited Ab-
raham after he was circum-
cized and was recovering
from the physical conse-
quences of the surgery.
Man, who is the image of the
Almighty, is obligated to act
like Him and thus visit the
sick.

A. Loewenberg

Anna Loewenberg, a
member of Jewish women's
and communal organiza-
tions, died April 3 at age 89.
Born in Russia, Mrs.
Loewenberg was a member
of Cong. Shaarey Zedek and
its sisterhood, a life member
of Hadassah, National
Council of Jewish Women
and Sinai Hospital Guild.
She leaves a son, George
Bremen; three daughters,
Mrs. Samuel (Geraldine)
Serwer, Mrs. Milton
(Esther) Maddin and Mrs.
Lloyd (Frances) Finsilver; a
brother, Julius Krause; 13
grandchildren and 22
great-grandchildren.

Patrick Henry was more
impressed by Washington's
quiet conversation than by
the fervid oratory of others.
When asked whom he con-
sidered the greatest man in
Congress, he answered:
"Rutledge, if you speak of
eloquence, is by far the
greatest orator, but Colonel
Washington, who has no
pretensions to eloquence, is
a man of more solid judg-
ment and information than
any man on that floor."
—Rupert Hughes

Karl Aronsson

Karl-Gunnar Aronsson,
sion series for more than
had He
recently
20 He
years.
wrote assumed
many owner of Kogy's restaurant
articles in English and in the Top of Troy building,
Hebrew for American died March 31 at age 58.
Born in Sweden, Mr.
and Israeli publications.
Aronsson was a member of
the chairmanship of the Temple Emanu-El, was
American Jewish Press affiliated with the Detroit
Association. Among his Swedish Consulate and was
many other professional its past president and was
associations, he had been active on behalf of the Boy
president of the Histadrut Scouts.
He leaves his wife, Bar-
Ivrit of America, and co-
chairman of American Pro- bara; a son, Jeffry of New
fessors for Peace in the Mid- York City; and a daughter,
Ian.
dle East.

N

The Officers, Board of Trustees; and
Members of Congregation B'nai David
deeply mourn the passing of their es-
teemed former spiritual leader

RABBI JOSHUA SPERKA

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We extend our heartfelt condolences to
Rebbitzen Sperka, the children, and the
entire family.

Hyman J. Adler
Morton F. Yolkut
Cantor
Rabbi
Lawrence J. Traison
President

DR. DAVID MIRSKY

SHAARE ZEDEK HOSPITAL

in Jerusalem

expresses deepest sympathy to the family of

Rabbi Joshua Sperka

As president of the Detroit Friends of
Shaare Zedek Hospital he found recogni-
tion in our worldwide organization for his
total devotion and inspiring leadership.

Men like Rabbi Sperka made the dream
of a modern hospital in the heart of
Jerusalem a reality and we will cherish his
memory in gratitude and appreciation.

Dr. David Maeir

Director General
Shaare Zedek Hospital

Charles Bendheim

President
American Committee

Alex Roberg

Chairman
Detroit Friends