70 Friday, February 4, 1983
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Russian Jewish Young Adults
Find Difficulty in Meeting Peers
By HEIDI PRESS
American Jewish singles
have a hard enough time
trying to find activities at
which to meet, but for newly
arrived Russian Jewish
young adults the language
and customs barrier make
it that much more difficult.
One of the ways the Rus-
sians are coping is through
an organization called
Jewish Heritage. A social
group designed originally
for Russian Jews of all ages,
the 16-35 year olds broke off
from the larger group to
form their own organiza-
tion.
Comprised of about 100
members, according to
President Sam Valk, the
group meets once a month to
hear speakers, to learn
about Jewish holidays and
traditions and to socialize.
According to Valk, the
group was organized "to
bring Jewishness back to
the (Russian) Jewish
people. We want to main-
tain traditions."
Valk said the group also
exists to help newly arrived
Russians become accultu-
rated. Jewish Heritage acts
as a support group. He said
many of the Russians speak
English.
The 100 members par-
ticipate in the Allied Jewish
Campaign and are working
with Junior Division of the
Jewish Welfare Federation.
Valk said the members are
just starting to participate
in other areas of the com-
munity as well.
He said the Russian
young adults are planning
to participate in the
community-wide Israel In-
dependence Day celebration
in the spring. They also
make appeals on behalf of
Soviet Jewish refusniks by
writing letters.
At a social gathering
Saturday night at the
Jimmy Prentis Morris
Branch of the Jewish
Community Center, sev-
eral of the members of the
Jewish Heritage group
were asked what are
their chief problems
since arriving in Detroit.
Many responded that
finding jobs was their main
concern, but several said
they were having difficulty
being accepted by their
American counterparts.
They said that when they
attend Jewish singles par-
ties here, they are looked at
suspiciously. Asked if they
make the effort to introduce
themselves, one of the
members remarked that
they are looked at "from
head to toe" and snubbed.
Many said they felt more
comfortable meeting with
other Russian Jews here
then with the Americans.
Speaking in English,
the young adults said
they felt that language
was a barrier to becom-
ing involved with their
Jewish peers here. Some
added that coming from a
different culture also
hampered their ability to
assimilate.
Valk, a native of Latvia
who has only been here 4 1/2
years himself, said part of
the problem could be allevi-
ated if American Jewish
young adults would attend
the Jewish Heritage par-
ties.
(When apprised of the
situation, Bruce
Tabashneck, director of
singles programming at the
Jewish Community Center,
said he would look into de-
veloping a program within
which the Russian Jewish
young adults could meet
their U.S. counterparts in a
comfortable atmosphere.)
Valk said the Jewish
community has been sup-
portive of the Russian Jews
coming here. He said the
young adults have received
a stereo system and records.
He added, however, that
they would like to begin a
project of their own.
He said the group is try-
ing to start a band to be
able to entertain at
SAM VALK
simhot in the community.
The group intends to
have a "Russian-Jewish
orientation," but will not
only entertain for Rus-
sian Jews.
The problem, though, is
that the young adults need
"instruments and equip-
ment," specifically drums,
amplifiers, an electric piano
and guitars.
He said in the Jewish
Heritage membership there
are singers, a saxophonist
and pianist.
Groups who have instru-
ments to donate or who wish
to invite the Russian Jewish
young adults to their activi-
ties can contact Valk at
354-0910 daily or at 355-
4073, evenings.
Jewry on the Air
This Week's Radio and
Television Programs
THE JEWISH SOUND:
6:15 a.m. Sunday, WMJC-
FM (95) and 8 a.m. Sunday
WNIC-AM (1310). Rabbi
Yitschak Kagan is the mod-
erator.
** *
RELIGION IN THE
NEWS: 9:05 a.m. Sunday,
CKWW (580), Rabbi
Jonathan V. Plaut is the
moderator.
* * *
RELIGIOUS SCOPE:
8:50 p.m. Sunday, Channel
9, Rabbi Jonathan V. Plaut
will moderate a program of
Jewish interest.
* * *
COFFEE WITH HY: 6
p.m. Monday, WCAR
(1090), a program of com-
munity interest, moderated
by Hy Shenkman.
* * *
YIDDISH IS HEIMISH:
6:30 p.m. Monday, WCAR
(1090), an all-Yiddish pro-
gram of music, news, inter-
views and other features
with Hy Shenkman.
CAFE SHALOM: 7 p.m.
Monday, WCAR (1090),
music, news and features
from Israel plus community
announcements, with Bella
Greenbaum, Fay Knoll and
Masha Silver.
Exchange Land
for Peace, Say
More Israelis
TEL AVIV (JTA) — A
Jerusalem Post public opin-
ion poll shows an increase in
the number of Israelis ready
to exchange occupied land
for peace.
Those firmly opposed to
any territorial compromise
declined from 52 percent in
September to 42.4 percent
in the last week of De-
cember and the first days of
January.
The percentage of those
ready to give up parts of the
West Bank rose from 34.2
percent to 39.8 percent,
while those ready to give up
all the West Bank, apart
from East Jerusalem, rose
from 8.5 to 11.8 percent.
I
OBITUARIES
SIDNEY ABRAMSKY,
JACK LOUIS MAR-
72, former Detroiter of De- CUS, 83, of Southfield, died
lray Beach, Fla., died Jan. -Jan. 29. Survived by his
27. Survived by his' wife, wife, Lynette; two sons,
Sarah; two sons, Alan of Daniel and Michael of Dal-
Dallas, Tex., and. Michael of las, Tex.; and three grand-
Detroit; a brother, Paul; and children.
* 5*
three grandchildren.
Interment Boynton Beach,
CELIA MILLER, 79,
Fla.
died Jan. 31. She leaves a
* * *
son, Maurice; two brothers,
JOEL BERKOWITZ, Max Tuttleman and Abe
66, of Howell, died Jan. 31. Tuttleman, both of Boca Ra-
He leaves a daughter, Min- ton, Fla.; two grandchil-
dy of Boyne City; three sis- dren, nieces and nephews.
** *
ters, Mrs. Frances Fleis-
chman, Mrs. Joseph (Betty)
NORBERT ROBERT,
Stein of Visalia, Calif., and 76, of Southfield, died Jan.
Mrs. Bert (Zena) Gordon; 30. Survived by his wife. El-
and two grandchildren.
sie; and a sister, Mrs. Henry
* * *
Salomon.
* * *
BENJAMIN "BEN"
BIRCOLL, 80, died Jan.
FRIDA SCHINAGEL,
29. He leaves his wife, Faye; 87, died Jan. 27. She leaves
two sons, Dr. Herbert and a daughter, Mrs. Sanford
Dr. Melvyn of Los Angeles, (Lucy) Fleishman; and a
Calif.; two brothers, Albert brother, Zoltan Muller of
and Sam of Texas; two sis- California. Interment
ters, Mrs. Rose Hock and California.
Mrs. William (Lila) Plotkin;
** *
and five grandchildren.
HAROLD H. SHER-
* * *
MAN, 70, died Jan. 30. He
HARRY BLAIZE, 89, of leaves his wife, Marion; a
Orchard Lake, died Feb. 1. son, Dr. William of South
Survived by a son, Dr. Al- Pasadena, Calif.; two
bert; a daughter, Mrs. Les- daughters, Mrs. Paul
ter (Ruth) Oberman of (Merle) Graff and Mrs.
Saulte Ste. Marie; six Suzanne Boughton; a
grandchildren and six brother, Albert; and three
great-grandchildren.
grandchildren.
** *
ETHEL E. BLUFORD,
KATE SHIFRIN, 90,
62, died Feb. 1. She leaves died Jan. 28. She leaves her
her husband, Dr. Richard husband, Myer; three
L.; two sons, Alan and daughters, Mrs. Irving
Lawrence; a daughter, Mrs. (Sophie) Rosengard, Mrs.
Glenn (Fran) Spraetz of Harry (Lolie) Dickman and
Lima, Ohio; and one grand- Dr. Rae Shifrin - Sternberg
daughter.
of Actadena, Calif.; six
** *
grandchildren and one
PAUL
AARON great-grandson.
* 5 *
FOGEL, 24, died Jan. 27.
He leaves his father, Sidney
BETTY SMITH, 69,
J. of Rochester, N.Y.; his former Detroiter of Wood-
mother, Helen; and two land Hills, Calif., died re-
brothers, Mark and cently. Survived by her
Charles.
husband, Alan; a son,
* * *
Robert; a daughter, Mrs.
KATIE SC HULDIN- Judy Goldberg of Califor-
GER GOLDBERG, 88, nia; several brothers and
died Feb. 2. She leaves a two grandchildren.
* 5 *
brother, Daniel Balantzow
of Hollywood, Fla.; three
SARAH BARDEN
sisters, Mrs. Mary Davis, SOMBERG, 73, died Jan.
Mrs. Helen Fitlow and Mrs 31. She leaves her husband,
Leonard (Sarah) Simons of Samuel; two sons, Donald
Hollywood, Fla.; nieces and Barden and Harold Barden;
nephews.
four grandchildren and two
* * *
great-grandchildren.
* 5 *
MARION KATZMAN,
DAVID W. STABE-
54, of West Bloomfield, died
Jan. 30. Survived by her NOW, 26, died Jan. 30. He
husband, Benjamin; two leaves his wife, Carolyn; a
daughters, Mrs. Larry son, Justin; a daughter,
(Maureen) Ashman and Sara Beth; his parents, two
Suzi; her mother, Mrs. Rose brothers and three sisters.
* * *
Wolrauch; a brother, Jack;
three sisters, Mrs. Bernard
ESTHER STASOF-
(Mildred) Breyer, Mrs. Mor- SKY, 92, of South-
ton (Harriet) Smerling and field died Jan. 30.
Mrs. Sheldon (Madlyn) Survived by three sons,
Chatlin; and two grandchil- Judge Michael Stacey, San-
dren.
ford Stacey and Rubin
"Over 65 years of traditional service in the Jewish community with dignity and understanding."
HEBREW MEMORIAL CHAPEL
Stasofsky of Flossmoor, Ill.;
two daughters, Mrs. Louis
(Shirley) Kramer and Mrs.
Mildred Neumark; six
grandchildren and seven
great-grandchildren.
** *
ESTHER C. STAHL, 89,
died Jan. 2 7. She leaves
three sons, Morton, Jack of
Corry, Pa., and Robert of
Marlboro, N.J.; a daughter,
Shirley of Mohegan Lake,
N.Y.; 10 grandchildren and
four great-grandchildren.
Interment Sharon, Pa.
** *
SHIRLEY STEIN-
BERG, 78, of Southfield,
died Feb. 1. Survived by her
husband, Joseph; a son,
Allen W. Seel; a daughter,
Mrs. Bradford (Jayne)
Jacobs; three 'sisters, Mrs.
Leon (Jean) Grossman of
Kalamazoo, Mrs. Herbert
(Lillian) Hyman and Mrs.
Seymour (Rita) Knapp of
Boca Raton, Fla.; and three
grandchildren.
*5 *
LARRY JOEL STOL-
MAN, 35, of Southfield,
died Jan. 30. Survived by
his wife, Cynthia; his par-
ents, Mr. and Mrs. Max
(Claire) Stolman; a brother,
Steven; a sister, Mrs.
Michael (Rita) Hoffer of
Westlake Village, Calif.;
and his grandparents, Mr.
and Mrs. Hyman (Sarah)
Stolman of California.
* * *
' JOHN SURATH, 74, of
Detroit, died Jan. 27. Sur-
vived by three sisters, Mrs.
Louis (Gertrude) Schwartz
of Grand Blanc, Mrs. Daniel
(Bessie) Wasserman of Lin-
coln Park and Mrs. Sarah
Slipson; and three grand-
children.
* * *
SHIMON (SAM) ZA-
GER, 94, of Southfield, died
Jan. 29. Survived by two
sons, Sidney and Dr. Albert
of Los Angeles, Calif.; two
daughters, Mrs. Bernard
(Eleanor) Maness and Mrs.
William (Lillian) Ross of
Paramus, N.J.; nine grand-
children, 15 great-grand-
children and one great-
great-grandchild.
.
24-Hour News
in Jerusalem
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