THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Friday, June 29, 1984
15
The Downtown Synagogue is a place where Jews from a wide range of backgrounds and from differing economic circumstances can feel
comfortable. Pictured from left: Ernest Schwartz, Abe Gold and Nathan Davidoff attending a recent Sunday morning service.
(2,400-square-foot) apartment over-
eliminated entirely by those who
looking Palmer Park on the city's
choose to walk from their nearby
north side for nearly 30. years.
homes.
"I wouldn't say that there's too
Life downtown, though
much
of an emotional tie to the city
stimulating and envigorating, is not
for me, but from a practical
without its problems, especially ,for
standpoint, it's perfect," Steinbrg
the observant Jewish parent, accord-
said. "I wouldn't want to be anywhere
ing to Ms. Harris. "I keep kosher, so
else."
that means I'm constantly driving
Steinberg, 83, owns the White
out, to the suburbs to buy meat." In
Color Card Co., which produces paint
fact, Ms. Harris said, living in the
' swatches for the automotive and
city means getting into your car
housing industries at a plant on the
nearly as much as living in South-
fringe of downtown. Born in Toledo at
field or Farmington would.
the turn of the century, Steinberg,
Although the freelance writer
who came to Detroit as a young boy,
and publicist does find that she can
has moved in checker-board fashion
visit many of her clients on foot, she
all over the city, never once leaving it
decries the lack of shopping in the
for the suburbs.
downtown area, especially now that
"The changing neighborhood
Hudson's has closed its Detroit store.
never did, and still doesn't scare me,"
The inadequacy of the city's public
he said. "You're going to run into
transportaion is also a problem, she
crime wherever you are. People are
finds. "In New York, the problem is
installing
alarms everywhere, not
density. Here, everything is so
just in the city."
spread out, you can't get away from
"Steinberg also likes the attitude
dependence on a car." Other resi-
dents echoed her complaints, citing - of the people in his neighborhood,
noting that in recent years the area
the poorly maintained, poorly routed
has become home to a group of young,
bus system as one of the biggest
black and white professionals who
drawbacks to living in the city.
take pride in their surroundings.
Buses that often run late or not
"People here are still trying to do all,
at all and residential streets that
they can to improve the neighbor-
never see a snowplow during the
hood. They haven't given up, on it and
winter don't seem to bother Myron
I don't see why I should." He feels
Steinberg, who wouldn't take a home
that in three or four years, Palmer
in West Bloomfield with all the
Park may be one of the more attrac-
trimmings if he was it in the lottery.
tive plaoes to live. inside the-city..
Steinberg has lived in a spacious
.
Unfortunately, Jewish life in the
area has all but disappeared. Stein-
berg was one olthe founding mem-
bers 'of Temple Israel and having a
synagogue in the area (the first Tem-
ple Israel building was on Mander-
son, betWeen Third and 'Hamilton)
was one of the reasons he decided to
join 15 other Jewish partners and
buy into the co-op where he now lives.
"It was so handy, having the temple
only a 'few blocks away."
Steinberg harbors no ill feelings
toward the group that was instru-
mental in moving the temple to its
current West Bloomfield location.
"After all, over a period of 25 years,
more than . 80 percent of the congre-
gation moved away, so, I guess the
temple didn't abandon me, just the
congregation." Steinberg still man-
aged to attend services on a weekly
basis following the temple's move in
1975, but of late, he finds he doesn't
have the patience for the long drive
and his participation has decreased.
The longtime Detroiter, who has
been a widower for nearly nine years,
has always been happy in the city.
"In spite of all the changes, nobody
can `unsell' me on this neighborhood.
It's just too bad that so many subur-
ban people choose to remain ignorant
about life in this city and all the
things it offers."
Less than two years after Tem-
ple Israel pulled up stakes and moved
to West Bloomfield, a new synagogue
waaformed for those living in the city
— Cong. T'chiyah. Housed in the
former parish school of Old St. Mary's
Catholic Church and Community
Center in Greektown, T'chiyah was
organized by a group of people living
in the area who were satisfied with
every aspect of their lives but one.
"There was nothing, other than the
Downtown Synagogue (Conserva-
tive) down here in terms of Jewish
experience," according to Ms. Hafris,
who is one of the congregation's
founding members.
"There was a nucleus of people
who wanted a service on a regular
basis, apart from what the Down-
town Synagogue was offering," she
said. At first, they formed a havurah
(study group) and met once each
month at a different person's home.
Then, with the help of U.S. Sep. Carl
Levin (who, at that time, was a De-
troit city councilman), they obtained
the space at Old St. Mary's rent-free
for weekly services.
Retaining the atmosphere of the
havurah, the synagogue is non-
denominational, with a different
member leading the service each
week. "Some weeks we meet on Fri-
day evenings and some weeks we
hold services on Saturday mornings,"
Ms. Harris explained.
The seven-year-old congregation
had been. planning to hold its first
wedding this month, but after a fire
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