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Hershkovitz Case
Bound Over For Trial
ALAN HITSKY
Associate Editor
D
istrict Judge Gus
Cifelli admitted the
defense had some
valid arguments, but ruled on
Tuesday that Benjamin Her-
shkovitz must stand trial in
Oakland County Circuit
Court on a charge of
embezzlement of more than
$100.
Hershkovitz, owner of the
defunct B&H Travel firm in
Southfield, is charged with
not refunding $96,000 to 20
Temple Israel couples in 1986
after they canceled a planned
trip to Israel.
His attorney, Mark Krieger,
argued that Hershkovitz's
business problems caused the
failure to refund the money,
and the prosecution had fail-
ed to prove any criminal in-
tent. He said that failure to
repay was not, by itself, a
criminal action, and the pro-
secution could not prove that
the money was not used to
purchase airline tickets, hotel
and tour accomodations.
While finding some merit
in the argument, Bloomfield
Judge Cifelli ruled that the
matter would have to be
decided in Circuit Court.
Bond was continued in the
case, allowing Hershkovitz to
continue to live in Atlanta,
Ga. and work for his son's
vending machine company.
The case was assigned to
Judge Hilda Gage, and was
given a court date of Feb. 22.
Hershkovitz softly com-
plained to The Jewish News
as he left the court house that
the case had taken a toll on
his life during the last 18
months. But Jimm White, at-
torney for the Temple Israel
group, pointed out that in-
surance had covered only
$70,000 of the $96,000 paid
by the group to Hershkovitz.
"These people are still out
$26,000," White said.
There were two bits of irony
as Hershkovitz and his wife
Haya left the court house.
White mentioned that a new
Temple Israel group, con-
sisting of 25 couples, was
holding a planning meeting
that evening for a trip to
Israel. And as the Her-
shkovitzes walked through
the parking lot, they were
served with a subpoena in one
of the more than 20 civil cases
pending against them for
defaulting on more than $1
million in business loans.
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Yakov Smirnoff Kicks Off
Center Entertainment
HEIDI PRESS
News Editor
akov Smirnoff isn't
being funny today.
He's tired. Dead tired.
But even after constant
snafus during the filming of
a Chrysler Corp. commercial
extended his work day beyond
human endurance, Smirnoff
still was cordial, cooperative
and friendly.
Smirnoff, who will give two
performances, at 7 and 9:30
p.m. Saturday at the
Maple/Drake Jewish Com-
munity Center, has come a
long way since leaving the
Soviet Union ten years ago.
He has done numerous stand-
up comedy shows, has ap-
peared on U.S. television, in
movies and at the White
House. Immigrating with on-
ly $100 in his pocket, the
former cruise ship comedian
has achieved such success
that he now enjoys life in a
Hollywood Hills mansion,
complete with Rolls Royce
and Ferrari automobiles.
But success hasn't spoiled
y
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Comedian Smirnoff will appear in
Jewish Community Center.
Yakov Smirnoff. He's as nice
and gentlemanly as they
come, something one wouldn't
expect from a star of his
caliber. And he speaks freely
about adjusting to life in
America and leaving his Rus-
sian homeland.
Smirnoff says opportunity
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