THE JEWISH NEWS
THIS ISSUE 60(P
Recovering
Lost
Roots
Contents Page 7
The ultimate fantasy for chocolate-lovers.
SERVING DETROIT'S JEWISH COMMUNITY
MAY 27, 1988 / 11 SIVAN 5748
Beth El Offshoot Forming
For the second time in recent history a Beth El splinter group
is creating its own congregation, with Rabbi Dannel Schwartz
expected to be at the helm
ELIZABETH KAPLAN
Staff Writer
Shir Shalom, a new Reform tem-
ple forming here, is negotiating a con-
tract with Rabbi Dannel Schwartz
that would put the former Temple
Beth El rabbi at its helm.
One member of the new congrega-
tion, who asked that his name not be
used, said negotiations with Rabbi
Schwartz should be completed within
the next two weeks. He would not
discuss details of the proposed
contract.
Rabbi Schwartz could not be
reached for comment, but observers
say the rabbi is expected to accept the
position.
The Shir Shalom ("Song of
Peace") source said the new temple
already has about 150 members, and
that it is not soliciting other con-
gregants except by word of mouth. He
also said the temple has hired a
religious school director, but would
not identify him.
Officials at Shir Shalom have
signed an intent to lease an office
building near Maple and Orchard
Lake roads — some five miles from
Temple Beth El. The observer said
final approval of the lease should be
rendered in the next several weeks.
A number of the founding
members of Shir Shalom split from
Beth El after the temple board's 26-21
vote in July 1987 not to extend Rab-
bi Schwartz's contract beyond June
30, 1988.
Rabbi Schwartz began his tenure
with the 1,500-family Temple Beth El
in 1974, when he assisted Rabbi
Emeritus Richard C. Hertz. In 1982,
he was named senior rabbi.
Under the terms of the 1987 board
decision, Rabbi Schwartz was to have
remained at Temple Beth El through
July 1988. But last December, he an-
nounced at Friday night services that
he would leave immediately.
A group of temple members,
angered by the board's decision not to
retain Rabbi Schwartz, began a drive
to remove Beth El officers and
trustees including President Jerome
Ash, Vice President Laurence Deitch
and Secretary Herbert Kaufman. The
Continued to Page 20
Anti-Bigotry
Campaign
Launched
KIMBERLY LIFTON
Staff Writer
Seven times last week, 20-year-old
Jennifer Epstein found hand-drawn
swastikas on her door in Case Hall at
Michigan State University.
The self-professed Jewish activist
was shocked by the actions, which
came one week after she and other
campus Hillel representatives laun-
ched MSU's first Campaign Against
Continued on Page 20
HAND
HAND
in
In February, the AFL-CIO
publicly criticized Israel
for the first time. Yet
relations between the
Jewish community and
Big Labor are
hardly in jeopardy.