I FRONTLI NES THE TABLE SETTING seir BRIDAL REGISTRY Mon., 'flies., Wed., Sat. 10 - 5:30 Thurs., Fri. 10-9 335 E. MAPLE RD. BIRMINGHAM 644-5750 Israel is Maxine Kronick's Newest Dramatic Adventure ELIZABETH KAPLAN HERMOPLAST Staff Writer I "The Sealcoating Specialists" • • • • Pre-Clean Driveway Patch (where necessary) Repair Driveway Culverts Apply Sealant RESIDENTIALICOMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL For Your Free Estimate 851-1039 MENTION THIS AD BEFORE 7/11/88 RECEIVE 10% OFF TOTAL DRIVEWAY COST .41=111MII Trergti 2-WHEEL Aw*JI BRAKES FRONT OR REAR • Lifetime Warranty on Pads or Shoes • Turn Drums & Rotors • Check Master Cylinder • Check Calipers, Hoses and Seats • Re-Pack Non-Drive Wheel Bearings • Test Drive Your Car `Semi-metallic pads extra. No other discounts or coupons accepted with sale prices. WITH COUPON Expires July 2, 1988 Tuff* 3 95 Most Cars JN 'Lifetime Muffle r $24 95 Most Cars *Plus, installation. Not to used with any other discount or specials. JN WITH COUPON Expires July 2, 1988 MEL STERNFELD — SHERM FREUND'S Service Centers ^•1•..,=• 1 VISA' 0 -"J At participating locations. (rolasterCarl SOUTHFIELD 23390 Telegraph (Just N. of 9 Mile) 355.0800 REDFORD WEST BLOOMFIELD-WALLED LAKE 25775 W. 8 Mile 784 N. Pontiac Trail (Corner of Beech Daly) (Corner of Maple) 532.3500 624-4440 [ 'Based on normal retail price in lieu of other discounts, offer available on most U.S. and Imported autos. ■ t took almost 20 years for Maxine Kronick to get to Israel. As part of a Young Leader- ship mission, Kronick first visited Israel in 1969. "And the moment I stepped off the plane I thought, 'This is where I belong: " Nine months ago, Kronick moved to Tel Aviv. She rents an apartment on Dizengoff Street and will tell you right off the bat that she is not in- terested in suffering (she has a good job and she loves it) and if you're an American Jew who hasn't been to Israel well, why not? It might be the New Yorker in her. But Kronick left New York years ago and settled in Flint. Then she made aliyah. Kronick was back in Michigan recently to organize dates for the showings of "The Israel Experience" and "The Holy Land," two multimedia presentations that help Americans get a taste of Israel. She's also here to promote the work of Paul Collins, a black American artist who created a series called "The Faces of Israel" in honor of the 40th anniversary of the state. Collins, who has been - living for the past two years in Israel, was inspired by the work of Jews involved in the Civil Rights movement. Kronick's official title is American projects manager for the Israel government tourist office. Her goal is to get U.S. and Canadian citizens interested in Israel. And this is a woman from Flint? Sounds different, right? It is. Raised by her Orthodox grandmother in Troy, N.Y., ,Kronick grew up in a religious, but not particular- ly Zionist, home. One day she met a young Holocaust survivor with whom she was to become very close. Her new friend told Maxine tales of evil in Nazi Germany she had never heard. "And I became very angry," she said. "The rabbi had never told me anything! All those people who never wanted to talked about anti- Semitism. They never stood for anything. I remember that very, very clearly?' Sparked by her new friend- ship, Kronick became "an ab- Maxine Kronick: Living an adventure. solute activist for Jewish causes." Then she got married, mov- ed with her husband to Michigan, had-four children and traded her pro-Israel banners for dustcloths and potholders. Or, as she will tell you, "I made my oven into my desk. But nobody is ever go- ing to remember me for the great meals I made." Yet she might be remembered for some of her local theater performances. After appearing in a number of off-off Broadway plays in New York, Kronick won the first part she auditioned for in Michigan. It was a role close to home: Golda in "Fiddler on the Roof?' Kronick's grandmother was an immigrant from Eastern Europe who spent many hours recounting stories of her life in the shtetl. They were stories that stayed with Kronick, who went on to pro- duce a documentary, "From the Shtetl With Lover While living in Flint, Kronick also appeared in television commericals and hosted a radio program, "Maxine and the Jewish Con- nection." But her biggest coup was being named director of special events to the mayor. It was, Kronick said, a good life. She was involved in such projects as the 75th anniver- sary of General Motors and coordinating local concerts. She had applied for a similar job in Phoenix and was a finalist for the position when, all of a sudden, she decided it was time to realize her dream — or, as she likes to say, "to begin the second half of my lifer Kronick admitted her deci- sion to make aliyah "took more courage than anything else I've ever done." First she sold her house. And her furniture. And her car. Then she went to the bank and took out a loan. Then she faced her children. "But Mom!" one son cried. "You're 50 years old!" "Thank you very much;' she told him. "But I already know how old I am." It will probably come as lit- tle surprise to hear that Kronick did not opt for the traditional route. Looking through an issue of The Jerusalem Post, Kronick saw an article about the Miss Universe pagent. So she call- ed the head of the event and told him, "CBS asked me to contact you." Don't worry, Kronick assures you. "I just did that once. I would never lie once I get the interview." She got the interview. She got the job, too: Maxine Kronick — liason between the United States and Israel for the Miss Universe pagent. Several months later she went in search of another job. She landed in Absorption Minister Yaakov Thur's office. "I told him I was making a documentary about American absorption in Israel — which was true." Tsur sent one of his aides to meet Kronick, who quickly informed him, "Look, all I want is a chance. I don't want a house and I don't want government money." She showed him her credentials. Not long after, the ministry hired her. Kronick is not exactly starry-eyed. She knows the problems in Israel. One of her favorite pastimes is "avoiding the bureaucracy as often as possible;' she said. Yet that hardly limits her enthusiasm for the country, and her firm belief that other Americans should go to Israel. Or else keep their mouths shut. "We're all alone in Israel;' she said. "And nobody has the right to tell us how to live our lives until he packs up and comes there. And I don't want to hear anyone sitting in his fancy house in Bloomfield Hills saying how we in Israel should do things, because you have no idea what it's like to live there." A moment later, Kronick tempers these words. She is simply frustrated that more Americans are not as in love with Israel as she. "I can't imagine having liv- ed my life without this adven- turer she said.