THE JEWISH NEWS

SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS

SERVING DETROIT'S JEWISH COMMUNITY

JULY 19, 1991 / 8 AV 5751

Hillel Day School Names
Steinberg Administrator

KIMBERLY LIFTON

Staff Writer

R

The terminally ill opt
out of hospitals in favor
of familiar surroundings.

obert Steinberg's
resume is diverse,
ranging from in-
surance sales to chief ex-
ecutive officer of Sinai
Hospital.
Now he will switch gears
to school business as Hillel
Day School's executive di-
rector, in charge of day-to-
day operations and fund-
raising.
After a closed, three-hour
meeting Tuesday night,
Hillel's board of directors
offered a job to Mr.
Steinberg, 59. He will
replace Marcia Fishman,
who is leaving Hillel in
August to accept another
position.
The decision follows mon-
ths of searching for an ad-
ministrator with a combina-
tion of business skills and
community contacts who
could help manage the

school's growth, day-to-day
operations and raise funds
for possible expansion.
Enrollment has steadily in-
creased in the past decade,
with the number of students
now at 600.
"He is well recognized in
the community for his active
involvement and knows
about community affairs,"
said Ron Riback, a Hillel
past president. "We believe
his expertise can contribute
in an administrative role."
Hillel President Howard
Tapper said the combination
of Mr. Steinberg, Head-
master Dr. Mark Smiley and
Principal Rochelle Iczkovitz
"will afford us the oppor-
tunity to face current
challenges while planning
for the exciting future."

Some Hillel parents voiced
concern over Mr. Steinberg's
qualifications to run an edu-
cational institution. A letter,
signed by parents, was sent
to the board, questioning the

Robert Steinberg:
From Sinai to Hillel.

decision to hire Mr.
Steinberg.
"While he has held some
very high and very impor-
tant positions, I don't really
understand how what he has
done in the past would apply
Continued on Page 20

Bonior Reviews Mixed
From Jewish Leadership

KIMBERLY LIFTON

Staff Writer

W

ALSO INSIDE:

Page 61

hile the election of
U.S. Rep. David
Bonior to majority
whip is raising a few
eyebrows in the American
Jewish community, local
Jewish Democrats are
lauding the appointment.
As whip, the person who
organizes party votes on the
House floor and helps plan
party strategy, Mr. Bonior
replaces William Gray of
Pennsylvania, who will
resign from Congress in
September to head the
United Negro College Fund.
"He is good for Michigan
and he is good for the Jewish
community," said Paul D.
Borman, chief federal
defender and immediate
past president of the Jewish
Community Council. "He
isn't a Steve Solarz, Charles
Shumer, or even a Mel
Levine, Mel Glickman or
Larry Smith (all Jewish con-
gressmen, and each con-
sidered a friend of Israel).

But he has come a long way
in the last couple of years
and it will work out fine."

Mr. Bonior, 46, of Mt.
Clemens, has served in Con-
gress for 15 years, holding
the title of chief deputy
majority whip since 1987.
He was elected last week,
defeating Rep. Steny Hoyer
of Maryland in a secret
ballot election among mem-
bers of the House Democrat-
ic Caucus.
Within the Jewish com-
munity, Mr. Bonior is con-
troversial because of his
strong support for the Pales-
tinians. He believes U.S.
policy makers should strive
to develop a homeland for
them.
He supports Israel's right
to exist, yet his voting record
on Israel is lukewarm.
Troublesome to the Jewish
community was his vocal
opposition to closing down
the PLO offices in the
United States, and his vote
against a resolution declar-
ing Jerusalem the united,
undivided capital of Israel.

Rep. David Bonior

Now holding the third-
ranking position in the
Democratic leadership of the
U.S. House of Represent-
atives, political pundits
speculate that Mr. Bonior
could become Speaker of the
House (held by Washing-
ton's Thomas Foley) if
Democrats continue to
dominate Congress.
Continued on Page 20