LOCAL NEWS I

Orthodox

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24

The Perfect Way
To Wish
Your Loved Ones
L'Shana Tova

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 1991

=968-NOSH-

Local & Nationwide Delivery 1

and City Council member
Gerry Naftaly and Council
member Ray Abrams.
Of the estimated 7,600 Or-
thodox people living in the
metropolitan Detroit com-
munity, the majority —
about 5,000 — reside in Oak
Park, an ethnically diverse
community of 35,000. Mayor
Rothstein estimates that 30
percent of the city is Jewish.
Slowly, the Orthodox
community- has risen to
power in Oak Park during
the past decade.
"We are growing, and we
are active," Rabbi Freedman
said of the Orthodox com-
munity. "People are coming
out as individuals, saying
they can serve the city. But
they just happen to be Or-
thodox, and - some are capi-
talizing on the fact that they
are Orthodox."
For some, being Orthodox
has become an issue in the
race for two open seats on
the Oak Park City Council.
"Orthodox" became an
issue when the Vaad
Harabonim, the Council For
Orthodox Rabbis, endorsed
Orthodox candidates Paul
Braunstein and Mr. Seligson
in last week's primary. Mr.
Braunstein finished first
with 1,116 votes; incumbent
Ray Abrams, who is Jewish,
placed second with 1,079;
and Mr. Seligson was third
with 1,011 votes. ,
The three Jewish can-
didates and Minerva
Freeman, who is black and
placed fourth with 901 votes,
will vie for the two Council
seats on Nov. 6.
The Vaad has since
apologized for using its sta-
tionery to endorse two
shomer Shabbos candidates.
Mr. Seligson said the letter
was a surprise to him, and
he said he is not running as
an Orthodox candidate.
"Why shouldn't the Or-
thodox be involved?" Mr.
Seligson said. "We live in
this community. We will be
staying here. We happen to
be an anchor in Oak Park.
"I am not running as an
Orthodox Jew," Mr. Seligson
said. "It is troubling that
whenever Orthodox Jews get
involved in politics, the cen-
tral issue is not credentials,
experience, intelligence or
ability, it is invariably re-
ligion."
As the Jewish community
continues to migrate to the
northwest suburbs, most Or-
thodox members have made
their home in Oak Park, Mr.
Seligson said. No matter
where Orthodox families
reside, Oak Park is central
in their lives, he said.
Oak Park is home to two
Jewish day schools, 13 syn-

agogues and temples, the
mikvah, kosher butchers, a
kosher bakery and a kosher
pizza parlor.
"This is where it is hap-
pening," said Mr. Brauns-
tein, who announced his
candidacy in March at a
meeting comprised mostly of
Orthodox Jews at the home
of Dr. Henry Brystowski.
"This place affects the Or-
thodox in Southfield and
Huntington Woods. They all
come here."
Residing 20 years in Oak
Park's Orthodox commun-
ity, he said, would help him
maintain Oak Park "as a
place where we want to
live."
Referring to the heavy
support both he and Mr.
Seligson received in the two
precincts where most Or-

"Why shouldn't the
Orthodox be
involved? We live in
this community. We
will be staying
here. We happen to
be an anchor in Oak
Park."

Michael Seligson

thodox Jews live, Mr.
Braunstein said, "This is the
first time the Orthodox
community feels threaten-
ed."
Mr. Braunstein was not
specific about why the com-
munity would feel threaten-
ed, saying only that Or-
thodox representation would
better protect the commun-
ity in the future.
"The Orthodox community
has more at stake than any-
one else because the in-
frastructure is here," Mr.
Braunstein said. "This is not
a case of being powerful. It is
a case of looking out for the
community's best interest."
Rabbi Freedman said the
local government has been
responsive to Orthodox
needs and said the commun-
ity need not feel threatened
about anything. 0

Temple Holds
Selichot Services

Temple Israel will hold
Selichot services 11 p.m. Aug.
31.
Members of Temple Israel's
Youth Group will participate
in the candlelighting, and
Cantor Harold Orbach will
sing melodies of the High Ho-
ly Days.
At 10:30 p.m., prior to the
service, there will be a dessert
reception by Temple Israel's
Brotherhood, Couples Club
and Sisterhood.

