TROI

I'

FIFTY YEARS AGO I

Hillel Purchases House
Near Ann Arbor Campus

This column will be a
weekly feature during The
Jewish News' anniversary
year, looking at The Jew-.
ish News of today's date
50 years ago.

PHIL JACOBS

Managing Editor

The University of Mich-
igan Hillel Foundation
purchased the Mack
House on Hill and Haven
streets, just a block from
campus. The total cost of
the building was $21,000
plus another $9,000 for
improvements and fur-
nishings.
Rabbi Jehudah Cohen,
the Hillel director, said
that there were 1,200
Jewish students on cam-
pus, making up 11 per-
cent of the entire student
population. Of those
1,200, 900 were Hillel
members.
A fund-raising appeal
was made by Dr. Abra-
ham L. Sachar, national
director of B'nai B'rith
Foundations and Louis
Schostak, who was in
charge of purchasing ar-
rangements.
Speaking on behalf of
the students, David
Crohn described the need
for the Hillel foundations,
especially for students
without Jewish
backgrounds when they
begin studies at the uni-
versity. He pointed to the
natural gravitation of
students to Hillel and said
that the training of the
students under Jewish
auspices make "the Jew-
ish community normal."
In another major story,
David Ben-Gurion, then
the chairman of the Jew-
ish Agency Executive,
told a Detroit convention
of the Pioneer Women's
Organization he was pes-
simistic about the
possibilities for improve-
ment in the status of Eu-
ropean Jews. He added
that Palestine remains in
the forefront of solutions.
The report stated Mr.
Ben-Gurion reemphasized
that the only hope for the
survival of the Jewish peo-
ple rested with a victory of
the United Nations over

14

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 1992

Hitler. He also criticized
the world's democracies
for what he felt was their
failure to mention the
Jews in any of their
declarations, and he ex-
pressed deep regret that
the Jewish "position was
being taken for granted
rather than dealt with
realistically."
At a meeting at Shaarey
Zedek, the Detroit
chapter of the American
Jewish Congress discuss-
ed the need of Jews dur-
ing the crisis of war.
Leon Kay, William
Hordes, Dr. M. Goldoftas,
Dr. Clarrissa Fineman
and Rabbi Joshua S.
Sperka were among the
15 Detroit delegates. A
proclamation for Jewish
action and unity was
made.
The Jewish Community
Council issued an appeal
for individuals and organ-
izations to join in the city-
wide rubber drive. Rubber
was requested by the War
Production Board. One
cent a pound was being
paid for all the rubber
turned in.
"This is an excellent
opportunity for the Jew-
ish community to demon-
strate again its whole-
hearted cooperation and
support of America's war
against the enemies of
civilization," said com-
mittee chairman Dr.
Schmarya Kleinman.
An ad for Camp
Walloon for boys, located
in northern Michigan,
offered a camping experi-
ence "ideal for hay fever,
asthma and sinus relief."
The camp also offered
rustic, airy log cabins,
complete with running
water and toilet facilities.
A Sam's Cut Rate ad,
this one for Father's Day,
offered a monogrammed
billfold for $1, and a Gem
"Facelite" electric razor
for $5.95. It was reported
that Lenore Zavelle had
married Sgt. Milton
Marwil, Molly Karp mar-
ried Harold Haas, Jean
Fleish married Alfred
Klein, Leonore Markson
married Rabbi Morris
Dembowitz, and Paulene
Nidorf married Dr. Jules
Barr. ❑

New Curriculum On Judaism
Reaches Detroit's Unaffiliated

AMY J. MEHLER

Staff Writer

A

new program
reaching the Jewish
community's most
unaffiliated groups — sin-
gles and children of inter-
faith couples — will begin
this fall in metropolitan
Detroit.
Stepping Stones is a two-
year curriculum on Judaism
for children of unaffiliated,
interfaith families. It will
introduce all levels of obser-
vance — Reform, Conser-
vative and Orthodox — and
will rotate at area Conser-
vative and Reform congrega-
tions.
Rita Abramson, elemen-
tary school principal at
Temple Israel, was hired
this week to direct Stepping
Stones. Mrs. Abramson, a
Jewish educator for 25
years, has worked with chil-
dren of mixed marriages.
"I've counseled many chil-
dren and their families over
the years," Mrs. Abramson
said. "When I work with
families, I make a big focus
on being able to corn-
municate with their Chris-
tian family. If there's under-

standing, there can never be
room for resentment."
Mrs. Abramson, principal
for 10 years, estimates that
about 20 percent of her
students come from mixed
marriages. Temple Israel's
religious school enrolls
about 700 students.
"They aren't the kids we
want to reach, however,"
said Rabbi Paul Yedwab of
Temple Israel. "Their
parents have already made
the decision to send them to
religious school. This pro-
gram wants to attract the
families that never before
considered attending temple
or synagogue services.
Former Temple Israel
graduate, Stacy Schiff, now
a Reconstructionist rab-
binical student in
Philadelphia, will coor-
dinate Shabbat programm-
ing for singles. She will be in
the Detroit area this
summer.
"Singles are another lost
group," said Rabbi Yedwab.
"This will also operate on a
rotating basis, with speakers
coming into town once or
twice a month. We want to
get singles into the syn-
agogues and temples to meet

each other." Stepping Stones.
is modeled after a Denver
program launched sever'
years ago. In Denver, Stepp- ,
ing Stones consists of classes
from kindergarten through
high school which meet once
a week from September.
through May.
About 60 children area
enrolled in the Denver pro-
gram, which also sponsors --
family dinners and hosts
weekly classes for parents.
Denver organizers said
about 50 percent of the
families decide to become af-..
filiated with a synagogue or
temple at the end of the two- -4
year program.
Dr. Nancy Gad-Harf, edu-
cation director for Temple
Israel, wrote grants for the
program. The Max Fisher.
Foundation of the Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan ..,
Detroit is providing $29,000
for funding of Stepping •
Stones. In addition, the
Foundation will grant"
$8,000 for Shabbat pro-
gramming for singles.
In addition to Denver,
Stepping Stones exists in
four other cities: Olympia -0
Fields, Ill.; Chicago;
Baltimore and West Orange,
N.J.

❑

Beth Robinson Is Chosen
Temple Emanu-EI Administrator

DAVID KOTZEN-REICH

Staff Writer

some very innovative pro-
grams."

S

he tackled a major
sports competition and
a Conservative syn-
agogue. Now native
Detroiter Beth Robinson is
ready to try her hand as the
new temple administrator
for Temple Emanu-El.
Ms. Robinson, 27, will
replace Ellen Goldman, who
has been hired by Temple
Israel in Westport, Conn.,
after six years at Temple
Emanu-El.
For the past two years, Ms.
Robinson has served as ad-
ministrator of Beth Achim;
she also was games coor-
dinator for the JCC North
American Maccabi Games
held in Detroit in 1990.
"I am really looking for-
ward to her coming to Tem-
ple Emanu-El," said Bea
Sacks, president of the tem-
ple and member of the sear-
ch committee which selected
'Ms. Robinson. "I think she's
a very bright and energetic
woman. I think she can br-
ing to Temple Emanu-El

Beth Robinson

Ms. Robinson, who begins
her new job July 1, will join
another new leader of Tem-
ple Emanu-El, Amy Bigman,
who will be Detroit's first '
full-time female pulpit rabbi.
Ms. Robinson said the
move to Temple Emanu-El
fits in line with her career
objectives.
"I would like to be the
most effective professional I
can in the Jewish commun-

ity," she said. "I have learn-
ed a lot at Beth Achim, and .
Temple Emanu-El is offering
me some different oppor.
tunities."
Ms. Robinson said she is 11
attracted to Temple Emanu-
El for the same reasons she
liked working the Maccabi G I
games. "They have a lot of
potential there for building,
positive, really exciting Jew-
ish experiences."
At the same time, she will
be leaving a congregation
which helped her grow spiri-
tually, she said. "I think I've
always felt a strong corn-.
mitment to the Jewish com-
munity. I've learned a lot -
about being an ad-
ministrator (at Beth Achim),
but I've also learned a lot
about being a Jew. I grew
up in a home with a strong
Jewish spirit," Ms. Robinson'
said. "And I've always done
things in a Jewish way, but
working at Beth Achim has
helped me appreciate what I
grew up with."
•
Ms. Robinson studied
theater arts at the Univer-
sity of Michigan and at-
tributes her achievements in