750

DETROIT

THE

10 EIUL 5753/AUGUST 27, 1993

One Step Closer

The renovated Jimmy Prentis Morris Jewish Community Center
will celebrate its new look on Sunday.

LESLEY PEARL STAFF WRITER

he corridor is nearly complete.
On Sunday, Aug. 29, the newly
renovated Jimmy Prentis Morris
Jewish Community Center in Oak
Park will come one step closer to
opening its doors to surrounding
communities by celebrating its
building dedication.
It completes the strip of 10 Mile
Road between Greenfield and
Coolidge which is home to such
Jewish institutions as the Sally
Allan Alexander Beth Jacob School
for Girls, Temple Emanu-El,
Machon L'Torah, Young Israel of
Greenfield, B'nai Israel Beth
Yehudah and Jewish Federation
Apartments.
"I think what this does (reno-
vating the JPM within the area of
numerous Jewish establishments)
is demonstrate the continued vital-
ity of the Jewish community," said
JCCenter Executive Director Mort
Plotnick.
Robert Aronson, executive vice
president of Jewish Federation and
a staunch advocate of the renova-
tion, added, "In our campaign, we've

ship for $75 less than listed rates
and a health club membership for
$200 less.
Dr. Plotnick is not concerned that
only 150 people have joined so far.
In general, he said, people do not
pay for something until they can use
it.
Ms. Leslie Bash, JPM director, is
aiming for 400 family memberships
and several hundred health club
memberships to call the facility a fi-
nancial success. She added, "To us,
if we have a building full of active,
excited people supporting the
Center, well be happy."

referred to the renovation of the
JCCenter as the jewel in the crown
of the 10 Mile Road expansion.
`The whole plan for expanding the
facility is about continuity. We're not
just opening an-
other health club,
but creating a
neighborhood cen-
ter. The missing
piece now is bring-
ing in the mem-
bers."
The facility is
expected to open
for full use on
Sept. 1 and em-
ployees are devel-
oping a marketing Mary Babcock gets ready for Sunday's opening with Sam Tencer and
plan to attract Anthony Salinger.
both individuals
and families to it.
However, amid all the hoopla,
Ten thousand residents within a some loyal JPM users have ex-
15-minute driving distance were re- pressed concern.
cently solicited through the mail.
Individuals attending a morning
The JPM now boasts 150 new mem- exercise class, one comprised main-
bers. The first 350 taking advantage ly of older, drop-in members — those
of the early membership drive are JPM page 8
able to obtain a general member-

Inside

DETROIT

Holy Aleph, Betman

A cartoon headstart
for Hebrew students.

Page 12

The Tea Of Dreams

In the volatile '90s,
Snapple is a winner.

Page 32

World Class

A marvelous time
at Israel's Maccabiah.

Page 45

HEALTH

Happiest Place For
Cancer Kids

With two photos — one of her mother, one
of her father tucked in her shoes, Bertha
Weinschenk began the long journey to
Theresienstadt. She arrived in 1942 in the
ghetto, which had been created by the
Nazis to serve as a kind of temporary
holding place from which thousands of
Jews were shipped to Treblinka, Sobibor
and Auschwitz. Disease was rampant and
food scarce. Bertha's husband died there;
her daughter was shipped to a death
camp. But Bertha survived. In 1945, she
was one of 1,200 Jews sent from
Theresienstadt to Switzerland. Her
granddaughter recalls the strange story
that brought Bertha Weinschenk from the
edge of death to freedom.

Story on page 102

Classic Crescendo

After 50 years, CMS priiviiies
a venue for musical talent.

Page 112

Contents on page 3