It was a volatile year in some sense for Detroit's Jewish communities. Borman
Hag a cornerstone ofsenior care, began shut down procedures; the United
Hebrew School bus service crumbled its way out of business; Federation
started to keep a larger percentage offinds home instead ofallocating them
overseas; A Jewish News, Jewish Council, Wayne State Study showed that
Jews, blacks and Chaltleans might
be neighbors, but they are far from
friends; A fire damaged the dreams
ofmany Northgate Soviet Emigres.
Again, allocations of monies to Jew-
ish educational programs didn't
seem to be enough. If there was one
Summer was a time for Detroit Jews to be proud as Maccabi flag
bearers rehearse their entrance for the games in Cleveland, and
Community members build a playground.
symbol though, ofpositive news, it
happened in early July when hundreds ofJews, humanistic Jews, Orthodox
Jews, unaffiliated Jews, came together to build, with their own hands and
sweat, a playground in Oak Park The work ofadults, the squeals ofplaying
children became a symbol late in the year that hopefully will carry over to a
healthy, prosperous peacefiil 5755 for all ofJewish Detroit.
PHIL JACOBS EDITOR
wo men in T-shirts and shorts watched
helplessly as the worn, oversized truck
_ tire they were trying to place in a deep
hole became too awkward to control and
fell in mud and water, splattering them
at the same time.
It was 90 degrees and humid, most of their friends
were out of town during this July 4 period. From a
different crew of people nearby, two men and a woman
came over, and at the count of "one, two and three,"
the tire was righted.
rir
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52
If there is a metaphor that best symbolizes Detroit's
go around with the year 5754, it was a 48-hour period
in July when a biblical playground emerged from the
dust alongside the Jimmy Prentis Morris Jewish Com-
munity Center.
There, men in black kippot, beards and with tsit-
sit hanging, women in shmattas and long skirts and
sneakers worked alongside people in tank tops and
shorts from different neighborhoods, affiliations and
denominations to problem solve, to celebrate small
victories and to enjoy the work they were doing.
57M A Playground