Memories Of Rabbi Adler
The assasination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin recalls a tragedy that happened closer to home.
DAVID ZEMAN STAFF WRITER
That feeling of personal loss and of a firmly for civil rights, the rights of work-
he recent assassination of Yitzhak
ers; and against discrimination.
Rabin at a peace rally brought back shared disgrace that one Jew would kill
Friends also recall his humility and hu-
painful memories for some area another was rekindled with Mr. Rabin's
mor.
Jews: the slaying of a beloved rab- death, apparently at the hands of a Jew-
In 1935, when he was asked one day to
ish extremist. Though the motives and
bi a generation earlier.
become the rabbi of a synagogue in Buf-
Feb. 12 will mark 30 years since Rabbi mindset of the two gunmen were worlds
falo after giving a sermon, Rabbi Adler re-
Morris Adler of Congregation Shaarey apart, both events cast a profound pall over marked, "I suppose you think I'm flattered.
Zedek was shot by a mentally ill college the Jewish community, bringing strangers Why, you take more time in selecting a hat
student at a Sabbath service. So revered together in the peculiar way tragedy unites than you took in selecting a rabbi."
was Rabbi Adler that his funeral, believed family.
Two years later, he came to Shaarey
"After Rabbi Adler's death, I spoke to the
to be the laigest in Detroit history, drew
congregation about the need for unity and Zedek, where he enlarged the educational
nearly 15,000 people.
program and helped build other Conserv-
"What nerve the sun has to shine today," said that we would derive our unity from
our commitment to the values Rabbi Adler ative synagogues in Michigan.
sighed one mourner.
"His legacy, I think, was one of giving,"
spoke of," said Rabbi Irwin Groner, Rab-
said Shulamith Benstein, the rabbi's
bi Adler's successor.
Rabbi Groner preached a similar mes- daughter. "Shaarey Zedek is a very giving
congregation, not only financially, but with
.
sage after Mr. Rabin's death.
"At this time;t1r:people-pf Israel have its time. I think a lot of that was spurred
by my father. He gave of himself 110 per-
different politIcitiiVs,41401d.
unity should deriv'6 from their sense of loy- cent and was always the first to pledge."
His assailant, Richard Wishnetsky, was
alty to the nation, from their commitment
a
23-year-old
honor student with a histo-
to preserving the strength of the Jewish
people, from their shared hope in the fu- ry of mental illness. He had once been coun-
seled by the rabbi. But in the weeks before
ture of peace."
Indeed, a haunting irony surrounds both the shooting, Mr. Wishnetsky had grown
increasingly bitter and paranoid, and had
slayings.
Mr. Rabin had just delivered a message cut off visits to a psychiatrist.
"Since I feel that I am no longer able to
at a rally on the necessity for peace, but
make
any significant creative contributions
had confided to advisers that he might not
I shall make a destructive one," he wrote
survive the process.
Rabbi Adler, meanwhile, had been trou- in a journal. "Listen to my voice, you deaf
bled shortly before his death by the tide of ones. Listen to how sick, sad, lonely and
alienation he sensed in younger Americans. forlorn it is."
On Saturday morning, Feb. 12, 1966 —
"We are inducing them into a life in
Lincoln's
birthday — Rabbi Adler deliv-
which insecurity and apprehension are
dominant, so that the future holds out for ered a sermon on the slain president. "May
them no promising possibilities of peace, the love which he had even for his enemies
... be ours," he told the congregation.
safety and security," he wrote.
He then turned to his right and walked
For those who knew Rabbi Adler, a man
of gentle brilliance, the murder was un- over to congratulate 13-year-old Steven
thinkable. His life had been marked by acts Frank, who had celebrated his bar mitz-
of compassion. He had served as a chap- vah that morning.
ADLER page 16
lain during World War II, and had spoken
T
Above: Rabbi Irwin
Groner succeeded
Rabbi Adler.
Right: Rabbi Morris
Adler and his wife
Goldie at Shaarey
Zedek.