THE JEWISH NEWS

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This Week's Top Stories

Community Mourns
Leonard Simons

A Detroit leader leaves a legacy
of good deeds and humor.

ALAN HITSKY ASSOCIATE EDITOR

L

eave it to Leonard," his friend
Herbert Kaufman told hun-
dreds of mourners at Temple
Beth El on Sunday.
"Leave it to him to pick a time
(to die) when the roads are torn up around
the Zieve home (where shiva would be ob-
served). Leave it to him to make it a little
difficult."
Mr. Simons, 91, died Thursday, Nov. 16.
Mr. Kaufman's observation drew laugh-

ter from the audience — a cross section of
the Jewish and general communities. For
they knew Leonard Simons well, and they
knew that the most difficult thing was to
say no to him when he was fund raising.
"I knew him as one who would make
things happen," Rabbi Richard Hertz said.
"He used to tell people, 'Ha child swallowed
a penny, don't call a doctor. Call Leonard Si-
mons — he can get money out of anybody."'

SIMONS page 10

Loosening The Reins

A riding ranch in west -Michigan
offers supreme relaxation for the
world-weary.

JULIE EDGAR STAFF WRITER
Story on page 44

Bringing Home The Boys

An exhibit honors the men who risked their lives
for freedom and democracy.

ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM ASSOCIATE EDITOR

t was a chance decision that saved Mr. Rosman, certain scenes linger. There
was the Russian general who, years af-
Robert Lesser's life.
He didn't go flying with his crew ter the war, recalled his men's reaction
that day during World War II. All when they entered a death camp. The
10 of them, all still in their teens, lost general "had difficulty controlling their
their lives when their plane was shot rage." Another soldier, an American, had
been so traumatized by what he saw he
down over Italy.
Today, Mr. Lesser lives in Beverly couldn't even speak of it.
The opening night program will fea-
Hills. His story, and those of former sol-
diers from throughout Michigan and the ture keynote speaker author Gerda
rest of the United States, will be told in Weissmann Klein and her husband,
an exhibit opening 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9 at Kurt.
the Jewish Community
Center in West Bloomfield.
The presentation will
feature four components.
"Salute to the Michigan GI"
will include a photo display,
on loan from the local chap-
ter of the Jewish War Vet-
erans, recalling servicemen
who gave their lives on be-
half of their country. Also
on exhibit will be portraits
of local Jews who fought in
the war, provided by their
synagogues and temples.
"GIs Remember: Liberating
the Concentration Camps"
and "Salute to Jewish Mil-
itary Chaplains" are both
on loan from the National
Museum of American Jew-
ish Military History in
Washington, D.C.
The exhibit, sponsored by
Holocaust s urvivor
Mrs. Klein is the author of All
the Michigan Jewish His- A with
his Jew ish GI
But
My Life, the story of how
torical Society, will run
liberato r.
she survived the Holocaust, and
through Jan. 6. Held in con-
she and her husband were the
junction with the 100th
focus of the 1995 Emmy-win-
anniversary of the estab-
ning documentary, One Sur-
lishment of the Jewish War
Veterans, it will feature not only pho- vivor Remembers.
Mr. Klein served in the Fifth Infantry
tos but videos and World War II mem-
orabilia, including uniforms and a Division with the U.S. Third Army. In
a recent interview he recalled, "Word
howitzer.
reached me that a group of Polish and
That's right. A howitzer.
The program's coordinator, Stephen Hungarian Jewish women had been
Rosman, doesn't believe in doing things locked in a factory building by their SS
halfheartedly. In fact, the whole idea for guards after having undergone a 400-
the program began as a small photo ex- mile death march.
"Before making their getaway, the
hibit. Mr. Rosman had something else
in mind. He has been on the phone, and SS guards set dynamite charges around
faxing, and traveling and coordinating the building in which they had herded
the young women. It was their inten-
ever since.
"I usually don't get involved in pro- tion to dispose of the women, at the
jects like this," he says, reaching for the same time obliterating all traces of an
car phone (something to do with the in- atrocity. Fortunately, a torrential rain
vitations). "Usually, I'll get a call (from prevented the explosives from going off."
One-hundred-twenty women were
an organization) and then make a do-
nation." This time, though, "I couldn't saved that day. One of them was Ger-
da Weissmann. ❑
say no."
He found the men's stories, and the
tt Reservations are required for
terrible events that prompted them, too
opening night. Tickets cost $12.50 a
compelling.
person. For information, contact Mr.
One of the committee's first projects
Rosman at (810) 355-4212.
was reviewing numerous videos that
show concentration camp liberators. For RELATED STORIES page 28

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