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CERTAIN SUMMER TRADITIONS
JUST KEEP COMING BACK.

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OTHERS COME -BACK
BETTER THAN EVER!

Announcing the new Camp Sea-Gull for Girls.

Since 1955, the Schulman family has offered traditional summer camping
in a nurturing, fun-filled environment. Now we're back, with an exciting new
format for girls ages 7-16.

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We ()fifer three and six-week sessions, a 3:1 camper-counselor
, ratio, a high quality staff and limited enrollment.

CAMP SEA-GULL

To find out more, ask for our brochure.
Call bill Schulman at 616-547-6556
Located in northwest lower Michigan,
or Jack Schulman at 810-851-1315.
on the shores of beautiful Lake Charlevoix.

0E35E30 Boyne City Road, Charlevoix, MI 49720

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Discounted
Park Tickets to:

• Disney World
• Sea World
• Busch Gardens

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Family Vacation

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(A divi6ion of &twit Travel)

* Restrictions apply

(810) 932-1188

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Advertise in our new Entertainment Section!

THE JEWISH NEWS (810) 354-6060

RUTH ROVN ER

4 4

At Camp Sea-Gull, your daughter will learn
new skills in a setting that encourages personal growth, success and life-long
friendships. Our program includes tennis, soccer, sailing, canoeing, horseback
riding, drama, arts and crafts, overnights and much, much more.

The New Dresden synagogue.

Florence On The Elbe
For German Jews

RUTH ROVNER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

he view from the prome-
nade above the river is pic-
ture-postcard lovely. The
Elbe River shimmers,
spanned by graceful stone
bridges. Lush green slopes line
both sides of the river banks.
Nearby, the spires and towers of
the old town point skyward, cre-
ating a memorable skyline
against the water.
With its river beauty and art
treasures, Dresden is often called
Florence on the Elbe. Its Semper
Opera House is renowned; its
porcelain collection is rated sec-
ond in the world; its museums ex-
hibit a wealth of art.
Yet for many first time visitors,
Dresden's delights come as a sur-
prise. This is, after all, a city in
the former East Germany; and
moreover, it was the target of
devastating bombing attacks dur-
ing World War II. So first-time
visitors aren't sure what to ex-
pect when they visit the capital
of Saxony.
"It's important for tourists to
see that Dresden is not a bombed-
out city, but a green city, a cul- -
ture center, and a city of much
development and change," said
Christopher Munch, the city's
public relations manager, who is
busy non-stop because of Dres-
den's recent tourist boom.
What tourists find here is a
city of rebirth, with new hotels
opening (10 in 1995), and historic
buildings being renovated.
For instance, my hotel room at
Dresden Hilton hotel was spa-
cious and modern, with a full
range of amenities, from CNN to
direct dial to the USA. Built as a
state-owned hotel, the property
was acquired and upgraded by
Hilton International in 1992.
Just steps away from the mod-
ern Hilton is a famous landmark,
Church of Our Lady. For years

T

after the bombing of 1945, it stood
as only a hollow hulk. Now the
church is being rebuilt, stone by
stone; and the site itself is a
tourist attraction.
The historic area is another ex-
ample of rebirth. Even though a
large area was reduced to ashes
during the bombing attacks, to-
day it is strikingly beautiful, with
looming spires and elegant
baroque architecture.
Of special interest to Jewish
travelers is Dresden's Jewish
community — another example of
rebirth. In fact, many main pur-
pose in visiting Dresden was to
see firsthand a Jewish commu-
nity in eastern Germany about
which I knew almost nothing ex-
cept that it existed. It was with
curiosity — and even skepticism
— that I took the train from Berlin
to Dresden. And I was not disap-
pointed.
My first stop was the Jewish
Community Center of Dresden,
where Heinz-Joachim Aris, pres-
ident, heads a small community
which stayed active during the
Communist era of the German
Democratic Republic (GDR).
"Jewish visitors are always
surprised that there's been Jew-
ish life here even during the days
of the GDR," said Mr. Aris, a na-
tive of Dresden.
His office is in a spacious four-
story building on Bautzner Stabe,
in the area of Dresden on the
northern side of the Elbe. The
building, originally a private res-
idence, was later given to the
Jewish community by its owner.
Before the war, 6,000 Jews
lived in Dresden. But almost all
of them fled or perished in the
Holocaust. After the war, the
Jews in Dresden numbered bare-
ly 50, and in all of East Germany
there were just 400 Jews. (Now
that Germany is unified, those