THE JEWISH NEWS
R01\119
This Week's Top Stories
Saying
Goodbye
A farewell to
one synagogue
and warm
welcome in a
new home.
STORY ON PAGE 8
Award-Winning Activism
After years of political, general and Jewish communal volunteerism,
David Hermelin's efforts earn him Federation's 1996 Butzel Award.
JILL DAVIDSON SKLAR STAFF WRITER
ID
avid Hermelin, a longtime Detroit Jewish
activist and current international chair-
man of State of Israel Bonds, has been
named the 1996 recipient of the Fred M.
Butzel Memorial Award for Distinguished
Community Service.
The award, named for a legendary Jew-
ish community leader, will be presented
by the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit
at its annual meeting Sept. 24.
"David Hermelin exemplifies all that the Butzel
Award stands for," said Robert Naftaly,
Federation president. "David is unique;
David
there is no one else like him. And this
Hermelin:
award is a tribute for all he has done for 1996 Butzel
the community."
awardee.
Mr. Hermelin said his work in the
community stemmed from his early involvement with
synagogue life at Congregation Shaarey Zedek, where he
was president of his high-school class.
"It was during the Second World War when I grew up,"
he said. "There was a rallying cry for involvement. You
really had an atmosphere where people were encouraged
in community involvement, community giving, and some
went a step further with commu-
nity leadership."
He ascended the ranks in the
synagogue, eventually holding the
title of congregation president.
Along with his wife Doreen, their
five children and four grandchil-
dren, the Hermelin family has do-
nated its time, money and energy
to many Jewish causes as well as
to those in the arts and general
"(I community.
v)
"I find that there is always room
E
L(4 , 1 for an individual to make a dif-
, " ference," Mr. Hermelin said. "You
8
. can never give what you will re-
ceive. To be a part of the never-
ending drama that is Jewish history is truly a gift."
He is politically active as well, serving on the national
Jewish committee of the Clinton-Gore campaign.
Rabbi Irwin Groner, Mr. Hermelin's rabbi, said Mr.
Hermelin's qualities transcend levels of activism and lead-
ership.
HERMELIN page 6
Back To School?
With days to go before the first bell,
teachers and board members work
toward a contract agreement.
JENNIFER FINER AND JILL DAVIDSON SKLAR
STAFF WRITERS
ith two weeks to go before the start of another
year at Hillel Day School, teachers remain
without a contract.
Letters to parents from both the teachers
and the board of directors spell out the differences
that remain between the two sides, potentially set-
ting the stage for a second strike in four years at
the Hebrew day school.
A meeting between the teachers association and
the board was held after press time Wednesday.
However, those involved with the negotiations
raised doubts that the issue would be resolved in
one meeting.
The Hillel Day School Teachers Association asked
for a 5 percent raise for the upcoming school year and
a 4.5 percent raise for the second year of their con-
tract. The board offered a 3 percent raise this year
and 2.5 percent raise for the 1997-98 school year. At
the same time, the board wants to extend the school
year by 10 days over the next two school years.
The teachers maintain the increase proposed by
the board is nothing more than a reimbursement
for the extra working days.
BACK TO SCHOOL page 14
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