THE PROMISED LAND by Jordan B. Gortinkel 0 THE ASSIMILATION RATE IN JUDAISM TODAY IS TRULY ALARM/Nal ABOUT fr-773, PeRcEivr OF JEWS ( ARE MARRYING. OUTSIDE -THE FAITH. UNBELIEVABLE—INVESTiNG IN yo,ARs or DAY- OR HEBREW SCHOOL- cAN AMOUNT TO L7. 4 7!. . Our Friend Is Gone And Will Be Missed Charles A. Buerger. This name was the anchor of our masthead since March 1984 when he became our pub- lisher and principal owner. In those 12 years, Chuck's planning and implementation forev- er and for the better changed the Detroit Jew- ish community. Chuck didn't have bylines or a column with a photo. Rather, he was the visionary and in- novator who cajoled, prodded and outright de- manded excellence from his staff. His work was done behind the scenes. But Chuck could insist on this extra level of performance because he made his employees his friends — you can tell your friends to do things that you can't tell oth- ers. Through his Jewish News Group, which in- cludes The Detroit Jewish News, the Atlanta Jewish Times, the Baltimore Jewish Times (co- published with his sister, Susan A. Patchen), the Palm Beach Jewish Times, the Boca I Del- ray Jewish Times and the Western Jewish Bul- letin (Vancouver, British Columbia), Chuck cre- ated the largest and most influential group of publications in North America oriented to the Jewish community. Chuck also published Style magazine in Detroit, Atlanta and Baltimore. At the time of his death last Friday, Chuck was planning a new publication for Broward County, Fla., and a dynamic presence on the Internet. Chuck's rugged independence and entrepre- neurship were matched by a tremendous com- mitment to community service. One could learn all of life's lessons through Chuck. Love your family. Work hard. Try new things. Don't be afraid to fail. And have fun. Today's Jewish News is a work in progress. It will continue to change — to improve — to strive to meet the needs of our diverse commu- nity. Chuck wouldn't have it any other way. Neither would we. We deeply miss our friend. An Expensive Present That's Worth The Price _ ,..aur x N READY PAID s0,1-0U15-- YOGI JOINING M 5 - FOR LEARN/Na N/GHT Skl.11- 1 TONI&HT? fOP DOLLAR FOR TEMAks R5eRVAT/ONS TONIGHT ( GLOSSARY: SHUL=YIDDISH/COLLOQUIALISM FOR SYNAGOGUE Comment All That Glitters Should Be Returned RABBI AVI SHAFRAN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS ecent news stories report that a sizable cache of Nazi gold — largely loot stolen from concentration camp victims — lies unclaimed in Swiss and American banks. To put the find in its proper perspective, con- sider this scenario: The same dis- covery is made 50 years ago, in 1946. The shattered remnants of Europe's Jewish community pon- der, what should be done with the R Jewish educators in De- troit and nationally have stated for years that they can fix Jewish education. But, they warned, the community has to be money? ready for marked Some say the wealth belongs changes from what we to survivors of the hell that yield- remembered about He- ed it. Though most of the original brew school or cheder. owners of the coins, jewelry and dental metal likely perished in And the solutions will the Nazi extermination machine, not be cheap. the men and women who shared Today's article on page their torment — the argument 12 details one of those so- goes — are the logical choice to lutions. Detroit's Jewish receive what was stolen from community, at the urg- their co-religionists. A further ing of Rabbi Steven Weil contention is that some funds of Young Israel of Oak should be utilized to preserve Eu- Park, is making a con- ropean Jewish historical sites like Participants in this year's Teen Mission enjoy an archeological dig. certed effort to send local synagogues and cemeteries. Others feel that the soon-to-be- teen-agers on next that difference, the cost is not too high. In fact, born Jewish state would be a spring's March of the Living mission to Poland it's a bargain. more defensible recipient of the and Israel. Parents today have a different set of circum- The cost of the two-week trip will be $3,100. stances to deal with than when they were funds. After all, they argue, the nascent state's raison d'etre is to Weighed against or added to a year's tuition j young. We recognize that on every other front become the home of most if not a traditional Hebrew school or Sunday school but in the area ofJewish education and Jewish . all of the world's Jews. What bet- program, that's a lot of money. Weighed against affiliation. For parents who give those issues ter place could there be to invest the impact that such a trip can make, it is very any kind of priority, last summer's Teen Mis- the fiscal remainder of the most cost efficient. sion to Israel and next spring's March of the recent mass tragedy of a Jewish Jewish parents and grandparents today wor- Living trip are the wave of the future. Rabbi Avi Shafran is director of ry about the Jewish community's future and So save your shekels. This kind ofJewish ed- public affairs for Agudath the Jewish identity of their children and grand- ucation is expensive. But it's worth it. Israel of America. children. If one trip can make that connection, community, than in a country conceived as an assurance that such destruction would never again occur? A third suggestion is present- ed, too: Since what was destroyed was a way oflife, a culture of Jew- ish religious observance and study, might it not be appropri- ate to channel most of the largess to Jewish institutions dedicated to the rekindling of what was ex- tinguished on Europe's shores? Had the question truly been timely in 1946, which point of view would have prevailed? Sure- ly the first would have carried a great deal of moral gravity. Dis- placed persons camps overflowed with men and women facing only haunting memories and uncer- tain futures. The welfare of those huddled Jewish masses was, and rightly, a top priority. On the other hand, the idea of a Jewish state representing the ideals and hopes of all Jews the_ world over would have been captivating one as well. Could there be a better place for un- claimable Jewish funds than the coffers of a country that, it was assumed by many, all Jews would soon view as their home? One thing, though, is over- whelmingly likely: the third op- tion, investing in traditional Jewish education in the hope that – a new generation might lift the – torch thrown to the ground with GLITTERS page 26