PHOTO BY B ILL HANSEN From Assimilation To Rebirth Rabbi works to bring Jewish life back to Poland. JULIE WIENER STAFF WRITER abbi Michael Schudrich says he's always up for a challenge. So it's no sur- prise that the native New Yorker — formerly the rabbi of Tokyo — would opt to work in Poland, not exactly the hub of late-20th-century Diaspora Jew- ish life. But there are more Jews liv- ing in Poland than many people think. As executive director of the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation in Poland since 1990, Rabbi Schu- drich oversees programming for a community that he estimates numbers about 40,000. During a recent visit to Detroit, Rabbi Schudrich said that 300,000 Jews remained in Poland after World War II, and over the next few decades, "those Jews who want- ed to be Jewish left Poland," he said. 'The minority, the survivors who opted to remain, in some ways were in agreement with those who left. In other words, if you want to be Jewish leave Poland. If you want to stay in Poland, then don't be Jewish. "Thousands — tens of thou- sands — said it's enough to be here, that's it. Many had survived by living under false papers or in hiding and just never came out of hiding after the war," he added. Most of those who opted to re- main in Poland didn't tell their children they were Jewish be- cause of concerns that it would lead to professional, social and political problems. But according to Rabbi Schudrich, social reali- ties in Poland began to change in 1989 with the collapse of the Communist regime. "What was before taboo could now be talked about," he said. "So you have thousands of Poles dis- covering in recent years that they have Jewish roots." Among those only now discov- ering or acknowledging their roots are Jews born after the war, Rabbi Michael Schudrich: Executive director of the Lauder Foundation in Poland. as well as thousands who were small children during the war and whose parents saved them by giving them to non-Jewish families. "Most of those parents never came back and most of those chil- seems something doesn't make sense in my family,' " he said. "For example, someone might say, 'My mother doesn't have any relatives' or 'My mother cooks all these Jewish foods but says she's not Jewish.' " V) O GLASS & AUTO TRIM CUSTOM WALL MIRRORS TIRES & ACCESSORIES OVER 74 YEARS OF SERVICE ESTABLISHED 1920 ' INSURANCE REPLACEMENT SERVICE • FAST SERVICE • QUALITY • PRICE CC 0 CC • Fire, Theft, Vandalism or Floor Damage z coupon exp. April 30, 1997 Bring Your Insurance Claims To Al's 1 • • 'WINDSHIELDS REPAIRED >- CC w 0 We Will Meet or Beat your Best Price on Maj u r Brands! 0. INSURANCE COMPANIES MAY WAIVE YOUR DEDUCTIBLE WHEN YOU HAVE IT REPAIRED coupon exp. April 30, 1997 0 I- D L Cl) coupon exp. April 30, 1997 20%40%0FF coupon exp. April 30, 1997 SUNROOFS IN SHOP STORM & • SCREEN REPAIRS INSTALLED FROM PARTS ONLY 149 88 • Storm Doors • Screens • Windows Repaired • Laminated or Tempered Glass • Plexiglas •Vinyl or Wood Replacement Windows J SOUTHFIELD – 0 m .0 C MI • z r -4 0 "13 U) • 0 XI • Many Styles & Sizes WE REPAIR ELECTRIC SUNROOFS SOME RESTRICTIONS APPLY L coupon exp. April 30. 1997 24777 Telegraph Rd. •• 810-353-2500 •• LINCOLN PARK Get Results... Advertise in our new Entertainment Section! Robert Stewart Photography 0 z c z STARTERS • ALTERNATORS • FAN BELTS • FLOOR MATS • SEAT COVERS • JUMPER CABLES • BRAKE SPECIAL • WIPERS '13 Call The Sales Department (810) 354-7123 Ext. 209 COLORWORKS STUDIO OF INTERIOR DESIGN C z PICTURE WINDOWS, DOOR WALLS, ANY SIZE REPLACED PLUS INSTALLATION 5 BI-FOLD • SLIDING INSULATED GLASS REPLACEMENT FROM $50.00 0 0 0 Call 810-353-2500 MIRRORED DOORS "SENIOR CITIZEN'S DISCOUNT" VINYL or WOOD WINDOW REPLACEMENT SURPLUS STOCK z 24 hour Board Up Service coupon exp. April 30, 1997 25% OFF 20% OFF NEW wINDSHIELDS cn . a. 0 w co I-- cc w 25% OFF •Auto Theft Repair Experts — Car, Vans, Piciarps •Auto Upholstery & Alarms MARV SAYS! WE 'RE #1 MAY BE APPLIED TOWARDS DEDUCTIBLE w 1 •Windshields — Replaced or Repaired, Mobile Service r TUB ENCLOSURES , • Complete Insurance Replacement Service — SHOWER DOORS WINDSHIELDS REPLACED $25-$55 OFF I H3 INIA100 • Till 3 ar Al's Saves You Money! • WE COME TO YOU ... MOBILE AUTO GLASS & GLAZING SERVICE • 50 MILE RADIUS INSURANCE REPLACEMENT SERVICE C 16 dren were lost to the Jewish com- munity," said Rabbi Schudrich. In his eight years in Poland, the rabbi has encountered peo- ple with all kinds of stories. "In many cases, people come and say, 'I think I'm Jewish. It If you're considering building a new home we invite you to inquire about our New Construction services: from pre-planning your purchase agreement, to blue print review, from specifications, and selections, to cabinetry design, from hardware choices to finished trim... these are the details to make a house your home 32506 Northwestern Highway Farmington Hills, MI • (810) 851-7540