1
IRA KAUFMAN
( 1 896-1986)
Ira Kaufman established a legacy of
service, compassion and trust with
the Detroit Jewish community which
remains unsurpassed.
Sondra Berlin, Disability Activist
Sondra Berlin 59, of West Bloomfield, died
April 9. Ms. Berlin was co-owner and corporate
secretary-treasurer of the Weight Watchers
Group Inc.
She was afflicted with polio at the age of 9
and attended the Oakman School for Crippled
Children and Cass Technical
High School, where she re-
ceived a scholarship to the
University of Michigan School
of Architecture and Design. Af-
ter college, she worked for a lo-
cal maintenance company.
As a young adult, she suc-
cessfully completed the Weight
Watchers program, losing 65
pounds and keeping them off
for 30 years. Ms. Berlin was a
gubernatorial appointee to the
eight-member Michigan Civil
Rights Commission and was
elected chairperson by her
Sondra Berlin
peers. Her strength of charac-
ter inspired the musical Chil-
dren of the City based on her life.
Ms. Berlin was chairman of the Kenny RE-
HAB Foundation; co-chair of the Business De-
velopment Fund Raising Subcommittee for the
President's Committee on Employment of Peo-
ple with Disabilities; past president of the Oak-
land-Macomb Center for Independent Living;
DR. LEONARD BIRNDORF,
A
t some points in all our lives, -we've walked together,
hand in hand, in support and understanding. At THE IRA
KAUFMAN CHAPEL, we have offered helping hands to
the Detroit Jewish community for over 50 years.
Throughout the generations, The IRA KAUFMAN CHAPEL
has extended our hand as a symbol of compassion.
THE KAUFMAN COMMUNITY CORNER
SPACE FOR CHANGING FAMILIES AND HOSPICE OF SOUTH-
EASTERN MICHIGAN PRESENTS "BINDING UP OUR WOUNDS"
Healing and Spirituality for Bereavement and Loss
\kith Rabbi Peter Knobel
Senior Rabbi of Beth Emit Synagogue .
The Free Synagogue in Evanston, Illinois
Workshop for Professionals, Caregivers and Survivors
1:30-3:00 p.m., Friday, April 25, 1997
at Hospice of Southeastern Michigan
16250 Northland Drive, Suite 212, Southfield, MI
Co-Spanbred by: Hospice of Southeaster Michigan; SPACE for
Cluinging Families/National Council of Jewish Women, Greater Detroit Section;
Jewish Family Service; Michigan Jewish AIDS Coalition; The Ira Kaufman Chapel;
COJES/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit; Temple Emanu-El;
Temple Beth El; Temple Israel; JARC
There is no charge for this program. For further information,
call Carol Mcaune (810) 443-7648 or SPACE (810) 355-9936.
THE I RA KAU FMAN C HAPEL
Bringing Together Family, Faith & Community
18325 West Nine Mile Road • Southfield, MI 48075
Telephone: 810.569.0020 • Toll Free: 800.325.7105
82, of Orchard Lake, died April
12. Dr. Birndorf received a
medical degree from Wayne
State University and served an
internship at Providence Hospi-
tal before enlisting in the Army
during World War II, serving
four years in the South Pacific
as a battalion surgeon. He was
awarded a Bronze Star.
During his 50-year career, he
was a former chief of staff and
board chairman of Holy Cross
Hospital. He also worked out of
Sinai Hospital and the former
Mt. Cannel Mercy, now Grace
Hospital. He was an associate
clinical professor of family prac-
tice at Wayne State University
Medical School.
Dr. Birndorf is survived by
his son and daughter-in-law,
Dr. Lawrence and Carole Birn-
dorf of Toledo, Ohio; daughters
and sons-in-law, Dr. Susan
Birndorf and Dr. Don Spivak of
Birmingham, Margaret and
Martin Schneider of Ridge-
wood, N.J.; grandchildren,
Catherine Birndorf and Daniel
Labow, Steven Birndorf, Mal-
ka, Lev and Chava Spivak-
Birndorf, Joshua and Perry
Schneider; sisters-in-law and
brother-in-law, Ardis Birndorf
and Harold Feldman, Estelle
Schubiner, Shirley Bussey. He
was the beloved husband of the
late Irene Bussey Birndorf and
the dear brother of the late
Fred Birndorf.
Interment at Beth El Memo-
rial Park. Contributions may be
and president and board member of the Michi-
gan Protection and Advocacy Service.
Her other affiliations included being a board
member of the Michigan Consortium for En-
abling Technology; Gilda's Club; Jewish Voca-
tional Service; Detroit Friends of ALYN Hospi-
tal; March of Dimes; Salvation
Army and JARC. In 1995, Ms.
Berlin was appointed chair-
man of the March of Dimes
"Golden Mile" walk and was
named Humanitarian of the
Year in 1996. "She was a
courageous and highly princi-
pled person," said Richard
Lobenthal, former director of
the Anti-Defamation League
who worked with her on a pro-
ject through the rights commis-
sion.
She is survived by her moth-
er, Ruth Grossberg Tucker of
West Bloomfield; sisters and
brothers-in-law, Florine Mark
and Dr. William Ross of Farmington Hills, Mic-
ki and David Berg of Huntington Woods.
Interment at Hebrew Memorial Park. Con-
tributions may be made to the Sondra Berlin
Memorial Fund at Jewish Vocational Service,
29699 Southfield Road, Southfield, MI 48076.
Arrangements by the Ira Kaufman Chapel.
made to the Wayne State Uni-
versity of Medicine, Develop-
ment and Alumni Affairs,
Room 1128, Scott Hall, 540
East Canfield, Detroit, MI
48201. Arrangements by the
Ira Kaufman Chapel.
LIRA R. CHAIKA, 88, of De-
troit, died April 10.
She is survived by her sons,
Gerald Chaika of Detroit, Mil-
ton Chaika. Mrs. Chaika was
the beloved wife of the late
Chaim Chaika.
Contributions may be made
to a charity of one's choice. In-
terment at Machpelah Ceme-
tery in Ferndale. Services and
arrangements by Hebrew
Memorial Chapel.
SARAH COHEN, 79, formerly
of Oak Park of Boynton Beach,
Fla., died March 25.
She is survived by her hus-
band, Alfred Cohen; sons and
daughters-in-law, Donald and
Marilyn Cohen of Oak Park,
Larry and Rita Cohen of South-
field; daughter and son-in-law,
Anita and Norman Cal -fin of
Farmington Hills; grandchil-
dren, Debbie, Marcy, Stacey,
Vicki, Lynda and Matt; brother
and sister-in-law, Nate and Ida
Silvers; sister and brother-in-
law, Goldie and Lou Friedman;
great-grandchildren, Jordan,
Bradley and Samantha.
Contributions may be made
to a charity of one's choice.
JOAN M. DUNITZ, 66, of
Bloomfield Hills, died April 11.
Mrs. Dunitz is survived by
her son and daughter-in-law,
Mitchell and Jody Dunitz of
Sherman Oaks, Calif.; daugh-
ters and son-in-law, Carol
Dunitz of Ann Arbor, Margie
and Adam Colner of Los Ange-
les, Nancy Dunitz of Hollywood,
Calif.; grandchildren, Helen,
Dorothy, Risa and Jocelyn
Gotlib, Shoshanna and Rena
Colner, Lauren, Amy and
Daniel Dunitz. She was the
beloved wife of the late Daniel
Dunitz.
Interment at Clover Hill
OBIT page 179
Issue Highlights
THE SCENE/ 62
The SoHo of Michigan —
Pontiac's galleries, nightlife.
CLOSE UP / 68
Another lesson from Chelm
for the holiday of Passover.
ENTERTAINMENT/96
Practicing Buddhist Allen
Ginsberg never forgot his
Jewish roots. •
Full contents on page 5