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