Behind The Curtain

Owners of Swiss bank accounts and their heirs are
encouraged to check a document at the Holocaust
Memorial Center.

With much joy, Congregation Beth Shalom
opens its new social hall.

LYNNE MEREDITH COHN STAFF WRITER

JILL DAVIDSON SKLAR STAFF WRITER

A

t first, the document at the
Holocaust Memorial Cen-
ter appears just to be
names with hometowns
and nationalities.
But in the last column of the
page is the clue that this is some-
thing much more. There are the
dollar signs followed by varying
amounts of cash, from a few cents
to hundreds of thousands of dol-
lars.
The list is a declassified docu-
ment cti6p-.rsed by the World
1 Tewish Congre6,.. Tt represents
the rio-lers of accounts as of
June 14, 1_,...,eat the New Yoih.
Agency of the SvVis,x;kank Cor-
s
poration. Many European -
used that bank, as well as other
Swiss banking institutions, to
hide their funds in the 1930s and
1940s when the Nazis came to
power in Germany and began
confiscating the assets of Jews.
What is known is how much
was there. What is unknown is

what happened to the holders of
those accounts, said Rabbi
Charles Rosenzweig of the Holo-
caust Memorial Center (HMC).
He believes some of those indi-
viduals or their heirs live in the
Detroit area.
"My assumption is that there
have got to be some in this com-
munity," he said.
Because of this belief, the
HMC is making this list available
to the public. Another list, con-
taining the names of Polish Jews
who had their Swiss bank ac-
counts seized and transferred to
the Communist Polish govern-
'nerd-. after World War II, will be
available Q.hortly, Rabbi Rosen-
said.
R
- Tzosenzweig said indi-
viduals
they own an
account or are an
an such
an owner should conta,..,
World Jewish Congress at P.
Box 90400, Washington, D.C.
20900-0400. ❑

n April 26, all was not usu- that there would be new rules
al at Congregation Beth for the new social hall — such
as requiring members to take off
Shalom in Oak Park.
Sure, it was Shabbat, their shoes before treading on
complete with a kiddush. But the new carpet or banning red
the celebratory atmosphere was wine from the new room.
more akin to a big bar
mitzvah or wedding than a
typical Shabbat. The occa-
sion? The unveiling of the
shul's newly renovated social
hall.
Every Beth Shalom mem-
ber who contributed in some
way to the capital campaign
or worked on the renovation
was called to the bimah in
one of three group aliyot.
Liz Schubiner, adminis-
trative chair of the capital
campaign and a member of
Beth Shalom's board of di-
rectors, said, "It was just full
of ruach (spirit)." Approxi-
Aitat!**414**
,qtely 400 people turned out
L,0 new,.
Adag4ali g it6
1 " the event.
Rabbi I' . Nelson joked The new social hall was unveiled last Shabbat.

0

PHOTO BY DAN IEL LIPPITT

On The List?

"No one thought we could do
this a year ago," Ms. Schubiner
said, noting that the capital cam-
paign began in January 1996.
Since then, the shul has raised
$1.7 million.
Phase II is expected to be com-
pleted later this month. It will
include renovations to all re-
strooms to provide handicap ac-
cessibility and baby changing
tables, as well as improved side
entrances to the building.
The soon-to-begin Phase III
will focus on the front entrance.
Phase IV plans for a new edu-
cation wing are under review by
the city of Oak Park. ❑

' -1

COLORWORKS STUDIO
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Robert Stewart Photography

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