THE JEWISH NEWS UP FRONT Three Jewish Amigos Preserving The Past Left: St. Paul A.M.E. Zion Church now boasts 2,000 members. Left inset: When Congregation B'nai Moshe was first completed, there was no school wing. Below: Unable to find a seat during High Holidays, children would line the steps to the balcony until ushers chased them away. Congregation B'nai Moshe's former home to be designated a historic district. JILL DAVIDSON SKLAR STAFF WRITER enee Gunsberg remem- bers how the dying sum- mer's last hot gusts would blow through the stained glass windows on yontif in her shul at Dexter and Lawrence in Detroit. She also recalls how the base- ment of the old synagogue built by Congregation B'nai Moshe was so cold year round that a trip to the bathroom would often war- rant a sweater. "The heating was never right in that building," she said. That building, left behind al- most 40 years ago when the con- gregation made its move to Oak Park, will soon be the only syna- gogue in Detroit to have a sepa- rate historic designation from the city. The honor will most likely be bestowed upon the building by the end of the year. "We're looking to have this complete within the next few months," said Deborah Goldstein, historic designation supervisory specialist for the city of Detroit. She added that city historic districts bear no markers but car- ry restrictions on future devel- opment of the facilities. Other synagogues with his- toric designation have been a part of larger districts, Ms. Goldstein said. One of Tern- ple Beth El's former homes, Wayne State University's Bonstelle Theater, is a part of the city's Brush Park his- toric district; another Beth El home, now a church, is a part of the national landmark district commemorating old Woodward Avenue houses of worship. "This is the only individual building that was a synagogue to have historic designation," she said. Members of the St. Paul A.M.E. Zion Church, the new owners of the building, pushed for the historic designation, filing a petition with the Detroit City Council earlier this year. The pro- posed district will include the building, a school addition and the surrounding parking lot and sidewalks. The designation brings public recognition to the church build- ing. Restrictions on historic prop- erties ensures that the structure will remain intact for future gen- erations to enjoy. The neoclassical building, de- signed by the firm of Payne and Kohner, still contains the carved wooden benches and stained glass windows containing Stars of David. Modifications, such as the addition of some stained glass windows bearing Christian sym- bols and an altar where the bimah and ark once stood, were added by the building's owners in the days after the sale of the structure. "We kept those [Jewish] items because our beginnings as Chris- tians are rooted in the Old Tes- tament," said Bishop William Hilliard, the retired pastor who led the African Methodist Epis- copal congregation at the time of the property's purchase for $250,000. "We Christianized it a bit but not completely." The church is now the spiri- tual home to 2,000 members who hold services every day. A reli- gious school operates in the school wing on weekends; during PAST page 37 PHOTOS BY BILL HANSEN This Week's Top Stories A trio of Hillel students hosts a shared b'nai mitzvah party at the JCC. LYNNE MEREDITH COHN STAFF WRITER Originally, the party was slat- t may not have been one child's special party. But the ed for Joe Dumars Field House, three Hillel Day School class- says Cheri Dworkis, mother of mates who shared their bar 13-year-old Hannah. But they mitzvah celebration knew they could do the same games with a could do more with pooled re- kosher caterer at the JCC. "They're bored al- sources. `The emphasis at Hil- Above: The three ready with these par- lel is unquestionably on amigos: Hannah ties," says Mrs. Dworkis. Dworkis, David "Instead of having two in the service," says Helene Feldman and a row out at Joe Du- Koenig, whose son Michael Koenig. mars, [we figured] let's Michael, 13, shared his do one. [At first] the kids party with David Feld- Below: Playing man, 12, and Hannah giant Twister are were not so excited about Dworkis, 13. "They are Jessica Sherman, it — they wanted their very conscientious about Rachel Lubetsky own special party. [But and Danielle eventually] they all attending each other's Superstine. agreed to it." service, even though they David Feldman says read from the Torah at Standing at rear is Sara Luger. his shared party was school the Thursday be- fun. "I felt very good that fore their bar mitzvah at the traditional morning minyan." day to know that I was doing a The trio's party was held in very fun thing with two people the Rosenberg Complex at the that I like a lot." The biggest advantage to shar- Maple-Drake Jewish Communi- ty Center on Sunday, May 18. ing the party, say the parents, With a "Three Amigos" theme, was that "we could do a little the three provided their friends more. It still costs a lot of mon- with kosher submarine sand- ey, but we were able to do a lit- wiches, laser tag, a giant inflat- tle more because we were able slide, Velcro challenge, sharing the cost," Mrs. Dworkis bungee run, a giant game of says. The koenigs' other two chil- Twister, basketball, a showing of the movie The Three Amigos, AMIGOS page 32 football toss and more. I ti CT r- c= Q 3