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Russians Like It Red

Rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg on the future site of Congregation Shir Tikvah: A
multipurpose building.

A Place To Call Home

Congregations seek to combine Jewish thought
and sophisticated architecture.

LYNNE MEREDITH COHN STAFF WRITER

Russian Jews love hockey, and yes, it is a point of pride that five
Detroit superstars are fellow countrymen.

JULIE EDGAR SENIOR WRITER

A

synagogue should be a
marriage of architectural
beauty and theological in-
tensity, a place to meet
God, to have a conversation with
Him, to ponder your own exis-
tence. At least that's what con-
gregations in the greater Detroit
area strive for.
This fall, Young Israel of Oak
Park (Y10P) will break ground for
a major renovation of the 36-year-
old building that has long outlived
its original intent., The shul, de-
signed by Leo Stein, has grown in
the nearly three years that Rab-
bi Steven Weil has been at the
helm, from 120 to 260 families.

The building on 10 Mile Road,
east of Greenfield, has seen two
additions in its 36 years, says
Steve Cohen, co-chairman of the
building committee. Young &
Young Architects Inc. presented
committee members with the
first architectural drawings on
June 8. They say YlOP's struc-
ture will be completely renovat-
ed by next summer.
About $1.5 million has already
been raised for the renovations,
with an ultimate goal of about $2
million, Mr. Cohen says.
YIOPs plans follow a long line

plate of a rich chocolate cake delicately
Igor Larionov, he asserted, is the most valu-
layered with crisp wafers and bits of fruit able Red Wing.
— a specialty of Kiev — sat half-eaten. A
"He is Professor Hockey' to us," said Khonna
tray of dainty teacups shared the narrow Valk, a Riga, Latvia, native.
coffee table.
"Gordie Howe is `Mr. Hockey,' " Mr.
On the couch behind it were four
Krivonos added diplomatically.
Alex K rivonos,
grown men, 40-ish to 70-ish, gesticu-
Larionov and Slava Fetisov were
Arkady Kurutin,
lating and yelling at the big-screen TV Vadim Ku pershtok and among the very best players on the
and conferring with each other in a
HOME page 25
Khon na Valk
Russian national team, he added.
rapid, expressive Russian. This is
show t heir spirit
"Fetisov had all the
hockey, and hockey is it in Russia.
before Game 3.
awards a Russian
Well, that and soccer.
player can get. The
"I am the biggest fan in the world," said only thing he doesn't have is
70-year-old Arkady Kurutin, in whose Stanley Cup."
Southfield condo fellow chess club members
As of last Saturday night, Mr.
gathered last Thursday night to watch the Fetisov's trophy shelf is complete:
Red Wings ice the Flyers in Game 3 of the The Wings beat the Flyers 2-1 in
National Hockey League Stanley Cup finals. a four game sweep and took
Then he rushed upstairs and brought down a home the Stanley Cup after 42
T-shirt emblazoned with the words, "Soccer Is years of dreaming about it.
Life."
Aside from bringing their
"In Russia, you can't be a fan of soccer and not artistry to the Red Wings, the
a fan of hockey," explained Alex Krivonos, who Russian players are genuinely
works as a buyer for a jewelry company.
nice guys, Mr. Valk said. He ex-
LYNNE MEREDITH COHN STAFF WRITER
In fact, he recently returned from a jewelers plained that they play soccer all
show in Las Vegas — "a great playground" — but summer with kids and other
aving the Detroit Red Wings cele- day, with about 500 people hanging out
none in his party left the hotel.
members of the Russian com-
brate at his restaurant after win- in the parking lot for a glimpse of the
'e stayed in the room and watched hockey," munity in a field behind an Oak
ning the Stanley Cup was equal champs.
he said.
Park school.
to, if not better than, the excite-
The night of Game 3, Slava Fetisov
Mr. Krivonos, the youngest member of the
"Federov is a good person. My
group, tried to be diplomatic when discussing the son knows him," he said. ment Rick Rogow felt at his bar mitzvah. and Coach Scotty Bowman brought their
After the Wings captured the
families to Big Daddy's for dinner,
Red Wings. But he could not conceal his prefer- "They're very democratic, very
Cup last Saturday night, players, Rick R ogow Mr. Rogow recalls. "And I said to
ence for the players affectionately dubbed The friendly."
coaches and their families head- hoist s the them, 'What are you guys going to
Russian Five.
Mr. Krivonos, a native of
"Let's put it this way: They bring a lot to the Ukraine, explained that while ed to Big Daddy's Parthenon in Stanle y Cup. do if you win Saturday night?' And
they both said, We don't know.'"
team," he said, explaining that the Russian play- Russian Jews fled their home- West Bloomfield, a popular hot spot
Mr. Rogow informed them that the
ers "bring to NHL hockey more combinations and land because of persecution, they for the players on- and off-season.
They consumed lamb chops, chicken
big speed on the ice" and a more artistic style of
and, of course, octopus, until 8 a.m. Sun-
STANLEY page 31
play.
RUSSIANS page 30

Big Daddy' s
Got Stanley

Hosting the Wings'
post-Cup party was a thrill
for co-owner Rick Rogow

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