/--

Neo-Nazis At Opera

Patrons at the Detroit Opera House were greeted with
German pro-Hitler literature in their programs.

JULIE EDGAR SENIOR WRITER

M

/--

ost likely, it was an
opera fan who tucked
pro-Hitler fliers, print-
ed in German, into the
programs of the June 4 produc-
tion of The Flying Dutchman at
the Detroit Opera House.
A stack of loose programs in
the theater lobby was targeted
by the group that calls itself New
Order, said Detroit Opera House
Public Relations Director Laura
Wyss. The next day, four people
called to complain about the in-
cident.
Ms. Wyss believes a theater
patron or patrons were respon-
sible for the inserts. Police were
notified, and on Thursday, June
5, ushers combed through pro-
grams to make sure they were
free of the fliers. There were in-
creased police patrols during the
weekend, although, Ms. Wyss
acknowledged, they were also
prompted by the Detroit Red
Wings game at the Joe Louis
Arena.
"We were just shocked and ap-

palled. It was such a sick thing.
Our thought is that it was like-
ly a member of the public [who
had come to the show].
"It was very isolated. The only
ones we found were the ones re-
ported to us, which were about
10. To make sure that never
happens again, all our programs
have been stored and patrons
can get their programs on the
way in by an usher only," Ms.
Wyss said.
An usher at the theater said
she and others working on the
weekend of June 6 learned that
the fliers were also found on cars
parked along Madison Street.
Ms. Wyss hadn't heard about
them, but said none of the cars
in the theater's secured parking
lot was leafleted.
The Flying Dutchman, the fi-
nal Michigan Opera Theatre
production of the season, is an
opera written by Richard Wag-
ner, an avowed anti-Semite
whose music served as an inspi-
ration for Adolf Hitler. Don Co-

hen, executive director of the lo-
cal Anti-Defamation League of-
fice, had the New Order fliers
translated last Monday. Across
the top is written, "Hitler Was
Right." Below are examples of
how he was "right," and at the
bottom is an invitation to "join
his timeless Cause." A swastika
fills the "0" in the word "Order."
New Order, based in Milwau-
kee, is on the ADL's "dangerous
extremist" list of closely watched
neo-Nazi organizations.
"They place fliers and busi-
ness cards extensively in differ-
ent parts of the country,"
including public libraries and
shopping malls, Mr. Cohen said.
New Order materials are also
distributed by other neo-Nazi
groups.
"They're not trying to get ad-
herents; they're trying to intim-
idate the Jewish community," he
said. However, Mr. Cohen be-
lieves that in the opera theater
case, New Order was trying to
recruit new members.
"They may assume German
speakers would come to hear
Wagner and they would recruit
them. I think it's a matter of see-
ing it as a target audience for re-
cruitment."
Mr. Cohen heard that 20-30
fliers were found by theater go-
ers on June 4. D

Shaliach, Shalom

Jeff Kaye has expanded the emissary's role during
his four years in Detroit. He leaves in July.

PHIL JACOBS EDITOR

p

aul D. Borman being
sworn into office as a fed-
eral judge. And then being
introduced to the commu-
nity and vouched for by his rab-
bi, Irwin Groner.
That's the favorite image that
community shaliach, or emis-
sary, Jeff Kaye takes back to Is-
rael when he thinks of Detroit
and the United States.
"I was really taken with the

entire scene," he said. "Where
else in this world can you wit-
ness a Jew being introduced as
a federal judge by a rabbi? In
most other countries, being Jew-
ish is something you fight
through. Here, it's always some-
thing to be proud of."
Mr. Kaye is leaving Detroit in
July after four years, one year
longer than the typical stay of a
community shaliach. The emis-
saries are provid-
ed to Diaspora
cities by the Jew-
ish Agency, the
World Zionist Or-
ganization and
the Jewish Feder-
ation of Metropol-
itan Detroit. He
will be returning
to Israel with his
wife, Devorah,
and their two chil-
dren, Eldan, 12,

SHAUACH page 20

Jeff Kaye: Fond memories.

PETS PAGE PHOTO

ONTEST WINNERS

%%II

sof,
V PAWS FOR SUMMER OP

Sponsored by Invisible Fencing of Birmingham

GRAND PRIZE

FRESH PRODUCE

Aeady, to Serve Meals
USDA CHOICE MEKIS
extensive Wine Selection

/—

CATERING FOR ALL OCCASIONS

, N .MtAN

kzz:

VVINNER OF:

In-Home lawiskle Fendng System

WINNERS OF :

Keeps pets off furniture and out of certain rooms in your home

Electronic Sguirrdproof Bird Feeder

Sresh breads 4' Pastries

THIRD PRIZE

SPECIAUFY SAIADS & PASTAS

Service Oriented

,

ARKET

PLAZ

6525 Commerce Rd.(at Green Lake Rd.)
W. Bloomfield • (248) 363- 7666

aTh7, ‘,,
VklitTe-
\- iNftft.A.4
MOD
'41

'auto, *

WINNERS OF :

Good Owners, Great Dogs

-

a training manual for humans and their canine companions

Winning photos published in the Big Story
in this issue of The Apple Tree

•Clinical Teaching
•Testing/Evaluation
*Therapeutic Tutoring

545-6677 • 433-3323

Oak Park

Bloomfield Hills

ea

INVISIBLE

THE JE'ilgi-1 NEWS

S

HELPING JEWISH
FAN e
l
„,,e
. Ge
GROW

r

01

Iu103141D 11 N
Y 01111 A1,11. N1 1:1*

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Michelle Markowitz and Felix, Laurie Brown and Cosmo, Sarge & Babe,
Betsy Lieb-Feldman and Roscoe, Alan Foster & Coco, Rebecca Klein and Trixie,
Susie Rosenzveig and Goldee, Jenna Saltsman and Snowball, the Hyke family, Carmi, Kastir & Leroy

