will continue on without the pizazz of
David, and it might be a little less fun.
He's going to drive Norway crazy, and
they love him."
Tauber recalls how, after the two
graduated from the University of
Michigan, he solicited Hermelin on
behalf of the Allied Jewish Campaign.
Hermelin thought Tauber was coming
over to buy insurance.
"He was shocked I was soliciting
him," Tauber said. "He gave his first
$50 to Campaign. He hasn't stopped
since then. Meanwhile, I keep solicit-
ing him, and he keeps soliciting me."
Jewish Federation Executive Vice
President Robert Aronson added,
"While it's hard to find a Jewish orga-
nization which hasn't relied heavily on
David, either as a primary fund-raiser
or an emcee, I believe it's an opportu-
nity for organizations to develop new
leadership. David would not want to
be the guy who is indispensable."
Hermelin agrees.
"I asked myself if I should do this,"
he said. "I asked if it was too selfish. I
think my father would have said that I
don't have a choice. My father was so
proud to be an American. He was a
peddlar. For a Jew who is one genera-
tion away from Poland to hold such an
office is such a positive statement
about this wonderful country And as
Jews, we can't be separated from
involvement, in the world."
"Detroit is home," he said. "I see
everything from the positive side. I see
the best in people. I see a fabulous
opportunity for the development of
new leadership. Also, if I felt I was
going to hurt the community, I'd never
leave. The outpouring of thoughts
we've received has been so flattering
and has touched us deeply."
Still, his own rabbi, Irwin Groner of
Shaarey Zedek, expressed a sadness.
"I was proud that he was singled
out," he said. "But I have a sense of
loss, because we are going to miss him.
He represents a quality of spirit and an
attitude that lifts our hearts. He trans-
forms every campaign, every cause into
an adventure.
"David is known for his meetings.
An acquaintance had a long, private
meeting with David. I asked the two
of them if the meeting was a success.
David-said, 'We had excellent
exchange of views. He came in with
his views and he came out with
mine.'"
Shaarey Zedek's executive director,
Leonard Baruch, remembers a Passover
program the Federation sponsored in
1948.
"David was the little boy at the
seder. He was the one who asked the
four questions," Baruch said. "Now
he's a giant. There's nothing he can't
and doesn't do quietly and very, very
efficiently."
Or as community leader Gary
Torgow put it: "Long before he was
named ambassador to Norway, David
Hermelin was king of Detroit."
On Dec. 6, his many friends and
associates at Shaarey Zedek will have a
chance to pay tribute to- the new
Ambassador Hermelin. The congrega-
tion will host a kiddush in his honor.
When he thinks of his role coming
up in Norway, Hermelin refers to the
ambassador's complex as a big shtetl.
"We're a town of people. The
ambassador and the spouse are the first
couple of the country. The ambas-
sador's residence is like the White
House for that country.
"When I look in the mirror now,
I see a tall, blonde guy. I am a
Jewish ambassador. I have to pinch
myself." 0
%A*
sk.17
sk:\
Hermelin sees this role as an important one for a Jew to accept.
11/21
1997
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