p Front
Fifty Big Ones
A collection of rare photographs
at the JCC will
open the celebrations ofIsrael's 50th.
F
LONNY GOLDSMITH
StaffWriter
fifty years ago, color film for
any use, let alone journalistic
purposes, was unheard of.
Eastman-Kodak gave its
first color stock to Time magazine,
which allowed its Palestine correspon-
dent to use it. Beginning next
Thursday, visitors to the Maple/Drake
Jewish Community Center will be
able to see the only collection of color
photos in the world of Palestine 50
years ago, before and during the
beginnings of the state of Israel.
The exhibit, which will be located
in the Janice Charach Epstein
Museum/Gallery, will kick off the
JCC's celebration of Israel's 50th
birthday.
The year-long celebration of Israel's
50th will include programs conducted
by both JCCs, the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit, the Jewish
Community Council of Metropolitan
Detroit, three day schools, five syna-
gogues and six other local organizations.
The opening of the JCC exhibit
marks the first time the photos will be
shown, because, according to gallery
1/2
1998
8
Above: The "Theodor
Herzel," an illegal immigrant
ship, being brought into
Haifa by the British in 1947.
Ri ht: This photo of Jewish
re gees arriving in Israel in
May 1948, is the type of
work to be seen at the JCC
exhibit.
director Sylvia Nelson, no one was
sure how the photos would hold up
over time.
While the gallery is expected to
open the exhibit to the public on
Thursday, the opening party is
planned for Jan. 11 from 2-4 p.m.,
complete with birthday cake to kick
off the party for Israel.
The photos should be arriving by
Monday, but Nelson points out that
shipping over the holidays can bring
some delays — the reason the party is
planned for the following weekend.
The exhibit, put together by the
together in doing the program," said
Harlene Appleman, Federation's direc-
tor of community outreach and edu-
cation. "They aren't marketing this as
two separate acts."
Alberstein was in Detroit two years
ago, where she performed to a full
house at the Royal Oak Music Theater.
The Michigan/Israel Connection
will be responsible for the lobby dis-
play at the show, which, according to
Connection director Yael Waxman,
will give it an Israeli feel.
The Michigan/Israel Connection
also will be putting together two cele-
brations. On June 25, IsraelFest '98
will be held, with a slight variation on
past years. This year, there is a possi-
bility that the annual Walk for Israel
will originate at the Detroit Zoo.
"We are planning on bringing in
exhibitions from our Partnership 2000
region (the Central Galilee), and
might be flying in a choir and proba-
bly a dance troupe," added Waxman.
The Michigan/Israel Connection
also has taken on the planning of the
Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day) pro-
gram on April 29.
The JPM in Oak Park has planned
a lecture series focused on Israel's
50th, in cooperation with the Frankel
Center for Judaic Studies at the
University of Michigan. Beginning on
Jan. 22, it will include four
speakers who are professors
there, and a fifth speaker, U-M
graduate Aaron Miller, who is
the Deputy Middle East
Coordinator for Arab-Israeli
Negotiations at the State
Department.
On April 30, Hillel Day
School will host an Israel
Independence Day carnival.
Beth Yehudah School for Boys
will have a special service for
Hazakart Tzahal on April 18,
and an assembly on May 26,
"Yearning for Jerusalem." Be
Jacob is putting on an assembly,
"Loving Every Jew the World
Over," on April 23.
Weitzer, the JCC director of develop-
The Jewish Community Council is
ment. "It's pretty broad-based, with no
also in the process of planning a com-
specific focus. Just as long as it's Israel.
munity-wide birthday party.
"I'm interested to see what people
According
to Allan Gale, assistant
choose to photograph," she said.
director for government relations at
"What some people may not find inter-
the Council, the reception is planned
esting enough to shoot, others might."
for community and political leader-
That's just for starters, though.
ship, regardless of religion, around the
On May 3, Federation is hosting a
city.
concert at the Detroit Opera House
The Council also is planning to
with Israeli singer Chava Alberstein
distribute
information to public
and the American folk trio, Peter,
schools
and
the media about the 50th
Paul, and Mary.
birthday of Israel. ❑
"The two acts have been working
Israel Jubilee Celebration Committee
of Portland, Ore., features pho-
tographs taken by Marlin Levin, the
Time correspondent in Palestine/Israel.
They depict average citizens and
world-famous figures, and show major
events such as the War of
Independence and the first
Independence Day Parade.
"I wanted us to get the exhibit right
away," Nelson said. "I read 18 months
ago it would be touring, and we were
lucky enough to get the first booking."
The exhibit also will feature recent
pictures taken by Chanan Getraide, an
Israeli photographer, of many of the
same sights Levin shot 50 years earlier.
There will be 53 of Levin's pictures,
and Getraide will have 17 on display
for the next month, before the entire
exhibit goes to the Jimmy Prentis
Morris JCC in February.
Two other photo exhibits will be
running in the Center as well.
The Community Photographic
Exhibition, which will feature a selec-
tion of photos taken by people on
their trips to Israel, will be on display
in the Center's lobby. Patrons of the
museum will have their photos shown
upstairs in the museum.
, "Anyone in the community who
has submitted an appropriate photo
will have it displayed," said Margo