THE WORLD'S GREAT VIOLINISTS

Above: 8-year-old Monica
Finkbiner reads one of the seder
questions with help from mom
Stephanie.

Left: Debbie Wurster, Sheldon
Lemptert and their 5-year-old
daughter Jackie hold up their
cups of wine as Jenny Patterson
reads the blessin at a recent Tu
B'Shevat seder or interfaith
families.

school children. A group of six fami-
lies began meeting last fall, and this
spring Stettner will facilitate two
;groups of six families. The hope is that
with their appetites whetted by the
shorter programs, interfaith families
will then be more committed to either
enrolling in Stepping Stones or send-
ing their child to a Jewish nursery
school.
It seems to be working for Denise
Samuels, who participates in the pro-
\ gram with her son Paul and daughter
/Anna Rose. Samuels is Jewish, but her
husband is a non-practicing Catholic.
With her son in kindergarten, Samuels
had been toying with the idea of send-
ing him to Sunday school at a syna-
gogue, but wasn't ready to make a
commitment.
"First Step seemed like something
comfortable, not too big a commit-
ment," said Samuels. "I think it's a
wonderful program. My kids really
like it and are always enthusiastic to
go. It's amazing to me how the
Hebrew words they've learned we real-
ly use in the house, and they've gotten
the idea that learning about this stuff
isn't painful. My fe-ling is now I'll be

ready to go on to a Sunday school —
this helped me reinvigorate my com-
mitment to the whole thing instead of
just letting it slide."
No statistics are available on the
number of interfaith families in met-
ropolitan Detroit. However, national
studies indicate that between 38-52
percent of American Jews marry non-
Jews. ❑

For further nformation about the
Interfaith donnection can1 - 80 0-
397-4876

Clarifications

Mark Diem is no longer the presi-
dent of the Men's Club of
Congregation Shaarey Zedek. That
position is held by Richard N.
Jacobs.

Oakland Circuit Court Judge Alice
Gilbert is eligible to run for re-elec-
tion in 2000.

It is often said that music is lodged in the souls of Jewish people, that song
and melody are drawn from the ancient origins of prayer. It might also be
said that the rhythms of devotional recitations are hymns sung to the
supreme being and in them is exultation for the gift of life. That has
continued throughout our history and we find its spirit intensified today in
brilliant Jewish musicians who stand alone in the repertoire of the classics--
masters of the most noble instrument of them all, the violin.
•
JASCHA HEIFETZ
(1901-87) b.Vilnius, Lithuania He was perhaps
the greatest violinist of this century, made concert
appearances before age five and first performed in
the United States at sixteen. While a mere six-year
old, the musical prodigy astonished all by
flawlessly playing the challenging Mendelssohn
Violin Concerto. So popular was the young
Heifetz on stage that police escorts protected him
while on tours throughout Europe. Fleeing the Russian Revolution in
1917, the year he made his American debut in New York City's Carnegie
Hall, he became a citizen in 1925. His virtuosity combined reasoned
interpretations and technical mastery, achieving a unique level of classical
and romantic peifection. And his performances set standards by which other
violinists are measured to this day. In addition to composing original
compositions, Heifetz was also a founder of the American Guild of Musical
Artists.

DAVID OISTRAKH
(1908-74)b.Odessa,Russia "Incomparable" is the
word often used to describe recitals by the virtuoso
acclaimed for his exceptional technique and tone.
He made his Leningrad debut in 1929 and became
legendary in his youth, winning important violin
contests that launched a hugely successful
international • career. Widely acknowledged as a
world master, Oistrakh also appeared as a conduc-
tor and introduced 20th century Russian works to western European and
U.S. audiences through numerous recordings. Such composers as
Prokofiev, Khachaturian and Shostakovich wrote violin concertos especially
for him. He was also appointed as a professor in the Moscow State
Conservatory in 1942, winning the prestigious Stalin Prize for his
contributions to music. Oistrakh's son, Igor, an equally talented violinist
noted for his lean, modernistic interpretations, has kept the family name
alive and sonorous.

JEHUDI MENUHIN
(1916-) b. New York City Taking up the violin at
age four, the outstanding musician later struck up
a lifelong friendship with David Oistrakh after
becoming the first American artist to visit Russia
at the end of World War Two. He had much in
common with his colleague in style, power and
proficiency, and previously played more than 500 \
concerts for the Allied armed forces. Menhuin
has appeared as a soloist and conductor with leading symphony orchestras,
worldwide, for more than a half century. His tours blended many eastern
and rare works with the standard repertoire. Regarded as one of America's
foremost musicians, Menuhin also established music festivals in Switzerland
and in England--the country in which he eventually settled and which
awarded him a knighthood. The Menuhin Festival Orchestra which he
organized remains a fixture in our musical firmament.
-- Saul Stadtmazier

COMMISSION FOR THE DISSEMINATION OF JEWISH HISTORY
Walter & Lea Field, FoundersSponsors
Harold Berry & Irwin S. Field, Co-chairmen
Harriet F. Siden, Secretary

2/20
1998