changing in that our members were
Yoskowitis 5 1/2 years at Beth
moving farther out. The Conservative
Achim, bat mitzvahs have read the
community was dropping [in the
Haftorah. Previously, Beth Achim
area], as opposed to the Orthodox
where
girls
read
from
bat
chayil,
had
and Reform."
a separate book.
Keller said, "We felt seven years
Schostak and Beth Achim merger
ago
that it would be better to have
committee chair Ed Kohl said Beth
one
less Conser-
Achim members would receive dues
vative
congrega-
breaks under the merger agreement,
tion.
It
didn't
/--D
\- but declined to discuss specifics
happen seven
until both congregations have seen
years ago, but
the proposal. The congregations also
we've been look-
have committed to constructing a
ing off and on
mikvah, ritual bath, at Adat Shalom
for seven years.
to replace the mikvah at Beth
"We couldn't
Achim, the only mikvah under Con-
afford
to move
servative auspices in the Detroit
and
build
the
area.
same
type
of
The mikvah is used mostly to
facility we have
complete conversions to Judaism.
today. It would
Schostak said Adat Shalom is com-
cost $10-$11
mitted to building the mikvah — "I
million. We
just don't know where or when, yet."
couldn't afford it, and neither could
Said Kohl, "We hope to work out
the Jewish community.
arrangements to keep the current
"We talked to many congregations
mikvah [at Beth Achim] open as long
in
town,"
Keller continued. "This
as possible."
merger
is
the
most equitable and
The name of the merged congre-
gives the most to our members."
gation will be Adat Shalom, but. the
Cantor Shimansky said Beth
' Hebrew school will be renamed the
Achim had 750-800 member families
Beth Achim Religious School. In
in the 1970s. He arrived at the shul
addition to Yoskowitz, two perma-
in 1981. Although reluctant to talk
nent employees in the Beth Achim
about the merger proposal, he
office will join the Adat Shalom
thought finances dictated it and "I
staff.
would
recommend it ... I'm satisfied
Beth Achim's memorial plaques,
with what they've done."
Torahs, religious artifacts and library
Adat Shalom President Jack
volumes will be moved to Adat
Rubin
sees the merger as an oppor-
Shalom.
tunity. "We get the chance
Beth Achim President
to attract 300-plus families.
Gerald Keller believes his
Buildin .5 below
We're
going to do a lot of
fellow congregants will vote from le to right:
work
to
make the Beth
favorably for the merger.
Beth Achim,
Achim
families
feel welcome
"This is good for both con- Adat Shalom,
and
at
home.
gregations, and for the com- Akiva
"They are accustomed to
munity," he said.
a particular type of service."
"This is the same thing
he said. "It doesn't vary greatly [from
we had seven years ago [when Beth
Adat
Shalom's], but it does vary."
Achim considered merging with B'nai
Rubin
applauded the Beth Achim
Moshe]. We saw the handwriting on
and
Adat
Shalom committees that
the wall. The neighborhood was

Clockwise from
top..
Rabbi Daniel
Nevins, Cantor-
Howard Glantz,
Rabbi Efry Spectre,
Rabbi Herbert
Yoskowitz

Center:
Cantor Max
Shimansky

/-

worked on the merger. "This has
been going on for six, seven, eight
months now, and at no time during
the discussions did they become
negotiations. It was always, 'How do
we make this work?'"
Akiva President Stuart Teger said
the day school would have to sell its

Southfield Road building if
the Beth Achim-Adat Shalom
merger is approved. "We
believe we still have the same
buyer, but much has to be
worked out. He still has to get
zoning approval."
In 1995, Jeffrey Surnow of
the Surnow Co. sought a zon-
ing change to allow a strip
mall on the site at 27700
Southfield Road. The proposal
was turned down by the City
of Lathrup Village. Surnow
had offered $1.3 million to Akiva for
the building, contingent on the zon-
ing change and Akiva finding another
building.
Howard
Neistein, the
Jewish Federa-
tion's director
of planning
and agency
relations, said
Akiva may
need a capital
campaign to
finance reno-
vations of the
Beth Achim
building.
Planned
changes to the building are very pre-
liminary.
Teger said the extensive remodel-
ing could cost between $1-2 million
and could be higher if a gymnasium
is included in the plans.
Neistein said the proposed shift of
Akiva to Beth Achim's building began
to take shape last summer when the
extent of needed renovations at
Akiva's Southfield Road building was
assessed. Neistein said the Southfield
Road school needs a new heating sys-
tem, windows and other major work.
Akiva has owned the former Annie
Lathrup Elementary School since
1980. ❑

/-)

4/17

199S

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