Congregation Shir Tikvah:
Truly A 'Song Of Hope'

/–

much respect, so much support, so much
love?"
Overall, Shir Tikvah's capital campaign and
building fund have raised more than $1.5 mil-
lion. The Reform congregation worshipped for
the first time in its new building in Troy on
April 3.
Since Sleutelberg's arrival 10 years ago, Shir
Tikvah has built a foundation for, and reputa-
tion because of, its family-oriented education
program. Striving to appeal to Jews of all back-
grounds, the synagogue has sought out previ-
ously unaffiliated Jews and interfaith families
who are raising their children as Jews — and
is thriving because of it.
In formal comments at the Fisher, Sleutel-
berg said he was humbled by what began as
the Troy Jewish Congregation that has now
grown into Shir Tikvah, Hebrew for a "song of
hope." He told the playgoers: "We're touched
and awed by your heartfelt generosity"
Shir Tikvah President Joe Katz cites statis-
tics that show the majority of Jews who have
married since 1985 have married non-Jews; 54
percent of intermarried families celebrate
Christian holidays while only 20 percent cele-
brate Jewish holidays; and the U.S. Jewish
population has dropped from 3.7 percent to 2
percent of the total population.
But under Sleutelberg's inspiring leadership,
he says, "we are defying the demographic crisis
and in ever-increasing numbers successfully
passing on the spiritual and cultural patrimony
of the Jewish people to the next generation."
Though a small congregation, Shir Tikvah
can be proud of its contribution to the vibran-
cy of Detroit's Jewish community. ❑

When Less Is More
For The Community

The proposed merger of Congregation Beth
Achim and Adat Shalom Synagogue is a win-
win-win situation, according to Robert Naf-
taly, president of the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit.
If approved by Federation, the synagogue
memberships and Akiva Hebrew Day School,
the proposal solidifies the two synagogues and
Akiva. It may also positively affect the Beth
Achim neighborhood in the same way Federa-
tion's purchase of the B'nai Moshe building
for the Beth Jacob school helped the Jewish
community in Oak Park and southeast South-
field.
In addition, Adat Shalom is bolstered,
Beth Achim's members achieve their goals and

leave a building that is draining the congrega-
tion, and Akiva has the opportunity to do the
same.
It's not all roses, however. The Jewish con-
centration of individuals and institutions in
the 12 Mile/Lahser corridor is not the same
as the 10 Mile/Greenfield corridor. Not every
member of Beth Achim will be happy with
the merger. And Akiva has some major obsta-
cles in selling its Southfield Road building
and paying for extensive renovations at Beth
Achim.
But the effort seems worth the risk, and
the four communal organizations involved
should be congratulated for working together
to achieve an innovative solution.

❑

Photo by Joshua Kristal

The camaraderie of the Jewish community
sparkled at Congregation Shir Tikvah's fund-
raising event at Detroit's Fisher Theatre last
,:1-Week.
The benefit performance was as much a cel-
ebration of community as it was a celebration
of tenacity.
The outpouring of support from the area's
Reform and Conservative congregations on
behalf of the 250-family synagogue, born
determinedly in a Troy parking lot 15 years
ago and only now in a permanent home, was
stunning. About 1,600 tickets, priced from
/- $75 and up, were sold for the Detroit premiere
of the musical Rent.
The evening also honored Detroit's Jean
and Sam Frankel for their countless acts of
tzedakah, often quiet but always momentous.
In Shir Tikvah's case, the Frankels made the
founding members' dream of a vital Jewish
community east of Woodward Avenue their
dream. And they tapped their own philan-
thropic spirit to help fulfill that dream.
Last week's gathering of rabbinical and lay
(—
leaders, and congregants from every local
Reform and Conservative synagogue, is a trib-
ute to our community's ability to come togeth-
er despite differences.
'At a time when fractures in the Jewish
community are so widely reported, tonight is a
beacon of hope," Shir Tikvah's Rabbi Arnie
Sleutelberg told the faithful. "Tonight shows
that unity in the midst of diversity is indeed
7– possible."
Before the festivities began, Rabbi Harold
Loss of Temple Israel observed: "Isn't it won-
derful that a small synagogue could generate so

IN FOOS

Boxing Day

Yad Ezra volunteer Charles Russman donated his time earlier
this month to help the Oak Park-based kosher food bank pack
and distribute Passover foods to some 1,100 needy Jewish fami-
lies. The annual event draws donations and volunteers from
throughout the metro Detroit community. This year, an esti-
mated 40,000 pounds of food were delivered.

LETTERS

Motives, Intent
Are Questioned

Dr. Kenneth Stein of Emory
University ("Anxiety Attack"
March 20) noted approvingly
that Ze'ev Schiff, Israeli
columnist, said that Israel
never "set out to eradicate a
neighboring state."
Unfortunately, the com-
mentators just didn't get it.
The founding of Israel
caused the death of Palestine.
Result? These two Jews were
not willing to confess the
motives and intent of the
1948 War of Independence.
The Arabs of Egypt, Syria,
Transjordan, Saudi Arabia
and, yes, Lebanon fought to
prevent the Jews from form-
ing their own Jewish state in
1948. They fought a losing
war for Palestine and a victo-
ry would have allowed the
unique opportunity for Arabs
and Muslims to gain control
of the entire Middle East.
More importantly, the Arabs
would have denied and
destroyed the nascent Jewish

state before it was even resur-
rected.
Further, the Judean-
Samarian Hills (Arab West
Bank) is not land (Oslo
Accords 1993) that "Israel
needs for defensive purposes"
("Handover vs. Security"
March 20).
The hills are an integral
part and historical essence of
Israel and can never be sepa-
rated from the rest of the
land. It is irrelevant as to its
military or defensive value.
The hills and, indeed, the
Golan and Sinai Desert are
all part of Israel. Either the
Jews fight for all their land or
none of it will be in Jewish
hands much longer.
God said that "either the
Jew fights for what I have
given and lives up to the
commandments or he will be
scattered among the nations,
and his land will be conse-
crated to idolatry"
Michael Drissman

Executive director, Committee
for the Jewish Idea

4/17
1998

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