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DETROIT TIES

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20th Ann Arbor Spring Art Fair

May 2 & 3, 1998

Washtenaw Farm
Council Grounds

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11.1(k N (min, W(1,L;.

Admission $5.00
Under 10 FREE

Marc) . Feldman

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Sat., May 2—
10am to 6pm
Sun., May 3—
11am to 5pm

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Mayor Fledied Id( !My

Pier,,on

A contrasting look at a 1950s and 1990s Technion laboratory.

"When you look at the history, it's
very exciting," said Dr. Nancy Gad-
Harf of West Bloomfield, regional
director of the American Society for
Technion-Israel Institute of Technolo-
gy Inc. "It's not a story of an institute,
but a story of a country and its peo-
ple."
The Haifa-based university, known
for cutting-edge work in aerospace,
biotechnology, electronics, genetic
engineering and. water-resource man-
agement, didn't reach international
attention without ongoing support
from visionaries around the world,
including hundreds who make their
homes in metro Detroit.
As early as 1914, at the urging of
Zionist Schmaryahu Levin, Jews living
in the center of industrial America
offered significant contributions to
keep the Technion dream alive.
Among the early supporters were Dr.
Leo M. Franklin, rabbi of Temple
Beth El, and attorney and civic leader
Fred M. Burzel, who chaired both the
Allied Jewish Campaign and the exec-
utive committee of the Jewish Welfare
Federation.
Zionist Samuel N. Heyman, an
MIT graduate, and Alex Taub, design-
er of the Chevrolet, Pontiac and
British Churchill engines, offered sup-
port through the Zionist Engineering
Society.
A more intense Detroit commit-
ment came in 1940, when Professor
Rudolf Samuel of Haifa traveled to
the United States to establish financial
assistance through the American Soci-
ety for Technion, based in New York.
The Detroit charter chapter elected
Butzel as honorary president, Harvey
Goldman as president, Professor Peter
Altman as vice president, and Leon
Kay and Karl B. Segall as secretaries.
Fund-raising events began in 1947
with a $100 per couple dinner. Five
years later, Samuel Brody pledged to
match all contributions solicited dur-

ing the annual dinner, making his
share $48,000. Additional contribu-
tions helped fund the Samuel Brody
Agricultural Engineering Building, the
first major facility on Mount Carmel
with Detroit ties.
Dr. Joseph Epel of Orchard Lake
helped raise record sums of money
with then-regional manager Max Gill,
while serving two terms as chapter
president for a total of 11 years.
"At one point, we were so success-
ful at fund raising relative to our
population that they called us The
Detroit Mafia,"' recalled Epel, former
president and CEO of Duralastics
Products. "The old-timers were such
great men. They dreamt, and I
dreamt with them, that someday
Israel would have brainpower. So log-
ically, technically and emotionally, I
was connected to Technion. What we
had as a dream in 1947 was a reality
in 1997.
"My great love for the organization
transmits itself to the people. It's con-
tagious," said Epel, past president of
the Agency for Jewish Education. "I'm
an investment manager, helping peo-
ple to invest in Israel's future."
Other Detroit professionals func-
tioning as honorary alumni to the
AST were Alex Etkin, attorney Irwin
Green and architect Louis G. Red-
stone, a former president whose affilia-
tion has spanned 55 years. Glasgow
native Betty Sherman served the chap-
ter as administrative assistant for 30
years.
Throughout the chapter's history,
supporters have raised funds for dor-
mitories, research and scholarship.
Their current project is Perach, a
scholarship program for underprivi-
leged children.
"It's the same group that supports
the Jewish community in general,"
said Morris Rochlin of Franklin,
owner of Auburn Hills-based Foamade
Industries. "They share a desire to

Schallenhcrt2,

Audree Levy presents 180 of the finest artists and craftspeople in the country. Take 1-94 to

Exit 177 (State St). Turn South to Textile Rd. Turn right (West) to Ann Arbor-Saline Rd.
Turn right (North) to entrance of the Washtenaw Farm Coundl Grounds. Indoor Heated Fadlity
on the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds 5055 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd.
www.levyartfairs.com
e-mail: audree @ levyartfairs.com

Through all the Tears,
Struggle and Joy,
We Proudly Salute
Israel's 50th Birthday

MIN
Morn

1111

The
Blumenstein
Family
Penny, Harold,
Carol, Ricky
and Benjamin

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