Leonard Baruch: A Community Pillar

Groner recalls the board asking Baruch, by
Every once in a while, a lay leader comes along
then retired as a librarian at Detroit's Cooley
who's appreciated as much for the goodness in
High School, to become interim executive
his soul as the professionalism in his work.
director in 1990. "But his work was so valued,"
Leonard Baruch of Congregation Shaarey
Groner said, "he was asked to stay on. He estab-
Zedek is such a person.
lished relationships of trust and affection with
On May 1, he became executive director
the leadership and became a caring colleague to
emeritus of the synagogue after eight years of
the staff. His work was marked by a sense of
bringing new vigor and growth to the congrega-
integrity."
tion. He's stepping aside from day-to-day
Baruch strived for excellence, Groner added.
responsibilities as executive director but contin-
"He insisted we should use our imagi-
ues as a consultant for the synagogue
nation, creativity and energy to attain
he has served so devotedly for 50
a higher level of expression for the
years.
Jewish
way of life. And he always
A fierce believer in Judaism, both
reminded
us of the importance of the
religiously and culturally, his member-
synagogue
— that it's the spiritual
ship at Shaarey Zedek parallels the
center
of
the
life of the Jewish com-
time frame of Israel's existence as the
munity."
Jewish homeland.
As executive director, Baruch
"He has a lifelong record of devo-
found his greatest joy in helping peo-
tion to the synagogue, loyalty to Jew-
ple, not pushing papers. Congrega-
ish heritage and concern for the wel-
Leonard
Baruch
tional achievements during his tenure
fare of the total Jewish community,"
included development of the Apple-
said Rabbi Irwin Groner.
baum
Jewish
Parenting Center, the merger with
Baruch has Jewishly inspired generations of
B'nai
Israel
and
completion of the Laker Educa-
congregants — as religious school teacher,
tion
Complex.
youth director, men's club president, synagogue
"He played a significant role in everything
trustee and executive director. He has touched
that happened at the synagogue," said Alan
countless lives, from nursery schoolers to octo-
Schwartz, Shaarey Zedek immediate past presi-
genarians.
dent and junior congregation president during
Kids have always been special to Baruch and
Baruch's youth directorship. "He was the go-to
his wife, Ann, also a former religious school
guy. He was the CEO. He was a delight to
teacher. They have three children (Miriam
work
with. We'll miss him mightily day to day."
Goldberg, Rhonda Feldman and Dr. Murray
Rabbi
Groner tells how life is like a big scroll
Baruch) and eight grandchildren. And for many
—
how
you
fill the pages is a reflection of your
years, they owned Camp Petosega, a Jewish
life. Leonard Baruch, says daughter-in-law
summer camp for kids near Petoskey.
Linda Baruch, a Hillel Day School of Metropol-
"With his warmth, wisdom and kindness,
itan Detroit trustee, "has written a beautiful
my father has set a wonderful example for me as
scroll for all of us."
a Jew," says Goldberg, a four-year trustee of
Enjoy retirement, Leonard. You've earned it!
Shaarey Zedek. "The word mentsh describes
11]
Leonard Baruch perfectly."

Avoiding A Mideast W ar

Despite both sides being ardently pro-Israel, the
U.S. Congress and administration are feuding
over the course of Mideast policy, which has hit
its most dangerous impasse yet.
From the press, there are sharp calls to replace
U.S. Mideast envoy Dennis Ross with a fresher,
less frustrated diplomat. The Palestinians, with
weapons and police far beyond their negotiated
pact with Israel, trumpet a perceived U.S.-Israel
rift. They announce that in one year, regardless
of the talks' outcome, they will unilaterally
declare statehood.
All this, combined with First Lady Hillary
Clinton's gaffe in favor of a Palestinian state.
So few people were surprised early this week
when Israel Prime Minister Binyamin
Netanyahu rejected a U.S.-mandated summit in
Washington, D.C. Nonetheless, the Israeli leader
arrived in the nation's capital for long-scheduled

addresses to Jewish groups. To calm nerves, Pres-
ident Bill Clinton put Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright on the job of restoring the
good feelings of U.S.-Israel ties.
Amid confusing reports over whether Israel
should hand an additional nine or 13 percent of
the West Bank over to the Palestinian Authority,
remember: This right-wing Israeli government,
which has made countless miscalculations in
style and substance, has already ceded about 35
percent of the West Bank to the Palestinian
Authority, territory home to about 85 percent of
the Palestinians. What really matters is that a
more civil and creative approach be arduously
pursued by all leaders — Israeli, Palestinian and
American. If battle is the only recourse, then
after the state funerals and sobbing parents,
everyone might remember why Israelis and Pales-
tinians sought negotiations to begin with. ❑

IN Foos

Caring Hearts

Tuesday night, the
Detroit Friends of the
Jewish Theological Semi-
nary honored 11 Detroi-
ters, one posthumouslj
for their contributions to
Jewish life. Honorees
were: Morris (posthu-
mously) and Beverly
Baker (Shaarey Zedek),
Ernest and Dorothy Cur-
tis (B'nai Moshe),
Leonard Farber (Beth
Abraham Hillel Moses),
Paul and Leslie Magy
(Adat Shalom), Richard
and Ellen Racusin (Beth
Shalom), and Donald
and Joyce Sherman (Beth
Achim). New York City-
based JTS, dedicated to
the principles of the Con-
servative movement,
offers a fzill course of Jew-
ish study for students at
the high school, under-
graduate, graduate, rabbinic, cantorial and professional levels as
well as community enrichment programs. The William Davidson
Graduate School of Jewish Education, shown here, is the gift of
Detroit philanthropist Bill Davidson.

LETTERS

largest university, Bar-Ilan, in
large measure to this man, to
his family and to a dedicated
group of Detroit visionaries,
I am among those who were
many of whose children
privileged to have worked
remain faithful and instru-
with Phil Stollman, and earli-
mental to its continued suc-
er with Max and
cess. At a time
Frieda Stollman, and
when no one else
to have seen this
dreamed of such an
deeply committed
institution, this
giant promote the
group, contrary to
welfare and educa-.
all logic, promoted
tion of his people.
it, brought it into
While working
the world and saw
with him on his
it become not only
greatest passion —
a major academic
Bar-Ilan University
institution, but the
Stollman
Phillip
— added an extra
largest center of
dimension, the fact
Jewish education in the
was that this most quiet and
world.
unassuming person was a
Neither a family nor an
fierce advocate of anything
institution can replace one's
that would benefit the Jewish
parent, and Phil will be
people.
tremendously missed. Bar-Ilan
Israel owes the existence
will follow the Stollman fami-
and success of its second

Phil Stollman
And Bar-Ilan

5/1
199

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