EDITOR'S WATCH

Phillip Stollman: He Was Truly
A Giant In The Jewish Community

By 1952, the Stollmans had teamed
respected Jewish leaders, was another
were, and would continue to be, for
Polish immigrant and the
with several Detroit Jewish leaders in
business
associate
in
Biltmore
and
the
the
future
of
our
people,"
Kagan
said.
youngest of six boys, Phillip
pledging financial support to fulfill
Somerset project. "Phil was a man of
"He was a taciturn man who had a
Stollman overcame the
Churgin's dream. They included Abra-
great
dignity
and
integrity
—
just
a
sharp
mind
and
who
kept
an
eye
on
Great Depression to become
ham Nusbaum, David Berris, Abra-
very fine person," Fisher said. "He was
the
Jewish
community
for
40
years."
a prominent builder and earn acco-
ham Borman, Herman Cohen,
dedicated to Jewish education and to
In 1958, the Stollmans built Con-
lades for his devotion to Jewish
Samuel Hechtman, Sol Kanat, Isadore
the Jewish people. When I was presi-
gregation
Mishkan
Israel
in
Oak
Park,
humanitarianism.
Muskovitz, Louis Pershin, Samuel
dent
of
the
Jewish
Federation,
I
where the oldest brother, Isaac Stoll-
A kind man who believed deeply in
Platt, Irving Schlussel, Morris Schaver,
named him to the executive commit-
man,
served
as
rabbi.
In
tzedakah, Stollman con-
Harry Sosnick, Daniel Temchin and
tee and he served with great distinc-
1964,
a
merger
made
the
tributed time and money to a
Tzvi Tomkiewicz.
tion. I treasured his friendship."
congregation
the
new
host of Jewish causes. They
With financing secured, construc-
When Israel Bonds emerged after
Lubavitch Center in Oak
included Akiva Hebrew Day
tion began. Bar-Ilan University
the State of Israel was created in 1948,
Park.
One
year
later,
Rabbi
School, Mizrachi, State of
opened near Tel Aviv in 1955 with 70
Phillip became an ambassador for the
Stollman became rabbi
Israel Bonds, Young Israel,
students; today, it boasts 25,000 on
organization in Detroit. "To make
emeritus
and
later,
with
the Allied Jewish Campaign,
five campuses. The Stollmans built
amends
for
his
past
anti-Semitic
Phillip's blessing, made
Sinai Hospital, Hillel Day
both
the Stollman Dormitory and
tirades,
even
Father
Charles
Coughlin
to
Israel.
aliyah
School of Metropolitan
Stollman Administration Building at
bought a $1,000 bond from my
Today, Mishkan Israel is
Detroit, Yeshiva Beth Yehu-
Bar-Ilan.
father," Gerald Stollman recalled. At
"a hive of activity, syna-
dah, Bar-Ilan University and
ROB ERT
Little wonder Bar-Ilan's Global
Gerald's bar mitzvah in 1951, Phillip
gogue
and
education
relat-
the Lubavitch movement.
A. S KLAR
Board of Trustees named Phillip hon-
responded enthusiastically to the
ed,
from
5
a.m.
until
2
In 1980, Stollman and his
Ed itor
orary chairman for life about a decade
dream of a guest, Dr. Pinchas Churgin
a.m." Kagan said. "It's prob-
sister-in-law Frieda co-earned
agd. He, Max and Frieda all
ably the only build-
the Detroit Jewish community's high-
earned honorary doctorates
ing to be so thoroughly used in
est honor for distinguished communi-
from the university.
the entire panoply of Jewish
ty service: the Fred M. Butzel Memor-
"Bar-Ilan will follow the
communal buildings in the
ial Award.
Stollman family's lead in con-
Detroit
area."
Stollman was revered throughout
stantly striving to be forever
The Stollmans also were the
the Diaspora and Israel by the time he
worthy of Phil's love and val-
founders,
builders
and
benefac-
died May 4 in Oakland County's
ues," said Leslie Goldstein,
tors of Young Israel of Oak-
Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital at 92 —
Bar-Ilan's Bloomfield Hills-
Woods in Oak Park. Phillip
77 years after he and his mother
based Midwest executive direc-
was president of that shul when
passed through Ellis' Island in New
tor.
it was located in Detroit.
York harbor to join the rest of their _
"My father was driven by a
Samuel Frankel, former
family in Detroit. He's buried at Har
religious conviction that you
president
of
Detroit's
Jewish
HaMenuchot in Jerusalem.
have an obligation to take care
Community Center and the
Stuart Teger, Akiva Hebrew Day
of those in need," Gerald Stoll-
United
Jewish
Foundation,
School president, said, "It's hard to
man said. "That help included
often
looked
to
Phillip
for
imagine ever replacing someone like
a
Jewish education and a
counsel. They were partners in
that. It's one of those cases where,
respect
for what it stood for —
Biltmore Properties, builders of
when they made him, they threw away
that
for
the Jewish people to
Troy's Somerset apartments,
the mold."
survive,
knowledge of our his-
golf course, shopping plaza and
Stollman, brother Max and sister-
tory and heritage was critical."
shopping
mall.
in-law Frieda helped found Akiva,
The first Detroit fundraiser
"I first met Phil Stollman 40
where they later established the Stoll-
for Bar-Ilan took place at the
years
ago
when
I
was
president
man Education Center. "Phil was a
home of Abraham Nusbaum.
of the Jewish Community
supporter, but not just financially,"
His son, Irving, remembers
Center on Curtis and Meyers,"
Teger said. "He was a roll-up-the-
Phillip as a humble man who
Frankel said. "When a com-
sleeves guy until recent years. We feel
became a mentor and teacher
munity issue came up, I called
a deep debt of gratitude to Phillip
to legions of Jews. "Phil really
on Phil, who was well respected
Stollman and the Stollman family."
got things done," Irving said.
by all groups. He took the time
Rabbi Yitschak Kagan, associate
"He was involved in forming
to
listen
and
was
very
thorough
director of the Farmington Hills-based
and maintaining institutions,
and
prudent."
Lubavitch Foundation, described
but was more than a philan-
No matter what role Stoll-
Phillip Stollman as a self-effacing man
thropist. He got involved and
man was called upon to fill in
who never wanted recognition. Kagan
wasn't
afraid to take responsi-
Phillip
Stollman
is
shown
in
1994
at
Congregation
the Detroit Jewish community,
recalls how Stollman, inspired by the
bility.
Shaarey
Zedek,
at
a
party
honoring
his
90th
birthday
and
the former Allied Jewish Cam-
Labavitcher rebbe, became a major
"And he was able to inspire
Bar-Ilan's 40th anniversary.
paign chairman and Sinai Hos-
supporter of the Lubavitch movement
other people to do the same."
pital boardrmember "was
and a Yiddish-speaking confidant of
Perhaps that's the ultimate legacy of
of Mizrachi, an Orthodox Zionist
always fair, always understanding of
Rabbi Berel Shemtov, the foundation's
Phillip
Stollman. His quiet demeanor
group hoping to create an Israeli uni-
other people's feelings," Frankel said.
regional director.
belied
his
knack for inspiring others to
versity that combined secular educa-
"More than my partner, he was my
The foundation saw Stollman as "a
tion
with
Jewish
studies,
where
science
give
of
themselves
on behalf of Klal
friend."
visionary in the field of Jewish educa-
the
Jewish
people. As Rabbi
Yisrael,
and
Judaism
were
taught
together.
At
Max Fisher, former president of the
tion, seeing long before others did
Kagan
so
aptly
put
it: "May his name
the
time,
Churgin
was
chancellor
of
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
how essential day-school education
❑
and
memory
be
blessed."
Yeshiva
University
in
New
York
City.
Detroit and one of Detroit's most
and Jewish-inspired higher education

A

5/22
1998

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