EDITOR'S WATCH
Redefining Its Mission Will Help To Keep
The Jewish Community Center Relevant
raisers, the JCC has eased lingering
tensions with those organizations
while instantly legitimizing its effort.
To demonstrate its support, Federa-
—Rabbi Chayim of Tsanz don has asked two top officers —
chief operating officer Mark Davidoff
ithout a sharper, more
and executive vice president Bob
enticing Jewish focus,
Aronson — to assist the two-campus
the Jewish Community
JCC. "There's a history in the Detroit
Center of Met-
Jewish community of
ropolitan Detroit will lose its
rebuilding our community
reason for being.
centers," Davidoff said.
Make no mistake about
"This time, we're going to
that.
reinvent ourselves in the
I've followed the fortunes
same locations."
of the JCC for more than half
JCC President Larry
of its 72 years of existence,
Wolfe was refreshingly open
back to when it was based at
in a recent interview when
Meyers and Curtis in north-
he acknowledged the Cen-
west Detroit. I've seen
ROB ERT A.
ter "needs to become more
promising dreams dashed.by
S KLAR
Jewish, more spiritually
disharmony, mismanagement
Ed itor
functional, by offering more
or lack of funding.
Judaic programming and
Still, I'm optimistic about
enrichment opportunities."
the potential of the JCC's $25-million
He envisions the JCC becoming a
capital and endowment drive.
place Jews "can feel Jewish, while
I'm especially pleased it's part of the
learning about being Jewish in any
$50-million millennium campaign
manner they choose."
undertaken by the Jewish Federation
And that's crucial because Jewish
of Metropolitan Detroit and the Unit-
education is a linchpin to Jewish con-
ed Jewish Foundation of Metropolitan
tinuity from one generation to the
Detroit. The campaign also envisions
next. Our future as a people hinges on
a Federation-supervised endowment to
strong study programs in all streams,
fund a range of Jewish life experiences
and at all age levels, of Judaism.
— from day and congregational
To the extent it can supplement
school enrichment to first-time visits
what our day and congregational
to Israel.
schools;our synagogues, and the
By partnering with Federation and
Agency for Jewish Education of Met-
UJF, and having access to the skills
ropolitan Detroit are providing, while
and professionalism of their top fund-
simultaneously reaching the unaffiliat-
"When we go our separate ways, we may
go astray; let us join hands and look for
the way together."
IV
Service" Aug. 14), Harry Kirsbaum
writes, "No one knows exactly how
many kosher restaurants once existed
in the Detroit area ..."
That's probably true, although
those of us who study local Jewish his-
tory can make an educated guess.
Part of the problem in calculating
the number of kosher eateries is the
fact that the word "kosher" can be used
by anyone, and we have few means of
determining if an establishment in the
distant past was managed within the
guidelines of Halachah (Jewish law).
What was promoted as kosher to
the public and what was accepted as
kosher by diners might not have been
kosher at all.
Some places called themselves kosher
simply because they did not serve pork.
Others said they were kosher because
even though their kitchens were treifi,
thy offered what used to be called
"kosher style," i.e. traditional Jewish_cui-
sine. Other restaurants might very well
have been perfectly kosher.
The first restaurants identified as
kosher that I can find are from the
early 1910s, all located on Hastings
Street: National Kosher Dairy Restau-
rant, Odessa Kosher Dairy Restaurant
and Lunch Room and Max Wein-
stein's Kosher Private Restaurant and
Lunch Room. Since then, I'd say
Detroit has seen at least 40 more eat-
ing establishments identified as kosher.
Phillip Applebaum
Oak Park
We Invoke
Higher Authority
As a Conservative Jew, I am delighted
to offer my support, encouragement
caliber of leaders
ed, the JCC will truly have
tapped by the JCC
touched our collective
and Federation to
neshama, our Jewish soul.
oversee the drive to
Who doesn't want to see
raise $17 million for
the JCC live up to its "some-
building improve-.
thing for all" billing —
ments and $8 mil-
whether your interest is a
lion
for a permanent
senior meal, summer camp or
endowment
— des-
child care, or taking a class,
tined to benefit both
attending a lecture, visiting
JCC campuses.
the library, hosting a wed-
Herman Frankel,
ding, viewing fine art, watch-
a respected builder
ing a play or working out?
who would never
Over the years, I've wit-
risk his reputation on
nessed some of
anything slipshod, is
the JCC's
Above:
chairing the D. Dan
most-significant
Hugh
& Betty Kahn Build-
problems: bud-
Green-
berg: JCC ing renovation com-
get deficits,
mittee with a strictly
capital
tactless staff,
businessman-like
and
maze-like corri-
endow-
approach. So when
dors, distant
ment
he says the "new"
parking, out-
drive
Kahn Building in
dated fitness
chairman. West Bloomfield will
equipment,
be as fine a JCC as
limited Judaic
there is anywhere in the country,
programming.
I'm intrigued.
And I've had
"Our intent," he said, under-
my health club
Herman
Frankel:
Kahn
scoring
his faith in what's
locker emptied
Building
renovation
com-
planned,
"is to make members
by staff— and
mittee chairman.
and guests feel welcome, feel at
my workout
home."
gear inexplica-
Frankel has left no stone
bly misplaced.
unturned. He even considered demol-
Federation's Davidoff says the JCC's
ishing the 23-year-old Kahn Building
$8.25-million operating budget is now
and
starting over. But his committee
balanced; and that's laudable. But
decided
renovations there would be
from my perspective, the heat is on to
keep it compliant:
JCC on page 36
Beyond that, I'm impressed by the
the wonderful feeling of sitting down
and congratulations to Mr. Paul
in the company of another Jew to eat
Kohn. He is about to bring to us a
a kosher meal. It feels Jewish; it feels
needed component of our lives as
right.
Jews, a kosher restaurant ("At Your
Mazel tov, Paul; may you succeed in
Service" Aug. 14). Mr. Kohn is a
your new project. I feel fortunate to
superb caterer, a learned Jew and a
know that there are people like you to
smart business person.
help us increase
I would like to make
our commitment
the Conservative and
to Judaism.
Reform constituency of
May all of us
our community aware of
have a wonderful
this kosher restaurant.
1 year, a happy
This new facility will
year, a sweet year
allow our Jewish commu-
and a "kosher"
nity to adhere consistent-
new year.
ly and meaningfully to
the tradition of our
Rabbi
ancestors.
Leonardo
I am hoping that we
Bitran
will see each other at this
Congregation
new kosher restaurant to
Shaarey Zedek
Paul Kohn: "May you succeed"
enjoy a kosher meal and
B'nai Israel
.
8/21
1998
Detroit Jewish News
35