EDITOrS WATCH

Pearl and Mike Zeltzer: Deserving Recipients
Of National Jewish Cultural Arts Award

tion and the United Jewish Founda-
very once in a while, a cou-
tion of Metropolitan Detroit.
ple comes along whose
Mike is a founder, past president
leadership, kindness and
and former chairman of the NFJC.
generosity converge to
He's a former board member of the
enrich a community's cultural life.
Council of Jewish Federations, which
West Bloomfield's Pearl and
founded the NFJC in 1960. Pearl is a
George "Mike" Zeltzer are
NFJC committee member.
such a couple.
The NFJC is the nation-
To honor their nourish-
al address for Jewish cultur-
ment of Jewish culture and
al preservation and renewal.
scholarship both locally and
It works with artists, schol-
nationally, they'll receive the
ars, cultural institutions
National Foundation for
and community agencies to
Jewish Culture Patron's
elevate American Jewish life
Award on Thursday, Sept.
through the arts and
17, at Tam O'Shanter Coun-
humanities.
try Club in West Bloom-
The foundation supports
ROBERT A.
field.
three
key areas: scholarships
SKLAR
"We're giving back to the
for
doctoral
candidates in
Editor
community some of what
Jewish studies; development
we've taken out," said Pearl,
of research libraries, archives and
an activist in several Jewish commu-
museums with major Judaica collec-
nal organizations as well as an ambas-
tions; and upgrades in theater, music
sador for Brandeis University.
and local cultural programs.
"If you want to have a quality Jew-
The newest upgrade is dubbed
ish life here in this country, and iden-
Artist Residencies in Jewish Commu-
tify with it, you have to have a world
nities. It allows local Jewish and cul-
of Jewish culture. Otherwise, you
tural institutions to team up with.
have just a very plain life," said Mike,
artists to explore Jewish identity in
a founder of Habonim in Detroit.
search of community enrichment.
Mike, a retired president of Ameri-
"What we're doing through the
can Federal Savings, is past president
NFJC, in cooperation with the world
and former executive vice president
of art, is bringing to the Jewish com-
of the Jewish Federation of Metropol-
munity something they need," said
itan Detroit. He's co-chairman of
Mike, who remembers writers, play-
Wayne State University's Cohn-Had-
wrights and artists staying with his
dow Center for Judaic Studies, of
family when he was a child. "We
which he and Pearl are benefactors.
must have Jewish culture. People
He's also a board member of Federa-
don't want just a plain life."

a people that stood firm against the
primitive chords of idolatry-from our
very beginning would need to seek spir-
ituality in the context of a religion that
contains significant idolatrous tones.
In truth, the Torah is the greatest
source of spiritual light. We are for-
bidden to turn to other theologies,
regardless of what positive elements
they contain. It is tragic when those
who search are so unaware of the trea-
sures that are to be found in our own
back yard.
Rabbi C. Grubner
M'nahel
Rabbi S. Zachariash
Rabbi E. Silberberg
Rabbi E. Goldberg
Presidium
Council of Orthodox Rabbis
of Greater Detroit

selves Yiddish culturalists, have
The United Jewish Foundation
helped shape new models of commu-
administers the Zeltzers' philanthrop-
nal support for the arts through ini-
ic fund. The couple co-manages the
tiatives like the Detroit Jewish com-
George M. and Pearl A. Zeltzer
munity's National Fellowship for Jew-
Foundation.
ish Demographic Study. They also
The dinner and award ceremonies
have built cooperative links between
will mark the first time the NFJC
the Jewish Federation of Metropoli-
presents its highest award outside of
tan Detroit and NFJC's Jewish
New York City. And there's good rea-
Endowment for the Arts and
son to do so. Says NFJC executive
Humanities, making its easier for cul-
director Richard Siegel: "Mike and
tural patrons to support local
Pearl have been among the
and national Jewish causes
most enlightened sponsors
simultaneously. Mike is
of the arts and humani-
founding chairman of
ties in Jewish life."
the endowment's
Their longstanding
board of overseers.
support of Jewish
The two met by
scholarship, includ-
chance
at Fresh Air
ing the NFJC's Jew-
Camp
when
he was
ish Cultural
a
boys
counselor
Achievement
and she was camp
Awards in Scholar-
nurse.
They got
ship, helped fuel the
married
six weeks
explosion of Jewish
later.
The
year was
studies programs on
1948.
college campuses
They're now among
today. "And their recent
the
brightest
stars in
creation of the Pearl
Detroit's
firmament
Zeltzer Fund for
of
Jewish
commu-
Jewish Choreogra-
Mike and Pearl Zeltzer "By giving nal leaders. "We've
phy provides impor-
ourselves, we're doing by example.
been a partnership
tant support for the
We hope other people will follow."
involved with Jew-
preservation and
ish culture and edu-
documentation of
cation
since
we
were
married 50 years
contemporary dance," Siegel said.
ago,"
said
Mike
proudly.
Siegel described their advocacy for
The latest issue of Federation's
cultural_excellence at the highest lev-
Quarter
Century Club newsletter,
els of Jewish communal life, national-
ly and locally, as "unparalleled."
AWARD on page 36
The Zeltzers, who consider them-

The intent to entertain through
music and dance was quite different
from performance. Did it occur to the
chairperson that she lost attention of
I was surprised to read that the chair-
the audience not because of rudeness
person for the opening ceremonies of
or impatience, but because the
the JCC Maccabi Games chose
level of performance was not
Detroit athletes suited to the forum?
to blame the athletes for the
march in dur- Most disappointing, however,
debacle that occurred during
ing the JCC
those ceremonies ("Performers
was that as a direct result of
Maccabi
Games
Recognized" Aug. 28).
the perceived need to "edu-
opening cere-
Indeed! Let us give the
cate" and "instruct" the audi-
monies.
Maccabi athletes and mem-
ence — the athletes for whom
bers of our community credit
this ceremony was created —
for intelligence, patience and under-
were prevented from experiencing the
standing. Few, if any of us, needed to
meaningful athlete's oath at torch
be "educated" by the committee or
lighting.
have them "instill in us a sense of
Perhaps it is the committee that
pride in the Jewish state." To partici-
needs "education" and "instruction"
pate in the Maccabi event is, by exam-
rather than the community at large.
ple, an expression of pride in one's
Estelle T. Brown
Jewish identity and, by extension,
Bloomfield Hills
pride in the Jewish state.

Give Credit
Where It's Due

9/11

1998

Detroit Jewish News

33