Editorials

IN FOCUS

Demographic Study Needed

T

he Jewish Federation of Metropoli-
tan Detroit last did a major demo-
graphic study of the Detroit Jewish
community in 1989.
Given the changing faces of Jewish educa-
tion, synagogue affiliation and fund-raising for
Israel, it may be time for another.
At the very least, it's time for a smaller
demographic study focusing on the newest
Jewish areas of metro Detroit, including Com-
merce/Novi, Royal Oak/Ferndale,
Troy/Rochester Hills, Grosse Pointe and Ply-
mouth/Canton.
Otherwise, the Jewish Community Council
of Metropolitan Detroit will be stifled as it
tries to dissect and analyze the public feedback
from its ongoing series of Town Hall meetings.
Co-sponsored by The Jewish News, Town
Hall is designed to reach out to new Jewish
populations in the outskirts of metro Detroit.
Participants can hear about the various services
offered by affiliate agencies of the Jewish Corn-
munity Council. But more significantly, the
council can discover the unique needs of Jews
outside the core areas of southern Oakland
County.
The council will have no trouble probing
data from the meetings, but current demo-
graphics are essential to giving that data both
texture and context.
Consider the first meeting on Sept. 16 at
DMC Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital in the
lakes area around Commerce. Residents said

they wanted to meet other Jews in the area and
start a Jewish social group, perhaps with a reli-
gious component. Jewish trends they noticed
in the area: Russian immigrants, younger cou-
ples and empty nesters.
In truth, no one has a clear picture of how
many Jews live in the lakes area. Nor can any-
one pinpoint the makeup of families or how
observant they are. We can look at The Jewish
News' subscription list to estimate how many
Jews call the lakes area home. The findings,
however, wouldn't be as conclusive as a profes-
sional demographic study.
Jewish Community Council leaders believe -
they will find a younger audience at the next
Town Hall meeting, in the Royal Oak/Ferndale
area. Will the turnout be sufficient to draw up a
definitive blueprint for the area's Jewish needs?
That's doubtful. But, once again, the scope of
those needs and the potential for fulfilling them
would rise dramatically if fresh demographics,
professionally gathered, were added to the mix.
We believe a targeted demographic study of
the metro Detroit's newest Jewish areas would
provide insightful data that Federation, the
Jewish Community Council, their agencies, .
congregations and community organizations
could use to substantial public benefit in plan-
ning and decision making. As part of this
smaller, focused study, Federation could mea-
sure the "cost versus benefit" of doing another
major demographic study similar to the data-
rich one done a decade ago.

More than 60 friends, relatives and Jewish War Veterans mem-
bers attended a surprise party Sept. 13 for Corrine "Cookie"
Oppenheim, 75, of Southfield. Her three children — daugh-
ters Patti and Reggie and son Ely — hosted the party. Oppen-
heim is past president of the JWV Department of Michigan
Ladies Auxiliary and the Robert Rafelson Post 431. She's a
member of the National Council of Jewish Women, the League
of Jewish Women's Organizations and the National Conference
for Community and Justice (formerly the Greater Detroit
Interfaith Round Table of the National Conference of Chris-
tians and Jews). At right is husband Mort. Daughter Patti is at
left.

❑

Getting Together Jewishly

rides and carnival games
unday's Family
outdoors, the accent was on
Reunion Picnic
old-fashioned fun. As
was a glorious
promised, there was no 'hint
kickoff for the
0 of solicitation, despite the
nine-month-long celebra-
1999 Allied Jewish Cam-
tion of the 100th anniver-
paign's Super Sunday just
sary of organized Jewish
three weeks away.
philanthropy in Detroit. It
Centennial celebration
proved to be a great way to
organizers hope to identify
get together Jewishly.
10,000 Jews who aren't
It didn't matter if you
involved in the Detroit Jew-
were observant, unaffiliated
ish community and inspire
or secular. It was an after-
them to get involved —
noon of friendship, favors
emotionally, spiritually,
and food at the Kahn Jew-
financially and activitywise.
ish Community Center in
They're well on their way,
West Bloomfield.
based on the eclectic mix of
From the Shabbat and
participants Sunday.
holiday activities for kids
We thank the picnic co-
indoors at "Apples &
sponsors — the Jewish Fed-
Honey And Lots, Lots
eration of Metropolitan
Oak Park's Yisroel and Adam Mon-
More," sponsored by the
droe dip candles at "Apples d7 Honey" Detroit and its banking/real
Agency for Jewish Educa-
estate partner, the United
tion of Metropolitan
Jewish Foundation of Metropolitan Detroit —
Detroit's Jewish Experiences For Families, to
for a fine organizational effort. ❑
the bring-your-hands-together music, pony

S

Horsing Around

LITTERS

DMC/Sinai
Generates Pride

I see no shadow on Sinai
("Shadows On Sinai" Sept.
11). When I walk through
the doors each morning, I
see Jewish names- that make
me proud: Blumberg, Fish-
man, Fisher, Rose, Nevins,
Jospey, Zuckerman, Berry,
Srere,-Sobel, Winkelman,
Frank, Hechtman, Shiffman
and many, many more.
Sinai was built brick by
brick by the Jewish commu-
nity to save the sick — a
strong tradition that teaches,
by example, that if you save
one life, it is as if you saved
an entire world.
The Sinai name is our
family name. We can blend
our family or merge with a
family named Grace. How-
ever, when the world looks,

DMC/Sinai Hospital dates
back to 1953.
they see the name Sinai. The
name carries memories of
our past and a promise of a
future.
The real stars of Sinai are
the trusted employees and
volunteers — individuals
who work together to ensure
a heritage that generations
to come will be proud of.
LETTERS on page 34

10/2

1998

Detroit Jewish News 31