.EDITOR'S WATCH

Philanthropist William Davidson:
Reclusive, But Very Charitable

O

Sukkah Use Was
Misunderstood

a- Thank you for printing my letter on
Oct. 23 regarding the sukkah that is
now in the Israel Museum in
Jerusalem. There is, however, one cor-
rection to be made.
In the letter, it was said that the
sukkah was used by my relatives as a
"loft." That is incorrect. The sukkah
was used as a /ifi-, a container into
# which those fleeing from Nazi Ger-
many placed whatever belongings they
could take with them. The sukkah was
then used as a shipping crate.
Why then was this crate/sukkah
placed on display in the museum? My
relatives had artistically painted the inte-
rior of the sukkah. Had the Germans
inspected the inside, they probably
would not have permitted the sukkah to

be shipped to Israel. The outside walls of
the sukkah were plain and unpainted
and, thus, it passed the test of being
only a shipping crate. My relatives then
donated the artistic sukkah, which had
been used as a lift, to the museum.
Elsie Buehler Simkovitz
Oak Park

Rabbi Franklin
Exhibit Extended

Readers of the Oct. 23 In Focus col-
umn may be interested to learn that the
"Seeds of Understanding: The Legacy of
Rabbi Leo M. Franklin" program, co-
sponsored by the Rabbi Leo M.
Franklin Archive of Temple Beth El and
the Ecumenical Institute for Christian-
Jewish Studies, was dedicated to the
memory of the Rev. James Lyons, Insti-

for Israel to grow its economy, attract
able to do it is reward enough for me."
"What makes him particularly
foreign capital and, in turn, enhance its
long-term economic security'!
unique," said ATS National President
Earlier, the Auburn Hills industrialist
Larry Jackier, a Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit vice president, "is
gave $30 million to the University of
Michigan to start the Ann Arbor-based
that everything Bill Davidson does has a
concept — a vision. He thinks through
William Davidson Institute for nations
moving from command to market
everything that he does. Israel is a light
unto the nations in a technological way.
economies. He gave $15 million to the
And Bill Davidson
Jewish Theological Seminary
embraces that view."
of America in New York
"What gives life mean-
City to create the William
ing and sanctity are the
Davidson Graduate School
things that endure and
of Jewish Education. A
don't change — the val-
Davidson gift to the Israel
ues of human dignity and
Antiquities Authority estab-
faith, of integrity, loyalty
lished the Davidson Archeo-
and education," said
logical Park near the West-
Rabbi Irwin Groner of
ern Wall in Jerusalem.
Congregation Shaarey
Davidson is president and
Zedek. "It is those values
CEO of Guardian Industries
that
shaped Bill David-
(the world's fourth largest
William Davidson: a
son's
life."
flat glass manufacturer),
believer in high-tech
"If we had a Hall of Fame
managing partner of the
business.
for those who put their
Detroit Pistons and Palace
money where their heart is," U. S. Sen.
Sports & Entertainment, and principal
Carl Levin of Michigan said, "Bill
investor in Phoenicia America-Israel
Davidson would be there."
(Flat Glass) Limited in the Central
Whatever Davidson's charitable
Galilee, Detroit Jewry's Partnership
motives, I'm impressed not only by his
2000 sister region.
grasp of Israel's economic inner work-
But Davidson, 1992 winner of the
ings, but also his willingness to donate a
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
huge amount of money half a world
Detroit's highest honor, the Fred M.
away to fulfill a personal dream rooted
Butzel Memorial Award, seldom s
in the advancement of education.
in public. So I was as intrigued to see
him as I was to hear what he had to say
at last week's dinner.
To leave a voice mail message for
In recounting his $30 million gift to
Robert Sklar, please call (248)
The Technion, he said simply: "I only
354-6060, ext. 258.
did what I felt needed to be done. To be

tute founder and former executive
director.
Right: Exhibit arti-
The modera-
facts include the
tor, Dr. Daniel
groundbreaking
shov-
Kirchbaum, and
el
used
at
the
Elliot
the panelists —
Street building that
the Rev. John
once housed Temple
Budde, the Rev.
Beth El in Detroit.
Bruce Quatman
and Rabbi
Daniel Syme — serve on the Ecumeni-
cal Institute board.
We offer a warm welcome to David
Blewett, who succeeds Jim Lyons at
the Institute. We hope he and other
members of the community who still
want to see the exhibit at Temple Beth
El will do so. The exhibit has been
extended through November.
Mary Shapero
Chair, Franklin Archive
Temple Beth El

Photo by Krista Husa

Israel bills itself as second to Califor-
ne by one, speakers went to
nia's
Silicon Valley in high tech .start-up
the podium to toast William
companies.
But Israeli leaders acknowl-
"Bill" Davidson, one of the
edge that the country doesn't have
Detroit Jewish community's
enough high tech managers to take
industrial, entrepreneurial and philan-
advantage of that lofty ranking.
thropic giants.
In accepting the Albert Einstein
They were there to honor him as
Award from Henry Taub,
winner of the American Tech-
chairman of ATS' Interna-
nion Society's 1998 Albert Ein-
tional Board of Governors,
stein Award in recognition of
before 400 well wishers last
his "exemplary commitment
week,
Davidson said: "Israeli
to, and support of, the Jewish
business, as well as industry,
people and the State of Israel."
cannot settle for second-
The occasion was the ATS •
best."
Detroit Chapter's annual din-
When he made his $30
ner Oct. 21 at the Henry Ford
million
gift nearly two years
Museum in Dearborn.
ROBE
RT
A.
ago,
Davidson
said: "With
In one of the largest gifts
more
scientists
and
engineers
S
KL
AR
ever for management educa-
per capita than almost any
Ed itor
tion, Davidson, 75, gave $30
other country, and with The
million to ATS back in 1996
Technion
adding
to these numbers each
to create a world-class management
year,
Israel
is
rich
in brainpower. It has a
school at The Technion-Israel Institute
critical
need,
however,
to equip its tech-
of Technology, a scientific and techno-
nological
pioneers
with
the skills neces-
logical center for applied research and
sary
to
translate
successes
in the labora-
education in Haifa. New York City-
tory
into
an
edge
in
the
global
competi-
based ATS is the 74-year-old university's
tion
for
markets,
customers
and
capital.
U.S. support arm.
The
Technion
is
uniquely
positioned
to
The William Davidson School of
fill
this
need
by
bringing
a
new
synergy
International Management, on course to
to the scientific and management disci-
open by 2000 and still tentatively
plines.
"
named, will cater to university graduates
Davidson,
whose business ties to
and executives trained in science and
Israel
span
40
years, has long dreamed of
engineering. It will teach high tech man-
a
school
in
the
Jewish homeland that
agement skills required by technology-
could
graduate
managers with the
based, export-oriented companies. A
know-how
to
transform
high tech con-
research center in the study of managing
cepts
into
marketable
products.
technology also is planned. Eventual
He believes "technology-based indus-
enrollment capacity will be 2,500 sat-
try
represents a tremendous opportunity
dents.

10/30

1998

