Zti it: A 1 believe," he said. He noted that he is only one generation removed from Poland, where his father was born. His education was first at Winterhalter Elementary School in Detroit, fol- lowed by Durfee Intermediate, Central High, and the University of Michigan. He began his career in his father's insurance business, and expanded from there into real estate development, the building business in partnership with the Holtzman and Silverman Co. (Village Green Apart- ments, etc.), and many investments. Among the lat- ter is his minority interest in Palace Sports and Entertainment, Inc., which owns and operates the Palace of Auburn Hills. An ardent Democrat and long-time financial supporter of Democrat candidates — he twice held $25,000-to- $100,000-per-person fund- raisers for Bill Clinton at his sprawling Bingham Farms estate — Hermelin first learned of his possible appointment about a year ago from Clinton's appoint- ments secretary. "She told me I was being considered for an ambas- sadorship and discussed a number of issues with me," he said. "I never sought or campaigned for an ambassadorial post, so the call was a surprise. A few days later, she called back and said I was being nominated for Norway. That country was available at the time, and, in someone's judgment, it was a good fit for me. Congressional approval fol- lowed quickly." The hectic pace of business deals, communal activities and charitable and philanthropic work came to an abrupt halt when he was appointed. Accepting the post meant making some sacrifices. The Norwegian ambassador's salary is $115,000 per year, a far cry from Hermelin's regular income. And his substantial invest- ments were moved into blind trusts — not knowing where his money is invested, he can make economic deci- sions without conflicts of interest. It was a major change for a man who normally made four "power" breakfast meetings almost every morn- ing at a Telegraph Road restaurant, lunch meetings on the go and often several meetings, family occasions and 1/20 1998 42 Detroit Jewish News The Challenges Of Keeping Kosher 1p racticing Judaism is a bit different in the land of the midnight sun. In the summer, when it's daylight almost all of the time, "it seems that Shabbos doesn't end until Sunday night," said Ambassador David Hermelin. In the winter, when there is hardly any daylight, Shabbat actually can begin as early as 1:20 p.m. Friday. "When people want to know when Shabbos starts, I usually say: `along about Wednesday,'" said Hermelin. Oslo has one synagogue, which is Orthodox with separate seating for men and women. The Hermelins often attend services, led by a rabbi who is a leader of a movement in Israel that is in the forefront of Orthodox for Pluralism. "There's no seven-layer cake at the Kiddush, but they serve fantastic herring and salmon," Hermelin quipped. To help kasher the kitchen at the official residence, the Hermelins brought chef Mark David with them from the Detroit area. "We can buy some kosher prod- ucts here," Hermelin said, noting with some amusement that the only kosher butcher is an Arab. But they can't buy locally as much as their busy entertainment schedule requires, "so we get a continual sup- ply of meat and other kosher foods from Detroit area butchers and deli- catessens. "It's sort of like the Berlin airlift; stuff is coming in here all of the time." ❑ — Bill Carroll social activities each evening. Hermelin and his wife, Doreen, who also has been active in communal and charitable endeavors, both attend- ed two weeks of intensive ambassador- ial training seminars in Washington, D.C., covering 15 topics ranging from administration to security. He spent 10 more days meeting with State, Department officials on specific for- eign policy issues. After a few farewell events in December, including a Sabbath service devoted to him at Congregation Shaarey Zedek that produced hearty laughter and thunderous applause — a rarity in any synagogue — the Hermelins headed to Norway. They were accompanied by many of the comforts of home — including some of their children and grandchildren. They moved into the American ambassador's official residence, a huge mansion in what could pass for the "Bloomfield Hills" section of Oslo. It was built in 1911 by architect Henrik Bull for petroleum magnate Hans Olsen, then sold to the U.S. govern- ment in 1924 for $125,000. Hermelin is the 17th U.S. ambassador to live there, succeeding Thomas Loftus of Wisconsin. They brought with them some fur- niture, paintings, photo albums and the like to decorate the 25-room building, which includes a huge main hall, a large dining room, kitchen, pantry, library, sitting rooms, grand drawing rooms, many terraces, guest bedrooms named after U.S. presi- dents, a play room, a couple of wash- ers and dryers, a staff room in the basement — and a room filled with nothing but closets. The household staff includes an Oslo chef, three maids, two gardeners (including a Detroiter), drivers with three" vehicles, and full-time security guards. The Hermelins have already left their mark on the residence with some renovations, including adding a small kitchen and dining nook upstairs to give them more privacy for meals. When they arrived, the place had one television set. Hermelin provided six more, mainly in the guest bedrooms, "so that visitors can keep up with world news. Hermelin said it was easiest to finance these changes and additions himself. Overall maintenance of the residence is paid for by the U.S. gov- ernment, "but there are very tight budgets and spending controls for embassies," he said. "Getting money isn't easy. All of the work is done by bid, bid and re-bid." " Official Duties, cial Parties Embassy staff say Hermelin has kept the joint jumping, with three or four major events a week, including business and cultural breakfasts, lunches, dinners, receptions and just plain social occasions. Staffers give them good marks for knowing how to entertain; "you can tell they've had a lot of experience," said one assistant.