And Still
Teaching

Kol Ami's founder, Rabbi Ernst Conrad, celebrates
learning and hopes for American Jewry.

Illi

HARRY KIRSBAUM
StaffWriter

ours before a
packed Friday
night service at
Temple Kol Ami
commemorating his 50 plus
years as a teacher and leader,
Rabbi Emeritus Ernst Conrad
short, slightly rumpled,
with a shock of white hair
and goatee — ruminated
about the past and the future.
As founding rabbi of
Temple Kol Ami in 1966, he
said the Temple had its place
in the burgeoning Reform
movement, "because it want-
ed to be part of the cultures
that surrounded us, maintain-
ing our identity but absorbing
what was best in those sur-
rounding cultures. Building
bridges with groups that
might be different from us,
that we are all in the same
society."
Rabbi Ernst Conrad of Temple Kol Ami
Rabbi Conrad, ordained at
the Hebrew Union College
but "creative survival — loyalty to
(HUC) in 1947, looked forward to the
Jewish
family values, intellectual free-
honor, which included a speech on the
dom, the love of the book and culture
Reform movement by Michael Meyer,
in general, are values I always try to
a HUC professor of history, and the
perpetuate in my teaching career.
accolades of rabbis and friends.
Rabbi Conrad disagrees with those
"You know, a little ego boost here
who
believe the world is becoming
and there we all need," quipped the
more
ecumenical, and that Jews should
77-year-old, married for 39 years to
concentrate
more on Jewish internal
Nathalie, the Temple's music director.
matters
than
society as a whole.
As American Jews face assimilation
"One
of
the
reasons we founded our
and intermarriage, he is not as worried
congregation in 1966 was to be part of
as some about the future.
the community as a whole, to create
"I am not one of the pessimists who
more bridges — not just for Christians,
believes that we will disappear by 2050.
but also for Moslems and other people
I do believe that we will continue."
who
lived in the area," he said.
Rabbi Conrad said the numbers of
Involved
in the Michigan Coalition
Jews may shrink, causing a loss of a
for
Human
Rights,
Rabbi Conrad said
certain amount of political influence,
an inter racial, intercultural and inter-
class exchange is needed, "because we
Harry Kirsbaum can be reached at
have to live together with these groups
(248) 354-6060, ext. 244, or by e-mail
and create bonds."
at hkirsbaum@thejewishnews.com

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16 Detroit Jewish News

