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Marvin Berlin `Raised The Level Of Tzedaka'

in New Jersey and Baltimore.
But Rabbi Zachariash said Yeshiva
Beth Yehudah was Mr. Berlin's home:
"He davened there daily and was involved
e was a man who excelled
in its activities."
professionally and who
Rabbi Eli Mayerfeld, the Southfield-
soared in his community
based
yeshiva's executive director, said
accomplishments. Marvin
Mr.
Berlin
was a man with insight into
Berlin was a "colossus philanthropist,
what needed to be done. In a time of
with grand sweeping visions in both the
turmoil, when the future (of the yeshiva)
business world and in Jewish communal
was
uncertain and no one knew what to
life, never forgetting the needs or the
do,"
Mayerfeld said, "Mr. Berlin led a
welfare of any individual Jew," said his
group
of people who rebuilt the infra-
cousin Dov Loketch — words widely
structure of the school spiritually, finan-
echoed.
cially and educationally."
Rabbi Shaiall Zachariash of
Yeshiva President Gary Torgow called
Congregation Shomrey Emunah
Berlin
"an extraordinary, gifted and gen-
described Mr. Berlin, who died March 22
erous
human
being — deeply committed
of cancer, as a man remembered "for his
to his family, his community and the
essence, not for his place in the business
continuity of the Jewish people."
world."
Upper-school classes were cancelled
More than 1,000 mourners paid trib-
Tuesday at the yeshiva in Southfield and
ute Tuesday to Mr. Berlin who, as a part-
its Sally Allan Alexander Beth Jacob
ner in New York Carpet World for 30
School
For Girls in Oak Park to allow
years, was seen as a successful business-
students
and staff to attend the funeral.
man, but who could also be found in the
Students
lined Greenfield Road on their
synagogue, undistracted from prayer.
way to the funeral at Hebrew Memorial
His opportunity to learn and partici-
Chapel in tribute to their school's hon-
pate in prayer came later in life. As an
orary president.
adult, unconditionally devoted to his
To further Mr. Berlin's memory, the
family, he looked for a way to guide his
younger
students gathered outside their
children in areas that would make a dif-
buildings, to greet the funeral procession
ference.
as it made stops at each school.
He found the knowledge he sought
Rabbi Freedman said Mr. Berlin
from Rabbi Avraham Abba Freedman,
"loved people, loved the world, loved
who became his teacher, conducting
Eretz Yisroel." Mr. Berlin always wanted
Torah classes in the Berlin home for 35
everyone to enjoy life. He and his wife
years.
Alice often honored friends by hosting
But his interest went beyond study,
their simchas.
when he became involved with Rabbi
Always concerned for others, he wor-
Zachariash, who was starting a new syna-
ried
that, in his illness, it would be a bur-
gogue. First offering his basement for ser-
den
for
his family to visit him when he
vices, Mr. Berlin then provided major
was hospitalized in New York. When he
assistance to buy the land and build
and business partner Irving Nusbaum
Shomrey Emunah in Southfield, then the
sold New York Carpet World three years
Congregation Ohel Moed — Shomrey
ago, they thought about the future of
Emunah in West Bloomfield.
their employees and their jobs.
Mr. Berlin's son William said his
Mr. Berlin's son William said, "He
"was
more
important
than
all
father's shul
built
his life from the ground up."
the carpet stores in the world."
Professionally,
it was as owner of "the
To Mr. Berlin, loyalty was of the
largest specialty retail carpet business in
utmost importance. He gave it and he
the world." In the community, it was
expected it. "There is nothing he would-
with
"his devotion to Judaism and infi-
n't do for a friend," Rabbi Zachariash
nite charity on all levels."
said.
With his family, Mr. Berlin "taught
Fulfilling the highest level of tzedaka,
hard work and reverence of God."
helping to sustain a person before he
William Berlin said his father "lived
became impoverished, Mr. Berlin was
for
others first, himself second," describ-
accessible to those in need. Many who
ing him as a man whose "outer strength"
came to him were New Americans. He
was "a product of his inner love, kindness
quietly offered jobs, down payments, a
and charity."
loan.
Mr. Berlin is survived by his wife,
"He raised the level of tzedaka," Rabbi
Alice; sons and daughters-in-law William
Zachariash said, "but didn't want his
and Missy Berlin of Oak Park, Max and
name mentioned, didn't want credit."
Elana Berlin of Southfield; daughters and
Active in many community organiza-
sons-in-law
Caren and Dr. Jeffrey
tions, Mr. Berlin was especially devoted
Goldenberg of Southfield, Gail and Dr.
to extolling the need for Jewish educa-
Jack Schwarcz of Oak Park; sister Laura
tion. He fervently supported the Kollel
Beneson; grandchildren Elly Goldenberg,
and Yeshiva Gedolah, as well as yeshivot

SHELLI DORFMAN
Editorial Assistant

E

3/26
1999

Leah Goldenberg, Chavie Goldenberg,
Joseph Schwarcz, Aiden Schwarcz, Gaby
Schwarcz, Binyomin Berlin, Malky
Berlin, Dena Berlin, Leah Berlin, Yaakov
Berlin, Rebecca Berlin and Amanda
Berlin.

Contributions may be made to
Yeshiva Beth Yehudah, P.O. Box 2044,
Southfield, MI 48037.
Interment was at Westwood Cemetery
in Inkster, with services and arrange-
ments by Hebrew Memorial Chapel. El

Harry Weznsaft, Aboard Exodus'

the American Jewish Joint
Distribution Committee, aiding dis-
placed persons in camps outside
Vienna. He was recruited by the
arty Weinsaft was a
Haganah and participated in running
refugee, Jewish freedom
guns and ammunition to Palestine,
fighter and artist — a
as well as refugees. "We broke every
colorful man who led an
law in the world to bring Jews to
illustrious life.
Palestine. We traveled like pirates on
A long-time supporter of Israel
the sea," he said.
and its aimed forces,
Mr. Weinsaft recalled
Mr. Weinsaft died
the
boat Exodus. "It was
March 16 at age 75.
the
same
kind of boat as
His personal exodus
the
Boblo
boat. We
began as a frightened
bought
it
off
the scrap
teenager on a ship leav-
heap.
It
was
no
Love
ing Nazi-controlled
Boat,
I
guarantee
— hor-
Austria in 1938.
rible
conditions.
Fifty-five
American Olympic
hundred people were
track star Jesse Owen,
packed on a ship meant
also on the boat, told
for considerably fewer
him in German, "You
Harry Weins aft
than
that." When the
don't have to worry. You're
intercepted
by the
was
Exodus
a free man now
taken back
was
British,
Mr.
Weinsaft
Nine years later, as a U.S. Army
to
Europe
on
a
British
prison
ship.
veteran working for the Haganah, he
Mr. Weinsaft served with speakers
was security officer on the Jewish
bureaus for the Anti-Defamation
ship Exodus in its mission to smuggle
League and the United Jewish
Holocaust survivors past the British
Appeal,
raising money for Israel across
blockade into Palestine. He later
the
United
States. Before he was dis-
served as a technical adviser to direc-
abled,
Mr.
Weinsaft returned to Israel
tor Otto Preminger in filming the
for
a
reunion
of the Exodus crew.
movie Exodus.
Harry
Weinsaft
is survived by his
Mr. Weinsaft moved to Detroit in
wife Madeline; daughters and son-
1953. He owned a fine arts gallery at
in-law Susan Craft of Farmington
the Kingsley Inn in Bloomfield Hills
Hills, Pamela and Kenneth Bloom of
and auctioned art for churches, syna-
West
Bloomfield; son and daughter-
gogues and charitable organizations.
in-law
Joshua and Vera Weiser of
After a stroke in 1989, he resided
Fairbanks,
Alaska; grandchildren
at Borman Hall, Jewish Home for
Jason
and
Alex
Craft, Jennifer,
the Aged, where he painted under
Stephanie and Natalie Bloom, Julian
the pseudonym "Hagar in a small
and Martin Weiser; sister and broth-
studio created for him.
er-in-law Sophie and Nathan Holz
Mr. Weinsaft, in a 1990 interview
of Forest Hills, N.Y. He was the
with The Jewish News, recalled not
brother of the late Naomi Mador.
feeling particularly Jewish growing
Interment was in Kibbutz Asikim
up in Vienna. But that changed
in
the
Jordan Valley of Israel.
when he returned to Europe with the
Contributions
may be directed to
U.S. Army and helped liberate death
the Michigan Friends of the Israel
camps. "When I got a whiff of the
Defense Forces, P.O. Box 3172,
first concentration camp, it made me
Farmington Hills, MI 48333-3172.
a Jew," he said.
Arrangements
by Kaufman Chapel.
After leaving the Army, he joined

DAVID SACHS
Editorial Assistant

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