The way g 6 ' We Learn \s o Edward Meer, whose donation helped make the new early childhood center a reality, is shown with 5-year-old kindergarten students Tova Miriam Eizelman, Necha Esther Levitz, Esther Feuer and Galitie Avigayil Grossbard. The center will make a great differ- ence in reducing overcrowding at the school's.main building, while provid- ing a special place for the noisy, messy learning activities that preschoolers need. This is not the first time the Meer family has made sizable donations to the cause of Jewish education. Recently, the family paid for a new science lab at the Sally Allen Alexander Beth Jacob School for Girls in Oak Park, also run by the Yeshiva. The Norma Jean and Edward Meer Jewish Apartments, a 100-unit corn- plex to be built for seniors on the Eugene and Marcia Applebaum Jewish Community Campus in West Bloomfield, is another product of the family's philanthropy. The Meer con- tribution was $1.5 million. Edward Meer, founder of the Canton-based dental supply company that bears his name, toured the early childhood building last week with some of the children who will go to school there later this fall. The Bloomfield Hills resident is a quiet T., man, not given to long speeches or self-promotion. His enthusiasm for the new building is tempered by grief over the death of his wife in January. "We were cently set," he said. We didn't neec the money, so we decided to helf out. Completion of the 15,500-square- foot building s' .ould cost just under $1.6 million. A :cording to Howard Neistein, plane ng director for the ing is located next to Yeshiva Beth Jewish Federati n of Metropolitan Yehudah's Milton and Lois Shiffman Detroit, the $1 million Meer contri- Boys Building, on Lincoln Road west bution was supr lemented by about of Greenfield in Southfield. $100,000 of in- zind donations from The Meer Early Childhood vendors. A $550,000 loan taken by Development Center will serve about the United Jewish Foundation, 150 children, both boys and girls. Federation's real estate/banking arm, on behalf of the school provided the remaining funds. The loan brings the total to slightly more than what's needed for the Meer Center; the remainder will be used at other Yeshiva properties, Neistein said. The school and Federation will split new building next to Yeshiva repaying the loan. A The early childhood center is Beth Yehudah will serve the made up of 10 classrooms surround- Orthodox community's nursery ing a central meeting area. Each room has its own external doors leading to school students and kindergartners. The dedication is Sunday for the Norma Jean and Edward Meer Early Childhood Development Center. DIANA LIEBERMAN Staff Writer T he water isn't turned on yet, there's no heat in the pipes and footsteps echo across floors that are still awaiting carpet. It might be a good idea to keep your coat on when you tour the Norma Jean and Edward Meer Early Childhood Development Center. By the beginning of November, officials at Yeshiva Beth Yehudah hope to begin classes at the new building, which will house 10 nursery and Diana Lieberman can be reached at (248) 354-6060, ext. 247, or by e-mail, dlieberm @thejewishnews. corn 10/22 1999 _ 16 Detroit Jewish News kindergarten classrooms. The center's dedication takes place at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24. "It's not an opening, because we're obviously not ready to open," said Rabbi Eli Mayerfeld, the Yeshiva's executive director. Instead, Sunday's event will be a tribute to Edward and the late Norma Jean Meer. His contribution of about $1 million made the whole idea possible. "We wanted to show our appreciation. and Mr. Meer will be leaving for Florida before we are ready to open the building for classes," Rabbi Mayerfeld said. The new preschool build- ) )