Obituaries are updated regularly and archived on JN Online:
wvvw.detroitjewishnews.com
An Extraordinary Scholar'
DAVID SACHS
Editorial Assistant
p
rof Daniel J. Elazar, despite
being afflicted with polio as a
young man, launched his
astonishing dual-faceted aca-
demic career in Detroit.
An alumnus of Central High School
and Wayne University, one of his first
academic pursuits was rebuilding the
library collection at the United Hebrew
Schools, where his late father Albert was
superintendent and his late mother
Nellie taught.
Prof. Elazar, 65, died Dec. 2 of lym-
phoma in his Jerusalem home.
Through struggle and perseverance,
he overcame the effects of his illness to
become a preeminent scholar in his two
areas of interest: Jewish communal life
and Western-style government.
He was retained by many Jewish
agencies to research the history and
functioning of Jewish communities and
organizations.
On the political front, he advised the
governments of Israel, the United
States, Cyprus and post-apartheid
South Africa on federalism, the theory
behind free republics. In 1986,
President Reagan named him to the
Advisory Commission on
Intergovernmental Relations.
Prof. Elazar held prominent academ-
ic chairs in his two different disciplines
in the United States and Israel and built
12/10
1 15 999
8
United Hebrew Schools, eventually
think tanks in both countries. He
located in the Esther Berman building
authored or edited scores of books on
at Schaefer and Seven Mile, led to the
both topics.
book A Classification System for Libraries
"He was an amazing guy," said
of Judaica, co-authored with his brother
Mandell L. "Bill" Berman of Franklin,
David, that remains the standard for
board member of one of Prof. Elo7nr's
Jewish librarians.
think tanks, the
He went on to
Jerusalem Center for
become a professor of
Public Affairs, a
political science both at
research source utilized
Temple
University in
by many Jewish organi-
Philadelphia
and at
zations. "He had one of
Bar-Ilan University in
the best minds I've ever
Israel.
seen.
Prof. Elazar estab-
Prof. Elazar was
lished and served as
born in Minneapolis
president of the
and came to Detroit
Jerusalem
Center think
with his family in 1948
tank,
which
also had
at the age of 13. He left
offices in Philadelphia,
six years later to earn a
to research Jewish polit-
master's and doctorate
ical studies. His 1976
in political science at
book, Community and
the University of
Daniel J. Elazar
Polity, is regarded as the
Chicago.
classic in-depth study of
His academic inter-
the
American
Jewish
community.
est in both federalism and Judaism was
He also founded the Center for the
manifested early in Detroit. Younger
Study of Federalism at Temple
brother David Einar remembers the
University, whose research has assisted
15-year-old Daniel writing a book for
governments worldwide.
him explaining the Civil War and the
Although his two areas of expertise
saving of the American federal system
appear divergent, Prof Elazar was said
in terms the eight-year-old could
to have believed that they were really
understand.
closely related. He felt that the Jewish
An Orthodox Jew of Sephardic her-
itage, Prof. Ela7ar also dedicated himself tradition of governmental leaders
respecting the covenant between God
to aiding the Jewish community. His
and the Jewish people gave rise to the
work in setting up the library at the
SIDNEY ADAS, 82, of Southfield,
died Dec. 1.
He is survived by his son and
daughter-in-law, Dr. Robert and
Sharon Adas of West Bloomfield;
daughter Linda Page of Oak Park;
grandchildren Scott and Jamie Page,
Stephanie and David Adas.
Mr. Adas was the beloved hus-
band of the late Rose Adas.
Graveside services were at Adat
Shalom Memorial Park.
Contributions may be made to
Karmanos Cancer Institute, 18831
W. 12 Mile, Lathrup Village, MI
48076, or to a charity of one's
choice. Arrangements by Dorfman
Funeral Direction.
Schwartz Mendelson and Harry
Mendelson; son and daughter-in-law
Samuel and Marcia Bell of
Farmington Hills; grandchildren
Sheri and Robert Rotenberg, Marla
and Dr. David Rosman, Kenny Bell,
Stacy and Jeffrey Coffey; great- -
grandchildren Erin, Jeff and Laine
Rotenberg, Jaime, Erica and Ryan
Rosman.
She was the beloved wife of the
late Nathan Bell and the dear moth-
er-in-law of the late Dr. Arthur
Schwartz.
Interment was at Hebrew Memorial
Park. Contributions may be made to a
charity of one's choice. Arrangements
by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
PAULINE BELL, 91, of West
Bloomfield, died Dec. 3.
Mrs. Bell is survived by her
daughter and son-in-law, Claire
KAROLINE CHAYET, 83, of
Farmington Hills, died Nov. 29.
Mrs. Chayet was a member of B'nai
B'rith.
She is survived by her husband,
Morris Chayet; daughters and sons-
in-law Marilyn and Alan Droz of
Farmington Hills, Nancy and
William Vicknair of Lakeland;
grandson Matthew Droz; brother-in-
law and sister-in-law Sam and
Bertha Chayet.
Interment was at Adat Shalom
Memorial Park. Contributions may
be made to the Alzheimer's
Association. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel.
REGINA ANN (GOLD) DELL-
HEIM, 68, former Detroiter of
Tucson, Ariz., died Nov. 27. She was
a former designer for Drapery
Boutique in Farmington Hills.
She is survived by her sons and
daughters-in-law, Danny and Vicki
Singer, Barry and Vicky Singer, Tony
Dellheim; granddaughter Lauren
theory of republican federalism, in
which power emanates from people
upward.
"Dan saw a kind of Jewish imprint
on Western politics and all the places
where Western politics became the '6
most humane and freedom-seeking and
self-governing," said Prof Alan
Mittleman, a fellow at the Jewish think
tank in Philadelphia.
Armand Lauffer, a social work pro-
fessor at the University of Michigan,
who worked with Prof. Elazar on
research projects, said, "Dan was an
extraordinary scholar who had an enor-
mous influence on a lot of people. He
made his insights accessible and avail-
able to both academics and Jewish lead-
ers, and Jewish communal service
worldwide as well as to political leaders
in Israel."
Prof. Elazar was wheelchair-bound
for the last decade, due to post-polio
syndrome, but did not slow down.
David Elazar credits hard work for his
brother's success in overcoming the dis-
ease as a young man and later in life.
"He had a strong determination and
a lot of help from his family," said
David Elazar. "His wife, Harriet, was
always devoted and helpful not only in
his disabilities but in all his work."
In addition to his wife, Prof Ela7nr
is survived by his children, Naomi,
Yonatan and Gideon; three grandchil-
dren; and brother and sister-in-law
David and Ruth Els7nr.
❑
Singer; brothers and sisters-in-law
Jerry and Susie Gold of Farmington
Hills, Cyril "Morrie" and Diane
Gold of Florida.
LILLIAN DUBRINSKY, 87, of
West Bloomfield, died Nov. 30. Mr,
Dubrinsky was a secretary.
She is survived by her son and
daughter-in-law, Max and Michele
Dubrinsky of Bloomfield Hills;
grandchildren Steven and Dana
Dubrinsky, Mark Dubrinsky, Darin
Jason and Andy Kanfer; great-grand
children Samantha and Alex
Dubrinsky.
Mrs. Dubrinsky was the beloved
wife of the late Isadore Dubrinsky.
Interment was at Beth Abraham
Cemetery. Contributions may be mad
to the National Kidney Foundation o
Michigan. Arrangemehts by Ira
Kaufman Chapel.