Circle
Of
Thanks
Franklin Bank's Affinity Program

The business community has
been very good to us. We
want to give back to the
community with a
reward to JARC
for the good
BUSINESS
work it does for
OWNERS
so many.

The "Circle Of
Thanks" program
is our way of
thanking you and
JARC for honoring
us with your business
banking.

jam

Affinity
Program

Franklin
Bank

Direct dollars to JARC by
directing your business to us. Open
your business checking account today and
we will make an automatic donation to JARC
in your name. JARC must be mentioned when

account is opened. *

Call Julie Rollins

248.358.6493

Franklin Bank

Thank you Metro Detroit Business Community...and thank
you JARC for making such a difference to so many.

12/24
1999

'new accounts only, transferring account balances not permitted. Contribution based on activated
account's third month balance. Certain high volume cash and coin accounts such as food stores,
beauty salons and vending companies are excluded from this program (call for details.)

German Jewish Renewal

RITES OF RETURN

from page 11

establishment of German
Jewry, which he defined as '
two populations: integrated
survivors and immigrants. "If
I were to guess," he said, "it
will take considerable amount
of time to establish a, shall I
say, solid Jewish presence in
Germany — one that is self-
confident and is proud of its
Judaism, the way it's supposed
to be. It'd be pretty tough to
do — probably take a genera-
don, in my opinion.
"The Jewish presence is
only blossoming, so to speak,
I would say for the last 10 or
15 years. Before that, there
was very little of it." He
admitted his contact with
such communities was not
close, although he and his wife
both spoke to Jewish groups
in Berlin.
"It's enjoyable for me to go
to Germany all the time," he
said. "It's beautiful country,
'My biggest surprise was that I was told there
its interesting. As I say, what's
was
a Jewish community in Berlin still," said
not to enjoy? But I wouldn't
Petra
Netzorg of Southfield.
want to live there anymore,
ever.
would never go there for a pleasure
Like any trip, though, Stark said
visit ... Having been persecuted, hav-
the best part is returning home.
ing been harassed. I would never stay
Home for him is the United States,
in Germany any longer than I had
without a doubt in his mind.
to," he said.
Martin Lowenberg of Southfield
"Although the people who I visited
spent his early childhood in a rural
were very nice people," Lowenberg said
village called Schenklengsfeld, a few
he avoided Germans as much as possi-
hours' drive from Frankfurt. At age 8,
ble. Paradoxically, he reported, "I didn't
he left for boarding school when the
talk to anybody. The reason I didn't:
local school barred him from attend-
the horrifying, horrific things that hap-
ing. He returned two years later. In
pened, the experience. And you can
1938, his house was burned and fami-
never forget that." He said of his for-
ly forced to flee. Eventually,
mer neighbors as well as their descen-
Lowenberg was taken to the
dents: "I could never forgive them.
Kaiserwald concentration camp.
"They beat me up in school. The
Retired from textile sales, Lowenberg
teacher
told the children in my school
occupies much of his time speaking to
to
beat
me.
They burned down our
groups about his experience with the
house, we lost everything."
Holocaust.
Though he said wouldn't even con-
He has returned twice to his home-
sider a city-sponsored visit such as taken
town, most recently in 1994, as an
by Netzorg and Stark, and couldn't
adjunct trip to his travel in Israel. The
relate to Jews who enjoy returning,
area, and all of Germany, hold memo-
Lowenberg said he understood their
ries so difficult, he said, that he could
sentiments. Let them enjoy, he said. "To
not spend a night there.
me, it does not seem strange, because
"I don't think I could sleep in the
these people have not endured"the pain"
town where I was born or the town
of surviving the Holocaust in a concen-
where I last lived" in Germany, he
tration camp. They do not have the
said several times. Nor does he choose
experience."
to speak the German language, he
For him, though, "There is no love
continued, unless forced to do so
there (in Germany).
when communicating with non-
"Imagine yourself thrown out of an
English speakers.
establishment
— any place, a grocery
Returning last summer, Lowenberg
store.
Would
you
go back there?" he
was there only long enough to visit
fl
asked.
the cemetery of his ancestors. "I