Obituaries

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A Father Of Values And Vision

DAVID SACHS
Editorial .Assistant

abbi Milton Rosenbaum was
a man of commitment.
When he died on Feb. 24 at
age 85, he had been rabbi of
Temple Emanu-El in Oak Park for 44
years and married for 57 years.
Looking back to 1942, Rabbi
Rosenbaum was 28 years old and mar-
ried to the former Thelma Newhouse
for only two months, when he faced a
big decision. As a member of the clergy,
he was entitled to a deferment from ser-
vice in World War II. Nevertheless, he
felt compelled to leave his bride and go
into combat. Though they would be
apart for over two years, he wrote
lengthy letters to her every day.
"As the Nazi would tell, there would
be no Jews," he wrote his parents at the
time, trying to explain his decision to
enlist. "Yes, I mean that literally. The
decimation of every Jew the world over
is part of the ambition of Nazism. And
so it is that I feel that we as Jews are
fighting for our very lives.
"Thousands of Jewish boys are in
[the] Army," he added. "There has been
a crying need for Jewish chaplains
N oiced by many of the men themselves.
It is an important job and it needs men
to do it."
Rabbi Rosenbaum served as a com-
bat chaplain in the Pacific Theater dur-
ing the invasions of Japanese-held
Saipan and Okinawa. A nationally pub-
lished war photograph showed him
wading ashore on Saipan, carrying.a
Torah.
Rabbi Rosenbaum offered the same
sense of commitment to Judaism on the
homefront. During high school, he
attended the Orthodox teachers' insti-
tute at Yeshiva College in New York
City. For his ordination, he attended
the Reform Hebrew Union College-
Jewish Institute of Religion in
Cincinnati.
The rabbi always sought to achieve
good relations between all denomina-
tions of Judaism. "He wanted Jews to
love other Jews, to treat each other
respectfully," said son Aaron.
"Everything else was secondary."
Before he left for World War II,
Rabbi Rosenbaum served as assistant
rabbi at the Euclid Avenue Temple in
Cleveland. After the war, he was rabbi
at Temple Beth Jacob in Pontiac from

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2000

138

1946-1949. He led Beth-El
son Jonathan. "He would not be con-
Congregation in Fort Worth, Texas.,
spicuous or take credit for his accom-
from 1949-1956.
plishments. He cared about principles,
At Temple Emanu-El, Rabbi
not himself."
Rosenbaum served 25 years as its rabbi,
A colleague, Rabbi Ernst Conrad of
from 1956-1981, helping the 4-year-old
Temple Kol Ami, recalls a statement
suburban congrega-
made by Rabbi
tion get off the
Rosenbaum a few
ground. He
years ago at a
remained another
Reform affiliates'
19 years in an
dinner. Rabbi
active emeritus role,
Rosenbaum, noted
attending services
for his scholarship,
with his wife every
said, "The best
Friday night and
school I ever
filling in for the
attended was my
rabbi during the
home and the best
summers. He also
teacher I ever had
gave a High
was my father."
Holiday sermon
At his funeral
every year.
Feb. 27 at Temple
For his entire
Emanu-El, Rabbi
tenure at Emanu-
Rosenbaum's three
El, Rabbi
sons turned the
Rosenbaum was a
tables. In their own
resident of a non-
words, they praised
Jewish neighbor-
the example that
hood in Royal
Rabbi Milton Rosenbaum
their father had
Oak, just across
provided them.
Woodward Avenue
As his sons relat-
from Huntington Woods. Through his
ed, Rabbi Rosenbaum passed along a
interfaith efforts, he achieved increased
legacy of Judaism, activism and caring.
understanding and harmony between
But it took all three of them to handle
Jews and gentiles in the North
the job, with each son specializing in a
Woodward area, long the domain of
different focus.
Royal Oak's notorious radio priest,
"It's interesting that the three of us
Father Charles Coughlin of Shrine of
kind of triangulated to three of his basic
the Little Flower.
skills," said Daniel.
An active Zionit since childhood,
Eldest son Jonathan is a rabbi and
Rabbi Rosenbaum was known for his
academic, president of Gratz College in
scholarship in Judaism, his eloquent ser- Philadelphia, a Jewish learning center.
mons and letter writing, and his gift for
Aaron is a Washington D.C.-based con-
counseling congregants, young and old.
sultant and was an activist with pro-
The rabbi had a way of talking with
Israel causes. Daniel is a dinical.psy-
children as individuals, not as
chologist, counseling patients in the
appendages of their parents. He was
Detroit area as well as serving on the
regarded as a mensch by the temple's
faculty of the Detroit College of
grateful congregants. "He wanted to
Business.
bring people together," said former
When the women's rights movement
Emanu-El Rabbi Lane Steinger.
moved to the forefront in the 1970s,
Rabbi Rosenbaum opposed bigotry
Rabbi Rosenbaum's sons say they were,
and antisemitism. In Fort Worth in the
at first, confused. They observed that
early 1950s, he spoke out against segre-
their father had a relationship of mutual
gation and convinced a radio station to
respect with his wife, an English teacher
drop an antisemitic commentator.
at Oak Park High School, honoring her
"He was intolerant of those who
professional status and sharing in the
were intolerant," said son Daniel. "He
household and child-rearing duties.
saw the humanity in everyone."
The Rosenbaum sons thought that
Rabbi Rosenbaum built alliances and
all men- treated their wives the same
often worked as a conciliator, behind
way, and were surprised to find out that
the scenes. "He was humble," said his
their parents' relationship was exem-

plary. Eventually all three followed thei j
father's example by marrying profes-
sional women. "Sexism was alien to us,
said son Aaron.
"He was a wonderful husband," said
Thelma Rosenbaum. "There was never
a day when he didn't say he loved me."
Joseph Klein, Emanu-El's rabbi since
1997, said he learned from the example
Rabbi Rosenbaum set, praising his
"gentle and very caring" demeanor.
"Milton was my colleague, my friend,
but most of all, my teacher, my rabbi,"
he said. "The important lessons I
learned [were] by observing his affects
on this Temple Emanu-El family.
"He will be remembered as the rabb i
who fathered the values and the vision
of this congregation," Rabbi . Klein said.
Rabbi Rosenbaum also was con-
cerned for the overall community, serv-
ing on the boards of the Jewish
Community Council of Metropolitan
Detroit, the United Hebrew Schools
and the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit. He was president
of the Rabbinical Commission of
Metropolitan Detroit and of Religious
Assistance and Protective Services Inc.
of Oakland County.
In 1988, Rabbi Rosenbaum was the
first rabbi to receive a Tribute to a
Beloved Rabbi honor from the Central
Conference of American Rabbis, given
for his efforts in strengthening the
Reform rabbinate. In recent years, he
was chair of the National Association of
Retired Reform Rabbis.
"He was that rare great man that yoi.
and I can aspire to emulate," said son
Jonathan.
Rabbi Rosenbaum is survived by his
wife, Thelma Rosenbaum; sons and
daughters-in-law, Rabbi Jonathan and
Dr. Susan Rosenbaum of Pennsylvania,
Aaron David and Abbe Reis
Rosenbaum of Virginia, Dr. Daniel an
Leah Rosenbaum of Southfield; grand-
children, Joseph Rosenbaum, Josh and
Rhonda Rosenbaum, Jeremy
Rosenbaum,. Rebecca and .Chelsea
Rosenbaum; great-grandson, Timothy;
sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Mari
Goldberg Dellerson and George
Dellerson.
Contributions in Rabbi Rosenbaum'
memory may be made to a fund being
established at Temple Emanu-El.
Interment was at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery, with arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel. ❑