This Week

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People-Minded

ALAN ABRAMS

Special to the Jewish News

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Staff photo by Krista Husa

NCCfs new Jewish leader tackles religious
tolerance and human-rights issues.

those that are misdirected
on the basis of race or reli-
gion."
"We addressed the
issue," May added,
"because much of our con-
stituency is in the religious
community. We believe
each religion has a duty
toward social justice,
including a responsibility
against discrimination on
the basis of sexual orienta-
tion. We are not a gay-
rights group and do not
advocate the rights of gays,
but the responsibility of
others toward gays."
NCCJ has not taken a
position on gay union or
marriage, he said.
May is not the local
chapter's first Jewish presi-
dent. That honor went to
his father, Alfred A. May.
Alan Schwartz, Joel Tauber
and Jack Robinson are other
Jews who later held the post.
The NCCJ is a human-
rights organization founded
in 1927 to fight bias, big-
otry and racism through education,
dialogue and advocacy. As May
explained, "Those are very simple
words that haven't changed since
1927. When the Ku Klux Klan walked
down Pennsylvania Avenue (in
Washington, D.C.), the gentile com-
munity, particularly in the Protestant
community, finally said we could be
next, and decided to help its Catholic
and Jewish brethren."
. Charles Evans Hughes, the future
chief justice of the U.S. Supreme
Court, was one of the driving factors
in organizing the group.
Another was Roger Straus, who got
May's father involved.
"The organization then was truly
an inter-religious organization and
they would try to fight bias, bigotry
and racism by sitting down with peo-
ple of different religions. We've come
well past that now," May said.

lthough the
computer
behind the
desk of Alan A.
May in his Southfield law
office is turned on, sur-
prisingly, the screen isn't
filled with references to
archaic court decisions.
Instead, it displays eBay,
the online auction.
That's because May, in
addition to carrying a
workload of responsibili-
ties that would crush most
mortals, still finds time to
carefully track the elec-
tronic auction of sports
memorabilia, especially
historic baseball items.
His legal training has
honed his skill of knowing
when to swoop in like a
hawk to make the kill --
in this case, the winning
Alan May
bid — to snare a rarity for
his collection. May tackles
his leisure activities with
among the faiths involved. In addi-
the same passion he shows for his work.
tion, he serves as a vice chair of the
At 57, he may be as close to a
national
organization, which began
Renaissance Man as the Third
under
the
name of the National
Millennium allows. There are few indeed
Conference
of Christians and Jews.
who can talk authoritatively about both
erstwhile baseball commissioner A.B.
"Happy' Chandler and the Royal Oak-
Far-Reaching Issues
based antisemite Father Charles E.
Although the NCCJ still has a large reli-
Coughlin within the space of a minute.
gious constituency, May has been at the
May, a practicing lawyer for 33
forefront of bringing the group into the
years, is a leader in his profession as
human-rights arena, dealing with issues
president of May & May P.C.; a com-
far beyond its original religious focus.
munal leader and current vice presi-
"One of the things we are working
dent of Temple Beth El; an activist for
on is bringing sexual orientation into
civil rights and human dignity in and
the purview of a human right," May
out of government; an Oakland
said. "We are probably the first major
County Republican Party leader; and
human-rights organization to recog-
now, the recently elected president of
nize it together with race, religion,
the NCCJ (National Conference for
ethnicity and nationality."
Community and Justice) Michigan
Continuing, he said: "We believe
Region chapter.
that discrimination in any form leads
May is the first Jewish president of
to a progression of acts as the death of
the organization (formerly known as
Matthew Shepard [the young gay man
the Interfaith Round Table) in eight
killed in Wyoming in 1998], which
years. The two-year presidency rotates
we condemn in the same fashion as
ALAN MAY on page 14

,

"Alan May has a passion for
improving relations among reli-
gious, racial and ethnic groups.
He couples that with great skill in
getting things done in practical
ways that make a difference.
"Alan Max' has a work ethic that
is matched by few people. With his
strong religious convictions, his
motto may well be, Tray, and then
get out and hustle.' I like his consis-
tency. He's been a strong advocate
for equal rights and respect among
all people since his college days.
"He's a well-read person with
eclectic interests, including col-
lecting sports memorabilia."

— Daniel Krichbaum,
executive director,
NCCJ Michigan Region chapter

"Alan May's involvement in the
work of the NCCJ emanates from
both a strong family tradition as
well as his very deep-rooted inter-
est in promoting strong and favor-
able relations between all people,
regardless of their race or religion."

--- Goy Thrgow,
The Sterling Group, Detroit

"He's the hardest-working guy
around. He's totally dedicated to
the NCCJ and the idea of people
getting along, which is what I
stand for. We're compatriots. I
have the greatest respect for him."

-- Arnold Michlin, Detroit
Jewry's Al'?: Interfaith Ambassador

"Alan is a brilliant attorney, who
is an asset to his profession. He has
lent an enormous amount of time
to causes championing inter-reli-
gious and racial understanding."

— Rabbi Daniel Syme,
Temple Beth El

"It is not uncommon for civic
leaders to lend their names or pro-
vide letterhead for charitable
endeavors, but not Alan May.
When Alan signs on his commit-,
merit is unwavering, both in time
and in personal resources. What is
impressive about Alan is that what-
ever he sets out to accomplish, he
is able to recruit and inspire others
to be willing participants."

— Frederick Marx, Marx Layne
6 Co., Farmington Hills

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