worker, retired in 1984.
Chanuka candles for a dollar.
Jones worked for the Civil Rights
Tacked to a pegboard by the front
Commission, then for Michigan Bell as
door are a local newspaper article
an equal employment coordinator. She
about last year's Chanuka party, a
moved to California, then came back to
Jewish cookbook advertisement from
work as a patient advocate for the men-
New Hope, Pa., and a thank-you note
tally ill in Michigan until her retirement
for the prayer book donation and
in June 1997. During that span, she left
Kiddush cup from last year's only bar
the shul for a total of 25 years.
mitzvah, Alan Barnosky.
"Wyandotte Chemical and
The library, donated by the River
McLouth Steel hired a lot of chethists
Rouge Jewish Congregation, contains
and engineers who were Jewish, and
seven large albums filled with letters
they settled here because it was close,"
from people who sent their prayers
Jones said. "At the time, Trenton . was
and donations after the arson. The
very up-and-coming, and there was
library is the pride of Beth Isaac mem-
only one very small Jewish congrega-
bers.
tion in River. Rouge, which literally
With the only kosher kitchen
died out."
between Detroit and Toledo, Ohio,
"They were all seniors when we
and four different siddurim (prayer
met them and we were the next gener-
books) on hand, any Jew — from any
ation," Axelrood said.
stream of Judaism — can pray com-
Isadore Mulias and Ben Ellias, both
fortably at Beth Isaac.
Beth Isaac founders, "basically settled
"We want every single Jewish per-
son who comes here
to feel welcome,"
Freeling said.
Beth Isaac
became a Reform
synagogue in 1989,
he said, but mem-
bers before then had
considered them-
selves Conservative
(though with no
official affiliation).
Membership dues
were $25 year per
person in 1952, but
a family unit today
costs $750 a year.
. Currently, 27 units
Sylvia Pick o ers treats to Arnold Seligson, another founding
are paying dues — a 4, member of Beth Isaac, and Brian Merlos, 9, of New Boston.
mixture of families,
couples and singles.
the city" when they opened the first
large department store in Trenton,
An Uncertain Future
Jones said.
Trenton residents Helen Davis and
Jeff Wagar, a Trenton Historical
Mae Axelrood, along with Jones and
Society board member, said Trenton
Pick, are four of six founding Beth
was here "long before Mulias and
Isaac members still davening (praying)
Ellias showed up, but certainly they
on Friday nights. They were all strong-
had an impact on the community for
willed, young career women long
many years."
before it was fashionable, and they
He cited Mulias' six-year run as
envisioned starting a congregation that
Trenton mayor. "The Jewish popula-
would last. Now in their 70s and 80s,
tion has always had a positive influ-
after raising children who have them-
ence in the community, and I cannot
selves married and moved on, they
recall any incidents, other than the
reflected on Beth Isaac's history and its
arson, where there's been vandalism or
uncertain future.
violence," he said.
Davis, who retired as a chemist
"The non-Jewish community, I think,
after World War II and worked as a
was very accepting," Axelrood said.
computer programmer in the 1980s
Having good relations with the city
and '90s, has been a member here
does not solve the current problems
since 1956. Axelrood was an elemen-
facing this aging congregation. With
tary school teacher for 26 years until
only 27 memberships ranging in age
1992. Pick, a former school social
between the late 20s and early 80s, the

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