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Judaism At Its Most Basic

WILL

Metro Detroit's Jewish
Assisted Living Community

WHERE JEWISH TRADITION CONTINUES...

Resident Dora Miller lights the Shabbat candles.

At Elan Village, residents can look forward to
celebrating two seders and enjoying our
delicious kosher for Passover cuisine.

Elan Village's monthly rate includes:

• 24 hour Personal Care Assistance

• Three Kosher Meals Daily

• Housekeeping and Personal Laundry
Services

• Social, Cultural and Educational
Programs Daily

• On-Site Licensed Nurse and Medical
Services

• Medication Management

Dementia & Temporary Care also available

Call today to schedule a tour

JANET ANTIN (248) 386-0303

26051 Lahser Road • Southfield ; Michigan 48034

Elan Village provides

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2000

10-

• Care that Changes with You

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Preferred Provider of the Jewish Fedirdilim of Metropnlifah Detroit;

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SURVIVE

from page 7

unthinkable happened.
On the night of March 1,
1967, prayer books were used
as kindling to set fire to the
sanctuary. More than $10,000
in damage was reported,
including the destruction of
four Torahs. On a blackboard,
firefighters found written in
chalk the word "Jeuden" in
large letters and a swastika.
The arson was widely
reported in the national news.
Horrified by this hate crime,
people from all over the coun-
try sent letters and donations
of as little as $1 to help rebuil
Beth Isaac Synagogue. Every
donation resulted in a thank-
you letter from a member.
The Jewish News reported
that a rehabilitation fund was
created. "To ensure that such
an incident will never happen
again, the Beth Isaac
Rehabilitation Committee also
will use proceeds for psychi-
atric treatment of the crimi-
Miriam Freeling scans letters written by those
nal," said the IN story. The
moved by the 1967 arson fire at Beth Isaac.
committee's members include(
local churches.
took us here."
Within a few months, the sanc-
tuary was rebuilt, but the arsonist was
Humble Beginnings
never found.
The effort to start a Trenton syna-
"People and clergy came from all
gogue began in mid-1952, with a
Over in support, showing up with
handful of people cold-calling Jewish-
brooms," said Neal Freeling, current
sounding names in the phone book.
Beth Isaac president. When more
In November, 51 interested people
money than needed was raised, Beth
came together for the first time at a
Isaac members gave the rest to other
public hall in Wyandotte, which was
charities. "We didn't want to be more
the Downriver Jewish Community
than we were before," he said.
Center.
Meeting in members' basements
A Special Place
and using public halls for larger
events, the group began a building
Toward the end of a quiet, tree-lined
fund with a $25 donation from a local
street lies Beth Isaac, a blond brick
pharmacy in April 1953.
building with a nondescript sign in
By January 1954, the building fund
front. The driveway wraps around the
"swelled" to $718.03 and membership
building, and angled parking is avail-
stood at 46 families and two individu-
able by the front door, with more
als, according to the shul's official his-
spots in back. The synagogue is unre-
tory.
markable until you walk inside.
About a decade after that initial
A charred Star of David kill hangs
meeting, on land donated by a mem-
opposite its unharmed, gold-painted
ber and with $15,000 raised from
wooden twin in the main sanctuary, a
holding pledge dinners, bingo parties,
dramatic statement within the other-
bake sales, dances and rummage sales,
wise simple decor. Little has changed
ground was broken for Beth Isaac in
since the fire.
1963. The synagogue was dedicated
Under the charred star is a modest
on Oct. 4, 1964, at 2730 Edsel Drive
memorial to the six million Jews who
in Trenton.
perished in the Holocaust. On the
Not only were the members proud
opposite side is the Yahrzeit Wall,
of their accomplishment, but so were
which lists 82 members.
community churches, whose ministers
The Beth Isaac gift shop consists of
had encouraged them to build.
small glass case selling Chanuka cards,
Within three years, however, the
cookbook and Shabbat, Yahrzeit and

