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vices so the rabbis would receive some
Like their rabbi, the temple members
pay. The Temple Players, a drama
were heavily involved in the larger com-
group, was an early victim of
munity. Many were leaders in the
Depression cutbacks.
United Jewish Charities (now United
Temple Beth El held the ground-
Jewish Foundation of Metropolitan
breaking for its new cemetery in
Detroit) that Rabbi Franklin helped to
Livonia in 1940, not anticipating that i
found in 1899. In 1908, Henry Butzel
would hold memorials to those killed it
was elected 18th president of the con-
World War II before the decade was
gregation; he eventually became chief
over.
justice of the Michigan Supreme Court.
An era came to a close at Temple
Congregant David Heineman was a
Beth
El at the end of 1941. Rabbi
member of the Detroit City Council
Franklin
retired. He had cemented in
from 1902-1909; he also designed
the
minds
of his congregation and his
Detroit's flag.
community Beth El's leading role as a
Numerous other temple members
"Classic Reform" congregation. That
were active in Republican Party politics.
same year, another shift affected
The 1914 Book of Detroiters listed 69
Temple Beth El members and Detroit
Temple Beth El members.
Jews. Assistant Rabbi Leon Fram, som
In 1913, Henry Ford presented his
of whose beliefs differed from Rabbi
neighbor, Rabbi Franklin, with a new
Franklin, left Beth El and formed
car. Rabbi Franklin continued to receive
Detroit's second Reform congregation,
this gift every year until 1920, when
Temple Israel. Joining him was former
antisemitic articles in Ford's Dearborn
Independent newspaper prompted him
to refuse Ford's gift. Prior to 1920,
Rabbi Franklin had corresponded with "...We cannot rest on the laurels of
Ford to secure time off for the High
previous generations. We are no longer
Holy Days for Ford Motor Company's the only synagogue in Detroit, nor even
Jewish workers. Ford assured the
the only Reform temple.
rabbi the time off already had
As great as is our Beth El
been granted.
heritage, we now are chal-
Rabbi Franklin again would
lenged by the future to
be paired with Ford in the news
make Judaism come alive.
in the late 1930s over Ford's
The cause of Israel unites
comments about the worsening
all Jews in solidarity...The
situation for Jews in Germany.
problems all Jews face in
By 1916, war shadowed this
the Diaspora — apathy,
country. The Beth El sisterhood
alienation, Jewish illitera-
established a Red Cross unit,
cy, zero population
and temple members pledged
growth, intermarriage, secularism —
almost $68,000 for Jewish war suffer- these all becloud the future shape of
ers in Europe. By 1918, the honor roll American Jewry. What the Beth El les-
of war veterans numbered 207 mem-
son teaches is that only the synagogue
bers; four had died.
stands watch as a citadel dedicated to
In the 1920s, things went well for
preserving Jewish identity and making
Beth El. The congregation helped to - it meaningful and beautiful."
establish Temple Beth Jacob in
Rabbi Richard C. Hertz, Dec. 16, 1977
Pontiac, and they themselves were
forced to build a new, larger building
of their own. In 1922, the "Gladstone
building" on Woodward Avenue was
congregation president Morris Garvett
dedicated. Again designed by Albert
and a portion of the Beth El member
Kahn, the four-story building housed
ship.
the congregation until the early 1970s.
In 1926, Temple Beth El's congrega-
tion numbered 1,400 members, making
Renewed Social Action
it one of the largest Reform congrega-
After an extensive search, Rabbi B.
tions in the nation. But, in 1929, the
Benedict Glazer of New York was
Depression began, and it had an impact
installed as Temple Beth El's 12th rab
on Temple Beth El as well as the rest of
on Nov. 14, 1941. Rabbi Glazer was
the country. Membership declined
most active in civil rights and mental
(from 1,246 in 1925 to 1,013 in 1940),
health causes outside the pulpit. Like
and some of the decline certainly can be
Rabbi Franklin, he often spoke on
attributed to economic factors. Indeed,
national radio programs.
there is a popular story at Temple Beth
El that a plate was passed during ser-
TEMPLE BETH EL on page 14

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nth.

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v4. 41

Jewish Community Center
of Metropolitan Detroit

Application fee waived. Some restric-
tions apply. Must not have been
a member in the last 12 months.
For more information, additional
membership options or Oak Park
rates, please call the Oak Park JCC at

5/5

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32

(248) 967-4030

or the West Bloomfield JCC at

(248) 661-7621

Jewish Community Center
of Metropolitan Detroit

D. Dan and Betty Kahn Building
Eugene and Marcia Applebaum
Jewish Community Campus
6600 W. Maple Rd., West Bloomfield, MI 48322

Jimmy Prentis Morris Building
A. Alfred Taubman
Jewish Community Campus
15110 W. 10 Mile Rd., Oak Park, MI 48237