Question of the Week: From the start of World War II, British
Zionists repeatedly tried to organize a Jewish brigade, complete
with its own flag, to fight the Nazis. Military authorities always
denied their request. Then one man intervened, and the brigade
was at last founded in 1944. Who was he?

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From generation to generation, the
Canvasser family has been active at the
congregation they love, Temple Beth El.

ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM
Apple Tree Editor

Meet The Family:
Mark Canvasser
Marla Canvasser
Lindsay and Amanda (twins), 12
Elizabeth, 9

Residence: West Bloomfield

Congregation: Temple Beth El

Professionally Speaking: Formerly a physical
rehabilitation-registered nurse at Sinai Hospital of Detroit, Marla
is now a health-occupations instructor at the Oakland Technical
Center in Royal Oak. Mark is in real-estate management and
development with the Farmington Hills-based firm of Steuer and
Canvasser.

In The Beginning: Mark and Marla are both native Detroiters
who met while attending the University of Michigan. Marla's
brother, Michael (who was a friend of Mark's), introduced them;
it was love at first sight, Mark says. Then sophomores, the two
dated for five years before they decided to tie the knot. They have
been married for 16 years.

Early Memories: Mark is a third-generation member of Temple
Beth El, where he and Marla were married.
Mark's father's parents were native Detroiters who belonged to
Beth El, while his mother's parents, also born in Detroit, were
members of Congregation B'nai David.
"As a family, we were always at temple," Mark says.
When Mark turned 10, his father, Robert, was named presi-
dent of the congregation. He held the position for seven years
and still remains active at Beth El.
Robert Canvasser served as the temple's president at a critical
point in the congregation's history: its 1974 move from Detroit
to its current residence in Bloomfield Township.
"I still remember when it was just a field," Mark says. "I
would hang around with my dad and the contractor, A.J. Etkin.
It was like having a front-row seat to the construction."
During this period, the temple's rabbi, Richard Hertz, often
came for Friday-night dinner at the Canvasser home. Mark's
mother, Beverly, would prepare a traditional Shabbat dinner of

•

Lindsay, Mark, Marla, Elizabeth, Amanda and, in front, Chip.

In Family Profile, AppleTree introduces you to local families committed to
Judaism and the Jewish community. We hope you find their lives inspiring.
The AppleTree welcomes your recommendations for Family Profile.
Candidates need not belong to a congregation or be leaders in Jewish organi-
zations. We're simply looking for families who, through their daily actions,
show a serious interest in a Jewish life and serve as role models for all. Please
send your suggestions to Family Profile, do AppleTree, 27676 Franklin
Road, Southfield, MI 48034, fax to ( 2 48) 354-6069, or e-mail to
philapple@earthlinknet. Include the name, address and phone number of
the family, along with a brief description of why you think they belong in
the section. ALL INFORMATION MUST BE TYPED.

3/30
2001

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