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Recalling Norway
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•• 2 1) kl'S • •,
• O NL Y .01
Thurs.. Alin 31
& Fri.. Julie 1• 10
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Doreen Hermelin shares _poignant, humorous
memories of her husband's ambassadorship.
Bill Clinton the diplomatic move would
be very well-received and important,
David Hermelin finally found the trig-
ger: They would observe the fifth
hen does Shabbat begin if
anniversary of the death of Yitzhak
it's dark outside at
Rabin, the slain Israeli prime minister.
2:30p.m.? Where do you
When then-President
find enough
Clinton
accepted the invita-
osher hot dogs and salami
tion, the embassy staff had
hen you entertain more than
exactly 10 days to make prepa-
100 times a year?
rations for the arrival of 820
These and other challenges
guests, among them Egyptian
ere part of the delightful rec-
President He-ni Mubarek and
ollections of Norway that
Palestinian Authority leader
Bingham Farms Doreen
Yasser
Arafat. But after renting
Hermelin shared with
120
cars
and acquiring 250
National Council of Jewish
cell phones, not to mention
Women, Greater Detroit
-the enormous quantities,
Section members at their
again, of kosher food, the
Doreen Hermelin
organization's installation of
occasion was pulled off.
Hermelin's voice only
Linda Bloom was installed as presi-
dent for the second year during the May stumbled when she again looked at the
photograph of her husband, the Israeli
16 event at Congregation B'nai Moshe
ambassador and the Egyptian ambas-
i n West Bloomfield.
sador.
After her beloved husband,
"They were all very good friends,"
bassador David Hermelin, died last
she said. "It breaks my heart to see how
year, Doreen Hermelin's life has certain-
far back we've slid politically."
ly changed, but it hasn't necessarily
Thinking back to earlier days in their
slowed down. As she described having to
marriage, she said, "My husband always
shimmy over the wall of the sukkah she,
said life was an adventure. It is, and he
David and their cook, Mark Davis, had
gave
me one." ❑
managed to get locked into, its easy to
see why, like her husband, Doreen
Hermelin is a storyteller in demand.
Talking and gesturing in tandem
with her slide presentation of cherished
Norwegian scenes and events, Hermelin
Shirley Robbins of Bloomfield Hills
gave the audience glimpses of her fami-
has earned the 15th annual Hadassah
ly's two-year stay in a country she
National Leadership
described as "overwhelmingly friendly
Award, which hon-
and appreciative."
ors members whose
Adventures included boating in freez-
leadership accom-
ing weather with the visiting wife of the
plishments within
chief Palestinian negotiator, offering both
Hadassah and other
Chanukah gelt and mistletoe at a holiday
civic, educational
party for staff and families, welcoming
and cultural organi-
former Olympians to their residence and
zations reflect
partying with Norway's king. The remi-
Hadassah's dedica-
niscences were poignant, colorful and
tion to the princi-
Shirley
Robbins
evocative of, as Hermelin called it, "a
ples of the volunteer
once-in-a-lifetime fantasy experience."
ethic.
Keeping a Jewish-American embassy
Award recipients are selected by
was a priority the Hermelins had estab-
their peers and represent a wide range
lished from the start. The Norwegians
of achievements.
they met in Oslo repeatedly reminded
Robbins was her chapter's fund-rais-
the Hermelins how a sitting American
ing vice president, Eleanor Roosevelt
president had never visited'their country.
Group of Hadassah president and
Left to devise some strategy to convince
held many committee positions.
•
DEBBIE WALLACE LANDAU
ecial to the Jewish News
Hadassah Lauds
Robbins As Leader
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