This Week

Sincere Touch

n audience of more than 300 listened to Dr.
Dieter Zetsche, president and chief executive
officer of DaimlerChrysler Corp., conduct
his own question-and-answer period during his
speech to the Federation Forum Tuesday; June 5, at
Excalibur Banquet Center in Southfield.
Though many questions centered on layoffs and
the company's turnaround plans, Zetsche did antici-
pate a question from this Jewish audience about the
German company's involvement in the Holocaust.
He said what now is DaimlerChrysler AG has

A

Staff Notebook

plant in Israel, in Nazareth Illit. In the mid-'70s,
Chrysler continued to supply parts to the plant over
the objections of Arab countries during height of the
Arab boycott to Israel. For this, we congratulate and
thank the Chrysler Corporation."
Aronson says he intends to pursue a stronger rela-
tionship with the automaker.
— Keri Guten Cohen

v

School Elections Monday

oters in many local school districts will vote
for school board members Monday, June 11.
Polls will be open 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
In Birmingham, the ballot also includes a vote to
renew the "hold-harmless" millage. This millage
effects only businesses and would retain taxes at their
current level. However, if it is not passed, the dis-
trict's state funding would decrease.
Call your local school district administrative
offices for voting information.
— Diana Lieberman

.

YIOP Welcomes New Rabbi

Dr. Dieter Zetsche

played an active role making Holocaust reparations.
"DaimlerChrysler was one of the first German
companies to confront its negative role during the
Nazi era and, in the 1980s, acknowledged its role,"
he said, adding that the company was a founding
member of the German initiative, "Remembrance,
Responsibility, Future."
He told the group that last week the German par-
liament voted overwhelmingly to release $4.5 billion
to begin reparation payments to labor-camp sur-
vivors.
"I personally hope this will add another step in
moving from a dark past to a brighter future."
During a traditional question-and-answer period,
the CEO fielded a question that acknowledged
Germany's friendship with Israel, then was asked for
his reaction to current events there.
"My first reaction is very deep-felt disappoint-
ment," he said. "I and big parts of the world
watched the developments of years before with hope
that after a long time of confrontation and suffering,
there would be real peace."
Zetsche emphasized the company's desire to con-
tinue to be a "good corporate citizen" in communi-
ties in southeast Michigan. He cited corporate
involvement with the Anti-Defamation League,
B'nai B'rith and the American Jewish Committee.
Robert Aronson, CEO of the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit, made the final comment,
leaving the audience with hope for future involve-
ment.
"We are 95,000 Jews and there's not been much
relationship between DaimlerChrysler and this
Jewish community. I doubt you are aware of this
story," Aronson said. "There's one auto fabrication

6/8

2001

32

S

ince the departure of
Rabbi Steven Weil last
June, members at
Young Israel of Oak Park
have led their own services,
brought in guest speakers on
Shabbat and sought advice
from the rabbis within their
membership or from Rabbi
Elimelech Goldberg of
Young Israel of Southfield.
Rabbi Spolter
Beginning tonight, June 8,
all of the above will fall to
Rabbi Reuven Spolter, who will lead his first
Shabbat service as rabbi of the congregation.
Arriving at his new Oak Park home June 6, with his
wife Rena, and children Simcha, 3, and Bezalel, 1, the
rabbi will immediately assume his post as spiritual
leader of the 250-member family congregation. For
the last three years, he has been rabbi at Congregation
Agudas Achim in West Hartford, Conn.
YIOP has been without a rabbi since Rabbi Weil
left for a post as head rabbi of Beth Jacob
Congregation in Beverly Hills.
In addition to the arrival of the Spolters, Young
Israel is also celebrating the completion of a new
building, constructed as a 15,000-square-foot addi-
tion to the existing synagogue.
"Last Shabbos, we had our first bar mitzvah in the
new building," says Ruvi Singal, immediate past
president of the congregation. The new president, as
of June 1, is Isaac Katz. "It was so nice to see all
those people not crammed into a little space," he
says.
"We are just thrilled Rabbi Spolter is finally here
and we can continue our growth." ❑
— Shelli Liebman Dorfman

State Championships

D

efending champion Jack Gitler of Berkley
High School finished second in the shot-put
at the Michigan High School Athletic
Association Division 1 track championships June 2
at Rockford High School.
Gitler threw the shot 56'6". Joey Sarantos of
Portage Northern won the event with a 61'7.5"
heave and broke Gitler's state record in the discus
with a 197'11".
In boys' tennis, West Bloomfield finished sixth in
the Division 1 meet at Midland with 11 points. The
Lakers' Mike Murav won his first match at No. 1
singles, but lost in the next round. At No. 2 singles,
Zach Abramson won two matches before losing to
eventual second place finisher Chris Dicks of Saline,
6-7(7), 6-2, 7-5.
At No. 3, Brandon Lefkowitz won a match and
then lost, as did Chris Bertha at No. 4.
In doubles, Steve Maiseloff-Greg Maxon lost in
the second round. At No. 2, Dan A. Feldman-Brian
Brodsky lost to the eventual champions from Ann
Arbor Pioneer, 2-6, 6-0, 6-1. At No. 3, Dan I.
Feldman-Jeff Zeman lost in the third round. At No.
4, Lee Bushman-Brad Zicherman lost in the second
round to the eventual champions from Okemos, 6-
0, 6-4.
At the Division 2 meet, Ilan Zachory-Zach Rosen
of Birmingham Groves lost in the finals of No. 4
doubles 7-6, 7-5 to a team from Grand Rapids
Forest Hills Central.
— Alan Hitsky

Corrections

• Regarding "Giving Back," June 11, page 25:
West Bloomfield school board candidate
Natalie Rosenfield McKee is transportation
coordinator for West Bloomfield Parks and
Recreation as well as president of the West
Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce.
• Regarding "Learning, Family Style," June 1, page
16: Enrollment in the Parents and Children
Together (PACT) program in Israel currently
stands at about 25,000 children and their families.
• Regarding the Reconstructionist Congregation
T'Chiyah "Synagogue Listing"(June 1, page 65):
Gaye Tischler was one of two congregants who
led Shabbat evening services last week.
* Regarding "Estate of Edward Ravitz Gives $5
Million To Detroit Jewry,"(June 1, page 45):
Edward Ravitz also gave $1 million to Beaumont
Hospital for specialized cancer research. Also, his
survivors are his wife, Gloria; two daughters,
Donna Ravitz of San Rafael, Calif , and Eleanor
Belknap of Hingham, Mass; his brother Dr.
Benjamin Ravitz of Southfield; and his sister, Pearl
Zafron of Oak Park; and four grandchildren.

