This Week

for any entrances. The capital/endowment campaign
has raised more than $33 million to date.
"We never said no to it, we said it wasn't likely, but
let's cost it out," Hauser said. "The next thing I
know, I found out they had bought the Old Orchard
Theatres. They didn't want to be at what they
thought was the whim of somebody at Federation.
"None of this was anybody's whim. Bob Slatkin,
Mark Davidoff and I were the three people doing
this for the Foundation. We are 100 percent sup-
porters of the importance of the Holocaust center;
we wanted the center to be on campus," he said.
"We were probably too good to them in terms of
encouraging them to come up with this idea of -
expanding in place, because the timing wasn't right.
It was premature."
Rabbi Rosenzveig said that timing aside, "they

"I really tried my best to try to have it happen, but
the JCC is there. They have their rights as well," he
said. "I think the final offering Of another site for
free says something about how much we wanted it
on campus."
Lawrence Jackier, who serves on both the HMC
board and the Federation board of governors, said
it's understandable that the HMC felt it had to -
move forward.
"They sat for a long time with their hoped-for plan
of further developing the HMC,..and the JCC's plans
went ahead as well. But the JCC's plan was predicated
on a massive amount of fund-raising, and while a
great amount of success has been achieved, it wasn't
complete and it's- not clear when it will be complet-
ed," he said. *The community is better off if we keep
all our doors open, and we don't label anybody, or any

thropist who donated $5 million for campus naming
rights in 1999, said, "I am supportive of whatever
the independent board of this revered and important
learning center feels is best for this institution, its
constituents and our community."

Ramifications

Even though some security concerns have been
voiced, the new site does have its pluses.. It will be
closer to the freeway and easier for an out-of-town
school bus to find, said Rabbi Rosenzveig. "The
timing of the tours — open at 9:30 a.m. and close
3:30 to 4 p.m. -- would miss both rush hours, and
school groups usually leave before 2 p.m. if they're
from outlying areas."
The current site will remain open until construc-
tion is finished on the new site,
planned for November, 2002, he
said.
The original site cannot be sold
because the Federation owns the
land, and the HMC will use the old
building for purposes related to the
center, such as conferences.
According to Davidoff, the
Federation and Foundation have not
had discussions with the HMC
about the disposition of the current
facility.
The decision to move to the mid-
dle of a commercial district rankles
some, and works out well for others.
George Vine, a Holocaust survivor
and an HMC volunteer speaker, is a
member of the HMC board and a
charter member of the JCC.
Speaking only for himself, he's not
very comfortable with the move
because he has strong allegiances to
the JCC.
"It is very difficult for me to make
some of these decisions. I would
have preferred that we stay where we
are. I believe that most people,
including Rabbi Rosenzveig, would
The Eternal Flame, inside the Holocaust Memorial Center.
Robert Slatkin
have preferred to stay there had it
been feasible. But it just came to a
point where it became not possible,"
made an agreement, and the stipulations of the
institution, in a way we will regret later."
he said. "I'm not happy about it, but there was no
agreement were all met.
Dr. Steven Grant, HMC president, said when two
choice in the matter, and I support what the majori-
"Technically, they provided themselves with all
organizations need the same space sometimes things
ty wanted."
protections, but the spirit that we thought existed at
don't work out.
Martin Lowenberg, also a survivor, volunteer
the signing didn't materialize, and they decided
'After two, two and a half, then three years of try-
speaker and HMC board member, said geographi-
against it," he said. "The Jewish Federation has its -
ing to get a deal in place, the clock ticks, the economy cally the new site is more convenient and will have
own philosophy, and I don't blame them.
changes, it's harder to get capital funds. There was no
more space.
Apparently, their improvement plans and the expan-
place to put these kids when they were finished with
"I think it is definitely much better all the way
sion of the sports facility did not mesh with ours.
the tour and the library needed more space," he said.
around. It has not helped the HMC to be part of -
The question was priority. Up until the last
"The onus is not all on Federation. The bottom line
the main campus, because there has never been that
moment, I thought they would change their mind."
is just that they offered us other land on the site. The
much space."
Penny Blumenstein, Federation president, regrets
board felt that was not acceptable."
Emery Klein, a Holocaust survivor, on the
Rabbi Rosenzveig's decision.
The HMC board voted unanimously to make the
Federation Board of Governors and a former HMC
"We would have liked to see them remain as a vis-
move, Grant said.
board member, is angered by the move.
ible part of the continuity of our Jewish community,
Rabbi Rosenzveig said he might consider staying
"I think it's a bad mistake," said Klein, who said
and we offered them a beautiful site to build on our
on the Applebaum Campus if the UJF was willing
he was somewhat instrumental in persuading
campus. The decision to relocate was their own."
to eliminate all of the conditions.
Rabbi Rosenzveig to put the memorial on the
Slatkin agrees.
Eugene Applebaum, the Bloomfield Hills philan-
campus. "There is no reason to take it away from

6/29
2001

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