40101111.
T is Week
Insight
Remember
When • • •
From the pages of the Jewish News for
this week 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50
years ago.
Supervised!
The area's first woman kosher butcher gets her rabbi involved.
1981
Detroiter Feivel Wagner of Young
Israel of Greenfield was elected to a
three-year term on the executive
committee of the Rabbinical
Council of America.
Detroiter Gloria Ellis was elected
chairman of the Michigan Region
B'nai B'rith Youth Organization
Board of Directors.
ALAN HITSKY
Associate Editor
S berry Gilman may have
resolved her 18-month
dispute with the Council
of Orthodox Rabbis of
Greater Detroit (Vaad Harabonim).
The proprietor of Dexter-
Davison Kosher Meats at 10 Mile
and Coolidge roads in Oak Park
has found hashgachah (kosher
supervision) closer to home.
Rabbi David Nelson of
Congregation Beth Shalom, where
Gilman is a member, has been
supervising the kashering of meat
deliveries to Dexter-Davison Kosher
Meats for the last three weeks. And
he has been doing it without charge.
Representatives of the Vaad told
the Jewish News last year that they
asked Gilman for religious "refer-
ences" that would describe her level
of kashrut and religious observance.
Gilman worked without salary for
months for former Dexter-Davison
owner Eugene Feldman while learn-
ing and purchasing the business.
After months of dispute, the Vaad
began providing supervision, but
that quickly ended when Gilman
and mashgiach (kosher supervisor)
Leo Steinmentz had a disagreement.
Gilman's loss of supervision has
caused her to lose some business.
"I respect everybody involved,"
Rabbi Nelson said last week, "but
this is a real religious and moral
issue. Sherry works very hard, does
the kashering correctly, and is very
rigorous in following the laws.
"I want her to succeed," Rabbi
Nelson said, adding that his super-
vision is totally voluntary and
unpaid.
Gilman receives weekly ship-
ment's of 500-1,200 pounds of
Related editorial: page 29
1991
Detroiter Robert Steinberg became
Hillel Day School's executive director.
Detroiter Joe Medwed was
installed as president of the Detroit
Zionist Federation.
meat from Cornbelt Packing in
Detroit. When the shipment is
1,200 pounds, the kashering
process can take 2 1/2 hours.
Gilman said.
"I get concerned when a business
closes in Oak Park," Rabbi Nelson
said, "and she has a quality business. I
watch her do the de-veining [removing
the veins from the beef], the soaking
[in water to remove the blood] and the
salting. The place is spotless and she
works hard," the rabbi said. "You
should see the energy she expends."
Lost Business
One of Gilman's former customers
is the Jewish community of Grand
Rapids. Kashrut observant citizens
in the 600-family Jewish community
order meat as a group through
Congregation Ahavas Israel. Last
February, Ahavas Israel Rabbi David
Krishef informed his community
that Dexter-Davison had lost its cer-
tification from the Vaad and
arrangements were made through
Harvard Row Kosher Meats in West
Bloomfield.
Rabbi David
Gilman estimates the
Nelson watches
Grand Rapids' business
Sherry Gilman
totaled $15,000 per
kasher the meat.
year. Rabbi Krishef told
Gilman that he would
consider returning the business to
Dexter-Davison if she had a formal
letter of hashgachah.
The rabbi told the Jewish News that
observant members of his congrega-
tion, which is Conservative, and the
Reform Temple Emanuel use the
group service. Grand Rapids' Chabad
House, he believes, orders from a
Chabad-run slaughterhouse in Iowa.
After learning of Rabbi Nelson's
involvement, Rabbi Krishef called
Rabbi Nelson to discuss his super-
vision.
Rabbi Nelson said he is prepared
to continue his supervision indefi-
nitely, but would like the Vaad and
Gilman to settle their differences. "I
have great respect for the Vaad," he
said. "We all are serving God and
preserving religious law. It would be
nice to work together." ❑
1971
Detroiter Dan Frohman retired from
his 25-year position as music director
of Congregation Shaarey Zedek.
Ten Israeli airborne soldiers were
killed when a helicopter crashed
into the sea off northern Sinai.
Gates of Righteousness, an abstract
sculpture by Morris Brose, teacher
at Oakland University, was installed
above the reflecting pool at
Congregation Shaarey Zedek.
1961
Israel and the new African nation
of Upper Volta signed a treaty of
friendship and cooperation.
Detroiter Jack Musick was elected
president of Hiram Walker Inc.
Israel's first solid fuel rocket was
launched from Israel.
1951
Detroiter Harry I. Cohen joined
Moe Leiter and Associates of the
Dominion Life Assurance
Company.
Detroiter Jules Doneson, direc-
tor of the Michigan Zionist
Region, was presented a check
from Social Inc. for food parcels
for 50 families in Village of the
Blind, Gedera, Israel.
Several thousand persons attend-
ed a concert of Jewish music at the
Theme Center, Grand Circus Park
in downtown Detroit.
— Compiled by Sy Manello,
editorial assistant