Rabbi Leo M. Franklin: Shepherded Temple, Ci

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HEIDI S. CHRISTEIN

Special to the Jewish News

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n Aug. 9, 1948, Rabbi Leo M. Franklin's
obituary appeared in The New York
Times under the headline "Emeritus
Leader of Temple Beth El Is Dead —
Also Was Known for Civic Work."
The Times' brevity encapsulated Rabbi Franklin's
massive impact on Detroit during the almost half
century he spent in the city. He shepherded
Temple Beth El as it became one of the largest
Reform congregations in the United States.
With Temple member and architect Albert Kahn,
Rabbi Franklin gave Detroit two magnificent build-
ings. The first, on Woodward south of Mack, was used
from 1903-1922 and now serves as Wayne State
University's Bonstelle Theatre. The other, at
Woodwara and Gladstone, served worshippers from

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1923 until the Temple moved to Bloomfield Township
in 1974. It is now home to the Lighthouse Cathedral.
Rabbi Franklin also worked in many areas of civic
improvement, among them serving as president of the
Detroit Public Library for three different terms and
on the board of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
In the two buildings on Woodward, Rabbi
Franklin repeatedly made headlines. In 1903, it was
national news when he abolished the selling of seats,
insisting there should be no rich man's seat and no
poor man's seat in a house of God. When Rabbi
Franklin spoke to his co-religionists, he stressed the
need for brotherhood that he frequently mentioned
when he addressed the larger community. He
encouraged "respect for all our brother Jews who[se]
practices square with their preachments, even though
in theory and in practice they may differ from us." On
In 1921, the 20th anniversary of the Interfaith
Thanksgiving Service was observed, which Rabbi

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Franklin had begun as a gesture to educate other
faiths in the city about Judaism. Rabbi Franklin
was also a founding member of the Roundtable of
Catholics, Jews and Protestants (now the National
Conference for Community and Justice). In 1923,
the Catholic University of Detroit recognized him
for these interfaith efforts, awarding him an
Honorary Doctor of Law degree. He was the first
Detroit rabbi thus honored.
Rabbi Franklin's time in Detroit was not without
controversy, however. While not an anti-Zionist,
he worried about what he saw as the "godlessness"
of Zionism and he warned that for Israel "Jews
have struggled and sacrificed through uncounted
centuries. But let us beware ... we be - misled into
paying too high a price for its achievement.' ,
the eve of World War I, when Rabbi
Franklin spoke at the dedication of a temple in
Alabama, he articulated another theme much more

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Ormiberc Detroit's Hero

The 6-foot-4-inch Detroit Tiger star first baseman was a hero to all Detroit. He was named the American
League's Most Valuable Player in 1935 and 1940 — when the Tigers won the World Series and American
League pennant, respectively — and hit 58 home runs in 1938.
Greenberg's decision not to play in a World Series game in 1934,, but instead to attend Yom Kippur
services at Congregation Shaarey Zedek, has become a legend retold in poetry and film.

— Judith Levin Cantor

Leonard imons:
Ensuring Detroit's History

Kathleen Straus:
Focus on Education

The executive director. of Detroit 300, Maud Lyon, in
her keynote speech to the Jewish Historical Society,
recently said: "Without Leonard Simons, there would
not be a 'Streets of Old Detroit' at the Detroit
Historical Museum, clearly the most popular exhibit
ever at the museum." It has also been said that without
Simons' fund-raising assista- ce, there would not be a
Detroit Historical Museum or a Dossin Great Lakes
Museum. A distinctive bronze plaque in the Streets of
Leonard Simons
Old Detroit pays tribute to this visionary man.
Simons indeed made lasting contributions to the city of Detroit. The Woodward
Avenue building of the Wayne State University Press, which benefited from
Simons' leadership over many years, was named after him in his lifetime.
A library at the Karmanos Cancer Institute bears his name, as does a study
room and special collection in the library of Wayne State University. The Jewish
Community Archives also is named in his honor.
A co-founder of the Simons Michelson advertising agency, many of the city's
advertising people Owe their start to this firm, now known as Simons Michelson
Zieve. A recipient of many awards and honors, Simons is most warmly remembered
for his ready sense of humor. In 1984, he published a book of his personal reminis-
cences and reflections called Simons Says. His own philosophy that must have
inspired his civic devotion is best summed up in one of Simon's own statements:
"I have r!ways believed that there is much more to life than 'begin, beget, and
be gone ..." There is a difference between putting your nose into other people's
business and putting your heart into other people's problems." By knowing that
difference, Leonard Simons made a difference in Detroit.

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- — Judith Levin Cantor

7/27
2001

32

Kathleen Straus' leadership has touched a wide range of
organizations in the Jewish community, in Detroit and
in the state of Michigan.
Education has been her lifelong interest and her goal
has been to build and improve public schools in
Michigan. Her presidency of the State Board of
Education was widely applauded because it refocused
the board's attention to public education from her pre-
decessor's spotlight on charter schools.
Kathleen Straus
Straus has served as president of the Center for
Creative Studies and executive director of PRO Detroit (People and Responsible
Organizations for Detroit). She became the first woman president of the Detroit
chapter of the American Jewish Committee, which honored her with its
Distinguished Community Service Award. Twice she has been elected president
of the- Jewish Community Council of Metropolitan Detroit.
During her second term with the Council, which ended this May, she led a
successful fight against school vouchers and helped cement bonds between the
Jewish community and Detroit citizens through the Detroit Jewish Literacy
Coalition.
Mayor Jerome P. Cavanagh appointed her to Detroit's Commission on
Community Relations and Gov. William Milliken appointed her to the
Education Commission of the States.
In 2000, Straus received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Michigan
Women's Hall of Fame and a Distinguished Service Award from the Michigan
Education Association.

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— Alan Kandel

