EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK
Jewish Southfield Resonates
T
wenry years ago, there was no question that Southfield was the heart of
Detroit Jewry. Now, there are "significantly" fewer Jewish residents, but
enough remain to be courted by the three mayoral candidates.
The Sept. 11 primary vote will reduce the mayoral field — Mayor
Donald Fracassi, Councilwoman Brenda Lawrence and County Commissioner Eric
Coleman — to two. Council -contenders in the primary will drop
from 10 to eight. The general election is Nov. 6.
Synagogues, yeshivot, kosher businesses and communal services
stand in tribute to a continuing Jewish presence in this Oakland
County hub city of 78,296 residents.
Over the years, the city helped create an eruv for its synagogues,
helped defuse the harassment of observant Jews walking on Shabbat
and helped secure the three overpass parks in Oak Park and
Southfield, which saved the Orthodox community split by
ROBERT A. Interstate 696.
"The city of Southfield has always encouraged the Yeshiva as we
SKLAR
have
grown," says Rabbi Eli Mayerfeld of the Yeshiva Beth Yehudah,
Editor
on West Lincoln in Southfield since 1966. "They have been consis-
tently accommodating and sensitive to the needs of the Jewish community"
A key issue for Jews now is how to build on the city's multiculturalism — the
integrated neighborhoods, the choice of restaurants, the places of worship and
the mix of parochial and public schools.
More than 50 percent of the population is black, but Jews, Chaldeans, Koreans,
Indians, Armenians, Romanians and other ethnic groups call the city home.
"When you look at our religious institutions, you see the rich diversity of our
community, which gives the cityan international flavor," says city community
relations director Nimrod Rosenthal.
And we think that flavor has enriched community life."
I think so, too. Turn into a residential subdivision off any of Southfield's
major arteries and there's a good chance you'll see neighbors shmoozing, whatev-
er their ethnicity.
Where Jews Live
The exact count isn't known, but the number of Jews living in
Southfield has "declined significantly," says Marion Freedman, a
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit senior planning associ-
ate. The Federation's last population study of metro Detroit in
1990 showed Southfield had 26,600 Jewish residents and 12,400
Jewish households — more than double the size of runner-up Oak
Park.
Today, Freedman reports, Orthodox Jews live in homes near 10
Mile and Greenfield and near 11 Mile and Lahser — by their
Rabbi
shuls. Jewish homeowners also live near Congregation Shaarey
Mayerfild
Zedek, a Conservative synagogue at 11 Mile and Bell Road, and in
northeastern Southfield subdivisions that feed into the
Birmingham school district. Many Jewish seniors and Russian immigrants live in
apartments.
The number of Jewish students has dwindled, but the Southfield public schools
close for the High Holidays because nearly a sixth of the teaching corps is Jewish, as
are many of the substitute teachers, reports Ken Siver, information director.
Shifting demographics aside, Southfield remains a force within Detroit Jewry: It
represents an important bridge between the Jewish community campuses in West
Bloomfield and Oak Park.
There are no immediate plans to update its 1990 regional review, but I'd sure like
to see the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit commission an interim study of
Southfield. Ideally, the study would look beyond the data of the Federation's
Neighborhood Project, which works to encourage Jewish home ownership and reno-
vation in Southfield and neighboring Oak Park.
Sure, Southfield has lost some of its luster since the go-go development days a
quarter century ago; redevelopment is now the buzzword. Yet the city has much to be
proud of. It's the county's third most populous city, cultural and recreational opportu-
nities are exemplary, and emergency services compare well.
Challenges of all shapes and sizes confront Southfield — and all of Detroit Jewry
has a stake in the city. But I'm confident in its future because Southfield has a history
of responding adeptly to change. ❑
LETTERS
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He's Teaching,
Not Advocating
We also attended the same series of
lectures on Buddhism given by Rabbi
Hal Greeenwald at the Jewish
Community Center of Metropolitan
Detroit ("Be Mindful Of Buddhist
Practices," July 27, page 5).
Not once did Rabbi Greenwald
advocate Jews adopting Buddhist
practices. He showed similarities and
comparisons and why many young
Jews are attracted and flocking to
Buddhism.
Rabbi Greenwald pointed out that
Jews don't have to go to Buddhism,
but can find the same personal spiri-
tuality within Judaism that many Jews
of all ages are seeking.
Rabbi Greenwald is the first rabbi
to make my friends and me believe
we can find this fulfillment in the
confines of Judaism. We thank him
for the series of enlightened lectures.
Ellen Kahn
West Bloomfield
Ethel Rosen
Farmington Hills
Deana Tachna
Birmingham
Jewish Involvement
At Wayne State
As a full-time lecturer in Wayne State
University's English Department, I
read with special interest your article
on WSU ("Wayne State University
Revisited," June 15, page 14).
Overall, I found the article provides
a fair and dynamic picture of life at
Wayne, but as a member of the facul-
ty, I was acutely aware of a recurring
omission. From the tenor of the arti-
cle, it would seem that Edith
Covensky and David Weinberg are
the only two Jewish faculty members.
In fact, there are a great many others,
especially at the graduate school level.
Like me, several of them serve on
the board of the Cohn-Haddow
Center for Judaic Studies. I am also
currently president of WSU Hilberry
Understudies, which is the "women's
auxiliary" for the Hilberry Theatre.
As a voice for other Jewish members
of the WSU faculty, may I take the
liberty to note that we take our com-
mitment to the university seriously.
JARC'S
EXPLOSIVE
FALL
FUNDRAISER
CELEBRATION
WINNER!
2001 Tony Award
Best Theatrical
Event
For ticket
information
call the
JARC BLAST Hotline
248-538-6610
ext., 418
Phoebe A. Mainster
Wayne State University
Detroit
LETTERS on page 6
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