Jewish Book Fair

Book Fair founder Irwin Shaw
remembers it all started 50 years ago
with a simple suggestion.

BARBARA LEWIS Special to the Jewish News

er as executive director of

munity Center in 1951, he

ncrease the Jewish educational

nter's programming.

to degree in education from Wayne

State University, Shaw was well equipped for the

challenge and already had dedicated his career to

the Jewish community. He previously worked as

executive director of the Fresh Air Society.

JL

Louis LaMed, then a JCC board member, plant-

ed the seed for the Detroit JCC's Annual Jewish

Book Fair, now the oldest and largest in the coun-

try. This year, it opens Nov. 8 and

runs through Nov. 18 at both the

West Bloomfield and Oak Park

JCC locations.

IDEA

on page 84

Book Fair founder
Irwin Shaw:
Bringing Jewish
content to the Jewish
Community Center

11/2
2001

83

