Community
Immigrant
Heirlooms
Detroit Historical Museum hosts Jewish exhibit through March.
room in an early 20th cen-
tury Jewish home, including
heirlooms brought here by
Jewish immigrants from
Poland, has been recreated as part of
an exhibit on "The Polish Presence in
Detroit" now open at the Detroit
Historical Museum.
The Jewish community's participa-
tion in the Detroit 300 event was
invited by its sponsor, St. Mary's
College of Ava Maria University, and
the director of the Detroit Historical
Museum, Dr. Dennis Zimbala.
The museum and the Jewish
Historical Society of Michigan, in
cooperation with the Jewish .
Community Council of Metropolitan
Detroit, will host a program at the
museum, including a lecture, recep-
tion and docent tours on Sunday,
Dec. 2, from noon to 3:30 p.m.
A slide-illustrated lecture on
"Ceremonial Arts of Chanukah" will
be presented at 1 p.m. by internation-
al Judaica authority Rabbi Joseph
Gutmann, art history professor emeri-
tus at Wayne State University.
A highlight of the reception will be
a display of menorot from the person-
al Judaica collection of Doreen
Hermelin of Bingham Farms and the
late Ambassador David Hermelin.
Docents will show guests through
the museum's various Detroit 300
exhibits.
Several period "Rooms of Tradition"
are featured in "The Polish Presence
in Detroit" exhibit. Each has been
furnished to offer glimpses into the
Polish immigrant home in Detroit.
Among the many items arranged as
part of the Jewish Sabbath table set-
ting are candlesticks, a Kiddush cup, a
brass samovar and sacred books lent
by the local descendants of the origi-
nal owners. Also in the room are some
memorabilia and photographs of
Jewish personalities, businesses and
institutions that were part of the
Polish immigrant experience and
communal scene in early Detroit.
The Jewish artifacts and photos
were assembled by Judith Levin
Cantor, in cooperation with the
museum curator, Jill Grannan.
Harriet Siden and Myrle
k
."-i1114
Also on Display ••
• • • • • • • • • • • • •
♦
Other items in "The Polish Presence in Detroit" exhibit include:
honoree), loaned by the Jewish War Veterans.
• Textile loaned by Evelyn Kasle, lace textile loaned by
• Linen napkins, monogrammed and hand-embroidered for
Harriet Siden, brass samovar loaned by Lorraine Schubiner,
a trousseau, 1914, by Lillian Keidan Levin, loaned by Peggy
and a copy of a letter written by a Polish uncle to his father,
Daitch.
in Polish and translation, loaned by Gerry Cook.
• Sports Hall of Fame articles about Bob Luby, reproduced
• Sacred books, printed in Warsaw and Vilna, brought to
from the Wayne University Hall of Fame and Jewish Sports
Detroit by immigrant families, from the collection of the
Hall
of Fame.
archives of Congregation Shaarey Zedek.
• Photos include the mother of Mary Lou Zieve, Prentis
• Yearbooks of early schools attended by Jewish and Polish
grandparents and others.
students, loaned by the Jewish Historical Society collection.
• Hand Sewing Lessons," an instruction book for Jewish
• A plaque of Raymond Zussman, Congressional Medal of
immigrants, loaned by Detroit Historical Museum.
Honor winner in World War II (Hamtramck resident and
Xt.
11/23
2001
38
Photos courtesy of Martha Climo, Michigan Historical
Museum
'\N Left: Kiddush cup, sterling, brought
from Poland by Rabbi Judah Levin,
loaned by granddaughter Judy Cantor.
Above: Menorah, brass, brought from
Poland 1870 by great-grandparents
Gussie and Solomon Goldman, who are
buried in Hamtramck at Beth Olem
Cemetery, loaned by James D. Grey.
Below: Embroidered apron brought
from Poland by her great-aunt, circa
1872, and loaned by Sylvia Babcock.
XN,N,
'',4t4
Left. Shabbat and holiday tall, engraved
candlesticks of "white silver" brought from
Poland by his mother and loaned by
Howard Camden.
Above: Mortar and pestle, heavy brass,
brought from Poland by her mother and
loaned by Adele Staller.
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Leland are Jewish Historical Society
program committee chairs. Adele
Staller is event chair.
There is a $6 charge for the open=
ing reception, lecture and docent
tours on Dec.-2, at the museum,
5401 Woodward Ave. at Kirby. For
reservations and information, call
Sharon Alterman, (248) 626-9704.
"The Polish Presence in Detroit"
exhibit will continue through Sunday,
March 31. O