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Clockwise from top left:
The Jimmy Prentis Morris Building
houses the Oak Park JCC.

Pianist David Syme (center) exchanges greetings
at a 1967 concert at the Miyers and Curtis-
JCC, with his father Rabbi M Robert Syme
(from left) and brother, Daniel Syme,
the future rabbi of Temple Beth El

The Aaron DeRoy Building on Woodward
Avenue and Holbrook was a hub of activity.

Pamphlet announcing the sixth annual
Jewish Book Fair in 1957.

no matter what location through the years.

Children celebrate Chanukah at the
12th Street JCC playschool.

"I forgot how beautiful it is," added
Melba Winer of West Bloomfield, who
started the popular Center Theatre
group, a semi-professional company that
produced four plays a year for 12 years.
"It brings back great memories. I — my
family — spent 15 years of my life here,
night and day."
The-open house, made possible by a
grant from the Kaufman Memorial Trust
and the Detroit Jewish Initiative of the
Jewish Community Council of
Metropolitan Detroit, included tours of
the building, refreshments and live
music. It is one event in a yearlong plan
to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the
Jewish Community Center of
Metropolitan Detroit and to look to its
future.

Sta ff photo by Krista F-Iusa

Opposite page: The D. Dan 6' Betty Kahn
Building in West Bloomfield.

Over the years, people have
passed through the JCC doors to
participate in everything from learn-
ing English to playing sports, hear-
ing lectures, joining summer day
camp and connecting at senior
activities.
"The JCC is a way of life," said
Morton Plotnick, former executive
director (1977-1995), who fondly
remembers a B'nai Brith Youth
Organization dance at age 16,
Detroiter Lillian-Betiin has been a JCC
teaching roller skating and counsel-
member since its beginnings at the Hannah
ing kids at the day camp, all at the
Schloss Building at High and Hastings.
JCC.
Former Detroiter Jeff Haas, now
fanaticized about performing here some
of Traverse City, remembers practicing
day," he said, and got his wish last
the piano, in secret, on the Meyers-Curtis_ month.
JCC stage when he was 9 years old. "I
His ja77 trio, including guest trumpeter

Marcus Belgrave, entertained the open
house guests. His trio performed in the
refurbished auditorium once named for
Helen DeRoy, now for Paul Robeson.
Over the years, the auditorium and
other areas of the center had fallen into
disrepair. Then, three years ago, the
NWAC was the beneficiary of two major
grants.
Our program, Detroit Jewish
Initiatives of the Jewish Federation, was
part of an $11 million partnership with
four Detroit community centers (includ-
ing the NWAC)," said Rabbi Marla
Feldman, JCCouncil assistant director.

JCC on page 26