journalism dedicated to Detroit Jewry, it's as important
with visionary leaders already shaping such essential areas
outreach and Jewish journalism. Here are their thoughts:
.
`The Common Thread'
Publisher Arthur Horwitz seeks to expand the Jewish News' 60-year role.
SHARON LUCKERMAN
StaffWriter
R
eflecting on the 60th anniversary
of the Jewish News, publisher
Arthur M. Horwitz describes his
weekly newspaper as "the com-
mon thread" that ties together the increas-
ingly diverse Detroit Jewish community.
One of his first difficult lessons after
arriving in Detroit to help run the paper in
1986 was getting used to having thousands
of "partners" with him on the newspaper.
"If somebody had a complaint about an
article or didn't receive their newspaper on
time," he says, "they were not only animat-
ed about their opinion, but spoke in the
possessive: 'We can't have that kind of arti-
de in our Jewish News.'
"Trust me, the publisher of the Detroit
Free Press doesn't get calls like that," he adds.
"It's this special sense of partnership with
our readers and our community that's
made the Jewish News so vital over the past
60 years, and also positions us very well for
the future," Horwitz says. "These are part-
ners everybody at the Jewish News values
having."
This partnership and sense of loyalty was
created and nurtured by the Jewish News'
founder, the late Philip Slomovitz, who
fought to establish and sustain the State of
Israel as he battled anti-Semitism world-
wide. His weekly "Purely Commentary"
column expounded on Jewish issues at the
forefront of the day.
Over 60 years, the original mission of
the Jewish News hasn't changed.
Horwitz, a veteran newspaper executive
and the son of a Holocaust survivor, shares
Slomovitz's love for Israel and commitment
to the survival of the Jewish people. Both
publishers have been lauded as visionary
Jewish journalists, dedicated to serving the
Jewish community.
Although he is not the prolific writer
Slomovitz was, Horwitz has used his
strengths and instincts to connect with
Detroit Jews through participatory corn-
munity involvement — with a special
focus on Jewish education. He currently
serves as president of the Agency for Jewish
Education of Metropolitan Detroit. And
COMMON THREAD on page 27
Arthur Horwitz
Synagogues Of The Future
Congregations focus on family, education and spiritual fulfillment.
SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN
StaffWriter
W
hile synagogues continue to
thrive in our community, all
are looking to the future
with an eye toward keeping
their congregants enriched and spiritual-
ly fulfilled.
Most local rabbis believe that mission
will be accomplished by making the syn-
agogue home base for education and a
welcome site for all, especially young
adults and families.
"While we need to continue programs
aimed at older age groups, we must also
offer what we need to bring young fami-
lies into the synagogue and hold onto
them," says Rabbi Herbert Yoskowitz of
Adat Shalom Synagogue.
Some synagogues already have suc-
ceeded in attracting and holding younger
members. Congregation Shir Tikvah, a
Reform-Renewal synagogue, has a most-
ly young membership. The Birmingham
Temple is seeing a second generation of
members joining their parents who
founded the 39-year-old Secular
Humanistic synagogue.
The Shul-Chabad Lubavitch is finding
its membership includes "many young
Jews who want to learn about Jewish tra-
ditions and rituals they were never
exposed to," says Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov.
Seeing an overall increase in younger
Orthodox families and singles under age
40, Rabbi Reuven Spolter of the newly
expanded Orthodox Young Israel of Oak
Park knows they will be needing syna-
gogues. "We just opened our first infant-
toddler room during services and already
it's one of the more popular features of
our shul," he says.
Community Connections
In a town with many bridges connecting
various streams of Judaism, Rabbi
Herbert Yoskowitz of Adat Shalom
Synagogue sees the future of Detroit
Jewry as a time of continued respect
between the Jewish groups.
"We have distinct agendas, but we are all
SYNAGOGUES on page 28
Rabbi Herbert Yoskowitz
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3/29
2002
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