•
Moving to the Fleischman Residence in West Bloomfield fol-
lowing the death last year of his wife, Sonia, after almost 60
years of marriage, he now attends three Orthodox services a
day — and had to get used to wearing a kippah again.
"I love Orthodox services," he said. "It reminds me of grow-
ing up in an Orthodox family in Winnipeg, Manitoba
[Canada]."
Did his father mind when he became a Reform rabbi? "Not
at all," said Rabbi Syme. "He said, As long as you're a Jew, it
doesn't matter.' I chose Reform because there's a strong corn-
mitment to equality for men and women not reflected in tra-
ditional Orthodox prayers. However, I've always had a high
regard for Orthodoxy in general:"
As a teenager, Rabbi Syme even served as a lay cantor before-
moving on to New York City to get his rabbinical degree at
the Jewish Institute of Religion. The "M" in Rabbi Syme's
name stands for Monte. School officials told him he just
couldn't become a rabbi with a name like Monte. They sug-
gested changing it to Moses, but he settled on M. Robert.
After stints as rabbi at synagogues in the towns of Sharon
BILL CARROLL
and Butler, Pa. — each with 100 to 150 Jewish families — he
Special to the Jewish News
came to Temple Israel, one of the largest congregations in the
United States, with more than 3,000 families. Along the way,
abbi M. Robert Syme, one of Detroit's most
he earned a master's in education at Pittsburgh University and
beloved spiritual leaders, is among eight local
octogenarians whose lives and achievements will later an honorary doctorate from Hebrew Union College-
Jewish Institute of Religion, based in Cincinnati.
be celebrated in a hall of fame brunch
"The first thing I did at Temple Israel was to
May 5;
eliminate
the senior rabbi tide," he said. "The
Others being honored include Lillian Bernstein, a
four
rabbis
there now are part of an equal team."
woman who loves Detroit and its children ... Dr.
-
His
son,
Daniel,
rabbi at Temple Beth El, did
Irving Panush, a longtime educator who Is still
the
same
there.
Another
son, David, is a concert
teaching and still learning ... Rosevelyn Lieberman,
pianist.
a woman who looks out for the welfare of Oakland
Rabbi Syme is proud his title means "teacher"
County families ... David Tanzman, an extraordi-
because
he feels he's helped give a Jewish educa-
nary mediator ... Gred Frank, an active great-grand-
tion
to
thousands
of people during his career —
mother slowed down only by a broken hip ...
almost
a
half-century
at Temple Israel. He retired
Paulette Bonin, a woman extremely active in ORT
last
year,
but
remains
rabbi
emeritus.
and Hadassah ... and Rose Korinsky, a retired
"I've seen many young people go on to
teacher who's a staunch member of the Sinai Guild.
become rabbis and cantors, and I've known well-
This octet of 80-year-old "heroes" will be present- Rabbi M Robert
known businesspeople and leaders in the com-
ed with Eight Over 80 awards by Jewish
Syme •
munity," he said. "I'm happy to have had a role
Apartments and Services UPS) and inducted into
in their education and success along the way."
its Senior Adult Hall of Fame Sunday, May 5. The
Rabbi Harold Loss, who officiated with Rabbi
ninth annual awards will feature an 11 a.m. brunch
Syme for 30 years at Temple Israel, called him "a
and noon ceremony at the Meer Jewish Apartments
genuine, warm person who always treated every-
on the Eugene and Marcia Applebaum Jewish
one at the synagogue and the rest of the commu-
Community Campus in West Bloomfield.
nity with sincere warmth and kindness."
Some of the eight have slowed down a bit after
many years of working and volunteering, but others
are still active every day in jobs, participating in
Lillian Bernstein
charitable events and spreading good will in the
Lillian Bernstein, 85, has a love affair with
community.
Detroit. She's been living in the city's northwest
The event raises about $50,000 a year to provide
section
for 45 years and has no desire to move.
low-income JAS residents with food subsidies to
She's
steeped
in Detroit tradition and is a staunch
take care of their daily meals. Neil Gorosh of West
supporter
of
the
Detroit Institute of Arts,
Blobmfield, chairman of the 2002 Eight Over 80-
rnstein
Lillian
Be
Orchestra
Hall,
the
Detroit Opera House, all of
program, said, "More than half of JAS's 800 resi-
the museums and the new Detroit Science
dents rely on these food subsidies to fund their
Center, where she serves as a trustee.
meals. Many of them have annual incomes of less
Born on old Division Street, she attended Northeastern and
than $6,700 per year. The price of one $65 ticket will provide
Central high schools. She is grateful her grandparents came to
a meal subsidy for two senior adults for one month."
the United States from Eastern Europe "because it was a privi-
This year's honorees exemplify a wide range of beneficial
!eg:- 1-.)Lt born in this country."
activity inside and outside the Jewish community:
serves on the Wayne County Foster Care Review
,_::ding monthly meetings to review cases of children
Who rreca special care. The board makes recommendations to
Rabbi M Robert Syme
judges
as to where they should be .placed.
After serving as a Reform rabbi for nearly 60 years, Rabbi M.
We
see many sad cases of unfit parents and disrupted fami-
Robert Syme, 81, has returned to his Orthodox Jewish "roots."
THE GREA
Jewish
Apartments
and Services
honors seniors
for their
activism and
volunteerism.
4/26
2002
34
R