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An Old-Fashioned Rabbi

"He was very much interested in his con-
gregation and would reach out if he
thought there was something that as a
rabbi he could do."
eth Abraham Synagogue, the
The rabbi loved to dance at weddings
Galicianer shul in Detroit,
and
was noted for his sense of humor.
hired Rabbi Israel Isaac
Standing 5-foot-3, one of the rabbi's
Halpern in 1949 as its first
favorite lines about himself, said
English-speaking rabbi. He served at the
Shimshon, was: You have nothing to be
Linwood Avenue synagogue alongside
concerned about, because I'm a short
Rabbi Joseph Thumin, a Yiddish speaker.
speaker."
"My father was a European Jew in the
Rabbi and Mrs. Halpern made many
highest and best sense," said Eli Halpern.
trips to Israel, visiting his
."He was well-educated, well-
parents in B'nei B'rak and
spoken, polite, with an elegant
later Shimshon and his fam-
bearing, devoted to his family,
ily in Karmei Shomron.
his religion and firmly com-
Rabbi Halpern was
mitted to his obligations as
Detroit chairman of the
rabbi."
Rabbinical Council of
Born in Montreal but
America
and its national
yeshivah-educated in New
youth commission, served
York and Poland, Rabbi
on the executive committees
Halpern guided his traditional
of the Council of Orthodox
_ congregation for 34 years
Rabbis of Detroit and the
through many changes —
Rabbinical Commission of
from a move to Seven Mile
Metropolitan
Detroit. He
Rabbi
Israel
Halpern
and Greenlawn in Detroit,
participated
with
the Jewish
through a merger with
Welfare Federation and was
Congregation Beth Hillel, to eventually
a founder and board member of the now
combining with Congregation Beth Moses
Southfield-based day school, Yeshivat
into the synagogue in West Bloomfield
Akiva.
The rabbi also served on the boards
now called Congregation Beth Ahm.
of the Southfield-based day school Yeshiva
Through it all, family and friends say
Beth Yehudah, Mizrachi, the Jewish
Rabbi Halpern remained steadfast in his
Community Council and Detroit
religious observance and devoted to the
Jewish people. Son Shimshon Halpern said Roundtable of Christians and Jews.
Shimshon recalled that his father, as
after his parents left Michigan to retire in
head
of the rabbinical council, refused a
Florida in 1983, his father gladly agreed to
meeting
with representatives of the
be the "new, young rabbi" of the Hebrew
Congregation of Lauderdale, Fla., and kept Palestine Liberation Organization in the
early 1980s. Receiving national attention
going for 10 years. Complications from a
for that stand, Shimshon said it is just
stroke that Rabbi Halpern suffered six
another example of how Rabbi Halpern
years ago in Florida took their toll on him.
was "a man of great principle,"• and of the
He died a resident of Southfield on May
legacy he leaves those he led at Beth
22 at age 87.
Abraham
and beyond.
Rabbi Halpern's religious education
Rabbi Halpern is survived by his sons
induded attending Mir Yeshiva in Poland
and daughters-in-law, Shimshon and
and the Yeshiva of the Chofetz Chaim in
Miriam Halpern of Israel, Eli and Julie
Radin, Poland, where he received his rab-
Halpern of Southfield; daughter and son-
binic ordination in 1936. He also earned a
in-law, Rella and Michael Ringler of Coral
secular undergraduate degree in Canada
Springs,
Fla.; brother and sister-in-law,
and a master's degree from the University
Murray
and
Edith Halpern of Brooklyn;
of Detroit.
sister, Clara Kramer of Montreal, Canada;
The rabbi served as a captain-chaplain
grandchildren, Adina and Rabbi David
in the Canadian army during World War
Milston, Rachel and Rabbi Shmuel Anbar,
II. Prior to Detroit, he filled pulpits in
Rutie and Shmuel Abromovitz, Penina and
Massachusetts and Canada — including
Richard Rosenzweig, Eli and Efrat
Kirkland Lake, Ontario, where he met his
Halpern, Chani, Max, Rebecca and Ariel
future wife, Hinda.
Halpern
and Seth Ringler; and 17 great-
Passionate discussion about Juclnism and
grandchildren.
other religions was the glue. in Joseph
He was married 59 years to his beloved
Bienenstock's more than 50-year friendship
wife,
Hinda (Rabinovitch), who died in
with Rabbi Halpern. We had different
1998.
opinions," said Bienenstock of Southfield,
Interment was at Beth Abraham
but respected those differences.
Cemetery.
Contributions may be made
Another friend, Leonard Farber of West
to
Yeshivat
Akiva. Arrangements by
Bloomfield, remembered Rabbi Halpern's
Hebrew Memorial Chapel. T1
abundant kindness and respect for others.

ESTHER ALLWEISS TSCHIRHART
Special to the Jewish News

B

,

2001 Michigan
Press Association
"Newspaper
of the Year"
award winner!

j24

5/31
2002

122

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