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JCC Anguished
Over Decision
I'm saddened to hear of the extreme
reaction the Jewish Community
Center of Metropolitan Detroit rac-
quetball and squash community has
taken regarding elimination of the
JCC courts ("Another Swing," June
14, page 15).
Positive and negative changes
occur throughout our lifetime. How
we handle these changes is a true test
of our humanity.
A mentsh would first learn why
the changes were needed and realize
that a board of volunteers from both
the JCC and the Jewish Federation
of Metropolitan Detroit anguished
over this decision. A mentsh would
look at the whole picture and not
just their lives, and they would
understand the tremendous fiscal
and social responsibility the JCC
and Federation have to the whole
Jewish community. A mentsh would
appreciate the programs and services
that truly touch and enhance our
Jewish community, like the Jewish
Book Fair, the Jewish Film Festival
and the Seminars for Adult Jewish
Enrichment classes.
The JCC is also home to many
important community institutions,
such as the Jewish Ensemble
Theatre, the Jewish Academy, the
Pitt Child Development Center and
the Janice Charach Epstein Gallery.
Some of the JCC programs are actu-
al lifesavers, like camp scholarships,
special needs programs for children
and adults and programs for the eld-
erly and new immigrants.
A mentsh wouldn't threaten to
deny their pledge, which helps so
many, just because their recreational
habits will change. A mentsh would
be grateful for the years and memo-
ries at the JCC racquetball and
squash courts and look forward to a
new setting like the Franklin Fitness
and Racquet Club for their future
racquetball and squash bonding
experiences.
A mentsh wouldn't waste money
accusing the JCC of taking the
Jewishness out of our Center. This is
a true insult to all of the volunteers
and staff who, each day, work
together to make the Center and its
programs one of the best in the
country.
A mentsh would volunteer his-her
time to sit on a Federation commit-
tee to learn more about and help
make the difficult decisions that are
players tried other sports before taking
insignificant, and the vast majority
up their current sport.
of members who use the courts
My husband plays doubles squash at
would remain.
least twice a week, more if his schedule
Many racket sports participants
belong to the JCC Health Club,
permits. This pending decision by the
JCC has aggravated him in a way I
which has always been a profit-mak-
have never witnessed. His friends from
ing venture. Most of those members
indicate they will leave when the
the squash court phone to commiserate
about the plans. The JCC has uproot-
courts are closed.
ed the lives of those players by
At a meeting last week, the JCC
management invited representatives
announcing plans to eliminate the
courts.
of the Franklin Fitness and Racquet
Club to attend. At this meeting,
Is it worth "dumping" members who
have belonged to the Center consis-
they advised the racquet sports
Regarding the proposed renovation
tently — some since the Davison
members to switch over to the
of the Jewish Community Center in
building in Detroit — because the
Franklin club. It was a pathetic sight
West
to see the JCC sport isn't "in" these days? Things come
Bloomfield
representatives and go, but the racquet players have
("Another
remained loyal.
offering
Swing," June
I hope that the JCC will consider
another busi-
14, page 15), a
ness the mem- the arguments posed by the racquet
conclusion has
players in favor of maintaining the
bership of
been deter-
courts. I have heard from some of the
hundreds of
mined and
players that a full complement of eight
loyal support-
then facts cre-
ers. It is ironic courts is unnecessary; keeping the
ated to sup-
that my group squash doubles and one singles court
port it.
of racquetball
along with two racquetball courts
The conclu-
players is
would be sufficient.
sion is that to
The JCC Health Club has a history
making plans
Marc Gloverman of Farmington Hills, Lloyd
remain com-
of
producing champion squash players
to
join
the
Snider of West Bloomfield and Dr. Alan
petitive with
in
the
Detroit area. There are few
YMCA.
Reinstein of Farmington Hills chat after
Powerhouse
squash/racquetball
facilities left in the
Larry
Steel
racquetball at the ICC.
Gym, Franklin
Southfield Detroit area. Please don't join the other
Fitness and
venues that have decreed a death- sen-
Racquet Club
tence upon the racquet sports. The
and other similar fitness clubs, the
JCC already eliminated tennis; don't
JCC has to create its own state-of-
cast the others aside.
the-art fitness facility.
Miriam P. Cohen
It is absurd to think the JCC can
I would like to commend Staff Writer
Bloomfield Hills
compete with private enterprise; this
Sharon Luckerman for her reporting of
proposed venture is doomed from
the situation that the Jewish communi-
the start, but for no other reason
ty faces in regard to the demolition of
than the hours of operation. The
the racquet courts at the Jewish
building is closed during prime
Community Center of Metropolitan
time: Friday afternoons, Saturday
Detroit ("Racket At The JCC," May
I just finished reading the article on
mornings and for numerous Jewish
31, page 14).
architecturally significant synagogues
holidays. Furthermore, the building's
I am appalled at the lack of consider- by Alan Abrams ("Prayerful Portraits,"
design has access problems that can-
ation by members of the JCC execu-
May 31, page 68). The article was so
not be corrected.
tive committee in the manner in which very interesting to read, especially the
The Jewish Community Center
this issue was broached to members.
part about Temple Jacob in Hancock,
was never intended as a commercial
The racquet sports community at the
Mich., because I have been there many
venture. It was created as an institu-
JCC might be small in number to the
times.
tion for the preservation of Jewish
board, but it is mighty in voice. They
The great-granddaughter of Jacob
culture and a gathering place for,
will not walk away quietly.
Gartner [who the temple is named for]
Jewish people. This is about to
Removing the courts to some of
was my college roommate. The friend-
change forever.
these members is akin to the death of a ship has continued for more than 40
Regarding the elimination of the
close relative. Their whole reason for
years. I was surprised that the photogra-
racquet courts: of course, the cost to
going to the health club will be greatly
pher, Laszlo Regos, was unable to find
now introduce racquet courts into
diminished, especially if all their
out who the architect was. In the
the new design is prohibitive. It
friends decide to leave when the courts
Michigan Jewish History booklet dated
must be remembered that the JCC
disappear.
November 1998, vol. 38, it states that
determined courts were no longer
So, the racquet players are older; per- the architect was most probably Henry
needed, so the new design did not
haps, one day, in-line skaters and
L. Ottenheimer. This booklet was put
allow for them. Had it been decided
weightlifters will reach the point when
out by the Jewish Historical Society of
- to retain some of existing courts and
they will not be able to pursue these
Michigan.
design the other amenities around
interests and will want to try some-
Ethel Rosenblatt
them, the cost would have been
thing different. Most of the racquet
West Bloomfield
needed in this community. Everyone
is entitled to disagree with commu-
nity decisions; however, attacking
the decision-maker's motives, inten-
tions and commitment is unfair,
unmentsh-like and divisive.
Lisa Lis
Farmington Hills
Users Of Courts
Steamed At JCC
JCC Courts Play
Serve Valued Role
Synagogue Story
Stirs Memories