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4

PHILIP TEWEL

Special
Plaudits

Shaarey Zedek
Rabbi Irwin
Groner's tribute
is hailed.

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Director

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Knowing what's
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PRICELESS

BILL CARROLL
Special Writer

any long-time members
From
of Congregation
top
right:
Shaarey Zedek agree
Leypsa and
that the tribute dinner for Rabbi
Rabbi Groner
Irwin Groner on June 20 was the
at the tribute
best event they ever attended at
dinner.
the Southfield synagogue.
Close to 1,000 people attended
Leypsa and
the dinner program as Shaarey
Rabbi Groner
Zedek honored Rabbi Groner for
are flanked
his 70th birthday and 43 years of
by son David
service to the congregation — part
and his wife,
of the synagogue's 140th anniver-
Amy, and
sary celebration. Rabbi Groner
son Joel.
joined the synagogue as an assis-
Rabbis Joseph
tant rabbi in 1959, then became
Krakoff
head rabbi a year later after the
Jonathan
death of Rabbi Morris Adler in
Berkun and
1966.
Leonardo
"The evening was by far the
Bitran get the
finest event I've ever attended at
crowd going
Shaarey Zedek," said Leonard
in honor of
Baron of West Bloomfield, a syna-
Rabbi
gogue past president.
Groner
"It was a wonderful evening,
with a very tasteful, appropriate
program," added longtime mem-
ber Dr. Hershel Sandberg of
Southfield.
.
Saying she "was happy to be
part of the program in some small
way," Rabbi Groner's granddaugh-
ter Carli Boyer, 13, of West
Bloomfield was among those who
stood on the bimah to give presentations on special phases of
the rabbi's life.
-
The youngsters then lit electric candles on pieces of a cake,
and the audience sang "Happy Birthday" to Rabbi Groner. He
and his wife, Leypsa, sons Joel and David, and the latter's wife,
Wayne Circuit Judge Amy Hathaway, sat beaming in the front
row. David Groner later gave a special tribute to his father.
Shaarey Zedek President James Safran presented a sterling
silver kiddush cup as a gift from the congregants; past presi-
dent Dottie Wagner, chairperson of the 140th celebration,
unveiled a portrait of him, painted by Glen Michaels of Troy;
Shaarey Zedek past presidents William Davidson, Harold

Berry and Dr. Richard Brown and Rabbi David Nelson of
Congregation Beth Shalom delivered remarks. Rabbis Joseph
Krakoff, Leonardo Bitran and Jonathan Berkun sang a humor-
ous song to the Groners.
Rabbi Groner culminated the evening with a range of
humorous and serious remarks, reminiscing about his 43 years
at Shaarey Zedek, and thanking everyone for participating.
After one humorous anecdote, he said: "Jackie Mason, step .
aside."
The program was produced and directed by Sheri Wagner
of Birmingham. ❑