Obituaries
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`Mentsh' Of The Senate
MATTHEW E. BERGER
and SHARON SAMBER
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Washington, D.C.
merican Jewish leaders are
mourning the sudden
death of Sen. Paul
Wellstone, a two-term
Democrat from Minnesota lauded
by many as a "mentsh."
Wellstone, 58, a Jew known for his
liberal views on domestic and
Middle East issues, died in a plane
crash Oct. 25, 2002, in Eveleth,
Minn., less than two weeks before a
pivotal and hotly contested election.
The plane was taking Wellstone,
the son of Russian immigrants, to
the funeral of a state legislator's
father. Wellstone's wife, Sheila, 58,
his daughter, Marcia, three cam-
paign staffers and two pilots were
also on board. All perished in the
crash. Sons David and Mark and six
grandchildren survive the
Wellstones.
Wellstone was in the midst of a
heated re-election battle against a
Republican challenger, former St.
Paul Mayor Norm Coleman. The
race was the only Senate contest pit-
ting two Jews against each other,
A
FRIDA BARAK, 75, of West
Bloomfield, died Oct. 26, 2002.
She is survived by her son and
daughter-in-law, Eddy and Dorothy
Barak of West Bloomfield; sister-in-
law and brother-in-law, Marty and
Sharon Gene; grandchildren, Danie,
Laya and Ari Barak. She was the
beloved wife of the late Marcel
Barak.
Contributions may be made to a
charity of one's choice. Services and
interment at Hebrew Memorial Park.
Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial
Chapel.
JULIA E. BLUESTEIN, 92, of
Southfield, died Oct. 23, 2002.
She is survived by her son and
daughter-in-law, Robert and Suzanne
Bluestein of Bloomfield Hills; grand-
children, Jeffrey and Emily Bluestein.
She was the beloved wife of the late
Samuel Bluestein.
Interment at Beth El Memorial
Park. Contributions may be made to
11/1
2002
150
against Israel. Wellstone also sup-
much like the 1990 race Wellstone
ported moving the U.S. Embassy
won to join the Senate.
from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Both Wellstone and Coleman had
In the 1990s, however, Wellstone
strong backing within the state's
was not considered
45,000-strong Jewish com-
stalwart on Israel. He
munity.
did not sign on to a
Wellstone was known for
number of other let-
his liberal views, highlight-
ters and resolutions,
ed recently in his hesitancy
including a 1998 let-
to support the Bush admin-
ter that urged
istration's drive for military
President Clinton to
action against Iraq.
stop publicly pressur-
Wellstone argued that
ing Israel to make
there ought to be more of a
concessions and that
focus on disarming Iraq and
criticized Arafat for
that the public was worried
violating the Oslo
about the United States
peace accords.
launching an attack without
Such points led
Sen. Paul Wellstone
first gaining international
some pro-Israel voices
support. In the end,
to declare that Wellstone had a poor
Wellstone voted against the bill
record on Israel, and some pro-Israel
authorizing military force against
donors directed their contributions
Iraq. The bill passed.
to Coleman in this year's race.
Jewish leaders said Wellstone's vot-
The charge that he was weak on
ing record was always strong on aid
to Israel. In recent years he signed or Israel greatly upset Wellstone,
according to Steve Silberfarb, direc-
co-sponsored various congressional
letters in support of Israel, including tor of the Jewish Community
Relations Council of Minnesota and
one to President Bush criticizing
the Dakotas.
Palestinian Authority President
"Nothing angered him more," he
Yasser Arafat and urging the admin-
said. "That really got under his
istration not to meet with Arafat
skin."
until the Palestinians ended violence
.
Children's Hospital of Michigan.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel.
GERALD "JERRY" CLAYTON, 69,
of Bloomfield Hills, died Oct. 26,
2002. He was an executive and co-
owner of Circle Press in Farmington
Hills and a partner with Robert Frank
in a printing business for over 40
years. He was also a graduate of
Wayne State University and a member
of the Wabeek Country. Club.
Mr. Clayton is survived by his wife,
Shirlee Caplan-Clayton; sons and
daughters-in-law, Marshall and Cindy
Clayton of Arizona, Alan Clayton,
Bruce and Lisa Clayton of West
Bloomfield, Alan and Victoria Caplan
of Washington; daughters and son-in-
law, Sue and David Salinger of
Colorado, Carole Caplan of Illinois;
grandchildren, Rachel, Amy, Stacy and
Henry Clayton, Daniele and Maisie
Salinger, Max, Elana and Rose Brown,
Walker and Nathaniel Caplan; brother
and sister-in-law, Melvin and Diane
Clayton of West Bloomfield; sister and
brother-in-law, Eleanor and Phillip
Selvan of West Bloomfield; brother-in-
law and sister-in-law, Robert and
Rema Burk. He was the beloved hus-
band of the late Helaine Clayton; dear
brother-in-law of the late Sidney Burk
and the late Jenny Burk.
Interment at Adat Shalom Memorial
Park. Contributions may be made to
a charity of one's choice.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel.
IRVING COHEN, 83, of Southfield,
died Oct. 23, 2002.
He is survived by his son and
daughter-in-law, Ronald and Linda
Cohen of West Bloomfield; daughter
and son-in-law, Marlene and Larry
Dershow of West Bloomfield; brother
and sister-in-law, Dr. Melvin and
Lillian Cohen of Southfield; grand-
children, Jason Cohen, Aric (Alyssa)
Cohen, Jeremy Dershow, Brian
Silberfarb said the Minnesota
Jewish community was proud of its
senator, who spoke passionately
about the environment, health care
and social justice, reflecting moral
principles and teachings of Judaism.
Wellstone was elected to the
Senate in 1990 after defeating
incumbent Rudy Boschwitz, a Jew
and pro-Israel activist. Reached by
phone by the JTA, Boschwitz called
Wellstone a formidable opponent.
"He was a believer, and he had my
respect," Boschwitz said. "He
believed in what he stood for."
Wellstone was a frequent contribu-
tor to the dovish Tikkun magazine.
The magazine's editor, Rabbi
Michael Lerner, issued a statement
praising Wellstone's "vision of hope
that affirmed the best in Judaism
and the best in the secular humanist
traditions."
Daniel Spiegel, a member of the
American Jewish Committee's board
of directors from Minneapolis,
recalled Wellstone's enthusiasm at a
Middle East briefing with
AJCommittee officials.
"He absolutely reveled in the fact
that he was Jewish and supported
Israel," Spiegel said. "People felt that
he was very much concerned about
Jewish causes." ❑
(JTA Staff Writer Joe Berkofsky
contributed to this report.)
Dershow, Nathan (Samara) Cohen
and Adam Cohen; great-grandchild,
Shelby Cohen; daughter-in-law, Jackie
Cohen. He was the beloved husband
of the late Lucy Cohen; father of the
late Dr. Stewart Cohen.
Graveside services were held at the
Adat Shalom Memorial Park
Cemetery. Contributions can be made
to a charity of one's choice.
Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.
BARRY R. GLASER, 54, of New
Hudson, died Oct. 25, 2002. He was
an attorney.
He was the beloved son of the late
Leonard and the late Beverly Glaser;
dear brother of the late Randy Glaser.
Contributions may be made to a
charity of one's choice. Arrangements
by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
ANNA GOLDSHTEYN, 76, of West
Bloomfield, died Oct. 24, 2002.
She is survived by her daughter and
son-in-law, Bronislava and Rudolf