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Young Israel sisionary
SHARON LUCKERMAN
StaffWriter
Loewenthal.
The rabbi guided the Loewenthals and 10 other
couples in founding the synagogue 26 years ago.
"Rabbi Prero foresaw the need for branches in
neighborhoods that were developing and helped
them get established," said Cohen:
He was also responsible for establishing Young
Israel on Wyoming in Detroit, Young Israel of
Greenfield (now Young Israel of Oak Park) and
Young Israel of West Bloomfield.
Under a federal housing grant, Rabbi Prero built
Independence Hall, a senior citizen home that
served the Detroit community, she said.
Rabbi Prero also worked with
others in the late 1970s to pur-
chase land in Israel to create an
American-style community to
accommodate olim from the
United States, said Shirley
Loewenthal.
"It was $1,000 a unit for a piece
of land," she said.
But, after 10 years, he gave back
the money, unable to work with
the Israeli bureaucracy. That com-
munity, however, eventually
became Beit Shemesh, now more
than 100,000 people strong. It is
there where the rabbi was buried.
Ill
iffy-five years ago, Rabbi Samuel Prero
was a pioneer — the leader of Detroit's
first synagogue in the Young Israel mod-
ern Orthodox movement.
"Rabbi Prero had a goal — to show modern
American Jews how they could live an American life
and an Orthodox Jewish life and be comfortable
with both," said Dr. Larry Loewenthal of Southfield,
a friend and congregant of the rabbi.
A national figure in the Young Israel movement,
Rabbi Prero died of respiratory
problems in Israel on Nov. 5, 2003.
He was 87.
Rabbi Prero promoted aliyah to
his congregants — and then spent
his retirement in Israel among the
same aim whom he influenced to
immigrate, said daughter Chana
Cohen of Jerusalem.
After serving as rabbi of Young
Israel of Sunnyside, Long Island,
N.Y., New York-born Rabbi Prero
became rabbi of the first Young
Israel congregation in Detroit in
1948. He initiated the building of
the first Young Israel synagogue on
Dexter in 1950.
"He was the prime motivator
who helped us start Young Israel of
Southfield," said Shirley
Rabbi Samuel Prero
Influencing Youth
Rabbi Prero also organized and
emphasized youth activities. Former Detroiter Zev
Davis of Israel remembered when the rabbi drove to
the Wayne State University campus in Detroit week-
ly to teach students at the Hillel Foundation.
"He was one of the people who shaped my life,
indeed the life of the Jewish community of greater
Detroit."
"Rabbi Prero had a great impact on our children
and he was a part of your family as much as his
own," said Dr. Loewenthal.
And he was always upbeat and had the most infec-
tious laughter, said Shirley Loewenthal.
"The rabbi and his wife, Hadassah were a
team," she said. "He was a real modern Orthodox
rabbi. He'd say, 'I want to keep the Halachah
[Jewish law] and make it doable.' And then he
made that happen."
Son Elisha Prero of Chicago tells a story of a blind
man and his leader dog to show how his father
applied Halachah.
"The man came to my father, an Orthodox rabbi,
and said that no synagogue — not Reform,
Conservative or Orthodox — would allow him to
come to shul with his dog. Rabbi Prero consulted
the leading halachic authority who ruled that,
although generally one is not to introduce live ani-
mals into the sanctuary, this would be an exception.
And my father invited the man to participate in the
davening of the shul.
"My father said this is the right thing to do."
Rabbi Prero is survived by his wife, Hadassah
Prero; four children and their spouses, Aaron and
Susan Prero of Baltimore, Chana and Shimon
Cohen of Jerusalem, Yisroel and Millie Prero of
Chicago, Elisha and Miriam Prero of Chicago; 27
grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren.
Interment was in Israel.
❑
'-.
• .
her parents, the late Sam
and Minnie Gorrin and
.'-or
her older brothers, Eddy
and the late Jack Gorrin.
I f a life could be summarized by She met her husband, the late Louis
a single theme, that of Frieda
G. Rubin, in high school. After their
G. Rubin, 87, would be love.
marriage in 1936, they settled in
As her family grew to
Detroit, where eventually they found-
include three children, nine grand-
ed a variety-store business together.
children and 11 great-grandchil-
They had three children, Dr. J.
dren, so did her love. As she aged,
Barry Rubin, Sandra R. Tessler and
her friendships expanded to include
Dr. Michael N. Rubin, and were char-
individuals of all generations —
ter members of Adas Shalom
each of whom felt her love.
Synagogue.
When Mrs. Rubin would visit fami-
Mrs. Rubin lost her precious Louie
ly or friends, she would brighten the
in 1964 and courageously continued s
day with her youthful smile — and
the business until it was destroyed by
bring a mouthwatering treat from her
fire in the 1967 riots. In 1977, she
kosher kitchen. And at age 72, the
started a new career: receptionist and
culinary expert was the star of a
office manager for her son-in-law,
videotape, A Taste of Tradition: A
Dr. Martin E. Tessler. Her reliability,
Jewish Grandmother's Baking Secrets.
efficiency, intelligence and dedica-
Frieda Rubin, of Southfield, died
tion complemented her sense of
on Nov. 10, 2003. She left a legacy of humor and ever-present good-
deep dedication to Jewish life and a
naturedness. These traits endeared
variety of careers.
her to Dr. Tessler and those who
Born in Cleveland, she treasured
worked with her.
,ove
After retirement, she fully
explored her kitchen, continuously
refining recipes and finally compil-
ing a few of her best into the Taste of
Tradition video in
which she and two of
her granddaughters,
who were novice cooks
at the time, assembled
traditional Jewish
treats.
While those who
knew and loved her will
remember her culinary
talents, nothing about
Mrs. Rubin will be
more treasured than the
love she summoned
Frieda Rubin
from some deep,
unlimited source.
Frieda Rubin is survived by her sons
and daughters-in-law, Dr. J. Barry and
Debra Rubin of Bloomfield Hills and
their children, Laura, Suzanne (Greg)
Shulman, Louis (Julie), Scott (Dr.
Beth), Nicole; Dr. Michael N. and
Roz Rubin of West Bloomfield and
their children, Dr. Tami Rubin
(Stuart) Carlin, Dr. Jodi Rubin
(Michael) Katz; daughter and son-in-
law, Sandra and Dr. Martin E. Tessler
and their children, Dr.
Stacy Tessler (Peter)
Lindau and Natalie
Tessler (Richard)
Ginsberg; great-grand-
children, Jason, Alison
and Brandon Shulman,
Emily and Adam Rubin,
Sam and Joshua Carlin;
Jake and Eli Rubin;
Benjamin and Jonah
Lindau; brother Eddy
Gorrin of Cleveland.
She was the beloved
wife of the late Louis
G. Rubin; dear sister
of the late Jack Gorrin; sister-in-law
of the late Sylvia Gorrin.
Interment was at Adat Shalom
Memorial Park. Contributions may
be made to JARC or Gilda's Club of
Metro Detroit. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel. ,1-1
11/14
2003
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