http:I irakaufmancom/

We Get Questions

Q : My mother, who was widowed in 1953,

could not afford to purchase a grave for herself
at the time. Now in her mid 80's, she's concerned
she will be buried alone. She asked to be cremated
and her ashes buried in my father's grave. We are
very uncomfortable about this.

A: Cremation is contrary to Jewish Law. Clover
Hill and any traditional Jewish cemetery do not
permit ashes to be buried. A disinterment/
re-interment, although unsettling to think about,
is permitted by the cemetery and would fulfill
your mother's desire to be next to your father.
Call us and we could discuss all of your options.

Speakers include Sharona Shapiro,
Rabbi Charles Popley,
and Father John West.

SAJE Town Meeting:
"The Passion: Jesus and the Jews,"
Thurs., March 4 & 11, 2004
Jewish Community Center,
6600 W. Maple Rd.,
in West Bloomfield.

Two-part lecture & discussion of
controversial Mel Gibson movie,
The Passion of the Christ.
Attend one evening or both.

7:30 pm, Thurs., March 4 —
"Jesus and the Jews:
Early Perceptions."
7:30 pm, Thurs., March 11—
"The Passion: A Catholic and
Jewish Response."

Sponsored by Jewish Community
Center of Metropolitan Detroit,
Federation's Alliance for
Jewish Education,
The American Jewish Committee,
and Michigan Region of the
Rabbinical Assembly.

All welcome.
JCC members $2.50.
Non-members $5.

For more information,
call Katie Marcus at
(248) 432-5470.

THE IRA KAUFMAN CHAPEL

Bringing Together Family, Faith & Community

18325 West Nine Mile Road, Southfield, MI 48075
248 569 0020 • Facsimile 248-569-2502

-

-

, „ ta . m

4.4 446,W m9 (440 %- ,.

SHIVA DINNERS & TRAYS
g isib' r e/g ant Is /Jot ato44...
Wete)A,

c'ef glut

•

Nieuwe U eu Cam, I ciet

Only
Certified Products Use
In The Preparation of
Shirlee's Food...Prepared
In Her Own Private

Kitchen
tllC

Hot Homemade Dinners
Meat & Dairy & Fish Trays!

YA0e

_gfeem

(248) 855-9463

2/27
2004

94

Northwestern Hwy.

from page 93

and Ludmila Lubyanskaya of
Waterford; sister and brother-in-law,
Vera Lubyanskaya and Gregory
Schwartzberg of Farmington Hills;
grandchildren, Eugene and Maria
Umanskiy; great-grandchildren,
Rachael Umanskiy, Michael Umanskiy.
Mrs. Vorsovskaya was the beloved
wife of the late Mikhail Vorsovskiy.
Interment at Workmen's Circle
Cemetery-I.D.L. Section.
Contributions may be made to a char-
ity of one's choice. Arrangements by
Hebrew Memorial Chapel.

(248) 737-8088

Same Day Delivery

www.NibblesAndNuts.com

bet. Middlebelt & 14 Mile Rd.

Rabbi Converted
3,000 Mexicans

Mexico City/JTA Rabbi Samuel
Lerer, who converted thousands of.
Mexicans to Judaism, died Feb. 5,
2004, at age 89.
Lerer, who had retired to San
Antonio, Texas, lived in Mexico City
from 1968-
1999 while
leading Beth
Israel
Community
Center in the
capital.
ARNOLD WASSERMAN, 83, of
During that
Oak Park, died Feb. 20, 2004. Prior to
time, the
retirement, he was a factory worker for
Conservative
Hires Bottling Company.
Rabbi Samuel Lerer rabbi reached
Mr. Wasserman is survived by his
out to
wife, Katie Wasserman; daughter and
Mexicans who believed they were
son-in-law, Susan and Joel Gertner of
descended from conversos, Spanish
West Bloomfield; grandson, Charlie
Jews forced to convert to Catholicism
Gertner; sister-in-law, Tillie Small.
during the Inquisition.
Interment at Nusach Hari Cemetery.
By his own count, Rabbi Lerer con-
Contributions may be made to the
verted about 3,000 people, mostly in
National Council of Jewish Women-
the Mexican cities of Veracruz, Venta
Greater Detroit Section, 26400 Lahser,
Prieta and Puebla. More than 500 of
Suite 100, Southfield, MI 48034;
those people since have moved to Israel.
Jewish Community Services, 619
His liberal views on conversion
Wallenberg, Flint, MI 48502; Jewish
sometimes drew criticism from the
Apartments and Services, 15100 W 10
Mexican Jewish establishment.
Mile, Oak Park, MI 48237.
"There are rabbis who think differ-
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
ently and there are rabbis who think
like me," Rabbi Lerer told JTA in an
LEE WARREN WEISENTHAL, 58,
interview before his death. "This has
of Atlanta, died Feb. 14, 2004.
been my purpose in life."
He is survived by his son, Mathew
Samuel Lerer was born and
Warren of Atlanta; mother, Sara
ordained in Palestine. He served con-
Weisenthal of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.;
gregations in Montgomery, Ala.,
brother, Dr. Herbert Weisenthal of
Hollywood, Fla. and Akron, Ohio.
Sylvan Lake; nephews and niece, Mark
He was a professor at the University
Weisenthal of West Palm Beach, Fla.,
of Iowa before moving to Mexico.
Craig Weisenthal of Farmington Hills,
Historians believe the first Jews
David and Erin Epstein of Bloomfield
came to Mexico in 1519 with the
Hills.
Spanish conquistador Hernando
He was the son of the late Dr. Irvin
Cortes. Centuries later, people in
Weisenthal.
Mexico and the American Southwest
Contributions may bemade to a
have been seeking out rabbis, telling
charity of one's choice.
them that they'suspect they have con
verso roots. In Mexico, Rabbi Lerer
met Catholics who had family tradi-
tions they couldn't explain.
• The obituary of Estelle Stolman
"I envy those who enter Judaism by
(Feb. 20, page 94) should have identi-
choice," he told JTA. "The spirit of
fied her late sister as Lillian
their worship is unbelievable. The
Kelmenson.
way they pray is with every ounce of
• The obituary of Ruth Bladen (Feb.
their body."
20, page 91) should have indicated
Marguerite Lerer said that she and
that she was a former Detroiter of
her husband of 58 years had pur-
Tarpon Springs, Fla.
chased burial plots in -a San Antonio
• The obituary of Sadie Kovinsky
cemetery, but after his death, she real-
(Feb. 13, page 85) should have included
ized her husband should be buried in
as nieces and nephews Mason and Adele
Mexico City.
Haber, Carolyn Haber, Florrie Kovan.

Corrections

f
i v,

1 0)

OBITS