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A Teacher, Friend And Leader

Shevatim: The Blessings and
History of the Tribes of Israel as
They Appear in the Torah pub-
lished. The book, some 20 years
in the writing, is both a refer-
ence and textbook and is
described by daughter Yaffa
Rabin of Oak Park as her father's "mas-
terpiece."
Rabbi Shemtov noted Rabbi Poker's
role in the founding of the Lubavitch
educational system in the Detroit area,
starting with only three students — "one
Polter and two Shemtovs." The school
system now has 400 students.
As well as being a longtime leader in

the intrinsic holi-
the Lubavitch
Foundation of Michigan,
ness of every Jew,"
Rabbi Polter was involved
Rabbi Silberberg
in numerous schools and
added. "He was
institutions tied to teach-
very devoted to all
ing children about
of the ideals and
Judaism and Torah. He
principles of Rabbi
was a co-founder and past
Menachem
principal of Cheder
Schneerson, of
Oholei Yosef Yitzchok
blessed memory"
Lubavitch in Oak Park,
Rabbi Polter was
also a force in the
executive director and
president of
formation of the
Birmingham
Congregation Mishkan
,
Bloomfield Chai
Israel Nusach H'ari
Rabbi Moshe Polter
Lubavitcher Center in
Center, organized
about 20 years ago,
Oak Park, and principal
Rabbi
of the former Bais
and on occasion
Polter's just- would join sons
Menachem Day School.
published
Yechiel or Yochonon
He was also a board mem-
book, 'The to lead services there.
ber of the Oak Park-based
Shevatim.'
Rabbi Silberberg
Michigan Jewish Institute
(a four-year accredited col-
added that his col-
league was truly kid-
lege), director of Camp
dush HaShem, mean-
Gan Israel (when in
Fenton) and a member of
ing someone whose
actions were a sanctification of the
the Vaad HaShluchim
name of God.
(board of emissaries) of Michigan.
'Anyone who met him felt they met a
True Friend'
true friend."
Yaffa Rabin said her father was "a man
Rabbi Elimelech Silberberg of the
of strong values and principles that he
Sara Tugman Bais Chabad Torah
stood behind. He had a straight, clear
Center in West Bloomfield said
Rabbi Polter had a "unique blend mind. He was a positive person whose
influence covered every sector of the
of charisma, Torah knowledge
Detroit community and the Lubavitch
and ingenuousness rarely found
community internationally."
in one person." And he had great
She also said her father was "a happy
impact on many people.
person, always grateful with what he
"He was a devout Jew who was sensi-
had, always spreading his inspiration to
tive to a person's needs, either as a stu-
all he met."
dent or a friend," said Rabbi Silberberg,
noting that one of the rabbi's traits was
European Roots
being "a sweet person who showed peo-
Rabbi Polter was born in Belgium in
ple the beauty of Judaism."
Rabbi Polter was "soft-spoken, discreet 1938, moved with his family to France
in 1940 and two years later, moved to
and committed to the Torah and the
Switzerland during World War II. After
Chabad approach of outreach based on

ROBERT S.
BINDER, 64, of
Franklin, died
Jan. 8, 2005. He
was a real estate
developer.
Mr. Binder is
survived by his
wife, Suzanne
Binder; daughters
Binder
and son-in-law,
Deborah and Eric
Miller of West Bloomfield, Julie
Binder; sons and daughter-in-law,

Fred and Joy Binder of Troy, Jeffrey
Binder; grandchildren, Andrew and
Matthew Miller; brother and sister-in-
law, Burton and Jeanne Binder; sister,
Geraldine Binder of Southfield; moth-
er-in-law, Ida Lucas; sister-in-law,
Marilyn Berman.
Interment at Beth El Memorial Park.
Contributions may be made to the
Tsunami Relief Fund, do Jewish
Federation of Metro Detroit, 6735
Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI
48301 or to a charity of one's choice.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

LEONARD POGER

Copy Editor

R

abbi Moshe Yerachmiel Polter
of Oak Park, one of the
founders of the Lubavitch
movement in Michigan, was an impor-
tant and revered leader, both locally and
internationally.
The rabbi was a teacher and principal
who, beginning in 1961, helped estab-
lish the local Lubavitch educational sys-
tem. Late in his career, after receiving a
master's degree in guidance and counsel-
ing from Wayne State University in
Detroit in 1998, he founded the Fresh
Start Counseling Center — and was
known never to turn away a client
unable to pay.
"Rabbi Poker was always someone to
turn to for counsel, advice and encour-
agement," said Rabbi Berel Shemtov,
director of the Oak Park-based
Lubavitch Foundation of Michigan. He
described his colleague as a bad
tzedakah, a person who liked to give to
and help others.
Just days before his Jan. 12, 2005,
death at age 66 after a 20-
month battle with cancer, Rabbi
Polter had his book The

MICHAEL BRESLAUER, 62, of
Canton, died Jan. 10, 2005. He was a
commercial artist.
Mr. Breslauer is survived by his son
and daughter-in-law, Alan and Miriam
Breslauer of Canton; daughter and
son-in-law, Hope and Michael
Campbell of Florida; grandchildren,
Melanie and Mikayla Campbell;
brother and sister-in-law, David and
Bonnie Breslauer of New Jersey. He
was the beloved husband of the late
Maxine Breslauer.
Interment at Mt. Golda Cemetery

the war, the family returned to Belgium
and later immigrated to Toronto, where
they settled in 1951. Four years later, he
enrolled in the Central Lubavitch
Yeshiva in New York and later attended
a yeshivah in Montreal.
He moved to Detroit in 1959 to work
for the newly organized Lubavitch
Foundation of Michigan and teach at
Yeshiva Beth Yehudah, where he
remained for 33 years. A later year, he
married Detroit native Kayla
Tenenbaum.
"My father was a man whose spirit
was able to unite all Jews and bring
them closer to their roots," said Yaffa
Rabin.
Rabbi Polter is survived by his wife,
Kayla Polter; mother, Raizel Poker of
Toronto; sons and daughters-in-law,
Rabbi Yosef Yitzhak and Shterna Polter
of Acton, Mass., Rabbi Dovid Shraga
and Rochel Polter of Oak Park, Rabbi •
Menachem Mendel and Dina Polter of
Monsey, N.Y., Rabbi Schneur Zalman
and Chana Soreh Polter of Brooklyn,
N.Y., Rabbi Yechiel Aharon and Rochie
Poker of Oak Park, Rabbi Sholom Dov
Ber and Shoshana Polter of Montreal,
Rabbi Yochonon Eliezer and Liba Polter
of Birmingham; daughters and sons-in-
law Yaffa and Rabbi Yerachmiel Rabin of
Oak Park, Rochel Malka and Rabbi
Moshe Liberow of Monsey; brothers and
sisters-in-law, Rabbi Israel and Fraida
Polter of Oak Park, Rabbi Mendel and
Carol Polter of Montreal; sisters and
brothers-in-law, Rachel Greisman of
Baltimore, Malka and Hillel Dubinsky
of Toronto; and numerous grandchil-
dren.
Contributions may be made to
Chabad of Acton, Mass., 148 Great
Road, Acton, MA 01720; Yeshivos
Lubavitch Menachem Mendel, PO Box
1204, Monsey, N.Y. 11952.
Interment was at Montifiore
Cemetery, Cambria Heights, N.Y.
Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial
Chapel.

❑

in New York. Contributions may be
made to the American Diabetes
Association, 1701 N. Beauregard
Street, Alexandria, VA 22311.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel.

ESTHER BROAD, 92, of West
Bloomfield, died Jan. 10, 2005.
She is survived by her son and
daughter-in-law, Jerry and Barbara
Broad of West Bloomfield; grandchil-

OBITS on page 94

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2005

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