bituaries

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From Orphan To Entrepreneur

ROBERT A. SKLAR

Editor

ules Doneson grew up in the
first Jewish orphanage in
Philadelphia. In 1996, he wrote
a book titled Deeds of Love about that
experience. He lived in the orphanage
from age 5 to 17, becoming a bar mitz-
vah, celebrating Jewish holidays and
attending Hebrew school.
"Dad didn't always recall those years
with fondness," said daughter Shira
Klein of Ann Arbor. "-When my sister,
Davida, and I were growing up, he was
sometimes bitter and perhaps sad that
he missed the opportunity to grow up
in a family. In more recent years, and
obviously when he began researching
and writing his book, he realized that he
was really blessed and fortunate. He
credits the home for giving him a child-
hood, an identity."
When Mr. Doneson left the home, it
was 1936; he found work as a jeweler.
Five years later, with World War II rag-
ing, he joined the U.S. Army. He felt
the army would allow him to see the .
world as well as serve his country.
. "It was in the army that Dad said he
first became very conscious of being
Jewish. There just weren't many Jews,"
Shira said. "It wasn't until he went to
London and Paris that he began to meet
other Jews in the service."
Mr. Doneson, 86, of Southfield, died
July 21, 2005, of complications from a
stroke. He was a longtime member of
Congregation Shaarey Zedek in
Oakland County.
The turning point in his life came on
VE Day in 1945 when the doors of the
Rothschild Synagogue in Paris were
reopened. After the Holy Ark was
opened, the chief rabbi of France hand-
ed out four Torah scrolls to carry in a
processional. Honored to take part were
Mr. Doneson, representing the United
States, and soldiers from Poland, Great
Britain and France.

jr1

LOUIS ASTON, 86,

formerly of West
Bloomfield of Allen,
Texas, died June 8,
2005. He was born
in Prussia.
He is survived by
his sons, Robert
Aston, Martin Aston,
As-ton
Victor Aston and
Harry Aston; daughters-in-law, Sheila
Krystal, Michelle Aston, Jennifer
Aston and Lynn Jaye; grandsons, Zach
and Lucas Aston; sister and brother-

"There is something very
electric about carrying a
Torah," Shira recalls her
father saying as she collect-
ed his oral history last year.
"You can't help but real-
ize in the pit of your soul
that when you carry a
Torah, the essence of the
Jewish people, the entire
history of the Jewish peo-
ple, is in your arms," Mr.
Doneson said. 'Abraham
and Isaac, Moses on Mount
Sinai, Sarah entering moth-
erhood so late in life — it's
all there cradled against
your shoulder."
In the processional, a
young girl tore off her yel-
low Jewish star and pressed
it into Mr. Doneson's hand.
From then on, he never
rejected a request to carry
the Torah.
At the Rothschild
Synagogue, Mr. Doneson
met Marcel Berger, who
Jules Doneson
was rescuing Jewish kids.
"He asked Dad to join him
Jewish immigrant protection force, in
— and Dad did," Shira said. "He
1948. After the War of Independence
engaged in a mission to rescue Jewish
that yielded modern Israel, he worked
children who had been taken to a
for three months on a kibbutz. There,
French convent. Dad felt this was one
he met Daniel Fish, president of the
of the most important accomplishments
Zionist Organization of America. Fish
in his life — to free these children
recruited Mr. Doneson to work for the
whose parents had been killed and to
ZOA and open a Detroit office. "Dad
give them the Jewish lives they were
arrived in Detroit on Oct. 22, 1949,"
meant to have."
Shira said.
In late 1945, Mr. Doneson made his
Mr. Doneson soon met Ann
first trip to Palestine. While on fur-
Jeannette Saulson; they were married in
lough, he agreed to travel from Tel Aviv
1950.
to Cairo while carrying secret papers to
While working for the ZOA, Mr.
meet with a confidante of Ruth Kluger;
Doneson began importing Israeli items,
she helped smuggle Jews out of Europe
opening Israel Enterprises. He began
during the Holocaust.
selling trips to Israel, learning all he
After coming back to Philadelphia to
could about the growing travel industry.
enroll in Jewish studies and conversa-
The venture developed into the Jules
tional Hebrew, Mr. Doneson returned
Doneson Travel Agency. "He told me
to Palestine; he joined the Haganah, a
that he wanted to see everything, no

longer as a soldier but as a citizen,"
Shira said. "He felt a travel agency was a
way he could do that."
Mr. Doneson told Shira that he want-
ed to be remembered for his one-man
call to boycott Mexico travel in protest
of the Mexican government's United
Nations vote that Zionism was racism.
Mr. Doneson's wife died in 1999.
Grandson Etan Klein talked about
how "Papa's humor, in addition to his
competitive edge and loving nature, is
ingrained in each of his grandchildren.
"We all love to laugh and make each
other laugh whenever we are together,
and that is what makes our family spe-
cial," Etan said.
Mr. Doneson lived an active life at
Trowbridge Apartments, nurturing his
independence, playing cards, doing
crossword puzzles and, yes, planning
trips. He wintered in Palm Springs,
Calif.
"To so many of us," Shira said, "he
was a mentor and a teacher, never
wavering in his ideals, showing us the
importance of what even a small busi-
nessman can do to make a difference —
having faith in Judaism and a love of
Israel."
Mr. Doneson is survived by children,
Davida and Warren Robinson of
Franklin and Shim and Steven Klein of
Ann Arbor; grandchildren, Ruby, Ian
and Avery Robinson and Ariella and
Etan Klein; and companion, Suzie
Smith. He was the brother of Diane
Lepow of New York and the late Lionel
Doneson. He was the brother-in-law to
Maxine and William Saulson of
Phoenix, Rochelle Doneson of
Philadelphia and the late Manton
Saulson, the late Betty Saulson and the
late Edward Lepow.
The family asks donations be made to
the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces,
P.O. Box 999, Walled Lake, MI 48390.
Burial was at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Ira Kaufman Chapel han-
dled arrangements. ❑

in-law, Ruth and Arnold Taylor. He
was the son of the late Harry and
Pauline Aston; husband of the late
Bluma E. Aston.
Graveside services were held at
Hillcrest Memorial Park in Texas.
Contributions may be made to
Macular Degeneration Foundation,
P.O. BOx 531312, Henderson, NV
89053 or a charity of one's choice.

Southfield, died July 24, 2005.
She is survived by her brother,
Samuel Berenbaum of Las Vegas, Nev.;
nephews, Stan (Kate) Berenbaum of
California, Steve (Janis) ,Berenbaum of
West Bloomfield; great-nephews, Jack
and Zachary. She was the beloved
daughter of the late Max and Bertha
Berenbaum.
Interment at Machpelah Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to the
American Cancer Society, 18505 W.

NANCY TORCH BAKER, 56, of

band, David E Baker; brothers-in-law
and sisters-in-law, Mark (Denise)
Baker, Matthew (Diane) Baker, Joan
Baker and Pam Osborne; aunt and
uncle, Rosaline (Marvin) Reider and
Irving Citron. She was the dear
daughter of the late Sylvia Schwartz
and the late Jack Torch.
Interment at Machpelah Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to a char-
ity of one's choice. Arrangements by
Dorfman Chapel.

Tampa, Fla., died July 15, 2005.
She is survived by her beloved hus-

ELAINE BERENBAUM, 71, of

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2005

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