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THE IRA KAUFMAN CHAPEL
Bringing Together Family, Faith & Community
18325 West Nine Mile Road, Southfield, MI 48075
248-569-0020 • Facsimile 248-569-2502
www.irakaufman.com
AIDS Claims Rabbi
LARRY BROOK
Deep South Jewish Voice
We Get Questions
Q
: I need a certified copy of my father's
death certificate. He died in Florida 16
years ago. Can you assist me?
A: Absolutely. Call and let me know
where your father died. I will call a
colleague in Florida to send you as many
copies as you need.
"In Search of Jewish History,"
On Five Continents, From A to Z:
One Historian's Journey,"
with author Sir Martin Gilbert
12:45 pm, Sun, Sept 25, 2005,
Congregation Shaarey Zedek,
27375 Bell Road, Southfield
Sir Martin Gilbert, historian
and official biographer of
Winston Churchill and author
of several books on Jewish
history, shares observations and
insight on Jewish history
spanning across five continents.
R
Presented in part by The
Jewish Historical Society of
Michigan. Made possible by
Lois and Judge Avern Cohn,
Elaine and Michael Serling.
Admission: $7.50/ person,
students with ID free.
Reservations required.
All welcome.
For more information,
or to reserve seats,
call (248) 432-5600, ext. 2517.
ne-fon- n e, N o ri-Itter what time you call to report a death, or
ask about a Shiva or a memorial contribution, you deserve to speak to a member
of our Email not an answerino- service.
•
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*IN
9/15
2005
114
The Jewish Historical Society
of Michigan (JHS) was
founded in 1959 to preserve
and commemorate our past
for future generations, the
only volunteer organization
dedicated exclusively to this
purpose. Programs, lectures
and exhibits are an important
part of JHS outreach to the
community--through sole
sponsorship or in partnership
with many other Jewish
community groups and
others such as the Detroit
Historical Society. JHS has
been instrumental in having
historical markers placed in
important locations
throughout Michigan.
Community support and
donations are vital to the JHS
mission "to educate, celebrate
and promote awareness of the
contributions of the Jews of
Michigan to our state, our
nation, and the world."
On-Line Donations
Now you can make donations to the charity of your choice on-line!
No stamps, envelopes or checks needed.
Our on-line link will let you donate to many charities locally and abroad.
It's safe, easy and secure.
A beautiful acknowledgement card will be sent
by mail to the recipient.
Just log on to:
wvvwJNOnline.com
Jewish.com or
vv-ww.irakaufman.corn
and click on the Donations link.
Participating Charities:
Alyn Hospital
Alzheimer's Association —
Greater Michigan Chapter
ARMDI — American Red
Magen David for Israel
Barbara Ann
Karmanos Cancer Institute
B'nai B'rith
Great Lakes Region
Eastern Michig
University Hillel
Fresh Air Society and
Tamarack Camps
Greater Detroit Chapter of
Hadassah
Jewish Fathily.e
of Metro Detroli
The Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit
6vg\ITWolite
OneFamily -
The Israel Emergency
Solidarity Fund
Hillel Foundation of
Metropolitan Detroit
Jewish Historical Society
Hospice of Michigan
Jewish Home & Aging
Services
Women's American ORT
Michigan Region
Jewish Hospice &
Chaplaincy Network
University of Michigan
Hillel
JNF Trees for Israel
Yad Sarah
Congregation B'nai Moshe
The Jerusalem
Foundation
Detroit Friends of Bar—Ilan
University
Jewish Community
Council
DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Birmingham, Ala.
abbi Cynthia Culpeper, the
first pulpit rabbi to announce
being diagnosed with AIDS,
died Aug. 29, 2005, after a 10-year
battle with the disease.
Rabbi Culpeper, 43, was diagnosed
in 1995 shortly before her first High
Holy Days after being ordained by
the Jewish Theological Seminary. A
native of San Francisco, she was acci-
dentally exposed to the virus the year
before while working as a nurse there
during a semester break from the
seminary.
At the time of her diagnosis, she
was rabbi of Agudath Israel in
Montgomery, Ala. She was hesitant
about the reaction she would get
from her congregants; but after
announcing it, got hugs from all 150
in attendance.
She continued as the full-time rabbi
there until 1997, moving to Birming-
ham, Ala., to receive to receive fur-
ther treatment.
She became a "rabbi at large" for
Birmingham, teaching classes and, for
a time, speaking to Jewish communi-
ties nationally about AIDS. In 2000,
she became the first female rabbi to
lead religious services in Poland, con-
ducting High Holy Day services at
Beit Warszawa.
In 2004, she participated in an
Israel mission with her hometown
congregation, B'nai Emunah in San
Francisco.
B'nai Emunah Rabbi Ted
Alexander remembered how the
young Cynthia appeared at his con-
gregation one Shabbat evening, a
Catholic high school student with a
report to write about Judaism.
She asked him questions after the
service, returned the next week with
more questions, then came back the
third week with one question — how
to become Jewish.
One of the nuns at her school later
met with Rabbi Alexander. Instead of
telling him to stay away, she said
Cynthia confided in her, and said, "I
know she will not make a good
Catholic, so make a good Jew out of
her.
She converted to Judaism as an
adult and decided to pursue the rab-
binate to deepen her personal com-
mitment. ❑
Temple Shir Shalom
THE IRA KAUFMAN CHAPEL
Bringing Together Family, Faith & Community
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