Monumental' Leadership
Rabbi Grubner to be feted for life's work at Vaad and synagogue.
Shelli Liebman Dorfman
Staff Writer
only one Orthodox Vaad
Harabonim in Detroit,
unlike some other cit-
ies. He was accessible,
abbi Chaskel Grubner's
but strong when he
longtime work as both
needed to be strong."
'executive chairman of
For many years,
the Council of Orthodox Rabbis
he shared the Vaad
of Greater Detroit (the Vaad)
presidency with the late
and spiritual adviser at Dovid
Rabbi Bergstein
Rabbi Leizer Levin.
Ben Nuchim synagogue has set
On a personal level,
the course for both organiza-
Rabbi Grubner impact-
tions — even now as the rabbi
ed many lives, from
and his wife, Rose, prepare to
offering marital coun-
leave town to live closer to their
seling to helping with
children.
studies toward conver-
Rabbi Grubner will be hon-
sion.
ored at a Torah shiur (lecture)
"He is such an
and dinner at Dovid Ben
unusual person, with an
Nuchim on Sunday night as well
almost childlike curios-
as Monday night at the 75th
Rabbi Silberberg
Rabbi Grubner
ity that enabled him
anniversary dinner of the Vaad.
to plummet into the
"The changes Rabbi Grubner
divorces, litigations and other social
essence of things," Rabbi Bergstein said.
brought to our community are monu-
For years, daf hayomi (daily talmu-
issues.
mental," said Rabbi Chaim Bergstein of
dic) studies promoted by Rabbi Grubner
Bais Chabad of Farmington Hills and
and Rabbi -Levin were held only at the
Vaad treasurer.
'A Great Scholar'
Rabbi Grubner was born into a
Vaad, but later were taken on by many
While it is difficult for the aged rabbi
synagogues.
to converse, colleagues and friends
Chassidic family of textile manufactur-
"He is beloved by so many people:'
are quick to share how significant his
ers in Krakow, Poland, before World War
I. As a young man, Rabbi Grubner was
said Rabbi Silberberg, whose father-in-
impact has been on the Vaad and the
law was a close friend of Rabbi Grubner
known as an iluy, a genius, and he rose
community.
to the top of Poland's talmudic schol-
from their early years in Krakow. -
"Before he came along, there was a
And, Rabbi Bergstein said, "He really
ars. During World War II, he fled to the
Vaad, but with different rabbis doing
and truly follows what the Torah says: to
things like supervising kashrut at cater- Soviet Union. Even there, he was asked
be nice and kind to people. He is such
to rule on difficult questions.
ers and butcher shops; but there was no
In later years, said Rabbi Bergstein,
a sincere and genuine man. He could
central office and no unification:' Rabbi
never get angry and always knew how
the responsum he authored were
Bergstein said. "He created unified
extremely well-respected, and his
to bring out your good side. He was
standards and uniform costs for kosher
breathless to be around. He was the
opinions, even on complex questions,
supervision and actualized getting the
became valued on citywide issues. "His
unofficial rabbi of Detroit."
rabbis together under one roof. He also
halachic opinions are among the great-
created a bridge with the lay people
est of our generation," Rabbi Bergstein
who supported the council in areas
Honoring Rabbi . Grubner:
said.
of kashrut, and he raised the level of
• A 7 p.m. lecture and 8 p.m. din-
"He has always been a great scholar:'
kashrut observance in our area."
ner on Sunday, Oct. 29, at David
said Rabbi Elimelech Silberberg of the
During his nearly 60 years with the
Ben Nuchim, 14800 W. Lincoln, Oak
Sara Tugman Bais Chabad Torah Center
Vaad, Rabbi Grubner was the organizer
Park. Cost is $50 per person.
in West Bloomfield.
and fundraiser"making all the con-
• Also, the Vaad annual dinner
Rabbi Silberberg is Vaad co-president
tacts and carrying out the plans," Rabbi
at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 30, at the
Bergstein said. For instance, in the early with Rabbi Shaiall Zachariash. "On one
Jewish Community Center in West
hand, Rabbi Grubner always recognized
1960s, he was instrumental in secur-
Bloomfield, co-sponsored by the
that we can't bend Torah law; but, on
ing a donated building in Detroit for
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
the other hand, he knew the benefits of
office space. The Vaad now is based in
Detroit. Cost is $180 per person.
being flexible. And that helped him be
Southfield.
For information on either event,
proactive in running the Vaad with its
Today, the Vaad oversees almost 60
contact the Vaad office at (248)
Orthodox and non-Orthodox vendors.
venues, from restaurants and caterers
559-5005 or Rabbi Chaim
His leadership was always non-confron-
to breweries and food manufacturers,
Bergstein at (248) 613-1809.
tational, and that helped in maintaining
and is involved in Jewish conversions,
R
JARC Musical Event
JARC's 26th annual fall fundraiser
will feature Movin' Out at the Fisher
Theatre in Detroit Wednesday and
Thursday, Nov. 1-2. Staples Business
Advantage serves as event sponsor.
The event will feature the premiere
of JARC's 2006 video, produced by
Fran Victor and Bill Harder of Victor-
Harder Productions. Proceeds will
support JARC's mission of helping
people with developmental disabili-
ties.
Event chairs are Lori and Rob
Nusbaum, Franklin. Associate Chairs
include Lindsay and Ryan Dembs,
Franklin; Sherri and Jimmy Ketai,
Franklin; Nancy and Howard Luckoff,
West Bloomfield; Barbara and Irving
Nusbaum, Franklin; and Marla Tapper
and Brian Young, West Bloomfield.
David Carroll, Beverly Hills, and Jeff
Eisenshtadt, Bloomfield Hills, are
Corporate Gifts Chairs.
JARC will host "Big Shots VIP
Lounge & Bistro:' a special pre-
glow for young adults (21-40) prior
to Thursday's show. It will be held
5-7 p.m. at the Fisher Building's
Grand City Grille. Admission is
complimentary with purchase of a
ticket. "Big Shots" is underwritten
by Rock Financial; the Matt Prentice
Restaurant Group's Milk and Honey
will cater the event.
For tickets, call (248) 538-6610.
Study Faith Dilemmas
The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit invites the community to
study with rabbis and other scholars
in a seminar on the "Eight Dilemmas
of Faith."
Presented by the Shalom Hartman
Institute of Jerusalem and facilitated
locally by Rabbi Lauren Berkun, this
eight-week videoconference seminar
will be held 9-11:30 a.m. Sundays at
the Max M. Fisher Federation Building
in Bloomfield Township.
The dates are Nov. 12, Dec. 10, Jan.
21, Feb. 11, March 11, April 15, May 13,
June 10. The cost is $600 per person.
Participants will be able to see the
faculty in Israel as well as other stu-
dents throughout the country.
The program is sponsored by
Federation's Alliance for Jewish
Education, Department of Lifelong
Learning. Contact Marion Bronstein,
(248) 642-4260, ext. 372, or bron-
stein@jfmd.org.
October 26 2006
51