WItt 1 .1"k

later, he and eight Beth Jacob congre-
gants founded Temple Kol Ami in West
Bloomfield with a platform of social
action.
"Pontiac was like a mill town at
the time," Conrad says, "and the 'mill'
was General Motors." He says the
company controlled Pontiac's schools
and the rest of town. And the Jewish
merchants downtown were very con-
servative.
With the Civil Rights Act of 1964
and black riots in major U.S. cities in
1967 and 1968, white flight away from
Pontiac's core had an impact on the
Jewish community. But, Conrad says,
another factor was the children not
returning after college.
Keith Sirlin remembers the exo-
dus well."I was in [Waterford] high
school when people started moving to
Bloomfield Hills, Farmington Hills and
West Bloomfield," says the 55-year-
old attorney who now lives in West
Bloomfield. His family has long been
involved in B'nai Israel: His father was
president of the shul, his mother was
president of the sisterhood and Keith
served on the B'nai Israel board after
he completed law school.
He says, "Blacks started moving into
Pontiac in great numbers and the Jews
started moving out!'
Another factor was the develop-
ment of Pontiac Mall (now Summit
Place Mall) in the 1960s. Similar to
Northland Mall's effect on Detroit
in the 1950s and the development
of Oak Park and Southfield, Pontiac
Mall started the demise of downtown
Pontiac, according to Sirlin.
"I'll bet two-thirds of the businesses
downtown were owned by Jewish
people he says. "The only things that
weren't Jewish were the Kresge and
Sears stores."
There were 11 Jewish children in
Sirlin's Sunday school class at B'nai
Israel in the 1960s,"and I was one of
the few who stuck around."

Detroit financiers Irwin Cohen and
Paul Zuckerman sold B'nai Israel the
land at Green and Walnut Lake roads
in West Bloomfield and, in 1982, mem-
bers lovingly helped build the new
synagogue with their own hands.
Joe Partney, an electrical contractor,
did the electrical work; Stan Elbling
was in the heating and cooling busi-
ness; the architect was member Jack
Friedman; and Arnold Wine owned
a plumbing supply. "I personally
installed some of the toilets in that
building',' Sirlin says.
Temple Beth Jacob closed its doors
in 1991, and legally dissolved in 1993.
Congregation B'nai Israel merged
with Congregation Shaarey Zedek in
Southfield in 1990. ❑

Famous Sons

The Pontiac Jewish community
is linked to many famous people,
including:
• A. Alfred Taubman, the
shopping center developer and
Detroit philanthropist, was born
and raised in Pontiac and attend-
ed Pontiac public schools.
• Lawrence Bacow is president
of Tufts University in Medford,
Mass., and a Pontiac native.
• Jack Robinson, Detroit phi-
lanthropist, began his Perry drug
store chain on Perry Street in
Pontiac.
• Zev Chafetz, born in Pontiac,
made aliyah to Israel where
he became a political writer,
novelist and a founder of the
Jerusalem Report.
• Elmer Berger, the first rabbi
of Temple Beth Jacob in the
19305, was a founder and first
executive director of the World
War II-era anti-Zionist organiza-
tion, the American Council for
Judaism.

prjimMi 4111.

-S..

• •••• •

• • •

••••• •

•• •

I:.
of f er : • • : • .011
y
to.

Neibut

THE ESTEE LAUDER DREAM EVENT
NOW THROUGH AUGUST 8

Pamper summer skin—and get prepped for cooler months ahead—with

a personalized beauty consultation and makeover. Experience the latest

in fragrance and skincare technology, and take note of the season's

best beauty trends. With your Estee Lauder purchase of 55.00 or more

during the event, you'll receive a deluxe tote with lots of cosmetics

goodies—a gift worth 150.00.

One per customer, please, while supplies last. Gift with online purchases may vary.

THE SOMERSET COLLECTION 248.643.3300 NEIMANMARCUS.COM

1287310

August .2 a 2007

17