Obituaries
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Young Israel Leader
R
abbi James I. Gordon, rabbi
emeritus of Young Israel of Oak
Park and former rabbi of Young
Israel of Oak-Woods, died in Jerusalem
on Dec. 23, 2008, at age of 85.
Rabbi Gordon was a graduate of
the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological
Seminary of Yeshiva University in New
York, where he was a student of "the Rav,"
Joseph B. Soloveitchik, during the war
years.
Prior to that, he was raised in the
Boston area. Soon after receiving smi-
chah (ordination) at YU, in 1947, he mar-
ried the former Shirley May Susskind,
who for almost six decades was his
beloved Malka.
Together they moved to Providence,
R.I., and then to Portland, Ore., where
he served as pulpit rabbi in an Orthodox
shul. While there, the couple began a
family before moving across the country
to Elmira, N.Y. While there, he not only
served as the rabbi to the Orthodox com-
munity, but also ministered to the Jewish
prisoners in the state penitentiary.
Rabbi Gordon was the editor of
Rabbinical Council Manual of Holiday
ANNE BAKER, 95, of West Bloomfield,
died Dec. 19, 2008.
She is survived by her sons and
daughters-in-law, Harold and Marsha
Baker of Farmington Hills, Robert and
Shelley Baker of Berkley; grandchil-
dren, Helene and John Dunbar, Brian
Greenstein, Michelle and Nick Malamis;
great-grandchildren, Jarett Greenstein,
Jack Greenstein, Lily Malamis; niece and
nephew, Susan Kellemeyer, Alan Wilner;
sister-in-law, Evelyn Wilner.
Mrs. Baker was the beloved wife of the
late Jerry Baker; loving sister of the late
Samuel Wilner.
Contributions may be made to
American Cancer Society, 20450 Civic
Center Drive, Southfield, MI 48076 or Adat
Shalom Synagogue, 29901 Middlebelt
Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48334.
Interment at Hebrew Memorial Park.
Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial
Chapel.
SALLY ZINGERMAN
DUBE, 83, died Monday,
Dec. 15, 2008, at her resi-
dence in Georgetown,
S.C.
She was born in
Radom, Poland, on May
B26
January 1 • 2009
jobs (eventually writing a novel about
Sermons published by the Rabbinical
the Middle East and terrorism). Stanley
Council of America in 1962. He was also
went to Chicago to study at the Hebrew
proud of the fact that he completed the
Theological Seminary and is teaching
Shas (seven-year cycle of study) in three
in Jerusalem. Alan received his master's
different languages: Yiddish (under local
degree in gerontology and is now working
Rabbi Laizer Levin), English and Hebrew.
in Jerusalem.
In 1963, Rabbi Gordon was hired by
In 1985, the family decided to retire
the Young Israel of Oak-Woods where
to Israel and make aliyah. Rabbi Gordon
he was to serve for the next 22 years.
immediately became involved
During his tenure in Oak Park,
in the Council of Young
he gained the respect and admi-
Israel Rabbis in Israel, and
ration of both the community
the
organization honored
he was hired to serve as well
him
this past Sept. 19 with
as the general community. He
its Founders Award. "Jimmy:'
was active on Federation com-
as his friends knew him
mittees, participated in conver-
also became involved in the
sions, served on the Council
congregation Hazvi Yisroel,
of Orthodox Rabbis and was a
Rabbi J ames
where
he gave a shiur (lesson)
founder of Yeshivat Akiva, now
Gordon
every Shabbos. He headed a
in Southfield.
committee for the Religious
The Gordons were proud
Chief Rabbinate relative to conversion in
parents. Betzalel ("Buzzy") attended
Israel.
the University of Michigan and became
Dave Dombey of Southfield, a close
a language expert — at one time, dur-
friend, recalls the rabbi's interest in base-
ing the Menachem Begin administra-
ball, having been a Boston Red Sox fan in
tion, working for the Government Press
Office. Judy went to Wayne State and after his youth. "He soon became a Tiger fan
and attended the last game of the 1984
graduation pursued various demanding
4, 1925. A survivor of the Holocaust, she
immigrated to the United States in 1949.
She proudly became a patriotic American
citizen in 1955.
Mrs. Dube lived in Lincoln, Ill., for a
time, where she and her husband raised
their family. She worked in banking in
Illinois and Michigan prior to moving to
South Carolina.
She is survived by her son and daugh-
ter-in-law, Otto and Shelley Dube of
Farmington Hills; daughter and son-
in-law, Jana and Dr. Paul Hletko of
Georgetown; grandchildren; Annie Dube,
Paul and Elizabeth Hletko, Valerie Hletko
and Katie Wood, Dr. Sarah and Dr. Marc
Donahue; great-grandchildren, Sofia,
Paul Quinn and Sydney Hletko, Andrew,
Elise, and Audrey Donahue, Sabine Hletko
Wood; Shelley Dube's children, Damien,
Yoni and Ami Nadiv.
Mrs. Dube was the beloved daughter
of the late Jenta Hochenbaum Zingerman
and the late Joseph Zingerman; the
dear mother-in-law of the late Patricia
Kaufman Dube.
Interment at Beth Elohim Cemetery in
Georgetown, S.C. Contributions may be
made to the Patricia Dube Family Fund,
Hillel Day School, 32200 Middlebelt Road,
Farmington Hills, MI 48334 or the United
States Holocaust Memorial Museum, P.O.
Box 90988, Washington, D. C. 20090-0988.
MYRA GLASS EBER, of Phoenix, Ariz.,
formerly of Clifton, N.J., died Dec. 20,
2008. She was a lifetime member of
Hadassah.
Mrs. Eber is survived by husband,
Murray; son, Jonathan (Deborah) and
daughter, Aline Eber, all of Detroit; grand-
children, Sara and Michael Eber.
Contributions may be made to Hospice
of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ
85014 or Clifton Jewish Center. Arrangements
by Sinai Mortuary of Arizona.
I f*.1 CHARLES ELLIS, 91
died Dec. 15, 2008, in
Arizona. He was for-
merly of Detroit. Mr.
Ellis relocated with his
late beloved wife, Renee,
to Las Vegas, Nev.
Mr. Ellis is survived by
Ellis
his two sons and their
wives, Bruce and Bernice Ellis and Steven
and Rochelle Ellis; two daughters, Sandra
Mclean and Michele Taylor; stepchildren,
Jay Eisenberg and Karen Sirios; two nieces
living in Las Vegas, Edie Sweetwine and
Gloria Pianko; grandchildren, Janelle,
World Series with me and his oldest son,
"Buzzy", who was fortunate enough to
obtain a press box pass as a foreign corre-
spondent for the Israeli Press Office?'
Dr. Kenneth Chelst of Southfield recalls
the effectiveness of Rabbi Gordon when
they were both members of the education
committee at Yeshivat Akiva, which was
housed in the same building as Young
Israel of Oak-Woods.
Rabbi Gordon's title as rabbi emeritus
of Young Israel of Oak Park was part of
the negotiation of the merger between
Young Israel of Oak-Woods and Young
Israel of Greenfield.
Rabbi Gordon is survived by his
adoring wife, Malka; son, Betzalel and
daughter, Judith, both of California; sons,
Shmuel (Ruchy) and Alan (Gilla) of
Jerusalem; brother, Rabbi Macy Gordon
of Jerusalem; nine grandchildren; numer-
ous nieces and nephews.
Burial was Dec. 24 at Eitz Chaim
Cemetery in Beit Shemesh, Israel.
Contributions in Rabbi Gordon's memory
may be made to Yeshivat Akiva, Young
Israel of Oak Park or a charity of one's
choice. 117
Leah, Lori, Keith, Dr. Jason, Adam, Eric,
Wendy and Colin; 10 great-grandchildren.
Internment was at King David
Mortuary-Cemetery in Las Vegas.
UM FRANKLIN, 58, died Dec. 25, 2008.
He is survived by his brothers and
sisters-in-law, Roman and Ellen Franklin
of West Bloomfield, Phillip and Brenda
Franklin of Sylvania, Ohio; loving neph-
ews and niece, Alex Franklin, Daniel and
Sarah Franklin, Richard Franklin, Michael
Franklin.
Mr. Franklin was the loving son of the
late Ervin Franklin and the late Edith
Franklin.
Contributions may be made to a charity
of one's choice. Interment at Beth Tefilo
Emanuel Cemetery. Arrangements by
Hebrew Memorial Chapel.
CLARA "LALA" GENDLEMAN, 88, of
West Bloomfield, died Dec, 23, 2008.
An architectural secretary for Henry
Abrams, Mrs. Gendleman was also a life
master bridge player.
She is survived by her son and daugh-
ter-in-law, Dr. Mark and Lynn Gendleman
of Evanston, Ill.; daughter, Terry Byer of
Sebastian, Fla.; grandchildren, Amy and
Dennis Cook, Ari and Amy Byer and Elana