Obituaries
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'A Passionate Voice For Human Rights'
Esther Allweiss Ingber
Special to the Jewish News
Huntington Woods recalled Rabbi Conrad
later saying, "We were liberal enough
to realize that Oakland County [then
with few Jews] should be integrated, so
from that came the decision to establish
Temple Kol Ami in West Bloomfield." The
building opened in 1975.
Rabbi Nelson said Rabbi Conrad "was
able to let the scars of Nazism recede in
his mind and heart while never forget-
ting." To that end, Rabbi Conrad estab-
lished the first Yom
HaShoah service at a
liberal congregation,
and shared the history
of the temple's Torah
scroll that was rescued
from the Holocaust. He'd
tell his personal story to
the temple's affirmation
classes.
the relationship between God and God's
people, whoever they are and wherever
they are said Bishop McGehee. "One
abbi Ernst J. Conrad cared
of his important contributions is that
about a multitude of interfaith,
he refused to exclude anyone." In 2003,
intercultural and interracial
MCHR gave Rabbi Conrad its highest
causes and never ceased his activities on
honor, the Lifetime Commitment Award.
behalf of social action and workers rights.
At age 83, Rabbi Conrad had a second
Because of this, diverse people from many
celebration of his bar mitzvah at Kol
communities are mourning his death.
Ami, reciting the same Torah reading and
The founder and rabbi emeritus of
haftorah from 70 years prior in Berlin.
Temple Kol Ami in West Bloomfield, and
Nathalie Conrad, the
rabbi since 2005 at the Grosse Pointe
temple's music direc-
Jewish Council, Rabbi Conrad, 88, of Oak
tor, pianist and choir
Park had experienced congestive heart
conductor, now emerita,
failure and declining health for the past
composed and sang
two years. He died on Nov. 6, 2009.
several pieces in her
Ironically, the rabbi was laid to rest on
husband's honor.
Nov. 9, the 71st anniversary of Kristallnacht
Among his pastimes,
(Night of the Broken Glass). The overnight
Rabbi Conrad liked
Nazi rampage in 1938 prompted the 18-
listening to opera and
year-old young man's emigration from
followed Detroit Tigers
Germany to the United States. Persecution
Social Action
baseball. He had the
of Jews stoked his desire to become a rabbi "Temple Kol Ami's strong
thrill of throwing out
and help powerless minorities.
social action identity was
the first ball on Rabbi
"We remember the empathetic, justice-
one of Rabbi Conrad's
Ernst Conrad Day at
driven neshamah (spirit) of Ernst Conrad, founding principles:'
Comerica Park on Aug.
Rabbi Ernst Conrad
who fought injustice and intolerance all of said Gross, noting that
19, 2001."Baseball, for
his life," said Oak Park Congregation Beth
the rabbi attended their
him, was a metaphor for
Shalom Rabbi Emeritus David Nelson at
monthly committee meetings as late as last the freedom of American opportunity;
his friend's funeral at Temple Kol Ami.
summer.
teamwork and sacrifice; winning and los-
Officiating Rabbi Norman T. Roman,
Rabbi Roman, who continued on the
ing," Rabbi Roman said
who succeeded Rabbi Conrad at Kol Ami
path blazed by his predecessor, said "for
In retirement, Rabbi Conrad spent
in 1986, gave another eulogy. The 600-700
the first couple of years after [Rabbi
many years co-facilitating Bible studies
people in attendance heard Josef Conrad's
Conrad's] retirement, our relationship
for the Institute of Retired Professionals.
remarks about his father as well as musi-
was almost that of a grandparent watch-
Michael Kasky, chair of religious activities
cal selections by Cantor Kat Hastings and
ing a new parent nurture everything he
for the Grosse Pointe Jewish Council, also
Kol Ami Soloist Tiffany Green.
and Nathalie had tried to enrich.
recalled how the rabbi enjoyed their joint
Rabbi Conrad received his ordination
"Our styles are totally different though
Thanksgiving service with Grosse Pointe
in 1947 from Hebrew Union College in
we shared many of the same priorities:'
Congregational Church.
Cincinnati. He served congregations in
he continued. "There were many times
Maryland and South Carolina before join- that I'm sure he would cringe a little bit:
Man Of Peace
ing Temple Beth Jacob in Pontiac. In 1966, `Rabbi Roman is doing WHAT? They're
Rudy Simons of Southfield, a close friend
Rabbi Conrad, his wife, Nathalie, and
teaching it THIS way?' Yet, he was very
and fellow activist, has a memory of the
eight families broke away to found the
respectful and did understand that the
elderly Rabbi Conrad at a MCHR protest
New Temple, a congregation with a "deep
torch had passed to a new generation."
of apartheid in South Africa. "I can still
commitment to liberal Judaism, a socially
The temple appreciated Rabbi Conrad
see him with the snow coming down
conscious philosophy and a strong belief
throughout his life. The Rt. Rev. H.
on his face, standing there with the oth-
in the independence of pulpit and pew."
Coleman McGehee, a retired Episcopal
ers outside a Southfield dealer in gold
Temple Kol Ami (Voice of my People)
bishop and colleague with the rabbi on
Kruggerands. How many others his age
became the name in 1970.
the Michigan Coalition for Human Rights would have come out during such a dra-
The congregation outgrew its initial
(MCHR), spoke at a special Shabbat for
matic snowfall?"
space at the Birmingham Unitarian
the rabbi's 80th birthday in 2001.
To Simons, Rabbi Conrad was a "devot-
Church. Congregant Paul Gross of
"Rabbi Conrad was a champion for
ed man of peace who was outspoken and
R
NATHAN BLUMER, 91,
Blumer
76
of Oak Park, died Nov. 8,
2009.
He was the owner of
60 Minute Cleaners.
Mr. Blumer is sur-
vived by his wife of 61
years, Edith Blumer;
November 12 2009
sons and daughters-in-law, Larry and
Kathy Blumer, Ron and Susan Blumer
of Novi; grandchildren, Samantha Keyes
Blumer, Sara Blumer, Eric Schuette and
Michelle and Tim Kuebler; great-grand-
daughter, Lily Schuette; brother and
sister-in-law, Dr. Abraham and Joyce
Blumer; sisters-in-law and brother-in-
Obituaries
law, Evelyn Lebowitz, Barbara and Roy
Feinberg.
He was the dear brother-in-law of the
late Morris Lebowitz.
Interment at Adat Shalom Memorial
Park. Contributions may be made to a
charity of one's choice. Arrangements by
Ira Kaufman Chapel.
courageous at a time when not all clergy
were of that stripe. He was strongly and
actively opposed to the death penalty in
matters relating to racial equality and
civil and human rights."
Gentle yet firm, Rabbi Conrad never
aspired to leadership positions within
his organizations. He preferred being on
the scene, which he did as recently as Jan.
16, participating in the Interfaith Worker
Justice of Metropolitan Detroit's "rally for
justice" at Madonna Catholic Church on
behalf of home child care workers.
As he grew older, the energetic Rabbi
Conrad kept quiet about the attention he
was receiving. Rabbi Roman lamented, "He
never told us about being selected for an
honor — the congregation would find
out maybe a week before it was happen-
ing, making it too late to buy a table in
his honor ... His involvement in human
rights, whether it was right to choose,
anti-war — he was our resident hippie
in that sense — he never did that for any
sense of glory."
"I always admired him:' said Rt. Rev.
Thomas Gumbleton, a retired Catholic
auxiliary bishop of Detroit who some-
times joined Rabbi Conrad. "He was
cheerful and had a warm and loving
personality. He was so sensitive to people,
always very kind and committed.
"Whenever there was a call for some
cause, Ernst didn't hesitate. He was there."
"His was a passionate voice for human
rights and dignity:' Rabbi Roman said.
"He'd rather people learn by example and
through the consistency of his message
and values."
Rabbi Conrad is survived by his
beloved wife, Nathalie; son, Josef Conrad
of Royal Oak; daughter and son-in-law,
Elsa Conrad and David Conley of New
Hampshire; grandson Benjamin.
Interment was at Beth El Memorial
Park. Contributions may be made to Yad
Ezra, 2850 W. 11 Mile Road, Berkley, MI
48072; Anti-Defamation League, 25800
Northwestern Hwy., Ste. 980, Southfield,
MI 48075; the brotherhood or sisterhood
at Temple Kol Ami, 5085 Walnut Lake
Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48323; or a
charity of one's choice. Arrangements by
Hebrew Memorial Chapel. El
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