Obituaries Obituaries are updated and archived on thejewishnews.com '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 Obituary Fees The processing fee for obituaries is: $75 for up to 150 words; $150 for 151-300 words, etc. A photo counts as 30 words. There is no charge for a Holocaust survivor icon.