Opinion
A mix OF

David Hermelin's Still Vibrant Imprint

S

ince it's now approaching nine
ner during his lifetime. As a family man,
years since the passing of David and his access to anyone who needed
Hermelin (Nov. 22, 2000), it
his advice starting at 7 a.m. every day,
might be worthwhile to highlight his
he was incomparable. He shared his
incredible accomplishments. For those
advice and his extraordinary energy
who weren't around dur-
with the world. His fundrais-
ing the latter part of the
ing for political candidates as
20th century, David was
well as all of the never-ending
enormously successful in
"magical fund raisers" held at
business, especially in real
David and Doreen Hermelin's
estate, including being one of
Bingham Farms home, includ-
the original partners of the
ing hosting President Bill
Palace of Auburn Hills. His
Clinton and other national and
stressing of a very high level
global leaders, was a treasure
of customer service for every
and is since being carried on
guest at the Palace was years
by Doreen. Speaking of magi-
Har vey
before other venues dupli-
cal, one of David's favorite hob-
Bro n stein
cated this model.
bies was his passion for magic
Comn
He was a global leader
and loved performing as a
Vi ew
in Jewish organizations,
magician. We all benefit from
including holding the world
the many philanthropic enti-
chair of both Israel Bonds and ORT. I
ties both here and in Israel that he and
attended an Israel Bond dinner at his
the Hermelin family have endowed. His
beloved Congregation Shaarey Zedek in
proudest assignments was serving as the
Southfield many years ago where he, as
U.S. ambassador to Norway and as presi-
the honoree, sold $45 million in bonds,
dent of Congregation Shaarey Zedek of
the highest total for any Israel Bond din- Oakland County.
ner any place to that day.
David taught our community to love
His tireless work also extended to
and enjoy life, family and the joy of
the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
being Jewish. As a fundraiser, he taught
Detroit as well as being the chair for
us to "give until it felt good." He taught
almost every Jewish organization din-
us about our undying connection to

the State of Israel and he taught us how
wonderful it is to be involved in Jewish
volunteer work. He taught us that the
volunteers get even more out of volun-
teering than do the recipients.
He made one feel special by always
greeting you by your first name and by
never failing to ask, "Is everything all
right?" While you knew that he couldn't
solve all of your problems, at least you
knew he cared.
But what makes the Detroit commu-
nity so special? David Hermelin. Please
let me explain. In every other major
Jewish community, the average person
has no real connection with the movers
and shakers (the "machers"). In Detroit,
anyone can rub elbows with our leader-
ship. Each of us who are involved can
have contact with every top philanthro-
pist, Federation executives and all of the
other leaders. David set this connection
every day of his life. This has lasted for
so many years and will continue for a
very long time.
David is largely responsible for the
positive attitude that we as a community
hold today in spite of unprecedented
challenges that we currently face. This
is why we give more money per per-
son than all other Jewish communities
— and are pleased to do so.

David Hermelin

I was privileged to write an article in
the Detroit Jewish News when my mentor
Sam Frankel died last year. David was,
and is, my idol; and a little of him is in
so many of us each day.
I was blessed to know both Sam and
David.

Harvey Bronstein is a Southfield resident.

WSU from page 41

the College of Engineering, the School
of Medicine, the Law School and the
Graduate School, plus the directors of the
Children's Research Center of Michigan
and TechTown, Wayne State's business
incubator. This was an enormous invest-
ment for the university and President
Noren, who planned to lead the delega-
tion, but had to postpone what would
have been his first visit to Israel due to a
medical situation in his family.

Worthy Endeavor
It was an investment that paid off. Each
institution on the tour welcomed the dele-
gation enthusiastically and showed sincere
interest in connecting with Wayne State.
Among the things they agreed to
are establishing student, post-doctoral
and faculty exchanges, continuing and
extending short-term programs for visit-
ing students, building collaborations in
physical science and engineering, con-
necting Wayne State's expertise in corn-

42

November 19 • 2009

puter-assisted surgery with Israeli bio-
medical engineering studies, and explor-
ing research partnerships and developing
a variety of joint programs.
Also, a series of meetings organized by
the Michigan Israel Business Bridge set
into motion several business opportuni-
ties for TechTown that may begin to be
realized before the end of this year.
This is good news for Wayne State, for
Israel, for our Jewish community and
for the community at large. As a result
of these initiatives, Wayne State's educa-
tional resources will be expanded and its
standing as a major research university
will be elevated.
Israeli institutions and businesses
will benefit from the assets that Wayne
State brings to their partnerships. Israel
will have the benefit of new friends and
substantive relationships in the U.S. The
longstanding ties between our Jewish
community and Wayne State will be
strengthened. And new business ventures

involving the university, TechTown and
Israel should lead to new, high-quality
jobs so badly needed here to grow the
economy and curb out-migration of our
young people.
We were able to include on the itiner-
ary private meetings with Israeli lead-
ers such as Barukh Binah, the former
Chciago-based consul general who now
heads the North American department
of the Israel Foreign Ministry; tours of
Jewish and Christian holy sites in the Old
City and Bethlehem; and visits to Masada
and the Dead Sea.
The delegation members were espe-
cially moved at Yad Vashem, where
Eliezer Ayalon, the museum's only docent
who is a survivor, told them the story of
the Holocaust as he personally experi-
enced it.

More To Come
This was the latest in a series of trips to
Israel for general community influentials

that the Jewish Community Relations
Council has organized over the years.
Thanks to generous donors who provided
funding specifically for this purpose, we
have educated non-Jewish opinion lead-
ers about the realities of Israel — its
great achievements, its challenges and
its ongoing efforts to achieve peace and
security. Other recent trips have included
Shirley Stancato, president and CEO of
New Detroit, and Daniel Little, chancellor
of the University of Michigan-Dearborn.
We hope to organize similar trips for
Catholic and Jewish clergy and for news
media leaders in the African-American,
Latino and other ethnic communities.
And we expect that those trips will be as
exhausting — and as rewarding — as
Wayne State's.

❑

Robert Cohen is executive director of the

Bloomfield Township-based Jewish Community

Relations Council of Metropolitan Detroit.