WESTERN UNION
TELEGRAM
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DE vA015 GOVT PD-THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC 9 947A ES
RABBI MORRIS ADLER,
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CONGREGATION SHAAREY ZEDEK 2797' BELL RD
SOUTHFIELD MICH..
I AM PLEASED TO EXTEND TO YOU AND THE HEWERS OF YOUR
CONGREGATION MY !ARREST BEST WISHES AS YOU DEDICATE YOUR
NEW SANCTUARY° FOR MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED YEARS,
CONGREGATION SHAAREY ZEDEK HAS NOT ONLY TAUGHT THE
TRUTHS !RICH ARE PART OF THE SPIRITUAL HERITAGE OF
AMENICA, BUT IT HAS ALSO INSTRUCTED MANY GENERATIONS OF
ITS MEMBERS IN THE VALUES AND IDEALS UPON WHICH GOOD
CITIZENSHIP IN A FREE
SOCIETY RESTS
00.2N1 9 M
I YOU AND THE MEMBERS OF CONGREGATION SHAMMY ZEDEK
HAVE REASON TO BE BOTH THANKFUL AND PROUD AS YOU
DEDICATE YOUR NEW HOUSE OF WORSHIP AND STUDY, AND ON
THIS MEMORABLE occAsiox I COMMEND TOU FOB
YOUR
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND WISH YOU CONTINUED PROGRESS IN
THE YEARS AHEAD=
JOHN F KENNEDY=
Shaarey Zedek leaders at the old Chicago Boulevard synagogue in Detroit are ready
to transport the Torahs to the new Southfield building in 1962.
Davida Robinson gives flowers to
Eleanor Roosevelt in 1946 at CSZ.
A telegram from President Kennedy on
Jan. 9, 1963, congratulates Shaarey Zedek
on the dedication of its new building.
Cantor's Cantata
Shaarey Zedek's musical memoir strikes a perfect pitch for 150th anniversary.
Karen Couf-Cohen
Special to the Jewish News
Featured soloists for the Gates premiere
event include Finkelstein, Olivia Brodsky
(a member of a longstanding Shaarey
hen the spoken word falls
Zedek family, currently studying at Tufts
short of fully expressing the
University) and the Hillel Day School
significance of dramatic
Choir.
events in our collective history, the lan-
"I was asked by our executive board to
guage of music fills the void. Buoyed by
compose a piece that would bring to life
personal historical accounts from key
our most vivid and poignant moments as
congregants, archival materials and a rich
a shul and to reveal musically, with a nar-
assortment of photographs, Congregation
rative, how those moments played a piv-
Shaarey Zedek Cantor Meir
otal role in shaping our shul
Finkelstein, one of the world's
and its central role in our
most documented composers
community and the world
of Jewish music, composed a
of Conservative Judaism:'
moving musical retrospective
Finkelstein said. "I think we
to mark the 150th anniver-
have succeeded in doing that."
sary of Shaarey Zedek.
The task of harvesting
The world premiere of
the most notable anecdotes
The Gates of Righteousness,
and remembrances from the
a cantata by Finkelstein,
shul's rich and storied his-
generously sponsored
tory and weaving them into
by Henrietta and Alvin
a narrative was placed in the
Weisberg, will be performed
hands of Finkelstein's brother
by the Detroit Symphony
Aryeh Finklestein (he pre-
Cantor Meir Finkelstein
Orchestra conducted by
fers this spelling), cantor of
Maestro Leonard Slatkin
Mishkan T'filah in Chestnut
at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 7, at Shaarey
Hill, Mass. A historical textbook printed
Zedek, 27375 Bell Road, Southfield.
in 1981 to celebrate Shaarey Zedek's 120th
"We are honored to benefit from the
anniversary provided the foundation for
endless generosity of Henrietta and Alvin much of his narrative.
Weisberg. Their dedication to our congre-
The first of four movements is built
gants and our entire community's cultural around a recurring theme that is taken
enrichment is so greatly appreciated:' said
from a psalm and set to music. It is titled
Steve Margolin, Shaarey Zedek president.
"Pitchu Li Shaarey Zedek" (Open for me,
"We are all the more fortunate to have a
the Gates of Righteousness) and aligned
cantor who is the trifecta of musical tal-
with prayers and original poetry by the
ents — cantor, pianist and composer —
late Rabbi Morris Adler. Poignant recol-
and that we can draw on those talents to
lections include the tearful procession as
tell our Shaarey Zedek story"
the Torahs were removed from the Chicago
Finkelstein's considerable musical tal-
Boulevard synagogue ark for the last
ents include the composition of a larger-
time and lovingly placed in the new ark
scale cantata called Liberation, a work
in Southfield; a telegram from President
commemorating the 50th anniversary of
John F. Kennedy offering congratulations
the liberation of the Nazi death camps,
to Rabbi Adler on the new sanctuary; and,
which premiered in Los Angeles with the
in the second movement, Detroit Tiger
Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra, hosted
Hank Greenberg's controversial decision
by Billy Crystal. Liberation was later
to attend services on Yom Kipper in 1934
performed in Detroit with the DSO, with
(when the Tigers were on the cusp of a
invited cantors and a large chorus.
pennant win) and his recollection of the
W
8 May 31 2012
congregation breaking out in applause
when he entered the sanctuary to take his
shul seat.
"I have so many memories based on
spending most of my life at Shaarey
Zedek; it is a profound part of who I am:'
said Barbara Morse, a member of the
first class of Beth Hayeled nursery school
and daughter of Lou Berry, a vision-
ary and chairman of the development
fund that spearheaded the fundraising
for the Southfield shul. Morse provided
Finkelstein sensory-rich anecdotes: the
smells, the sounds and a recounting of
small poignant moments that together
made up the rich fabric of life at Shaarey
Zedek over the last half-century.
A high solo violin introduces the
mournful Kaddish melody in the third
movement that is dedicated to the mem-
ory of the congregation's beloved Adler,
tragically shot on the bimah Shabbat
morning, Feb. 12, 1966. Several weeks
earlier, the rabbi had composed a poem
after being shaken by the deaths of several
young members of a local family. The
poem, titled Shall I Cry Out in Anger?, was
Adler's attempt to make sense of life cut
short, calling into question conflicting
feelings of anger, God and one's ultimate
peace with eternity, sadly forecasting his
own unspeakable demise.
The congregation took it upon itself
to uphold the vision and the values of its
fallen leader, re-envisioned by 35-year-old
Rabbi Irwin Groner, who succeeded to the
pulpit in an era of unrest and uncertainty,
but with compassion, wisdom and the
belief that love of God, love of Torah and
love for one another trumps all. Groner
always believed Shaarey Zedek provided a
"significant commentary on the strength
of Jewish commitment and the spirit of
America."
The final movement addresses Shaarey
Zedek's pre-eminent role in Conservative
Judaism, as Zionist leader, cultural conser-
vator and Jewish educator. It acknowledges
the unprecedented mark its members have
made as leaders in the areas of business,
law, the arts, politics, science and medi-
cine. It speaks to the development of the
Hebrew school and the vision of building
the future of Shaarey Zedek through the
education of its children.
"Al Tikra Vanayich" ("Do not call them
your children, but your builders of the
future") — this theme blends into the
mesmerizing "nor Vador," Finkelstein's
most notable liturgical composition. The
cantata concludes with the soprano, tenor
and chorus recapitulation of the recurring
theme "Pitchu Li" and culminates in a -
triumphant finale with a bright eye to the
future of Shaarey Zedek.
"At this amazing point in time, we look
back on our Shaarey Zedek founders and
leaders and are awed by the strength and
sense of purpose that moved them for-
ward," said Rabbi Joseph Krakoff. "We are
blessed to have reached our 150th anni-
versary — a perfect time to reflect and
affirm the values and ideals that Shaarey
Zedek embodies."
The program begins with music by
Jewish composers followed by The Gates
of Righteousness. Admission is free to
Shaarey Zedek members. For non-mem-
bers, $18 in advance and $25 at the door.
For reservations, call Martha Goldberg at
(248) 357 5544, ext. 46, or email
mgoldberg@shaareyzedek.org .
-
❑
Karen Couf-Cohen of Franklin is a writer, PR
consultant and Shaarey Zedek member.
150th Birthday Bash
Because Shaarey Zedek has 150
years of celebrating to do, join
members for its Grand Finale from 8
p.m.-1 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, at the
synagogue. Featured entertainment
includes Sean Blackman & Wayne
Gerard's SIEN HIELO-Brazilian-Latin-
World Jazz and Your Generation-
Fifty Amp Fuse. $36 per person;
$150 for patron level. Open to the
community. For details, call Tobye
Bello at (248) 357-5544.