WESTERN UNION TELEGRAM . "1°. ''"7;EAQ47 SIIE085 (s3)... DE vA015 GOVT PD-THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC 9 947A ES RABBI MORRIS ADLER, ga 4'4 9 Al 10 01 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.