had left Lithuania in the 1930s with
nothing but their suitcases, rather
than stay in the path of the Nazis,
and she was fearful that she would
have to leave Israel with nothing if
the Arab invasion succeeded.
Reluctantly, Leikin returned to
America with his wife and young
son in 1947. He became a ZOA
leader, moving to Detroit to direct
the ZOA office here in 1956.
Everything about Israel excited
Jews in Detroit. Shlomo Sperka,
then a teenager, collected the
stamps on letters from Israel
addressed to his father, Rabbi
Joshua Sperka. The letters mostly
asked for funds for Yeshivot in
Israel.
Benno Levi also collected Israeli
stamps. He notes with amusement
that he has a few stamps issued by
"Hebrew Pose The stamps had
to get printed before the country
declared independence, and even
the people who printed the stamps
did not know what to call the coun-
try.
Now, 65 years later, the Detroit
Jewish community again prepares
to celebrate Israel, not with a huge
rally, but with a communitywide
Walk for Israel to be held May 5
starting at Temple Shir Shalom in
West Bloomfield.
Today, Detroit still includes a
strong Zionist contingent that iden-
tifies passionately with Israel. And
there are others with a more guard-
ed assessment of the government in
our ancestral homeland.
Still, looking back to the newborn
state 65 years ago, coming just after
the destruction of the largest Jewish
communities in the world, the sym-
bol of Israel as a Jewish homeland
resonates strongly and proudly. ❑

'Asir. 1949

Nothing defines the best of Michigan's summer like sun bathing,

a nice dip, great food, and wonderful people all in a single relaxing

environment at Tam—O—Shanter Country Club.

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To Schedule a Private Tour of Our Facility Contact

Bashar Tobia at 248.855.1900 Ext. 408

18 Hole Championship Golf Course
Updated Ladies Locker Room

Newly Renovated Clubhouse

Join Walk For Israel

This year's Walk for Israel
opens for the general public
at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, May
5, at Temple Shir Shalom in
West Bloomfield. At 11 a.m.,
Steven Pomerantz, former
assistant director of the FBI,
will speak. A free kosher
lunch from Jerusalem Pizza
begins at noon, with the walk
beginning at 1 p.m. The event
also includes music, dancing
and a raffle for a roundtrip
ticket to Israel on El Al. New
this year is a Run for Israel
that starts at 8 a.m. For more
details, go to www.WalkFor
Israel.org .

Updated Pool Facilities

Updated Fitness Center
Fine & Casual Dining

Clay Tennis Courts

stZeze.zee.,‘ a.zow,zitce.

48.855.1900

zovoz.v.tcimoslicttitercc.org-

5051 Orchard Lake Road West Bloomfield, MI 48323

1834150

JN

May 2 • 2013

15