COMMUNIIT

�

JEWFRO

Our Jewish

Community Center:
Defining Reality

30 will mark 50 years since
Prentis Morris and three

Oct.

Jimmy

boys were driving home
University of Michigan Foot­
ball game when they were struck
by a train at an unguarded railroad
crossing. Following that
tragedy, the Morris fam­
ily's wish was that the

other

from

a

The

1931 JCC on Wood­
less than 20 years old when
the Jewish War Veterans Memorial
Home Association proceeded with
the Dexter Branch (on Davison) in

ward

original

was

1949. In 1958, before it opened as the
main branch of the JCC, the

gym named for their son
at the Oak Park Jewish
Community Center would

"inspire others to

.

with

its

enable

club (at

community:'

combination of compli­
cated and complex. The

membership revenue,
carrying costs, debt, deficits, de­
preciation, capital improvements,
allocations, restricted gifts, as well as
the monetary, logistical and human
resource implications of dozens of
are compli­
community programs
cated. So complicated that Interim

-

were

business, it would be the most
complicated $14 million business

ever seen.

But, as Jim knows, the JCC isn't a

business

-

or a

social service agency
traditional thing

any singular
and therein lies the complexity. It is
a lot of things to a lot of people with
very real value and very real existen­

or

or

tial

-

questions.

As far

as what's complicated, I
don't have any light to shed on the
finances other than to say that, as a

recent addition to the JCC

board, I've
the books and the red ink is real.
What's so complex is that the Oak

seen

Park JCC's

longevity could be its un­
and could point to its future
doing
viability. This is uncharted territory for

-

Not financial trouble, which has
been part of the JCC for years. Rather,

us.

this is the first JCC we've had that has

lasted

more

than

a

an

visit

redthreadmagazine.com

for details

opening

generation.

iary" to spaces first in Detroit and

then far from the city limits
but
it has lasted decades longer than
any of those facilities. Over those

-

an area

became durable and dynamic.
So what's the best analogy for the

car that may (or may not)
be totaled? Northland Mall? The
chicken (updated facilities) and the
egg (expanded membership)? Cluck
if I know.
The biggest risk I see is less that a

physical facility will

close and

use

o

that could have been
a temporary stop on the northwest­
erly Jewish migration to nowhere

years,

$50 Gift Certificate

JCC? A

a

he'd

winner every month!

new

-

-

CEO Jim Issner said if the JCC

A

ceremony boasting the
"world's largest challah,
baked by Zeman's") in
1993. The Oak Park JCC
has never been the main
branch
always "auxil­

serve

The prospect the Oak
ParkJCC will close is a

financials

GIVEAWAY

waiting list. The JCC broke
ground in West Bloomfield

Oak Park's building
dates back to 1956. It
gained a pool and health

see

gifts that will

a

in 1973.

the needs ofthe 10Mile
Branch and come forth

the center to better

Meyers and
600-person

Health Club at

Curtis had

magazine

The Courthouse Grille

Plymouth Road
Plymouth MI, 48170

41661

more

community will lose a
unassuming,
accessible and pluralistic. There may
be people who consider the kosher

so

to

that the

"commons" space that is

Dunkin' Donuts on Greenfield more
Jewish than a nearby Reform temple,
and others who think they might get
hit by lightning upon entering one of
the many bustling Orthodox build­

Brenda of West Bloomfield

won

People tend to
on
the
JCc.
And
giving that up
agree
would be a blow to Jews of all stripes
who have put down deep roots on

ings along

10 Mile.

$125 Gift Card

to

Bra-vo Intimates

this side of town.

Prizes may vary and prize must be claimed within 30

Jim is fond of the quote, "The first
responsibility of a leader is to define

reality:' He has and I'm
grateful. I'm also confi­
as compli­
dent that
cated as the past reality

our

giveaways

Are donated

-

is to understand and

as

complex as the present
the
reality may be
future reality has not yet

our

days of winning or they are voided.

giveaway

ow

to

by

local advertisers; to be considered for

page,

please

contact

us

at

(248)

a

spot in

351-5107.

in

Enter to win at:

-

been defined.

�

www.thejewishnews.com/red-thread-give-away/

This contest opens at noon on the first Thursday of the month and
closes at 3 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month. Winners will

be chosen and notified

A

scene

from the 1993

opening

after renovations

at the Oak Park JCC

by

the end of each month. No

purchase is

entry per person per month. Please
will be printed in the following issue of Red

necessary to enter or win. One

note: Winner's

name

Thread.

IU�D rnltLlID I February 201 5

35