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GENERAL ISRAEL ORPHANS HOA
FOR GIRLS

IN JERUSALEM

ONLY GIRLS ORPHANAGE IN PALESTIi

Sephardic Leader

FIRJAIREM

Giving Charity

Exhibit showcases pushkes
from around the world.

I

Yaffa Klugerman
Special to the Jewish News

Ann Arbor

T

here exists a sound that
has the power to summon
thoughts of giving, respon-
sibility and community. It's the sound
of a coin being dropped in a pushke or
tzedakah (charity) box.
A new exhibit at the
University of Michigan's
Jean & Samuel Frankel
Center for Judaic
Studies in Ann Arbor
showcases the univer-
sality of the custom
by presenting pushkes
from around the world.
The 40 charity boxes
on display are from
the Jewish Heritage
Collection dedicated to
Mark and Dave Harris,
a unique assemblage of books, ephem-
era, artwork and objects of everyday
and religious significance in Jewish
life. Housed in the University Library's
Special Collections Library, the Jewish
Heritage Collection is the gift of
Constance and the late Theodore
Harris. The exhibit will be on display
through Sept. 10 at 202 S. Thayer St.,
Suite 2000.
"Organizations that produced and
continue to distribute the boxes and
solicit donations in them include relief
agencies, benevolent associations,
children's aid societies, yeshivahs,
synagogues, hospitals, orphanages
and many more explained Elliot H.
Gertel, the Irving M. Hermelin Curator
of Judaica in the University Library.
"In this exhibit, you will see a wide
range of such organizations represent-
ed with a number of different shapes
and materials, in addition to the typi-
cal rectilinear metal pushkes."
The commandment to give tzeda-
kah, commonly translated into English
as "charity:' but which actually means
"justice is a well-accepted Jewish
practice. Maimonides listed eight
levels of giving charity, with the high-
est rank given to one who provides

54 June 4 • 2015

JN

employment to another. The second-
highest level, giving anonymously to
an anonymous recipient, is the essence
of the pushke.
According to Gertel, pushkes may
date back to the Middle Ages when
such boxes were passed through
homes and synagogues. By the 20th
century, pushkes for every conceivable
type of charitable organization could
be found in homes, shops,
synagogues, schools,
offices and institutions.
Examples of many can be
seen in the exhibit, includ-
ing several versions of the
popular Jewish National
Fund "blue box."
Among some of the
most memorable tzedakah
boxes on display are a
South African Jewish War
Appeal Relief Supplies
Box, meant for Jews in
displaced persons camps
after World War II; a pushke fashioned
from a shofar; and an elaborate metal-
and-glass tzedakah box created by art-
ist Gary Rosenthal.
"The pushke exhibit exemplifies
the Jewish precept of `hiddur mitzvah'
— of beautifying a commandment —
in this case, the responsibility to be
charitable said Deborah Dash Moore,
director of the Frankel Center and
Frederick G. L. Huetwell professor of
history at U-M. "Although a number
are simply pragmatic boxes to hold
coins, many are beautiful examples of
efforts to inspire their owners to con-
tribute money to a Jewish cause.
"The exhibit speaks to recent schol-
arly attention to the materiality of
Jewish life she said, "recognizing that
religious precepts are not just abstrac-
tions but are expressed through physi-
cal forms."

❑

M

arcel Nissim Behar, 90,
members.
passed away peacefully
An expert on Sephardic Jewry and
on May 25, 2015, one day
Middle East affairs, Marcel was a
before his 60th wedding anniversary,
frequent lecturer throughout Metro
surrounded by his family at his home
Detroit and later in Orange County,
in Laguna Woods, Calif.
Calif. He was able to speak on any
Marcel was born in Alexandria,
topic for hours at a time completely
Egypt, on Dec. 7, 1924, to Leontine
from memory, never using note-
Franco Behar and Michel Nissim
cards. He was a regular speaker at
Behar. He attended the renowned
Hechtman Jewish Apartments in West
Victoria College Boys School in
Bloomfield for many years, and his
Alexandria, graduating with his
talks were enjoyed by all the seniors
Oxford and Cambridge higher cer-
who attended.
tificates. He went on to receive his
Marcel appeared in newspapers
B.S. in mechanical engineering from
and on television as an expert on
Birmingham University in England.
Middle East affairs, and was a pioneer
Marcel had a color-
, t„
in Arab-Jewish rela-
ful and well-lived life.
:4°,.+
tions in Metro Detroit,
He spoke six languages
participating in many
fluently and was a sea-
early organizations to
soned traveler. He was
build understanding
the first participant
amongst the sides. He
from Egypt in a Winter
was a Sephardic Jew who
Olympic sport when
spoke fluent Arabic, and
he competed in the
could read, but not speak,
1948 Olympic downhill
Hebrew.
ski trials in Sweden,
Marcel always had a
receiving an edict from
curious intellect and, until
King Farouk granting
his last days, he thor-
him permission to
oughly enjoyed reading
Marcel Nissi m Behar
represent Egypt at the
about history and keeping
Olympics.
up with world affairs.
In 1951, Marcel and his sister
He instilled in his children the
Simone left Egypt to relocate to
importance of a good education and
Canada. He married Shirley Chicorel
the desire to travel and experience the
Behar in 1955 and settled in Detroit
world. He was a devoted father and
where he worked for Ford Motor Co.
family man and said many times that
and Eaton Corp., authoring several
his greatest accomplishment in life
patents. He became very active in
were his children, whom he deeply
the Sephardic Community of Greater
loved and adored. He will be greatly
Detroit, assisting founders and spiri-
missed by his family and all who
tual leaders (his in-laws) Jacob and
knew him.
Judith Chicorel.
Marcel Nissim Behar was preceded
Marcel took a two-year interna-
in death by his sister, Simone Behar
tional assignment in 1964, mov-
Nemon; and is survived by his wife,
ing his young family to Antwerp,
Shirley Sarah Chicorel Behar; and
Belgium. With Marcel behind the
children, David Robinson (Doris)
wheel, together they explored much
of Calgary, Alberta, Marc Behar
of post-war Europe. He was an avid
(Jeff Sbisa) of New Orleans, La.,
backgammon player many years
Jerome Behar (Leslie) of Los Altos,
before it became popular in the U.S.
Calif., Richard Behar (Nigist "TG")
and taught his young children to play
of Farmington Hills, Lisa Behar
shesh besh to have someone to play
Greenberg (Richie) of San Francisco;
with.
and grandchildren, Joseph, Jacob,
Marcel was the treasurer and
Daniel, Nissim and Lily Behar.
financial chair of the Sephardic
Interment was at Machpelah
Community of Greater Detroit for
Cemetery. Donations may be made in
more than 30 years. Through his
memory of Marcel Nissim Behar, do
financial leadership, he helped grow
Keter Torah Synagogue, 5480 Orchard
the initial funds for the purchase of
Lake Road, West Bloomfield, MI
the West Bloomfield land on which
48323, (248) 681-3665,
Keter Torah Synagogue was built,
www.ketertorah.us . Arrangements by
and he became one of its founding
Ira Kaufman Chapel.

❑

Obituaries