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The Israeli-Druze
Connection

A Sefer Torah is donated in
memory of lifesaving hero.

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ringing together Jewish
and Druze leaders in a time
of increased tensions and
violence in Israel, Chilean-Jewish
philanthropist Leonardo Farkash on
Sunday, Oct. 4, donated a Torah scroll
in memory of Master Sergeant Zidan
Sayif, the Israeli-Druze policeman
murdered in last year's massacre at
the Har Nof synagogue. The Torah
scroll was donated to the Haifa Police
Headquarters.
Attendants to the ceremony includ-
ed Sayif's family, Druze MK Ayood
Kara, MK David Azoulay (Religious
Affairs) and commanders of the
Israeli Police Coastal Region. Many
police and Druze dignitaries also cel-
ebrated the memory of Sayif.
Farkash was inspired to memorial-
ize Sayif for his heroism and lifesav-

76 October 29 2015

JN

ing efforts by Eli Beer, president and
founder of United Hatzalah of Israel.
United Hatzalah of Israel stands
on the principle of unity, bringing
together Arabs, Jews, Christians and
Druze as volunteers in providing a
community-based emergency medical
response program throughout Israel,
servicing all populations at no cost.
United Hatzalah's network of more
than 2,500 medically trained and
certified volunteers work around the
clock to provide a response time of
less than three minutes.
"It is very exciting to see the con-
tinuous cooperation between Jews
and non-Jews to maintain the safety
of Israelis," Beer said. "The contribu-
tion by Mr. Farkash indicates our
gratitude to officers of Israel from all
religions and ethnic groups."

A Life Of Medical Service

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r. Joseph J. Weiss, M.D.,
cian for the underserved at Covenant
M.A.C.P., 81, died Oct. 25, 2015. Community Care in Southwest Detroit
He was born to Otto and Fay
for many years.
Weiss in Detroit on March 22, 1934. A
Dr. Weiss was the author of the patient
graduate of the University of Michigan
education column "Arthritis Today" for
in 1955 and its medical school
the Observer/Eccentric newspa-
in 1961, he interrupted his
pers since 1981 and published
training to serve in the U.S.
36 papers and numerous
Public Health Service, which
textbook chapters on aspects
took him to many rural regions
of rheumatology, particularly
of the United States. Dr. Weiss
on the structure and condi-
joined Care-Medico to provide
tions of the shoulder, as well
medical services in pre-Soviet
as hundreds of editorials on
Afghanistan for two years and
medical politics and economics,
Dr. Josep h
then went to what was South
many of them published in the
Weiss
Vietnam to care for civilian
Detroit Medical News, where
casualties of the war.
he served as editor-in-chief.
Upon his return to the U.S., he com-
In 1998, Dr. Weiss was a recipient of
pleted an internal medicine residency
the Michigan Chapter of the American
and a rheumatology fellowship. From
College of Physicians Laureate Award;
1971 to 1981, Dr. Weiss served as a
some years later, he received its Lifetime
member of the faculty of the University
Achievement Award; earlier in 2015,
of Michigan Medical School and as a
the national organization honored him
staff physician at Wayne County General
with the title of Master of the American
Hospital, where he was director of emer-
College of Physicians.
gency services for five years.
Dr. Weiss was preceded in death by
From 1981 until less than a week
his wife, Ruth Louise (Beck) Weiss. He
before his death, he ran a medical prac-
is survived by his sister, Edith King; his
tice as a solo private practitioner and
sons, Steven Weiss (Sharon) and David
was an active medical staff member
(Linda); his grandsons, Samuel Weiss
of St. Mary Mercy Hospital in Livonia.
and Broderick Weiss; his companion,
Over the years, he held the offices of
Marilyn Shapiro; and the children of
chief of staff at St. Mary Mercy Hospital
her long marriage to Irwin Shapiro,
and chair of its Continuing Medical
Laurence (Lisa), Elizabeth (Ted) and
Education Committee. Dr. Weiss was
Jessica (Lawrence); Marilyn's grandchil-
also a former president of the Michigan
dren, Emma, Zoe, Violet, Oscar, Isaac
Society of Internal Medicine and of the
and Abraham.
Wayne County Medical Society. At vari-
Contributions may be made to
ous times, his responsibilities included
National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 733
chairing the Education Committee
Third Ave., 3rd floor, New York, NY
and the Scientific Committee of the
10017, www.nationalMSsociety.org; or a
Michigan Rheumatism Society; and
charity of one's choice. Arrangements by
he volunteered his services as a clini-
Ira Kaufman Chapel. *

MARION LEWIS
APTEKAR, 103, for-
mer Detroiter of
Portland. Ore., died
Oct. 15, 2015.
She was confirmed
from Temple Beth El
in 1926 and graduated
Aptekar
from Northern High
School in 1930. In 1934,
she married the love
of her life, David Aptekar. Six years later,
they purchased their home on Wisconsin
Avenue. Soon after, their first son, Robert,
was born in 1941, followed by Lewis, in
1945. It was also in 1941 that she and
Dave left Temple Beth El to help form the
new Temple Israel. Marion remained a
proud member for the 72 years until her
passing.
Widowed in 1951, she obtained her

first job out of the home as a secretary at
Center Electric Supply Company. After
she retired, Marion followed her passion
for antiques when she and her sister,
opened Iron Dog Antiques in Southfield.
In 2012, four generations of the Aptekar
family reunited in Portland to celebrate
and honor Marion on her 100th birthday.
She is survived by her two children,
Robert of Portland and Lewis of Gilroy,
Calif.; her grandsons, Bryan Aptekar
and Samuel Aptekar; her granddaugh-
ters, Rachel Tenney-Aptekar and Megan
Roggero.
She was preceded in death by her par-
ents; her beloved husband, David Daniel;
and her sister, Sylvia Rubin.
Contributions in her name may be
made to Temple Israel (temple-israel.org)
in Detroit or the staff of Cedar Sinai Park
(cedarsinaipark.org ) in Portland.