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Lasting Memories
Shaarey Zedek congregants share
recollections of their beloved Rabbi Adler.
Keri Guten Cohen | Story Development Editor
A
Capt. Rabbi Morris Adler served as an Army chaplain during World War II. Shaarey Zedek
congregants in the military sought him out if they were in Japan. Here the rabbi paused
for a chat and a cigar with Sidney Brawer.
bout 75 members of
Congregation Shaarey Zedek
gathered on Sunday, Feb. 28, to
share memories of Rabbi Morris Adler,
whose tragic death came 50 years ago
on March 11, 1966.
With Rabbi Aaron Starr as moderator,
congregants reminisced about the rabbi
and his legacy.
Myron Milgrom recalled the rabbi
was very much in demand as a speaker
for secular organizations in Detroit.
“I went to see him at Cobo Hall and
I remember the impact he had on the
audience, which gave him a standing
ovation,” he said. “I walked up to him
afterward, and he asked me where I
was going. He said, “Come to my house.
Goldie made some schnecken [sweet
buns] and we’ll shmooze.’ I got home at
2 a.m. It was very memorable and high-
lighted the kind of person he was.”
Milgrom also recalled when a bust of
Chaim Weizmann was being sold by a
local gallery. The shul’s art commission
wanted to buy it for the synagogue. The
cost was $4,000.
“The rabbi took out his checkbook
and wrote us a check for $100 and said,
continued on page 16
A Legacy Online
DJN FOUNDATION
WEBSITE SEEKS
YOUR MEMORIES OF
RABBI ADLER.
Mike Smith | DJN Foundation Archivist
T
his month marks the 50th anni-
versary of a tragic day for Jewish
Detroit.
On March 11, 1966, Rabbi Morris Adler
died from wounds suffered Feb. 12 that
year while on the bimah at Congregation
Shaarey Zedek in Southfield. The rabbi was
shot in front of his congregation, assassi-
nated by a mentally disturbed 23-year-old
shul member, Richard Wishnetsky, who
then shot himself in the head.
It was and remains the Detroit Jewish
community’s most tragic moment.
Rabbi Adler was one of the giants among
Jews in the history of Detroit and a leader
not only within the Jewish community, but
also in Detroit, Michigan, and the United
States. The story of his shooting made
headlines in local newspapers as well as in
national and Israeli media.
So, how did the Detroit Jewish News cover
this story? Extensively, to say the least.
Rabbi Adler’s entire career in Detroit and at
Shaarey Zedek is also well covered, another
14 March 10 • 2016
indication of the stature of this man’s
impact upon the community.
Search the Detroit Jewish News (JN) and
the Jewish Chronicle (JC) in the William
Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit
History — www.djnfoundation.org —
using the phrase “Rabbi Morris Adler.”
First, you will see that he was cited more
than 4,000 times in both publications. Very
few people have been cited as many times
as Rabbi Adler.
However, a deeper analysis shows the
long-lasting impact of Rabbi Adler. Reports
of the aftermath of the shooting, when he
was fighting for his life for nearly a month
at Sinai Hospital in Detroit, dominated the
front and opinion pages of the JN. Then,
after his death, numerous articles reported
on various events to honor the rabbi’s
memory.
Within a few months of his death, a
section of the Lodge Freeway that passed
Shaarey Zedek was named the “Adler
Memorial Highway.” Many groups held
‘Now get 40 more.’ He wanted to include
the membership and not just call Max
Fisher or Lou Berry [to cover the cost.]
We got the money.”
Rabbi Adler played a huge role in
designing the current Shaarey Zedek
building, including the magnificent
stained glass behind the ark.
Lee Smith recalled the rabbi saying to
the architect, “What do you have for me
to look at?” Smith explained that’s why
there is stained glass above the sanctu-
ary doors.
Leonard Baruch spoke of the rabbi’s
influence on young people. Baruch
was youth director
in 1966 and was with
teen members of the
junior congregation at
Tamarack Camps with
Rabbi Irwin Groner
when Rabbi Adler was
shot on the bimah dur-
ing Shabbat services
Leonard
by a mentally ill young
Baruch
shul member.
“The teens saw
Rabbi Adler as a vital, important per-
son,” Baruch said. “He made sure they
Visit the Detroit Jewish News Foundation
website at www. djnfoundation.org to
view our new Feature Page that includes
a story about Rabbi Morris Adler and
memories from Shaarey Zedek members
about the rabbi. We also have done a bit
of research for you — a folder contains
selected articles from the JN about the
rabbi’s tragic death and his legacy.
Join in the
tribute as well by
writing your own
memories of the
memorials in his honor and wrote songs for rabbi, which will
him. The JN reprinted many of the rabbi’s
become part of
sermons and other writings, usually above the permanent
the masthead on the front page.
archive and can
More amazing is the number of times,
be viewed by
over the five decades after his death, that
the
Rabbi Adler has been cited. He is still a
community
spiritual leader to emulate, and he is still an and the
example of a good man, a mentsh.
world.
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