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DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

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A Mighty Oak Has Fallen!

Arthur M. Horwitz
Publisher / Executive Editor
ahorwitz@renmedia.us

T

he majestic and spacious
wisdom, wit, teachings and passion
sanctuary of Southfield’s
for civil rights attracted national
Congregation Shaarey
attention and admirers from across
Zedek has been the setting
the religious, political and socio-
for some of the Detroit Jewish
economic spectrum. To this day, those
community’s most memorable
who gathered within and around
occasions. Framed by its soaring
Shaarey Zedek to honor his memory
ark and stained glass windows,
were part of the largest funeral in
Arthur M.
brides have been united with
Jewish Detroit’s history.
Horwitz
grooms, babies have received
For Congregation Shaarey Zedek,
their Hebrew names, b’nai mitz-
there are physical reminders of Rabbi
vah have chanted their haftorah
Adler’s impact and presence. One
portions, milestone birthdays have been cel- of the social halls bears his name, and his
ebrated, rallies in support of Israel and Soviet bust is displayed adjacent to the synagogue
Jewry have been staged, and leaders have
chapel. For some, the building itself is a daily
been eulogized.
reminder of the rabbi’s vision — and persis-
But none of those occasions compared to
tence — in championing the congregation’s
the tragedy that several hundred attendees
move from Detroit to Southfield. His writ-
witnessed on Feb. 12, 1966, when a brilliant
ings and prayers are part of the congrega-
but mentally unstable congregant utilized
tion’s liturgy. And he is remembered on the
a gun he had easily purchased in Toledo to
anniversary of his passing.
fatally shoot the revered Rabbi Morris Adler.
However, the Jewish community as a
Then, the assailant took his own life with a
whole has done little to remember Rabbi
bullet from the same weapon and inflicted
Adler and build upon his legacy. In writing
emotional pain and scars that still haunt the
about Rabbi Adler after his passing, Jewish
congregation and the community.
News publisher and editor Philip Slomovitz
Fifty years ago, there were no grief coun-
offered the following:
selors or trained teams of psychologists to
tend to the traumatized eyewitnesses and
“A mighty oak has fallen! The mourners
others, as Rabbi Adler’s life slowly slipped
are in all ranks, among all faiths, and tears
away at Sinai Hospital. Meanwhile, Rabbi
flow like water over the passing of a giant in
Adler’s assistant, Rabbi Irwin Groner, was
our midst … The entire community has lost
thrust into the difficult role of leader, healer
a dedicated leader. Our Negro neighbors lost
and consoler. Today, 90-year-old men and
their best friend, the most consistent advocate
women still shed tears of shock and pain
of their just rights. The labor movement lost a
alongside their children as they recall Rabbi
champion …
Adler, his wife, Goldie, and the pandemoni-
“Now, if we wish to truly honor his mem-
um in the sanctuary that Shabbat morning.
ory, we must carry on where he had left off,
The bullet killed, but the wounds it left on we must rededicate ourselves to the advance-
others have not healed.
ment of the highest Jewish cultural goals, we
Rabbi Adler was an iconic figure whose
must raise the educational standards of our

schools, we must support every effort to assure
racial equality and the best living standards
for those who labor for their livelihoods. And
we must never forget that we are obligated to
be vigilant in the battle against intolerance, to
assist in Israel’s up building, to strengthen the
movements that had given birth to Israel and
whose goals remain the defense of Israel …
“Rabbi Adler’s name will not be forgot-
ten; neither will his teachings be ignored. He
pleaded for knowledge, and we shall gather
new strength to provide it …” — March 18,
1966.

Shaarey Zedek is planning a gathering
later this year to further honor and remem-
ber Rabbi Adler. The Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit, the Jewish Community
Relations Council, the Michigan Board
of Rabbis, the United Auto Workers and
interfaith groups throughout the Detroit
area should be partners in this initiative. It
would also provide the greater community
an opportunity to celebrate Rabbi Adler’s life
and — 50 years later — join with Shaarey
Zedek in the ongoing process of healing.
We encourage you to visit www.
djnfoundation.org where a special, interac-
tive feature section about Rabbi Adler has
been created within its William Davidson
Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History. In
addition to a compilation of selected stories
from the pages of the Detroit Jewish News,
the section contains video and audio clips
and written recollections about Rabbi Adler
from community members. It also provides
you with an opportunity to add your own
written, audio or video recollections that will
become a part of the permanent archive.

*

For more on Rabbi Adler, see page 10.

F. Kevin Browett
Chief Operating Officer
kbrowett@renmedia.us

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editorial continued from page 5

supported the bipartisan-backed BDS pro-
visions of the new trade law. The law also
features legal safeguards for U.S. compa-
nies doing business in Israel.

STAYING FOCUSED
Israeli settlements remain a political
lightening rod. The U.S. Congress as well
as more than 20 state legislatures are
weighing bills that would curb the BDS
effect. Many states — Florida, Illinois,
Ohio and South Carolina among them
— have sought to extend protections to
the settlements although Washington’s
support clearly carries more impact. In
Michigan, some legislators are review-
ing language used in other states and
consulting with knowledgeable sources in
an effort to determine if similar legisla-

6 March 10 • 2016

tion should be introduced in Lansing, the
Jewish Community Relations Council of
Metropolitan Detroit told the JN.
We should acknowledge President
Obama for staunchly
standing with Israel
and placing America
“firmly on record
opposing BDS and sup-
porting enhanced com-
mercial ties between
the United States and
Israel,” as AIPAC put it.
But we should also
take the leader of the
Free World to task for
not vigorously stating
it’s the Palestinians,
under Mahmoud

Abbas’ faltered leadership, who have
spurned the best way forward: direct
bilateral negotiations to resolve the bitter
standoff over the West Bank.

*

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