metro »
JFS Receives Funds
For Holocaust
Survivor Care
KELLI HAINES
as important to the success of Beth
Shalom as the rabbi, the cantor or
the office staff.”
JUDY MARX
continued from page 10
AN ‘HONORARY JEW’
Charles Criss, 57, of Detroit, has
worked for Temple Emanu-El for 34
years. From those decades of expe-
rience comes the knack for antici-
pating the needs of the synagogue’s
day-to-day operations, according to
Executive Director Fredrick Frank.
Criss said he has become an expert
on the temple’s roof, forecasting
where leaks may spring up and
advising contractors during roof
renovations.
He knows the congregants just
about as well as he knows the build-
ing. Like his counterparts working
in other synagogues, he echoes that
Marvin Brown is a cook at heart and
the best part of his job is watching
Keith Armbruster at Shaarey Zedek
the kids grow up over the years and loves preparing minyan breakfast at
Adat Shalom.
coming back to temple with their
own children.
the synagogue lost power. Brown
Rabbi Emeritus Joseph Klein
With 15,000 square feet of space and
stepped in and saved the evening by
would play an “informal” game with
the ability to host 1,500 worshippers,
walking back and forth to get diesel fuel
Criss each week, and each week, Criss
Congregation Shaarey Zedek is one of
at the Shell gas station on Northwestern
would beat him at it.
the largest in the Detroit Metro area.
Highway every hour or so to keep the
“A day before a special event or pro-
The custodial staff, headed by Keith
backup generator running.
gram, I would remind Criss of what I
Armbruster, facilities director, keeps
When Brown started his job, he did
needed set up,” Klein said. “No matter
busy throughout the year by not only
not know much about Judaism and the
what, he would be way ahead of me
rules of keeping kosher. He didn’t realize preparing the building on Shabbat and
and with a smile he would say, ‘Already
for special occasions, but also for large
that bringing in outside food — includ-
done.’”
community functions that can host hun-
ing ribs from his favorite barbecue place
Though he cannot attend services at
dreds of people at a time.
in Detroit — is completely forbidden.
church as much as he would like — as
Armbruster, 60, of Livonia just cel-
But now, as the primary food shopper for
the week’s busiest day is Sunday when
ebrated his 40th anniversary last October
the synagogue, he knows how to select
Hebrew school is in session — over the
working at CSZ. He says the unique
years he said he received much “spiritual food with the correct kosher certifica-
tions and how to cook without mixing up architecture of the synagogue poses cer-
guidance” from the clergy and others at
tain challenges, such as using a catwalk
the meat and dairy utensils in the syna-
Temple Emanu-El.
100 feet above the sanctuary to change
“I have had the opportunity to be spir- gogue’s kosher kitchen.
Brown said he gets a decent amount of the lightbulbs and carefully maintain-
itually uplifted when I sit back and listen
ing the one-of-a-kind lighting fixtures,
vacation time, including Christmas and
to the services, and I have been honored
woodwork and custom-made large
Easter. And when Brown needed hospi-
with the duty of serving as a pallbearer
talization in 2005, the nurses on his floor wooden doors that adorn the building.
at funerals of congregants. Because of
asked him if he was Jewish because of all Thankfully, he said, the soaring stained
this, Rabbi Klein described me as an
glass windows do not need cleaning.
the Jewish clergy who continually paid
‘honorary Jew.’”
“It is a challenge getting up to that cat-
him visits.
A SPIRITUAL FEELING
walk,” Armbruster said. “It is like climb-
Brown was raised in a Baptist church.
Marvin Brown of Southfield worked in
Though he says he does not get to church ing a mountain to get up there.”
the landscaping business when he got
Over the years, he has most enjoyed
formally, he says the rabbis over the
a call from Alan Yost, executive direc-
years like the late Rabbi Efry Spectre and meeting the many interesting and promi-
tor of Adat Shalom in Farmington Hills,
nent members of the Detroit community
the late Cantor Larry Vieder taught him
about a custodial position the day before that he can also “have church” right in
who have been members of CSZ. A good
Christmas Eve in 1984.
day for him means receiving good feed-
the synagogue.
After working for 33 years in a Jewish
back when a special occasion or function
“I grew up listening to gospel choirs,”
environment, words and phrases like
goes off without a hitch. Most of all, he
Brown said. “Though I don’t understand
shalosh seudos and mezuzah easily roll
the Hebrew, when they really get to sing- has enjoyed learning about Jewish tradi-
off his tongue. A cook at heart, a favorite ing around here [during services], it
tions and takes pride of the knowledge
part of Brown’s job is preparing meals,
he has gained over the decades.
sounds very nice.”
especially breakfast for morning minyan.
“In my social circles, I am kind of like
JEWISH KNOWLEDGE
Over his years at Adat Shalom, Brown
the rabbi to all my non-Jewish friends,”
Some synagogues are bigger than oth-
said he has prepared the building for
Armbruster said. “When someone has a
ers and require a crew of maintenance
“thousands” of weddings and bar mitz-
question about something Jewish, they
staff to keep the building running.
vahs. During one bar mitzvah party,
always come to me.”
*
12 March 17 • 2016
J
ewish Family Service of
Metropolitan Detroit was selected
to receive a grant from the
Jewish Federations of North America
through its recently launched Center
for Advancing Holocaust Survivor
Care. These grants mark the first time
in history that the U.S. federal govern-
ment has provided direct funding for
Holocaust survivor services. When
combined with matching funds, this
award will enable more than $160,000
in new programming for survivors in
Metro Detroit.
The grant money is a combination
of federal dollars and philanthropic
dollars raised by Jewish Federations as
part of the Jewish Federations of North
America National Holocaust Survivor
Initiative, which seeks to raise $45 mil-
lion to support the survivor community.
The JFNA launched the Center for
Advancing Holocaust Survivor Care
in the fall of 2015, following an award
from the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services for up to $12 million
over five years to advance innovations
in person-centered, trauma-informed
(PCTI) services for Holocaust survivors
in the United States.
PCTI care is a holistic approach
to service that promotes the dignity,
strength and empowerment of trauma
victims by incorporating knowledge
about the role of trauma in victims’
lives into agency programs, policies and
procedures.
Of the more than 100,000 Holocaust
survivors in the United States, nearly
one quarter are older than 85, and
one in four lives in poverty. Many live
alone and are at risk for social isolation,
depression and other physical and men-
tal health conditions.
JFS serves close to 500 survivors
through help with indemnification and
restitution claims, homecare services,
translation, emergency financial assis-
tance and many other services.
“Jewish Family Service is so appre-
ciative of this additional support,” says
CEO Perry Ohren. “It will make a huge
difference in allowing us to do the work
of helping Holocaust survivors to age in
place with dignity and respect for their
remaining years.”
Todd Morgan, vice chair of
Federations’ National Holocaust
Survivor Initiative, said, “Grantees of
the Center for Advancing Holocaust
Survivor Care will lead the charge and
help prepare the nation’s aging services
network to ensure all Holocaust survi-
vors living below the poverty line have
their basic needs met.”
*