rosh hashanah »

Wishing our clients and friends
a happy and healthy New Year!

From the staff of
Elite Networking
& Consulting

2118900

MEN’S AND WOMEN’S CANES AND ACCOUTREMENTS

You Can Go Home Again

HOURS BY APPOINTMENT

Rabbi Harry Nelson with son, David

248-350-0929 or 248-763-2090
Citizencanes22@gmail.com

Kathy Brooks Levy

Local rabbi to lead services at late
father’s synagogue.

death, the congregation is at a cross-
roads. With only 300 member families
avid Nelson, rabbi emeritus
and no rabbi, they searched for some-
of Congregation Beth Shalom one to lead High Holiday services.
in Oak Park, will disprove
Don Sherman, a longtime member
the old adage “You can’t go home
and Bridgeport native, recommended
again” this holiday season. He’ll return that the congregation seek out David
to the Bridgeport, Conn., synagogue
Nelson.
where he grew up and where his father
The younger Rabbi Nelson, now 77,
served as rabbi for 30 years to lead
graduated from the Jewish Theological
High Holiday services.
Seminary in 1967, served
Congregation Rodeph
two years in a pulpit in Rio
Sholom in Bridgeport was
de Janeiro and three years as
founded in 1909. Nelson’s
an assistant rabbi at Chizuk
father, Harry Nelson, arrived
Amuno in Baltimore before
there in 1934 at the age of
coming to Detroit in 1972. He
26 as a new graduate of the
was the rabbi at Beth Shalom
Jewish Theological Seminary.
in Oak Park for 36 years.
Except for four years as a
Since retiring from Beth
David Nelson
U.S. Army chaplain during
Shalom in 2008, Nelson has
World War II and six months
been a part-time rabbi for
in Belem, Brazil, Harry Nelson spent
Temple Beth El in Bay City and is
his entire professional life at Rodeph
presently in his sixth year as rabbi of
Sholom.
B’nai Shalom in Benton Harbor. Rabbi
He oversaw the building of a new
Nelson has also devoted time and
synagogue in 1949 and watched the
energy in chaplaincy work with Jewish
congregation grow to be one of the
prisoners.
largest in New England. He served
Nelson is excited about returning to
the congregation until 1964, when he
the congregation where he grew up.
suffered a fatal heart attack at the age
“In 1963, my father looked in as I
of 56.
was leading a youth service. But he
Under his leadership, Rodeph
never saw me in a pulpit because he
Sholom produced 15 rabbis, three reb- died three years before I graduated,”
betzins, one cantor and 13 Jewish edu- Nelson said.
cators. According to community lead-
“Because of my wonderful memories
ers, Rabbi Harry Nelson was beloved
of growing up at Rodeph Sholom, I’m
for his warmth, his strong leadership
excited by the challenge and opportu-
and his gentle guidance.
nity. It’s a rare opportunity to go home
Today, 52 years after Harry Nelson’s
again.”

Barbara Lewis | Contributing Writer

D

Consul General of Israel to the
Midwest Aviv Ezra and the entire
Consulate staff would like to wish the
Jewish community of Detroit a Happy,
Prosperous, and Peaceful New Year.

A year in which the Jewish community
and the relationship with the state of
Israel will continue to flourish.

2124100

Watchbands

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Wishing You a Healthy and Happy Rosh Hashanah!
From Robert Corlin & Jim Buxton

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62 September 29 • 2016

27867 Orchard Lake Rd.
Orchard 12 Plaza

(NW corner of Orchard Lake & 12 Mile Rds.,
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