FRANKLIN ATHLETIC CLUB SUMMER jews d in the continued from page 16 FAMILY SWIM CLUB JOIN NOW AND ENJOY FULL MEMBER PRIVILEGES EVENTS POOLSIDE VISIT FRANKLINCLUB.COM/SWIMCLUB OR CALL 248.352.8000 EXTENSION 235 MAY 25TH JUNE 2ND JUNE 18TH JUNE 24TH JULY 11TH JULY 22ND JULY 28TH AUG 5TH AUG 19TH AUG 27TH CYCLE UNDER THE STARS HIP HOP YOGA ADULT POOL PARTY BINGO + ICE CREAM PARTY KIDS NIGHT OUT SWIM PARTY BOOTCAMP & BBQ KIDS NIGHT OUT SWIM PARTY MOVIE UNDER THE MOONLIGHT ZUMBA DAY PARTY KIDS NIGHT OUT SLEEPOVER FAMILY FUN DAY 7PM 7PM 2PM 5PM 6PM 7PM 7PM 9AM 7PM 2PM FRANKLIN ATHLETIC CLUB 29350 NORTHWESTERN HWY SOUTHFIELD, MI 48034 FRANKLINCLUB.COM FRANKLINCLUB.COM #GETFITWITHFAC 18 May 18 • 2017 jn CLOCKWISE: Otto Dube shows the Brewster Street building in 1917. Shlomo Sandweiss was outraged when he heard about an indigent Detroit Jew who had been buried in the city’s “potters’ field” for paupers. He and 10 other men formed Chesed Shel Emes in 1916. He was its first president. A candelabra from the early days. Its nonprofit status sets Hebrew Memorial apart from Detroit’s other two funeral homes, Ira Kaufman Chapel and Dorfman Chapel. The three have a collegial relationship. “The American funeral industry has been greatly criticized for taking advantage of families at a stressful time, pushing expensive coffins and services they don’t need,” Levin said. “We don’t have that problem in the Detroit Jewish community. All our funeral homes have fine reputations. “But we are the only one that is non- profit. Any money we earn above our expenses is put back into the community.” The organization also accepts tax-deduct- ible donations. “We are a full-ser- vice funeral home,” said Otto Dube, man- aging funeral direc- tor. “We can assist families of means, and provide the sup- port they need as well as an eloquent and beautiful service. But we also assist indigent families.” Some whose fami- lies have been helped do try to repay the good deed. One woman left $14,000, her life savings, to Hebrew Memorial in her will. “She remem- bered how we took care of her mother, who had no money,” Levin said. “She said she wanted to be part of the mitzvah.” INTERESTING FUNERALS Hebrew Memorial provides Orthodox funeral services for everyone, including tahara (the ritual preparation of the body), burial shrouds and wooden caskets, even though 85 percent of the funerals they handle are for non-Orthodox Jews, Levin said. Many have no congregational affiliation. “They know we’re willing to provide whatever type of ser- vice they want,” Dube said. There have been funerals featuring Dixieland bands and bagpipers, and one for a motorcycle club member whose funeral procession included more than 50 bik- ers in full regalia. Myron Armon, who worked in an auto plant, had no family and lived his final years at Jewish Federation Apartments. He told Levin he was afraid no one would come to his funeral, so he asked the rabbi to give $100 and a box lunch to everyone who did. Hebrew Memorial got the word out, and more than 100 people showed up. Armon also left money for a nursing scholarship, which Hebrew Memorial administers, in memory of his mother, who had been a nurse. Morris Fridman was 94 when he came to the chapel to make his own funeral arrangements. He asked how much it cost to write a Torah scroll. When Levin told him approximately $40,000, he said, “I’ll take two!” He donated the scrolls in his and his late wife’s names. In September 2000, the Torahs were paraded from his home in Southfield up Greenfield Road to the chapel. Hebrew Memorial lends them for use at shivah houses on Monday and Thursday mornings, when the Torah is read. Another client with ample means created a special life insur- ance policy so Hebrew Memorial can give a kosher steak dinner continued on page 20