looking back

In 1910, at age 27, Abe Plotnik began buying fruit from the produce auction for
the company he and his wife Rosa founded, Plotnik Fruit and Produce Company
of Detroit. Abe’s days began with an inspection of the fruit he was about to

purchase from the market auction. After making his purchases, Abe would once
again inspect his produce, load it onto his truck and, within a few hours, the pro-
duce would be on sale in a grocery store. Abe closed the business in 1942. •

Pictured are the sons of Abe Plotnik, Barney and Sam, with a group of Detroit Produce employees, July 1935.
Reprinted from Vol. 45, Fall 2005, Michigan Jewish History, published by the Jewish Historical Society of Michigan.

From the DJN

Davidson Digital Archive

F

or once in 1942, the main headline of the JN was about
a celebration: “Salute to Fred Butzel: Detroit and the
Nation Join in Congratulating Fred M. Butzel on his 65th
Birthday, August 25, 1942.” This was indeed something to cel-
ebrate.
Butzel (1877-1948), known as the “Dean of Detroit Jewry,”
was one of the great leaders of Detroit’s Jewish community.
One would need dozens of pages to list all of
his accomplishments and contributions to
the improvement of life for Detroiters and
Americans.
In recognition of his work and stature,
the highest honor the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit can bestow upon a com-
munal leader is the Fred M. Butzel Award.
In that same issue of the JN, there is also an
Mike Smith
editorial
on page 4 that gives a brief history of
Detroit Jewish News
Butzel’s legacy as well as congratulations.
Foundation Archivist

62

August 24 • 2017

jn

This issue of the JN also launched a new feature: “Jewish
Activities on the Home Front.” This was a page devoted to news
about the efforts of Jews in Detroit and America to support our
nation and its men and women in World War II.
And, speaking of the home front, another editorial raises
a most interesting question about Judaism during a crisis; in
this case, the intense trauma of World War II: Should Jewish
war workers “ask or accept leaves of absence to observe Rosh
Hashanah and Yom Kippur?” There was no clear answer. One
rabbinical opinion was that “under all circumstances, Jews
should observe the High Holydays.” Another was that “religious
customs and ceremony must be temporarily sacrificed to pre-
serve something that is a thousand times more fundamental.”
These were trying times. I am leaving any conclusions on this
matter to the rabbis and you. •

Want to learn more? Go to the DJN Foundation archives,
available for free at www.djnfoundation.org.

Historic photos are curated by the
Jewish Historical Society of Michigan.