looking back Books and bags in hand, students attending Congregation Shaarey Zedek’s Religious School arrive at the Detroit building for Hebrew school classes, circa 1955. Courtesy Prof. Samuel and Lillian Levin Archives of Congregation Shaarey Zedek. • Historic photos are curated by the Jewish Historical Society of Michigan. From the DJN Davidson Digital Archive T his week, maybe we try to forget about the unforgettable — the War — for just a moment and look at the home front and cultural affairs in Detroit. There were many items to consider in the Oct. 9, 1942, issue of the JN. First, the great Russian pianist and composer Sergei Rachmaninoff was coming to town to give a recital at the Masonic Temple. You could buy your tickets at the Grinnell Brothers music store in Detroit. This would be one of his last major perfor- mances. Rachmaninoff died on March 20, 1943, at age 70. And, this same week, another type of per- former declared he was suspending his work for the duration of the war. Before there was TV or video cameras, or before there was an Mike Smith internet, there was George Pierott and his World Detroit Jewish News Foundation Archivist Adventure Series at the Detroit Institute of Arts 62 October 5 • 2017 jn (DIA). Pierott’s work was simple: Show a film on a foreign land and sit with a commentator, usually the filmmaker, and discuss that part of the world. The World Adventure Series continued at the DIA until 1979 and was a popular local television show from 1948 until 1976. Finally, the City Committee of the Jewish National Workers’ Alliance announced that Bronislaw Huberman, world-famous violinist and founder of the Palestine Symphony Orchestra, would perform at the Masonic Temple on Nov. 29. The show would also feature “Emma Shever.” This may be an error (not that the JN ever made an error over the last 75 years!!). I’ve searched without luck for an “Emma Shever” who would have performed in Detroit in the 1940s. I’m thinking this is a misspelled reference to local and international Jewish singer Emma Schaver, who did indeed earn many headlines and accolades during her career. • Want to learn more? Go to the DJN Foundation archives, available for free at www.djnfoundation.org.