jews in the d
COURTESY LEONARD N. SIMONS JEWISH COMMUNITY ARCHIVES.
Looking Back
While Detroit’s earliest Jewish center — the Hannah Schloss Memorial build-
ing — offered some recreational activities, much of its work was geared toward
“Americanization” of new settlers. After the founding of the Jewish Centers
Association in 1926, its focus moved to cultural, educational and recreational
activities. The Jewish Community Center at Woodward and Holbrook offered art
classes, including this 1935 advanced class in metal work and sculpture.
From the DJN Foundation Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History
W
Mike Smith
Detroit Jewish
News Foundation
Archivist
66
ell, the 2018 elections are over. We can now
enjoy the lack of political advertisements on
our televisions and radios and, the best part,
no more robocalls!
One of the most interesting and historic aspects of
the election results was the number of women across
the nation who have been elected to office. In Michigan,
women will hold most of the top executive offices as
well as many seats in the state House and Senate. The
U.S. Congress will have the highest number of female
members in its history. And, Jewish women are among
the elected officials.
Speaking of women in politics, I found a most inter-
esting article during my cruises through the Davidson
Digital Archive. The front page of the Jan. 10, 2003,
issue of the JN featured the headline “What Makes Lana
Run?” along with a full-page photo of pioneering Jewish
female politician Lana Pollock. It’s a very good read.
Born and raised in the 1940s and 1950s in the
only Jewish family in the northern Michigan city of
Ludington, Pollock was a pioneering female legislator in
November 29 • 2018
jn
Lansing. She served for 12 years as a state senator, from
1983-1994, where, for eight of those years, she was the
only female Democrat in the body and, when she first
took her seat, the Senate did not have a restroom for
women!
Pollock also ran in a primary for the U.S. Senate from
Michigan in 1994, but lost a close race. After serving in
the Michigan Senate and as president of the Michigan
Environmental Council from 1996-2008, Pollock was
inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame in
2002.
Whether one liked Lana Pollock’s politics or not, her
love for Michigan and deep, passionate support for civil
rights, protection of the environment and other issues
cannot be denied. Pollock was a trailblazer for other
women; in particular, Jewish women who decide to
enter the political arena in Michigan. Lana is still active,
living in Ann Arbor and “running” to good causes. ■
Want to learn more? Go to the DJN Foundation archives, available
for free at www.djnfoundation.org.