6 April 11 • 2019
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views

essay

I 

have anxiously waited for devel-
opments that would return our 
Jewish Community Center to 
Oak Park. We were first told an 
anonymous donor would help save 
the facility. Many 
of us were dubious 
and skeptical, but 
encouraged. “Save 
the OP JCC” orga-
nized and fundraised 
in a serious effort to 
give feedback and 
support.
And then the 
JCC in Oak Park, once known as 
the Jimmy Prentis Morris branch, 
was gone. Closed. Bulldozed. 
Demolished. Then more smoke and 
mirrors. Hope was kept alive with a 
sign that read “Coming Soon — The 
New Jimmy Prentis Morris — Jewish 
Community Facility — Construction 
to Begin Spring/Summer 2017.
” 
Privately, I was told funds were 
not available to continue to own and 
operate the JCC in West Bloomfield 
and Oak Park. Many believe the 
JCC’
s budget, including the losses 
from the West Bloomfield building, 
was balanced at the expense of the 
Oak Park JCC. 
In previous points of view I’
ve 
shared with Jewish News readers 

(Nov. 28, 2017, and March 29, 2018), 
I offered alternatives for a scaled-
down JCC without a pool and health 
club. We need a community center 
that provides presentation space, a 
privately run kosher restaurant, a 
kitchen for food classes and office 
space for Jewish Federation agen-
cies that could consolidate in this 
central location. A smaller footprint 
seemed reasonable. Although few 
other facilities in our community are 
self-supporting, proper management 
of a small JCC might make that 
attainable.
 
Soon, another year was gone and 
so, too, were the anonymous donor 
and the sign. Instead, we were asked 
to wait for the results of a 2018 com-
munity wide population study to be 
released, even though the growth 
of the Jewish community in Oak 
Park, Southfield, Huntington Woods 
and other nearby communities was 
apparent to many of us.
Snippets from the study appear-
ing in the Jewish News, along with 
an editorial in the March 28, 2019, 
edition, supports what we knew 
all along: This is the center of the 
Jewish community. This is where 
the Federation should live up to its 
promised commitment. 
The Jimmy Prentis Morris family 

donated to “inspire others to see 
the needs of the 10 Mile branch and 
come forth with gifts that will enable 
the center to better serve its commu-
nity.
” The Jewish Welfare Federation 
and United Jewish Charities contrib-
uted at that time. This year marks the 
54th anniversary — triple chai — of 
the death of Jimmy Prentis Morris at 
age 13.
The impression I and many oth-
ers get is that Federation has lost its 
mission in serving community needs 
and maintaining the sense of com-
munity. At a time when world events 
call for fellow Jews and neighbors 
to come together, I feel as if we have 
been divided into classes. 
To the overall Jewish community, I 
ask that you join with us to continue 
the dialogue and pressure to bring 
back the Jewish community center 
and the services once provided in the 
former Oak Park JCC to this area. 
To the Federation leadership, don’
t 
keep us waiting another year. I ask 
you to communicate directly with 
the community. Once and for all, tell 
us if you intend to further honor the 
legacy of the Jimmy Prentis Morris 
family and build a new community 
center at the former site. ■

Jerry Naftaly is the former mayor of Oak Park.

Jerry Naftaly

Population Growth 
Reaffi
 rms Oak Park JCC Need 

online comments

Vaccinate? 
T

he significant outbreak of measles in 
Oakland County prompted several 
online comments, including:

Marvin Sonne: For me, it’
s very simple: No 
vaccination, no school admittance unless 
there’
s a valid medical reason that prevents 
vaccination. And yes, I understand the legal 
arguments; however, the health and welfare 
issue takes first place for me.

Ron Lippitt: I have no problem with people’
s 
right to not vaccinate. To each hisr own. But 
you have now forfeited your right to have 
your kids hang at my public school, camp, 
daycare, scouting or any other place where 
the health of my child is as respected as 
yours. Enjoy your measles at home.

Jessica Lynn: Private institutions are allowed 
to revoke/not issue waivers (they can also 
decide not to document/check for vaccina-
tion status); public institutions are not.

Jim Van Eaton: I know that some people have 
a philosophical aversion to vaccination, but 
just because you believe it doesn’
t make your 
philosophy correct. Junk science is never an 
excuse.

Al Wright: If it’
s a private school, they can 
have their own rules; and if you don’
t like the 
rules, they don’
t have to let you in, especially 
if you’
re paying for it. 

The JN welcomes comments online at thejewishnews.
com or on its Facebook page. Letters can be sent to 
letters@renmedia.us.

