8 | NOVEMBER 5 • 2020 

for openers
Thank You, Jewish War Vets
I

’
m writing this before the Nov. 3 elec-
tion and have no idea who won argu-
ably the biggest, most controversial 
election of our lifetime. Partisan politics 
aside, I intend to support whoever was 
selected to be my next 
Library Board Member in 
West Bloomfield Township.
I’
m grateful beyond 
words that the remainder of 
this column will have noth-
ing to do with politicians. 
With Veterans Day on Nov. 
11, I’
d like to focus instead 
on people who actually get 
things done — our community’
s beloved 
Jewish War Veterans (JWV). 
Take 36-year old Nick Israel of 
Farmington Hills, for example. He was 
just awarded the 2020 Sidney Lieppe 
Memorial Grant from the JWV of the 
USA Foundation. It’
s presented each year 
to an American veteran who demon-
strates bravery, athleticism, an aptitude 
for learning and a commitment to their 
community at large. Lieppe of New 
Jersey, a WWII Army veteran, passed 
away at 96 in 2018.
Israel, a U-M grad and Army veteran, 
served in Europe and the Middle East 

as a psychological operations officer. He 
also supported U.S. troops and diplo-
mats as part of a nonprofit organization 
across the Balkans, the Black Sea region 
and throughout Europe. Today, he’
s a 
member of the Michigan Air National 
Guard and is studying for his master’
s 
of science at New York’
s Columbia 
University. 
“The Jewish War Veterans provide 
Jewish service members with incredible 
support and valuable opportunities,” 
Israel says. “As I continue my education, 
I will draw further inspiration from the 
legacy of Sidney Lieppe, who provided 
this generous contribution for my gradu-
ate studies. I’
m proud to call myself a life 
member of JWV, and I appreciate every-
thing the organization does on behalf of 
Jewish service members and veterans.” 
JWV National Medal of Merit awards 
have been presented by the JWV 
Department of Michigan to three mem-
bers and, in so doing, have proven that 
age is no barrier to giving back to your 
community. 
Hans Weinmann, 94 (Army, WWII), 
a beneficiary of the Kindertransport, 
was recognized for his contributions as 
chaplain for department functions and 

as a liaison to the Holocaust Memorial 
Center. Weinmann is at the heart of the 
organization’
s focus on Jewish values and 
heritage.
Arthur Fishman, 93, (Navy, WWII), 
senior vice commander and program-
ming chairman of JWV Department of 
Michigan, was honored for his 53 years 
of sustained service. Fishman has played 
pivotal roles within the JWV in their 
community outreach efforts.
In his roles as post commander and 
deptartment vice commander, Mark 
Weiss, 71 (Army, Vietnam era), the 
“youngster” of the JWV awardees, has 

Alan 
Muskovitz
Contributing 
Writer

VIEWS

continued on page 14

Nick Israel saying goodbye to his “Yiddish” shep-

herd dog, Shaina, before departing for duty with 

the 110th Attack Wing of the Michigan Air National 

Guard, where he serves part-time as a major.

JCC’s Mission
It was sad to read in the Oct. 8 JN of the 
closure and upcoming demolition of much 
of the Jewish Community Center. 
JCC CEO Brian Siegel said the JCC has 
experienced long-term (not just short-
term, COVID-related) financial problems; 
that membership (especially Jewish mem-
bership) has been in major decline over 
the last 10 years; and that the JCC’
s West 
Bloomfield building has been “overbuilt” for 
the last 20 years. How ironic it is, then, that 
in another JN article just a little over two 
years ago (April 26, 2018), Siegel bragged 
that the JCC — having rid itself of the JPM 
building in Oak Park that was supposedly 

the source of all the JCC’
s problems — was 
doing marvelously and that that its finances 
were sound! Apparently, that portrayal was 
not accurate. 
It seems to me that one of the JCC’
s 
major problems is an all-consuming fix-
ation, in recent years, on the idea that its 
fundamental mission is to be a sports and 
fitness facility in competition with the many 
commercial sports and fitness clubs and 
facilities existing throughout Metro Detroit. 
Siegel, as quoted in the Oct. 8 JN, refers to 
a “core value” of “Jews [formerly] wanting 
a safe place to work out next to other Jews.
” 
But the core mission of the JCC, historically, 
was much more than simply being a place 
to “work out.
” The JCC, historically, had a 
far broader focus on bringing the Jewish 

community together for cultural, education-
al, social and recreational programs. 
The JCC offered programs of Jewish 
focus, including, among many others, 
Hebrew classes, music programs, lectures, 
and a book fair focused entirely on books 
of Jewish content (not books merely with 
Jewish authors as in recent years). 
Such programs have become few and far 
between in recent years, with instead an 
overwhelming focus on the JCC being, first 
and foremost and above all else, a fitness 
club. Certainly, the pool, gym, etc., were, 
in times past, popular and widely used, but 
they were a part of the overall mission of 
the JCC and not, by themselves, the JCC’
s 
raison d’
etre. 
Perhaps, if the JCC, with the current clo-

continued on page 10

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