Looking Back

From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History

accessible at www.djnfoundation.org

62 | OCTOBER 21 • 2021 

‘The Last Guys
to Let You Down’
O

ne of the fun things about the 
William Davidson Digital Archive 
of Detroit Jewish History is that, 
while searching for one subject, I find inter-
esting articles on another topic. Case in 
point: “The Last Guys to Let You Down” in 
the July 29, 1994, issue of JN.
The “Last Guys to Let You 
Down” is a tongue-in-cheek 
reference to our local Jewish 
funeral directors. They are 
indeed the last guys to actually 
“let you down” when the time 
comes.
Before revealing the enter-
taining content of the article, 
perhaps I might start with a lit-
tle bit about the three funeral homes or cha-
pels in Metro Detroit that serve the Jewish 
community: Hebrew Memorial Chapel, Ira 
Kaufman Chapel and Dorfman Chapel. 

The Hebrew Memorial Chapel is the old-
est of the three, incorporated in 1916. The 
catalyst was the burial of a homeless Jew in 
Detroit’s “potters’ field,” or the city’s ceme-
tery for the poor. Shlomo Sandwiess called 
together a group of 10 people who formed 
the Hebrew Free Burial Association, a non-
profit funeral home. The chapel is still non-
profit. It has been in Oak Park since 1964. 
Rabbi Boruch E. Levin has been executive 
director since 1986. 

In 1941, Ira Kaufman established the Ira 
Kaufman Chapel at Dexter and Edison. It 
moved to its location in Southfield in 1961. 
Ira’s son, Herb, then began to work at the 
chapel. David Techner worked at the chapel 
when he was in high school. He became a 
licensed funeral director in 1974. Today his 
son, and Ira’s great-grandson, Chad, is part 
of the team with Herb and David.
The last of the trilogy is the Dorfman 
Chapel, established in 2001 by Alan 
Dorfman. After working at the Hebrew 
Memorial Chapel for 20 years, Dorfman 

began the Alan H. Dorfman Funeral 
Direction, which focused on graveside ser-
vices, in 1991. His son, Jonathan, is now 
co-owner of the chapel.
Now, about the “The Last Guys to 
Let You Down.” In the article, funeral 
directors relate stories about doing their 
absolute best to “meet the many — often 
strange — requests of grieving families.” 
Per the article, Halachah mandates that 
there should be no fancy jewelry or 
clothes for the deceased, but it does 
not expressly forbid inclusion of other 
items. 
David Techner discussed a late 
husband’s wife request to have his cell 
phone buried with him since he was 
never without it. Rabbi Boruch Levin 
and his funeral director recalled having 
walkie-talkies placed with the deceased. 
Alan Dorfman has been asked to include 
cigarettes (“He loved to smoke”) and 
decks of cards. 
It should also be noted that all three 
chapels regularly perform mitzvahs 
above and beyond holding funerals. For 
example, the Kaufman Chapel helped 
bury unclaimed bodies from the Wayne 
County Morgue (June 5, 2014, JN). Hebrew 
Memorial partnered with BBYO to hold 
“Driving to Distraction,” an event to 
educate teenagers about the dangers of 
texting while driving (Nov. 6, 2011, JN). 
The Dorfman Chapel opened a non-de-
nominational bereavement library for 
Detroiters after 9-11 (Dec. 12, 2001, JN). 
I hope it’s a long time before I am, ahh, 
let’s say, the ‘guest of honor’ at a funeral. 
But, it is good to know that Detroit has 
great funeral chapels to let me down 
easy. 

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

Mike Smith
Alene and 
Graham Landau 
Archivist Chair

Direction, which focused on graveside ser-

strange — requests of grieving families.” 
Per the article, Halachah mandates that 

and his funeral director recalled having 
walkie-talkies placed with the deceased. 
Alan Dorfman has been asked to include 

above and beyond holding funerals. For 

bury unclaimed bodies from the Wayne 

). Hebrew 

I hope it’s a long time before I am, ahh, 

let’s say, the ‘guest of honor’ at a funeral. 

). Hebrew 

Otto Dube and Rabbi Boruch Levin
of Hebrew Memorial Chapel

