54 | MARCH 3 • 2022 

Looking Back

From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History 

accessible at www.djnfoundation.org

Sholem Aleichem Institute: 
All Things Yiddish
R

ecently, I wrote about Sholem 
Aleichem (1859-1916), the famous 
Yiddish writer of stories and plays. 
During my research on Aleichem in the 
William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish 
Detroit History, I ran across hundreds of 
references to his namesake organization: the 
Sholem Aleichem Institute.
The Sholem Aleichem 
Institute (SAI) has existed in 
Detroit for 97 years. Its pri-
mary goal has been, and still 
is “to perpetuate the use of 
the Yiddish language and love 
of Yiddishkeit.” In short, the 
Yiddish language and culture in 
all its forms. It currently provides educational 
programming and cultural activities as a sec-
ular Jewish institution “without walls.” During 
this era of COVID-19, for example, SAI pre-
sentations have continued via Zoom digital 
meetings.
The nearly 100-year history of the institute 
speaks to many facets of the development of 
Detroit’s Jewish community. It was originally 
established in 1925 as the Yidishe Folkshule 
Farein (Yiddish People’s School Organization) 
to provide American-born, English-speaking 
Jewish children with a secular Yiddish edu-
cation. The motto of the school was: “The 
Jewish child belongs to the Jewish people.”
Former student, now prominent Jewish 
Detroit lawyer and community leader Eugene 
Driker, summed-up SAI’s origins: “It provided 
a rich cultural anchor for that group of East 
European immigrants who sought a secular 
home, grounded in the Yiddish language, lit-
erature and culture.” 
The organization soon became known 
as the Umparteishe Folk-shul Geselshaft (Non-
Partisan People’s School Community) and 
purchased a house on Kenilworth Street 
in Detroit in 1926. Shortly after, a Kinder 
Teater or children’s theater was built at the 
rear of the house. A new, larger building on 
Greenfield Avenue was purchased in 1957. 

The first educators hired in 1926 were 
Moishe Haar, Chaim Pomeranz and Chaim 
Bendore. They were joined in 1927 by 
Shloime Bercovich, formerly of the Sholem 
Aleichem Institute in New York, who became 
the organization’s first director. Eventually, 
there were three additional schools, with cur-
riculums ranging from nursery and elemen-
tary grades to high school. 
Moishe Haar (1898-1966) became one of 
best-known Jewish educators and theatrical 
directors in Detroit. Upon his passing, JN 
publisher/editor Philip Slomovitz noted 
that Haar left a “noble heritage, having 
inspired many to carry on the tasks of 
perpetuating Jewish knowledge” (Aug. 21, 
1966, JN).
The Umparteishe Folk-shul Geselshaft was 
renamed the Sholem Aleichem Institute 
in 1929. Two years later, the SAI elect-
ed a board and its first president, Isaac 
Finkelstein, a linkage that leads to current 
institute director, Hilary Duberstein, and 
board chair, Geoffrey Nathan. 
Women were instrumental in the early 
success of the SAI. The first Women’s Yiddish 
Reading Circle was established in 1926. It 
soon developed into a Women’s Institute 
led by Ida Kamaroff, the “Mother of SAI.” 
Frances Driker (and husband, Charles) was 
also an important leader of SAI. At its 70th 
anniversary celebration, Frances Driker, 
Sarah Freidman, Esther LaMed, and Esther 
and Peter Shifrin were the special honorees 
(Oct. 4, 1996).
Many Jewish Detroiters have sup-
ported SAI as it evolved over the years. 
Many, many more have benefited from 
the institute’s programs. My friend 
Eugene Driker believes the future for 
SAI is bright: “With a renewed interest 
in Yiddish being expressed today by 
young Jews, there is a clear opportunity 
for SAI to serve a meaningful role in 
our community.” 
May it last another century. 

Mike Smith
Alene and 
Graham Landau 
Archivist Chair

