MAY 5 • 2022 | 31

explained that Rivera want-
ed to depict a German per-
son on the assembly line and 
thought that 
Glicksman was 
a Jewish name. 
(Glicksman was 
actually born in 
Poland.) In the 
mural, he wears 
a cap typical of 
the 1930s but 
switched to a 
yarmulke when 
he left the fac-
tory.
The DIA has benefited 
from many generous mem-
bers of Detroit’s Jewish com-

munity who have donated 
funds or artwork to the 
museum. Albert Kahn, a 
German Jewish 
immigrant 
who became a 
world-renown 
architect, was 
asked to design 
a bigger DIA 
museum on 
Woodward 
Avenue during 
the 1920s. 
According to 
Cohn, Kahn 
declined the prestigious 
commission due to other 
work commitments 
but served on the Art 
Commission that chose Paul 
Cret as the architect for the 
new building. 

Kahn had an extensive 
art collection and donated 
some artworks to the DIA. 
Cohn showed the JHSM 
members several examples 
including Head of a Saint, a 
Spanish limestone sculpture 
from the early 13th century. 
Kahn also gave two sets of 
beautiful silver candlesticks 
to the museum; these are 
exhibited in glass cases. 
Today the DIA has several 
galleries named after major 
Jewish art collectors and 
donors from the Detroit 
area.
JHSM is training mem-
bers to be docents for the 
Jewish connection art tours 
and hopes to begin offering 
them in June. Information 
will be available at mich-
jewishhistory.org. The 
Jewish Historical Society of 
Michigan, a nonprofit edu-
cational organization, was 
founded in 1959 to interpret 
and highlight the history 
of Jewish Michigan. JHSM 
offers docent-led tours, lec-
tures, classroom materials 
and publications. 

OPPOSITE PAGE, 
LEFT: Barbara Cohn 
with Head of a Saint 
(shown mounted 
on another artwork) 
donated by Albert 
Kahn. 

BELOW: Harry 
Glicksman is pic-
tured in the front 
row, fourth from left, 
in Detroit Industry.

Lincoln Shopping Center

GREENFIELD and 10½ MILE

Advance America
Advance America

ALDI
ALDI

Bling Bling
Bling Bling

Book Beat
Book Beat

Church’s Chicken/White Castle
Church’s Chicken/White Castle

Conservative Cuts
Conservative Cuts

Dollar Castle
Dollar Castle

DTLR
DTLR

Dr. Lazar
Dr. Lazar

J Anthony
J Anthony

Kroger
Kroger

Lee Beauty Supply
Lee Beauty Supply

McDonalds
McDonalds

Medical Weight Loss
Medical Weight Loss

Metro PCS
Metro PCS

Metropolitan Dry Cleaners
Metropolitan Dry Cleaners

Mookey’s Beans & Greens
Mookey’s Beans & Greens

Original Bread Basket
Original Bread Basket

Rainbow
Rainbow

Street Corner Music
Street Corner Music

Step In Style
Step In Style

Suit Depot
Suit Depot

T Nails
T Nails

Top That
Top That

The shops at
Lincoln Shopping Center

