10 | DECEMBER 1 • 2022 

F

rom eyeglasses worn 
by the late Rabbi Leo 
M. Franklin of Temple 
Beth El to a display reading 
“Be true to your teeth and they 
won’t be false to you” posted 
by the late television comedian 
Soupy Sales, historic items 
representing the Detroit Jewish 
community of the past will be 
the subject of talks from 3-5 
p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, at The 
Hawk in Farmington Hills.
“Everyday Treasures: Jewish 
Detroit Heirloom Roadshow” 
is a free program that presents 
valued holdings from Detroit’s 
pioneering Jewish residents 
and invites attendees to bring 
their own family holdings to 
showcase and have evaluated 
for their historical presence. 
The event is a prelude to an 
exhibit being planned by the 
Detroit Historical Museum.
The objects that will be 

shown Dec. 4 are being 
considered in advance of 
that larger exhibit running 
April-June in 2024. Many 
items belong to the Detroit 
Historical Museum, which 
also will feature possessions 
of the Jewish Historical 
Society of Michigan (JHSM), 
the organization hosting the 
December event and part of 
the planning for the museum 
exhibit. 
The displayed and discussed 
memorabilia essentially recall 
items saved from the Hastings 
Street area in Detroit, where 
the Jewish community once 
was based.
Narrating the program will 
be Gail Offen, known as a 

member of the adjunct faculty 
at Lawrence Technological 
University. Her specialty is 
humanities, social sciences and 
communication. Elayne Gross 
Photography will be taking 
pictures to document what 
is being offered for display 
consideration.
“People are going to see 
about 12 objects and hear 
stories connected to them,” 
said Catherine Cangany, 
executive director of the 
JHSM, who also is looking 
forward to seeing the items 
visitors bring in and hearing 
the history of those items.
“The exhibit and 
presentation are generally 
concerned with daily life, and 

the materials being shown are 
touchstones to the past, items 
that breathe so much history,” 
she said.
Two dresses from the past 
also will be discussed. One 
belonged to Henrietta Hess 
Butzel, and the other was worn 
by Mrs. Simon Heavenrich. 
Both are from the late 19th 
century.
Among the pieces being 
sought are books, toys, 
instruments, tools and 
tableware.
“We are especially interested 
in the years before 1920,” 
Cangany said.
Barbara Cohn, JHSM vice 
president and exhibit chair, 
is very excited about the 

OUR COMMUNITY

Jewish Detroit 
Heirloom Roadshow
Bring your own family holdings to showcase 
and have evaluated.

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

TOP, L TO R: Items that will 
be shared at the Dec. 4 event: 
Korostyshever Aid Society 
banner, 1939 B Siegel doll, 
and Issacher window from 
Beth Tephilath Moses in Mount 
Clemens.

