28 | DECEMBER 14 • 2023
J
N
I
n a poignant ceremony last
month, Temple Beth El
celebrated the centennial
anniversary of the Readers
Club, founded during the
1921/1922 school year by the
visionary Irwin Hamburger.
As a Sunday School teacher,
Hamburger instilled a deep
belief in the transformative
power of written words,
fostering a lifelong passion
for reading and emphasizing
engagement with Jewish
literature.
Hamburger’s influence
extended beyond literature;
he was not only a dedicated
teacher but also a distinguished
jeweler and community builder.
For more than half a century,
Hamburger owned a fine
jewelry store in Detroit’s iconic
Metropolitan Building, crafting
exquisite pieces that added a
unique sparkle to the city.
The event honored Irwin
Hamburger’s memory and
recognized his contributions to
Temple Beth El and the broader
Detroit community. MernaLyn,
Irwin’s daughter, and Billy
Wiseman, his grandson,
symbolize the temple’s fourth
and fifth generations of devoted
members, highlighting deep
familial ties and commitment.
Coinciding with Irwin
Hamburger’s yahrtzeit, the
dedication event underscored
not only the enduring power
of literature, but also the
community-building ethos
infused by Hamburger into
Temple Beth El.
MernaLyn and Billy’s active
participation symbolizes the
continuity of the Readers Club’s
influence through generations.
Moreover, MernaLyn and Billy
played a crucial role in fostering
Hamburger’s legacy by reading
to religious school students,
adding another layer of
significance to the celebration.
Recognizing Hamburger’s
profound impact, Rabbi Mark
Miller dedicated a plaque
during the event, expressing
words of blessing and gratitude.
The plaque, located in the
temple’s library, coupled
with the temple’s ongoing
commitment to the Readers
Club, stands as a symbol of
gratitude for a man whose
legacy continues to inspire
a love for literature, deepen
connections to Jewish culture
and illuminate the Detroit
community.
If you would like to honor Irwin’s legacy,
donations can be made to the Prentis
Memorial Library Fund at www.tbeonline.
org. Melanie Weber is director of
communications at Temple Beth El.
100 Years of
Great Books
Temple Beth El celebrates a
century of the Readers Club and
pays tribute to Irwin Hamburger’s
multifaceted legacy.
MELANIE WEBER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
OUR COMMUNITY
LEFT: Billy and MernaLyn
Wiseman reading to
religious school students
at Temple Beth El.
BELOW: Billy and
MernaLyn Wiseman and
Rabbi Mark Miller by the
plaque that bears Irwin
Hamburger’s name.