28 | DECEMBER 14 • 2023 
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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.