The Jews of Windsor, 1790-1990. Jonathan V. Plaut

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      In 1917, David Meretsky, Jacob’s son, announced his candidacy for City Council.⁶³ His aggressive campaign, mounted just a few days before the election, apparently paid off, since he not only won a seat, but was immediately appointed to the coveted light, parks, and street opening, market and property, and patriotic committees.⁶⁴ However, unlike his uncle Aaron’s term in office, his was quite uneventful. His record showed that, apart from sponsoring one petition for a motor bus line,⁶⁵ he backed only one other motion proposed by Samuel K. Baum: to hold a tag day to aid Jewish war sufferers.⁶⁶

      David Meretsky ran for re-election in 1918 and again a year later, but was defeated both times.⁶⁷ However, his cousin Simon, eldest son of Aaron and Katherine Meretsky,⁶⁸ gained a seat on Council in 1918, taking fourth place in the final tally.⁶⁹ As an alderman he was anything but dull. In fact, he caused a great deal of controversy during the years he was in office. Although illiterate, this very enterprising young man, who had shined shoes and worked as a peddler to earn his own money, became a committee representative for the Third Ward as early as April 1910. He also was instrumental in encouraging the city to contribute $20,000 toward the purchase of land and equipment to create a new factory district in the city.

      Following his election, Simon Meretsky not only served on various committees, but actively supported such worthwhile projects as providing additional funding to the Children’s Aid Society,⁷⁰ as well as the improvement of the local transportation system. Having failed to get Council’s approval, especially for the latter, he did not hesitate to express his frustration in the following passionate letter:

      Editor the Record:

      I, Simon Meretsky, wish to state to the ratepayers of Windsor, in return or what they have done for me in the last election, that my whole object in running for alderman was because my whole heart is interested in this city’s welfare and the betterment of our citizens. My main aim was to get better street car service in this City. Citizens, you have voted for municipal ownership! The next largest vote was to do something immediately to get better car service at once. I want to tell you that a movement has been going on and we are trying to do something for you immediately, which is what you have asked me to do. An offer has been made to the Council by the Sandwich, Windsor and Amherstburg City Engineer’s office for the benefit and further development of our City’s interests, and I, for one, thought we were getting a square deal. . . .

      Three months have elapsed since you elected your alderman and as yet nothing has been done. I will tell you why. Most of the aldermen have their own automobiles and do not need to use the street cars and they do not care how long it takes you to get any place or whether you have one car line or none. It would be satisfactory to some of them as long as their own comforts are looked after. I want to tell you that I have been trying to accomplish something for you. But no, someone in the present council is trying to feather a nest for himself and may come out for Mayor next year, and the only way to get elected is by knocking the Sandwich, Windsor and Amherstburg Railway. I, for one, think it is a shame for anyone to try to prevent the double tracking of London, Ouellette and Wyandotte Streets as the citizens want it, and it is offered to you. An offer was made to you two years ago to lay a track on Erie Street. The people in the east end of the City could have reaped the benefit of having a car line on that Street. Today we have paid approximately between $40,000 and $50,000 for the paving of that Street. “Well, we thought that Simon Meretsky would do something for us” — I have tried, and I want you to know that I have tried to do my best to protect the citizens’ interest.

      [signed] Ald. Simon Meretsky,

      Windsor, April 5, 1918⁷¹

      Simon’s letters caused a great deal of consternation within Council ranks. Since its members viewed his actions as disloyal and contrary to established rules, they voted to reprimand him. Coming to his own defense, he addressed another letter to the editor of the Windsor Record. Published on April 16, 1918, it stated in part: “I have been elected by the people of Windsor to work for the interests of the people, and I can truthfully say that there have been plans lying in the City Engineer’s office re better street car service for the citizens of Windsor for the last 3 1/2 months. . . .”⁷²

      Photo courtesy of the Windsor Star

      Simon Meretsky.

      By then the adverse publicity, spread by the councilmen who continued to criticize Simon Meretsky’s behaviour, had reached the taxpayers. Now wary of his motives, especially, in view of his substantial property holdings, they failed to re-elect him in 1919.⁷³

       The Ford City Community

      Following the Ford Motor Company’s introduction of a guaranteed minimum daily wage of $5, a large number of people settled in a new community that became known as Ford City. Jews also had moved there, but since it was too far for them to reach Windsor on foot to attend services at Shaarey Zedek and because they were forbidden to drive on the Sabbath, they began to think about forming their own congregation.⁷⁴ Believing that Ford City’s burgeoning car industry would ultimately make it the centre of economic activity, they were convinced their Mercer Street brethren would eventually join them there.⁷⁵

      The moving spirit behind the new synagogue project was Barney Hurwitz. To provide a suitable place for religious services and a Hebrew school, he even vacated his living quarters behind his men’s wear store on Drouillard Road, moving his family to a flat on the upper floor of the same building. In 1917, he became the congregation’s first president; Sam Samberg was elected treasurer, and Harry Shore its secretary.⁷⁶ Religious classes, attended by the children of the approximately ten Jewish families, were first taught by Mr. Richardson and later by Mr. Perlmuter, with other teachers from Windsor occasionally helping out.⁷⁷ The school outgrew its existing quarters after about a year or so. Barney Hurwitz, an influential member of the local school board and a substantial taxpayer, was able to obtain a larger room at the Belle Isle Avenue School, which later became the Riverview Hospital on Riverside Drive until it was demolished in the late 1990s).⁷⁸

      The congregation, although still without a rabbi, continued to hold religious services in the flat behind Hurwitz’s store. However, on March 23, 1925, Abraham Adler paid $900 to Nicholas Palahnuk for a parcel of land on Hickory and Charles streets, which he subsequently sold to Barney Hurwitz.⁷⁹ Abraham Mechanic was the builder of the new synagogue,⁸⁰ a brick structure estimated to cost $12,000⁸¹ that was finally completed for $18,000. In August 1925, the cornerstone was laid for the house of worship that was to bear the name Tifereth Israel, the same as the one that had operated on Mercer Street. Among those attending the ceremony were Judge Harry B. Golden, Rabbi Leo Franklin of Detroit, and a Mr. A. E. Brown.⁸² Mrs. Aaron Meretsky donated a Torah⁸³ and Barney Hurwitz was re-elected president.⁸⁴ He, Abram and Fanny Adler, Samuel Samberg, and Sam Katzman became the trustees of the Ford City Hebrew School.⁸⁵ Following an ownership transfer to themselves, this property was registered as a religious institution and/or school on March 31, 1926.⁸⁶

      Although written records regarding Tifereth Israel’s activities are non-existent, some verbal accounts have provided useful information about the many weddings and bar mitzvah ceremonies that were celebrated there, as well as about the religious services that were by then held on a regular basis, led at times by rabbis from Detroit. Other officiants were Esser Kamenkowitz⁸⁷ and I. Perlmuter⁸⁸ who, together with Hyman Mosner, taught at the school, as well.⁸⁹

      In 1927, Abraham Levine became the congregation’s president; Mr. Cantor, СКАЧАТЬ