# 3 – Memories of the Sephardic Community of Greater Detroit

From the 1950’s to the 1970’s the most well attended Sephardic Community events after the High Holiday services were the Annual Picnics. Picnics were held at such locations as Kensington Park, Oak Park Park, and Stoney Creek Park and were always held on a Sunday in late July or August.

At 6:30 am, Louie and Mary Papo, Mario Sevy, Gilbert Senor, Joseph David, and Salvatore Katan, arrived to set up. Louie and Mary made breakfast for early arrivals. They made scrambled eggs, hard boiled eggs, coffee, and served bagels. They had a large metal water kettle kept hot all day on the grill. Large buckets were filled with dry ice, for cold drinks. Picnic tables were moved to create a large circle, so that everyone could socialize.

Traditional picnic games were Softball, Potato Sack Race, Kick the Shoe, and an Egg Toss. In the late afternoon, the men participated in the Watermelon Eating Contest, with hands behind their back. It was hilarious to watch. Jack Gormezano, the Sevy boys (mainly David) and Marcel Behar, were champion participants. Members also swam, played catch or cards, and Sephardic tunes filled the air.

Marcel Behar and others brought their ornate Backgammon sets. There were several boards on tables for competition. The clicking of the dice on the wooden boards were familiar Middle Eastern sounds.
My mother, Judith Chicorel and I, played in the Egg Toss. There were two lines and a partner. When it was your turn, you carefully threw a raw egg to your partner (underhand). Then, you took one step back. Eventually, distance made it hard to catch the egg. It either broke in your hand, on your clothes, or on the ground. It was funny when someone admitted cheating by using a hard boiled egg.

In the “Kick the Shoe Contest”, a few ladies knew how to kick their shoe extremely far, but most people, just a few feet. The person with the furthest kicked shoe, won the contest. This was always hilarious to watch.

Our Greek ladies were expert bakers of homemade ethnic foods. Flora Sevy, Theresa Senor, Mary David, and others walked around with trays to share. They made Buisque Chicos, Borekas de Queso and Spinaca, Baclava, Borekitas de Mues, (nut borekas dipped in honey). The Persian ladies made gorgeous Persian Rice with fried sliced potatoes at the bottom and topped with a yellow spice. Our Moroccan members made Cous Cous.

Some Presidents who oversaw these picnics were: Jacob Chicorel, Jerry Varon, Abe Abraham, Albert Chicorel, Louis Papo, Rabbi Betzalel, Eta Moss, Abe Shamie, Dr. Ibrahim Fayazi, Dr. Sion Soleymani, and my brother David Chicorel. Each president did a fine job. Shirley Gormezano was very active and an excellent organizer and Mary Papo was ever-present to coordinate activities.

Our Turkish, Greek, Egyptian, North African, and later Persian members loved to dance. For music, either Sam Moss played the accordion, or someone brought a Boom Box with batteries to play Greek Music. There were no shy children in the children’s Dance and Hula Hoop Contests. I have a photo of little eight year old Mary Gruber in a red swimming suit who was a contest winner.

Theresa and Gilbert Senor, Flora and Mario Sevy, Salvatore and Livia Katan, Bella and Sam Camhi, Bella and Jacob Katan, Violet Canalis, Mary and Ishoula Ishakis, Sam and Eta Moss, Mary and Joseph David, Hermine and Anton Gruber, Regina Takouni, her husband and father, Marco and Lily Takouni, Jack and Shirley Gormezano, the Salamas, Josephsons, Cairys, Serours, Castros, Darmons, Levadis, Soleymanis, Koukhabs, Moghadams, Kamzadehs, Fayazis, Alyeshmernis, the Banooni brothers, Sibracks, Behars, Chicorels, Shamies, Varons, Papos, Cicurels their familes and more attended our Annual Picnics. The highlight of our summer picnics year after year was Salvatore Katan, who balanced a wine bottle on his head while Greek dancing. The memory of the smile on his face and arms extended, is with me today.

For me, the highlight of our summer picnics year after year was Salvatore Katan, who balanced a wine bottle on his head while performing Greek dances. The memory of the smile on his face and arms extended, is with me until this day.

In the early 1990’s during my presidency, we had a revival picnic at Kensington. Kadima and Ari Levadi organized the games. I laugh today, as I remember Ari (of blessed memory) at the picnic, entertaining everyone by speaking with an Indian dialect. His sister, Kadima won first prize at the watermelon eating contest….she even beat all of our men!!

My four children have fond memories of our Sephardic Community picnics. Perhaps you can remember attending them as children, or create new memories at the next one this summer.

Shirley Sarah Behar
3365 Punta Alta (2G)
Laguna Woods, Ca. 92637
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(949) 583-1821