Morton Plotnick
Interviewed by Michael Berke
September 10, 2015
Max M. Fisher Federation Building, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Morton Plotnick
Video 01:00:17
Morton Plotnick
Audio 01:00:17
Abstract
In this interview, Morton Plotnick speaks about his parents’ immigration from Poland and Russia to Israel, where he was born, and then to Detroit. He talks about their decision to move from Israel to Detroit when he was just a year old, and how Israel is always a part of his life.
From here, Plotnick talks about his experiences growing up in Detroit; going to the Jewish Community Center and being a part of BBYO. He mentions attending college, becoming a teacher, and eventually getting a job with the Jewish Community Center.
Plotnick goes into a little more detail about his family life while growing up, some anti-Semitism he experienced in both high school and college, as well as some of the Jewish organizations he became a part of at the time. Next, he talks about being a delegate in the first World Jewish Youth Congress in Israel.
After this, Plotnick talks about teaching in Oak Park and what led him to work for the Jewish Community Center. He talks at length about the different programs, trips to Israel, and projects he worked on over the years with the Center. He speaks briefly about the future of the Center. The interview ends with Plotnick speaking about his retirement, his children and grandchildren.
History of Narrator
Dr. Morton Plotnick began his association with the Jewish Community Center as a part-time employee at age 14. He later became the JCC’s full-time director of Educational Services and Cultural Arts in 1965 and subsequently served as program director and assistant director. He succeeded Irwin Shaw as executive director in 1976 and became executive vice-president and director of development in 1996. Although retired, Dr. Plotnick retains his association with the JCC as a fundraising consultant.
Under his leadership as executive director for nearly 20 years, Dr. Plotnick spearheaded many special projects, including the Janice Charach Gallery and the Edward and Shirley Rosenberg Recreation Complex. In cooperation with the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, he helped JCC realize its most successful Capital Campaign in the agency’s history. As a founding father of the Jewish Community Centers North American Maccabi Youth Games, Dr. Plotnick was instrumental in catapulting the Games into international practice.
Transcript
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Important Names
Credit as: Leonard N. Simons Jewish Community Archives. Morton Plotnick Oral History Interview, September 10, 2015.