WEST BLOOMFIELD — Temple Israel, among the largest in the country, has received an endowment in excess of $10 million from Sarah and Harold Gottlieb of Birmingham to establish The Stephen Gottlieb Cantorial Chair in memory of the temple members’ late son Stephen, an avid music lover who passed away in 2006.
In addition, the endowment will support and enhance the music program at Temple Israel and fund an annual concert called the Stephen Gottlieb Tribute Concert. This year’s event will be July 19 at Temple Israel.
“Our gift and the creation of this annual concert are in honor of our son Stephen, who loved music and was passionate about making it accessible to children and young adults,” said Harold Gottlieb. “It is our hope that this event will attract both young and old, be a catalyst for increased music education and provide an enhanced commitment to Judaism and Jewish music in southeast Michigan.”
Stephen Gottlieb was a musician who taught himself how to play the piano, guitar, flute, drums, and banjo. He also taught others, often teaching individuals just one song for a special occasion.
The Gottliebs previously established the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit’s Stephen Gottlieb Music Festival and Festival of Arts. There, they received support from their good friends, Bill and Audrey Farber, who created their own endowment at Temple Israel in 2014 for early childhood education programs.