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PHOTOS BY B ILL G EM MELL

JILL DAVIDSON SKLAR STAFF WRITER

Eight senior citizens are recognized
for their lifetime contributions
to the Jewish community.

14

rom the back of the president of the Detroit Zionist
, crowded room at Federation and a liberator of the
Anna and Meyer Nordhausen concentration camp;
Prentis Federation and Josephine Weiner, past pres-
Apartments, Esther ident of numerous women's
LaMed's family groups including the Women's Di-
beamed as she was vision of the Jewish Federation of
presented with an "8 Metropolitan Detroit and the Na-
over 80" award Sunday tional Council of Jewish Women.
The plaques given to each win-
afternoon.
Mrs. LaMed, 91, was ner were adorned with a dreidel,
one of eight people over and the winners also received a
the age of 80 who were commendation from the Oak Park
recognized for their life- City Council and a special tribute
long contributions to the from the Michigan Legislature
Jewish community. The awardees recognizing each for his accom-
were given plaques after a brunch plishments.
"Each one of these people has
and reception were held in their
truly made a difference to our
honor.
"We are very proud to have community, to our state and, for
Bubbe Esther as an award win- some of them, to our world," state
ner," said Fran Gross Linden,
Mrs. LaMed's granddaughter-
in-law. "She has been such a
big influence locally, nation-
ally and internationally in
Jewish causes."
"I am happy for her," said
Molly Linden, Ms. LaMed's
great-granddaughter. "She is
a really good role model."
The honorees come from a
group of 50 nominees. Chosen
for their devotion to the ideals
set forth in the Chanukah sto-
ry, the Winners possess the
qualities of strong Jewish
identity, courage, commit-
ment and dedication to a
cause.
Aside from M. LaMed,
other winners include Lillian
Colman, a 14-year president
of the Northeast Chapter of
MT; Rabbi Eric Greenbaum, a Rep. David Gubow told the crowd
local tutor to children who have assembled for the award ceremo-
learning disabilities or are emo- ny.
The awardees also will be in-
tionally impaired; Milton Marwil,
past president of Hebrew Free ducted into the Senior Adult Hall
Loan Association, Zionist Orga- of Fame, a JFA program that won
nization of America, Detroit Dis- the 1995 Outstanding Jewish Pro-
trict- and Congregation B'nai gramming Award from the North
Moshe; Anna Mickel, an active American Association of Jewish
volunteer in many Jewish caus- Homes and Housing for the Ag-
es; Emma Lazaroff Schaver, a ing. Last yea's winners also were
community activist who once inducted into the hall, which is lo-
served in the displaced persons cated in the Prentis Apartments
camps in Europe after World War lobby.
The event was co-sponsored by
II; Dr. Milton Steinhardt, past

Above:
Fran Gross Linden, Avie
Linden, Esther LaMed and
Molly Linden pose after the
ceremony.

Right:
Josephine Weiner shows off
her award with Al Muskovit.

Left:
Rick Rosenhaus gives an
award to Rabbi Eric
Greenbaum.

Jewish Federation Apart-
ments, The Jewish News
and Morrison Restaurants
Inc. and was held in coop-
eration with Blue Cross/Blue
Shield of Michigan.
Esther LaMed, a lifelong Zion-
ist who is dedicated to advancing
the study of Yiddish, was pleased
with the award. She said she finds
meaning in volunteering and
plans to continue her work. For
starters, she plans to donate mon-
ey to the Jewish Community Cen-
ter to fund a program or a part of
the library.
"I have to do this in a hurry,"
she said. "I haven't got that much
time left." ❑

