Teen Powerhouse

Shari Katz will head international ffnai ffrith Girls.

Photo by Dan iel Lipp itt

And those journals may be in high
demand in the future should she ever
get her dream job: spokesperson for
the president of the United States. But

regardless of where her career takes
her, Katz is confident Jewish involve-
ment will always be a part of her life.

Under 20

Annie Lefkowitz prepares for a communal career.

JULIE WIENER

Staff Writer

Her voice is a little uncertain at
times, her face definitely the youngest
in the room, and occasionally she
lapses into adolescent slang.
But 17-year-old Annie Lefkowitz
holds her own in business meetings
with Jewish communal staff and lay
leaders.
For a year, Lefkowitz has been a
regular fixture at the Agency for
Jewish Education, providing teen
insights, enthusiasm and hard work.
Last year, she worked on teen mis-
sion follow-up programs and a
newsletter for teens like herself who
had traveled to Israel on the 1996
mission.
This summer, she helped plan an
educational curriculum preparing
teens for the 1998 mission and —
with fellow teen Lauren Whitehead
— created a mission guidebook.
Lefkowitz is a paid employee at the
AJE and Director Howard Gelberd
says the agency is definitely getting its
money's worth.
"It's one thing to serve our kids,
but it brings another dimension to lis-
ten to them," said Gelberd. "We want
to know what's on their minds ... so
we can deal with how to educate
them better."
A senior at Andover High School,
Lefkowitz loves working at the AJE.
"It's just like a job but cooler," she
said, adding that she enjoys learning
the ins and outs of Jewish organiza-
tional life, politics and all.
"The most challenging aspect of
my work was learning about politics
and adjusting to the formality of the
process," she said. "You can't just pro-

pose an idea. You have to write up
proposals and develop budgets."
Despite the adjustment, Lefkowitz
managed to craft a proposal and pre-
sentation for the Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit, garnering a
$2,500 grant to fund pre-mission
education.
Lefkowitz hopes to continue work-
ing in the community by pursuing a
career in Jewish education, possibly as

Photo by Dan iel Lipp itt

help, she also wants them to feel
empowered to tailor BBG to their
Staff Writer
own interests and concerns.
Her election campaign motto was,
his summer, Shari Katz was
"We Do Not Belong To BBG; BBG
a normal high school grad
Belongs To Us," and she's an advocate
preparing for freshman year
for "Mind, Body, Attitude," a new
at the University of
BBG program that encourages girls to
Michigan.
get involved in sports while educating
Her roommate and dorm had been
them about issues like body image and
assigned. She had purchased a laptop
rape.
computer for writing papers. And she
"There are a lot of BBG traditions,
was preparing to say goodbye to her
but we also need to represent ourselves
parents.
as girls in the '90s," she said.
But now, instead of packing up all
Ironically, Katz only joined BBG
her stuff and heading for Ann Arbor,
because her parents made her give it a
Katz will be jetting off around the
try during her freshman year of high
world on a series of business trips
school at Harrison (she graduated
while still enjoying the laundry ser-
from North Farmington).
vices of her parents' home in
Arnie Weiner,
Farmington Hills.
Michigan director of
The laptop will still
B'nai B'rith Youth
come in handy — only
Organizations, is glad
instead of using it for
she
got hooked.
homework, Katz will
"Shari's
great," said
make it her traveling
Weiner. "She's very
office, enabling her to
down to earth with a
plan programs and cor-
lot of self-confidence.
respond with girls all
She's filled with ideas
over the world.
and brimming with
In a last-minute deci-
enthusiasm."
sion, Katz opted to run
But as work starts full
for B'nai B'rith Girls'
Shari Katz: A regular girl.
swing and her friends
(BBG) international
plunge into college life,
president. And on Aug.
does Katz have any apprehensions
18, delegates of the youth group voted
about the challenges ahead or any
her in, making her the first Michigan
regrets about her decision to defer col-
girl to hold the position since Linda
lege?
Rubin held it in 1964-65.
Not yet, she says, emphasizing that
Although not paid, the job is a full-
she will gain experiences not available
time, one-year position, with an
on a college campus and will be more
$18,000 travel allowance. The long
mature when she starts school next
list of duties includes giving speeches,
year. But she acknowledges that with
planning programs, attending conven-
all the travel her job is going to be
tions and serving as a resource person
tough.
for BBG girls everywhere.
"Past presidents have said that in
A veteran BBG activist, Katz has
some ways this is the most lonely posi-
held offices at the chapter, regional
tion," she said. "It's ironic because
and national level. But she wants BBG
you're always surrounded by girls, but
members to see her as a regular girl,
no one else is going through exactly
not a figurehead.
what you're going through."
"I want to show people that I'm
To unwind from all the traveling
real, not just an international presi-
and public speaking, Katz hopes to
dent," she said. "I'm Shari, and I'm
spend whatever free time she has
not at a higher level."
working out, hanging out with friends
Just as Katz wants members to
and writing in her journals.
know she is accessible and there to

JULIE WIENER

Annie Lefkowitz: Designing and imple-
menting curricula.

a rabbi or cantor. A member of the
Jills, Andover's competitive girls'
choir, she certainly has the musical
skills for chazzanut.
But before any career decisions
have to be made comes college and
before that, Young Judaea's year course
in Israel, assuming she's accepted.

9/19
1997

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