Rosalind and Larry Nemer

Ohr Somayach Detroit
presents Etz Chaim Award
to a most devoted and modest couple.

SAM ENGLAND
StaffWriter

L

arry and Rosalind Nemer
will take the spotlight
apprehensively, even reluc-
tantly, to accept an honor
from Ohr Somayach Detroit on Nov.
18. Two charter members of the edu-
cational organization, the Nemers
will accept the Etz Chaim (Tree of
Life) Award for their commitment to
Jewish learning.
"Most of the rime, we go to a lot of

charitable events, and we're the people
sitting at the table in the back," Larry
Nemer said. "This is a very unique
thing, where we'll be in the front, and
it's part of growing up in the commu-
nity to assume more of a leadership
role. This is the first time we've been
honored by a program like this, so it's
unique.
"It makes you a little bit nervous."
The sentiments of others in Ohr
Somayach, however, are resounding.
"We are thrilled to have Larry and
Roz Nemer as recipients of the Etz

Chaim Award for 1999," said Larry
Garon, a long-time friend and fellow
Ohr Somayach supporter. "We're
thrilled, because they have always been
very involved in the Ohr Somayach
programming, the learning program-
ming. It has always been very impor-
tant in their lives that Torah education
be taught to their families."
It is this involvement — which, for
the Nemers, includes fund-raising,
helping provide the organization's
office space, sending their two young
sons to Hillel Day School of
Metropolitan Detroit and regularly
attending lunch-and-learn sessions
with guest speakers — that distin-
guishes them as integral Ohr
Somayach members, said Rabbi Eric
Krohner.
Rabbi Krohner brought Ohr
Somayach, an international organiza-
tion promoting adult Jewish educa-
tion, to the Detroit area seven years
ago. He approached Larry Nemer at
its inception. Since then, the rabbi
said, the Nemers' involvement has
been remarkable and consistent.
"There are demands on your time
and people choose to use their time in
different ways. And they've always
chosen to use their time by spending
it in Torah lectures," Rabbi Krohner
said. "That's admirable in and of itself,
and they've grown tremendously from
the programs. I think they've found it
opened their eyes to appreciate
Judaism much more and how it can
impact positively on their family."
Nemer, a 45-year-old Bloomfield
Hills real estate developer, admitted
that he was not initially sure the orga-
nization would appeal to him. He
recalled being unsure whether Ohr
Somayach, affiliated with the
Orthodox movement, would jibe with
his own religious outlook. "Going to
the first event, I didn't know if I
would feel comfortable, not being
Orthodox. But what is the most inter-

,

esting thing about the programs for
me is, you go there and really, it cuts
across all the different levels of com-
mitment, and can be relevant and
meaningful to people with different
levels of commitment."
It did not take long for his commit-
ment to deepen, Nemer continued, as
he became acquainted with Ohr
Somayach's educational offerings.
Participating has meant a lot to him
and others he knows in the business
world. "It's hard to break away and go
to these programs, and sometimes,
you have to force yourself to go," he
said.
"But each time, you feel that you've
done something that probably was
more meaningful than the time you
spent" during the rest of the day.
Nemer, the reluctant honoree,
ascribes an importance to the award
ceremony, which is why he and his
wife are pleased to take part. "It's hard
to think of myself as deserving an
award or think of our family as
deserving this award," he said. "The
main reason we're doing it is, one of
the ways of an organization getting
together and promoting itself, is to
have events like this."
Ohr Somayach "asked us to help
and it's hard to say no," he added.
"They've given me something from
their events and this was a chance for
us to help — to help them have this
event is a chance for us to help the
organization." n

Rosalind and Larry Nemer will
receive Ohr Somayach's Etz
Chaim Award 7 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 18, at the
Atrium of 300 Galleria
Officentre, Southfield. For
information, call (248) 352-
4870.

61