The Scene
Federation Grants
Young Leaders Awards
Back, Adam Ostroff Oakland Community College; Daniel Kuchersky, EMU; Israeli
Yoav Raban; Justin Palett, Mike Barnett, Josh Sklar, WMU; Jarred Roth, EMU
Front, Michael Lucka, EMU; Max Sulla, EMU, at Haas Promenade in Jerusalem.
as possible," she said.
In early September, the Israelis we
traveled with will come to Detroit to
even up the exchange.
Religion, spirituality and what it is to
be Jewish constantly floated through
our minds. The vast amount we learned
gave us a more enlightened view.
"The trip made me feel more com-
fortable being Jewish. I realized that
we belong to a culture, not strictly to a
religion," said Tanya Sharnopolskiy,
20; of EMU.
In addition, those more interested in
the religious aspects of Judaism mar-
veled at Jerusalem, Safed and other
places of religious significance. Jason
Chess, 22, of University of Michigan-
Dearborn, said, "My great-great-
grandparents used to dream of seeing
the Western Wall, but knew they
would never make it to Israel. This
made it even more special for me
when I first saw it."
Different View
The reaction upon our return was one
of the only difficult things about the
trip. Media coverage painted an image
that was realistic, but singular. All the
questions we received about the dan-
gers and safety were challenging to
handle because Israel is about so much
more than what CNN (Cable News
Network) has to show. The lushness of
the Banais, Mt. Arbel's grandeur, the
scope of Masada, the glory of
Jerusalem's golden walls, Tel Aviv's
bustling activity, and the warmth of
the people cannot be truly represented
by the nightly news.
The Birthright adventure opened
our eyes and hearts.
"I never realized Israel was created
for all Jews and that this is my home,"
said Jason.
"Actually being in the exact place
where my ancestors carri.e from, feeling
the earth where they once stood,
s'-
Back, Wendy Bednarsh, EMU; Polina
Zionts, EMU Front, Israeli Hila
Ohana, Tanya Sharnopolskiy, EMU
Lena Vikdorchik, WSU; Israeli Amy
Macwan in Tzippori.
cemented in my mind that Israel really
is my homeland," added Chad. The
trip provided a look, not into some-
where foreign, but a place surprisingly
familiar and comfortable.
For more trip coverage, please see
vv-ww.detroitjewishnews.corn
hree young leaders are being
the original management team at
recognized with awards from
Staples Inc. Returning home after 10
the Jewish Federation of
years in Boston, Groskind joined
Metropolitan Detroit for
-American Benefits Group and now is a
their involvement and leadership in
partner in Kanter Associates, which
the Jewish community.
handles insurance and financial and
Honorees for 2001 and their awards
estate planning.
are: Eugene Sherizen, Frank A.
Groskind lives with her husband,
Wetsman Leadership Award; Elizabeth
Eric, and their two children in
Kanter Groskind,
Sylvia Simon
Greenberg Award;
and Scott
Kaufman, Mark
Family Award.
Wetsman
Award winner
Eugene Sherizen
has served as asso-
ciate chair of
Eugene Sherizen
Elizabeth Kanter
Scott Kaufman
Federation's
Groskind
Jewish Education
Division. He was
a participant in the 2001 Michigan
Huntington Woods. The family is
Unity Mission to Israel and the 1998
affiliated with Temple Israel.
Future Leaders of Klal Yisroel Mission
Sherizen and Groskind will be hon-
to Prague and Israel. He served as a
ored at the Jewish Federation/United
member of the Young Leadership
Jewish Foundation annual meeting Sept.
Cabinet and took part in a UJA Young
25 at Congregation Shaarey Zedek.
Leadership Cabinet Mission to Cuba
Scott Kaufman, winner of this year's
in 1997.
Mark Family Award, is president-elect
Additionally, Sherizen chaired the
of Federation's Young Adult Division.
capital campaign for the new building
He will serve in 2002-03. Since
of Yeshivat Akiva and continues his
becoming actively involved with YAD
involvement with the school. He is a
several years ago, Kaufman has recruit-
member of the Yad Ezra board and has
ed volunteers and expanded the scope
held advisory roles for Aish HaTorah,
of YAD's annual summer mission to
Bar-Ilan University, Jewish Association
Israel. He also is a new board member
for Residential Care, Machon L'Torah
of the Jewish Community Center of
and National Council of Jewish
Metropolitan Detroit.
Women Meals on Wheels program.
Kaufman co-chairs YAD's Ben-
The owner of Lighting Supply
Gurion Society and helps in the
Company in Ferndale, Sherizen lives
Millennium Campaign Jewish Life
with his wife, Julie, and their two chil-
Funds geared towards young adults. He
dren in Huntington Woods. The family is a United Jewish Communities Young
belongs to Young Israel of Oak Park.
Leadership Cabinet member and was a
Elizabeth Kanter Groskind, this
national co-chair for the 2001 UJC
year's Greenberg Award winner,
young adult mission to Israel.
received Federation's Mark Family
A graduate, of the University of
Award in 1995.
Michigan, Kaufman is a real estate
She served as president of
developer and a partner in Joe Dumars
Federation's Young Adult Division and
Fieldhouse in Shelby Township.
has been a member of the Federation
Kaufman lives in Birmingham.
Financial Operations Committee and
The Mark Family Award provides a
the United Jewish Foundation board.
grant that will enable Kaufman to
She is involved with Jewish Vocational
attend the United Jewish Communities
Service and founded Volunteer
Young Leadership Conference in
Impact.
Washington, D.C. He received his
A Brandeis University graduate
award June 14 at the Federation Young
active in business, Groskind was on
Adult Division annual meeting. ❑
7/6
2001