Metro
Guardian Of The Menorah
Ann Arbor physician gains B'nai Irrith philanthropic and service award.
Ann Arbor
r. Owen Z. Perlman — long active with
B'nai B'rith, a supporter of other Jewish
philanthropic causes and a past president
of the Jewish Federation of Washtenaw County
— has earned the B'nai B'rith Great Lakes
Region's highest honor, the "Guardian of the
Menorah" Award, for 2005.
The award honors selfless service to making the
Jewish and secular worlds better places to live.
"I recognized when I was the president of the
junior congregation at Congregation Shaarey
Zedek [in Southfield] that I would have the
responsibility for leading and training and creat-
ing a positive experience for others," Dr. Perlman
said. "Recognizing the limited term that I would
be serving, I realized that one of the most impor-
tant things that I could do was replace myself by
creating more leaders. I have tried to achieve this
with each of my subsequent leadership responsi-
bilities."
Dr. Perlman, a Detroit native and University of
Michigan Medical School graduate, is a physia-
trist specializing in traumatic brain injury, neuro-
logical illness and catastrophic injury. He's the
medical director at Rainbow Rehabilitation
Center.
For six years, Dr. Perlman served on the Young
Leadership Cabinet's executive committee of the
United Jewish Appeal, which later became the
United Jewish Communities, the umbrella for
North America's Jewish federations.
In 1987, he traveled with several cabinet mem-
bers to what was then the Soviet Union to meet
with refuseniks and provide medical care and
Judaic items. "I was forever changed by their ded-
ication, despite repressive conditions, to practice
our faith, learn Hebrew and attempt to make
aliyah," Dr. Perlman said.
He served as regional chair and national co-
chair for the Morasha (Heritage) Young
Leadership Mission to Poland and Israel during
Operation Desert Shield in 1990.
Dr. Perlman's brother Peter, past B'nai B'rith
international fund-raising chair, is co-chairing the
"Guardian of the Menorah" award dinner.
"Owen is a multifaceted individual, from being
a renowned physician in his field, touching the
lives of many, to being an integral family mem-
ber, where no Jewish holiday is without Owen
and his family, to his connection to the Jewish
community where he embraces the true meaning
of tzedekah, "to give to others so that their lives
may be enhanced," Peter said.
Dr. Perlman and his wife, Sheila, an attorney,
live in Ann Arbor. They have three children.
Dr. Perlman's medical service includes chief res-
for continued Jewish identification for future
generations."
Beneficiaries of Dr. Perlman's philanthropy also
include Beth Israel Congregation in Ann Arbor,
Congregation Shaarey Zedek, the Jewish
Community Center of Washtenaw County, the
Hillels at Eastern Michigan, Michigan State and
U-M, the Holocaust Memorial Center in
Farmington Hills, ALYN Hospital in Israel and
the Brain Injury Association of Michigan.
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2005
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ffnai frith
"Recognizing the limited term
that I would be serving, I real-
ized that one of the most impor-
tant things that I could do was
replace myself by creating more
leaders.
—Dr. Owen Z Perlman
ident of the U-M Department of Physical
Medicine and Rehabilitation, director of adult
rehab at the U-M Medical Center, and medical
and program director for all rehab services at the
St. Joseph Mercy Health System in Ann Arbor.
He co-founded Associates in Physical Medicine
and Rehabilitation, P.C. in Ann Arbor.
His Jewish involvement includes participation
in the Detroit Hadracha Leadership program. He
led the UJA President's Mission to Turkey and
Israel in 1992 and the Maimonides Mission for
Healthcare Professionals to Israel in 1996.
"It is important to get people to Israel through
programs such as Birthright Israel, summer expe-
riences or missions," Dr. Perlman said.
He added, "It's helps them to understand our
story. While we will never forget the lessons of
the Holocaust, we must present positive reasons
Dr. Perlman is a member of B'nai B'rith Detroit
Lodge. He headed the B'nai B'rith Foundation's
Great American Tradition Award dinner for five
years, later serving as honorary chair.
Linda Berke, "Guardian of the Menorah award
dinner co-chair and a former regional Foundation
director; was B'nai B'rith Foundation director
from 1990 to 1996.
"I was privileged to work with many dedicated
volunteers, but the one that stands out foremost
in my mind is Dr. Owen Perlman," she said.
"Owen was dinner chairman for our Great
American Traditions Award, and his dedication
resulted in the overwhelming success of the event
and the raising of much-needed funds to support
the B'nai B'rith programs and services." ❑
Dinner Details
The Guardian of the Menorah dinner will be
held on Wednesday, April 13, at the Four
Points Sheraton, near Briarwood Mall, Ann
Arbor. Cocktails begin at 6 p.m.
Journal chair is Dr. Charles Seigerman.
Dinner committee members are Michael
Perlman, Richard Blumenstein, Ron Klein,
Bill LaKritz, Judie Lax, Hanna Lis, Robert
Logeman, Eli Zaret, Stuart Sakwa, Robert
Sklar, Dr. David Steinberg, Richard
Taubman, David Victor, Ralph Woronoff,
Jacki and Myron Milgrom, Pattie and Steven
Tapper and Steve Zorn. Past honorees were
Morrey Direnfeld, Lucille and Harvey
Weisberg, Merton Segal, Ralph Woronoff
and Dr. Corey Rudnick.
For dinner reservations and details, call
B'nai B'rith at (248) 646-3100; ask for
Bobbie.