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. D 147 3/10 2005 58 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.