AROUND TOWN
Two young leaders are lauded for building the community.
Julie Hoskow of Huntington Woods, Nancy Kleinfeldt of
Huntington Woods and Rachel Wolf of Birmingham
Rabbis Jonathan and Lauren Berkun of Southfield with Lisa Feldberg
Todd Mendel of Birmingham with Amy and Jeff Schlussel
(second from left) and Milton Feldberg (right), both of Birmingham
and Andrew Doctoroff, all of Huntington Woods
Eli Saulson of Franklin and Tony Shapero of Bloomfield Hills
1.61,11". 11l.
Hosts Nate and Nancy Kleinfeldt of
Sheri and Stephanie Schiff
Kari Alterman of Franklin and Lilly
Gene Goodman and Sherri Lavine
Huntington Woods
of Birmingham
Jacobson of Bloomfield Hills
of Bloomfield Hills
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANGIE BAAN
hinking outside the box
with the goal of attracting
and keeping Jewish young
adults in the fold was the
focus of the American
Jewish Committee's annual young leader-
ship party. More than 80 people gathered
at the Huntington Woods home of Nancy
and Nate Kleinfeldt for a buffet dinner,
discussion and tribute to two community
stars.
Amy and Jeff Schlussel of Huntington
Woods were honored for their tireless
efforts to strengthen and sustain the com-
munity. The couple are raising two young
children — Jacob, 4, and Lindsay, 2 — but
they still find time to serve on the board
of governors for the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit and hold leadership
positions with several Jewish organizations.
"They embody the very best of
the Jewish community" said Andrew
Doctoroff of Huntington Woods, presi-
dent of the Metro Detroit chapter of the
AJC. "They are selfless and learned about
what it is to be a Jew. We thought it was
perfect for us to honor them."
Doctoroff said the Schlussels are by
far the youngest people ever to receive
the AJC's Human Relations Young
Kleinfeldt. "They are a dynamic duo and
Leadership Award. Jeff, 37, and Amy, 34,
a magnetic duo," added Rabbi Lauren
have achieved an impressive number of
Berkun of Southfield, who made a special
other accomplishments as young lead-
tribute to the Schlussels along with her
ers. Amy, a former president
husband, Rabbi Jonathan Berkun.
of Federation's Young Adult
"Your commitment to tzedakaI.7
Division, is a vice president for
[charitable acts of righteousness]
Federation's Women's Campaign
and gemilut chasadim [acts of lov-
and Education Department. She
ing kindness] has been one of
serves on various committees
the cornerstones of this young
and is also on the board of Yad
adult Jewish community," Rabbi
Ezra, the Berkley-based kosher
Jonathan Berkun told the couple.
food bank. She works closely
The Schlussels are also com-
ROB IN
with JARC, the Farmington
mitted to encouraging other young
SCHWi kRTZ
Hills-based agency that serves
adults to get involved in the corn-
COLUM NIST
people with developmental dis-
munity and finding ways to attract
abilities, and with Congregation
Jewish 20- and 30-somethings to
Shaarey Zedek of Oakland County. Jeff is
Metro Detroit. It's a dilemma many local
a co-chair of Federation's Rabin Society
organizations are working on.
and serves on the steering committees for
The evening's keynote speaker, Keith
Federation's Alliance for Jewish Education
Kravitzky, associate director of development
and Partnership 2000, which links Detroit
for Hillel in Washington, D.C., shared
Jewry with Israel's Central Galilee. Jeff also
some thoughts about the new generation
serves on the boards of JARC and Jewish
of young Jews who are looking for a place
Home and Aging Services.
to fit in.
Both Jeff and Amy have been honored
"Lots of Jews identify as being Jewish
with young leadership awards in the past.
religiously; a lot more consider themselves
"We admire their commitment; they are
ethnically Jewish or culturally Jewish,"
amazing role models," said hostess Nancy
Kravitzky said. "If we only think of things
in a traditional way — we may not be con-
necting with these young Jews of today."
Added Doctoroff, "For Jews to be able
to maintain their identity, cohesiveness and
strength, people have to begin to address in
very creative ways how to stop this down-
ward trend in terms of numbers."
The Schlussels said they plan to con-
tinue to do their part and they hope others
will join them. "I think if you look at what's
going on in the world today, it's just very
important to set an example and to make
sure that the Jewish community thrives and
continues to stay strong," Amy Schlussel
said. "I think the stronger your connection
is to just being Jewish and to the commu-
nim the stronger your connection is to the
State of Israel and everything that's going
on."
Spotted in the crowd at the AJC
young leadership party, held on Aug. 10,
were: Event co-chairs Kari and Eddie
Alterman and Michele and Eli Saulson,
all of Franklin; Lisa and Milton Feldberg,
Randy Wertheimer and Sheri Wagner,
all of Birmingham; Gayle and Lorne
Gold and Amy and Bryan Gottlieb of
Huntington Woods; and Gene Goodman
of Bloomfield Hills. ❑
JNPLATINUM • SEPTEMBER 2006 •
7