Special Report

ON THE COVER

To

W atch

Young leaders will strengthen the
Jewish community's foundation.

Periodically, the Jewish News profiles four young people
from our community who are up-and-coming leaders.
They represent all streams of Judaism and various
professions. What they have in common is a desire to give
and a willingness to lead.

Liz
Beresh

Blending Justice With Leadership

Keri Guten Cohen
Story Development Editor

L

iz Beresh says she grew up in a
home where justice and honesty
were highly valued, so it's no sur-
prise she's chosen to be an attorney.
"I fought it for a long time, but it's the
right fit:' said Beresh, who plans to go into
civil litigation. "I like to know the rules of
the game of life."
Now a third-year law student at Wayne
State University in Detroit, Beresh is
immediate past president of the Jewish
Law Students Association (JLSA), an assis-
tant editor of the Wayne Law Review, a
representative on the law school's board of
governors and a mentor to first-year law
students.
Just seeing this list of accomplishments
would embarrass Beresh, 26, a humble yet
effective leader whose positive attitude,
can-do confidence and put-you-at-ease
manner combine to place her at the fore-
front of many endeavors.
Beresh, now living in Wolverine Lake,
grew up in Beverly Hills, the daughter of
Ruth and Cliff Beresh. Her father died last
summer, but his influence lingers.
"My parents always told me to keep my
eye on the doughnut and not the hole:' she

recalled. That included her Judaism, where
her parents set the example with their
own involvement and with maintaining a
home where Judaism was centered around
family.
A lifelong member of Congregation
Shaarey Zedek, Beresh was instrumental
in growing and increasing the vibrancy
of the Oakland County synagogue's USY
chapter. She became president during her
junior year in high school and was elected
president again when she was a senior.
"The experience gave me an under-
standing of what issues I may face in
leadership roles, such as interpersonal
relationships and keeping the leadership
path in a positive direction': she said.
"There is always a need for young
Jewish leaders, and I feel that it is impor-
tant to continuously foster leadership
and involvement. USY also gave me an
introductory understanding of politics on
a micro-scale and made me interested to
learn more and stay involved further."
At Michigan State University, Beresh
was "involved with Hillel from the wel-
come barbecue my freshman year to being
elected vice president on the executive
board my senior year:' she said. "We were
able to lay the foundation for the new and
vibrant MSU Hillel as we helped break
ground on the new Lester J. Morris Hillel
Student Center on campus."
At WSU's law school, Beresh says one
of her passions is the JLSA. "I was on the
executive board my first year and was
able to help grow our membership and
programming': she said. "I put together
a Sudan Awareness Day program that
included a panel of speakers who talked
to us about Darfur. We were able to raise

Liz Beresh studies in the Wayne State University Law School library.

funds and educate students."
She was elected president her second
year, working again on membership, pro-
gramming and tzedakah contributions.
"We had programs about Israel, how
to obtain success during law school and
socials, such as Shabbat dinner with the
law and medical students:' she said. "One
of the most interesting opportunities was
the chance to meet with local attorneys
and state and federal judges from our
vibrant Jewish community in the legal
field."

This year, she was proud to see one
of her goals actualized by securing a
scholarship for years to come that will be
given to law students involved with JLSA
who show leadership capabilities.
Beresh understands the meaning of
leadership. "I believe being a leader
means having the ability to communicate
with others, to see a bigger picture with
goals and the future of an organization
in mind, someone who is honest and will
work to continue building a strong foun-
dation for future success."

February 1 • 2007

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