become a magnet for the Ethiopian
population of Israel. The fact that
Netanya is a fast growing commu-
nity has created a challenge for the
Detroit community in serving the
needs of the schools.
In response to the success of the
PACT program and its growing
needs, the Blumensteins have funded
an extension of the program to sup-
port educational opportunities for
children from birth to 2 years of age.
"I think that if you can seize the
moment and act on behalf of the

very young, this is when we must be
there for them;' said Blumenstein.
"Children who don't go to these
programs can become too easily
disenfranchised in Israel's society.
As long as we have the opportunity
and the means to make a difference,
our actions here change the course of
lives in Israel for generations."

Vivian Henoch is associate director

of marketing and communications for

the Bloomfield Township-based Jewish

Federation of Metropolitan Detroit.

Penny Blumenstein

mingles with PACT

kids at their level.

The general theme of Lehava is
the eternity of the Jewish people, but
each group concentrates on a dif-
ferent aspect of Jewish history. This
year's trip focused on the establish-
ment of the State of Israel, particu-
larly the many underground military
movements that existed before 1948
that eventually came together to form
the Israel Defense Forces. Students
visited the Palmach Museum and the
Independence Museum, both in Tel
Aviv.
Lehava's itinerary included a trip
north to the Golan Heights. There, the
students were reminded of two vital
concerns of the Jewish state, namely
the need for peace and the need for
water.
The students were given a glimpse
into the world of Kabbalah when
they went to Safed, taking in the
synagogues of the Holy Ari and Rabbi
Yosef Karo.
A favorite visit was the Shabbaton
in Elkanah, home to Jews from
various backgrounds: Ashkenazi,

Sephardi and Yemenite. On Friday
night, the streets were filled with
hundreds of people, dressed in white
shirts, headed for their respective
batei knesset.
"I don't remember ever saying
`Shabbat Shalom' to so many people
in so short a span of time said stu-
dent Ariella Schwarcz.
The students spent Shavuot in
Jerusalem at the Yeshivat HaKotel.
Studying through the night with the
Kotel in full view culminated with
thousands of people arriving at dawn
for Vatikin (early morning prayers).
"I had never been in Jerusalem for
a major holiday;' said student Emma
Teiger."From now on, whenever I
read about Aliyah L'Regel (the annual
pilgrimages to Jerusalem on Passover,
Shavuot and Sukkot) I will draw upon
my memory of Shavuot at the Kotel.
This is what it must have been like."
"You can't really call this experi-
ence a tour. It was more like coming
home said Ariella Schwarcz.
Seeing is indeed believing. I 1

Goodbye To A Leader

Jeff Levin spurred growth in seven years
at helm of Washtenaw Jewish Federation.

Ann Arbor

T

he Jewish Federation of
Washtenaw County is in
the midst of conducting
a nationwide search to replace its
outgoing executive director, Jeffrey
K. Levin, who has accepted a posi-
tion with the Greater Miami Jewish
Federation.
Levin assumed leadership of the
Federation in 2000.
During his seven-year
tenure, the Federation
blossomed, growing
by more than 500 new
donors, a 45 percent
increase, as well as
increasing its fund-
raising to $1.7 million
annually, a 70 percent
increase.
Levin established the
Main Event, the area's
Jeff Levin
largest community gath-
ering of Jews outside of
the High Holidays; spun off Jewish
Family Services as an independent,
thriving agency; worked with com-
munity partners to create innovative
programs; and created the Israel and
Overseas Committee, a progressive
system of allocating money to take
care of Jews overseas that reflected
the unique values of Ann Arbor's
Jewish community.
"My goal was always to create an
organization that was responsive to
the needs of the entire Jewish com-
munity, regardless of political view-
point, religious orientation or affilia-
tion," he said.
Colleague Leslie Bash, Jewish
Community Center of Washtenaw
County executive director, said, "Jeff
is a creative, dynamic, energetic and
extremely effective Jewish communal
professional who has been a wonder-
ful partner to the Jewish Community
Center. We wish him the best of luck
in his new endeavor, but we will
greatly miss him in Ann Arbor!'
The Ann Arbor Jewish commu-
nity will send Levin and his family
off with an old-fashioned ice cream
social at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 12, at
the JCC, 2935 Birch Hollow Drive,
Ann Arbor. Respond to Cindy Adams

before July 8 at (734) 677-0100 or at
cindy@jewishannarbor.org.
During his time as executive direc-
tor, Levin reached outside the bounds
of the Jewish community to form
important partnerships with other
local organizations.
Kenneth Fischer, president of
University Musical Society, said, "I'm
going to miss Jeff, as will our entire
community.
"I've loved his vital-
ity, curiosity, humor
and generosity, and his
friendly, warm embrace
that extended far beyond
the Jewish community.
He'll do great in Miami,
for sure, but his roots
will always be in Detroit
and Ann Arbor. He
knows I'm holding a pair
of tickets for him at the
Big House and at Hill
Auditorium whenever he
comes back to visit!"

Hard To Leave

Levin expressed regret that career
options were pulling him from Ann
Arbor. "My family and I have never
felt so at home in a place he said.
"Leaving is, frankly, bittersweet. As
proud as I am of what we've already
accomplished, I think this communi-
ty's best days are ahead of it!"
Until Levin's replacement can be
hired, the Federation will continue
under the leadership of Eileen Freed
as acting executive director. Freed
holds an MBA from the University of
Houston and has been a Jewish com-
munal volunteer and professional for
more than 15 years.
Malcolm Cohen, Federation presi-
dent, said, "I have known Eileen as a
volunteer, a staff person and a neigh-
bor. She was one of the most effective
volunteers I have known!'
The Jewish Federation of
Washtenaw County is a central Jewish
community institution that creates
educational, cultural and social pro-
grams, coordinates community-wide
planning and raises nearly $2 million
annually to care for Jews overseas
and support more than a dozen local
Jewish agencies and programs. I

iN

uly 5. 2007

19