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MRJ Board Elected
Men of Reform Judaism elected of its
National Board Officers for the fis-
cal year 2009-2011. Men of Reform
Judaism, an independent affiliate
of the Union for Reform Judaism, is
made up of affiliated brotherhoods,
men's clubs and other organized

men's groups in Reform congrega-
tions throughout North America.
One of the vice presidents chosen
is Larry Pepper of Temple Kol Ami in
West Bloomfield.
For information about Men of
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A

THURSDAY
FEBRUARY 4

$75 per person

nonprofit foundation found-
ed in 2006 to promote and
support Jewish education in
North America is seeking $4.8 million
from the estate of Bill Davidson, the
late Bloomfield Hills philanthropist
and business magnate, according to
an Oakland County Probate Court
lawsuit.
The money would complete a
$5 million pledge that Davidson
made to New York-based Areivim
Philanthropic Group Inc., claims the
civil action against Jonathan Aaron
and Eric Garber, co-representatives of
the Oakland County-based estate.
Davidson died March 13, 2009, at
age 86. He made his fortune as head of
Guardian Industries in Auburn Hills,
an international manufacturer of float
architectural and fabricated glass. He
was best known as the Detroit Pistons
majority owner and a world-class
Jewish communal leader.
Areivim is Hebrew for "responsible
for"; an areiv is a guarantor. Areivim
Philanthropic's founder and chairman
is Michael Steinhardt, philanthropist,
past hedge fund operator and found-
ing chairman of Jewish Renaissance
Media, parent company of the Detroit
Jewish News.
Areivim sought a $5 million gift
from each of its founding members.
In their response filed last week,
Aaron and Garber denied that
Davidson made any provision in his
estate plan for a charitable contribu-
tion to Areivim.
They contend Davidson supported
the establishment of Areivim and
attended a June 2006 organizational
meeting. They contend the founda-
tion "omits from the allegations ...
that the donors' pledges would not

be final until 20 families joined the
fund" — a figure not reached by the
time of Davidson's death or even now.
They further contend Davidson made
no contributions to Areivim during
his life and there was no enforceable
promise he "would provide for pay-
ment of any potential donation by his
estate should he die before making a
donation."
In a statement provided by Marx,
Layne & Co., a Farmington Hills public
relations firm, Karen Davidson said of
her late husband: "Because this mat-
ter is in litigation, I cannot comment.
But I can say Bill was a man of his
word and he would honor this clear,
unequivocal commitment."
Areivim is affiliated with the
Steinhardt Foundation for Jewish Life.
Areivim's mission includes "making
grants to support Jewish educational
and charitable organizations and pro-
grams, and raising public awareness
about Jewish educational and philan-
thropic initiatives in North America;'
according to Guidestar, a nonprofit
that operates an online database of
nonprofit records.
Areivim initiatives include Hebrew
language charter schools in New York
City, which Steinhardt is a big propo-
nent of as another option for Jewish
learning.
Attorneys Henry Baskin of the
Baskin Law Firm P.C. and David
Mendelson of the Law Offices of David
Mendelson P.C., both of Birmingham,
represent Areivim and Karen
Davidson. Jonathan Aaron is Karen
Davidson's son-in-law.
Defending the representatives of
Davidson's estate are attorneys Samuel
Damren, Eric Carver and Andrew
Kolozsvary of Detroit-based Dykema
Gossett PLLC.
Probate Judge Daniel O'Brien will
hear the case. ❑

Robert Sklar
Editor

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January 28 • 2010