Publisher's Notebook

Leaders: A Generational Gap
And Some Notable Activists

A

potpourri of observations and opinions gath-
ered and shaped during the gray days of
February ...

Generational Leadership Gap
As Southeastern Michigan attempts to reinvent itself in the
face of daunting challenges, it is handicapped by a shortage
of something it once had in abundant supply — transcen-
dent leaders who served both the Jewish and general com-
munities.
The modern-era model for Jewish
leadership was Max Fisher: Detroit ...
Jewish Detroit ... Michigan ... America
... Israel. He could wear these hats
simultaneously because they were all
intertwined. For one to be strong, they
all had to be strong. While there are still
notable examples of people who are
leaders inside and outside of the Jewish
community (think of Alan E. Schwartz,
Alfred Taubman, Florine Mark, Mandell
L. Berman, Eugene Applebaum), their
median age is about 85.
Another group of top-quality leaders have focused their
talents intensively on local, national and international
Jewish causes, and less so on those involving Detroit and
Southeastern Michigan (think of Joel Tauber, Dr. Conrad Giles,
Jane Sherman, Larry Jackier, Doreen Hermelin and Stanley
Frankel). Their median age is about 70.
By the time we get to Jewish leaders under the age of 60,
well ... I can count on one hand the number that are fully
involved and influential in the Detroit and Southeastern
Michigan Jewish and secular communities — those who
could see and connect the dots like Max Fisher did.
Blame it on the 1967 Detroit disturbances and subsequent
Jewish flight to the suburbs? Blame it on Israel's success in the
Six-Day War and our Jewish community's euphoric and near-
total embrace of this modern-day David thrashing Goliath?
Blame it on our Jewish community training its best and
brightest for Jewish communal leadership, to the exclusion of
leadership positions in the general community? When Detroit
and Southeastern Michigan need our younger leaders the
most (younger than 60, which is young by our community's
standards), we have the fewest to share.

Speaking Of 'Young'
With the selection of Scott Kaufman in 2009 as the CEO of the
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, much was made of
his youthfulness. After all, he was not even 45.
For a sign of how much our community's definition of
"youthful" has changed, let's look back over the past 25-
30 years. Wayne Feinstein was in his early 30s and Bob
Aronson was in his late 30s when they were hired to run the
Federation. While Martin Kraar was in his mid-40s when he
was hired to lead the Federation, he brought so much experi-
ence to the position that he was recruited to run the Council
of Jewish Federations, one of the most visible and demanding
Jewish communal jobs in North America.

10 Percent Solution?
As our Federation's 2010 Campaign heads toward its close,
agencies that are beneficiaries of the still-impressive fundrais-

jart

www.jarc.org

ing effort (Jewish Community Center, Jewish Family Service,
Hillel of Metropolitan Detroit, JVS, Fresh Air Society, etc.)
have been advised to expect an across-the-board 10 percent
reduction in their allocations. While this may be a fair way to
share the pain, it does beg one question: what are the commu-
nity's top priorities? If everything is a top priority, then noth-
ing is a top priority.

Interesting People ... Doing Interesting Things

• Steve Tobocman: The energetic former
Democratic House leader, whose district
included a big chunk of Southwest Detroit,
is spearheading Global Detroit, a New
Economy Initiative-funded study that aims
to "revitalize Southeast Michigan economy
by pursuing strategies that strengthen
Detroit's connections to the world and make
Steve
the region more attractive and welcoming to
Tobocman
immigrants."
Under the umbrella of the Detroit Regional Chamber of
Commerce, the study will focus on: making the region more
welcoming to the international community and immigrants;
attracting international investment and businesses that create
jobs; strengthening, growing and revitalizing neighborhoods
in the city of Detroit and in the region's core communities;
attracting and retaining international talent in the region.
Tobocman is being assisted by an advisory board of 35
regional leaders (none who appear to be from the Detroit
Jewish community.)
• Dr. E. Gary Shapiro: When Central
Michigan University needs leadership,
it continues to turn to Shapiro, a Detroit
native and Wayne State University graduate.
Currently, he is serving as interim executive
vice president/provost. It is his second stint
in that role in three years. His regular posi-
tion is dean of the College of Humanities
Dr. Shapiro
and Social and Behavioral Sciences, where
he has served since 1997. He has been active
in supporting the needs of the rising number of Jewish stu-
dents on the Mt. Pleasant campus.
• Dr. Valerie Parisi: The interim dean of
Wayne State University's School of Medicine
grew up in Brooklyn, part of a loving Italian
family. So, vos tutsach? (what gives?). Where
did she develop her surprising command
of Yiddish? She picked it up from many of
her Jewish neighbors and physician-men-
tors. Her recent visit to Israel with a team of
Dr. Parisi
Wayne State University deans and faculty
provided limited opportunity for Yiddish banter. However,
it did enable her to establish a relationship with Bar-Ilan
University, which is seeking accreditation for a medical school
in Israel. Dr. Parisi, who serves on the Liaison Committee for
Medical Education that accredits medical schools in the U.S.,
will be helping Bar-Ilan with its application.

Join The Alliance!

Finally, I encourage you to become a member of SE Michigan
Jewish Alliance on Facebook. It will keep you informed about
our strategic initiative to change and improve the narrative
about Southeastern Michigan and our Jewish community. ❑

For the 15th consecutive

year, Richard Graff invited

75 friends and volunteers to

be part of "Heart To Heart",

an afternoon of mitzvah

making to bring joy to sick

children. They assembled

over 700 Valentine's Day gift

bags filled with candy and

treats. According to Richard,

"I felt like I accomplished

something big — helping

brighten the lives of others."

Your support of ARC will

help Richard and others

have meaningful and

fulfilling experiences, and

help ARC continue...

' 248.538.6611

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February 25 • 2010

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