World

Clockwise from top left: Mary and Andy Levin of Bloomfield Hills with their children, Molly, 6, and Ben, 12. Tom Wexelberg-Clouser of Oak Park and Doreen Hermelin of

Bingham Farms. Rabbi Marc Wolf of JTS with Rabbi David Nelson of Beth Shalom in Oak Park and Rabbi Steven Rubenstein of Beth Ahm in West Bloomfield. Sen. Levin,

Southfield Mayor Brenda Lawrence and Rep. Levin. Ethan and Gretchen Davidson of Bloomfield Hills. Leypsa Groner, wife of Shaarey Zedek Rabbi Emeritus Irwin Groner,
and Shaarey Zedek Cantor Meir Finkelstein.

Dynamic Duo from page 29

Michigan and the United States as well as
their leadership in the Jewish community
embody the commitment that will lead
our nation to a brighter day"
The reception and awards ceremony
included an informal "conversation with
the Levins" during which they reminisced
about their childhoods including their
days at Detroit's Central High School. It
probably comes as no surprise that Sandy
served as class president and Carl was
elected treasurer of his class.
"Sandy and I both were bar-mitzvahed
in this synagogue so Shaarey Zedek was

30

April 29 • 2010

our home and we have very fond memo-
ries of it," Sen. Levin said.
When asked how growing up in
Detroit's Jewish community effected their
decisions to become legislators, Rep. Levin
had this reply: "We think we're a reflection
of the strength of the Jewish commu-
nity of this area and we spring from this
Jewish community, so any tribute today is
really a tribute to the community:'
Rabbi Marc Wolf, JTS vice chancellor
and chief development officer, also spoke
about the organization's focus as they look
to the future.

"We all recognize that there's somewhat
of a crisis in the American Jewish com-
munity" he said. "We are facing intermar-
riage, we are facing assimilation, we are
facing challenges beyond economic chal-
lenges that force us to take a look and see
what our resources are and how will we
devote them. How will we ensure Jewish
continuity for generations to come?"
The mission of the Jewish Theological
Seminary is the advancement of Judaism
through Conservative congregations in
Metro Detroit and around the world.
"Funds raised at this event support stu-

dent scholarships:' said Tom Wexelberg-
Clouser of Oak Park, JTS regional director.
"They also support the ongoing academic
work of our faculty, work in Israel and in
other countries such as the former Soviet
Union."

❑

For more information about
the Jewish Theological
Seminary, go to www.jtsa.edu .

