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A Great Place To Live. A Great Place ToBe
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PUBLISHER'S LETTER
May 20, 2010
Ms. Nancy Grosfeld
President
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit
6735 Telegraph Road
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48301
Dear Nancy:
Welcome to this year's Cap & Gown Class of 2010, comprising more than
300 of our best and brightest high school graduates. As we look at their
fresh faces and scan their impressive biographies, we happily celebrate their
achievements. While parents and family members deserve praise for guiding,
shaping and nurturing these children, it still takes a "Jewish village" to help
raise a Jewish child.
the naysayers, I felt
confident after graduating from
Wayne State University's law school
that I'd secure a position in Detroit
and Southeastern Michigan. And,
I've done so with an exceptional
firm. The Federation's JOIN
program and the Jewish Law
Student Association helped open
social, business and community
opportunities for me and I remain
active with Hillel of Metropolitan
Detroit. I work and play hard in my
home town!"
— Stephanie Adas, Associate
Freedman, Lessing, Kutinsky &
Freedman, PC
Perhaps the help came in the form of a scholarship to the JCC Day Camp or
Tamarack. Maybe it took the form of tuition relief for day school or a per-pupil grant
to the student's synagogue religious school. Or perhaps the help came as a subsidy for stu-
dent travel to Israel or an allocation to Jewish Family Service for a teen in need of counseling.
Largely through the efforts of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit and its Annual Campaign, we have invested mil-
lions of charitable dollars in helping to shape the Jewish identities of our children. We know that investing in our children helps
assure our future as a vital, vibrant Jewish community.
What kind of Detroit Jewish community will these students find when they earn their college degrees in four years (mostly
from institutions in Michigan)? Will it be more welcoming? Will it provide employment, internship and mentoring opportuni-
ties? Will it offer access to capital for budding entrepreneurs? Will there be an expanded social network? Will there be stronger
links with the dynamic Ann Arbor area?
Historically, we know that many college graduates go to Chicago, New York and elsewhere to find work, expand their social
network or just to "get away." However, the 2005 Federation demographic study identified an alarming population decline, espe-
cially among our 20- and 30-somethings. The data indicated our children were leaving in droves and not returning. But instead
of harnessing our community's substantial resources and implementing an aggressive "Marshall Plan" for re-inventing Jewish life
for 20- and 30-somethings here, we continue to meekly wave goodbye to them.
Without them, our community has a bleak future. We already have fewer married couples and fewer children. Our preschools,
day schools and camping programs are feeling the effect. So, too, are synagogues and the donor base for Federation's Annual
Campaign.
Nancy, I believe every Federation president leaves a legacy, one historians will analyze when they write the story of our Detroit
Jewish community. What will your legacy be? May I suggest that in the final months of your presidency, focus your leadership
and major donors on one subject – the future of our community – and put a serious "Marshall Plan" together, with the dollars
and human resources needed for implementation.
Federation's new CommunityNext initiative is a building block for this "Marshall Plan." This program will attempt to make
the Detroit area more appealing to 20-somethings. It has a creative and energetic part-time director and the enthusiastic back-
ing of Federation's new CEO, Scott Kaufman. Amazingly, what it doesn't have is any buy-in from Federation's lay leadership
and major donors. In fact, not one dollar from Federation's almost $30 million Annual Campaign will be utilized to support it.
Private donors and sponsors have provided modest startup funds.
Currently, all Federation dollars are committed to other "more pressing needs" locally and overseas. Let's face it. This isn't
about money. It's about realigning priorities and an absence of will to change the status quo. It's about major donors threatening
to cancel or cut their Federation gifts if dollars are allocated away from their favorite cause or agency.
Nancy, look again at the faces of these graduates. We must give them more reasons to want to come back ...and to bring their
friends. Please use all of the tools and goodwill at your disposal to make this your legacy. Our community's Jewish future is at
stake.
Respectfully,
Arthur Horwitz, Publisher
In our mission to redirect the narrative of Southeastern Michigan, we have spearheaded a campaign geared towards young Jewish adults in our region.
– If you would like to submit any events, information or would like to be featured in our section, please contact Rachel Lachover at (248) 351-5156 or
rlachover@thejewishnews.com . JOIN US ON FACEBOOK; search our group name and fan page "SE MICHIGAN JEWISH ALLIANCE"
May 20 • 2010
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