Community

Celebrating Education

A

n astounding 2,311 guests were
on hand Oct. 24 as Yeshiva Beth
Yehudah's annual dinner focused
on what the school always focuses on: the
education of young Jewish Detroit.
They filled the Grand Ballroom at the
Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center to
show support for the largest Jewish school
system in Michigan, which has provided
Torah-based and secular education pro-
grams for almost 100 years.
With a dais that seated rabbinic, politi-
cal and communal notables, speakers feted
the 800-student PreK-12 school based in
Southfield and Oak Park. And they spoke
of its divisions, including the successful
Jean and Theodore Weiss Partners in Torah
adult education program — directed by
Rabbi Avi Cohen — that joins together
individuals of all backgrounds in study.
A glimpse into the commitment of the
Yeshiva's 500 current parents was offered
by Ari Gelberman, who, with Ephraim
Singal, both of Southfield, chaired the
evening's ad journal, titled Sustaining the
Legacy of the Yeshiva.
"Not only do I have children who attend
the girls and boys divisions, but I am
myself a graduate of the Yeshiva boys divi-
sion; my wife, Aviva, whose parents sent
her from Kansas City, attended the Yeshiva
Beth Yehudah girls division from which she
graduated;' Gelberman said.
"There are not enough words to express
our hakaras hatov, our appreciation, to
the dedicated and devoted teachers, the
administration, the rabbinic and lay lead-
ers as well as to the fellow members of the
Yeshiva's special parent body — and to
those in this amazing gathering, who, in
partnership with our Detroit Federation,
have made the education of our children
the highest priority in this community:'
He referred to the school as a place where
"every child, no matter their circumstance,
can receive an exemplary and individual-
ized education in our community"

Special Honors

A much-anticipated element of the evening
— described by dinner emcee Dr. Conrad
Giles as "our country's premier Jewish event"
— was a performance by the Yeshiva Boys
Choir under the direction of Rabbi Rocky
Stewart. Choir member Eliezer Scheinberg

64 November 18 • 2010

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of Oak Park recounted his
family's Yeshiva history,
including how his mother and
grandparents were Yeshiva
students and his father is a
current teacher there.
Scott Kaufman, CEO of
the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit, pre-
sented the school's prestigious
Guardian of the Yeshiva Award
to Mandell "Bill" Berman of
Franklin, who, along with his
wife, Madge, has made a deep
Lawrence Wolfe, left, receives the
Past Yeshiva honoree Ann Newman, quest speaker former
commitment to the Detroit
Golden Torah Award from Judge
Gov.
Jeb Bush and David Provost on the dais at the dinner
Jewish commtmity.
Avern Cohn.
U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow,
D-Mich., a regular at the
annual dinner, said, "Joining you every year
Torgow introduced
gives me tremendous optimism for the future Lawrence Wolfe of
of our country. When a community can rally
Bloomfield Hills who
together in spite of much economic uncer- was then presented with
tainty to uplift and support such a wonderful
the Yeshiva's Golden
organization, doing such outstanding work, it Torah Award by the eve-
affirms the greatness of our community."
ning's general chairper-
She referred to the school as "an institu-
son U.S. District Judge
tion that educates thousands of girls and
Avern Cohn of Detroit.
boys without any regard for their family's
"The Yeshiva has had
ability to afford the tuition."
a very personal impact
Stabenow presented Michigan Gov.
Members of the Yeshiva Boys Choir: Tzvi Bloch, 13,
on my Jewish life," said
Jennifer Granholm with the Yeshiva's
Mordechai Kornbleuth, 13, Eli Young, 11, Yaakov Abrams, 13,
Wolfe, once a student at
Outstanding Leadership Award.
and Mordechai Aisenstark, 11, all of Oak Park
the Yeshiva's afternoon
An emotional and clearly surprised
school. "It created for me
Granholm responded to the unexpected
a deep connection with
honor with accolades about the Yeshiva's
Jewish values, traditions and customs and was
supporters and educational commitment.
instrumental in my ability to daven, to pray"
"This event really does give us great
Wolfe's father-in-law, D. Dan Kahn, was
hope said Granholm, who attends the
the evening's dinner chairman. Past Yeshiva
dinner annually. "This school has a zero
honoree David Provost introduced guest
dropout rate; 100 percent of these children
speaker former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.
graduate. Is there anything more important
Bush spoke about both personal and
than that? Yeshiva Beth Yehudah provides
American support for Israel. In awe, he said
an example that is not allowing any child
it is "an amazing feat" for a country to be a
to fail. No matter what [the] individual cir-
"vibrant democracy in spite of some of its
cumstances [of each child], it is important
neighbors espousing its elimination off the
for the world that this child succeeds."
face of the Earth:'
He spoke of his admiration for Israel's
Yeshiva Influence
dynamic innovations and as a country with U.S. Rep. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield
"It is truly inspiring that the leading, most
"ability to absorb people from all over the
Township, with Guardian of the Yeshiva
devoted citizens from every corner of com-
world" and, no matter their background, to
honoree Mandell "Bill" Berman.
munal, political, civic and philanthropic
be treated equally.
Michigan leadership have come together
Bush also spoke to the crowd about the
in support of one beloved and unifying
significance of their support for the Yeshiva. will gain the power of knowledge, and
cause," Yeshiva President Gary Torgow told
"In our country, one-third of high school along the way learn of the great traditions
the crowd. "To proclaim in word and deed
seniors graduate truly college and career
of the Jewish faith. God bless you all for
that Torah scholarship and the support
ready',' he said. "One-third don't graduate at
helping make that possible' ❑
of education is our most vital collective
all. Because of your generous financial sup-
responsibility:'
port, the students at Yeshiva Beth Yehudah
Related Editor's Letter: page 3

P hoto by Fred Lev ine

Shelli Liebman Dorfman

Senior Writer

Photo by by Fred Levine

Yeshiva Beth Yehudah's dinner brings supporters, honors and music.