metro

We look forward to continue working with
Wayne State and TechTown in that aree
Gershon Weiner, a retired West
Bloomfield physiatrist, earned a bachelor's
degree at Wayne State and did postgradu-
ate work there. He lauded Gilmour for
understanding that Hillel is not only "a
place of gathering for Jewish students,"
but also "a place for students who are not
Jewish to come to an understanding of
and about Jewish students."

The Students Speak
Wayne
State is home to about 600 Jewish
President Allan
students.
Hillel of Metro Detroit also rep-
Gilman- with Board
resents Jewish students on five other local
of Governors member
campuses: Oakland University, University of
Eugene Driker at
Michigan-Dearborn,
Lawrence Technological
4 Mlle! of Metro Detroit
University, University of Detroit-Mercy and
Oakland Community College. In all, up to
1,800 students are represented.
A luncheon highlight culminated in
comments by three HMD students. Law
student Ryan Fishman
of Bloomfield Hills
described Hillel "as
bringing young people
together, helping them
bridge gaps, build rela-
tionships and develop
Robert Sklar
in January. He's a graduate of Harvard
TechTown, the 12-block Wayne State
a
network." Journalism
Contributing Editor
University and the University of Michigan.
University Research & Technology Park,
student Alyssa McMillan
In addition to heading Wayne State, he
in cultivating an environment for the
of West Bloomfield
HMD board
mid cautious excitement about
chairs the Detrot-based Community
entrepreneurial spirit, new companies, job
described
HMD's
2008
member Ryan
the city of Detroit's emerg-
Foundation for Southeast Michigan.
creation and, ultimately, business growth.
Taglit-Birthright Israel
Fishman
ing comeback, Wayne State
TechTown, the first stop on the Hidden
trip
"as
really
helping
University President Allan Gilmour told
The Jewish Component
Jewel Tour, supports more than 280 com-
me learn who I was to
representatives of the Jewish community
Gilmour lauded the role that Hillel of Metro
panies.
be
a Jew." Medical stu-
the 32,000-student campus aims to play
Detroit plays in enriching WSU student life.
"Think of all the people who want to be
dent
Kevin Ginsburg
an integral role.
"It opens doors to learning about culture
here in Detroit, but can't because they can't of Ferndale discussed
"We're a good neighbor and we have a
and faith," he said. `And that's what Wayne
find jobs," Gilmour said.
the benefits of HMD's
good neighborhood. That's what we're all
State is — a community of learners."
10-session Israel
about," Gilmour told 60 Jewish commu-
More members of the Detroit Jewish
Positive Impressions
Fellowship
program
nity members during lunch on the Hillel
community are WSU graduates than any
HMD board
In introducing Gilmour, Jewish News
that
taught
participants
of Metro Detroit (HMD)-hosted Hidden
other college or university, Eugene Driker
member
Publisher Arthur Horwitz, a Hillel of
about Jewish history,
Jewel Tour showcasing Jewish life at WSU.
told tour participants earlier in the day.
Metro Detroit board member, called
industry, technology and Alyssa
Eugene Driker, a member of the Wayne
Helping students adjust to campus life is Wayne State "an incubator for the Jewish
McMillan
advocacy.
State Board of Governors, once more led the key and HMD helps in accomplishing that, community for multiple generations."
In closing the kosher
eighth annual, 21/2-hour tour on Oct. 11. His Gilmour said. Which is why he encourages
In an interview, law school Professor
luncheon,
HMD execu-
wife, Elaine, is HMD board chair. The lunch, donations to the Hillel of Metro Detroit
Eric Zacks echoed the optimism of
tive
director
Miriam
held at the Hillel offices at 667 Student
Student Enrichment Fund.
Gilmour and Horwitz.
Starkman
spoke
pas-
Center Building, included HMD staffers,
Gilmour stressed how interwoven the
"Between TechTown and [Dan Gilbert's]
sionately
about
Hillel
of
Jewish faculty and Jewish students.
Jewish community is with Wayne State:
Bizdom U and the emergence of startup
Metro
Detroit:
"It's
about
"We have a long way to go:' Gilmour
• Five Jewish student organizations:
businesses in Detroit," Zacks said, "there
inspiring students and
said, "but we're making progress in doing
Hillel Foundation of Metro Detroit,
will be employment opportunities for
helping
them find mean-
our part to create a new kind of Midtown,
Students for Israel, the Jewish Law Student Jewish students. Making Midtown an
ing
—
helping
them feel, Hillel of
a new kind of Detroit."
Association, the Jewish Medical Student
Metro Detroit
attractive place for businesses, but also a
hear
and
absorb
a full
Noting the heart of the research uni-
Association and the Jewish Student
executive
comfortable neighborhood for Jewish stu-
spectrum
of
the
beauty
versity hugs Cass instead of Woodward,
Organization;
dents can only lead to good things in the
that Judaism has to offer director
Gilmour half-joked that his administra-
• And the 15 buildings as well as an
long term."
Miriam
and helping them make
tion is striving to make WSU, a state uni-
array of funds, scholarships and endowed
Starkman
Southfield-based trademark attorney
it
theirs."
{
I
versity since 1956, less "hidden."
chairs that are byproducts of Jewish dona- Robyn Lederman is on the board of both
"Wayne State is, in many ways, a hidden tions.
HMD and the Ann Arbor-based Michigan
Francine Wunder, director of corporate and
secret because physically it's not very vis-
"Clearly, we're a school of opportunity,"
Israel Business Bridge (MIBB).
public affairs at Wayne State University,
ible," he said. "We are working to change
Gilmour said. "Consider all the Jewish stu-
"It was very interesting to see all my
contributed to this report.
that. Tours like this introduce members of
dents who took advantage of this. Look at
activities come together in one place," she
the community and students to what we're the record of accomplishment of so many
said in an interview."On the Hidden Jewel
Find more on the Hidden Jewel Tour
all about."
from the Jewish community who went here
Tour, we visited TechTown, which has ben-
in
the Wayne State University insert
Gilmour, a retired vice chairman at
and then went on to a variety of things."
efited from the MIBB's introduction and
in
the
center of today's JN.
Ford Motor Co., became WSU president
Gilmour pointed to the efforts of
its visit to Israeli incubators and startups.

Wayne S

A Detroit Jewel

Jewish life abounds as Wayne State strives
to be part of city's renewal.

A

20

November 3 2011