metro
Davidson Foundation
Federation, CSZreceive grants.
Bill Carroll
Contributing Writer
A
lmost three years after the death of business-
man-philanthropist Bill Davidson, some details
are emerging about the status of his multibil-
lion-dollar estate and the Davidson Foundation.
According to a Form 990 filing with the U.S. Internal
Revenue Service, the foundation's assets have reached
$191 million, making it one of the largest family founda-
tions in Michigan.
Sources say the foundation has given out several million
dollars in grants this year, including grants of $1 million to
the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit and $500,000
to Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield, where
Davidson was a longtime member and past president.
His son, Ethan, of Bloomfield Hills announced the gift
for the Federation's annual campaign.
Shaarey Zedek President Steve Margolin of West
Bloomfield declined to comment, but the synagogue is
expected to use the money to pay off half of its current $1
million debt.
Grants of $1 million each also went to the Jewish
Theological Seminary's Davidson Graduate School of
Education in New York and Weizmann Institute of Science
in Israel, through the Weizmann Institute in the United
States.
Davidson's estate, estimated by Forbes magazine to be
$2.1 billion at his death on March 13, 2009, is still in the
process of being settled. It requires extensive scrutiny by
the IRS and multiple filings. Some estate funds are fed
into the foundation.
Jonathan Aaron of Bloomfield Hills, who is working full
time on settling the estate, declined to comment. He is
the son-in-law of Karen Davidson, Bill Davidson's widow,
and a former employee of Guardian Industries of Auburn
Hills, Davidson's major business.
Aaron and Karen Davidson are two members of the
Davidson Foundation's board, making decisions on the
distribution of funds. Other members are Mary Aaron,
Jonathan Aaron's wife and Karen Davidson's daughter;
Ethan Davidson; Ralph Gerson, Davidson's nephew, and
Oscar Feldman, his longtime friend, both of Bloomfield
Hills; and Eli Saulson of Franklin, a family cousin. I
BBYO Boys Cook
To Win 'Iron Chef"
BBYO-Michigan Region will hold its annual AZA Iron
Chef Cooking Competition 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, at
Orchard Mall in West Bloomfield.
This exciting and fun event will showcase the eight
AZA boys chapters' cooking skills, while using a
secret ingredient given them prior to the event. The
dish prepared will then be judged by a panel of judges
from the community.
This program, supported by Orchard Mall and
Hiller's, is a free event open to the community. For
information, contact Lindsey Rosenberg, BBYO
Program Director, at (248) 432-5680 or lrosenberg@
bbyo.org.
Songstress Sings In
English, Hebrew, Yiddish
The JCC Stephen Gottlieb Music Festival and the
Holocaust Memorial Center will present Chava
Albertstein in concert at the Berman Center for the
Performing Arts on Tuesday, Dec. 6.
One of Israel's most prolific and
popular folksingers, having recorded
more than 60 albums, she brings
her special talents to the Berman as
she sings songs in Hebrew, English
and Yiddish. Contact the Berman
box office, (248) 661-1900 to order
tickets.
Albertstein
The 2012 JCC Stephen Gottlieb
Music Festival will open with
the 11-year-old piano prodigy Ethan Bortnick on
Thursday, March 15. Patron Night will feature Israeli
superstar Noa on March 17 and climax Sunday night,
March 25, with the incomparable Cantor's Concert.
In between will be the New Zimriyah family con-
cert; Elaine Serling; the Local Showcase featuring the
Soul Shabbat Band; a collaboration between Cantor
Neil Michaels and youthful guitar sensation Ari Teitel;
World Music Showcase, a classical Chamber concert
led by maestro Ed Benyas; and the cutting edge
Progressive Jewish Music Showcase.
Kosher Michigan Discontinues
Certification Of A Bagel Store
The Detroit Bagel store located on Orchard Lake
Road in West Bloomfield is no longer certified kosher,
according to Rabbi Jason Miller, director of Kosher
Michigan.
The store was under Kosher Michigan's certifica-
tion for two years offering an array of bagels, fishes,
cheeses and drinks under Miller's supervision, but
decided to begin offering non-kosher deli meats,
Miller explained.
Two other Oakland County kosher bagel establish-
ments under Kosher Michigan's certification maintain
their certification: Bagel Factory on 12 Mile and
Telegraph roads in Southfield and New York Bagel
Bakery on Orchard Lake Road in West Bloomfield.
Donate To Bookstock
Colossal Collection Day
Drive through and drop off donations of used books,
records, video, CDs and DVDs for the Bookstock Used
Book & Media Sale 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 11,
at the Jewish Community Center in West Bloomfield.
Stop by the north side loading dock near the nursery
school entrance. Tax receipts will be provided.
Volunteers are for sorting needed Wednesdays 10
a.m.-2 p.m. at JCC, Room 107 A, B and C, lower level,
through April 11.
For information, call (248) 645-7840, ext.365, or
visit www.bookstock.info
'Stand With Us' Dinner
Honors Israel Supporters
StandWithUs-Michigan will host a Festival of Lights
on Sunday, Dec. 18, at Adat Shalom Synagogue in
Farmington Hills.
The evening will feature Jeff Jacoby, Boston Globe
journalist, and will honor Miriam and Dr. Isaac Barr
for their work on behalf of Israel.
Miriam Barr is a Polish Holocaust survivor, and Dr.
Isaac Barr is an Israeli-American, born in Germany,
who fought in Israel's major wars. For the Barrs,
knowledge of Judaism, Jewish history and achieve-
ment are most important.
Barr says he believes we need to focus on educating
our "children and grandchildren."
Proceeds from the dinner event will help fund
the efforts of SWU-MI to challenge anti-Israel pro-
poganda wherever it is found in
Michigan. Cost is $72 per person.
RSVPs required by Dec. 9. Call
Margot Garner at (248) 253-1513
or Barbara Moretsky at (248)
325-5306. Dietary laws will be
observed.
Call (248) 325-5306 or email
standwithusmichigan@gmail.com .
Jeff Jacoby
for information.
If you are thinking about divorce, want to protect your
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David W. Potts J.D., PLLC*
600 S. Adams, Suite 100, Birmingham
(248) 594-4999
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