metro >> on the cover

N EXTGen's

Mission To Lead

To be young, Jewish and
committed to building
community.

Vivian Henoch I Special to the Jewish News

Mission from page 1

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The Becker Mission was estab-
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lished in 2010 as an effective
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means to launch young adults
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on a lifelong journey of Jewish
•
discovery. Members earn their
spot through volunteer com-
munity work, each committing
to an active leadership role in
Federation's newly branded
NEXTGen in planning events and
projects to move the community
forward.
The challenge of every
Federation mission, of course,
is to integrate the experience
as a whole for each participant,
essentially to "connect the dots"
between the people and places
of Israel and the vibrant Jewish
community back home in Detroit.
"This is a model program,
exactly what our community
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1 1,1, I I I I
needed," says Federation CEO
Scott Kaufman, "Adam and Jodi
Becker, two young community
activists and leaders, have cre-
ated this mission to cultivate
and inspire others to move into
leadership roles in our Jewish
community."
The Becker Mission: Bottom row: Benny the tour guide, Miryam Rosenzweig, Andrew Landau, Bonnie and Eric Globerman; Middle row:
Says mission funder Adam
Jessica Migliore, Sara Bloomberg, Jenny Gross, Johannah Whitefield and Kelli Saperstein; Top row: Seth Fisher, Steve Migliore, Jordon
Becker of West Bloomfield, who
Wertheimer, Scott Mitnick, Diane and Stephen Weisberg.
subsidized the cost of the trip for
participants: "Our goal for creat-
ing the Adam & Jodi Becker All-Star
According to co-chair Steve Migliore,
Mission is to help develop our communi- who ranks the mission as "one of the
ty's next generation of philanthropic 'All-
most rewarding experience of his life:'
Stars: After participating in the Fisher
"Jodi and Adam's commitment to the
Mission to Israel in 2008, my wife, Jodi,
development of future leaders and to
growing and strengthening our commu-
and I felt grateful, fortunate and empow-
nity with this mission is truly commend-
ered to make a difference. We decided to
Galilee Partnership2Gether Region en
create and fund this leadership mission
able:'
and drive to give back to the commu-
Mission participant Jordon
nity."
to allow young adults to have an oppor-
route to Kibbutz Nahalal, memories
tunity to travel to Israel while forming
Wertheimer of West Bloomfield adds,
of conversations with soldiers in the
"Adam and Jodi are firmly committed
a special and unique bond with a group
The Takeaways
Golan Heights, visits with scientists in
Humbling. Transforming. Life-changing.
of their peers, and inspire them to come
to bridging the gap between what our
the Israeli Space Program and Ethiopian
grandparents' generation did for the
children in PACT, networking with entre-
back and make their own impact as the
These are the words most often repeated
preneurs in Tel Aviv, and taking in the
current and future leaders of our com-
Jewish people, both here and abroad, and when the Becker Mission's 14 partici-
munity. And already there are great
what our generation has the potential to
pants describe the experience of travel-
sights, sounds and flavors of Jerusalem.
ing together for 10 whirlwind days in
things coming as a result of the first
do now. To have been recruited for such
Here's what a few participants had to say:
September. Still vivid in their minds
Becker All-Star Mission. We are excited
an important leadership development
Scott Mitnick of Royal Oak, co-chair
trip has strengthened my commitment
of the Becker All-Star Mission 2012: "My
to see what this second group will do:'
are the lush green images of the Central

(I (

"The difference that we make here has a direct
impact on the people of Israel."
— Eric & Bonnie Globerman

8

November 22 • 2012