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JET Director David Magidson
Wins Maas Humanities Prize
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he Benard L. Maas Foundation,
in partnership with the Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit, has named Professor David
Magidson the recipient of the Benard
L. Maas Prize for Achievement in
Jewish Culture and
Continuity
Winner in the
category of humani-
ties, Magidson of
Bloomfield Hills is
currently a theater
professor at Wayne
State University as
David
well as the artistic
Magidson
director of the Jewish
Ensemble Theatre.
JET presents its productions in the
intimate Aaron DeRoy Theater in the
Jewish Community Center in West
Bloomfield. It is one of the few remain-
ing professional theaters in the country
dedicated to plays of Jewish interest.
At WSU, Magidson interacts and
instructs students in graduate and under-
graduate programs and directs plays at
the Hillberry and Bonstelle theaters.
He has directed more than 100 plays
and has produced approximately 200
additional productions.
Prior to JET, Magidson served as
director of the Lenore Marwil Jewish
Film Festival for more than 10 years. His
desire to enhance the educational aspect
of the films as well as Jewish life in our
community was extremely important to
the festival.
The Benard L. Maas Prize for
Achievement in Jewish Culture and
Continuity is conferred annually on a
rotating basis in the areas of humanities,
performing arts and fine arts to honor
individuals whose work enhances Jewish
life and community
The prize is awarded in conjunction
with Federation's Alliance for Jewish
Education in support of its efforts to
promote Jewish education and identity
building throughout the community.
A prize of $5,000 will be awarded
to Magidson at a public ceremony at
5:15 p.m. on Thursday, May 30, at
Federation's Awards Night, held in
the Berman Center at the JCC in West
Bloomfield.
❑
Beth Shalom's Nelson Legacy
Hosts Jewish History Scholar
C
ongregation Beth Shalom in
Oak Park will honor Rabbi
David and Alicia Nelson
by welcoming renowned historian
Jonathan Sarna June 5-6.
Sarna, a Brandeis
University profes-
sor recognized for
his scholarship in
American Jewish his-
tory, is the featured
speaker at the fourth
annual Nelson Legacy
Event. The event hon-
Jonathan
ors the Nelsons' work
Sarna
at Beth Shalom and
in the Detroit Jewish
community. Rabbi Nelson served as the
congregation's rabbi from 1972 to 2006
and is now rabbi emeritus.
The Nelson Legacy Event starts with
a keynote speech on "The Story of
American Judaism — Stripped Bare"
at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 5, at the
synagogue. There is a charge of $12 in
advance and $15 at the door, including a
dessert reception.
On June 6, Santa will speak at a
workshop for Jewish Federation staff on
"Looking Ahead: American Judaism in
the 21st Century:' starting at 8:30 a.m.
at the Federation building in Bloomfield
Hills. The community is welcome at no
charge.
At 12:30 p.m. June 6, he will speak on
"Should Jews Forgive General Grant?" at a
lunch-and-learn program at Beth Shalom.
The lecture will be based on Sarna's
most recent book, When General Grant
Expelled the Jews, which deals with a
little-known event in American Jewish
history involving Gen. Ulysses S. Grant,
who, in 1862, issued a sweeping order
expelling "Jews as a class" from the war
zone. It remains the most notorious
anti-Jewish official order in American
history.
Sarna also is chair of the Hornstein
Jewish Professional Leadership Program
at Brandeis, chief historian of the new
National Museum of American Jewish
History in Philadelphia and was chief
historian for the 350th commemoration
of the American Jewish community. He is
recognized as a leading commentator on
American Jewish history, religion and life.
There is a charge of $20 for the kosher
lunch June 6. Guests can attend both the
keynote speech and the lunch for the
package price of $30. For reservations,
call (248) 547-7970 or email cbs@
congbethshalom.org.
❑