metro Passion For History Judy Levin Cantor to be honored by the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame. Wendy Rose Bice Special to the Jewish News "If you moved to Michigan last night, you are a part of Michigan's Jewish history today." L ong before Judith Levin Cantor got involved with the Jewish Historical Society of Michigan in 1990 as edi- tor of the journal Michigan Jewish History, she already had begun to make her mark on Michigan's Jewish history. As Judy would say, "If you moved to Michigan last night, you are a part of Michigan's Jewish history today" A fourth-generation Detroiter, Cantor has not only made Jewish history, but is largely responsible for recording much of it as well. As an author, curator, speaker and active volunteer with numerous insti- tutions, she's helped record and preserve our Jewish history. She's helped to preserve important stories of the state of Michigan as well. Judith Levin Cantor's tireless work will be recognized on Oct. 17 when this grand lady joins the ranks of Aretha Franklin, Florine Mark, Erma Henderson, Millie Jeffrey, Betty Ford and Gilda Radner as a member of the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame. She is being honored for her ongoing efforts to promote awareness of Michigan's Jewish heritage and the com- munity's history in the state. Detroit Family History Judy's interest in history perhaps stems from the fact that her Detroit family roots date back to the 1890s. Her two grand- fathers include Abba Keidan, one of the early leaders of Congregation Shaarey Zedek and Rabbi Judah L. Levin, who served as Congregation Shaarey Zedek's rabbi from 1897-1904. Cantor's father was the first Jewish fac- ulty member hired to teach at the newly established Detroit Junior College, which later became Wayne State University. Her mother, Lillian Keidan Levin, taught English to World War II refugees arriving in Detroit, transcribed Hebrew and math- ematics for the Jewish Braille Institute, led a Hadassah Study Group and helped establish the Wayne University Faculty Wives Club. Long after her graduation from University of Michigan and graduate studies at George Washington University, Cantor enrolled at Wayne State. "I had been a high school history teach- er, but once my children were on their way, I decided to teach English as a Second Language, at night:' she said. "I loved it, 26 October 10 • 2013 JN — Judy Levin Cantor but I always had that passion for history. I decided to enroll at Wayne State University to become an archivist ... and the rest:' she laughed, "is history" Jewish Historical Society In 1990, she began to lend her skills to the Jewish Historical Society of Michigan. Besides her marriage to her lifelong part- ner and husband, Bernard, the union of Cantor and JHSM was nothing less than a matchmaker's match. In the years since, Cantor has served as editor of the Society's journal, Michigan Jewish History, the longest, continuously published journal of Jewish history in the country; JHSM president; and currently as endowment chair. The Michigan Women's Hall of Fame nomination was submitted by JHSM administrators. They believe Cantor repre- sents Michigan's "sentinel of Jewish history:' "Her vigilance as a historian, author, teacher and archivist in fostering the gather- ing and telling of this history is unmatched:' said Amiee Ergas, former JHSM director and current research director. Not only has she authored books, articles and lectures, but Cantor, who lives in Bloomfield Hills, also has curated and hosted some of the most prominent his- torical exhibits in the area. One of Cantor's proudest achievements was bringing the national traveling exhibit, "From Haven to Home: 350 Years of Jewish Life in America;' to Detroit in 2009, which attracted tour groups from the region. Cantor and fellow archivist Sharon Alterman curated the Michigan panels, now on display at the Holocaust Center. "Judy's knowledge of Michigan history is unmatched, but — more importantly — it reaches beyond just our Jewish history:' Ergas said. "She recognizes the importance of ensuring that the history of our com- munity is taught not only to Jewish young people, but to all students and adults throughout the state. By showcasing posi- tive awareness of the Jewish contributions to our state, people of all denominations learn valuable lessons:' Among Cantor's other achievements was the creation of the Settlers to Citizens Youth Tours hosted by JHSM. In 2013, nearly 500 religious school students will have been taken on a bus tour of the city to learn both its Jewish history and wit- ness the history being made today by Jewish entrepreneurs and urban pioneers. Although the tour content is updated annually, the mission of the trip hasn't changed since Cantor and a team of educa- tors created it in 1991: to leave students feeling proud of their Jewish heritage. This isn't Cantor's first honor, she been lauded by the American Jewish Historical Society (Medal of Honor, 2009), American Jewish Committee (Cyrus Adler Award, jointly with her husband, 2002), the Jewish Historical Society of Michigan (Leonard N. Simons History Award, 1998) and the State of Michigan (Michigan 150 First Lady Award, 1987). She's the author of the award-winning Jews in Michigan published by Michigan State University Press in 2001 and Michigan Jewry for the Encyclopedia Judaica; and the 2005 "Michigan Jewish Timeline" for the Jewish News. She also volunteers and works with sever- al other organizations, including the Detroit Historical Society and as archivist for Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield. "I'm especially humbled by this honor; Cantor said. "I have always considered myself as being a part of a team and that our accomplishments belong to the com- munity. I am just one spoke in the wheel of all these wonderful organizations." Cantor joins several other impor- tant Jewish women who are also in the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame, located in Lansing at the Michigan Women's Historical Center. Among them are Ida Lippman, con- sidered a pioneer for women in criminal justice and who used her position as a woman to help other women retain their rights; Edna Ferber, a Pulitzer-Prize win- ning novelist and playwright with a pen- chant for developing strong female char- acters; and Lana Pollack, who began her political career as a school board member and ended up a U.S. senator. The Michigan Women's Historical Center and Hall of Fame inducts histori- cal or deceased women, along with con- temporary, living women into the Hall of Fame each year. This year, there are six contemporary and 13 historical women being inducted. Cantor was selected after a panel of judges reviewed the nearly 100 nominations. Additionally, the group honors a male Michigander with the Philip A. Hart Award who has demonstrated an understanding and support of women's issues and concerns and has contributed to the advancement of women's rights and interests. This year's recipient is Daniel Krichbaum, former director of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, who was a strong advocate for women and pay equity throughout his career. The 30th anniversary class will join nearly 270 women already in the Hall of Fame, as they are honored during a dinner Oct. 17 at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center in East Lansing. For tickets, call the Michigan Women's Historical Center at (517) 484-1880 or visit www.michiganwomenshalloffame.org . For information on the Jewish Historical Society of Michigan, call (248) 432-5517 or go to wwwmichjewishhistory.org . ❑ Wendy Rose Bice, director of the Jewish Historical Society of Michigan, was one of Cantor's nominators to the Hall of Fame.