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Guardian Of The Menorah

Project Michah

B'nai B'rith Great Lakes Region honors
past presidents and 170th anniversary.

T'chiyah's benefit dinner serves as kickoff

'nai B'rith Great Lakes Region
presented 16 past presidents
with the prestigious Guardian
of the Menorah Award at an Oct. 13 lun-
cheon in their honor. Nearly 120 people
attended this celebration of B'nai B'rith
International's 170th anniversary.
A special menorah lighting ceremony
was held by Stuart Novick, local presi-
dent. B'nai B'rith International President
Allan Jacobs was on hand to present a
special memento keepsake to each of the
past presidents in attendance. Jacobs also
received a check with the proceeds from

econstruction Congregation
T'chiyah's Oct. 6 benefit dinner
event, "Honoring Andy Levin:
A Life Pursuing Social Justice," drew
more than 200 people to Shed 3 in Detroit's
Eastern Market.
The group was inspired by the invoca-
tion by Lansing Congregation Kehillat
Israel's Rabbi Michael Zimmerman and
by personal accounts from Michigan
Democrats U.S. Rep. Sandy Levin and
U.S. Sen. Carl Levin about Andy Levin's
longtime involvement and achievements in
social justice efforts. He is the son of Sandy
Levin and nephew of Carl Levin.
Andy Levin was presented with the
Rabbi Mordecai M. Kaplan (founder

B

to interfaith social justice program

this year's Annual Golf Classic Event from
David Lubin, event co-chairman.
A Guardian of the Menorah is one
who safeguards, defends, preserves and
protects the symbol of B'nai B'rith, the
menorah. The recipients honored at this
luncheon have been the backbone of B'nai
B'rith Great Lakes Region during their
respective tenures and beyond.
A highlight of the brunch was when the
group was presented with a Congressional
Record from U.S. Rep. Gary Peters
(D-Mich.). It had been read at the First
Session of the 113th Congress.

❑

R

Rabbi Ariana Silverman and her husband,
Professor Justin Long, with Mike Whitty

of Reconstructionism) Bonei Kehillah
Award by Syma Echeandia, president of
Congregation T'chiyah, for his commit-
ment to community building, "his life
pursuing social justice" and for being the
inspiration for and leader of Project Micah.
Levin then spoke about his family's
influence on and inspiration for his life's
work and how Project Micah, an initiative
to make active engagement in interfaith
social justice struggles central to local
Jewish life. Congregation T'chiyah will
collaborate with the Detroit-based Harriet
Tubman Center to employ a visionary
rabbi-organizer, an individual whose daily
tasks and long-term goals combine the role
of faith leader with that of organizer.

❑

Longtime friends: Barry Lepler and
Andy Levin.

Bill Lakritz, former Guardian of the Menorah honoree; Dr. Corey Rodnick, former
Guardian of the Menorah honoree; Lila Zorn, national board member; Sid Roth,

regional board vice president; Rick Sherline, scholarship fund co-chair; Lana Jacobs
and Harvey Olson, co-presidents, Zager/Stone Unit; and Eric Adelman, Michigan
BBYO director

Allan Jacobs accepts a $20,000

Allan Jacobs, B'nai B'rith International pres-

check from proceeds of the Annual

ident, Bobbie Levine and Nita Stearn, Great
Golf Classic Event from David Lubin, Lakes Region staffers, and Stuart Novick,
event co-chair.
region president

30

November 14 • 2013

Mary Freeman, Andy Levin, Syma Echeandia, president of Congregation

T'chiyah, U.S. Rep. Sandy Levin, Barbara Levin and U.S. Sen. Carl Levin