metro Jewish News To Receive New Detroit's ''Closing the Gap" Corporate Award N ew Detroit Inc.'s 16th annual "Closing the Gap" awards cer- emony and dinner will take place on Tuesday, June 24, at 5:30 p.m. at MGM Grand Casino and Hotel in Detroit. "The 'Closing the Gap event dem- onstrates how advancing race relations can come in many forms, and this year's awardees are certainly indicative of that sentiment' said Shirley Stancato, New Detroit President and CEO. The Detroit Jewish News will receive the Corporate Award. "The Detroit Jewish News has served Metro Detroit's Jewish community since 1942:' say event organizers. "The paper demonstrates its ongoing commitment to maintaining relationships with communi- ties of color through collaborations with the Chaldean-Jewish Building Community Initiative and the Black-Jewish Forum, both aimed at improving the quality of life in southeastern Michigan:' The Nonprofit Award will go to Coalition on Temporary Shelter (COTS), which provides an array of services that enable people to achieve self-sufficiency and obtain quality affordable housing. Enrico "Rico" Razo will receive the A Friend's Role in Interventio An evening on intervention with Jeff Jay. Jeff Jay is a clinical interventionist and co-author of Love First: A Family's Guide to Intervention (Hazelden, 2008). He has been working full time in the alcohol and drug treatment field sinc 1986, including work for the Hazelde Foundation. Jeff specializes in difficu and complex interventions, including those complicated psychological issues, such as anxiety disorders, bipolar disease and trauma. The Daniel B. Sobel Friendship House provides guidan and support to individuals and their families struggling wi isolation and other life crises, such as addiction, through a welcoming Jewish recovery community that offers friendship, support, and spirituality. June 19th, 7:00pm • 18 June 12 • 2014 •- E _ • • , • - II _MI III What inspired you to pursue a career as a rabbi? What do you enjoy doing in your free time? I knew from a young age that I had a passion for Jewish learning. I credit strong parental encouragement and my Hillel Day School education with instill- ing that passion. Ultimately, as I contin- ued my studies in a variety of fields, I kept coming back to a deep appreciation of Jewish text study, a passion for teach- ing and a profound love for having the opportunity to share the transformational moments in people's lives, both joyous and somber. The ability to combine those passions is what led me to the rabbinate as a career. Currently, learning to play guitar. I love playing the violin, singing with others, playing basketball and spending quality time with friends. How did you meet your wife? friendshipcircle.org/events -I II ■ 'I _• _•. ■ ❑ Back Home from page 17 This is a free event and light refreshments will be served. yarden@friendshipcircle.org / 248-788-7 • • Inaugural Young Leader in Action Award for his progressive leadership in race rela- tions and youth advocacy in Southwest Detroit. Bob Berg, partner and vice president at Berg Muirhead and Associates, will receive the John Rakolta Jr. Leadership in Race Relations Award. He is being honored for his courageous servant lead- ership role in race relations and public affairs during critical moments in Detroit's history. Berg's career included serving in the roles of executive assistant for Public Affairs to Michigan Gov. William G. Milliken from 1977 to 1982 and then as press secretary for Detroit Mayor Coleman A. Young from 1983 to 1993. DTE Energy CEO Gerard M. Anderson is serving as the event chair. Awards will be presented by Stancato and William S. Taubman, New Detroit chairman and chief operating officer of Taubman Centers Inc. Individual tickets are $150, and a range of sponsorship opportunities are avail- able. For information, contact Angela Richardson at (313) 664-2047, arichardson@newdetroit.org or visit www.newdetroit.org. • • I met Miriam at a Jewish learning retreat outside of New York that I was running as part of my job with Moishe House. She was hired through the friend network to be the sign language inter- preter for the weekend because we had a participant who happened to be deaf. Our first emails to one another were negotiat- ing her fee for the weekend! We clicked immediately. Six and a half months later we were engaged, and six months after that we were married. Originally from Albany, she's as excited as I am to call Detroit home. How concerned are you with the find- ings of this past year's Pew study? We need to stop worrying about num- bers and demographics and recognize the reality that being part of a Jewish com- munity isn't for everyone — even if born Jewish. We're blessed to have choices. Instead, we need to focus on making sure folks know that our doors are wide open and welcoming (and not only saying it, but living it in our actions), and showing that the collective wisdom of the Jewish tradition, being part of an active Jewish community and the rhythms of the Jewish calendar have the ability to add meaning to and enhance life. We need our community to be so warm, loving, content-rich and joyous that you'd be crazy to not want to be a part of it. ❑ Horwitz's first event at Congregation Shir Tikvah will be a Friday, June 20, barbecue at 6 p.m. followed by a musical Shabbat service at 7:15 p.m. The event is open to the community.