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Massage Therapy you or your loved one regain independence • Luxury Transportation and return to life, family and community. • Tablets available for use ■ Art. ■ d" Customized Upscale Dining Program IJ IIS September 4 • 2014 JN On Leadership Development Q: Not many couples have the dis- tinction of winning both the Frank A.Wetsman and the Sylvia Simon Greenberg Awards for Young Leadership. Who were your mentors? Sally: It wasn't a person, but the Wexner Heritage Program, which we both went through. Billionaire retailer and philanthropist Les Wexner of Columbus started this program because he felt that anyone involved in taking Jewish leadership roles should have a basic Jewish knowledge to make decisions for the community. So he cre- ated the program, starting with models in Columbus, Detroit, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Pittsburgh and a commitment to bring in top scholars and leaders from around the country and from Israel. For two years, we would sit down for four-hour sessions on Monday nights every other week and learn Jewish principles from the best and brightest thinkers. Richard: A highlight for me was a retreat in Aspen where we sat at dinner with Leon Uris, one of my very favorite authors. He had just written The Haj; and there we were, discussing the book with him over a meal. It was a real thrill for us. Sally: To this day we still study ... now with Partners in Torah at Yeshiva Beth Yehudah. . Q: PASTGen, PRESENTGen NEXTGen Spacious Sitting Areas for Socializing 1914750 30 arrival? They packed 100 of us into a gas chamber and slammed the door. You look up, see the showerheads and you're thrown back to that moment in history to visualize what would hap- pen next. They opened the doors, of course; we came out into daylight and into a profoundly moving ceremony. But the impact of that experience — all packed into a 24-hour period — liter- ally changed me, because it made me understand what being Jewish was. Sally: And when we returned to our seats in the back of the plane, it just so happened there were about a dozen vacant seats, which they filled with people who had been awaiting passage to Israel from the Soviet Union. So there we were — in another moment in history — flying to Israel with these Soviet olim (immigrants), and not a dry eye among us in the back of the plane. There were a few people on both sides who could speak Hebrew, and a few who could speak a little Yiddish, but we all knew some songs to sing. Richard: That's the beauty of the Jewish world. ...you've been leaders on the forefront of many developments in the community. In what ways would you still like to see Federation change? Richard: First, let me say I'm all for what NEXTGen is doing. I grew up in Detroit in its heyday, when it was a won- derful booming city. It is very exciting to see the creativity and energy NEXTGen is bringing to revitalize our city. Sally: And the initiatives we see at Federation and other agencies are just a sampling of what's going on that's great here in Detroit. Most people don't get the luxury of traveling around the country, hearing the raves. Richard sits on a national board, and when Detroit talks, people listen. They want to know what we're doing. Richard: I do think we still need to develop new leaders in pivotal roles. We "old-timers" are not going away, but we need to pass the baton. We have knowledge, we have history, but we no longer need to be the officers of our boards and chairs of our activities. Of course, I say that having just taken the presidency of the JCRC. But that was a position I was asked to fill because of my involvement over the past year in formulating the new stra- tegic plan. I look forward to seeing that work come to fruition. On Achievements Q: What are your proudest moments? Richard: Currently? Winning the Butzel. I would have felt honored just to know that I was even considered. But having been chosen by the com- munity this year is so meaningful to me because it shows that you can be recognized for a lifetime of effort and work for the community and klal Yisroel [the Jewish people]. In truth, the work is reward enough. Sally: Richard and I were honored in 2012 by Yad Ezra, and to me that was very gratifying. I'm also particu- larly proud of my work on Federation's Miracle Mission. The timing was really challenging — right at the end of the intifada in 2004. We had 600 people originally signed up — and many dropped off, and then we had another 600 people sign up before we left — in an incredible show of solidarity. To me it was a miracle just to see those El Al planes landing in Detroit, ready to take us nonstop to Israel. That trip was a wonderful experience and really a highlight for me. But all things considered, when we look back to all that we've done and the experiences we've had, we can honestly say we've been enriched by our com- munity life. It has added an immeasur- able dynamic to our experience and given us back one-hundredfold to what we've given. ❑ This story was originally published on myJewishDetroit.