metro >> here's to A Volunteer Of Valor This Christian woman yearns to educate others about the Holocaust Judy Greenwald I Special to the Jewish News S ince she was a young girl, Cheryl Christmas has felt a connection with and a love for the Jewish people. A deeply spiritual and devout Christian, the 59-year-old Christmas, of Milford, has been married 40 years to husband, James, is a grandmother of seven Cheryl and, as she tells, used Christmas a unique experience to deepen her feelings for Israel. As a child of 5, I found a special place to pray: in a neighbor's oak tree with a perfect crook in it for me to sit comfortably:' she said. "I felt I needed to be up high to reach God in heaven. It was there I heard the word 'Jerusalem three times. I didnt know what to make of it then, just that Jerusalem was a place in the Bible. "For many years I carried Jerusalem in my heart and yearned for a time when I would be able to visit this place in the Holy Land:' Her prayers have been abundantly answered, for this teacher and women's lay leader at Novi's Brightmoor Christian Church has traveled numerous times to Israel. Each trip has brought its own remarkable rewards, she said, including leading groups from her church to visit and bring gifts to Israeli soup kitchens, orphanages and absorption centers, and participating in the Women's Christian Allies Caucus, themed "I Am My Sister's Keeper; which culminated in a solidarity march to the Knesset. Her latest excursion in April 2014 to attend a seminar for Christian leaders on the Holocaust, anti-Semitism and Israel, organized by the Christian Friends of Yad Vashem under the direction of Dr. Susanna Kokkonen, was "a life-changing event" "My application to study in Jerusalem as part of the International School for Holocaust Studies at Yad Vashem was chosen from submissions from around the world; she said. "Being part of this team of Christian leaders from 11 nations, learning from the finest professors and Holocaust educators, fulfilled my heart's desire:' This desire, along with her chari- table nature, inspired her to give back once again, for upon returning home in May, she contacted Selma Silverman, administrator and volunteer coordinator for the Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills, to see if they needed help. 26 October 2 • 2014 JN "I was invited to volunteer on Thursday afternoons and have been doing this every week since my return:' she said. "I love meeting the people that come to the museum. I especially love when I can share information I learned at the seminar. Yom HaShoah took place dur- ing the seminar, and we attended events focused around its commemoration. We were part of the Holocaust remembrance at the Warsaw Ghetto Square Plaza, and we visited Oskar Schindler's grave and met two of the Jews who met at his factory and married. We toured Yad Vashem, and I cried from beginning to end. My love for the Jewish people grew during my studies. I saw the resilient spirit they carry. To be able to create art and music while living in hell was remarkabl' Christmas' positive outlook is apparent to visitors and staff at the center, Silverman shared. "Everyone loves Cheryl; she said. "Of course, she gets smiles when she tells guests her name. Christmas is a joyous time, and Cheryl's personality, dedication and drive reflect the joy she brings to her volunteering. She really wants to let people know what happened to the Jews:" Christmas said, As a Christian, I feel I owe a debt to the Jewish people. After all, they've given me so much — the patri- archs, my messiah — and have kept the word of God safe through the ages within the Torah. "My goal is to share a presentation I've finished, possibly at the museum, to introduce the Christian world to the horrors of the Holocaust. I believe Holocaust education is absolutely vital in this hour:" ❑ 1 Cheryl Christmas stands in front of the Holocaust-era cattle car at the Holocaust Memorial Center. Levin The Michigan Association of Broadcasters recently awarded their hon- ors for 2014. The Distinguished Lifetime of Public Service Award went to Sen. Carl Levin. Detroit Artist and fashion Icon Niagara recently celebrated her 60th birthday, and the ageless beau- ty is as busy as ever with her inclusion in both the group show Niagra "Cruel Summer" at the Jonathan Levine Gallery in New York last month and was included along with the collective she co-found- ed with Mike Kelley, Destroy All Monsters, in September at Chace Center Gallery at the Rhode Island School of Design. The exhibit was titled, "What Nerve!" with Destroy All Monsters, the Hairy Who, Gary Panter and many more genre-tipping talents from the 1960s to present. The board of trust- ees of the Children's Hospital of Michigan Foundation announced a new leadership structure, including a board chair and two vice Friedman chairs, to govern the organization as it grows to serve more pediatric research and education and community benefit programs. The board has elected Matt Friedman of West Bloomfield as its chair. A trustee since 2011, Friedman most recently has served as the board's chair of fund- raising and development and chair of the foundation's $2 million "Dream. Hope. Discover" campaign. Friedman is co-founder of Tanner Friedman Strategic Communications in Farmington Hills. The William Davidson Foundation announced the appointment of Danielle Olekszyk of Bloomfield Hills as its first chief financial officer. A for- mer Crain's Detroit Business 40 under 40 honoree, Olekszyk brings nearly 15 years of accounting and financial management experience to the posi- tion. She will direct the foundation's accounting and financial services, human resources, office and building management, investments, informa- tion technology and insurance cover- age. Matthew Zerwekh was a political sci- ence and compara- tive religion major at Western Michigan University when he started teaching Sunday school at Temple B'nai Israel in Kalamazoo. He was recently installed as the first full-time rabbi at Temple B'nai Israel since 1969, mark- ing what he and lay leaders hope will be a time of renewed growth and faith for the liberal congregation. The Detroit Symphony Orchestra has promoted Scott Harrison to vice president for Advancement & External Relations. He will lead the Harrison DSO's advancement and communications teams tasked with meeting the DSO's gift and grant requirements for general operating support, endowment and other special needs. He will also continue to build one-to-one relationships with the orchestra's highest value patrons, funders and sponsors and support the DSO leadership in strategic fundrais- ing and planning initiatives. CNN recently named Rabbi Elimelech Goldberg as a one of its Heroes. For 12 years he worked at a camp for children battling cancer. He often witnessed the pain and discomfort many of them endured while undergo- ing medical procedures. In 1999, Goldberg founded Kids Kicking Cancer, which provides free martial arts classes focused on breathing tech- niques and meditation for children battling serious illnesses. Through classes and one-on-one support, Kids Kicking Cancer has helped more than 5,000 children and their families. The organization began in Michigan and has since expanded its programs to New York, Los Angeles and Florida and internationally to Italy, Israel and Canada. In recognition of Goldberg and all the KKC heroes, a generous supporter has offered to match all donations to the organization through Oct. 31. To donate, go to the website kidskickingcancer.org/donations.