metro >> around town

70 Years Later Holocaust Center hosts Germany's first native-born rabbi since WWII.

Mr1 he Holocaust Memorial Center
recently hosted Rabbi Yitzchak
Mendel Wagner, the first
German-born rabbi since World War II.
He presented "Germany: 70 years Later"
through photos and his own personal
accounts to an audience of 550.
The 90-minute presentation showed
how Jewish life has evolved in his com-
munity of Krefeld from 1765 to today,
including how the first Jews returned after
WWII and how the Jewish population
increased through immigration from the
Soviet Union after 1989.

At the event, Alan Zekelman presented
Wagner with a special mezuzah case cus-
tom-made by Holocaust survivor Martin
Lowenberg, who was born in Germany,
where he was later imprisoned in the Riga
Ghetto with many former residents of
Krefeld. Lowenberg created the mezuzah
in memory of those who died in Riga and
in honor of the community Wagner is
building in Krefeld today.
Lori and Alan Zekelman were the
event's supporters, with additional sup-
port provided by the PNC Foundation.

❑

Audience members, including Aaron and Malka Blumenfeld and board member Alan
Zekelman, foreground

ove is on we have. the only way

hot each con help the other'.

Rabbi Yitzchak Mendel Wagner with Event Chairs Andy and
Stacy Doctoroff

Sharing Stories

Mark Webber (who died on June 5)
and his wife, Ruth Webber

Stewart Shear and David

Marion Stein and Rita Seidman

Gumenick

The Levin brothers talk of Detroit and their family at Historical Society dinner.

all he Gem Theatre in Detroit turned out to be the
perfect setting for the Jewish Historical Society
of Michigan's 56th Annual Meeting on May 28.
More than 200 JHSM members and friends strolled the
historic building that dates to 1903 when it was built as
a social club by the Twentieth Century Association, a
group of civic- and philanthropic-minded women.
The highlight of the evening was the presentation
of the 2015 Leonard N. Simons History Award to Carl
Levin, who was honored for his commitment to pre-
serving Michigan's Jewish history as well as supporting
the JHSM mission. Following the award presentation,
Levin was joined on stage by his daughter, Kate Levin
Markel, as well as his brother U.S. Rep. Sander Levin

and his son, Andy Levin. Led by their children, the
Levin brothers engaged in a conversation reflecting on
family, Detroit and history.
JHSM is known for its inventive and engaging ways
of gathering, sharing and celebrating Michigan's Jewish
history. The organization publishes Michigan Jewish
History, an annual journal that was recently digitized
and made available through the organization's website
(www.michjewishhistory.org).
At the annual meeting, JHSM President Michael
Maddin announced the creation of a new JHSM
Speakers Bureau that will feature customized presenta-
tions, including the newly released Life on Hastings
Street mini-documentary produced by JHSM.

❑

Kate Levin Markel passes the microphone to her
father, Carl Levin.

t

Mary Lou Zieve, daughter of Leonard N. Simons, presents

the 2015 Leonard N. Simons History Award to Carl Levin.
They are joined by JHSM President Michael Maddin.

22

July 2 • 2015

Liz, Lesley and Andrea Kannon were honored
as Volunteers of the Year for their work in
establishing JHSM's annual J-Cycle.

Jacqui Elkus, Margery Jablin, Barbara Eskin and
Barbara Grant

