YOU'LL HAVE THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE.
Executive Office Building) on staff in
the office of Presidential Personnel the
only thing you think about is work. It's
all about the next deadline, the next
assignment, the next project you have
to get done. Within a few months, most
people move on to something else.
On my last day, I got an appointment
by the president to move to the
Department of Homeland Security. I
remember clearly leaving the EOB on
my last day, walking past the tourists on
the street taking pictures of the building
where I worked for what was a brief, but
unforgettable time, and I realized what a
rare and privileged experience I had.
What did you do in the Department of
Homeland Security?
J: I started as an attorney adviser
to Secretary Janet Napolitano, then
moved over to work for the Deputy
Secretary, Jane Holl Lute. Immigration
and cybersecurity were her two big
issues. My job was to provide her daily
briefing, which meant I'd spend my day
getting ready for her next day's agenda,
preparing whatever material she might
need to get ready for meetings with
TSA, with Science and Technology, with
the Coast Guard, whatever was on
her schedule. Beyond that, she was a
Georgetown and Stanford-educated
lawyer and a voracious reader. Her sharp
intellect made for a challenging work
environment—and many long nights
of research.
What was your greatest challenge?
J: The week of the Boston Marathon
bombing. It started as a regular Monday.
Not much on the calendar, but just
after lunch, everyone's Blackberry
starts buzzing with these news alerts,
"Potential Terror Attack in Boston!"
Suddenly, we were no longer talking
about daily briefings; it was minute-to-
minute, keeping everyone updated.
Got a favorite story about President
Obama that you can share?
J: I was sitting at my computer in
deep concentration when suddenly I
see this large hand on my shoulder, and
there's the voice, "How's it going?" I
thought it was my friend James from
the next-door cubicle imitating the
president! I said something like, "That's
pretty good, James." And I looked up to
see President Obama just smiling ... as
he walked away without saying another
word. So there it was, my one shining
moment alone with the president—
and I thought it was someone doing
an imitation of the president!
Moving Back To Detroit
Since moving back to Detroit in 2013,
what have been your impressions?
be matched in cities like Chicago and
D.C.
J: We didn't know what to expect,
but we had family and connections here.
We also had some good friends who
had moved from D.C. to Huntington
Woods.
L: In D.C., so many of our friends
were transplants. They had come and
gone. Here we have a support system.
In D.C., we had a 700-square foot
apartment. Here we have a home in
Huntington Woods. We have easy access
to the things going on all over the city.
And it's easy to meet people. Everyone
is so welcoming and inclusive. I've never
felt like that in any other place I've lived.
Move to Detroit and it's like you instantly
become part of the community.
NEXTGen and Next Things
What got you involved with Federation
and the NEXTGen Board?
Hebrew Free Loan. My parents were
active in the synagogue, but Federation
was never an organization where they
were involved. To be honest, I wasn't
sure at first that I wanted to get involved
myself. But ultimately, I feel that the
way Federation has created NEXTGen
Detroit as a response to the needs of
the young Jewish community has made
it something Lauren and I want to be a
part of.
L: Jordan and I participated in a
NEXTGen program called Entree. As a
relative newcomer to the community, I
found it a wonderful way to meet people
while learning about all the agencies
and the programs Federation supports.
J: Even for me, Federation would
seem a bit intimidating without
NEXTGen. It's such a complex
organization with all these acronyms
and programs you have no idea what
they do. And, even if you have interest in
helping out, you wouldn't know where
to start. So having the Entree program
goes a long way.
What's next for you?
J: A nonprofit startup with the
mission to raise awareness among
political, business, moral and grassroots
leaders here in Detroit and throughout
the country about the plight of Northern
Iraqi Christians.
I'm working with John Oram of
the Detroit Chaldean community and
Tzvi Raviv to launch an organization
we call the Biblical Christian Rescue
Foundation. It's very early on in the
development, but we feel once it's
launched, the Jewish community will
want to know more. So stay tuned for
our news.
Fisher Theatre • Oct. 20 Nov. 1
BROADWAY iry DETROIT SPONSORED BY
ChryslerDea ler com
ticketmaster.com , 800-982-2787 & box office. Info: BroadwayInDetroit.com ,
313-872-1000. Groups (12+): Groups@BI oadwayInDeti oit.com or 313-871-1132.
Open-captioned performance 7:30PM Oct. 25. US.DirtyDancingOnTour.com
+Tamarack
Camps
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF THE
FRESH AIR SOCIETY & TAMARACK CAMPS
The Annual Meeting of the Fresh Air Society of Detroit ("Tamarack Camps") will be held on
Sunday, August 9, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. at Camp Maas, Ortonville, MI. Every Jewish contributor
who contributed to the most recently completed annual campaigns of both the Jewish Federation
of Metropolitan Detroit and Tamarack Camps shall be entitled to vote.
The following business will be conducted at the Annual Meeting: election of new Directors to the
Board of Directors of Tamarack Camps and approval of several significant changes to the By-Laws
of Tamarack Camps. Proposed changes can be viewed at tamarackcamps.com/bylaws.
In accordance with the current By-Laws of Tamarack Camps, the Nominating Committee met and
designated the following list of nominees for election:
First 2-Year Term
Ending 2017
Laurie Barnett
Michael Cooper
Michael Morse
Richard Simtob
Dr. Jennifer Sobol
Jackie Yashinsky
Barbara Zaltz
Jeff Zeman
Julie Zussman
Second 3-Year Term
Ending 2018
Rabbi Aaron Bergman
Alan M. Gallatin
David Goldman
Janet Gendelman
Aric Melder
Dr. Jefferey Michaelson
Melissa Sherman
Carolyn Tisdale
2015 Nominating
Committee
Serving 2nd Year
of 2-Year Term
Michael Lippitt
Darren Findling
Chair
President
Elizabeth Sollish
Officers Submitted
for Election to a
1-Year Term
Executive Liaison
Steve Engel
Staff Liaison
Stacy Brodsky
First Vice President
Tracy Aronoff
Alan M. Gallatin
Ilana Glazier
David Goldman
Dr. Daniel Klein
Geoff Kretchmer
Joseph Lash
Kathryn Lenter
Steve Robinson
Robert Schwartz
Jeffrey Sternberg
Nancy Komer Stone
Carolyn Tisdale
Dr. Daniel Klein
Vice President
Geoff Kretchmer
Vice President, Development
Robert Schwartz
Treasurer
Michelle Bass
Secretary
❑
L: For Jordan, it was something of a
homecoming. For me, it was more of a
matter of making some choices about
the quality of life — choices that can't
CLASSIC STORY ON STAGE
J: My dad was on the board of
Vivian Henoch is editor of
myjewishdetroitorg where a longer
version of this story first appeared.
Preceding the Annual Meeting, there will be a meeting of the Board of Directors for approval
of the officer slate. Respectfully submitted: The Officers of Tamarack Camps.
jCC
T_J
July 16 • 2015.
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