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Supporting Soldiers
FIDF annual dinner honors Spencer Partrich, raises $1.5 million.
M
ore than 1,100 prominent lay leaders and
FIDF supporters from across Michigan
gathered Nov. 3 for the Friends of the
Israel Defense Forces Michigan Gala Dinner honoring
Spencer M. Partrich, a philanthropist and co-owner of
Lautrec Ltd., a Farmington Hills-based real estate man-
agement and development firm.
The gala raised more than $1.5 million for well-being
and educational programs for the soldiers of the Israel
Defense Forces (IDF), including sponsorship for more
than 50 new FIDF IMPACT! scholarships for Israeli com-
bat veterans.
Attending the gala were wounded Israeli war hero
Capt. Ziv Shilon, who lost his arm in a Hamas terror
attack near the Gaza Strip security fence; retired U.S.
Marine Corps veteran Gunnery Sgt. Edward Schrank,
whose life was saved when he was diagnosed with a
potentially terminal brain tumor during treatment for
a head wound he sustained in the line of duty; and
IMPACT! Scholarship recipient reserve Staff Sgt. Elior, a
former paratrooper who participated in one of the first
rescue missions in northern Gaza during Operation Cast
Lead.
When dinner speaker Ron Dermer, Israeli
Ambassador to the U.S., was called back to Israel by
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he was able to
address the crowd by video.
Netanyahu also spoke via video, thanking Detroiters
for their support of Israeli soldiers and commending
FIDF "for honoring a very special individual, my close
friend and a committed, dedicated Jew, Spencer M.
Partrich."
Partrich said, "The real honor belongs to the brave
men and women of the IDF. The threats we face are more
profound than ever, and it is these soldiers who put their
lives in harm's way every day to protect and defend the
State of Israel — and Jews everywhere. It is paramount
that we, in turn, give back to them" *
Jackson Partrich, Samantha Partrich, Ross Partrich, Charlotte
Brown, co-chair Myrna Partrich, AH Partrich, Tatum Partrich, hon-
oree Spencer M. Partrich, co-chair Joel Brown; Oliver Brown; Stella
Brown; Eliza Brown; and co-chair Andrea Brown
FIDF supporters David and Kelly Victor, Rob Orley, Lauren
FIDF Michigan Director of Development Paula Lebowitz;
Bean, Marcie Hermelin Orley and Brian Hermelin
treasurer Rick Bloom; FIDF National Director/CEO reserve
Honoree Spencer M. Partrich and his wife, Myrna, flank the
FIDF IMPACT! scholarship recipient they sponsor and IDF
Maj. Gen. Meir Klifi-Amir; and IDF Col. Dany Moshyov.
Sgt. 1st Class Elior, IDF Col. Dany Moshyov.
Veterans Day
Jewish Senior Life honors residents for their military service.
ewish Senior Life featured many
opportunities to honor military vet-
erans living in JSL residences around
Veterans Day.
They participated in Operation Pal
by writing letters to current U.S. soldiers
injured in the line of duty; they were hon-
ored at a party at Coville Assisted Living
Apartments, home to five vets, and Prentis
Apartments in Oak Park; they heard a
patriotic concert by Christine Schinker at
Hechtman Apartments in West Bloomfield,
j
Lev Goldman and Khaya Potashinskaya
20 December 10 . 2015
JN
home to 20 veterans from WWII, Korea
and the Canadian and Israeli armies; they
were feted at Meer Apartments in West
Bloomfield, home to 16 vets, mostly from
WWII; and a veterans recognition event was
held at Fleischman Residence/Blumberg
Plaza in West Bloomfield, home to 15 vets,
including one woman who served in WWII.
Residents Frank Machlis (WWII vet) and
Donny Schlossberg (Korea vet) were featured
Nov. 9 on WXYZ-TV, talking about their
military experiences. *
Fleischman Residence hosted a recognition event for its 15 veteran residents.
Jewish War Veterans: Kenneth Weitman, Art Fishman
Fleischman residents Fay Smith and Lou Linden look at a
and Jerry Order.
veterans display with JSL staffer Nick Earnest.