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Young Israel of Oak Park and Young Israel of Southfield partnered April
30 with the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) Michigan Chapter
to host a brunch honoring Israel’s soldiers.
They welcomed guest speaker Sgt. Michael Solomon, a post-combat
IDF soldier who served in the Nachal 932nd battalion during Operation
Protective Edge. He shared that while stationed in northern Judea and
Samaria, many times their unit successfully prevented attacks when
terrorists attempted to get into Israel. He said he “fully understood the
importance of protecting the citizens who live up north and live every
day in fear of repeated attacks.”
Solomon is currently an FIDF Impact Scholarship program recipient
studying at Ruppin College in Israel, thanks to the Hersch and Sherizen
families who are sponsoring his university studies in memory of Betty
Solomon Hersch. The program grants four-year academic scholar-
ships to combat and combat support soldiers in need, enabling them to
achieve their dreams of higher education. •

places

A record-breaking 510 attendees at the ninth-annual JVS Trade Secrets
honored two women who reinvented themselves after their lives were
dramatically changed in an instant. Honorary chair and keynote speaker
Connie Holzer, CEO of Tom Holzer Ford, headlined the March 29 dinner
event at the Troy Marriott. Holzer spoke about the uncertainty and
challenges she faced in 2006 when her husband of 52 years passed
away, leaving her to run a business during difficult economic times.
Holzer’s inspirational story parallels the stories of JVS Women to Work
participants who seek help from JVS after major life changes. Program
participant Kimberly Baker was honored with the JVS Women to Work
Award for her success in rebuilding her life after a divorce. Local media
personality Sherry Margolis emceed the event, which raised more than
$260,000 to support the Women to Work program and other JVS
services for women job seekers. •

Connie Holzer,
honorary chair
and keynote
speaker, with
Kimberly Baker,
Women to Work
Award winner

Rabbi Yechiel Morris of Young Israel of Southfield and brunch attendees

Terry Brickman, IDF Sgt. Michael Solomon,
Lisa Hersch Solomon

IDF Sgt. Michael Solomon, Eli Sherizen

Event co-chairs: Joseph and Jill Greenbaum, Dr. Susie and Eddie Kresch, Dr. Marty Kornblum,
Dr. Robert Kelman, IDF Sgt. Michael Solomon, Milt Neuman and Paula Lebowitz, FIDF Michigan
Chapter director of development.

38

May 25 • 2017

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Harry Glanz of Capital Mortgage Funding, an event sponsor,
Sherry Shanbom, Andrea Siegel and Bobby Efros

Aaron Chernow, chair of the JVS Board of
Trustees; Leah Rosenbaum, JVS president
and CEO; and Paul Blatt, JVS executive vice
president and COO

Sherry Margolis, emcee,
from WJBK Fox 2 News

Trade Secrets co-chairs Linda Schlesinger-
Wagner and Kristen Gross