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Jewish Communal Leadership graduates: Sharon Alvandi, New York; Lauren Rouff, West
Bloomfield; Haley Schreier, Ann Arbor; Avery Drongowski, Royal Oak; Mariel Schwartz,
Pittsburgh; Annie Shapiro, Minneapolis-Saint Paul; and Melanie Rivkin, Philadelphia.

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n Sunday, April 30, friends,
seven levels of mystical sefirot of the
family and community gath-
Kabbalah to describe the qualities
ered to celebrate the gradu-
that marked their graduating class-
ation of the 2017 Jewish Communal
mates.
Leadership Program (JCLP) cohort
The highlight came from the short
of U-M’s School of Social Work. More
speeches shared by each graduate.
than 70 were in attendance to support The speeches were introspective,
the sixth cohort of JCLP graduates:
dynamic, enthusiastic and demon-
Sharon Alvandi, Avery Drongowski,
strated a deep commitment to social
Melanie Rivkin, Lauren
justice and Jewish communal
Rouff, Haley Schreier, Mariel
work.
Schwartz and Annie Shapiro.
Mariel Schwartz, who
The students earned mas-
aspires to work with the aging
ter of social work degrees
population within the Jewish
and a certificate in Jewish
community, shared that “the
Communal Leadership from
power of service is what drew
the Frankel Center for Judaic
me to the Jewish Communal
Studies.
Leadership Program in the
Tilly Shames
Guests congregated and
first place and what continues
congratulated students while
to connect me to the larger
enjoying a Zingerman’s nosh before
Jewish community today.”
JCLP Program Director Dr. Karla
Melanie Rivkin said, “Before coming
Goldman began the program. School
to JCLP, I was confident in wanting to
of Social Work Dean Lynn Videka and engage young Jews in whatever way
Professor Julian Levinson, director
I could into Judaism and Jewish life.
of graduate students at the Frankel
Today, I have a much more dynamic
Center, also offered welcome remarks
perspective of what young Jews want
and best wishes to the graduates.
to see themselves, and how personal
Tilly Shames, executive director of
our identities are to our relationships
Michigan Hillel since 2008, was cho-
with Judaism and Jewish life.”
sen unanimously by the graduates to
Following the speeches, Goldman
deliver the keynote remarks. She drew addressed each student personally
from her own experiences finding
before awarding them their certificate
her path as a Jewish leader in Hillel.
in Jewish Communal Leadership.
Welcoming the newly minted Jewish
This year’s graduates hope to stay
communal leaders as colleagues, she
put in Southeast Michigan. A few have
urged them to “see potential Jewish
already found employment (at The
leaders all around you and to under-
Well, the Holocaust Memorial Center
stand that your invitation to oth-
and Tamarack Camps); others will
ers, your investment in others, your
be seeking positions in their fields
empowerment of others, your seeing
of interest as they transition to their
others, your taking a risk on others …
new roles as alumni and communal
that is ultimately what I hope you will leaders. •
each do with your degrees and your
To read Tilly Shames’ full address to the
work in our community.”
JCLP graduates, see the posting of this
Jake Ehrlich and Essie Shachar-
story on thejewishnews.com and the Detroit
Hill, both JCLP 2018, drew upon the

Jewish News Facebook page.

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May 25 • 2017

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