jews d
in
the
back to school
The
Schleppers
High school student
starts schlepping
service for seniors.
Leadership Trip
Jackson Partrich
STACY GITTLEMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
JUDY GREENWALD CONTRIBUTING WRITER
U
ber cars are everywhere.
And for many people, this
well-known mode of transpor-
tation is fast becoming the way to go
when seeking a ride.
Now, an enterprising 16-year-old
has taken this concept and personal-
ized it, creating a similar service for
local senior citizens — The Schleppers
— offering affordable, private trans-
portation in the Oakland County area.
Jackson Partrich of West
Bloomfield, who’ll be a senior at
Frankel Jewish Academy (FJA) this
coming school year, said his love for
his grandparents was the driving force
in starting his business, which began
operations in March 2017 and now
includes two other drivers.
“I love spending time with my
grandparents and listening to their
stories,” the personable Partrich said.
“Also, FJA has wonderful programs
that teach us to give back to the com-
munity. One way students give back is
helping the senior citizen community.
These days, Uber is so popular, so I
thought of merging Uber with the
needs of seniors.”
Giving back to the community is
just one part of the values the active
youth uses in all areas of his life.
Partrich, who attends services at
Southfield-based Congregation
Shaarey Zedek with his family, is a
member of BBYO, Friendship Circle,
the National Honor Society and FJA’s
varsity soccer team. In everything he
does, he promotes the ideas of both
tikkun olam, and dor l’dor, creating a
connection between generations.
“At Schleppers, it’s all about mak-
ing bonds with seniors,” he explained.
“Our slogan is: ‘A Ride to Take, A Bond
to Make.’ Schleppers is about bringing
the high school senior community
together with the senior adult com-
munity.
“We’ll drive people wherever they
need to go — to doctors’ appoint-
ments, stores, restaurants or to visit
32
August 24 • 2017
jn
Tamarack seniors bring their
new skills back to campers.
family and friends.”
Two of Partrich’s riders have
expressed their pleasure with The
Schleppers service and the positive
attributes of its young creator.
Rosemarie Karbal calls Partrich her
friend and has used The Schleppers
many times.
“I’ve found them to be on-time,
courteous and willing to help me in
any way,” she said. “They go above and
beyond.”
Another rider, Fern Kepes, agreed.
“Jackson is a responsible, hard-work-
ing young man. He’s always polite and
very helpful. He takes his business
and clients very seriously. He’s friendly,
polite and respectful, and I’d highly
recommend him to any of my family
and friends.”
Clients interested in using his ser-
vice can simply visit The Schleppers
website (www.theschleppers.com) and
fill out an intake card outlining their
needs. Partrich’s rates range from $8
for pick-up and drop-off to $12 an
hour running errands.
Partrich said he and his other driv-
ers have handled a dozen different
customers thus far, and due to strong
demand, he plans to add additional
employees. He noted his business
experiences will serve him well. His
plans include attending the University
of Michigan, where he’ll major in
political science and minor in the uni-
versity’s Innovate Blue entrepreneur-
ship program.
“I’ve learned about the importance
of time management and organiza-
tion, and how important personal
relationships are when running a
business,” he noted.
“I’m a great listener, a responsible
and careful driver and an enthusiastic
companion,” Partrich said. “Seniors
may not feel comfortable calling an
Uber or using that technology. I’m
excited to offer my services to make
seniors’ lives easier, more efficient and
more fun, too!” •
A
“It was a real eye-opener for them,”
s the cabins empty and the
said Jackie Yashinsky, Tamarack Teen
first loads of post-camp
Programs Coordinator, who accom-
laundry hit the washing
machines, Tamarack Camps has a lot panied the teens in Israel. “As they
endured the hiking, they devel-
to celebrate from the 2017
ABOVE: Jillian oped not only an appreciation
season, including the first
Tukel, Danielle for the intense training, but they
leadership training trip to
Israel for the oldest campers Portal, Naomi also began to rely on each other
Kantor, Lily
for support.”
and the completion of a new
Hooberman and
Also leading the Israel trip
staff lodge.
Mika Golan.
were Rabbis Joshua Bennett
In past years, campers
of Temple Israel and Michael
entering their senior year in
Moskowitz of Temple Shir Shalom
high school would participate in the
who imparted their wisdom about
TSS program, shadowing counselors
Israel from historical, cultural and
and staff and learning the ropes.
religious perspectives.
This year, these seniors received
As he walked through Jerusalem
leadership training in Israel on the
with the teens — half of whom
first Tamarack Camp Israel Teen
had already traveled to Israel —
Leadership Trip.
Moskowitz said he shared “the sto-
A $1 million endowment gift from
ries of our people, both ancient and
Allan and Joy Nachman to the Jewish
contemporary, that serve as lessons
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit’s
in our lives.” These stories led to con-
Centennial Fund will allow Detroit’s
Jewish teens to experience Israel with versations that illustrated the many
examples of Jewish leadership from
a leadership focus for years to come.
generation to generation.
“Tamarack Camps had a vision of
“From King David choosing
making a trip to Israel the pinnacle of
Jerusalem as his capital to the para-
their camp experience and, this year,
trooper unifying Jerusalem to the
we are proud of this first successful
trip helping to create leaders both for entrepreneur creating a tech startup,
through these stories I am confident
our camp and our community,” said
our teens will continue to reflect
Tracy Aronoff of Tamarack Camps.
upon and find meaning within,”
“They returned to camp eager to
Moskowitz said. “And when individu-
share their experiences and passion
for Israel with younger campers. This als get to have this experience with
connection with Israel is sure to carry a cohesive and intimate group, the
importance and value of community
through as they prepare for college
is brought to light even more.”
and beyond.”
Being a camp counselor is hard
The four-week trip included
work. That’s why staff were espe-
time spent with Israeli teens in the
cially appreciative this summer for
Central Galilee region — Detroit’s
the Sue and Alan J. Kaufman Family
Partnership2Gether region — and
Staff Lodge. Following Tamarack’s
a challenging “boot camp” hike
annual board meeting Sunday, July
through the Negev Desert led by
31, the Kaufman family visited camp
members of the Israeli Defense
Forces. Campers wore army uniforms for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the
new lodge, complete with a large,
and carried stretchers weighted with
screened-in porch, exercise room,
sandbags while taking orders from
piano, computers and hammocks
IDF commanders. They experienced
that provides a place for counselors
a bit of what their teen Israeli coun-
to mingle and relax. •
terparts will undergo in the army.