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continued from page 58

the Jewish Federation and then the
United Jewish Foundation?
I would say first it’s the friends I’ve
made! Through the years, so many of
our friendships have grown from the
Federation family. We’ve shared the
same values, the same upbringing,
the same desires to be successful in
our profession and to give back to the
community.
Given all the friends and oppor-
tunities I’ve had, I’d call just about
everything I’ve done a sweet memory.
But looking back, one of the stand-
outs is my involvement with the first
of our community’s Teen Missions,
back in the 1990s when Jane Sherman
and Temple Israel developed the con-
cept.
When I heard that my Rabbi Nevins
at Adat Shalom was among the group
of rabbis traveling with the kids, I
decided to fly on my own and follow
the Mission for 10 days. That turned
into a transformational experience,
not only for the teens, but also for me.
I became chair of both the second
and third Teen Missions, and to this
day, I can look back at those experi-
ences with great pleasure and pride.
Q: In your view, how have
Federation and the Foundation
changed over the years?
If there’s one thing that hasn’t
changed for as long as I can remem-
ber, it’s that we never have enough
resources to do what we want to do
for our community. Education of our
young people continues to be a prior-
ity. Taking care of our seniors is loom-
ing as a larger challenge. Engaging

young people and developing their
leadership skills will always be an
imperative for the community.
One observation — as a result of
changing times and growing needs —
Federation runs more like a business
today in the way it is professionally
organized and structured. As a busi-
nessman myself, I can appreciate that
fact.
Q: How many times have you been
to Israel and what were some of the
most memorable missions?
I’ve been to Israel 20 times. One of
the most extraordinary mission expe-
riences I had was Federation’s first
community-wide Miracle Mission,
which David Hermelin led in 1993 in
celebration of Israel’s 45th anniversa-
ry. On that record-breaking mission,
1,300 Detroiters boarded three char-
tered El Al flights from Detroit Metro
Airport direct to Tel Aviv.
Most recently, I had the opportuni-
ty to participate in the Social Progress
Mission, led by Mark Davidoff, for
leading cultural institutions and
foundations in the region. Our group
included representatives from the
DIA, DSO, the Detroit Opera Theater,
the University Music Society of Ann
Arbor, the Davidson Foundation,
Kresge Foundation and the Kellogg
Foundation. I was invited because
I now serve as executive director of
Cabaret 313, a nonprofit organization
presenting cabaret performances
in Downtown Detroit. The mission
was an amazing meeting of creative
minds — a unique opportunity to see
Israel through new eyes.

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September 14 • 2017

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