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JOHN HARDWICK

in
the

From The
Heart Of Texas

Meet Federation President Beverly Liss.

VIVIAN HENOCH SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

L

isten carefully and you still hear that Texas lilt
in her voice. From Corpus Christi, Beverly Liss
has committed herself wholeheartedly to Jewish
Detroit since moving to the community 45 years ago. For
her beloved husband, Arthur, for her family and close
friends — those who have watched and lauded her com-
munity work and steady rise through the ranks of the
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit — it comes as
no surprise that Beverly Liss is Federation’s 28th presi-
dent.

A “WOMAN’S GIFT”

For as long as there has been a “Woman’s Department”
(now Women’s Philanthropy) at Federation, women have
gathered in friendship, strengthened their connections
and welcomed one another with open arms. Look no
further than Federation to find a long history of extraor-
dinary women in Jewish Detroit — women who have
made lasting contributions as volunteers, community
organizers, fundraisers, leaders, philanthropists, officers
on boards, presidents and CEOs of agencies.
Now at the start of her three-year term as president of

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January 11 • 2018

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Federation’s Board of Governors, Beverly Liss acknowl-
edges the influence of the women whose footsteps
she has followed. “Past presidents Penny Blumenstein
[1998-2001] and Nancy Grosfeld [2008-2011] have totally
inspired me,” she says. “In fact, I think of every Women’s
Philanthropy president as an outstanding example of
what a Jewish leader should be. We’re dear friends and
continue to work together.
“I think about Doreen Hermelin, so graciously host-
ing events and mentoring young women — or Dulcie
Rosenfeld, going strong at 90, still traveling to the part-
nership region with the Israel and Overseas Committee,”
she adds.
Self-described as honest and a good listener with a
sense of fair play, Beverly holds a record of volunteer ser-
vice spanning more than 40 years. A dedicated communi-
ty activist, organizer and fundraiser, she has held numer-
ous top leadership roles, including co-founder and chair
of the Jewish Women’s Foundation (2003-2005), president
of Women’s Campaign and Education Department (1998-
2000), chair of Federation’s Annual 2008-2009 Campaigns
and chair of Federation’s Alliance for Jewish Education.

She has been part of the leadership team on numerous
missions to Israel, including Federation’s Miracle Mission
III and the Family Mission. In other leadership roles,
she has served as president of Adat Shalom Synagogue
and as a board member of Hillel Day School, the
Jewish Community Center, the Jewish Fund, the Fisher
Foundation and Friends of Bar-Ilan University. Beverly is
an avid supporter of Yad Ezra and Gleaner’s Community
Food Bank.
Known to bring homemade mandel bread to meet-
ings, Beverly manages to maintain a gentle equilib-
rium between her home life and public life. “I dream of
Federation as one big family tent where we all belong,”
she says.
At home, she enjoys time and space for her own
creative endeavors: painting, baking and cooking for a
crowd. Residents of Bloomfield Hills, Beverly and Arthur
are proud parents of Jeremy (married to Stephanie) and
Lindsey — both in Chicago — and Zachary (married to
Ilana) in Bloomfield Hills; the Liss family is also blessed
with nine grandchildren: Micah, Max, Jesse, Levi, Tate,
Georgia, Lily, Eden and Ruby.