jews d in the continued from page 20 Eleanor Gamalski Celebrating the 2018 Honorees Harriet Berg Barbara Goodman, PhD Robert Lask Ellen Magar Edith Maniker Alvin M. Saperstein, PhD Dr. Manuel Sklar George Stern SUNDAY, APRIL 29 Luncheon and Reunion of Past Honorees 11:30am Dietary Laws Observed Adat Shalom Synagogue, Farmington Hills PRESENTING SPONSOR Colburn Group Insurance Family of Barbara Goodman, PhD GOLD SPONSORS Belfor Property Restoration Elaine J. Beresh Deloitte Robin & Leo Eisenberg, Max, Anna & Louis G. Fisher Construction Honigman Allen Maniker & David Kleer Princeton Enterprises RHP Properties Heather & Lowell Salesin Yad Ezra Sponsorships as of this date Reservations required SILVER SPONSORS Amrock I Commercial Dawda Mann Edward I. Fleischman Foundation +HQU\)RUG:HVW%ORRPÀHOG+RVSLWDO RED Capital Markets, LLC Deborah & Steve Rosenthal RSM Development & Management 6FKHFKWHU%HQHÀWV$GYLVRUV Star Trax Events Robert C. Wakely AIA / Architects For... Journal Ads, Event Tickets visit www.jslmi.org or call Renee Fein at 248-592-5028 or rfein@jslmi.org Proceeds Benefit Quality of Life Fund 22 March 29 • 2018 jn Jordyn Singer T’chiyah in Oak Park, was mentored by Detroit activists while in the urban studies program at University of Michigan. “They led me to believe that if I wanted to be a part of movements of justice, Detroit was the place I had to be. People are waking up to see all the work we have to do to fight white supremacy and inequality. I have felt a particular responsibility to take advantage of this moment and bring more people into social justice work.” Marcie Paul said her daughter, 21, a U-M senior, had been “astonishingly apolitical” until the 2016 election. “After the election, she felt rage at the attacks against women and minorities. She saw how the Michigan legislature makes it difficult for col- lege students to vote — they can’t vote absentee their first time, and they can’t register in the district where they go to school. If they can’t go home on Election Day, they’re effectively disen- franchised,” she said. Paul said it’s been exciting to see her daughter’s growing awareness. “Finally, she gets it!” she said. CONSERVATIVE ACTIVISTS Some Jewish women are becoming activists on the conservative side as well. Lena Epstein says she’d always been a Republican; she just didn’t realize it till she studied economics at Harvard University. Now she’s serving as a role model to younger women. Epstein, 36, of Bloomfield Hills is co-owner of the Vesco Oil Company, founded by her paternal grandfather, Lena Epstein Sharon Schwartz Eugene Epstein, 70 years ago. In 2012, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder appointed her to the Michigan Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board, and she became a grassroots organiz- er and fundraiser for the Republican Party. During the Obama administration, Epstein decided she wanted out from behind the scenes. In 2016, she gained visibility as the Michigan campaign co-chair for Donald Trump. Last year, she decided to run for office, first for the U.S. Senate and then for the U.S. House in District 11, where Rep. Dave Trott is retiring. The district includes Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Commerce, Farmington, Walled Lake and West Bloomfield. Jordyn Singer, 19, a University of Michigan sociology sophomore from West Bloomfield, had been working on campus to counter sexual miscon- duct and gender-based violence but felt “disengaged” from politics. That changed when she met Epstein. “I recognized that Lena was going to contribute many positive things to the GOP community, so I became involved as an intern on her senate campaign over the summer,” Singer said. “I got the chance to attend Michigan Republican conferences and interact with many other GOP members throughout the state. Lena inspired me to want to make great changes in the realms of policy, poli- tics and advocacy.” Epstein says more women are involved in GOP state politics and in college Republican clubs now than in 2012. • Yad Ezra Pesach Yad Ezra volunteer Bert Stein, left, and others prepare Passover packages before the holiday. For 28 years, Yad Ezra/Moies Chetim Organization of Detroit have joined forces to distribute Passover groceries to 1,300 low-income local Jewish families. Every family received all the items necessary to make a seder and for the holiday. Additional produce was donated by Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeast Michigan, and baby parsley plants were also given to families for their seder tables. The two-day distribution March 25-26 was handled by 60 volunteers directed by Darlene Rothman, client/volunteer manager, and David Jaffee, warehouse manager. •