jews d
in
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ůĚĞƌďƵƐĞǁĂƌĞŶĞƐƐĂLJ
Friday, June 15, 2018
continued from page 44
Together, Jewish Senior Life and Jewish Family
^ĞƌǀŝĐĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĂŶĂŌĞƌŶŽŽŶŽĨůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐĂŶĚ
ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶĂďŽƵƚůĚĞƌďƵƐĞĂŶĚůĚĞƌ:ƵƐƟĐĞ͘
&ĞĞůĨƌĞĞƚŽĂƩĞŶĚƚŚĞƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ;ƐͿŽĨLJŽƵƌĐŚŽŝĐĞ͘
to immediately diving into every
single detail of the business, which
is a rare balance and underscores
his passion for, and how much he
cares about, the brand.”
Entrepreneurship has been a
passion of Katzman’s for years,
including a 2006 business started
during his years as a Groves stu-
dent called Purple Gang Clothing.
“Like I said, he always seems
to be ahead of the curve,” Fenkell
says. “He was one of the first peo-
ple in the country to order a Tesla.
Also, he is probably one of the only
people — at least that I know —
with a DeLorean.”
Rabbi Shemtov’s friendship with
Alex’s family goes back 20 years.
He met Alex when Alex was a
young child through his friendship
with a close friend, his unforget-
table grandfather, Morrie Fenkell
of blessed memory.
“I always saw Alex as a warm
and very sensitive person. I know
that Alex is deeply moved by the
positive effects that he is having
on people’s lives,” Shemtov says.
“Alex’s grandfather, Morrie,
owned a bank, and all the stories
he ever told me were about his
ability to help people through his
business. I am not surprised that
Alex followed in the tradition of
doing well by doing good.”
Alex’s sister Jane Fenkell
Kushner said her brother has
always been driven to pursue his
passions, whether it’s music, a
sports team he was involved with
growing up or becoming a top-
level sommelier, going to Ohio to
become certified. “When he gets
WƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƟŽŶƐůŽĐĂƚĞĚĂƚ
&ůĞŝƐĐŚŵĂŶZĞƐŝĚĞŶĐĞͬůƵŵďĞƌŐWůĂnjĂ
ϲϳϭϬtĞƐƚDĂƉůĞZĚ͕͘tĞƐƚůŽŽŵĮĞůĚ
1:00-2:00
ůĚĞƌďƵƐĞϭϬϭ
Melissa Machac, MA
Disability Network Oakland & Macomb
2:00-3:00
&ŝŶĂŶĐŝĂůďƵƐĞ
LaToya Hall, MSW
Wayne State University SAFE Program
3:00-4:00
1:00-5:00
ϭϬdŚŝŶŐƐzŽƵEĞĞĚƚŽ<ŶŽǁƚŽWƌŽƚĞĐƚzŽƵƌƐĞůĨ
Katy Graham, JD
ŝƌĞĐƚŽƌŽĨWƌŽŐƌĂŵƐͬDĂŶĂŐŝŶŐƩŽƌŶĞLJ
Neighborhood Legal Services Michigan
Elder Law and Advocacy Center
Antonia Harbin-Lamb, JD, MBA
'ƌĞĂƚ>ĂŬĞƐ>ĞŐĂůDĞĚŝĂƟŽŶŝǀŝƐŝŽŶ
Tours of Jewish Senior Life and resources from
:ĞǁŝƐŚ&ĂŵŝůLJ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞĂƚĂŶLJƟŵĞ
Light refreshments will be served
&ŽƌŵŽƌĞŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶƉůĞĂƐĞĐĂůůϮϰϴ-ϱϵϮ-ϱϬϰϴ
This event is made possible through the generosity of the Jewish Women’s
&ŽƵŶĚĂƟŽŶ
dŚĞĞŶƚĞƌĨŽƌůĚĞƌďƵƐĞWƌĞǀĞŶƟŽŶŝƐĂĐŽůůĂďŽƌĂƟŽŶďĞƚǁĞĞŶ
Jewish Senior Life and Jewish Family Service
IMMIGRATION LAW FIRM
ANTONE, CASAGRANDE & ADWERS, P.C.
Representation in
all areas of family
and business
immigration law.
N. PETER ANTONE
JEFFREY S. PITT
www.antone.com or email at law@antone.com
8.JMF3E 4UFt'BSNJOHUPO)JMMT .*
Ph: 248-406-4100
Fax: 248-406-4101
Glassman Genesis
Valet Service
Jeff Stewart
Assistant New Car Sales Manager
Serving the Community Since 1969
248-636-2736
Complimentary
Maintenance
Serving Our Community For Over 45 Years!
5FMFHSBQI3Et4PVUIýFMEt
XXXHMBTTNBOHFOFTJTDPN
46
June 7 • 2018
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2168010
his mind set on something, he will
go as far as needed to make sure
he’ll be successful,” she says.
He has a strong allegiance to
the Detroit community through
school, camp and religious affili-
ations, and Jane mentioned their
mother, Karen, as a wonderful
lifelong supporter of both of her
children.
Fenkell studies on a regular basis
with Shemtov’s son, Laibel, and
they share a unique respect and
connection. Rabbi Yisrael Pinson,
too, has known Alex for more
than a decade, since his teenage
years, through his father’s illness
and passing. He has watched the
tremendous hours and commit-
ment that have been dedicated
to this endeavor. After much con-
centrated effort, “seeing the fruits
of his success is a tremendous
joy and brings out great nachas,”
says Pinson of Chabad of Greater
Downtown Detroit.
Jake Cohen, venture capital
investor and partner at Detroit
Venture Partners, has watched the
SmileDirectClub journey from its
earliest of days.
“Alex took risks, worked harder
than anyone, worked through very
challenging lows and hasn’t let
himself get too satisfied with the
highs,” Cohen says. “He is humble,
which means he can also listen
and learn from people. I’m not at
all surprised that Alex has become
one of the most successful entre-
preneurs I’ve met.”
That’s something to smile
about. •