28 March 28 • 2019
jn

D

r. Charles Silow, director of 
the Program for Holocaust 
Survivors and Families, 
a service of Jewish Senior Life, 
and the Children of Holocaust 
Survivors Association in Michigan 
(C.H.A.I.M.), was honored for his 25 
years of service with the Americanism 
Medal from the Daughters of the 
American Revolution. 
In a ceremony Sunday, March 24, 
at the Holocaust Memorial Center 
in Farmington Hills, Silow received 
this award, given by the DAR to nat-
uralized citizens for their outstanding 
contributions to the nation. He is also 
being recognized for his Holocaust 
educational work “Portraits of Honor: 
Our Michigan Holocaust Survivors,” 
a permanent exhibit at the Holocaust 
Memorial Center (portraitsofhonor.
org). 
“On a personal level, I’
m thrilled,” 
Silow said. “On a more general level, it 
gives us a greater opportunity to talk 
about the contributions of Holocaust 
survivors and their children to 
American society, and to raise further 
awareness about the Holocaust itself.”
Silow was nominated by Sylvia 
Nelson, a DAR member and longtime 

C.H.A.I.M. board member and volun-
teer with the Program for Holocaust 
Survivors and Families and its Café 
Europa. She started the process three 
or four months ago and said require-
ments included historical documenta-
tion, which contained Silow’
s parents’
 
naturalization papers. 
“There were questions back and 
forth,” she said. “They use archivists 
and geneaologists. It’
s a very difficult 
process and the medal is hard to win. 
It’
s a big honor. I’
m incredibly excit-
ed.”
While doing research, they uncov-
ered the name of the ship Silow and 
his parents came over on as well as 
an original copy of the ship’
s manifest 
with his parents’
 names on it, which 
she presented to Silow at the medal 
ceremony. Previously, Nelson also was 
instrumental in successfully nominat-
ing local survivor Erna Gorman for 
the Americanism Medal. 
“The DAR is not what I used to 
think it was; it’
s not as insular,” Silow 
said. “They are doing a lot of outreach 
and good for American society by 
reaching out to naturalized citizens. 
I feel proud to represent the survivor 
community.” ■

KERI GUTEN COHEN STORY DEVELOPMENT EDITOR

DAR Honors Silow 
For 25 Years Of Service

jews d
in 
the
Dr. Charles Silow 

with his medal, 

plaque and family: 

Shoshana, Naomi 

and wife, Sarah 

Hartman-Silow.

SYLVIA NELSON

The second in the Interfaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan 
Detroit’
s Spring Lecture Series “Exploring Roles of Women across the 
Faith Traditions” takes place from 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, April 9, at the 
Huntington Woods home of Rabbi Dorit and Shimon Edut (address pro-
vided upon registration). 
The session, “Women in Faith Leadership,” features an open conversa-
tion with three women, all local leaders who have chosen roles in their 
personal faith communities as a core component of their life’
s mission. 
Paula Drewek (Baha’
i), Abi Taylor-Abt (Jewish) and Sr. Nancy Marie 
Jamroz (Christian) will share their personal and professional journeys. 
Register at iflc.wufoo.com/forms/s1ugrihn0p1jpdl. ■

Women in Faith Leadership

PHOTO CREDIT JERRY ZOLYNSKY

To shine the public spotlight on young people in our

community, the JN, the Jewish Community Center and the

Youth Professionals Network created Rising Stars: Teens

Making a Difference, a showcase that will highlight 18

remarkable Jewish pre-teens and teens in the Metro Detroit

area. Those selected will be featured in an issue of the JN

and will also be recognized on the JN, JCC and JFamily social

media pages.

Nominees must live in Michigan, identify as Jewish and be

students in grades 6-12; they can be self-nominated or may 

be nominated by others today through March 30.

Nominees should be recognized for impact, contribution

and/or achievement in areas including (but not limited) to:


Seeking
Terrific Teens!

To nominate yourself or a teen you know, go to 

thejewishnews.com and click on the Rising Stars button 

or to jccdet.org/RisingStars. The deadline is March 30.

