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.