22 April 25 • 2019
jn

Federation Awards Night 

Community leaders to be honored at annual event.

T

he Jewish Federation of 
Metropolitan Detroit will host 
its annual Awards Night 7 p.m. 
Wednesday, May 22, at the Berman 
Center for Performing Arts at the 
Jewish Community Center in West 
Bloomfield. 
Dr. Lynda S. Giles and Rabbi 
Harold S. Loss will each receive the 
2019 William Davidson Lifetime 
Achievement Award for their lifetime 
of service to the Jewish community of 
Detroit and the Jewish people. 
Giles has a long history of national 
and local service to the Jewish commu-
nity, serving in leadership roles for the 
Jewish Educational Services of North 
America (JESNA), Midwest regional 
co-chair for Birthright Israel as well 
as a past president of the Agency for 
Jewish Education and the University of 
Michigan Hillel Foundation. 
She is on the board of Federation 
and is the current chair of the 
Hermelin Davidson Center for 
Congregational Excellence. Giles has 
served on countless committees in 
the community including starting 
the Jewish Experiences For Families, 
the Single Jewish Parents Network 
Committee and JFamily.
Loss is beloved in the community as 
a rabbi of Temple Israel. He has volun-
teered in a variety of roles, including 
being on the executive committee and 
the boards of Federation and the board 
of the United Jewish Foundation. He 
also has volunteered his time on the 
Commission on Jewish Eldercare 
Services, the Hermelin Davidson 
Center for Congregational Excellence 
and the Alliance for Jewish Education 
Committee. 

YOUNG LEADER AWARDS
Three young people will be recognized 
with Federation’
s Young Leadership 

Awards. Carole BenEzra will receive 
the Sylvia Simon Greenberg Award, 
which recognizes a woman’
s leadership 
potential and service to the Jewish 
community. BenEzra has been an 
active volunteer in the community 
for several years, serving on many 
committees and helping to plan many 
events.
Dr. Zachary Liss will receive the 
Frank A. Wetsman Young Leadership 
Award, which recognizes a man’
s 
leadership potential and service to the 
Jewish community. Liss is the current 
chair of the Forman Leadership Group 
II, which works to engage young doc-
tors in the community. They are learn-
ing about the Federation and its agen-
cies and will embark on a mission to 
Israel in September. He is also a mem-
ber of the board of Hebrew Free Loan. 
With his wife, Ilana, he has served as 
an Israeli Camper Host for the past 
two years. He is also a member of the 
Maimonides Society Advisory Council. 
Matthew Ran will receive the Mark-
Lis Family Young Leadership Award 
that recognizes an established leader 
in the NEXTGen Division who has 
shown outstanding commitment 
as well as demonstrated significant 
involvement within Federation’
s 
Annual Campaign. Ran served as 
president of the NEXTGen Board of 
Directors from 2016-17; in addition, he 
is the Detroit co-chair of the National 
Young Leadership Cabinet and the 
national co-chair of Engagement 
for the National Young Leadership 
Cabinet for the Jewish Federations of 
North America. He is a vice-president 
for Michigan ORT and a board mem-
ber of Yad Ezra. Ran also serves on the 
board of Federation. 
Tickets are free to the community. 
For more information and to RSVP
, 
visit jewishdetroit.org/awardsnight. ■

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN HARDWICK

Dr. Lynda S. 

Giles

Rabbi Harold S. 

Loss

Carole BenEzra
Dr. Zachary 

Liss

Matthew Ran

