22 June 20 • 2019
jn

jews d
in 
the | faces&places

More than 150 community members gathered recently to honor Howard Brown, 
recipient of Jewish Community Relations Council/AJC’
s 2019 Activist Award. A 
longtime advocate, Brown has worked to strengthen the relationship between the 
southeast Michigan Jewish and Muslim communities. He was lauded by Temple 
Israel Rabbi Joshua Bennett, Bryant Frank, a friend and fellow JCRC/AJC board 
member, and Dr. Yahya Basha.
Guests then heard about social media and interfaith engagement from Yair 
Rosenberg, senior writer at Tablet Magazine, and attorney, author and podcast host 
Rabia Chaudry. ■

Jewish Federation CEO Scott Kaufman presents 

Brown with the 2019 JCRC/AJC Activist Award.
2019 Activist Award winner Howard Brown 

with his wife, Lisa, and daughter, Emily

Brown with JCRC/AJC Board President Alicia 

Chandler and Executive Director David Kurzmann

Dr. Yahya Basha congratulates Brown during the 

reception.

David Kurzmann moderates a conversation 

with Yair Rosenberg and Rabia Chaudry.

Honoree Howard Brown, second from left, pictured with JCRC/AJC Executive 

Director David Kurzmann, Board Officers Erica Peresman and Seth Gould, and 

member Bryant Frank

PHOTOS BY ANDREA STINSON

The Michigan Israel Business Accelerator (MIBA) held the official launch of 
StartupMichigan.tech, an entrepreneurial ecosystem platform based on the 
successful Israeli StartupNation platform, May 20 at the Shinola Hotel. 
The free web platform features more than 300 startups and growing — 
including hubs and funders and will allow entrepreneurs and funders to con-
nect more easily. The advanced search option allows users to filter startups by 
business model, funding stage, location, product stage and more. 
Dozens of Michigan entrepreneurs were on hand for the launch, where they 
heard from Daniela Kandel and Guy Hilton of Startup Nation Central, an 
independent nonprofit that builds bridges to the Israeli innovation ecosystem, 
who flew in from Israel to launch the Michigan platform, the first in the U.S. 
MIBA Chairman Mark Davidoff addressed the crowd, as did newly named 
CEO Scott Hiipakka. ■

Guy Hilton and Daniela Kandel 
of Startup Nation Central

Joann Barber, MIBA CEO Scott Hiipakka 
and Beth Chappell

Barb McQuade and Jeff Lutz

MIBA Chairman Mark Davidoff

Beth Hill and Ami Dotan

Mark Davidoff and David Bloom

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MIBA

AdvancedDerm.com

26400 West 12 Mile Rd., Suite 150

Southfield, MI 48034

 248.353.0818

36700 Woodward Ave. Suite 203

 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304

 248.647.5750

 Immediate Appointments

New Patients Welcome

World-Class 
Faces in OUR 
Places

Dr. Cory Rubin 

 

Dermatologist

One of the

