22 July 11 • 2019
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Jewish Family Service held its annual meeting and community recognition 
night on May 14. 
The 100 Mensches presented college scholarships to the 
top three winners of its essay contest. Tom Sherman, a Bloomfield Hills High 
School junior, took first place. The Barbara and Irving Nusbaum Volunteer of 
the Year award went to Renee Unger, who brings a positive energy to every-
thing she does, including visiting older adults and packing boxes of food.
ACCESS (Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services) 
was named Community Partner of the Year for its partnership with JFS in 
the areas of healthcare navigation and advocacy. The Patti Nemer Employee 
of the Year was awarded to Aldrine Walton, who has been making a differ-
ence at JFS since 2006. Suzan F. Curhan completed her term as board chair 
with Julie Teicher stepping into the role. New board members are Rabbi Levi 
Dubov, Michelle Freeman, Jerry Frohich, Bill Goodstein, Jason Page, Avi 
Rubin, Erin Stiebel, Ellen Tabak and Renee Unger. 

100 Mesnches first-place winner Tom Sherman, 

second-place winner Elena Hirsch and third-place winner 

Samuel Gawel

Immediate past chair Suzan F. 

Cuhan and incoming chair 

Julie Teicher

JFS CEO Perry Ohren with Nusbaum 

Volunteer of the Year Renee Unger

JFS board member Micki Grossman and JFS 

board president Sandy Danto

JFS board members Jason Page, Mara Moss and 

Bill Goldstein

Patti Nemer Employee of the Year 

Aldrine Walton

COURTESY OF JFS

Brandon Epstein, Meredith Tepper, Event Honoree Joan Chernoff Epstein, Robert Epstein, 

Betty Chernoff, Louis Chernoff, Jonathan Epstein and Abigail Friedman

FIDF Michigan Director Paula Lebowitz, Event 

Co-Chair Susie Pappas, Event Honoree Joan 

Chernoff Epstein, Event Co-Chair Karen Weiss

Gadi Ezra, center, with silent auction and raffle 

co-chairs Elaine Robins, left, and Pam Bloom, 

right

FIDF Michigan Director Paula Lebowitz, Event Co-Chair Susie Pappas, IMPACT! Student Sgt. 

Kizzy, Gadi Ezra, Event Co-Chair Karen Weiss and FIDF Midwest Region Executive Director 

Tamir Oppenheim

Sherry Haffner, Cheryl Grand, Event Honoree 

Joan Chernoff Epstein, Shari Rogers

Ellen Weiss, Sylvia Cohen, Ilana Adler, 

Miriam Ferber, Ayala Yedwab, Millie Feldman, 

Sarah Waldshan and Carole Rott

More than 300 women gathered May 30 for the Friends of the Israel Defense 
Forces (FIDF) Michigan Women of Valor Luncheon at Adat Shalom Synagogue 
in Farmington Hills. The event raised nearly $500,000 to support the FIDF 
IMPACT! Scholarship Program, which grants four-year academic scholarships 
to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) combat and combat-support soldiers from low 
socio-economic backgrounds. 
The Michigan community has supported 235 IDF veterans through college.
Joan Chernoff Epstein (see her essay on page 5) was honored for her commit-
ment to FIDF and support of IDF soldiers. IDF Sgt. Kizzy, who Epstein supported 
through a scholarship, thanked her in person. The benefit featured a keynote 
speech from Israeli human rights attorney Gadi Ezra. 
All funds raised at the luncheon go to the scholarship program. ■

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