26 | OCTOBER 17 • 2019
S
ome 700 community
leaders and Friends of
the Israel Defense Forces
(FIDF) supporters from across
Michigan will gather 6 p.m. on
Tuesday, Oct. 29, at the FIDF
Michigan Annual Dinner at
Congregation Shaarey Zedek
for “
A Night of Heroes” —
meeting Israel’
s men and
women in uniform and contrib-
uting to FIDF’
s well-being and
educational programs.
Chemi J. Peres, chairman of
the board of directors of the
Peres Center for Peace and
Innovation, co-founder and
managing general partner of
Pitango Venture Capital and
son of the late Israeli President
Shimon Peres, will deliver the
gala’
s keynote speech.
The event’
s honorees are
longtime FIDF supporters,
Karolyn and Arie Leibovitz. The
Leibovitzes have granted more
than 40 combat veterans with
post-service college scholar-
ships through FIDF’
s IMPACT!
Scholarship Program.
Co-chairing the dinner are
FIDF Michigan Chairman
Alon and Shari Kaufman,
and FIDF Michigan President
Gary and Lisa Shiffman.
Honorary co-chairs are Cyndi
and Anthony Leibovitz, Barak
Leibovitz, Jay Byron Leibovitz,
Rachel and Scott Leibovitz.
Also present will be Sophie
Klisman and Doug Harvey.
Klisman, a Holocaust survivor
who joined the FIDF Mission to
Poland and Israel this past May,
was reunited soon after the mis-
sion with Harvey, a U.S. Army
infantryman veteran who was
one of the liberators of the Nazi
concentration camp Salzwedel,
where Klisman was held.
A delegation of Israel Defense
Forces (IDF) soldiers will be
at the event, including Maj.
Matan, now a doctor in a pres-
tigious IDF commando unit,
who will share his family’
s story
of perseverance — from the
horrors of the Holocaust to his
brave service as an Israeli sol-
dier today.
Sgt. L., a commander in
an elite IDF unit, and a Lone
Soldier — one who voluntari-
ly enlists in the IDF without
having immediate family in
Israel — originally from a small
Alaska town will aslo speak.
Guests will also include FIDF
Midwest Executive Director
Tamir Oppenheim and FIDF
Michigan Chapter Director
Paula Lebowitz. TV journalist
Michelle Divonwill will emcee
the event.
“We are so honored to be
hosting this incredible event,
which each year gives our
supporters the chance to hear
directly from the brave men and
women who protect Israel —
and Jews worldwide,
” said Alon
Kaufman. “This year, it is our
great pleasure to honor Karolyn
and Arie Leibovitz, valued
members of our community
who are deeply committed to
Israel and its soldiers.
”
The event will begin with a
cocktail reception and strolling
dinner, followed by a program
at 7:30 p.m. Funds raised will go
toward FIDF educational and
well-being programs for IDF
soldiers. For more information
or to support FIDF, visit fidf.
org/events/2019-michigan-
chapter-annual-dinner.
Jews in the D
Celebrating
the FIDF
700 Michiganders to gather for
FIDF Michigan Annual Dinner.
Chemi J.
Peres
PENTAGO VENTURE CAPITAL
A
s the 2020 U.S.
Census approaches,
Michigan is making
plans to urge the state’
s eth-
nic and minority residents to
stand up and be counted.
To boost in that effort,
New Michigan Media,
made up of five ethnic and
minority media outlets —
Arab-American News, Detroit
Jewish News, Michigan
Chronicle, Latino Press and
Korean Weekly as well as a
network of more than 100
ethnic and minority media
affiliates — was recently
awarded a $1.2 million grant
from the Michigan Nonprofit
Association.
Census results will be
utilized for the allocation
of federal funds until 2030.
Approximately $30 billion is
at stake for Michigan over
that timeframe. Additionally,
the census information
may have an impact on the
number of representatives
Michigan has in Congress. It
currently has 14 members.
Hayg Oshagan, associate
professor at Wayne State
University and director of
New Michigan Media, said
the importance of New
Michigan Media’
s targeted
role in the 2020 census out-
reach effort “cannot be over-
stated.”
“Across the U.S., ethnic
and racial minorities are
almost always under-count-
ed in the census,” he said.
“There’
s a real need for
Michigan’
s minority media to
be leveraged to address low
participation rates by helping
their readers understand the
census and overcome their
fear and mistrust of partici-
pating.”
According to Jewish News
Publisher and Executive
Editor Arthur Horwitz,
“Unlike the 2010 census,
when uneven efforts to edu-
cate and secure participation
by Michigan residents result-
ed in undercounting of ethnic
and minority populations,
the additional efforts being
coordinated by the Michigan
Nonprofit Association are
meant to help ensure that our
state’
s residents receive what
they legally deserve.”
So far, Oshagan said the
grant has been used to mobi-
lize Michigan’
s ethnic media
at conferences and meetings
throughout the state.
JN STAFF
New Michigan Media
Gets Census Grant