24 | NOVEMBER 21 • 2019
Jews in the D
Young Jews
Making Moves:
Emilie Weingarden
Farmington Hills native continues her
advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community
through her passion for politics.
E
milie Weingarden, 17,
has her sights set on
learning about politics
and developing inclusivity in
the Jewish community.
Weingarden, a
junior at Frankel
Jewish Academy
(FJA), became
interested in poli-
tics while attend-
ing the American
Israel Public
Affairs Committee
(AIPAC) Policy
Conference in
Washington, D.C.,
last year with other students
from FJA.
The goal of AIPAC is to
improve relations between the
United States and Israel while
maintaining bipartisanship.
Weingarden’
s participation
with AIPAC continued this
year when she was one of
seven high school students
selected to go to AIPAC’
s
Progressive Student Retreat
in Washington, D.C., in early
October.
“We were involved in con-
versations about the relation-
ship between the United States
and Israel and the issues that
Israel is facing,
” Weingarden
said. “We heard from a lot
of speakers, including allies
of AIPAC and even some
Israelis. There was even one
Palestinian woman who previ-
ously lived in the West Bank.
”
Attending both AIPAC
events has elevated
Weingarden’
s leadership
experience, helping her to
strengthen an organization
she co-founded with her
friend Jack Harris called
Everyone for Equality.
Weingarden and Harris
started the organization at FJA
last year. Everyone
for Equality is a
LGBTQ+ alliance
group that aims to
create a safe environ-
ment for those in the
community.
“The retreat
this year focused
a lot on LGBTQ+
communities in both
America and Israel,
”
Weingarden said. “I was able
to get contact information
from speakers in the LGBTQ+
communities from both here
and in Israel and learn how
we can form a more inclusive
environment at FJA.
“Our goal is to make
everyone feel equal and
safe. I’
m thankful I had the
opportunity to attend the
AIPAC Progressive Student
Retreat so I could grow
my knowledge and apply it
effectively.
”
In addition to serving as
the co-president of Everyone
for Equality, Weingarden also
sits on the UMatter board
as an ambassador. UMatter
is an organization within
Friendship Circle that encour-
ages teens to end the stigma
surrounding mental health
challenges.
Weingarden resides in
Farmington Hills with her
parents, Meredith and Adam,
and attends B’
nai Israel
Synagogue.
CORRIE COLF STAFF WRITER
CORRIE COLF
Emilie
Weingarden
Cong
Sharrey
Zedek
THREE DATES, THREE EXPERIENCES!
Make Your Reservations for Shabbat Dinner, the Adult Concert
and the Family Concert: www.shaareyzedek.org or 248.357.5544.
AT
06 DEC
FRIDAY
2019
5:45 p.m. T.G.I.S. (THANK GOD IT’S SHABBAT)
Minchah, Our Joyful, Musical Kabbalat Shabbat Service and
Ma’ariv.
7:15 p.m. WINTERFEST SHABBAT DINNER
Immediately following T.G.I.S., hosted by the Empty Nesters.
Cost: $18.00 per person ages 13 and older,
$9.00 per child ages 5-12. No charge for children ages 0-4.
Following dinner: Z’mirot and Q&A with the Maccabeats.
Open to the Community. Dinner Reservations are Required.
Part of the 2019-2020 Irving and Beverly Laker Concert Series at CSZ
7:30 p.m. ADULT CONCERT
Open to the Community - Reservations are Required.
Preferred Seating: $36.00 per person.
General Admission: No charge.
07 DEC
SATURDAY
2019
11:00 a.m. FAMILY CONCERT
General Admission for all ages: No charge.
Open to the Community. Reservations are Required.
08 DEC
SUNDAY
2019