Views To make a donation to the DETROIT JEWISH NEWS FOUNDATION go to the website www.djnfoundation.org The Detroit Jewish News (USPS 275-520) is published every Thursday at 29200 Northwestern Highway, #110, Southfield, Michigan. Periodical postage paid at Southfield, Michigan, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: send changes to: Detroit Jewish News, 29200 Northwestern Hwy., #110, Southfield, MI 48034. 8 | NOVEMBER 28 • 2019 1942 - 2019 Covering and Connecting Jewish Detroit Every Week jn Arthur M. Horwitz Executive Editor/Publisher ahorwitz@renmedia.us F. Kevin Browett Chief Operating Officer kbrowett@renmedia.us | Editorial Associate Editor: Jackie Headapohl jheadapohl@renmedia.us Story Development Editor: Keri Guten Cohen kcohen@renmedia.us Digital Editor: Allison Jacobs ajacobs@renmedia.us Multimedia Reporter: Corrie Colf ccolf@renmedia.us Staff Photographer/Videographer: Derrick Martinez dmartinez@renmedia.us Social Media Coordinator: Chelsie Dzbanski cdzbanski@renmedia.us Editorial Assistant: Sy Manello smanello@renmedia.us Senior Columnist: Danny Raskin dannyraskin2132@gmail.com Contributing Editor: Robert Sklar rsklar@renmedia.us Contributing Editor: David Sachs Contributing Arts Editor: Gail Zimmerman gzimmerman@renmedia.us Contributing Writers: Nate Bloom, Rochel Burstyn, Suzanne Chessler, Annabel Cohen, Adam Finkel, Stacy Gittleman, Elizabeth Katz, Barbara Lewis, Graham Sayre, Mike Smith | Advertising Sales Vice President of Sales and Business Development: Carol Kruemmer ckruemmer@renmedia.us Sales Manager: Keith Farber kfarber@renmedia.us Account Executives: Kelsey Cocke, Annette Kizy Sales Support: Sarah Busemeyer, Ashlee Szabo | Business Offices Billing Coordinator: Pamela Turner | Production By Farago & Associates Manager: Scott Drzewiecki Designers: Jessica Joannides, Kelly Kosek, Michelle Sheridan, Susan Walker | Detroit Jewish News Partner: Arthur M. Horwitz ahorwitz@renmedia.us Partner: F. Kevin Browett kbrowett@renmedia.us Partner: Michael H. Steinhardt Operations Manager: Andrea Gusho agusho@renmedia.us How to reach us see page 10 guest column Gratitude for Scott Kaufman L eadership transitions are happening at an increas- ing rate throughout our region. With the sheer num- ber of senior leaders in the for-impact sector on the verge of retiring or rewir- ing their careers, the longer we can hold on to vibrant, engaged, lifelong-learning, humble and optimistic execu- tive directors the more likely we’ ll be able to experience durable positive social and environmental impact. At the same time, long-serv- ing leaders like me often ask themselves the question of when they should leave and make room for another. On the plus side, transitions give us a chance for new leaders to make progress and excite us by putting their lived expe- rience and academic skills to the task. Two leaders I know in our region have demonstrated an even better example of how leaders can both make room and stay engaged. Scott Kaufman’ s deci- sion to step down as CEO of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit engrained in me a lesson I learned a few years back from another leader I admire: Riet Schumack. After more than a decade of working and living in Brightmoor, having been crit- ical in the founding of orga- nizations like the Brightmoor Alliance and others, Riet made the decision to step aside as the executive director of the beloved organization she founded, Neighbors Building Brightmoor. With that simple act, she taught me and the hundreds of teens and adults who know her how an unquestionably loved, effective and admired leader can step into the ranks of avid followers as opposed to stepping down or away from leadership. To this very day you can find Riet toiling away in her farm and with her neighbors making durable, incremental, positive gains alongside other impactful leaders like Ora Williams of Grandmothers Mothering Again, Rev. Larry Simmons of the Brightmoor Alliance, along with John and Alicia George of the Motor City Blight Busters who have dedicated more than three decades to Brightmoor and Old Redford. Scott’ s announcement came as a surprise to me and, to be fully transparent, made me a bit sad. His energy and excite- ment for the Jewish communi- ty, how it supports and enliv- ens our region and city, his understanding of the historical role our Jewish neighbors have played in civil rights alongside our African American and Latinx fellow citizens, his pas- sion for the continuing role the community has in what must be an equitable resurgence, and his sense of humor and humil- ity made the work fun. I knew I would miss it if he stepped down. But that’ s just it, he hasn’ t stepped down. Like Riet, he has moved into the ranks of what all leaders need — fol- lowers, doers, supporters, pos- itive critics, enthusiastic skep- tics and hand-raisers for the tough jobs. Scott’ s plans have nothing to do with stepping down. He’ s rededicating him- self to his personal mission for our region, to core Jewish principles of tzedakah (justice) and tikkun olam (repairing the world) and now he can do it in the entrepreneurial spirit only he can muster. Moving forward, I will try to follow their example, ask others to do the same, and celebrate leaders like Scott and Riet who found a way to both reenergize their passion for why they feel they were placed on this Earth — to help people and to show their love through work — and to make room for other leaders who need to stretch their changemaking legs against the tenacious challenges we face together. Douglas Bitonti Stewart is the execu- tive director the Max M. and Marjorie Fisher Foundation. Douglas Bitonti Stewart