 AUGUST 27 • 2020 | 29

W

e’
re not afraid to 
tackle tough issues 
in the community,
” 
said Sam Dubin, co-host of 
FedRadioDetroit, a podcast pro-
duced by the Jewish Federation 
of Metropolitan Detroit. 
The podcast series, which 
launched in December 2019, 
has released eight episodes 
centered around Jewish life in 
Metro Detroit.
Alongside co-host Beverly 
Liss, president of Jewish 

Federation of Metropolitan 
Detroit, Dubin tackles issues 
such as antisemitism. The idea 
is to focus on unique pockets of 
local Jewish life.
“I’
m most interested in cover-
ing people and issues surround-
ing the Jewish community from 
a lens that you may not see else-
where,
” said Dubin, 28, of Royal 
Oak, who attends Temple Israel 
and is a member of Federation’
s 
NEXTGen Detroit executive 
board. He hopes the podcast 

can provide an opportunity for 
“Jews who may feel like out-
siders in the community to be 
insiders.
“We’
re taking measures 
every time we have conversa-
tions about FedRadioDetroit to 
be as inclusive in the commu-
nity as possible.
”
Recent guests have includ-
ed Scott Kaufman, former 
CEO of Jewish Federation of 
Metropolitan Detroit; Carolyn 
Bellinson of the nonprofit 
Brilliant Detroit, which focuses 
on childhood literacy; and Dr. 
Howard Lupovitch, director of 
the Cohn-Haddow Center for 
Judaic Studies at Wayne State 
University.
With a diverse cast of charac-
ters, FedRadioDetroit covers all 
bases. But perhaps most diverse 
are its two co-hosts, who Dubin 
says are a perfect complement 
to one another. “We come from 
different generations,
” he said. 
“I’
m a millennial, and she’
s not. 
We really clicked. Our connec-

tion on-air is good and it’
s been 
a pleasure to grow the relation-
ship I have with her.
”
Liss, a Bloomfield Hills 
resident who belongs to Adat 
Shalom Synagogue, agreed with 
Dubin.
“When we have a guest come 
to our podcast, Sam and I 
approach the questions and the 
conversations in two different 
ways. That mix makes for a 
really electric discussion.
”
Dubin, a graduate of Central 
Michigan University, majored 
in broadcast journalism and has 
a passion for podcasting, which 
he considers a great medium 
for longer-form discussions that 
may not be found elsewhere.
His goal is to increase reach 
and build an inclusive platform 
that aims to highlight and cele-
brate standout stories of Jewish 
individuals, organizations and 
beyond in Metro Detroit. 

Listen to episodes of the podcast at 

jewishdetroit.org/podcast.

Jews in the D

Tackling Tough Topics

Podcast FedRadioDetroit aims to share 
standout stories in the Jewish community.

ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

JOHN HARDWICK

Sam Dubin 
and Beverly 
Liss in studio 

Thank You!

Young Israel of Southfi
 eld youth 
thank local police.
L

ocal law enforcement offi-
cers were shown appreciation 
through a recent program run 
by Young Israel of Southfield. 
 Through the YIOS Youth 
Department, children of the syna-
gogue began by preparing homemade 
cards and pictures for the Southfield 
Police Department. 
On July 23, a contingent of nearly 
50 children and adults from the syna-
gogue visited the police department to 
deliver their projects and express their 
gratitude. 
Accompanying the group, all 
properly attired in masks, were 
Councilman Ari Mandelbaum and 
Rabbi Yechiel Morris, rabbi of Young 
Israel of Southfield. Mandelbaum 
offered greetings and was followed by 
Rabbi Morris, who noted how much 
the police department does for the 
synagogue and community. 

Southfield Chief of Police Elvin 
Barren told Young Israel congregants 
that his job is to protect and ensure 
that community members feel safe. 
He acknowledged the beautiful ges-
ture of the children and adults at such 
a challenging time. Acting Deputy 
Chief Jeff Jagielski provided safety 
strategies that families should imple-
ment during the summer.
After questions from YIOS mem-
bers, the children distributed their 
homemade cards and pictures to 
the police officers who also enjoyed 
snacks and cold drinks, which were 
sponsored by the Jacobs Family and 
Jerusalem Pizza.
“Our goal today was to deliver one 
message — Thank you for all that you 
do!” said Rabbi Ari Steinig, the youth 
director at Young Israel of Southfield, 
who coordinated the event with 
Councilman Ari Mandelbaum. 

JN STAFF 

COURTESY OF YOUNG ISRAEL OF SOUTHFIELD

COURTESY OF YOUNG ISRAEL OF SOUTHFIELD

ABOVE: Councilman Ari Mandelbaum, Acting Deputy Chief Jeff 
Jagielski, Southfield Chief of Police Elvin Barren, Rabbi Yechiel 
Morris, Rabbi Ari Steinig, Menucha, Mrs. Rachel Steinig. TOP:
Members of the Young Israel of Southfield with the Southfield 
Police Department. 

