FEBRUARY 4 • 2021 | 19
A
fter 28 years, Lea
Luger has decided to
retire from Yad Ezra
as executive director.
Yad Ezra has convened
a search committee for a
replacement with no defin-
itive date for her departure,
although she plans
to leave some time
this calendar year.
“It has been an
amazing, wonderful
and humbling expe-
rience,
” Luger said.
“I’m so thrilled to
have been a part of
this incredible orga-
nization that not
just helps people by
giving them food but does it in
a way that treats people with
dignity and respect.
“It’s time,
” Luger continued.
“My grandmother always said
to me ‘Leave them while they
still want you,
’ and I hold true
to that. It’s time for someone
else to take over the reins.
Change is good.
”
For Luger, her passion for
Yad Ezra remains, and she will
still be involved with the orga-
nization.
Luger, who began in the
role in 1993, is most proud
of initiating the Lunch
Assistance Program, creating
the Giving Gardens program
in an effort to be more than
a Band-Aid against hunger,
helping establish a kosher food
pantry in Warsaw that ben-
efits Righteous Gentiles who
saved lives during WWII, and
adapting when serving clients
during the pandemic — pro-
ducing home deliveries to 300
families a week.
“We never dropped the ball,
”
Luger said. “We have families
who have been with us since
we opened our doors in 1990,
and there was never
a day where we
didn’t have food to
give out. I’m proud
that regardless of
what was going
on in the world,
we kept our doors
open and were able
to continue feeding
people.
“I am constantly
amazed and humbled by the
members of the community
who have really partnered with
us — this has been a group
effort,
” Luger reflected.
“I may be the executive
director, but believe me, this
is a huge effort on the part
of a lot of people. I have met
incredible people, and I am so
proud of our community and
what we’ve been able to do to
make sure those who are vul-
nerable don’t feel forgotten.
”
She will continue to work
to help the community. Luger
was recently appointed to Gov.
Gretchen Whitmer’s Protect
Michigan Commission, which
is charged with helping raise
awareness of the safety and
effectiveness of the COVID-19
vaccine and helping to protect
the health and safety of all
Michigan residents.
Longtime executive director helped
respectfully feed the hungry for 28 years.
DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER
Lea Luger to Retire
from Yad Ezra
Lea Luger
5829 Maple Rd. Ste. 129
West Bloomf
eld, MI 48322
248.757.2503
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