HMC Program Confronts Evil

Help Sarah’s Fund Fight Mastocytosis

Need Help Getting Health Insurance?

NCJW Offers Scholarships

‘Mood Lifters’ for Self-Help 

The Holocaust Memorial 
Center Zekelman Family 
Campus will present Learning 
from the Germans: Race and 
the Memory of Evil featuring 
a discussion between phi-
losopher and author Susan 
Neiman, and Jenn White, host 
of National Public Radio’s 
(NPR) 1A. The program will 
take place online as a live 
Zoom webinar on Sun., Feb. 
21, at 2 p.m.
As an increasingly polar-
ized America fights over the 
legacy of racism and slavery, 
what can we learn from the 
Germans about confronting 
the evils of the past? Neiman 
and White will discuss 
Germany’s effort to atone for 
the Holocaust and the work 
that contemporary Americans 
are doing to try to make 

amends for our country’s his-
torical wrongdoings.
To register for this program, 
visit www.holocaustcenter.
org/February. Registrants will 
receive a link to the Feb. 21 
Zoom Webinar. Questions for 
Susan Neiman can be sub-
mitted by noon on Feb. 21 by 
visiting www.holocaustcenter.
org/learning.
“This promises to be a 
thought-provoking and lively 
discussion, as America comes 
to grips with its past and looks 
toward creating a bright-
er future,” said Holocaust 
Memorial Center CEO Rabbi 
Eli Mayerfeld. “The events of 
recent history have demon-
strated the need for healing 
and standing up to injustice 
and hatred.” 

The Gittleman family is having a virtual fund-
raiser in memory of Sarah Gittleman for her 40th 
birthday, March 12. Sarah was 23 years old when 
she passed away from Systemic Mastocytosis, a 
rare, extremely debilitating disease that can be 
life-threatening.
A graduate from MSU in accounting, Sarah 
wanted to be a CPA. She was a bright, kindhearted 
and, most of all, she loved her life, family and friends. 
To contribute to the Mastocytosis Society Sarah Gittleman’s 
Research Fund, go to pages.donately.com/tms/campaign/sar-
ah-gittleman-fund. 

Do you need health insurance? In response to COVID-19, and in 
accordance with an executive order from President Biden, there is 
a new healthcare enrollment period that runs through March 15. 
If you’re signing up for health insurance for the first time, 
you can learn about coverage options, subsidies and tax breaks 
through one of the navigators at Jewish Family Service. If 
you’re already enrolled, you can update your information and 
review your plan to ensure that it’s still the best fit. 
The navigators at JFS will answer all your Affordable Care Act 
questions and help you enroll, whether through the Healthcare 
Marketplace or through Medicaid. The service is free and open to 
the community. For more information or to schedule an appoint-
ment, contact Olga Semenova at (248) 592-2662 or osemenova@
jfsdetroit.org. 

National Council of Jewish Women, Michigan (NCJW|MI) 
will continue the tradition of honoring exceptional Jewish 
high school students who demonstrate leadership with-
in the Jewish community by awarding scholarship funds 
through its annual Jewish Youth Awards program.
This year the entire process is going to be virtual, which 
will make it extremely easy to participate.
Applicants must prepare a personal essay, demonstrate 
leadership in the Jewish and/or secular communities, and 
be available for a personal virtual interview the morning of 
Sunday, April 18, 2021.
Eight finalists will be recognized at the Jewish Youth 
Awards Virtual Ceremony, Tuesday, April 20, at 7 p.m. First 
place: $3,000, second place: $1,500, 3rd place: $500, and five 
honorable mentions: $200 each. 
Applications are due Monday, Feb. 22. To complete and 
submit an application, visit NCJWMI.org. 

An important thing you can 
do during these difficult times 
is support your mental and 
emotional well-being. The 
Jewish Federation of Metro-
politan Detroit is offering a 
new, cost-free way to do that. 
Thanks to the Ravitz Foun-
dation, Federation is part-
nering with the University of 
Michigan Depression Center 
to bring the Mood Lifters 
program to Jewish community 
members in Michigan at no 
cost. The program is not only 
for those experiencing anxiety 
or depression, but for all who 

wish to thrive.
Mood Lifters is composed of 
15 one-hour weekly meetings, 
currently over Zoom, where 
peer leaders teach strategies to 
improve well-being. Partici-
pants track new behaviors and 
ways of thinking on an app.
The program is intended 
for adults of all ages. For 
schedules, visit moodlifters.
com/calendar-of-meetings/
jewish-federation-group. For 
questions, contact Ashley 
Schnaar at schnaar@jfmd.org 
or (248) 292-9005. 

Sarah 
Gittleman

FEBRUARY 18 • 2021 | 21

