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of the group is on what Judaism and fem-
inism teach about various topics and their
intersection. They have had sessions on
topics such as feminist Torah, the Jewish
diaspora, sex education, self-care and many
“repair the world” topics. Currently, the
group is doing a drive for HAVEN’s (shelter
for women and children who are victims
of domestic violence) education program,
collecting books and materials.
In 2020, Lily became interested in the
Jewish Women’s Archives (JWA). She
applied for a “Rising Voices” fellowship
and received a position. She writes for their
blog. She is also on the editorial board of
jGirls Magazine.
TALI RUBENSTEIN
Tali Rubenstein, 16,
of West Bloomfield is
a junior at Groves
High School. During
the past few years,
she has found
important ways to
incorporate her
Jewish learning with
her interest in social
justice.
Tali was part of the Shalom Hartman
Institute’s Emerging Jewish Thought
Leaders Fellowship during summer 2020.
This online opportunity allowed her to
study with world-renowned scholars who
combine Jewish ideas with current events,
such as the pandemic and the upheaval and
protests following the murder of George
Floyd.
Conversations about racism in the U.S.
and unequal treatment of Israeli Arabs in
Israel motivated her to continue to examine
societal structures and what changes might
be needed.
Because of the pandemic, Tali worked
with her parents to arrange a semester
in Israel, where she participated in the
Alexander Muss High School in Israel
(AMHSI) program in Hod HaSharon. This
program allowed her to continue her high
school program while also learning about
(and traveling through) Israel.
These programs gave Tali the opportuni-
ty to learn and engage in conversation with
Jewish teens from throughout the country.
As a Jew of Color, Tali brings a unique per-
spective to these conversations. Her firm
footing in the Jewish community (coming
both from family and her education) com-
bined with a perspective which is starting
to recognize the presence and unique con-
tributions of Jews of Color, gives Tali the
opportunity to both share her perspective
and help our community take the next steps
in this conversation.
LAINIE RUBIN
Lainie Rubin, 17, of
West Bloomfield is a
senior at Bloomfield
Hills High School
and is committed to
mental health advo-
cacy.
As a young teenag-
er, Lainie lived with
severe anxiety about
school. Seeing a therapist helped Lainie
understand her anxiety and together they
co-created a plan that now sees her living
her life … and thriving … instead of her life
“living” her.
Lainie soon became involved with
UMatter and began incorporating mental
health topics into her schoolwork. She even
spoke up at a school board meeting in fall
2019, asking the board how it might help
students manage their mental health.
Prior to COVID, Lainie visited a juvenile
detention center, mental health section of
a county jail, and a crisis service agency to
explore how an absence of mental health
support early in life may impact decisions
some of them make later. This newfound
understanding gives her perspective and
inspires her career aspiration to become a
forensic psychologist.
With in-person volunteering options
eliminated, she turned to her passion for
baking, selling treats in the community,
donating the proceeds to organizations
funding COVID treatment.
Since September, she has represented her
high school on the National Equity Project,
an education reform organization specializ-
ing in leadership development and leading
a charge for greater equity at schools across
the country.
Also in September, she was invited to
join the programming committee for Camp
Tamarack. And, most recently, she was
selected for a seat on the Jewish Teen Board,
charged with offering ideas for greater teen
involvement in activities supported by the
JCC and Federation.
In the fall, Lainie will be studying at
the University of Wisconsin where plans
to study forensic psychology, focusing on
mental health within the justice system.
JOSHUA SCHREIBER
Joshua Schreiber, 17,
of Farmington Hills
is a senior at North
Farmington High
School and has been
heavily involved in
Jewish affiliates
throughout his youth
as a six-year
Tamarack attendee,
Hillel Day School alum and Temple Israel
member. He shifted his focus in high school
to become involved with Jewish nonprofits,
Israel education and community engage-
ment.
Joshua has been elected, appointed and
served in numerous positions within the
Jewish community of Metropolitan Detroit,
including a leadership facilitator for the
Jewish Fund Teen Board, assisting in pro-
viding a total of $100,000 in philanthropy to
local and statewide charities over two years,
a president at Friendship Circle, co-presi-
dent of North Farmington’s Jewish Student
Union, and as vice president and head of
“I WANT TO BE THE ONE TO LEAD THE WAY
IN HELPING MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND WORK
WITH OTHERS WHO HAVE THAT SAME VISION.”
— AVIEL SIEGEL
RISING STARS
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