JUNE 3 • 2021 | 29

W

hat does lead-
ership mean in 
a Jewish 
way? How is lead-
ership affected by 
Jewish values? I had 
the opportunity to 
help answer these 
questions and more 
with the planning 
of Hillel of Metro 
Detroit’s newest ini-
tiative, Leadership 
Lab. 
This four-part series was a 
virtual, interactive program 
to further train student lead-

ers at Hillel of Metro Detroit. 
Along with Leah Berman, 
I helped plan this 
opportunity for stu-
dents to enhance their 
leadership skills. Each 
session had a different 
topic. 
The first session 
was about engage-
ment. One activity to 
teach active listening 
was called “4 in 1.” 
We were split into breakout 
rooms and each group had to 
find four things they had in 
common, and one thing that 

was unique to each person. 
This activity taught us to 
really listen to one another.
The second session was 
on program planning, where 
we were able to design our 
own programs and then 
vote on our favorite, which 
HMD would implement 
with the students. I really 
enjoyed when we split up 
and created a hypothetical 
program for Hillel to run. 
It helped me understand all 
the time, work, money and 
coordination that goes into 
planning even the simplest of 
programs. 
Session three was led by 
Rabbi Michele Faudem on 
leadership and Jewish values. 
Rabbi Faudem presented 
Torah text for us to discuss 
that illustrated positive lead-
ership characteristics such 
as taking responsibility, the 

courage not to conform, 
leaders make mistakes, 
power vs. influence and 
humility.

The final session was 
led by Yiftah, the shaliach 
at the Jewish Federation of 
Metropolitan Detroit. We 
discussed current events in 
Israel and Israeli politics. 
This session opened my eyes 
to similarities in politics 
between Israel and the U.S.
I came into this lab believ-
ing that I knew almost every-
thing about leadership and 
was fully capable; however, 
this lab taught me so much 
more, including how Judaism 
has a connection to how we 
lead, as well as how to thor-
oughly plan programs. @

Benjamin Rosenberg is a third-year 
student at Wayne State University 
studying Sports Management.

Hillel of 
Metro Detroit 
Leadership Lab

Benjamin Rosenberg } jewish@edu writer

Benjamin 
Rosenberg

E

veryone’s journey to 
medicine is vastly 
different. Some may 
expect to go into medicine 
from a young age, while others 
may even find their calling 
while working in a completely 
different field years into their 
already established career. 
However, there are some 
journeys that simply cannot 
be compared to Dr. Edward 
Malinowski and his path to 
becoming a well-respected car-
diologist right here in Detroit. 
Before becoming a cardi-
ologist, as a young boy, Dr. 
Malinowski and his family suf-
fered through the Holocaust. 
In February, via Zoom, the 

medical students at Wayne 
State University and Oakland 
University had the opportunity 
to hear the detailed and deep-
ly personal story told by Dr. 
Malinowski from how he had 
survived the Holocaust to the 
beginnings of his love and call-
ing for medicine. 
To be able to talk to other 
members of the medical 
community through Hillel of 
Metro Detroit’s Jewish Medical 
Student Association (JMSA) 
at Wayne State University 
and Hillel of Metro Detroit’s 
JeMSA student organization at 
Oakland University and listen 
to Dr. Malinowski’s personal 
memoir was heartwarming. 

Remembering the Holocaust 
is of great importance to the 
Jewish community, and Dr. 
Malinowski captured his story 
with elegance and emotion, 
while also telling us the history 
of the Holocaust itself.
It is rare to hear a first-hand 
account, and with survivor 
numbers dwindling, this was a 
special learning experience. 
We deeply thank Dr. 
Malinowski for sharing stories 
of his childhood, as he and his 
family evaded Nazi soldiers 
from the Warsaw Ghetto to 

Zyrardow. 
By telling his experience 
to the next generation, Dr 
Malinowski is helping our 
medical community thrive. 
Through events like these, 
Detroit’s future medical profes-
sionals will be better equipped 
to recognize discrimination 
and act consciously when 
action needs to be taken 
against it. 

Daniel Lenchner has just completed 

his first year at Wayne State University 

School of Medicine.

Medical Students 
Learn from a 
Holocaust Survivor

Daniel Lenchner } jewish@edu writer

The Zoom call with Dr. Edward Malinowski (upper left).

