18 | DECEMBER 16 • 2021 

OUR COMMUNITY

W

hen Elana Weinstein moved back to 
Metro Detroit early in 2021 for a job 
at JVS Human Services, after previous 
career moves to Chicago and Denver, she felt her 
life had gone full circle. Not only was she working 
at the agency where, in 2009, she had her first 
experience of working in the Jewish nonprofit 
world, but she was also heading the same program 
that had given her that first start. 
Weinstein, 33, is now program coordinator for 
JOIN, an acronym for the Jeannette and Oscar 
Cook Jewish Occupational Intern Program. The 
paid summer internship for Jewish college students 
considering a career working in the Jewish com-
munity has been instrumental in guiding a gen-
eration of young people into careers. Local rabbis, 
educators, communal leaders and board members 
have all graduated from the program and work to 
benefit the Metro Detroit Jewish community. 
Recruitment for the 2022 program has just 
started with applications being accepted until late 
January. 
“My time at JOIN was life-changing,
” says 
Weinstein, a social worker and graduate of Eastern 
Michigan University and University of Michigan. 
“I was placed with Kadima, the mental health 
organization, and I got my first hands-on expe-
rience of working for the Jewish community as a 
budding social worker.
” 
Weinstein’s time at JOIN involved case-manage-
ment, taking clients to appointments, managing 
care and accompanying clients on field trips. “It 
was an incredible experience and confirmed for 
me that working in the nonprofit world, for the 
Jewish community, was where I wanted to be.
”
Weinstein was working as a high school student 
counselor and social worker in Denver when she 
heard about the opportunity to become JOIN’s 
program coordinator. She recognized she had big 
shoes to fill: Debra Silver, who jump-started the 

JOIN summer internship 
program gets new 
leadership.

ALISON SCHWARTZ 
SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

Hands-On 
Learning

COURTESY OF JVS

JOIN at Yad Ezra

2021 JOIN interns 
working on a project

