MARCH 17 • 2022 | 15
participants crediting Kaplan
for the program’s accomplish-
ments.
“
A number of us participate
because of the overreaching
gift she has to be a connector
within our community. It’s a
balancing act of putting on a
great event, getting a strong
group of people there, tying
them to our community; and
she’s masterful,
” said Sherman.
Kaplan, however, praises the
department’s associate director
Jodi Feld, the lay leaders and
Federation staff for the pro-
gram’s achievements.
Even during the height
of the pandemic, Affinities
offered what Kaplan estimates
to be 64 programs, from
online speakers to a road rally
and other socially distant
events. One of her favorites,
held in conjunction with the
archives department, was an
experiential package program
that examined Velvet Peanut
Butter and its Detroit Jewish
roots. Participants picked up
a package containing infor-
mation about the archives and
Velvet Peanut Butter and the
ingredients to make chocolate
peanut butter lava cookies.
Goodman, 45, became
involved with Federation
several years ago but said the
Affinities programs drew her
in because of what it offered
young women and families.
“I think it’s important that
this age group understand that
if we don’t continue to come
together and support those
that have come before us, and
those who will come after us,
then our community will be
at risk. We need to remember
where we’ve come from and
how we’ve gotten here. That
message is crucial for our age
group because we are now the
ones leading the way.
“When you graduate
college, people tell you that
you’re the next generation.
Well, we’re here. This is it,”
she continued. “We’re the
adults, edging on potentially
having to take care of our
parents or losing our par-
ents, and we’re also at that
point where we’re raising our
children and teaching them
about why it’s so important
to be a part of this commu-
nity and to continue on the
tradition.”
Stacey Goodman, Lindsey
Weitzman and Becca Schostak
at the Drive-In BINGlow event at
Shaarey Zedek’s Parking Lot.