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.

