NEXT DOR

O

n the night of Saturday, Feb. 19, 26 young Jewish 
professionals attended an event with the University 
Musical Society (UMS), sponsored by Nicole and Matt 
Lester.
The event included a pre-reception at the Bell Tower Hotel, 
with appearances by University of Michigan Hillel Executive 
Director Tilly Shemer, NEXTGen Detroit Director Tomer 
Moked and JFMD Shaliach Yiftah Leket. UMS president 
Matthew VanBesien provided a welcome speech and overview 
of the performance. Then, as the group walked to the Hill 

Auditorium, they could hear a medley of tunes from Fiddler on 
the Roof performed on the Charles Baird Carillon by current 
graduate student and Hillel student leader Kevin Lieberman. 
This semi-staged concert performance of Fiddler on the 
Roof featured the Grand Rapids Symphony playing the first-
ever live performance of John Williams’ orchestral arrangement 
of the movie score, which premiered over 50 years ago. This 
unique collaboration explored the beloved musical and its 
timeless theme of “Tradition!” through a modern lens and 
proved relevant given the current conflict in Ukraine. 

Community, passion and 
philanthropy meet at U-M event.

Fiddler on 
the Roof

SHIMON LEVY SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

34 | MARCH 17 • 2022 

Evening with

LEFT TO RIGHT: Steve Davis, Kelly Sternberg, Michael Sternberg, 
Elise Gilbert, Eddie Aronowitz, Jennifer Levy, Jacob J. Krause, Shimon 
G. Levy.

U-M students Ella 
Olesen (Tzeitel) and 
Diego Rodriguez 
(Motel Kamzoil) star 
alongside Broadway 
veteran Chuck 
Cooper (Tevye) in 
UMS’ production of 
Fiddler on the Roof.

VOICE OF THE NEW 
JEWISH GENERATION

