OCTOBER 6 • 2022 | 27

Detroit Homecoming attendees 
and representatives of the Detroit 
Jewish community gathered on 
Thursday, Sept. 18, for the ninth 
annual Detroit Jewish Expat 
Reception. 
Hosted by Adam Finkel 
and Rabbi Yisrael Pinson 
of ChabaD at the recently 
remodeled BasBlue, this year’s 
event honored Danny Fenster, 
currently attending a prestigious 
journalism fellowship at Harvard 
University, as the 2022 Detroit 
Jewish Expat. Fenster was 
provided a “homecoming” after 
spending nearly six months in a 
Myanmar prison on fabricated 
charges.
BasBlue co-founder and 
entertainment executive Nancy 
Tellem welcomed the participants 
to the recently opened woman-
focused gathering space that now 
boasts more than 700 members. 
Joshua Sirefman, CEO of 
Michigan Central Innovation 
District, provided remarks on 
his professional background, 
which began in Detroit, and 
his vision for Ford’s investment 
in Corktown. Sam Woll, 
president of Isaac Agree 
Downtown Synagogue, updated 
the participants on exciting 
developments in Detroit as a 
city and as a welcoming Jewish 
community. 
The event was made 
possible by the generosity of 

the Max M. and Marjorie S. 
Fisher Foundation, the Joel 
D. Tauber Foundation, the 
Mandell L. and Madeleine H. 
Berman Foundation, Dan & 
Jennifer Gilbert and Greatwater 
Opportunity Capital.
The annual Jewish Expat 
Reception has recognized 
an array of individuals with 
roots in Michigan over the 
years, including presidential 
adviser Gene Sperling, Harvard 
President Larry Bacow, 
Hamilton producer Jeffrey 
Seller, Grammy-nominated 
musician Mike Posner, former 
National Geographic CEO Susan 
Goldberg, Google.org founder 
Dr. Larry Brilliant, developer 
Stephen Ross, financier Adam 
Levinson, and Roots founders 
Don Green and Michael 
Budman.
Several “expats” have 
now moved back, including 
technology executive Aaron 
Averbuch, philanthropist Lisa 
Applebaum, 313 Presents 
president Howard Handler, 
private equity executive Josh 
Cascade and StockX vice 
president Jacob Fenton, to name 
a few. Many others have provided 
contributions and mentorship 
to nonprofit organizations 
and supported the growth of 
entrepreneurial activities and real 
estate development in the city. 

 PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMIE FELDMAN

Detroit Jewish 
Expat Reception

faces&places

Jon Opdyke, Justin Golden, Jonny 
Imerman, Adam Finkel and Kelly Opdyke.

Kelly Opdyke with 
Detroit expats Jon 
Opdyke and Justin 
Golden, partners 
in Greatwater 
Opportunity Capital 
in New York. 

Josh Berg, Jacob Smith and 
Danny Fenster

Guests receive a tour of the recently remodeled 
BasBlue to learn about the history of the space.

Dan Brotman, Ariella 
Osipov, Jessica Davidov, 
Rabbi Asher Lopatin

