Hills where she was an 
active leader in BBYO and 
Tamarack Camps. During her 
undergraduate years, she held 
many leadership positions at 
MSU Hillel, with a focus on 
increasing participation and 
engagement. 
In her free time, Sara enjoys 
hiking, spending time with her 
friends and family, traveling 
and attending country music 
concerts. 

SHANE 
SPERLING
Shane Sperling, 
a graduate of 
the Central 
Michigan 
University’s 
integrative 
public relations program, 
is the communications and 
programming manager at Yad 
Ezra, Michigan’s kosher food 
pantry. Born and raised in West 
Bloomfield, Shane attributes 
his connection to the Jewish 
community to his time spent at 
Tamarack Camps as a camper 
and staff, BBYO and at B’nai 
Moshe, where he is a lifelong 
member, as well as the Jewish 
family traditions instilled in 
him by his parents. 
Before his role at Yad Ezra, 
Shane once held a position 
with BBYO Michigan Region. 
It was there he learned that he 
wants to help shape and mold 
the young minds of the Jewish 
community’s future leaders. 
Shane has a career goal to run 
a summer camp like the one he 
says helped shape him into the 
person he is today.
At an early age, Shane felt 
he was destined to be involved 
in the Metro Detroit Jewish 
community. As a Jew of color, 
Shane has been presented 
with the opportunity to offer 
a unique view on Jewish 
life. This led Shane to sit on 
the AJC/JCRC Executive 
Board, where he helped lead 

Michigan’s version of Project 
Understanding, a program 
that works toward bridging the 
gap between Black and Jewish 
cultures while also celebrating 
both traditions and heritages. 
It is not uncommon for Shane 
to be involved on an executive 
board. Shane held several 
positions on Central Michigan 
University’s Hillel executive 
board during his four years of 
undergrad. 
When it comes to Metro 
Detroit, you can find Shane at 
Ford Field participating in his 
favorite activity, rooting for the 
Detroit Lions. When he is not 
doing that, he is spending time 
with his two dogs and fiancée, 
Atara. 

MUSHKY 
GLITSENSTEIN
Raised in a fam-
ily of Chabad 
emissaries in 
Milwaukee, 
Mushky 
Glitsenstein 
always knew it was her life mis-
sion to help people wherever 
they may be and create enrich-
ment programs to enhance their 
connection to Judaism.
Four years ago, the dream 
was realized when Mushky and 
her husband, Rabbi Moishie, 
established the Chabad of Royal 
Oak and immediately set out 
to work in the heart of the 
Woodward Corridor.
Mushky met some of her 
closest friends in the commu-
nity through cold knocking on 
neighborhood doors.
With dynamic initiatives for 
the entire family, from a baby 
book club to family holiday 
events, social gatherings or 
classes on Judaism, Mushky’s 
goal is to provide meaningful 
experiences to Jews of all ages 
— so they can apply what they 
learn at Chabad to all areas of 
their lives.
In keeping with the example 
provided by the Lubavitcher 
Rebbe, of righteous memory, 
Mushky set out to build a com-

munity for all by working with 
the community, as a joint effort. 
Through mutual collabora-
tion, each individual is valued 
and has an opportunity to con-
tribute.
Input from community 
members led her to open the 
Lamplighters Preschool in the 
past year, a Reggio-inspired 
program in downtown Royal 
Oak that has attracted praise 
for its high quality of education. 
The school has an enrollment of 
nearly 30 children and count-
ing.
It is Mushky’s pleasure to 
host many guests at her Shabbat 
and holiday tables, as well as to 
assist new mothers by providing 
them with fully prepared meals 
whenever necessary.
Occasionally, even those who 
have not recently given birth 
will find a warm loaf of chal-
lah or a container of matzah 
ball soup waiting for them on 
their porch — homemade by 
Mushky, with love.
She said one of her favorite 
things is when she introduces 
two people to each other, and it 
turns out they have known each 
other for years. 
“Only in Detroit!”

TOM YAARI
Tom was born 
and raised in 
the Detroit area. 
He attended 
Hillel Day 
School, had his 
bar mitzvah at 
Keter Torah Synagogue, and 
graduated from Frankel Jewish 
Academy in 2010. From there, 
he moved to Ann Arbor and 
pursued a degree in Hebrew 
and Jewish history at the 
University of Michigan. He 
remains a die-hard Wolverine 
fan and tries to attend at least 
one football game a year. 
He graduated from U-M 
in 2014 and planned to make 
aliyah so that he could become 
an Israeli tour guide. Explaining 
the fascinating history of Eretz 
Israel and the Jewish people to 

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