MARCH 2 • 2023 | 23

I

n November 2022, Temple Beth Emeth 
(TBE), together with their partners at 
Genesis of Ann Arbor-St. Clare’s of 
Assisi Episcopal Church, held their annual 
Erev Thanksgiving gathering. 
The evening was filled with songs by 
both choirs, readings and interpersonal 
conversations. But the highlight of the eve-
ning was the presentation of the Genesis 
Humanitarian Award, this year given to 
Rabbi Josh Whinston of Temple Beth 
Emeth. 
The Genesis Humanitarian Award pro-
motes recognition of people and organiza-
tions whose actions exemplify the Genesis 
Vision and Spirit by embracing mutual 
trust, respect and appreciation of all people, 
and living the ideals of faith and inclusive-
ness to heal a broken world.
Over the years, certain members of the 
community have stood out by devoting 
countless hours toward improving the 
relationships with which Genesis is now 
blessed. Still others are deeply involved in 
a wide variety of social justice activities or 
are tireless volunteers in community service 
organizations. 
Out of the many worthy individuals in 
the community and the combined TBE and 
St. Clare’s congregations, Genesis seeks to 
recognize those who inspire future genera-
tions. In the past, the Genesis Humanitarian 
Award has been presented to Christine 
Modey (2020), Jewish Family Services 
of Washtenaw County, Refugee Services 
Department (2018), the Back Door Food 
Pantry (2017), Bob Milstein (2017), Irene 
Butter (2012), Richard Bailey (2010), James 
Schairbaum (2007), Sandy Elden (2005), 
Phil Bowen (2003), Jackie Moore (2001), 
Rabbi Bob Levy (1999) and The Rev. Doug 
Evett (1997).

ADVOCATE FOR JUSTICE 
AT THE BORDER
Rabbi Whinston moved to Ann Arbor in 
the summer of 2016 and, in the wake of 
the injustices at the southern border of the 
country in 2017, he asked the Temple Beth 
Emeth community to speak out and use 

their collective voice to effect change.
When prompted by a congregant to 
reread a New York Times article about the 
separation of children from their families, 
he realized the tragedies taking place at 
the border could not be ignored. Rabbi 
Whinston’s courage, clarity and conviction 
inspired many to take up the effort to make 
a change.
In the summer of 2018, Rabbi Whinston 
helped a woman find her family by driv-
ing her to Pittsburgh. Ms. Gonzalez, a 
Guatemalan woman, had been separated 
from her children at the U.S. border in 
Texas. 
Weeks later, in the aftermath of the Tree 
of Life Synagogue massacre in Pittsburgh, 
Rabbi Whinston reflected on living up to 
his religious values. In his own words, “We 
take our own values seriously. We take care 
of the stranger. It is our Torah and our val-
ues, especially given our history.
”
Rabbi Whinston became an instrumental 
leader in organizing an interfaith “Let Our 
Families Go” action in Tornillo, Texas. The 
campaign was formed by Rabbi Whinston, 
Rabbi Terlinchamp (Cincinnati) and the 
Faith in Action organization. The campaign 
organized rallies across the nation with reli-
gious leaders and communities. 
Joining forces with congregations across 
the country, activists, reformers and orga-

nizations working tirelessly at the border, 
Rabbi Whinston and the Social Action 
Committee of Temple Beth Emeth were 
able to bring further attention to the inhu-
manity occurring at the border. The cam-
paign protested and raised awareness about 
hidden suffering experienced by thousands 
of families like the Gonzalez family.
In the fall of 2018, a caravan of God’s 
people headed to the Tornillo detention 
center near the Texas-Mexico border. This 
pilgrimage raised national awareness about 
three humanitarian crises: asylum seekers 
languishing on the El Paso-Juarez Bridge; 
teenagers confined to a tent city surround-
ed by barbed wire in Tornillo; and the 
humanitarian crisis in El Paso, Texas, where 
immigrants and refugees are randomly 
released with no access to support services 
or resources.
As reported nationwide, the humanitari-
an protests and religious activism occurred 
just outside the detention facility in Texas, 
and the protesters even served meals at 10 
U.S. border shelters for asylum seekers. The 
work of the Let Our Families Go Campaign 
continues to be a source of humanitarian 
inspiration. This activism has also been 
relied on to support a Rabbinic Resolution 
on private prisons in the U.S.
In addition to his humanitarian work, 
Rabbi Whinston is a Brickner Fellow at the 
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, 
serves on the board for the Interfaith 
Council for Peace and Justice in Ann Arbor, 
and is a fantastic husband to Sarah and the 
attentive, involved and supportive father of 
three growing children.
Rabbi Whinston leads by example. He 
works selflessly to heal the world. Although 
also selfless, Genesis admits to being selfish 
in presenting this award. Genesis selfishly 
charges Rabbi Whinston with continuing 
his inspiring work and leadership. Genesis 
also charges the members of both congre-
gations to use Rabbi Whinston’s example to 
inspire volunteerism. We hope that the pre-
sentation of this award encourages everyone 
to act selflessly and work toward a better 
future world. 

Rabbi Josh Whinston receives the Genesis Humanitarian Award.
Ann Arbor Rabbi Honored

MURRAY ROSENTHAL AND CHRISTINE MODEY WASHTENAW JEWISH NEWS

Rabbi Josh 
Whinston

