26 | SEPTEMBER 28 • 2023 
J
N

U

niversity of 
Michigan’s Jewish 
Communal 
Leadership Program and The 
Covenant Foundation will 
honor the memory of Harlene 
Winnick Appelman, master 
Jewish educator and long-
term executive director of The 
Covenant Foundation, at a 
conference on Sunday, Oct. 15.
The gathering, which is 
open to the public, will be 
held from 1-9 p.m. at the 
University of Michigan School 
of Social Work and Michigan 
Hillel at Ann Arbor, where 
Appelman lived.
Speakers Dr. Sivan Zakai, 
Dr. Susie Tanchel and Rabbi 
Rebecca Milder will explore 
the unexpected gifts embed-
ded in children’s capacity for 
learning and imagination. 
Anthony Mordecai Zvi Russell 
and Sarah Aroeste, musical 
artists and educators, will 

show how art and music 
can challenge our cultural 
assumptions. 
Rabba Yaffa Epstein, a 
2015 graduate of Yeshivat 
Maharat, the first Orthodox 
seminary to ordain women, 
will deliver the keynote pre-
sentation, “The Holy Work of 
Education: Excellence, Passion 
and Empowering Others.”
Following dinner, 
Appelman’s students, col-
leagues and friends will 
express their memories and 
appreciation, and Sarah 
Aroeste, who is known for 
feminist Ladino rock music, 
will perform.
Appelman, who died 
in 2022 at age 75, led The 
Covenant Foundation, pro-
moting innovations in Jewish 
education, for 15 years.
Under her leadership, 
the organization created 
“Sightline,” a digital journal 

of creative ideas in Jewish 
education, Ignition grants to 
jumpstart and disseminate 
effective programming, and 
the Pomegranate Prize, which 
recognizes emerging leaders 
in Jewish education.
Appelman also held lead-
ership positions at Detroit’s 
Fresh Air Society, Jewish 
Community Centers and 
Jewish Federation. In 1995, 
she was named director of 
community and education 
for Federation and later 
served as executive director 
of the Alliance for Jewish 
Education and Jewish educa-
tion officer.
Under the auspices of 
the Fresh Air Society, she 
started Jewish Experiences 
for Families (JEFF), which 
became a national model in 
the field of family program-
ming and community build-
ing.

The success of JEFF led to 
Appelman’s appointment as 
director of field services of 
the Whizin Institute for the 
Family at the University of 
Judaism.
In the early 1990s, 
Appelman helped introduce 
L’Chayim, a supplement on 
Jewish family topics distrib-
uted by the Detroit Jewish 
News.
Those who worked with 
Appelman have effusive 
praise for her work.
“Harlene Appelman was 
described as a visionary, but 
I’m not sure that’s really an 
adequate word 
to describe her,” 
said Shaindle 
Braunstein, 
CEO of JARC, 
which provides 
support services 
for people with 
developmental disabilities in 
Southeast Michigan.
“Not only did she see the 
possibilities in what could 
happen with programming, 
she saw the possibilities in 
what could happen with 
the people who could shape 
those programs. If you had 

An Education Visionary

OUR COMMUNITY

University of Michigan program honors 
memory of Harlene Appelman.

Shaindle 
Braunstein

BARBARA LEWIS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Harlene 
Appelman

