NOVEMBER 16 • 2023 | 33
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family.” 
JARC CEO Shaindle 
Braunstein says Luckoff, 
in his leadership role, goes 
beyond learning. He takes 
action — which is also 
shown in his volunteerism 
and willingness to be a 
helping hand. 
“Andrew is a person 
who comes into an 
organization and wants to 
learn more about it. And 
as he learns, he wants to 
identify different places 
he can contribute and 
identify where a skill he 
has could be helpful to us,” 
Braunstein said. “When 
Andrew walks into JARC, 
he’s here because he wants 
to roll up his sleeves.” 
To Luckoff, volunteering 
is connected to one’s 
investment in their 
community. 
“I’m a big believer that 
investing not only your 
dollars, but also your 
time, comes back in other 
ways. You get what you 
give,” Luckoff said. “I’ve 
been very fortunate in this 
community — it’s been 

really good to me, and I 
think it’s the least I can do 
for it.” 
Luckoff chaired JARC’s 
annual fundraiser on Oct. 
15 at The Magic Bag in 
Ferndale. This year’s event 
was Studio 54-inspired as 
a nod to the nonprofit’s 54 
years of service. 
The event had a fresh 
feeling with lots of 
positivity to it, Luckoff 
says, and those in 
attendance felt good about 
all the work JARC does, 
where the organization has 
gone and where it’s going.
“Everybody should 
have opportunities, and 
that’s what JARC does 
for people,” Luckoff said. 
“I appreciate that JARC 
doesn’t just serve people 
who are Jewish. I appreciate 
that JARC doesn’t just serve 
the people who live in their 
houses; they serve anybody 
in need. 
“It stands for a lot more 
and the more we can make 
people aware of what we’re 
doing and collaborate with 
others, the better.” 

Andrew and Maddi 
Luckoff, co-chairs 
of JARC’s 2023 
Annual Fundraiser

R

unning is a 
true passion 
for Temple Kol 
Ami’s Rabbi Natalie 
Shribman, so the thought 
of competing in the Free 
Press half-marathon was 
a no-brainer. 
“I love running and 
challenging myself in 
different ways,” Shribman 
said. 
But running a half-
marathon is no jog 
around the block. 
It’s 13.1 miles, which 
requires a considerable 
amount of training. 
“I worked with an 
online dietician and 
running coach to make 
sure I got the right 
nutrition and (training) 
mileage in,” she added.
Race day arrived, 
and it was nearly perfect 
weather for marathoners … 
dry with temperatures in 
the 40s. 
As if the excitement 
of her first Free Press 
marathon wasn’t enough, 
Shribman had tremendous 
congregational support. 
“It was special to share 
the day with congregants 
who gave me rides and 
high-fives,” she said. 
“Seeing [Kol Ami Cantorial 
Soloist] Janet Christensen 
and her husband, Benjamin, 
cheering for me at the end 
brought my two worlds 
together!”
Running across an 
international border was 

also special to Shribman. 
“I’ve visited Ontario 
countless times, having 
gone there for summer 
camp, but I’ve never been 
in Windsor. Running a mile 
under the Detroit River 
is something I will never 
forget.
“Finding a way to 
combine my love for 
running and Judaism has 
always been something I’ve 
worked on. This was a great 
example of that.” 
 So, what’s next? 

 Shribman will take her 
love of the outdoors to 
her congregation with a 
Shabbat Prayer Walk later 
this month. 

Temple Kol Ami’s Rabbi Natalie Shribman 
competes in Free Press half-marathon.

Rabbi Runner!

PAUL GROSS SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS 

Rabbi Natalie 
Shribman ran 
the Free Press 
half-marathon.

