NOVEMBER 16 • 2023 | 37
J
N

O

nly five days 
after the barbaric 
terrorist attacks in 
Israel, on Oct. 12, 150 young 
adults gathered at Franklin 
Hills Country Club for the 
second Annual 
Herzl Society 
Dinner. This 
annual event 
recognizes 
young 
philanthropists 
who generously 
support 
the Jewish 
Federation of Detroit’s 
Annual Campaign with a 
household gift of $2,500 or 
more. 
Emotions were raw as 
we came together with our 
trifold focus — JFMD’s 
mission, the Herzl Society, 
and how to help our 
brothers and sisters in Israel 
and here in Detroit.
Co-chairs Lauren Mondry 
Blanck, Adam Bleznak and 
Danielle DePriest hosted a 
beautiful evening and were 

able to quickly pivot the 
agenda to ensure we could 
still gather as a community 
and strengthen our Jewish 
bonds. 
Together, we shared a 
delicious meal prepared by 
Liron Schneider, executive 
chef and owner of three 
acclaimed restaurants in 
Berlin. We heard from a 
variety of speakers who 
illuminated the audience 
with their stories of how the 
Jewish Federation of Detroit 
has impacted their lives and 
how we can best stand with 
Israel at this time of unrest.
Jennie Levy, wife of Israeli 
Defense Force Captain 
Shimon Levy, bravely spoke 
of the moment they first 
learned of the terrorist 
attack in Israel, and knew it 
was not if, but when Shimon 
would leave Detroit for 
Israel to join the IDF. 
Jennie’s story, along 
with powerful words from 
the other speakers and 
Federation CEO Steven 

Ingber, helped raise $200,000 
for the Israel Emergency 
campaign. This is in 
addition to the $500,000 
raised by the Herzl Society 
for the 2024 JFMD Annual 
Campaign.
As we continue to 
stand with Israel during 
this devastating time, we 

recognize that it is essential 
for us to continue to come 
together and use our voices 
for good. As young adults, 
we are the future of the 
Detroit Jewish community, 
and we will continue to use 
our resolve to build a vibrant 
Jewish future here in Detroit 
and around the world. 

TOP: Samantha Foon, Keith 
Schonberger, Mimi Marcus, 
Sarah Roberts, Emily 
Slabotsky, Zack Slabotsky, 
Cameron Billes.
BELOW: NEXTGen Past 
President and Herzl 
Co-Chair Danielle DePriest, 
Herzl Co-Chairs Adam 
Bleznak and Lauren Mondry 
Blanck, NEXTGen President 
Jennie Maxbauer.

Samantha 
Foon
Contributing 
Writer

