24 | FEBRUARY 15 • 2024 

her lifelong dream is to find 
decent kosher Mexican food. 
She enjoys trivia or game 
nights with her husband at 
local bars and visiting local 
hands-on museums and 
libraries with her kids. She 
was a competitive ice skater 
when growing up.

DAVID 
LOWENSTEIN 
A native of New 
York City, David 
arrived in 
Michigan nearly 
five years ago to work as an 
extension educator with 
Michigan State University 
Extension. 
 He is an entomologist 
whose career helps Michigan 
residents find solutions 
to their plant health care 
needs and manage plant-
feeding insects. These efforts 
included projects such as 
finding a beneficial wasp 
that attacks lily leaf beetles in 
area gardens to monitoring 
for lilac borers on Mackinac 
Island. 
He also oversees Extension 
Master Gardener volunteers 
in Macomb County, 
who grow food for low-
income residents, beautify 
community spaces, and 
share practical gardening 
tips at farmers markets and 
community events at over 40 
locations. 
Having recently moved to 
Berkley, where he lives with 
his daughter, Sophie, and 
son, Theodore, he is excited 
to transform his yard into 
one with pollinator plantings, 
ornamental grasses and 
vegetables. 
He enjoys hiking, canning 
jam and bike-riding. 

He participated in the 
Federation’s Ride for the 
Living and hopes to make 
this an annual tradition. 
David is part of the Etz 
Chayim and Woodward 
Avenue Shul communities 
and regularly volunteers to 
read the weekly Haftarah or 
Shabbat services. He started 
volunteering at Yad Ezra and 
appreciates the opportunities 
available in the area to give 
back to the community.
He enjoys petting bumble 
bees and reminds people that 
only the females can sting. 

MOSHE 
LENCER 
Moshe Lencer, 
known as Moosh, 
is a proud Israeli 
native who 
moved to the United States in 
July 2015 to work for AEPi. 
Moosh earned his degree in 
government with minors in 
international affairs and 
business administration from 
the Interdisciplinary Center 
Herzliya. 
 Continuing his educational 
journey, he obtained master’s 
degrees in Jewish education 
from Hebrew University and 
Israel Experiential Education 
from George Washington 
University. 
 In 2019, Moosh’s life took 
a delightful turn when he 
met his partner, Sarah, who 
was already embracing the 
magic of Michigan in Ann 
Arbor. Sarah introduced him 
to the state’s vibrant culture, 
from savoring Buddy’s Pizza 
to tapping into the soulful 
beats of Motown music, 
exploring cider mills and 
being part of an incredible 
Jewish community. 

 In 2020, Moosh and Sarah 
made Ann Arbor their joint 
home. Moosh has since 
actively engaged in 
Michigan’s Jewish life, 
volunteering in organizations 
like the Michigan Region 
ADL Educational Board, 
BBYO and AEPi Ann Arbor 
advising. 
Nationally, Moosh has lent 
his support to initiatives such 
as Artists 4 Israel, B’nai B’rith 
International and KAHAL: 
Your Jewish Home Abroad. 
 Moosh’s professional 
journey at AEPi spanned 
more than five years, 
starting as the International 
Ambassador and culminating 
in the role of director of 
Jewish enrichment and 
education. Currently working 
at The iCenter with a focus 
on Israel education and 
community partnerships, 
Moosh has also been 
providing his expertise 
through consulting for 
organizations, including 
BBYO, WZO’s Office of 
the Vice Chairman of 
the Executive, JFNA and 
MyZuzah. Moosh has 
successfully completed his 
consulting commitments 
with the University of 
Michigan Hillel and 
Shorashim. 
 In 2023, Moosh 
participated in The Big 
House 5K, Canton Liberty 
10k Run, and the Detroit 
Free Press International Half-
Marathon. He is looking 
forward to experiencing 
more of Michigan’s beautiful 
landscapes through new 
races in 2024.

RACHEL KLAR 
Growing up in 
the Detroit Jewish 
community and 
graduating from 
University of 
Michigan with a degree in 
elementary education, Rachel 
knew she wanted to move 
back home after college. She 
started teaching at Hillel Day 
School in the Early 
Childhood Center. There, she 
was able to make Judaism 
fun, meaningful and 
approachable for the 
youngest students. 
Her next chapter began at 
Temple Israel as their youth 
director. Temple Israel was a 
place where she grew up and 
learned to be a Jewish leader. 
Her role was to work with 
elementary, middle and high 
school students to embody 
leadership, create spiritual 
connections to their Judaism 
and a safe space in their 
synagogue and Jewish world. 
Currently, Rachel works at 
the Jewish Federation where 
she helps others create Jewish 
relationships and find their 
role in the community. The 
Detroit Jewish community 
has shaped who she is today, 
and she feels honored to be 
working in a space where she 
can do the same for others. 
Waking up every day where 
she is excited to work to 
create a stronger and more 
vibrant Jewish world is a gift, 
she says. 
She loves spending time 
with family and friends, 
traveling and being with her 
golden retriever Lou. She 
loves exploring Metro 
Detroit’s food scene and 
teaching others Pilates, 
Lagree and Bounce, which 

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