FEBRUARY 15 • 2024 | 35

outdoors and helping them 
build their own Jewish 
communities. 
After leaving camp 
staff, Jay spent multiple 
years on Tamarack’s Teen 
and Family Programming 
Committee, sharing his 
knowledge with new 
directors and camp 
leadership. He is a member 
of Temple Beth Emeth in 
Ann Arbor and, during 
the pandemic, volunteered 
with their Backdoor Food 
Pantry.
Jay lives in Ypsilanti with 
his spouse, Raysha Stacey, 
and their pets, Lava and 
Ernie.

MORGAN 
KAUFMAN 
Although, a 
native to 
Manhattan 
Beach, 
California, Morgan 
Kaufman proudly calls 
Michigan her home. She 
has wholeheartedly 
embraced the community 
and is proud to be part of 
Jewish Detroit. She has the 
self-proclaimed title of 
“recruiter” to anyone who 
considers moving here as 
she truly find it the best 
place to live and raise kids. 
Raising her family in 
such a vibrant Jewish 
community that has endless 
opportunities to give back 
has been such a blessing, 
she says. She is inspired 
by this community for 
instilling values of kindness 
and compassion to her kids 
and for the opportunity to 
incorporate community 
service into her family 

traditions. 
For Valentine’s Day, she 
collected cards made by 
classmates and friends of 
her children and delivered 
them along with flowers to 
local seniors at Fleischman 
and other residences — 
reminding them that they 
are loved by the children in 
this community.
When she is not with 
family she is trying to 
engage in the incredible 
things happening across 
the community. She is 
active at Hillel Day School, 
specifically with the 
“Tikkun Olam” program, 
where she recently helped 
plan an event where 150 
teddy bears were made for 
children in the hospital 
during the holidays. 
She serves on the board 
of Tamarack where she has 
worked on the Campaign 
for Change and Send 
a Kid to Camp events. 
She also serves on the 
JFamily committee and on 
the board of Variety the 
Children’s Charity, where 
she co-chaired the Variety 
Shine Fashion Show. She 
previously served on 
the board of NEXTGen 
Detroit, co-chaired the 
EPIC Event and co-chaired 
a mission to Israel along 
with her husband as part 
of Federation’s Emerging 
Leaders Program. 
She is a self-proclaimed 
chocolate chip cookie 
connoisseur. 

Share 

Your Joy

JEWISH NEWS

THE DETROIT

Book your wedding 
announcement online by 
scanning the QR code

with the 
Metro-Detroit 
Jewish 
community.