30 | FEBRUARY 22 • 2024 
J
N

A 

global adventure awaits at our 
EPIC night market where we’ve 
curated the most amazing tastes, 
smells, sights and sounds from Jewish 
communities from around the world.” 
It’s that time of year again. NEXTGen 
Detroit’s annual fundraising event — 
EPIC — returns.
This year’s EPIC theme will see guests 
travel through the Jewish tribe’s rich 
regional cultures — from Marrakesh to 
Mykonos and Buenos Aires to Budapest 
— celebrating and supporting the 
beautifully diverse international Jewish 
community. 
This year’s EPIC takes place Saturday, 
March 2, at The Icon event venue (200 
Walker St., Detroit). The festivities begin 
at 8 p.m. 
Last year’s EPIC theme was a casino 

night. 
“This year, it’s something different 
where we are really going to be immersed 
in these four different cultures,” said 
Rachel Klar, EPIC staff person. “It’s sort 
of like a festival; you’ll get to go and 
experience different things, different 
foods that allow you to get a taste of each 
region and have experiences you would 
actually have in these regions if you were 
traveling around the world. Also, you’ll 
get to take something home with you.” 
The long list of EPIC leadership 
helping make the event a yearly success 
includes EPIC co-chairs Eric Berlin, 
Lauren Deitch, Jacob Gordon and Taylor 
Weintraub.
That leadership hopes to bring a 
positive light and show how Jewish 
communities around the world are 

coming together and how strong they 
are. 
“I hope people feel strongly connected 
through the different communities 
around the world by coming to the 
event, and I hope they take home how 
impactful we can be through raising 
money, not only on the ground in 
Detroit, but all around the world,” Klar 
said.
“I think it’s going to be a night to 
remember and an EPIC concept that 
has ever been done before,” she added. 
“I really want people to come and 
experience it and understand they’re 
going to walk away with substance, a 
lot of knowledge, a lot of food being 
eaten, a lot of things they have done that 
night and just a really cool, different 
experience.” 

Details
The event is dressy casual. Dietary 
laws observed. Security provided on 
site. This event is intended for young 
adults ages 21 to 39. The event is 
brought to the community by Sue 
and Alan J. Kaufman and Family.
In addition to a registration fee 
of $50 per person, each guest is 
asked to make a minimum donation 
of $100 to the Jewish Federation’s 
2024 Annual Campaign. Donations 
will provide support to Federation, 
and its 17 local and three internation-
al agencies. Register at https://jlive.
app/events/6796.

NEXT DOR

DANNY SCHWARTZ SENIOR STAFF REPORTER

This year’s EPIC celebrates and supports the 
beautifully diverse international Jewish community.

NEXTGen Detroit’s 
EPIC Returns

