she stood up and saw the 
sea of Israeli flags, “I didn’t 
want to be anywhere else.”
More recently, Messing 
made her first trip to Israel 
to bear witness and to tell 
Israelis that American Jews 
are with them.
She is looking forward to 
an upcoming documentary 
on antisemitism, Primal 
Fear, which she has helped 
to produce and which 
will be shown on college 
campuses and via social 
media. 
Messing says she wants 
to be remembered as 
someone who brought joy 
to the world and made 
people laugh but also as a 
humanist, a proud Jew and 
an activist for marginalized 
people. 
“Debra’s story is a 
reminder of how important 
it is for each of us to use our 
voice and give back to the 
world around us,” Trepeck 
Harris said. 
“And, the record 
attendance for the event 
is a true testament to the 
fact that it has never been 
more important for us to 
lean into our community 
and come together to speak 
out on behalf of Jewish 
people everywhere, and for 
any other causes we feel 
passionate about. We each 
have the ability to make a 
difference.”
At the end of the 
program, Messing took a 
cellphone selfie video of 
herself with the audience. 
She later shared it on her 
social media and said “the 
evening was a celebration 
of community and the 
profound impact that 

women can have on the 
world. It was very healing to 
be in community with these 
women.”
Before her talk, Nancy 
Glen, Women’s Philanthropy 
campaign chair, noted 
Federation started its fund-
raising efforts aimed at 
women in 1946, when, for 
the first time, women were 
urged to donate in their own 
names. “Your gift makes a 
difference,” she said.
Today, Women’s 
Philanthropy, part of 
the Jewish Federation 
of Detroit, raises money 
for Federation’s Annual 
Campaign and provides 
programming and con-
nection for women in all 
stages of life to ensure 
everyone in Jewish Detroit, 
and in Israel, is taken care 
of and feels like part of the 
family. 
“It was truly remarkable 
to witness Women’s 
Philanthropy Signature 
come to life,” said Stefanie 
Aronow, another event 
co-chair. “Despite the 
record-breaking attendance, 
the evening retained an 
intimate essence, enveloping 
us in comfort, inspiration 
and empowerment.”
Serving with Aronow 
and Trepeck Harris as 
event co-chairs were Amy 
Berman and Melissa Wolf. 
Women’s Philanthropy 
leadership includes Sherrie 
Singer, president; Nancy 
Glen, campaign chair; and 
Shelly Rubenfire, associate 
campaign chair.
Henry Ford Health was 
the presenting sponsor of 
the program. 

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