MARCH 28 • 2024 | 9
J
N

A 

record audience of more 
than 900 women filled 
Congregation Shaarey 
Zedek’s sanctuary last month for 
the Women’s Philanthropy annual 
fundraiser, Signature, with guest 
speaker Debra Messing. The theme 
and message for the evening was for 
all women to feel empowered in all 
aspects of their lives.
It was a sold-out crowd, and even 
more women joined via Zoom. At the 
beginning of the program, co-chair 
Amy Berman asked for a moment 
of silence in honor of the Israeli 
hostages and victims of violence.
Before Messing took to the stage, 
three speakers who work with the 
Jewish Federation of Detroit or one 
of its constituent agencies explained 
how the dollars raised by Women’s 
Philanthropy and Federation’s 
Annual Campaign support the 
community. 
“Your gift makes a difference,” said 
Robyn Hughey, executive director 
of the Michigan State Hillel and the 
Hillel Campus Alliance of Michigan, 
which represents 11 campuses. Rina 
Sabes of Jewish Family Service talked 
about a group of women that has 
come together to share and express 
grief following the Oct. 7 attack and 
the ensuing war. 
Shahaf Harari, one of five young 
Israeli ShinShinim working with 
local Jewish organizations in Detroit 
for the year, talked about the impact 
Tamarack Camps had on her life 
when she attended as a camper and 
how her connections to Detroit 
brought her to where she is today. 
Shahaf also thanked the audience 
for the support she felt from the 
Detroit Jewish community after Oct. 
7, which directly affected her — 10 
people from her town attended the 
music festival near the Gaza border 
that was attacked by Hamas, and only 
three returned.
Julie Trepeck Harris, another 
co-chair of the event, introduced 
Messing and described her as “the 

BARBARA LEWIS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

OUR COMMUNITY

At Women’s Philanthropy’s Signature 
event, guest Debra Messing shares 
message of empowerment.

A Record-Breaking 
Crowd

More than 900 
people came 
to hear Debra 
Messing speak.

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