MAY 16 • 2024 | 37

A major lesson from
Levine’s time in Israel
came from the challenge of
doing business with people
in a foreign country in
another language. Levine
would often need help with
translation while
working out final
negotiations.
“I think the
biggest thing I
realized, especially
as someone who
comes from a
more business
background, is
that when you want to get
something done and you
want to make a deal, there’s
always a way to do it,”
Levine said.
Now a law student at
Wayne State University,
Levine has helped restart
the Wayne State Jewish
Law Student Association.
He’s planned several events
and has worked with other
campus groups to spread
awareness about Judaism,
Israel and Jewish life for
WSU law students.
The JLSA folded two
or three years prior, and
nobody had taken the
initiative to restart it. Levine
started discussions about it
from the beginning of his
time at WSU. Levine took
the matter to the Dean of
Student Life office, and soon
after, the JLSA was back.
The organization quickly
started getting active on
campus. It has co-sponsored
a speaker series event
with Hillel, sold bagels
(sponsored by Detroit
Institute of Bagels), had a
mental health awareness
panel and worked with the
Downtown Synagogue to do
a tour for Jewish and non-
Jewish students alike.

People are just happy to
have the JLSA back, Levine
says, whether they’re doing
one or 10 events a month.
“We’re constantly talking
about what else we can do
on campus to get Jews and
non-Jews alike
involved, and paint
the real picture of
what the Jewish
people are —
strong, welcoming
and proud
individuals,” Levine
said. “And for us, it’s
working toward great
and successful careers as
Jewish attorneys.”
Levine is also involved
in Partners Detroit. He’s
been a board member of its
Jewish Young Professionals
division, regularly takes
part in events and attends
learning sessions weekly.
“After Oct. 7 happened, I
started going to shul again
every Friday night for
Shabbat services. I put on
tefillin again regularly. It’s
been a lot more of making
sure I’m engaging, trying
to do small mitzvahs and
praying a little bit more.”
Levine is involved with
the Jewish Bar Association
of Michigan as a student
member. He’s also continued
his friendship with a
local Holocaust survivor
after connecting with
her through a volunteer
program during the
pandemic.
Levine has dedicated
himself to Jewish life no
matter where he’s been.
He credits his family for
instilling Jewish pride from
a young age.
“From there, it flowed to
where everything I do in
my life somehow relates to
Jews.”

A group of Wayne State law students, Levine included, with Michigan
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

Cole Levine

“... EVERYTHING
I DO IN MY LIFE
SOMEHOW
RELATES TO

JEWS.”

— COLE LEVINE

Levine in the Galilee