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