MAY 23 • 2024 | 31

T

he Leonard N. Simons 
History-Maker Award 
honors those who 
have made outstanding con-
tributions to the 
enrichment and 
dissemination of 
Michigan Jewish 
history. Given by 
JHSM (Jewish 
Historical Society 
of Michigan), the 
award is named for 
a Detroit ad man, 
scholar, community activist, 
and history enthusiast, and 
recognizes exceptional com-
munity involvement.
This year’s Simons Award 
will be given posthumously 
to Sam Woll, a community 
bridge builder who developed 
groundbreaking connections 
among Jews and between 
Jews and non-Jews. She had 
a keen interest in history and 
understood its importance in 
education and activism. Her 
community work was historic 
in scope.
In 2017, Woll was named 
one of our community’s “36 
Under 36,” in The Well and 
the Detroit Jewish News’ first 
class of young leaders. This 
distinction was awarded by an 
impartial group of peers. Her 
strong leadership skills were 
identified early.
The award was certainly 
forward looking, as Woll went 

on to become president of 
Isaac Agree Synagogue. She 
brought Jewish values to all 
she did, including champion-
ing voting rights and 
human rights, and 
fighting antisemitism 
and islamophobia. All 
Michigan residents 
were Woll’s constitu-
ents.
Woll’s interest in 
history started at an 
early age. She became 
a member of the JHSM Board 
of Directors after participating 
in a 2022 tour of Mt. Clemens, 
where she visited her grand-
parents’ gravesites in the Beth 
Tephilath Moses Cemetery. She 
knew then that she wanted to 
formalize her commitment to 
Detroit Jewish history through 
JHSM. 
The Leonard N. Simons 
History-Maker Award was 
first given in 1991. This year, 
the Award will be presented at 
JHSM’s annual meeting. There 
is no charge to attend the 
meeting, held in the auditori-
um of the Detroit Historical 
Museum, 5401 Woodward 
Ave., Detroit, on Sunday, June 
2 at 1:30 p.m. Following the 
meeting, attendees are encour-
aged to tour JHSM exhibit 
on display in the museum’s 
community gallery. To learn 
more and register, visit www.
jhsmichigan.org/calendar. 

JHSM Announces 
2024 Leonard N. 
Simons History-
Maker Awardee:
Sam Woll

CATHERINE CANGANY SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

ELAYNE GROSS PHOTOGRAPHY

Sam Woll

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West Bloomf
 eld, MI 48322

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