32 | JUNE 6 • 2024 
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nnie Klinger has 
been working with 
kids in the Metro 
Detroit Jewish community 
since she was a kid herself. 
Originally from Farming-
ton Hills, she started her 
professional 
involvement at 
Temple Israel and 
JCC Day Camps 
at age 13, all the 
way through high 
school (and some 
of college), where 
she gained personal and 
professional connections.
Klinger is currently the 
full-time youth adviser at 
Congregation Shaarey Zedek 
(CSZ) and an adviser for 

Motor City USY (MCUSY) 
and Kulanu BBG. 
Klinger’s first “job,” right 
after getting bat mitzvahed, 
was being a madrichah 
(teacher’s assistant) at Temple 
Israel. That experience and 
what she learned from the 
instructor, Darren Avig, was 
instrumental in her journey. 
“He taught me how to 
teach, how to be a leader, 
how to love these kids and be 
in the Judaic world all at the 
same time,” she said.
Klinger kept falling into 
Jewish educator roles, 
including out of college as a 
co-teacher in Temple Beth 
El’s Early Childhood Center.
“I had these connections 

at each place. Everybody 
wanted me to introduce 
myself to these new jobs and 
it always ended up being 
with young Jewish learners,” 
Klinger said. 
Klinger’s role as CSZ’s 
youth adviser involves a lot 
of social programming for 
CSZ teens, getting them 
involved and making the shul 
a welcoming environment. 
Klinger spent time last 
summer creating the CSZ 
Teen Lounge, a space for 
teens to spend time and hang 
out when they’re there for 
services or if they need a 
place to study. 
Klinger also is involved 
in the religious school and 
is in charge of her own 
madrichim. She enjoys 
hanging around the younger 
religious school students as 
well, popping in on their 
events and dancing and 
singing with them.
Klinger works with teens in 
her adviser roles for Kulanu 

BBG and MCUSY as well. 
MCUSY, Detroit’s city-wide 
chapter of United Synagogue 
Youth, became part of her 
role at CSZ within the last 
year and brings teens further 
connection and another 
version of youth group.
MCUSY hosts events and 
social programming, such 
as Ice Skating in the D and 
weekend Shabbatons or 
something as simple as going 
to get smoothies. 
Klinger has been an adviser 
with the BBYO chapter 
Kulanu BBG for four years, 
now on a volunteer basis. 
Klinger won “Adviser of the 
Year” her first year there. 
“Anytime they have 
programming, I’m there. For 
conventions, I’m there with 
them over the weekends, 
helping them coordinate 
cheers or Shabbat and making 
sure they’re organizing with 
other chapters as well, trying 
to get them involved that 
way.” 

Adviser Annie 

Annie 
Klinger with 
Congregation 
Shaarey Zedek 
teens

From shul to youth groups to 
Maccabi, she’s there for the kids. 

Annie 
Klinger

DANNY SCHWARTZ SENIOR STAFF REPORTER

NEXT DOR
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