NOV. 3 • 2024 | 35
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Yeshiva Beth Yehudah Special Edition NOVEMBER 3 • 2024 | 35
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Whitmer. Shapiro spoke about 
the lasting effects of his Jewish 
education and his support for 
Israel and the Jewish people. For 
the oratorial icing on the cake, 
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and 
U.S. Senators Gary Peters and 
Debbie Stabenow also made 
remarks.
To name all the featured 
speakers over the years would 
take most of my column, 
but I’ll give you a few exam-
ples: Presidents Joe Biden, 
George Bush, Gerald Ford 
and Donald Trump; Nikki 
Haley, the U.S. Ambassador 
to the UN at the time; Secretary 
of State Condoleezza Rice; U.S. Senators Joe 
Lieberman, Charles Schumer and John Kerry; 
and U.S. General Colin Powell.
We also should not forget the many 
Outstanding Leadership and Golden Torah 
Awardees such as Mandell “Bill” Berman, 
Penny Blumenstein, Robert Naftalay and 
Nancy Grosfeld; business leaders Mary Barra, 
CEO of General Motors; Matt Simoncin, CEO 
of Lear Corporation; and Jerry Norcia, CEO of 
DTE; and Mayor Mike Duggan. 
Whew! And, I’ve only named a few from the 
prestigious list of Yeshiva Beth Yehudah honor-
ees and speakers. 
Congratulations to the staff and leadership 
of Yeshiva Beth Yehudah for more than a cen-
tury of outstanding educational and community 
programming. You have an impressive record of 
achievement, indeed. Mazel Tov! 

