54 | NOVEMBER 7 • 2024 J
N

Looking Back

From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History 

accessible at thejewishnews.com

Michigan Jewish Sports Foundation
I 

recently had a very nice chat with Don Rudick, the 
executive director of the Michigan Jewish Sports 
Foundation. We discussed some of the Foundation’s 
work, especially its signature event, the Michigan Jewish 
Sports Hall of Fame’s annual induction ceremony and 
dinner. This year’s event was held Oct. 29. 
This year is the 40th anniversary of the 
inaugural dinner when the first inductees 
were installed into the Jewish Sports Hall 
of Fame. Due to a two-year hiatus during 
the worst days of COVID, this year’s event 
was actually the 38th induction ceremony 
and dinner. The Foundation itself is 41 
years old.
Although the Michigan Jewish Sports Hall 
of Fame is one of the Foundation’s highest profile programs, 
it does not stand alone. The Foundation also sponsors 
the popular Hank Greenberg Memorial Golf, Tennis and 
Pickleball Invitational every year at the Franklin Hill Country 
Club, which is a benefit for charity, and the Dr. Steve (z”l) and 
Evelyn Rosen “Stars of Tomorrow” Scholarship Program. The 
Foundation also supports the Mathews Sports Exhibit at the 
Jewish Community Center, among other programs.
Our favorite program at the Jewish News is the annual JN 
High School Athlete of the Year. Since 1991, we have been 
proud partners with the Michigan Jewish Sports Foundation for 
this award. The Jewish News outstanding athletes for this year 
are Cami Katzen (basketball and tennis), who is now enrolled 
at the University of Kansas; Aaron Rose (tennis), now at the 
University of Michigan, and Ryan Rose (tennis and golf), also 
at U-M.
BTW — The first High School Athletes of the Year were Ed 
Wolkind and Heather Davis. 
To its credit, the Michigan Jewish Sports Foundation has 
always recognized outstanding young women as well as young 
men athletes.

Many High School Athletes of the Year awardees have also 
achieved success after their high school sports exploits. For 
example, I found names like Storm Kirschenbaum, who has 
represented professional athletes for two decades, and Matt 
Ishbia, the current CEO and Chairman of United Wholesale 
Mortgage. 

I decided to do a deep research cruise into the William 
Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History 
regarding the Michigan Jewish Sports Foundation. I was not 
disappointed. There are 638 pages in the Archive that cite the 

Michigan Jewish Sports Hall of 
Fame, and 157 pages with stories 
about the JN High School Athlete 
of the Year.
Moreover, it should be noted 
that another “all-star” has been 
writing about Jewish sports 
in Metro Detroit since the 
establishment of the Michigan 
Jewish Sports Foundation. I’m 
speaking about the JN’s own 
sportswriter, Steve Stein. 
Steve has been writing about 
the Michigan Jewish Sports 
Foundation Hall of Famers and JN 
High School Athletes of the Year 
for many years. For a sample of 
his work, see “BIG Honor” about 
A.J. Roberts, who was “shocked 
to learn” that she was a 2006 JN 
Athlete of the year (Aug. 17, 2006, 
JN). Likewise, see “Shining Star” 
about Eliza Brown; or “Terrific Trio of Girls” about Elle 
Hartje, Mikaela Schultz and Dani Wolfe (Oct. 27, 2000; Oct. 
13, 2016; Sept. 26, 2019). These are just a few of Steve’s good 
reads. 
Mazel tov to the 2024 JN Athletes of the Year and Michigan 
Jewish Sports Hall of Famers! 

Want to learn more? Go to the DJN archives, available for free at 
thejewishnews.com.

Mike Smith
Alene and 
Graham Landau 
Archivist Chair

