Michelle Berman

Essential Worker

It’s 3 a.m. in the morning and Michelle Berman is still at her desk wrapping up another “long, hard week’s work” in the classroom created in the basement of her Orchard Lake home.

The Leket Family

The Right Stuff

Born in Jerusalem, son of former Israeli emissaries who served in the U.S; raised in the Israeli Youth Movement; nine years a pilot and flight instructor in the Israeli Air Force; eight years a high school teacher and mentor for youth-at-risk in Tel Aviv; an educator with a Master’s of Philosophy; what better creds for our emissary from Israel, Yiftah Leket?

Dennis and Hadas Bernard

From Strength to Strength

Over the last year we have seen unprecedented threats to our health and wellbeing, tectonic shifts in the workplace and in our schools, and pivotal changes in our habits at home and away. Few have wrestled more intimately with the challenges of safeguarding the future of Jewish Detroit than Dennis Bernard, newly elected President of the United Jewish Foundation of Metropolitan Detroit. And few are as well prepared to meet the community challenges ahead.

Randi Sakwa

Inspiring Leadership

If ever you wonder what inspires leadership at Jewish Federation, ask Randi Sakwa. An energetic and highly motivated volunteer, Randi now serves on the Boards of Federation and its Women’s Philanthropy. Her heart in Israel — and a frequent visitor to Michigan’s Partnership Region of the Central Galilee — Randi is fully committed to her work as Co-chair of the Partnership2Gether Steering Committee, now celebrating 25 years of fellowship and accomplishment.

Rabbi Josh Bennett

Forever Forward

Twenty five years ago, a new rabbi named Josh came to Temple Israel with faith in his future in Detroit. Today, Rabbi Josh is known well beyond the realm of his congregation: A spiritual leader, beloved colleague and mentor, a gifted teacher. A community bridge-builder, a trusted counsel and best friend to an ever-widening circle. A marathon runner, a new gardener, and an avid Tigers fan.

Mark Adler

Where Leadership Counts

On Wednesday, March 11, 2020 — within hours after the first two cases of COVID-19 in Michigan were reported — Mark Adler was on the job at Federation, meeting with the security staff. “There were four of us around the table, so we didn’t need much Purell at the time,” he tells us. But clearly, the gravity of what was about to unfold in the course of the day and the weeks to come weighed heavily on his mind. 

Kirschner

Leaders on Their Way

A mission for Gen Xers? Geared for first-time visitors to Israel? Why not! Launched in January 2020 – with the generous support of longtime community leaders, Andi and Larry Wolfe – Federation’s inaugural Gen X Mission brought 33 first timers to tour, discover and experience all that Israel has to offer through the lens of Jewish Detroit’s vibrant connections there.

Tomer Moked

Life Coach

So far, so good . . . Michigan winters and Detroit drivers haven’t bothered Tomer Moked, not a bit. “Driving in Michigan is a little like driving in Israel,” he says, “Everyone is in a rush, but they know where they want to go.” Moving from Israel to Michigan into the heart of the Detroit Jewish community, Tomer maintains that he’s found “a dream come true” in his new position as Federation’s Director of NEXTGen Detroit.

Matt Lester

Next Up

A lifelong Detroiter, an attorney with 25 years in real estate development and management, and board member of the American Joint Distribution Committee, Jewish Senior Life, Kadima, The Jewish Fund, BBYO, Yad Ezra, Forgotten Harvest, Tamarack Camps, United Jewish Foundation, Project Healthy Community, Detroit Institute of Arts and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Spare time? Matt manages to find it.

Lilly Jacobson

The Doctor Is In

An advocate for kids, an ambassador for reducing the stigma still associated with mental illness . . . that’s how Lilly Jacobson sees her role in the community these days. And her days are full.