Never doubt the power of a Jewish mom determined to repair the world for a child in need of a loving home. This is Erika Jones: An adoptive mom, a foster mom – a passionate and outspoken mom. In her professional role, Erika is an advocate for families and children in need at Judson Center. This is her remarkable story.
Named after his grandfather – Hyman Safran (1913-1982), a beloved Jewish community leader, a titan of the printing industry in its heyday and Federation President of blessed memory – grandson Hy Safran, 33, now brings his own game to Jewish communal leadership and donor stewardship in his role as Federation’s Associate Director of Philanthropy.
Listen carefully and you still hear that Texas lilt in her voice. From Corpus Christi, Beverly Liss has committed herself wholeheartedly to Jewish Detroit since moving to the community 45 years ago. For her beloved husband, Arthur, for her family and close friends –those who have watched and lauded her community work and steady rise through the ranks of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit – it comes as no surprise that Beverly Liss is Federation’s 28th President – with the distinction of being the third woman to hold that office.
Head coach, lead cheerleader; legal counsel, counselor advisor; property manager, top watchdog; fundraiser, flag-raiser; team builder, brand builder; loving family man and Chief Executive Dad . . . this is Lee Trepeck, nonstop Director of Camp Maas, Tamarack Camps. Now celebrating his 10th season, Lee has earned the accolades of the community as the recipient of the 2017 Mandell L.(z”l) and Madeleine H. Berman Award for Outstanding Professional Jewish Communal Service. Well done!
Imagine a school with no homework for students K through 4, a school where children are happy to arrive early and stay late to work and play together, a school with resources and spaces that spark creativity, a school with a long list of highly qualified teachers waiting to apply, a school where educators from around the country have come to visit, to learn and to share ideas. This is Hillel Day School, with Steve Freedman at the helm.
Jewish Detroiter and quintessential communal professional, David Kurzmann returned to Detroit in 2015 to join the JCRC/AJC as its Executive Director after nearly a decade of service to the Chicago Jewish community. With credentials proven to be impeccable for the job, David, 31, is the youngest in Federation’s agency network of top executives.
Talk about her credentials! Nina Yahalomi Klevitsky, 32, couldn’t be better prepared for the road ahead as Detroit’s new emissary (shlicha) from Israel. Easily she could have settled into any one of her career paths and stayed: a high school English teacher; a medic and captain in the IDF reserves; Director of the National Child at Risk program in Tel Aviv. Following her heart to a future in service to Israel, she’s taken the next step: moving here and joining the family of Federation.
Past President of the United Jewish Foundation (UJF), ardent fundraiser and supporter of all things Jewish Detroit and Israel, selected by his peers for listing in “The Best Lawyers in America,” a real estate attorney with the soul of an artist, a community volunteer since his teen years, energetic as ever as Co-Founder and Exec Director of the non-profit Cabaret 313: this is Allan Nachman – recipient of Federation’s highest honor, the 2017 Fred M. Butzel Award.
NEXTGen Detroit’s New President Ilana Block has been juggling career, family and community since she moved back to Detroit in 2009. Why? Because building a strong Jewish future in Detroit isn’t just in her blood — it’s in her heart.
There are a lot of moving parts to running Jewish Senior Life, and fortunately the engine running the agency is Nancy Heinrich, Chief Executive Officer. Walking through the $9 million renovation at the Harriet & Ben Teitel Apartments, Nancy notes, “There are 850 residents in our care, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They have placed their trust in our work and they have placed their lives in our hands and yes, it’s weighty. But the responsibility is also so rewarding.”
