Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/772020
WINTER/SPRING 2017 COURSES PICK A CLASS THAT'S RIGHT FOR YOU! Just a sampling of FedEd Winter/Spring classes Go to jewishdetroit.org/feded for a complete listing or call 248-205-2557 for a brochure JANUARY Bringing Jewish Values to the Holidays...........Rabbi Tzvi Muller Making Sense of Jewish Denominations .........Ruth Bergman "Judaisms" that Went Extinct ..........................Dr. Justin Sledge Principles of Jewish Worship and Belief .........Rabbi Joseph Klein Total Beginner's Hebrew ..................................Bosmat Dovas FEBRUARY History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict ...................... Ruth Bergman Yiddish I ............................................................... Saul Hankin When History and Faith Collide ........................... Professor Howard Lupovitch Jewish Messianism ............................................. Rabbi Joseph Klein MARCH Seduction, Love and Drink! ................................ Rabbi Aaron Bergman & Ruth Bergman A History of Jerusalem ........................................ Dr. Mitch Parker Jewish Recipe for Justice .................................... Sue Salinger Generations in Modern Hebrew Poetry ............... Dina Routin An Introduction to Jewish Philosophy ................ Dr. Justin Sledge A Brief History of Judaism ................................... Rabbi Joseph Klein A Jewish Lens to the Sixties ................................ Professor Howard Lupovitch APRIL Prelude to the Defiant Requiem .......................Visiting Lecturers Practical Kabbalah ...........................................Rabbi Levi Dubov History of Reform Judaism .............................Rabbi Joseph Klein MAY Archaeology of Israel ......................................Dr. Michael Pytlik 248-205-2557 2148010 8 January 12 • 2017 jn views I t was the fall of 2010 and the national economy had col- lapsed, with Michigan being hit particularly hard. Our local Jewish population survey indi- cated the number of Jewish 25-to- 34-year-olds living in Metro Detroit was fewer than 2,700 — only 4 percent of the Jewish com- munity. In other words, there were so few Jewish young adults living here that their estimated percentage of the community was equivalent to the margin of error of the study. When conceptualizing 36 Under 36 last year, one of the questions that came up —perhaps unsurprisingly — was whether it would be sustainable annually, given the perception there are still relatively few Jewish young adults here. Without a second thought, the answer was "of course it will be — there are tons of amazing Jewish young adults impacting our community and region!" What a change! Obviously, there are many to thank and acknowledge for this change, from investors like Dan Gilbert, to the Jewish News, which shortly after the collapse launched the "Southeastern Michigan Jewish Alliance" fea- ture, which highlighted job opportunities, available talent and the myriad social opportuni- ties still existing for those here, to a Jewish Federation that was incredibly forward-thinking in launching CommunityNEXT, which ultimately was enveloped into their NEXTGen Detroit young leadership department and incubating ComePlayDetroit, which has had a huge impact on social life for young adults in the area. At a time when the national (and frankly often local) narrative about Metro Detroit was entirely negative, emphasizing the incred- ible talent and opportunities that existed here became a way to help shift the narrative — frankly, in a positive-psychology sort of way. The 36 Under 36 feature is meant to be a continuation of that important work ( just as The Well's monthly Nice Jewish Boy/ Nice Jewish Girl feature highlight- ing eligible singles is) as we rec- ognize, highlight and celebrate the incredible talents that many in our community possess, and to shout from the rooftops that Metro Detroit is an incredible place to live, both professionally and as part of an inclusive Jewish community. The Jewish News was a logical and exceptional partner for The Well in executing this feature. Why turn to them? Easy! The Jewish News has been part of my daily life personally since we moved to Detroit in 1986. But even more importantly, it's one of (if not "the") most successful weekly Jewish publication in the country, with significant reach and standing, and with warm and fuzzy associations for many of those we're honoring who can fondly (albeit awkwardly) recall their bar and bat mitzvah announcements in its pages (and now again in the amazing word- searchable Detroit Jewish News William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History, found at djnfoundation.org). For me personally, this project has been particularly gratifying, as I admittedly have positioned myself as a communal social but- terfly, striving to connect and be a welcoming rabbinic face for all, and I make it my business to meet as many people as possible. And yet, there are names and faces in this feature that are new to me! Talk about an incredible change in such a short time. A huge thank you to our part- ners at the Jewish News, to The Well's board members Steve Hurvitz and Ron Elkus, who took the lead on this project, to the many people who voluntarily submitted nominations, and to our volunteer independent judg- es who made the time to review dozens of submissions. There is no better place in the country to be a young Jewish person than Metro Detroit! Don't believe me? I' ll let the list do the talking. Turn to page 24 and meet some incredible people. • Rabbi Dan Horwitz is founding drector of The Well: a Jewish community-building, education and spirituality outreach initiative. Rabbi Dan Horwitz guest column 36 Under 36