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2016 Class
cjn.org/differencemakers
Lifetime Achievement Award
Civic Leadership Award
Generation Award
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OCTOBER 28, 2016
CJN ‘chai’-lights another class of Difference Makers KEVIN S. ADELSTEIN kevin@cjn.org
2016 has been a year of champions in our city. We’re hoping (and praying) it continues with one more parade! We might just get it. There are champions around us every day who don’t play on the ice, or the ring or the court – or the diamond. They aren’t receiving any hardware when they reach the ultimate goal. They are, however, making significant differences in this same city. They are the Cleveland Jews News 18 Difference Makers of 2016.
The nominations poured in from you, our readers, and our selection committee had the daunting task of narrowing down the many, many nominations to a group of 18. Selecting our second class of 18 Difference Makers was no easy task. But we did it. And then, we selected Sam Miller as our Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. You should know Sam professionally as co-chairman emeritus of Forest City Realty Trust. In our community, you know why he’s our Lifetime Achievement honoree. And this year, we added two new honors. We selected David Gilbert as the recipient of the Civic Leadership Award. You should know David as the president and CEO of two vital organizations in our thriving community – Destination Cleveland and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. He also led our city this summer as the chair of the Republican National Convention Host Committee. We chose members of the Berns family – Patti Beckman Berns, Dani Berns and Josh Berns – to be honorees of the Generation Award. You should know them as founders of The Race, which has raised significant funding and awareness for breast cancer research. They all make monumental contributions to the betterment of the community in which we all live and we feel a duty and need to recognize them for just that. Our vision for the Difference Makers is quite simple. We’re honoring members of our community as nominated by you for differences they make throughout the year in Jewish Cleveland and beyond. These are the shepherds of tikkun olam, those who are repairing the world. There are so many of you. We’ve just scratched the surface with these first two classes of honorees. The Difference Makers will be recognized on Nov. 2 at Landerhaven in Mayfield Heights and they come from all cross-sections of the Northeast Ohio Jewish community and all different walks of life. You’ll get to know each of them inside this commemorative pull-out section, and hopefully, you’ll join us in honoring them in person. It’s not too late to register for the celebration as we pay tribute to these extraordinary individuals. For details, please visit cjn.org/differencemakers. It’s an honor and a pleasure for the Cleveland Jewish News to present the 2016 class of 18 Difference Makers. Share with us as we recognize our Champions of Jewish Cleveland for 2016. Mazel tov to each of them as they are so deserving of this honor.
Kevin S. Adelstein Kevin S. Adelstein is publisher and CEO of the Cleveland Jewish News and president of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company.
They all make monumental contributions to the betterment of the community in which we all live and we feel a duty and need to recognize them for just that.
18 Difference Makers 2016
WHERE: Landerhaven, 6111 Landerhaven Drive, Mayfield Heights WHO: 18 individuals who espouse the spirit of tikkun olam (repairing the world), a Lifetime Achievement Award, a Civic Leadership Award and a Generation Award. TICKETS: $72 per person and can be purchased at cjn.org/differencemakers. SPONSORS: Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead School of Management in Cleveland and Classic Lexus are co-presenting sponsors; Ganley Volkswagen, Subaru and Fiat is a supporting sponsor. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Events Manager Gina Lloyd at 216-342-5196.
“To our friend Sam Miller, in grateful appreciation for your continued support.” The Greater Cleveland Peace Officers Memorial Society
Keeping The Promise... to never forget our fallen heroes. Kathy Delaney, Executive Director kdelaney@policememorialsociety.org policememorialsociety.org 1300 Ontario Street, Cleveland, Ohio USA 44113 | (216) 623-3333
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LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD SAMUEL H. MILLER Sam Miller is filled with stories.
“It’s easy to be generous when there was a period in your life when you had nothing.” Sam Miller Co-chairman emeritus Forest City Realty Trust
Walking into his office, it’s no surprise as to why. The walls of his office inside Terminal Tower are covered with framed photographs of him standing next to celebrities, world dignitaries, religious leaders and politicians. Take a glance at the wall and you’ll see David Ben-Gurion, Joe Biden and Frank Sinatra smiling back at you, just to name a few. His large wooden disk is littered with awards and mementos given to him by various nonprofits and community organizations. While Miller has spent his life building a successful career, he has never forgotten his humble roots, which in turn has spurred him to make a difference in the community. Miller’s parents were poor Jewish immigrants from Russia and Poland. He recalled peddling rags to neighborhood gas stations in order to make a few cents. He credits a police officer for giving him his first job as a jockey. His upbringing has served as a guiding light for his philanthropic efforts. “It’s easy to be generous when there was a period in your life when you had nothing,” Miller said. After graduating from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Miller earned a scholarship to attend Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., where he received an MBA. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1946 and then began working at Forest City. Miller has been instrumental in the success of Forest City and credited with spearheading the company’s move into land development. He was named treasurer in 1992 and chairman of the board in 1993. In 1995, Miller was joined by Albert B. Ratner as co-chairman of the board. Education is of utmost importance to Miller, especially when it comes to battling the rampant anti-Semitism throughout the world, he said. Creating bridges between different communities, such as the Jewish and Catholic communities, also has been a key mission in his life. To that end, he’s a lifetime honorary trustee of the National Conference of Christians and Jews and a board member of the Catholic Community Foundation. In 2015, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Diocese of Cleveland and the Catholic Community
Sam Miller inside Forest City’s corporate headquarters located in the Terminal Tower in downtown Cleveland. | CJN Photo / Kristen Mott
At a Glance
Age: 95 As a professional: Co-chairman emeritus of Forest City Realty Trust Spouse: Maria Children: Aaron, Richard, Gabrielle and Abe Synagogue: Park Synagogue In the community: Lifetime honorary trustee of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland; lifetime honorary trustee of the National Conference of Christians and Jews; honorary trustee of Case Western Reserve University; board member of the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage; board member of Cleveland Clinic; past chair of Israel Bonds; past chair of the Cleveland Jewish Welfare Fund; and past board member of the Jewish National Fund, WVIZ, Urban League, Cleveland State University, John Carroll University, Baldwin Wallace University, Notre Dame College, Crime Stoppers, Police Memorial, Medical Mutual of Ohio, United Jewish Appeal, Catholic Community Foundation, Harvard Business School and American Red Cross Noteworthy: Sam Miller has traveled to Israel a half dozen times. He said he admired both Golda Meir and David Ben-Gurion.
Foundation. Throughout his life, Miller said he has seen vital needs in the community, which has motivated him to donate his money to help various people and organizations. Take Bikur Cholim, for example. Several years ago, Miller said Sora Shapiro, a member of Bikur Cholim’s executive committee, approached him and said she wanted to create a kosher kitchen at the Cleveland Clinic so that observant families would have a place to eat. “I thought it would be impossible, but it wasn’t. It was really easy,” Miller said. The kosher pantry opened at Cleve-
land Clinic’s main campus in 2008. It was expanded to be the Bikur Cholim Hospitality Room and Kosher Pantry in 2013. Outside of his professional life, Miller said he is proud of each of his children – Aaron, Richard, Gabrielle and Abe – and the lives they have built. Looking back at his life, Miller said he has always given to people regardless of their race, religion or background. “I’ve been very happy. People have been good to me all my life,” Miller said. – Kristen Mott
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“All the great change in history, positive change, was done by optimists.” – Thomas Friedman
Congratulations, Michael D. Siegal, on being recognized as a Difference Maker. Your leadership, optimism and commitment to community inspire us all.
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CIVIC LEADERSHIP AWARD DAVID GILBERT
Don’t call David Gilbert of Solon a cheerleader for the city of Cleveland. Perhaps a salesman or a representative. Gilbert, who will be honored with the newly created Civic Leadership Award Nov. 2 at the Cleveland Jewish News 18 Dif-
ference Markers event, held three powerful positions – all at the same time during the summer. In addition to being president and CEO of both Destination Cleveland and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, he was the chairman of the Republican National Convention’s Host Committee. An estimated 50,000 politicians, media and others came to Cleveland for the fourday RNC to see what the city has to offer. Many were first-time visitors. “I’m not fond of the cheerleader term,” Gilbert said. “What I love doing is getting my hands dirty. Certainly, the jobs that I have are very much about selling Cleveland, about changing the narrative of Cleveland, about getting people inside and out more engaged in this community. But I don’t see it as cheerleading. I think cheerleading is a connotation that you’re waving your hands in the air and it doesn’t have as much substance to it.” Gilbert grew up in the South Euclid portion of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District, and graduated from Cleveland Heights High School. He
She was born to change the world, an activist from her youth. A proud branch of a Jewish feminist family tree, early on, searching for truth. From Youngstown, Ohio to Project Chai, always asking the reason why, knowing that right is better than wrong.
Mazel Tov Brynna, from Sacred Rights, Sacred Song! SRSS works to advance religious rights and gender equality in Israel. For more information visit www.sacredrightssacredsong.org or call 216-496-5744.
earned an undergraduate degree in business from The Ohio State University in Columbus and an MBA in marketing from Cleveland State University. In college, Gilbert was a member of AEPi and also worked for the organization for a year after graduating college. “I didn’t have a very significant, overall Jewish upbringing,” Gilbert recalled. “I had a wonderful upbringing. We didn’t belong to a synagogue. After my bar mitzvah, I really wasn’t very active. It was when I went to college, joining a Jewish fraternity was for me in many ways, a real turning point. “It gave me a strong recognition of the value of being around other Jewish people and the comfortability of that, and from there I got very involved in Hillel. That’s where I met my wife, at Hillel at Ohio State. I went on an Israel trip in college. College was a great time for me really discovering my Jewishness.” Gilbert was like most children growing up. He wasn’t contemplating his future. “Not in the least,” he said. “I’m not sure at that point I knew what I wanted to do other than go out and play. Even in college, I didn’t really know these specific jobs necessarily actually existed. I think I did develop early on a real love for Cleveland and with a couple of college internships, worked on some big events downtown, and that really started me on a path. But I wouldn’t say at that point I had this in mind specifically.” Gilbert said the demands of his two positions have kept him from becoming more involved in other areas, such as the Jewish community.
At a Glance
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“There are such high demands timewise with my job and a lot of civic commitments related to that,” he said. “There are other things I do wish I had more time in which to dig in in the Jewish community, but there are just literally not enough hours in the day. That is part of the sacrifice of this set of positions.” Gilbert said he awakes early and because of his different electronic devices, he’s always working. But when he finds time to relax, he enjoys running, mostly through the Cleveland Metroparks, and cycling, such as along Chagrin River Road and in Geauga County. He also cherishes spending time with his family. “I wouldn’t say that I’m necessarily great at relaxing, overall,” he said. – Bob Jacob
“Bringing and coordinating the RNC to Cleveland, bringing sporting events to Cleveland – David does a great job in community outreach, changing the public’s perception of Cleveland.” – From the nomination form
Age: 49 As a professional: President and CEO of both Destination Cleveland and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission Spouse: Faith Children: Bradley, 16, Emily Synagogue: Park Synagogue In the community: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; Greater Cleveland Film Commission; Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage; vice president of International Children’s Games Noteworthy: He said this award is very meaningful because it represents two things that are very close to his heart – one being Cleveland and the other being his Jewish heritage – and when those two are linked together, it is especially meaningful.
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GENERATION AWARD PATTI BERNS, JOSH BERNS, DANI BERNS In 2004, Josh and Dani Berns started The Race, an annual Mother’s Day event to raise funding and awareness for breast cancer, after seeing a close family friend battle the disease.
“For me, Judaism is community,” said Josh Berns, who at 12 years old co-founded The Race. Dani and Josh Berns’ mother, Patti Berns, is a chair for the organization. “They saw the effect it had on the family members, not just the person who was affected, and decided they wanted to do something to show kids can make a difference,” said Patti Berns, who teaches at Case Western Reserve’s School of Dental Medicine. The Race has since raised more than $1 million, with 100 percent of proceeds going to breast cancer research. For the last few years, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center has been the recipient of the donations. In the second year of The Race, Patti Berns was diagnosed with breast cancer. “It kind of made it a little more significant and gave us more motivation to keep it going,” said Patti, who has since recovered. “When they see how much you
At a Glance Ages: Patti Berns, 54, Josh Berns, 24, Dani Berns, 22 As a professional: Patti Berns, dentist, teaches at Case Western Reserve School of Dental Medicine; Josh Berns, founder of Cleveland-based startup gowhisk.com; and Dani Berns, works with international advisory firm, Cefeidas Group, in Buenos Aires, Argentina Other family: Patti is married to Jonathan Berns, father of Josh, Dani, and Abby Berns, 14. Synagogue: B’nai Jeshurun Congregation In the community: Patti is on the Menorah Park board of trustees and University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center leadership board. Josh and Dani are founders of The Race and Patti is co-chair.
believe in it, the enthusiasm carries over to others.” Dani Berns said in an email from Buenos Aires, Argentina, “I feel like my work with The Race has inspired a lot of my career goals and my general mentality,” Working with international advisory firm Cefeidas Group, she said she plans to return to Cleveland next year for law school. “Breast cancer is incredibly pervasive, but through The Race, I’ve seen directly how small community efforts will add up, and can be part of the solution by raising awareness and helping to find a cure to this terrible disease,” Dani Berns said. “Similarly, I’ve found this approach of breaking down problems to be incredibly helpful in academics and in life, and hope to utilize these skill-sets in a career in law.” Josh Berns said building The Race
“Patti has worked with Josh and Dani to create and operate a successful fundraiser, which raises money for breast cancer research in Northeast Ohio.” – From the nomination form
helped him better understand how to approach new ideas and navigate the unfamiliar territories that are part of turning a vision into a reality. Taking such lessons into his professional life, he founded the Cleveland-based startup, gowhisk.com, a website/app that shares step-by-step photo and video recipes from chefs and restaurants around the world, among other
ventures. “Risk is inherent in any new venture and it’s important to surround yourself with the best and brightest people you can find,” Josh Berns said. “When I was 12 years old and starting The Race, that strong support system and advisory board happened to be my family.” – Amanda Koehn
salutes
Michael Friedman And Shelly Friedman
For being recognized as difference makers. Your commitment to Friendship Circle’s mission makes a big difference in the life of a child! Steve Weinberg Board Chair Peter Rzepka Immediate Past Board Chair Chuck Whitehill Vice Chair Jerry Appel Treasurer Adam Levin Secretary
Mark Aeder Harley Cohen Barrie Galvin Dan Geller Michael Goldberg Howard Kossoff Karen Krause Tom Sudow Hildee Weiss Trustees Rabbi Yossi Marozov Executive Director
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The Partners and Staff of BOBER MARKEY FEDOROVICH proudly congratulate
Keith J. Libman
Our 2016 Difference Maker
Mazel Tov! Thank you to all of the 2016 Difference Makers for your unwavering dedication and commitment to our community. May your kindness and generosity continue to inspire others.
OCTOBER 28, 2016
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TOM ADLER When Tom Adler retired from the commercial real estate business in the mid-90s, he transitioned 100 percent of his efforts into the local community.
“I was brought up to believe that we have a responsibility to give back,” Adler said. “This is a belief in the Adler family on a multigenerational basis. So I was literally taught it and I believe very strongly that we have that responsibility.” Adler’s commitment to the local community is evident just by looking at the numerous organizations he’s involved with, which span the Jewish and secular communities. “I’ve picked things to be involved in that I think are important to both the Jewish and general community. I have a keen interest in economic development of downtown and a keen interest in the success of the Jewish community. I try to do things that I think are important,” Adler said. Adler began his career in 1962 after graduating from the University of Wisconsin. He became a partner at Cragin, Lang, Free and Smythe in 1968 and was executive vice president and chairman of the executive committee there until 1979 when he left to be a co-founder of Adler Galvin Rogers Inc. In 1991, he cofounded Cleveland Real Estate Partners. He also served as director of Highwoods Properties from 1994 to 2014. Adler said he enjoyed his work and was fortunate that he was in a position to pursue his philanthropic interests. “One of the values of making some money is that it gives you the option to do some other things that you want to do. When I tired of being in business, it
At a Glance
“Tom’s involvement within the Jewish community is extensive.” – From the nomination form gave me the option to do other things I wanted to do in the community,” he said. Adler said he derives a great deal of satisfaction from his involvement in the community. “There’s a way for everyone,” Adler said. “You can be a volunteer at a food kitchen or you can be the chairman of the board of Playhouse Square. All of those things are important. People have to pick what works best for them.” – Kristen Mott
Age: 75 As a professional: Senior adviser, Playhouse Square Real Estate Services Spouse: Joanie Children: Peggy, Sally and Bill Synagogue: Suburban Temple-Kol Ami In the community: Chairman of the Joann and Thomas Adler Family Foundation; co-chair of Playhouse Square’s 90th anniversary Capital Campaign; director emeritus and executive committee member of the Downtown Cleveland Alliance; trustee and member of the executive committee at Cleveland State University; co-founding trustee of Friends of Shaker Square; member of Shaker Schools Foundation advisory committee; trustee and member of the executive committee of United Way; trustee of University Hospitals; member of executive committee and chair of development committee at Global Cleveland; trustee emeritus of Jewish Federation of Cleveland; life trustee of AJC Cleveland; life director of the Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio; past trustee and vice chairman of the Mt. Sinai Health Care Foundation; past chairman of the Playhouse Square Foundation; past chairman of the Downtown Cleveland Partnership; past trustee of the Greater Cleveland Growth Association; past director of Shaker Heights’ Community Development Corporation Noteworthy: In 2014, Tom Adler received the Charles Eisenman Award from the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, the Federation’s highest civic honor.
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MITCHELL BALK “Much of Mitch’s work in the Jewish community is behind the scenes, like advising both Hillel and Chabad at CWRU in University Circle.” – From the nomination form
Mitchell Balk finds opportunities for philanthropy both in his personal and professional life. In his personal life, Balk said he’s motivated to build a strong Jewish future for Cleveland and beyond. As president of the Mt. Sinai Health Care Foundation, he strives to perpetuate the work of Mt. Sinai Hospital and make a difference in the community. “I’m very privileged to, both in my professional life and on behalf of the Jewish community, work to improve the health status of the general community with a particular focus on Cleveland’s youngest most vulnerable families,” Balk said. “I enjoy seeing the benefits of philanthropy throughout the community, in particular in our prevention and early intervention work.” Balk credits his parents for instilling in him a strong Jewish commitment and a focus on synagogue life and supporting Jewish day schools. As for his career, he said he was motivated after working at the Mt. Sinai Hospital of
Chicago, where the Jewish-sponsored institution served as a catalyst for improving the needy community surrounding the hospital. At the Mt. Sinai Health Care Foundation, Balk aims to carry forward the research and medical interests of the community. He’s also helped foster relationships with the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and MetroHealth. “I’m really fortunate that I am in a position where I can identify needs, document those needs and then align this foundation’s grant making with those needs,” he said. Balk said it feels “great” to be able to focus on philanthropic efforts and to make an impact on Cleveland’s Jewish and general communities. “I think anybody who is in philanthropy kind of falls into it rather than creating a path to get there,” he said. “It’s just the nature of the work. You just have to be at the right place at the right time and have people trust you with not only their funds but with their aspirations for making an impact.” – Kristen Mott
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“To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.”
Congratulations to the best boss and our leader Michael Friedman on being selected as one of the Difference Makers! It is the honor welldeserved. We love you! The entire staff of Ganley Subaru, Volkswagen and Fiat of Bedford.
At a Glance Age: 57 As a professional: President of the Mt. Sinai Health Care Foundation Children: Rabbi Willie Balk, Dena Balk Synagogue: Park Synagogue In the community: Founding board chair of the Health Policy Institute of Ohio; past president and life trustee of Park Synagogue; board member of Senior Transportation Connection of Cuyahoga County; former board member of Gross Schechter Day School; supporter of Chabad at CWRU; committee member of the Academy of Medicine in Washington, D.C. Noteworthy: Mitchell Balk was honored as a “five-star general honoree” in 2009 by the Cleveland Metropolitan School District for his work in establishing ChildSight in the school district. ChildSight provides free vision exams and glasses to all middle school students in the district.
Michael Friedman
On the Bedford Automile
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MARTIN H. BELSKY
“My passions in life are diversity, involvement and inclusion from a Jewish point of view,” said Martin H. Belsky, former dean and Randolph Baxter Professor of Law at the University of Akron.
Go Sara! With love, Mimi’s Muses
Mazel Tov to the honorees! Joan and Chuck Whitehill
With a long history of activism and leadership both in Northeast Ohio and in Tulsa, Okla., Belsky said his Orthodox childhood helped him learn early lessons of tikkun olam. Although he is no longer Orthodox, much of what he calls, “my career outside my job” is committed to engaging the Jewish community with other faith and secular communities. As president of Ohio Jewish Communities, Belsky said he is working on legislation for college campuses related to preventing the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement and is engaging interfaith communities to make change. “I’m not saying they have to agree with everything Israel does, but they’ve moved from anti-Israel to anti-Semitism,” he said. Belsky has lived in Ohio for eight years. He is a graduate of Columbia Law School in New York and served on U.S. House of Representatives judiciary committees for citizenship, immigration and oversight of federal offshore mineral resources, setting up protections for drilling. He also was an assistant administrator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, issuing early reports on climate change. “We started the national climate program and talked in the 1970s about global
“Marty is a tireless advocate for equal rights and access to justice for Jews and all people.” – From the nomination form warming and acid rain,” Belsky said. Before moving to Akron, Belsky was a dean and law professor at Albany Law School at the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma. Now, Belsky brings his lifetime commitment to interfaith dialogue, specifically with Muslims and Christians, to Akron. “Giving money and time and effort to do the right thing … it’s just what I do,” he said. – Amanda Koehn
At a Glance Age: 72 As a professional: Randolph Baxter Professor of Law and former dean at University of Akron School of Law Spouse: Kate Waits Children: Marcia, Allen Synagogues: Beth El Congregation in Akron and Temple Israel in Bath Township In the Community: Beth El Congregation board member; president of Ohio Jewish Communities; faculty adviser for University of Akron Hillel and Jewish Law Students Association; former chair of the Anti-Defamation League - Ohio, Western Pennsylvania and Kentucky; and national commissioner, board and community relations committee chair of Jewish Community Board of Akron, Akron Area Interfaith Council Noteworthy: Wife Kate Waits is a retired law professor and one of the all-time “Jeopardy!” champions.
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SETH BRISKIN
When Seth Briskin arrived in Cleveland for law school at Case Western Reserve University in 1992, he quickly learned that getting involved in the community was the best path to making Northeast Ohio his home. “I’ve lived in lots of cities and by far Cleveland is the most philanthropic, caring, giving community I have ever lived in,” said Briskin, chair of the labor and employment group at Meyers, Roman,
Friedberg & Lewis. Briskin grew up in Rochester, N.Y., and became interested in labor relations and employment law while attending the Industrial and Labor Relations School at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. “People just fascinate me,” Briskin said. “Technology changes over time, business evolves some, but people will always surprise you.” Briskin has worked at Meyers, Roman, Friedberg & Lewis for 11 years. He remains actively involved with the Cleveland Leadership Center and Cleveland Bridge Builders. He is the immediate past president of AJC Cleveland and continues to serve on its executive board. Briskin said he is specifically interested in serving the Jewish community because he wants to improve the world for his Jewish children. “There is a very scary rise of antiSemitism going on, not just in this country, but in Europe and other places where I have family,” Briskin said. “I don’t want to live in a world where I have to think twice about taking my family to visit their very close cousins in France.” Volunteering also helps Briskin learn about the Cleveland Jewish community and become inspired by others working
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“The concept of tikkun olam is present in every fiber of Seth’s being and the Northeast Ohio Jewish community and a diverse, multicultural cross-section of Greater Cleveland are profoundly better off as a result.” – From the nomination form
At a Glance Age: 47 As a professional: Chair of the labor and employment group at Meyers, Roman, Friedberg & Lewis Spouse: Shelly Briskin Children: Emma, 16, Clara, 13 Synagogue: Park Synagogue In the Community: Executive board of American Jewish Communities (immediate past president), previously on the executive boards of Cleveland Jewish News, Cleveland Leadership Center and Cleveland Bridge Builders, Leadership Cleveland Class of 2008 Noteworthy: Briskin was selected for Crain’s Cleveland’s “40 under 40” and is an Ohio Super Lawyer. hard to make Northeast Ohio, the country and the world a better place. “My advice to transplants is get involved, get involved in the nonprofit community, the philanthropic community, and that will open up so many new rela-
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tionships and opportunities,” Briskin said. “While networking shouldn’t be your first, second or third motive for getting involved, it does assist with getting connected and helping the community succeed.” – Amanda Koehn
OCTOBER 28, 2016
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RABBI ELI DESSLER AND RABBI SIMCHA DESSLER Brothers Rabbi Eli Dessler and Rabbi Simcha Dessler have one goal: building a strong Jewish future through education. As financial director and education director, respectively, at the Hebrew Academy of Cleveland in Cleveland Heights, the Desslers provide quality Jewish and secular education to more than 1,000 students.
Rabbi Eli Dessler
“I have a personal passion for education and for Jewish continuity,” said Simcha Dessler from Jerusalem. “I believe that Jewish education is the foundation of Jewish continuity and that day school education makes a profound difference in lives.” Both brothers attended the Hebrew Academy of Cleveland as children. Active with the Jewish Federation of Cleveland and other community groups, for the Desslers, the most important service is to improve the future for Jewish children. “I think the important thing is when one sees a need, one acts on it and is helpful in getting it done,” Eli Dessler said. He said he cares most about, “making a difference (and) helping families to be able to attend Jewish day school even though they can’t afford to pay full tuition.” Eli Dessler also noted that the Hebrew Academy of Cleveland recently
“They lead by example as paragons of honesty and humility whose love for Jewish study is apparent to all.” – From the nomination form expanded. “The Hebrew Academy purchased the remaining 92 acres of the former Oakwood Country Club. This year’s move into the newly remodeled clubhouse, along with the proposed early childhood and boys educational campus to be built through our Vision 2020 Capital campaign, will commence a transformational project to provide a beautiful educational setting for the next 50 years for our growing enrollment which today has reached 1,077 children,” Eli Dessler said. Simcha Dessler also works on committees to enhance Jewish education for children with special needs. A prolific writer, Simcha Dessler co-authored “Perspectives on the Haggadah” and his articles have appeared in the Cleveland Jewish News and in national publica-
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tions. “My goals are to provide another generation of children and adults with an education for life, to prepare them for a successful future and reach the broadest spectrum of the Jewish community and connect them with their heritage, thereby ensuring a healthy Jewish future,” Simcha Dessler said. Simcha Dessler spent this Yom Kippur and Sukkot in Israel with his family; however, both brothers lived in Israel during the 1980s. They returned to the United States at the behest of late community leader Irving I. Stone to work at the Hebrew Academy of Cleveland, which was founded by their father, Rabbi Nochum Zev Dessler. The Hebrew Academy of Cleveland was the first Jewish day school to become an agency of the Federation, an accomplishment which has been replicated by communities across the globe. “We are blessed with a great Jewish community with a wonderful Federation who leads by example throughout the U.S. and the world by all of their accomplishments,” Eli Dessler said. – Amanda Koehn and Hannah Edelman Publisher’s Note: Rabbi Eli Dessler is a member of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company Board of Directors
Rabbi Simcha Dessler
Congratulations to Sam Miller on Lifetime Achievement and to all the Difference Makers!
Mazal Tov to Eva Kahana on this well deserved honor.
-Rabbi Blau and Green Road Synagogue
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At a Glance
At a Glance Rabbi Eli Dessler Age: 58 As a professional: Hebrew Academy of Cleveland financial director Spouse: Suri Children: Chaim; Chanina; Levi; Nussi; Blumy; Aliza Hanover ; Yisroel, 15 Synagogue: Congregation Shomre Shabbos In the community: Boards of Cleveland Jewish News, Yesh Tikvah; serves on committees at Jewish Federation of Cleveland, Jewish Education Center of Cleveland, National Society for Hebrew Day Schools. Noteworthy: Late father, Rabbi Nochum Zev Dessler, was dean and founder of Hebrew Academy of Cleveland
Rabbi Simcha Dessler Age: 54 As a professional: Hebrew Academy of Cleveland educational director Spouse: Yitty Children: Gitty Kotler; Eli; Shalom; Yehoshua; Chaim Ozer Synagogue: Congregation Shomre Shabbos In the community: Active in Jewish Federation of Cleveland, Jewish Education Center of Cleveland, Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education; convention chairman and presenter for National Society for Hebrew Day Schools Noteworthy: Late father, Rabbi Nochum Zev Dessler, was dean and founder of Hebrew Academy of Cleveland
��zel �ov JEANNE TOBIN For always making a difference!
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Mandel Jewish Community Center
We are so proud of all of your accomplishments!
Patti, Josh and Dani Berns You have quietly healed, lead, taught and inspired so many. Congratulations on being the first recipients of the 18 Difference Makers CJN Generation Award.
The Berns and Schwartz Families
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STEVEN M. DETTELBACH At an early age, Steven M. Dettelbach saw the impact his parents, both attorneys, had on others. It’s no wonder that he chose to become an attorney and later was appointed U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio by President Barack Obama, his former classmate at Harvard Law School. “As a kid who grew up in Jewish Cleveland, the idea of making the world a better place was part of the DNA of our community,” said Dettelbach, who earned his undergraduate degree in government from Dartmouth College. “What I was always taught, both in my family and in our community, was that it’s great for a person to do well, but you need to also do good. That’s part of how we define ourselves as Jews. Not just to look out for yourself but when you finish, you want to look back and say the world is a little bit of a better place because you helped other people.” As a child, Dettelbach saw the lessons lived by his parents, Marcia Dettelbach and Tom Dettelbach. He recalls some of those cases, like when his father helped a man who had a leg amputated after a forklift accident
or when a youth was left in a coma due to an auto exhaust leak at a local drivein movie theater. “I grew up thinking that the law was a tool to make the world a better place,” he said. “Most people look at the law and think the law is some indecipherable, semi-English language in a dusty book that sits on shelf or a faded document in a museum in Washington, D.C., that sits under a piece of glass or the results of some legal internet search. To me, that’s not what the law is. “To me, the law is something that has to help people out on the streets of our community at two in the morning dealing with violence or defining their rights. It was something that ensures that our country lives up to the idea that it is a truly fair and equal place. The law has to be a tool to make government, which people are very cynical about,
At a Glance Age: 50 As a professional: Partner, BakerHostsetler Spouse: Karil Bialostosky Children: Allie, 13, David, 11 Synagogue: Park Synagogue In the community: As U.S. Attorney for Northern Ohio, he was ineligible to serve on boards of trustees. Active on the issue of combatting human trafficking, he works with an umbrella organization that covers Wingspan and is active in the Jewish Federation of Cleveland. Noteworthy: Considering becoming a candidate for Attorney General of Ohio and enjoys spending time with his family.
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“Steve placed a special emphasis on civil rights as U.S. Attorney, and within that area placed an even greater emphasis on religious freedom, a core value of Jews in the United States.” – From the nomination form more accountable to people and to hold people responsible who break the public trust.” Dettelbach speaks with pride of the roles Jews played in the 1960s civil rights movement and more recently with the city of Cleveland’s consent decree, a 105-page agreement that addressed concerns about the police department’s use of force policies and practices, which is being used as a
model across the country. “For me as a Jew, when we do good in the community, it makes me feel like we’re fulfilling our role as being a people that doesn’t just look out for our own narrow interests,” he said. “Jewish involvement in our reform effort is something that makes me very proud. Even when specific issues don’t affect us as directly as others, we feel a duty to seek justice. That is the true meaning of tikkun olam.” – Bob Jacob
Trusted Advisors. Respected Advocates.
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McCarthy, Lebit, Crystal & Liffman Co., LPA proudly congratulates this year’s class of 18 Difference Makers and Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Sam Miller. We thank you for your dedication and commitment to the community.
McCarthy, Lebit, Crystal & Liffman Co., LPA is a full service law firm that strives to make exceptional legal service accessible.
Congratulations Tom Adler for being a Difference Maker in our community and for your commitiment to making Downtown Cleveland the most compelling place to live, work and play!
downtowncleveland.com
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DR. HOWARD EPSTEIN As a rheumatologist at Cleveland Clinic’s Beachwood Family Health Center, Dr. Howard Epstein enjoys working closely with patients and said he’s proud of the long-term relationships he’s built over his 33 years of practice.
When he’s not at the Clinic, Epstein focuses his attention on helping community organizations meaningful to him. “I believe in being able to give back,” Epstein said. “It’s also extremely rewarding and challenging for me. I enjoy working with a wide variety of different people that I would otherwise not be able
“When he is not working, he spends his time helping others, especially those in Northeast Ohio’s Jewish community.” – From the nomination form
to interact with had I not done this.” Epstein said his parents have always been very active in the community, which inspired him to follow a similar path. Epstein recalled working as a volunteer at the former Mt. Sinai Hospital in Cleveland when he was a high school student. “That was something I grew up with. It’s also a Jewish tradition – a mitzvah,” he said. As a doctor, Epstein is prone to working long hours and having a hectic schedule. Time management and setting priorities are key, he said, when it comes to balancing his career and philanthropic efforts. “As they say in the world of jobs, I’m a late career person, so I have a bit more flexibility than perhaps I would if I was a lot younger doing the same thing. Fortunately, I’m able to do both,” he said. Epstein said he enjoys supporting local organizations that he feels are doing a lot of good in the community, and that he hopes to provide whatever help he can to allow them to continue to flourish
At a Glance Age: 63 As a professional: Rheumatologist at Cleveland Clinic Spouse: Gregg Levine Synagogue: The Temple-Tifereth Israel, B’nai Jeshurun Congregation and The Shul In the community: Board member at Menorah Park, The Musical Theater Project and Great Lakes Theater Noteworthy: Spends part of his spare time as a volunteer pilot. and achieve their missions. “I play a very small part, but I do it because I feel passionate about what these organizations do,” he said. “As with any not-for-profit, they need volunteer help in order to best accomplish their goals. That’s why I like to work with them.” – Kristen Mott
CONGRATULATIONS to the 2016 Difference Makers
Mazal Tov to Tom Adler and all CJN Difference Makers!
We are proud of your accomplishments and your unwaving commitment to our community!
zinnerco.com 216.831.0733
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OCTOBER 28, 2016
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BRYNNA FISH
Among various lifetime accomplishments, like organizing youth to raise funds for the Soviet Jewry movement as a child, working with Cleveland Pride for 20 years, starting the awardwinning JFSA Project Chai: Family Violence Program (now Families at Risk), Brynna Fish said her biggest achievements are sharing “gestures of love.”
She relayed examples like smiling at a person in the car driving next to her, or helping someone get into a Yom Kippur service who didn’t have a ticket. As a nonprofit consultant and volunteer, Fish is used to taking on many roles, from playing music at religious gatherings to photography to event managing. However, a common theme throughout all of her many projects is jumping in to help out when she sees a gap that needs to be filled. “After the Orlando shooting, as a Jew and a lesbian, I was really shaken to my core,” Fish said. After learning that no one was planning an event to mourn the victims in Cleveland, Fish did it herself. Under the
At a Glance Age: 59 As a professional: nonprofit consultant Children: Shiah Fish Synagogues: Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple and Congregation Shaarey Tikvah In the community: Cleveland Rape Crisis Center Sing Out!, HaZamir Cleveland, LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland, Jewish Federation of Cleveland, Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, Sacred Rights, Sacred Song Noteworthy: Fish is a Jewish song leader and as a child was recognized by the Federation for her success at fundraising for Soviet Jewry.
auspice of the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland she planned the Greater Cleveland LGBT Interfaith Unity Rally, where 35 faith-based and allied organizations partnered, of which 15 were Jewish. She said engaging the Jewish community with LGBTQ and intersectional issues is vital because despite increasing acceptance, there is still a long way to go. “We reached 2016 and the idea of gay OK is pretty widespread and that’s a very dangerous place of complacency to be,” Fish said. “We can get married on Sunday and fired on Monday and people don’t know we still aren’t legally protected.
Congratulations to the Menorah Park 2016 CJN Difference Makers Patti Berns Howard Epstein Sara Hurand Keith Libman to Sam Miller
for the Lifetime Achievement Award and to All the Honorees
Menorah Park • 27100 Cedar Rd. • Beachwood, OH 44122
216-831-6500 • menorahpark.org
“I used to say when my work will be done is when folks can come out comfortably. Now I say, until all expecting parents and grandparents will be equally
excited about having a gay or lesbian kid, my work is not done,” Fish said. – Amanda Koehn
“She has literally saved women’s lives, helped people feel OK to come out as gay and stood up for LGBT injustice in the Jewish and general community. She has been a change-maker her entire life and deserves to be recognized in the Jewish community.” – From the nomination form
Mazel Tov
to our brother Howard Epstein
Love, Jon Epstein and Marty Gawry Holli and Gary Goodman
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OCTOBER 28, 2016
MICHAEL FRIEDMAN Michael Friedman likes to fly under the radar.
“He is a mensch who genuinely cares about people and makes it his business to help. He is man of honor and integrity, who is caring, loving and generous beyond words.” – From the nomination form
Whether he’s helping the Friendship Circle of Cleveland in Pepper Pike or Aish HaTorah of Cleveland in South Euclid, or delivering food with Meals on Wheels, or providing employment opportunities to those down on their luck, Friedman’s style has been to do it without fanfare. “I get my buzz by helping people out,” said Friedman, who graduated from The Ohio State University in Columbus with a degree in communications and marketing. “My personality is I’m a giver and when I could help people out and see smiles on people’s faces, to me that’s like the most important thing in the world. Whether it’s hiring somebody at my car dealership that is looking for a career, hasn’t made it yet, is lost and is looking for a career, what I’ll do is hire them. I’ll get them training and I’m able to turn a lot of peoples’ lives around by hiring them and making them successful by teaching them my business. I worked very hard to get where I am today and I like to give back and make people feel good, help the less fortunate. That is how I get my buzz.” Friedman’s role models are Lee Seidman and Tom Ganley, both auto dealers whom he said taught him not only the business, but to help others. He also praised his late father, Richard Friedman, who “had a real good heart.” “I saw how it made them feel good and I have that inside of me as well where if I give to somebody and can change somebody’s life, and make somebody feel better, then to me that’s real important. It’s really not something you wake up one day and say ‘Hey, I’m going to do this.’ It’s something that’s inside of you and having
At a Glance Age: 52 As a professional: General manager of Ganley Volkswagen Subaru Fiat of Bedford Significant other: Linda Blumenthal Children: Morgan, Mara, Matthew Synagogue: Park Synagogue In the community: Friendship Circle, Meals on Wheels, Rescue Village in Geauga County, Aish HaTorah of Cleveland, Milestones Autism Resources, Menorah Park Center for Senior Living, Montefiore, Susan G. Komen For the Cure and The Gathering Place. Noteworthy facts: Owner of thoroughbred racehorses and is very close to his family, sister Shari and brother Gary, who are big supporters of him
a good heart and giving is something inside of you and the results are great because you can see the smiles on people’s faces.” Friedman has been to Israel three times “and every time I go, I love it even more. “I’ve been to hundreds of places in the world and to me Israel is the best place I’ve ever been. It’s home for me. I’ve been able to take people to Israel who may not be able to afford to go to Israel and take them on these tours with me. If someone says, ‘I can’t go to Israel, I can’t afford it.’ I’m like, ‘Hey, I understand, but you’re to go and I’ll take care of it.’”
Friedman said he also inherited the traits of a big heart and giving person from his mother, Lois. And five years ago, his companion, Linda Blumenthal, entered his life. “She plays a huge part in my life,” Friedman said. “Behind every great man is a great woman and Linda is that great woman. The last five years have been the best five years of my life. That’s because I surround myself with great people and Linda came into my life. She believed in me and helped me get to the next level.” – Bob Jacob
CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY Proudly salutes Tom Adler
TRUSTEE DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, CSU BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Mazel Tov Michael Friedman!
SENIOR ADVISOR, PLAYHOUSE SQUARE REAL ESTATE SERVICES
for making a difference in our community!
we are so proud of you.
Jane and Lee
csuohio.edu
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SHELLY FRIEDMAN Shelly Friedman began volunteering at the now-closed Mt. Sinai Hospital in Cleveland when her children were young, as a once-a-week way to get out of the house and serve the community.
Congratulations Sam 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient Your impact on the lives of so many is immeasurable As a leader and role model for the business community As a philanthropist As a Trustee, advisor and advocate for our College
NotreDameCollege.edu 4545 College Road, South Euclid, OH 44121 • 877.NDC.OHIO
Congratulations to ALL the Difference Makers and to these 7 who call Park Synagogue “home!” Mitchell Balk • Seth Briskin • Steven Dettelbach Michael Friedman • Michael Siegal Civic Leadership Award recipient, David Gilbert Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Sam Miller
Pepper Pike • Cleveland Heights • parksynagogue.org
“I never really wanted to hold office or whatever, just do something nice for someone else,” said Friedman. However, since retiring, Friedman created somewhat of a second career for herself through volunteering. She attributes her success in making a difference to not only growing up with parents who taught her tikkun olam, but also to being willing to take on unpopular tasks. She retold the example of working as a dressing room chair at the National Council of Jewish Women’s Designer Dress Days, an annual fundraiser, where her job was to reorganize clothes after people try them on. “No one wanted to do it because you never get to be outside with everybody,” she said. “I have a lot of fun talking to the people buying the clothes and all of a sudden have become a fashion maven … I don’t mind it, I really enjoy it.” Friedman said that her favorite project she is involved with is Judaic outreach, also through NCJW. Cooking and hosting lunch for chronically, mentally ill patients at Jewish Family Service Association several times a year, she said the program helps patients, especially those who no longer have family, enjoy Jewish traditions they previously were not able to celebrate. “I’ve been doing it 11 years, so I see the difference from even when I started to now of how they enjoy being Jewish,” she said. As far as being a Difference Maker, Friedman is humble. “It could have been anybody, I’m just a hard worker,” she said. “I think this shows other people that you don’t have to be a president of something to be recognized.” – Amanda Koehn
“While there are so many ‘official’ titles to her nonstop volunteer work, the unofficial work she does on a constant basis to help others is also a great inspiration. Many organizations come to rely on her when additional volunteers are needed. She sets an example for quick action volunteerism, which is a role model for many of her friends and admirers.” – From the nomination form
At a Glance Age: 70 As a professional: Retired/professional volunteer. Formerly worked in special education at Bessie Benner Metzenbaum Center in Chester Township. Spouse: Harry Children: Stephanie, Robin, Kenneth Synagogue: B’nai Jeshurun Congregation In the Community: National Council of Jewish Women/Cleveland, Council Gardens board member, Cleveland Kosher Food Pantry, Friendship Circle of Cleveland, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces Noteworthy: Husband, Harry Friedman, was a founder of the Cleveland chapter of Friends of the Israel Defense Forces
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MICHAEL HAAS “I think Michael also brings credit to the Cleveland Jewish community internationally as he serves as co-leader of Jones Day’s real estate practice worldwide.” – From the nomination form
At a Glance Age: 48 As a professional: Partner, Jones Day Spouse: Raquel Children: Kyle, 16, Alexandra, 10 Synagogue: B’nai Jeshurun Congregation In the community: Immediate past president Joseph & Florence Mandel Jewish Day School, The Basser Center for BRCA Noteworthy: Loves to garden
For Michael Haas, tikkun olam started at home. And it started early. “Tikkun olam has always been a focus and part of my life,” Haas said. “Giving back to the community and tzedakah was an integral part of my household growing up. My parents (Bill and Shirley Haas) were very involved with their synagogue and what was then Agnon School. So, I got to see firsthand the importance of being involved in the community and impact that it can have.” Haas said he also saw the efforts of people like Bobby Goldberg and Peter Rzepka and the impact they had on the school and in the community. Haas shared the impact his grandfather, Edward Haas, had on him. He left Vienna in 1939 after being arrested and coming to the United States with nothing. “I think his story about the need to help Jews was inspiring to me and has played a role in what I do today,” said Haas, who earned a political science degree from Syracuse University and then a law degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. “I heard a story that really inspired me. I don’t know if it’s one of those stories that is more lore than reality, but when the Yom Kippur War broke out, I was told that the Cleveland Jewish community had an emergency meeting and the entire community gathered together, including the Mandels and others who stepped up in such a significant way, and said to everyone in the room, ‘We need to do what we need to do’ to help Israel.’ “The irony, of course, is that years later, “I would have a chance to see that same level of commitment at the Mandel Day School. I just kept thinking about the community. If the bell rang again, I wanted to be there to help our community – not only locally but wherever there was a need. My grandfather’s experience and my early exposure to Jewish education, and the impact it can have on our children, have guided me in terms of my level of involvement. My Jewish education and attendance at Jewish day school have had a significant impact in my life.” So much of an impact that decades later, Haas returned to the school to lead Agnon School as board president during a transitional period when it received a $17,050,000 gift from the Joseph and Florence Mandel Family Foundation. – Bob Jacob
IN HONOR OF
Rabbi Simcha Dessler Rabbi Eli Dessler The entire Hebrew Academy Family including nearly 1100 students representing over 400 families, the teachers, administrators, Kollel, staff, parents, past presidents, and board members thanks and recognizes Rabbi Simcha Dessler and Rabbi Eli Dessler for their tireless efforts for our children and families. Words cannot express what they, with and following in the footsteps of their illustrious father HaRav Nochum Z. Dessler zt”l, have done to build and change the landscape of the Cleveland Jewish Community for the past 74 years.
With Our Greatest Appreciation On Behalf Of The Above Dr. Louis Malcmacher, President Mr. Ivan Soclof, Immediate Past President Mr. Mel Waxman, Board Vice Chairman Mr. Amir Jaffa, Oakwood Campus Building Chairman www.hac1.org
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Congratulations. Jones Day proudly congratulates Michael Haas for being named to the 2016 class of 18 Difference Makers by Cleveland Jewish News, and we extend our best wishes to all those receiving this recognition. MICHAEL J. HAAS Partner Real Estate
2500 Lawyers. 44 Locations. 5 Continents. www.jonesday.com
Michael Siegal Difference Maker for 2016
Congratulations You are Cleveland’s best-kept secret. Thank you for all that you do for the Northeast Ohio Jewish Community.
OCTOBER 28, 2016
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SARA HURAND
Sara Hurand feels as if she’s hardwired to be involved in the local community.
She credits her family for instilling in her the importance of community and civic involvement. “Both my parents and in-laws, my husband and brothers and sisters-in-law, even my aunts and uncles, there isn’t one person in my family who isn’t involved. Everyone is committed in their own way,” Hurand said. She feels she was hardwired to pursue a career in arts and architecture, too. Growing up in Flint, Mich., Hurand recalls spending countless hours at the Flint Institute of Art. She received her undergraduate degree from Parsons School of Design in New York City and earned a graduate degree in architecture from Harvard University. “I’m proud that I had a direct path and in some ways, it was much easier, but I realize now as a parent it’s OK to teach my kids to leave some openness to what you want to do,” Hurand said. As owner of Iris Design, Hurand works on a variety of design projects, including architectural, real estate development, branding and product development. She said she’s happy that her career gives her the opportunity to impact people’s lives. “Architecture is so much about people and making people’s lives better, making a better workplace or a better house or store,” she said. “It’s also a humble, practical effort. You have incredibly lofty ideas of how architecture impacts society but then you also have tiny details, literally the nuts and bolts of construction detailing.” Hurand also took her passion for art beyond the professional realm. As co-founder of the Cleveland Jewish Arts and Culture Lab, she works with creative fellows to integrate traditional Jewish texts, values and history into the arts. And as a board member of the Rainey Institute, she has the opportunity to impact inner-city children
“Sara’s put in hours of effort and dedication for the incredible results she helps produce from local Cleveland Jews. We need people like her in the lay community to do things like this to keep our community vibrant.” – From the nomination form and expose them to visual and performing arts. She also can be found volunteering at Fuchs Mizrachi School in Beachwood with their art efforts. “I’m grateful that there are many ways to engage people, and I can contribute in ways that are my passion,” Hurand said. “You know it’s an incredible fit when you come back even more inspired. None of it is work for me.” – Kristen Mott
At a Glance Age: 41 As a professional: Owner of Iris Design Spouse: Elie Weiss Children: Eitan Weiss, 9, Jonah Weiss, 8 Synagogue: Oheb Zedek-Cedar Sinai Synagogue and Green Road Synagogue In the community: Co-founder of Cleveland Jewish Arts and Culture Lab; board member at Jewish Federation of Cleveland; board member of the Rainey Institute; member of the Accessions Advisory committee at the Cleveland Museum of Art, and member of Leading Edge Alliance for Excellence in Jewish Leadership Commission. Noteworthy: After earning her graduate degree in 2001, Sara Hurand and her husband, Elie, a University Heights native, decided to relocate to Cleveland. “I felt my quality of life and opportunities for professional advancement would be stronger in Cleveland,” Hurand said.
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GARY ISAKOV
Gary Isakov, office-managing partner at BDO USA, lives by the doctrine of giving back to one’s community. He dedicates much of his free time to volunteering at organizations such as the Jewish Federation of Cleveland and St. Vincent Charity Medical Center to improve the city, which 23 years ago he started to call home. Isakov moved to Cleveland from South Africa in 1993. The support and acceptance that the community provided him was so impactful that he decided he wanted to give back. “We have a lot of things going on in our lives, but I think you have to make time for helping others,” Isakov said. “It’s one of those things that gives additional meaning to life.” One organization with strong meaning to Isakov is St. Vincent’s Charity Medical Center, a hospital in downtown Cleveland that provides medical services to Clevelanders living in areas with high rates of poverty. He participates in monthly board meetings and various committee meetings to offer advice and increase his impact. He also volunteers with Jewish organizations such as Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, which helps to educate students after leaving the army, and American Friends of Magen David Adom, which raises money to provide emergency medical response resources such as ambulances and blood services in Israel. “You hope that you can have a positive impact, whether it’s philanthropic or good advice you can share with the board,” Isakov said. “I don’t think I would be in an organization if I didn’t feel I had any impact. It makes you feel like you’re contributing.” His charitable nature is also present in his work at BDO USA, where he motivates coworkers as well as the company to get involved with volunteer organizations. “It’s all about tikkun olam and leading by example,” Isakov said. “Being a part of a community means giving back.” – Hannah Edelman
“He has a passion for donating his time back to the community and is seen as a leader in the Jewish community.” – From the nomination form
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At a Glance Age: 51 As a professional: BDO USA, LLC Spouse: Lara Children: Ilan; Joshua 14; Aviva, 8 Synagogue: Chabad Jewish Center of Solon In the community: Board member and chair of the audit and compliance committee St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, finance committee of the Sisters of Charity Health System; Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Jewish Federation of Cleveland, American Diabetes Association, and board member of American Friends of Magen David Adom Cleveland chapter Noteworthy: BDO USA named him its representative in a global partner leadership program. The program is limited to 12 partners worldwide.
Educating Today for Tomorrow’s Success Mazal Tov to Our Difference Makers!
Michael Haas
Steve Dettelbach
Past President Agnon Alumni ‘81
Mandel JDS Parent
Start your child on the path to becoming a Difference Maker! Call for a tour today. 216.464.4055
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Rabbi Eli Dessler & Rabbi Simcha Dessler AN INSPIRING COMBINATION
WE CELEBERATE THEIR MANY ACHIEVEMENTS
RONALD KLUCHIN ARCHITECTS, INC.
www.ronaldkluchinarchitects.com
ARCHITECTS SERVING THE COMMUNITY
216-464-7494
OCTOBER 28, 2016
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EVA KAHANA
Eva Kahana is a researcher and professor of sociology at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland and has taught for almost 50 years. However, her impact on the community extends far beyond the classroom.
Kahana has published more than 200 scholarly articles about Holocaust survivorship, coping with diverse stressors and pathways to successful aging. She designs and implements educational interventions funded by the National Institutes of Health for disadvantaged older adults to improve their advocacy in health communication. “I’m very interested in the resilience of people,” Kahana said. “Maybe that’s because of my background as a Holocaust survivor and an immigrant.” She is publishing a paper on ageism in academia, and hopes to reduce negative biases toward the elderly through increased intergenerational interaction. She explained that her activism has grown as she aged, and she uses her own experiences in her research. Kahana also applies her knowledge to her work with Jewish Family Services Association and the Menorah Park Center for Aging. She said that she has “transmitted (her) commitment to the Jewish people” by raising her children with a strong Jewish identity, supporting Israel and not hiding her religious practices in her work setting.
“She vocally represents Jewish values and commitment as an internationally acclaimed scholar.” – From the nomination form “I am very proud of being Jewish,” she said. “It’s a wonderful thing that people are paying attention to individuals who are making positive contributions to the Jewish community.” – Hannah Edelman
At a Glance Age: 75 As a professional: Distinguished university professor and professor of sociology at Case Western Reserve University; director of Elderly Care Research Center Spouse: Boaz Children: Jeffrey; Michael Synagogue: Green Road Synagogue In the community: Committee on services to older adults of the Jewish Family Services; Arnold Heller committee of Menorah Park Center for Aging; Hillel at CWRU; Friendship Circle; and Cleveland AMIT. Noteworthy: Awarded 2016 Hovorka Prize, CWRU’s highest honor given to a faculty member for achievements in teaching, research and scholarly service; published six books; honorary doctorate of Humane Letters from Yeshiva University; given Distinguished Mentor Award; child survivor of Holocaust
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KEITH LIBMAN When Keith Libman isn’t at Bober Markey Fedorovich, where he’s worked as an accountant for almost 50 years, he can usually be found volunteering at numerous Jewish organizations to fulfill his duty of tikkun olam. “It’s in our heritage to give back and help others,” Libman said. As a chair of the Mt. Sinai Health Care Foundation, he helps to make grants and improve the urban community. He also serves as vice president for the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, an organization whose mission of diversity and tolerance Libman advocates for. “We all have to get along,” he said. “It’s too easy to live only in your own world. I’m very proud to be working with an organization that’s trying to promote those values.” Recently, Libman became involved with Global Cleveland, a nonprofit that supports the immigrant community in Greater Cleveland. Although the organization is secular, Libman said he brings that same Jewish value of tikkun olam into this work. “What drives me is being a connector between different organizations,” he said. “I get the most satisfaction from being a catalyst and making connections.” – Hannah Edelman
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Mazel tov Michael Haas We’re so proud of your many accomplishments. Love, Mom, Dad, & Family Over 60 years of insuring what matters most.
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“Even in the work that Keith does in the general community, he brings a strong sense of Jewishness to this work and makes sure that these boards embody strong Jewish values.”
Congratulations to Gary Isakov for being named a 2016 Difference Maker! From your friends at the Cleveland Racquet Club 29825 Chagrin Blvd. Pepper Pike, OH 44124 • 216-831-2155 • clevelandracquet.com
– From the nomination form
At a Glance Age: 69 As a professional: Partner at Bober Markey Fedorovich Spouse: Nancy Children: Debbie Klein; Amy Brodsky Synagogue: The Temple-Tifereth Israel In the community: Immediate past board chair of Mt. Sinai Health Care Foundation; Maltz Museum vice president; life trustee and past president of The Temple-Tifereth Israel; life trustee and past board chair at Menorah Park; former vice chair and active volunteer at Jewish Federation of Cleveland; executive committee member and chair of the audit committee of United Way; Jewish Federation of North America trustee and co-chair of health and long-term committee, as well as member of domestic policies and public affairs counsel and audit committee.
Meyers, Roman Friedberg & Lewis congratulates our partner Seth Briskin as a CJN honoree for this year’s “18 Difference Makers.” We applaud your hard work and enduring commitment to the ideals of tikkun olam and are proud of your accomplishments.
28601 Chagrin Blvd., Suite 500 Cleveland, OH 44122 Phone: 216.831.0042 www.meyersroman.com
OCTOBER 28, 2016
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MICHAEL SIEGAL Michael Siegal always knew he would be involved as a volunteer in the Jewish world, but he never knew to what extent until after college. “It was sometime in my early 20s when I got invited to an Israel Bonds dinner,’ said Siegal, 64, who earned a Bachelor of Science in education from Miami of Ohio in Oxford in 1974. “My parents were involved in the Jewish National Fund here in Cleveland. I have this great affinity. My father took me to Israel in 1975, which was my first trip. “I had this great kind of feeling toward a Jewish nation and helping them build strength, both economically as well as morally and physically it was really important to me, to have a Jewish nation. It just resonated with me when I went to an Israel Bonds dinner to talk about building a nation and building it with strength. Strength as opposed to Jewish weakness certainly resonated with me early in my life.” However, he never thought he would be chair of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, let alone the Jewish Federations of North America. “I’m a person who likes to get things
18 DIFFERENCE MAKERS
At a Glance Age: 64 As a professional: Chairman and CEO of Olympic Steel Inc. Spouse: Anita Children: Rachel, Zachary, Erica Synagogue: Park Synagogue In the community: Immediate past chair of the Jewish Federations of North America, chair of Secure Community Network, head of government relations between Diaspora Jewry and the government of Israel, Jewish Federation of Cleveland board of trustees Noteworthy: Four grandchildren, ages 9, 7, 5, 1, with the three oldest in Baltimore and the youngest in Cleveland
done by showing up at events and then being asked to do things,” Siegal said. “That kept propelling me to a higher level of involvement, where people either recognized my talents or I just forced my way in. I’m not sure which came first. “I never had this vision that I could lead two Jewish organizations in my lifetime and meet kings and princes and prime ministers. It wasn’t like I didn’t think I could, but it wasn’t like this is what I wanted to be doing. But I did have
a scope of a wider world as opposed to I just wanted to be involved in Cleveland.” Siegal credits his late parents, Molly and Sol Siegal, with instilling a love for Judaism and Israel in him. He also praised the Wexner Heritage Program, of which he and his wife, Anita, were part of. The program is designed for Jewish learning and leadership development for volunteer leaders in North America. In 2014, the Siegals established a $1.25 million endowment through the Federation to fund the Michael and Anita Siegal One Happy Camper Program. – Bob Jacob
“Michael works for Jewish families selflessly and never refuses a person. Michael is a prime example of a mensch.” – From the nomination form
Mitchell Balk
With love and appreciation from your friends and our families for the extraordinary difference you have made in our lives, as well as the lives of countless others.
Mazel Tov! Fran Gordon Bob Immerman Sylvia & Roger Kramer Nancy & Adam Levin Karen & Ira Levinsky
Hedy & Mike Milgrom Debbe & Marty Rabinowitz Abby & Danny Raiz Beth & Frank Rosenberg Michele & Tom Sudow
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KIM STRAUSSER At a young age, Kim Strausser’s parents taught her the importance of giving back to the community.
“Both of my parents belonged to service organizations, so I grew up watching them and sensing the importance of offering my time and effort to helping other people,” Strausser said. Strausser has found opportunities to help others in her professional and personal life. As a school psychologist for Hudson City Schools, Strausser works closely with students to measure their intelligence and academic skills and to detect any disabilities. She said she knew she wanted to be a psychologist when she was 12. “Books were very important to my parents, so our home was filled with lots of books, including encyclopedias and information-type books,” Strausser recalled. “My parents had a set of Time Life books, one of which was called ‘The Mind,’ and I was particularly drawn to that book. I read through it many times and just was fascinated with the idea of the brain and how people’s personalities and brains work, and that sustained throughout my life.” Outside of work, Strausser serves as co-president of Temple Beth Shalom in Hudson. She said she enjoys being a member of the small congregation. “We have about 100 families, so when I go to Friday night services I often know everybody who is there. It’s an opportunity to not only have an experience of meditation and prayer and a Shabbat rest, but also a time to reconnect with people and other Jews who also enjoy being there for similar reasons,” she said. Making a difference is unique to each person, Strausser said. Showing up to an event or meeting often is the first step. “Sometimes you don’t know what you’re going to be interested in, so I think it’s good for people to take a chance and maybe get involved in something that you’re not sure you would be interested in,
Jewish Federation OF CLEVELAND
“Both inside the walls of the synagogue and beyond, Kim Strausser has influenced and impacted the Jewish community of Northeast Ohio, and for this reason I would hold her up to be a Difference Maker for the many differences and contributions she has made.”
Mazel Tov! TO ALL THE
DIFFERENCE MAKERS BECAUSE OF YOU, OUR COMMUNITY IS STRONGER.
– From the nomination form but you might find that you are because you like the group of people who are there,” she said. “If you don’t see something that you think would be a good fit, then think about ways that you can create that situation.” – Kristen Mott
At a Glance Age: 57 As a professional: School psychologist for Hudson City Schools Spouse: Mike Miller Children: Noah Rosen, Jeremy Miller, Sam Miller Synagogue: Temple Beth Shalom In the community: Co-president of Temple Beth Shalom, member of NA’AMAT, URJ Lake Erie Community, National Association of School Psychologists, Ohio School Psychologists Association, Kent/Akron Association of School Psychologists, Daughters of the American Revolution and National Alliance on Mental Illness Noteworthy: Within a couple of months of Kim Strausser being named president of Temple Beth Shalom in 2013, Rabbi Sheldon Ezring announced he was retiring from the congregation. “That meant that I had to lead our congregation to find a new rabbi,” Strausser said. “That was a huge undertaking and one that I was not expecting.”
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JEANNE TOBIN
When Jeanne Tobin moved to Cleveland to work for Key Corp. 22 years ago, she thought she would be there until retirement and then return to Columbia, Md., where she raised her children and near where she had worked at Equitable Bank in Baltimore and where her husband had worked at the National Institutes of Health. However, due in no small part to the welcoming, philanthropic Jewish community as well as Cleveland’s unifying sports teams and quality classical music, the Tobins never left.
“Tikkun olam are not just mere words to Jeanne; they are how she lives her life each and every day.” – From the nomination form
“We’ve become Clevelanders by choice,” Tobin said. “Philanthropy was so much a part of the DNA of the community. It’s contagious.” Since then, Tobin has been a president of the Mandel Jewish Community Center and president of The TempleTifereth Israel in Beachwood. During her presidency, the Mandel JCC saw increased programming and a large renovation and expansion thanks to the Mandel family. Similarly at The Temple, Tobin oversaw the recent renovation
Congratulations to Rabbi Simcha Dessler and Rabbi Eli Dessler
on your well-deserved recognition as Difference Makers in the lives of so many! From your friends at
OCTOBER 28, 2016
18 DIFFERENCE MAKERS
At a Glance Age: 73 As a professional: retired executive vice president of Key Corp. Spouse: Dr. Jordan Tobin Children: Steven Tobin, Donald Tobin, Cynthia Port, Adam Tobin, Karen Rabb Synagogue: The Temple-Tifereth Israel In the community: Past president of the Mandel JCC; immediate past president of The TempleTifereth Israel (chair of the Temple Tomorrow project); past board member of JCC Association of North America; chair of Federation’s Leadership Roundtable; past member of the Federation’s OCC; past member of the Federation’s finance and investment committee, member of Federation’s HRD committee; Cleveland representative for National Alliance JFNA; board member at JECC; new board member at the Mt. Sinai Health Care Foundation; past executive board member at Cleveland Alzheimer’s Association Noteworthy: Founding board member of ChamberFest Cleveland music festival. Tobin also has 10 grandchildren, Alex, Anne, Diana, Amelia, Phoebe, JuliaRose, Charlie, Micah, Jonah, and Tessie. and expansion, also thanks to the Mandel family. “This team effort was one of the most satisfying and fulfilling accomplishments of my life,” she said. Tobin remains committed to both The Temple and the Mandel JCC, and serves on several committees of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, as well as on other community boards. “The Mandel JCC, the Temple and many of the other organizations keep their past leaders involved … deeply involved, while encouraging new and younger people to take on responsibilities. You can run, but you can’t hide. Oddly, none of us wants to run- we’re lifers,” Tobin said. She said what motivates her to make
a difference is a combination of learning tikkun olam at a young age from her parents’ actions and values and trying to improve the world for her children, grandchildren and future generations. While she said it is difficult to quantify one’s impact on the community, community service has profoundly impacted her life. “It connects me to my heritage and to my future and allows me to be a part of that continuum,” Tobin said. “Whatever any of us can do to strengthen the institutions that serve us and inspire us, that sustain us and excite us, that bring us closer together and give us hope for the future, will pay dividends both to others and to ourselves.” – Amanda Koehn
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#18differencemakers
Lifetime Achievement Award Samuel H. Miller
DIFFERENCE MAKERS The Cleveland Jewish News congratulates the 2016 class of honorees on their contributions to our community
Co-chairman emeritus Forest City Realty Trust
Civic Leadership Award David Gilbert
Generation Award Dani Berns Josh Berns Patti Beckman Berns
18 Difference Makers
Tom Adler Mitchell Balk Martin Belsky Seth Briskin Rabbi Eli Dessler and Rabbi Simcha Dessler Steven Dettelbach Dr. Howard Epstein Brynna Fish Michael Friedman
Shelly Friedman Michael Haas Sara Hurand Gary Isakov Eva Kahana Keith Libman Michael Siegal Kim Strausser Jeanne Tobin
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It’s an honor and a privilege to be the Co-Presenting Sponsor of this noteworthy event. Congratulations to all the Difference Makers!
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