On to Israel

she has been thinking about how to provide youth with career mentorship.

“I’m a real believer in the youth voice,” she explains, “and being able to navigate your own destiny.”

She says youth can pave the way to a successful career path through learning practical skills and understanding how the world evolves as it pertains to current affairs. “There are a lot of barriers to career entry for a lot of people,” Nederlander continues. “We’re helping with that through skill development, introductions and networking.”

REAL-LIFE SUCCESS

Nederlander and L!FE Leaders’ community partners have seen their efforts in helping Detroit youth pay off. Now, youth volunteers have created a dedicated youth summit council to take on and address issues related to the larger conference.

Two participants, Nederlander explains, decided to focus on improving financial literacy. The youth started a nonprofit called Discover SELF Impact to offer a series of workshops on financial independence. “As a result of the work they did, they were included in this year’s Skillman Foundation’s 20 Black Detroiters Making History,” Nederlander says.

It’s just one example of many, she explains, that highlight the importance of providing Detroit youth with the right skill-building programs and doors to career growth.

“We have several students moving into the real world with exciting opportunities,” Nederlander says. “Understanding what’s going on around you can help you understand the opportunity in front of you and how to make things happen for yourself.”

Amy Nederlander, co-founder and president, L!FE Leaders Inc. and Rico Razo, deputy director, Bridging Neighborhoods, City of Detroit, at the Mike Ilitch School of Business, Wayne State University in 2019.

Two students awarded scholarships for gap year programs in Israel.

RABBI HERBERT YOSKOWITZ SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

Two 2021 high school grads were awarded scholarships June 16 to enable their gap year studies in Israel. Zoe Golan of Farmington Hills High School and Cara Lopatin of the Farber Hebrew Academy were the recipients of these competitive awards.

Zoe will use the Jay Yoskowitz Israel scholarship for the Gal-il year program in Upper Galilee. In her application, Zoe wrote that this year in Israel will enhance her “excellent relationship to both Jewish education as well as the Jewish community as I have come to know at Adat Shalom.”

The daughter of Yifat and Shaham Golan, Israelis from the Galilee, Zoe has a familiarity with Israel. Through her gap year, she expects to deepen her connection to Israel.

The Jay Yoskowitz Israel Scholarship Fund was established in 2006 by Rabbi Herbert Yoskowitz, rabbi emeritus of Adat Shalom to honor the memory of his brother Jay Yoskowitz, who served as senior vice president of the American Technion Society, executive director of the United Israel Appeal and executive director of the Council of Jewish Federations. The scholarship is awarded annually to a member of Adat Shalom for study in Israel.

Cara Lopatin received the Harry and Sarah Laker Memorial Scholarship to study at Amudim in Jerusalem. Cara looks forward “to learn Torah lishmah (for its own sake), explore Jewish topics both old and new to me” and to deepen her strong connection to Israel and to Jewish studies. She is the daughter of Rachel and Rabbi Asher Lopatin.

The Harry and Sarah Laker Memorial Award was established at Congregation Beth Achim (merged with Adat Shalom Synagogue in 1998). Harry Laker was president of Congregation Beth Achim.

Both scholarships are administered by Adat Shalom Synagogue and awarded annually on a competitive basis.

Rabbi Aaron Bergman, Joan Chernoff-Epstein (president of Adat Shalom Synagogue), Rabbi Emeritus Herbert Yoskowitz and Hazzan Daniel Gross offered their personal congratulations as they presented Zoe Golan and Cara Lopatin summer scholarships.

Herbert Yoskowitz is rabbi emeritus at Adat Shalom Synagogue.