Life Cycle Events

Donations may be made to these AJCOP Funds for any occasion. Send to: 14619 Horseshoe Trace, Wellington, FL 33414. To establish an AJCOP Endowment Fund, call Max Kleinman (793) 884-4800 or Lou Solomon at (561) 795-4853.
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Mazel tov to:

Alan and Linda Engel on the upcoming marriage of their son Joshua to Hope Yarbin on June 27, 2010.

Condolences to:

Wayne Feinstein and family on the death of their beloved son, Benjamin in April.

Deaths:

Melvin S. Zaret, architect of the Jewish Community passed away on May 31, 2010, at age 92 years. Born in Poland on April 7, 1918, he served the Jewish community for more than 70 years, most significantly as executive vice president of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation from 1955-1984. “Over the years, Mel built the Milwaukee Jewish Federation as a training ground for Jewish professionals who went all over the Jewish world and became leaders and servants of the Jewish people in their own right,” wrote Rabbi Irving “Yitz” Greenberg in the introduction to Zaret’s 2006 book, “Community, Heritage, Legacy: In Pursuit of Progress: Selected Speeches, Papers, Essays.” A charter member of AJCOP, Mel worked tirelessly on seminars for pre-retirement counseling long before it was fashionable. “In terms of leadership, vision, passion and commitment to Jewish Federation work, Mel was quite simply in a class by himself,” said Richard H. Meyer, executive vice president of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation. Zaret was “motivated by a single-minded dedication to human welfare and to relieving human suffering.” Zaret came to America as an infant with his family during World War I, was educated at Northwestern University and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He began his career as a social worker, became assistant director of the Jewish Welfare Fund and then regional director of the Council of Jewish Federations. In 1955, he became executive of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation. During his tenure, Zaret advised Jewish organizations around the world and played a key role in welcoming Jewish refugees from the then-Soviet Union and elsewhere. Before his death, Zaret spoke of witnessing “the blazing rebirth of a worldwide Jewish spirit” and of his vision “of a Jewish community bound together by a common past that sustains the present and will secure the future.” Mel is survived by his beloved wife Eva (nee Klein); children, David (Sheri) Zaret, Steven Zaret, Judy (Tom) Remington and Lisa (Jonathan) Bodner; grandchildren, Tamar (Yuda) Arbeli, David Benlolo, Kyla and Jenny Zaret, Jessica and Elijah Bodner; great-grandchild,Ava Arbeli;sister,Esther (the late beloved Barnett) Sklar and many other loving relatives and great friends. uneral services were held June 2, 2010 at Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun, Milwaukee. The family has requested that contributions in Zaret’s memory be made to the Milwaukee Jewish Federation’s Melvin S. Zaret Endowment for Professional and Volunteer Leadership Development. If you would like to contribute, please mail a check to the Melvin S. Zaret Endowment Fund For The Professional and Community Leadership Development, Milwaukee Jewish Federation, 1360 N. Prospect Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53202. Acknowledgements will be sent to his wife, Eva Zaret.

Gary S. Alter, age 73, of Grand Blanc passed away Tuesday, May 18, 2010 in Flint, Michigan Alter, executive director of the Flint Jewish Federation in Michigan, passed away after being diagnosed with cancer only six weeks ago. A native of Steubenville, Ohio, Gary was born August 30, 1936 to the late Manfert and Shirley Alter. As Executive Director of the Flint Jewish Federation, Gary was passionate about maintaining Jewish traditions and building strong community. He was proud of his heritage, valued diverse cultures, and strove to be at the forefront of many community and civic projects. Mr. Alter was a member and active participant of Congregation Beth Israel, Temple Beth El, Rotary Club of Flint, 100 Club of Flint, Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee, Genesee County Census 2010 Committee, Michigan Jewish Conference, AJCOP, Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce, Urban League of Flint, the Hate Crimes Taskforce, Flint Golf Club and Professional Golf Teacher’s Association of America. Flint’s hometown newspaper, The Flint Journal, recently ran a tribute to him. “Alter is widely viewed as one of the most well connected, network-savvy community leaders today,” the newspaper said. “He is credited for serving as a stabilizing force for the Flint Jewish Federation, as an ambassador to social groups at large, and as a workhorse on numerous civic projects.” Alter came to Flint nearly 11 years ago from Texas, where he had served as Director of the United Jewish Campaign and the Jewish Community Relations Council at the Jewish Federation of Austin. He was a successful fundraiser in a city hard-hit by a faltering economy and a shrinking Jewish community. Despite the catastrophic effects of the recession on Michigan, Flint’s Annual Campaign remained stable the past two years. “Gary knew how to raise money,” said Dr. William Bernard, chair of the Flint Jewish Federation’s Annual Campaign. “He was from a little town in Ohio and knew what it meant to be Jewish in a small community. He really taught me how to convey the obligation all Jews have to support their communities. He was the true definition of a mensch.” “Gary was extremely collaborative and taught me everything I know about being a Federation president,” said a grief-stricken Mitchell Weiss, president of The Flint Jewish Federation. “I not only learned to respect him as a professional, but to love him as a friend.” Alter is survived by his wife Emily, and children, Dr. Carol Alter (Mark Tobey), Karen Jacobson (Richard), Alison Bank (fiancé, Aaron Heller) and Andrew Bank (Carrie); Loving grandfather of Matthew Snyder (Kimberly), Ellen and Robyn Jacobson, Sam, Ben and Emma Cummins, Asher and Leila Bank. Funeral services were held on Friday, May 21 at Congregation Beth Israel in Flint. Donations in Gary’s memory may be made to the Flint Jewish Federation at 619 Wallenberg Street, Flint, Michigan, 48502-1714.

New Appointments:

Daniel Allen is the new Executive Vice President of Artza.
Eric Levine is the new Vice President for Institutional Advancement for Touro College.

AJCOP will gratefully acknowledge any donations in honor of the above event (or any other events). Send to: 14619 Horseshoe Trace, Wellington, FL 33414.