NEWS, HIGHLIGHTS, & EVENTS
Welcome Wexner Davidson Fellowship Class 1!
On June 4, the Wexner Foundation and William Davidson Foundation proudly announced the inaugural cohort of the Wexner Davidson Fellowship, a new program designed for Jewish professionals aged 26-36 working full-time in North American Jewish organizations. The three-year fellowship program will offer opportunities for cohort-based learning, peer networking, mentorship, and immersive experiences, including a week in Israel. Building on the work of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship/Davidson Scholars Program and the Field Fellowship, all of which continue to enhance and impact Jewish leadership, the Fellows will also receive additional funding for professional development, personalized Jewish learning, and will join the Wexner Foundation’s network of over 3,000 professional and volunteer leaders in North America and Israel. To view the complete list of Class 1 Fellows and to learn more about the Wexner Davidson Fellowship, click here. Welcome Class 1 Fellows!
Inaugural Byron & Dorothy Gerson Lecture Series at Detroit Institute of Arts
Family, friends, and patrons of the William Davidson Foundation and the Detroit Institute of Arts gathered on April 30 to attend the inaugural Byron and Dorothy Gerson Lecture Series at the Detroit Institute of Arts. The first lecture featured Franklin Sirmans, director of the Pérez Art Museum Miami, who spoke on the topic: A View from the Crossroads: A 21st Century American Museum. Mr. Sirmans also focused his lecture exploring the recent history of the Pérez Art Museum Miami.
The lecture series, which will take place annually, was established by the William Davidson Foundation in 2022 as part of a series of grants made to honor the life and memory of Byron and Dorothy Gerson, the brother-in-law and sister of the Foundation’s founder. In addition to the grant to the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Foundation also made grants to honor Mr. and Mrs. Gerson’ s memory to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Jewish Federation of Detroit, and the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, all of which held special significance to Mr. and Mrs. Gerson throughout their lifetime.
HaShomer HaChadash Leads Significant Volunteer Efforts for Israeli Farms
Hashomer HaChadash, an Israeli-based organization dedicated to promoting food independence and agricultural prosperity in Israel, has been leading essential volunteer services since October 7th to help Israeli farmers avert an impending food crisis. Prior to October, Israel had relied on approximately 25,000 foreign workers, primarily from Thailand, working in fields, orchards, and greenhouses. Due to the war, nearly 10,000 workers have returned to their home countries leaving many farms understaffed. HaShomer HaChadash has been aiming to bring 2,000-4,000 volunteers daily to help save over 1,000 Israeli farms in the western Negev and near Israel’s northern border. Since October, HaShomer HaChadash has mobilized 300,000 volunteers. On June 19, Israeli President Isaac Herzog honored HaShomer HaChadash with this year’s President’s Volunteer Award for the State of Israel. The William Davidson Foundation is proud to support HaShomer HaChadash during one of Israel’s most critical times to ensure Israel’s agricultural lands continue to prosper. You can read more about the President’s Volunteer Award and special ceremony here.
Since October 7th and following the outbreak of the war, Israeli society and diaspora Jewry has responded in tremendous efforts to volunteer in Israel. As part of various joint ventures with Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, thousands of volunteers have come to Israel since October to help Israel’s agriculture, logistics and distributions centers, Israeli evacuees, and many other arising needs. To learn more about volunteer opportunities with HaShomer HaChadash, visit here.
Photo from the President’s Volunteer Award Ceremony in Jerusalem on June 19, 2024.
From left: Ayelet Nahmias-Verbin, chair of selection committee; Israeli President Isaac Herzog; Michael Eisenberg, chairman of HaShomer HaChadash; On Rifman, founder and deputy CEO of HaShomer HaChadash; Yoel Zilberman, CEO and founder of HaShomer HaChadash; and First Lady of Israel Michal Herzog.
FROM THE ARCHIVE
The Wetsman cousins, all of blessed memory, in Port Huron, MI (C. 1940): Pictured left to right: William Davidson, Bill Saulson, Jonathan Uhr, Saul Saulson, Dorothy Davidson, and Bill Wetsman.
William “Bill” Wetsman passed away on June 3, 2024 at the age of 94. Read Bill Wetsman’s obituary here.