The Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor is delighted to announce two grants that have been awarded to local initiatives with the goal of promoting cross-organizational collaboration and innovation in the local Jewish community. One grant was awarded from the Zelma Weisfeld Fund for Culture and Education, and the other is from Federation’s Community Engagement Fund.

Israeli playwright Ori Urian

The inaugural Zelma Weisfeld Fund grant was awarded to the Center for Jewish Studies (CJS) at Eastern Michigan University for collaboration with Spinning Dot Theatre and in partnership with Engage@EMU and the EMU School of Communications, Media & Theater Arts. The initiative funded is staging of the American debut of Connected, a play by the Israeli playwright Ori Urian. As part of the project, Urian will visit Washtenaw County as artist-in-residence at Spinning Dot Theatre. In partnership with the Jewish Community Center, Jewish Federation and other local Jewish organizations, the playwright will engage broadly with the Ann Arbor area Jewish community, including through workshops and programs about theater and culture in Israel. The Zelma Weisfeld Fund for Culture & Education is made possible through a bequest from Zelma Weisfeld z”l.

“I’m excited to bring Ori Urian, a major Israeli playwright, to our community,” said Bob Erlwine, Director of CJS. “His presence in Ann Arbor, as a cultural ambassador, is sure to be of wide interest to a variety of different constituencies in the Jewish community (and beyond).”

Idan Chabasov AKA The Challah Prince

The second of the recently-awarded grants, from the Community Engagement Fund, was awarded to a collaboration that includes Temple Beth Emeth, Beth Israel Congregation, Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Congregation, the Jewish Community Center and the Jewish Federation. The group has come together to bring Idan Chabasov, known as the Challah Prince, for an interactive community program to take place March 14. This inclusive event is for anyone who loves sharing challah and stories—the challah dough for up to 100 participants will be prepared in the JCC’s kosher kitchen, using a new commercial mixer that was purchased in part thanks to this grant.

The Community Engagement Fund is supported by the Jewish Federation’s Annual Community Campaign to encourage organizations and individuals to work collaboratively on new, innovative initiatives that cultivate a strong, engaged, connected, caring, vibrant and enduring Jewish community in Washtenaw County.

“I’m delighted with the submissions we received for this round of funding,” said Federation Executive Director Eileen Freed. “The support provided by these funds has enabled two collaborative efforts to bring new, exciting, and engaging programs to our community.”

The next round of Community Engagement Fund grants will be awarded this spring. The deadline for submission is March 31. Grant requests of $1,000-$5,000 will be considered and must be submitted by a partnership of three or more collaborators. Applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent to McKenzie Katz (mckenzie@jewishannarbor.org) by March 13. Decisions will be made within one month of the grant deadline.

The full application for both grants is available at JewishAnnArbor.org. For more information or to inquire, contact McKenzie Katz at mckenzie@jewishannarbor.org or (734) 677-0100 x245.