By Rosemary Frenza Chudnof, special to the Washtenaw Jewish News

Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County is excited to announce that it will honor Zingerman’s Community of Businesses with its 2016 Claire and Isadore Bernstein Award. “Zingerman’s has a deep commitment to improving the community, and has supported numerous local organizations for many  years,” said Anya Abramzon, JFS’s executive director. Abramzon noted that there is a particular synergy between JFS and Zingerman’s around the issue of food insecurity; Zingerman’s founded Food Gatherers, a partner of JFS’ specialty food pantry. “We feel that Zingerman’s is a perfect example of the values that Claire and Isadore Bernstein represented,” Abramzon added, saying that JFS has been grateful for the companies’ support for many years. Rather than being presented to any one
individual, the Bernstein Award will be given to the entire Zingerman’s community, which includes its Deli, Bakehouse, Coffee Company, Creamery, Roadhouse, Zingtrain, and several other related businesses.

This year’s Bernstein Event will be titled “Generous Leaders: Bringing Community to the Head of the Table,” and will be held at Rackham Auditorium on Sunday, April 17, from 3–5 p.m. Entertainment will include Vincent York and his jazz ensemble, as well as other musical entertainment; catering by Amanda’s Kitchen; food demonstration stations by Zingerman’s; and the award presentation. The Bernstein Award was created in 2003 to honor Claire and Isadore Bernstein, who were leaders in the Ann Arbor Jewish community for over 50 years. Last year’s recipients were Phil and Nancy Margolis. Tickets to the event are $100, and all proceeds will go directly toward supporting JFS’ most vulnerable clients through its Specialty Food Pantry.

*Reprinted here by permission of Washtenaw Jewish News