National Director Katie Reiter, Michigan Director Nomi Joyrich, Congresswoman Haley Stevens, Executive Director Paul Golin

Religious Freedom Isn’t Free – Michigan Event Recap

(from left to right) Oakland County Treasurer Robert Wittenberg, Congresswoman Haley Stevens, Oakland County Clerk Lisa Brown

Our first annual Michigan Jews for a Secular Democracy fundraiser on Sunday, May 9, was amazing—see photos below! We had a full house at Krishna, a vegetarian Indian restaurant. The food was delicious and the conversations even better. Our sponsors and attendees included volunteer leaders and elected officials at nearly every level of government: School Board members, city clerks and treasurers, mayors, county commissioners, a county clerk, a county treasurer, several state Representatives and state Senators, and a congresswoman.

The representation highlighted the fact that the separation of religion and government impacts all aspects of our lives. Speakers included: Congresswoman Haley Stevens, State Senator Jeremy Moss, County Clerk Lisa Brown, County Treasurer Robert Wittenberg, And Jews for a Secular Democracy’s Executive Director Paul Golin, and Michigan Director Nomi Joyrich. We also enjoyed musical entertainment from Jeff Cahalan.

The donations received will empower Michigan Jews for a Secular Democracy to increase our programs of education and advocacy, mobilizing the Jewish community and our friends and allies to defend the separation of church and state on issues including LGBTQ+ equality, abortion access and repro rights, public education without religious coercion, and more. We really appreciate the help of JFASD National Director Katie Reiter, administrative support from SHJ’s Jennifer Grodsky and Kathy Tschirhart, the SHJ Board members who attended, and all of our sponsors for making it a successful event. Thanks to all who contributed!