Adamah Detroit Community Summit

About this event

A gathering connecting people, planet and purpose

Adamah’s Community Summit is Detroit’s annual celebration of Jewish environmental education, leadership and action. Together, we will honor the remarkable contributions of Rabbi Blair Nosanwisch , whose vision and commitment have helped cultivate a thriving culture of Earth-based Judaism and environmental stewardship in our community. Following a strolling luncheon and award program, guests will enjoy hands-on experiences and explore the growing movement of Jewish environmental action that Adamah helps inspire and support throughout our region.

RSVP & Sponsor Here

We are exploring the possibility of offering childcare during the event; if that would support your participation, please let us know on the last page of registration form.

Event Details

Sunday, November 15, 2026 Adat Shalom Synagogue | 29901 Middlebelt Rd, Farmington Hills, MI 48334

12:30 PM – Strolling Luncheon & Community Leadership Award Presentation

2:00 PM – A Taste of Adamah : Interactive Workshops, Earth-Based Jewish Experiences & Dessert Reception

Leaders & Educators

Rabbi Aaron Burgman has spent his entire career helping Jewish people of all ages and backgrounds find their own path in Judaism that brings them comfort, meaning, spiritual strength, and connection to community. He believes that Jewish teachings give all of us the tools to create lives that are connected to the best within ourselves and our people and help us find ways to make the world better for all people.

Hazzan Daniel Gross was born in Boston and raised in St. Louis. He received his cantorial investiture from the Jewish Theological Seminary in 2009 and soon after became the cantor of Adat Shalom Synagogue. He quickly established himself as a dynamic presence in the Synagogue, the Detroit Jewish community and in the American cantorate.

Rachel Rudman is the Executive Director of the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue, where she works to strengthen Jewish community, learning, and engagement in the heart of Detroit. She brings a rich background in Jewish education and nonprofit leadership, with advanced degrees in Jewish Studies and Nonprofit Management and years of experience serving the Detroit Jewish community.

Detroit-born singer-songwriter, Marbrisa , creates music inspired by the people, cultures, and places that have shaped her travels and studies across the Americas and Europe. An award-winning songwriter and performer, she is known for her unique fusion of Latin, jazz, R&B, and folk, as well as her deep connections to Detroit’s vibrant music community.

Liz Traison is a registered dietitian nutritionist, certified diabetes educator, and director of the HAND pathway clinic at Endocrine Kids. She and her husband Rabbi Ari Witkin – who met through the Adamah network – have 4 amazing kids and a small flock of backyard chickens.

Hannah Fine is the Garden Director at Yad Ezra’s Giving Gardens. She has worked at both Adamah Detroit and Adamah Farm in Connecticut and is delighted to remain involved in this important and wonderful Jewish environmental work.

Joyce Weingarten is a past president of Adat Shalom Synagogue, former chair of its Green Team, and a member of the Adamah Community Summit Event Planning Committee. An active participant in both the Green Team and Adamah Detroit, Joyce is passionate about environmental stewardship and is excited to share the community’s accomplishments through A Taste of Adamah.

Roni Leibovitch is a multi-disciplinary creative technologist, artist, entrepreneur, and chair of the Adat Shalom Green Team in West Bloomfield, Michigan. Passionate about fostering connections between people and the natural world, he combines creativity, environmental stewardship, and Jewish community leadership, and can often be found exploring Michigan’s woodlands or leading nature walks throughout Metro Detroit.

Mallory Shiffman , a proud “tree hugger“ since childhood! With a deep-rooted connection to nature and homeopathic remedies, Mallory loves finding ways to weave Jewish spirituality into how we interact with our food and our earth. Mallory is happily bringing these passions to life, having recently welcomed her first two beehives and planting her very first garden.

Judy Front is a Master Gardener and lifelong gardener who has cultivated gardens across the country and volunteered with the Temple Emanu-El Community Garden for more than 15 years, serving as lead volunteer since 2020. Passionate about organic gardening, regenerative practices, and pollinator education, she also maintains beehives at Yad Ezra Giving Gardens and enjoys sharing the wonder and interconnectedness of nature with people of all ages.

Risa Alyson Cooper has been planting for and tending to both native pollinators and honey bees in southern Ontario for almost twenty years. She is the founder of Shoresh Jewish Environmental Programs in Toronto, Canada, former Chief National Programs Officer at Adamah, and is currently working on protecting Ontario’s 2 million acre Greenbelt as the Grants Program Director at the Greenbelt Foundation. Her favorite bee-related product to make is elderberry syrup.

Phreddy Nosanwisch teaches Middle School Judaics at Hillel Day School where he has also been fortunate to partner with Adamah on a number of initiatives over the years.

Eitan Sussman teaches middle and high school woodshop in Hazel Park and is passionate about sharing his love of woodworking and handcraft with others.

Michael Simon, MD, MPH , is a retired breast cancer oncologist, Professor Emeritus, and public health leader whose career advanced cancer care and health equity across Michigan. A dedicated Jewish environmental leader, he serves as Vice President of Tikkun Olam at Beth Israel Congregation and is actively involved with Adamah, the Jewish Climate Leadership Coalition, and Michigan Clinicians for Climate Action, helping to advance climate action and environmental stewardship within Jewish and broader community life.

Natalie Michelson is the Farber Farm Educator at Tamarack Camps. Natalie received a Bachelor’s of Science in Plant Biology from Michigan State with a background in cropping systems research.

As Director of Adamah Detroit, Amit Weitzer works to strengthen Jewish community through environmental education, leadership development, action, and meaningful partnerships. Drawing on nearly 20 years of nonprofit leadership and a lifelong commitment to community development and environmental stewardship, she considers it a profound privilege to build this movement in the community where she was born and raised, alongside former campers, counselors, rabbis, neighbors, and friends.

Jackie Victor is the co-founder and former CEO of Avalon International Breads, where she helped advance a vision of community-centered economic and environmental responsibility in Detroit. An advisory council member of Adamah Detroit, board member of The Ecology Center of Michigan and a longtime Jewish community volunteer, she is passionate about exploring the intersections of Jewish spirituality, food, community, and environmental stewardship.

Julie Rosenbaum is Adamah Detroit’s Program Manager, where she develops and leads Jewish environmental education programs, immersive outdoor experiences, and holiday celebrations for learners of all ages. A member of Hazon Detroit’s inaugural team in 2015, Julie brings extensive experience in Jewish communal leadership, education, and sustainability, and is dedicated to fostering meaningful connections between Jewish life and the natural world.

Rachel Jacobson is a climate policy and resilience expert with 15 years of experience advancing climate adaptation efforts across government, nonprofit, and community settings. As Lead Researcher for State Climate Policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and a proud member of the Adamah Detroit Advisory Council, she works to strengthen connections between climate action, Jewish community, and environmental stewardship.

Partnership & Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsorship

To sponsor this event as an individual or organization, please complete the registration form below.

To learn more, click to view the 2026 Sponsorship Guide .

Sponsorship Registration Form

Reception Showcase

To take part in the opening reception by hosting a table to share your mission-aligned work, fill out the registration form.

Showcase Registration Form

Thank You to Our Event Planning Committee

Risa Alyson Cooper – Tara Forman Hack – Robert Mattler – Zak Rosen – Liz Traison – Jackie Victor – Joyce Weingarten

Thank You to Our Host Committee

Vadim & Rachel Avshalumov – Stephanie & Jacob Beer – Rabbi Aaron & Ruth Bergman – Jerry & Barbara Cook – Gershon “Gersh” Blumstein – Risa Alyson Cooper – Gretchen & Ethan Davidson – Elaine C. Driker – Joan C. & Bob Epstein – Ben Falik – Darren & Alyson Findling – Dani Gillman & Ben Chutz – Oren Goldenberg – Karla Goldman – Hazzan Daniel Gross – Tara & Jay Hack – Gayle & David Heller – Ryan & Batya Hertz – Laura Hirschorn & Ron Yolles – Jackie Issner – Rachel Jacobson & Rabbi Joel Goldstein – Lindsey Kessler-Monson – Chava Knox – Roni Leibovitch – Bob Mattler – Jad Nabbouh & Allen Levenson – JoAnne & Terry Nosan – Jodee & Roy Raines – Zak Rosen & Shira Heisler – Becca Schostak – Lee & Jody Schottenfels – Mallory & Matthew Shiffman – Elaine & Michael Serling – Michael Simon – Sam & Katie Rae Stolper – Carly Sugar – Liz Traison & Rabbi Ari Witkin – Jackie Victor & Tom Zerger – Justin Wedes & Rachel Rudman – Joyce Berlin Weingarten – Kate & David Zenlea

*As of September 2026

Thank You to Our Partners

Adamah Detroit extends our deepest gratitude to our network of partners for their immense support and engaging collaborations! This event is a testament to our collective hard work, with its impact resonating throughout Detroit Jewish Community. Thank you for joining in partnership for this Summit and many collaborations to come!

Adat Shalom • Beth Israel Congregation • Congregation B’nai Moshe • Congregation Beth Ahm • Congregation Shaarey Zedek • Congregation Shir Tikvah • Detroit Jews for Justice • Dor Hadash Tamarack Camps • Habonim Dror Camp Tavor • Hebrew Day School – Ann Arbor • Hillel Day School • Hillel of Metro Detroit • Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue • JARC • Jewish Family Service of Metro Detroit • Jewish Federation of Detroit • Jewish Ferndale • Jewish Senior Life • National Council of Jewish Women | MI • Michigan Hillel • Michigan Region BBYO • Repair the World: Detroit • T’chiyah • Temple Beth Emeth • Temple Beth El • Temple Emanu-El • Temple Israel • Temple Kol Ami • Temple Shir Shalom • The Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit • The Well • Yad Ezra

Sponsors Coming Soon