Events

360 Charles Street
East Lansing, Michigan 48823
Phone: 517.332.1916
Fax: 517.332.4142

The Lester J. Morris Hillel Jewish Student Center will hold its third annual dinner, "Inspiring Future Jewish Leaders", on Wednesday, April 16, 2008, 6:30pm. at the Knollwood Country Club in West Bloomfield. MSU President Lou Anna Simon and Intercollegiate Athletic Director Mark Hollis will be special guests.

MSU Hillel will honor Richard and Phyllis Bleznak and their son and daughter-in-law Mitchell and Michele Bleznak for their many years of dedicated leadership in the Jewish community and their commitment to Jewish life on campus.

Richard and Phyllis Bleznak trace their commitment to Hillel back more than six decades where Richard served as Hillel's first student president leading to his meeting and subsequent marriage to Phyllis in 1948. Richard graduated in 1949 with a degree from MSU's Building and Construction Management Program and Phyllis graduated in 1947 with a degree in Education.

In 1954, Richard founded his real estate development company which has prospered under his leadership and is now operated under the direction of his son Mitchell.

Active in the community, Phyllis and Richard believe deeply in Jewish communal causes, Israel and synagogue life. Richard served as a Trustee of Congregation Shaarey Zedek offering his expertise in development and construction. Most notably, Richard's leadership led to the creation of the B'nai Israel Complex and The Irving and Beverly Laker Education and Youth Complex both in West Bloomfield. Richard also served as a Trustee of the Clover Hill Park Cemetery for more than a decade.

Like their parents, Mitchell and Michele Bleznak are both proud graduates of Michigan State University. Michele began working while a student at MSU and after graduation in 1982 started a career in advertising as an account executive with the WB Donor and Company. Mitchell graduated in 1979 and began working with his father in the real estate management business.

Michele and Mitchell are the proud parents of three children. Oldest child Adam is in his second year at the University of Michigan. David is graduating from Cranbrook this year and Julia is a freshman. They have been active members of Congregation Shaarey Zedek where Mitchell has recently served as Chairman of the Endowment Board as well as a member of the Clover Hill Park Cemetery Board and the Synagogue's Board of Trustees. In addition to their long-term support of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, Mitchell and Michele have been active involved in many charitable causes and organizations including MSU Hillel, the University of Michigan Cancer Center, the Jewish Theological Society, Jewish Vocational Service, and Cranbrook/Kingswood schools.

Mindi Fynke, Beverly & Irving Laker, Cheryl & Steve Schanes and Susan & Larry Slabotsky are event chairs. Past honorees Sue and Alan J. Kaufman and Mark Davidoff and Margie Dunn are serving as honorary co-chairs. Patrice Morris Phillips serves as president of the MSU Hillel Board of Directors.

The Lester J. Morris Hillel Jewish Student Center is the place to be amongst Jewish students at Michigan State University. An accredited foundation of Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, MSU Hillel is committed to facilitating meaningful Jewish experiences and to inspiring future Jewish leaders.

Download more tribute journal and gala dinner information.

For more information about the event, please email or call: ad@msuhillel.org or director@msuhillel.org
Phone: 517-332-1916
Fax: 517-332-4142

Message from the Director
We hope you will come and enjoy all that Hillel has to offer. Whether it is for a delicious free Shabbat dinner, a trip to Israel, alternative break program, Chanukkah Bash, broomball or a quiet place to study, Hillel is "the place to be". Please think of us as your Jewish community center on campus.