Larry Jackier
Interviewed by Susie Citrin
July 29, 2004
Max M. Fisher Federation Building, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Larry Jackier
Video 01:08:44
Larry Jackier
Audio 01:08:44
Abstract
Larry Jackier begins this oral history interview by speaking a little about his family background. He mentions that his parents though not from Michigan, both attended University of Michigan. This is where they met, and after graduation, his father got a job working for Judge William Friedman. Jackier talks about how he followed in his father’s footsteps, but left Michigan for a while to attend Yale Law School.
Jackier talks about his childhood growing up with two brothers and then his college years, and afterwards, working for the State Department in Washington. When he came back to Detroit, he began working for his father, and this is how he got involved with Federation, first soliciting for the Junior Division. He mentions his involvement with the Jewish Community Center.
Next, Jackier speaks about the many trips he has taken with Stanley Frankel. He mentions his first trip to Israel in 1974 was what when he started taking Jewish education very seriously. Jackier then mentions his involvement with the National Young Leadership Cabinet of the United Jewish Appeal. He explains being involved with Hadracha, the Zuckerman Leadership Program, and the many missions he has participated in.
He describes being the President of Federation during and after the events of 9/11, and discusses the Hillel Day School, and Jewish Academy. He mentions that after his presidency, he is becoming chairman of the Executive Board of Federation.
Jackier then explains the importance of Technion and talks about his connections it. He also tells his wife Eleanor’s story of escaping from Nazis with her parents when she was just small child.
History of Narrator
Lawrence “Larry” Jackier was born July 24, 1942 to Edythe and Joseph Jackier. After attending University of Michigan for his undergraduate education, Jackier attended Yale Law School. Through his friend Stanley Frankel, Jackier joined the Junior Division of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, thus beginning an active volunteer career in the Detroit Jewish community.
He served as president of the Junior Division and became a member of the National Young Leadership Council of the United Jewish Appeal. He went on to serve as President of the Federation. For his service and leadership, he was presented with the Frank A. Wetsman Award in 1976 and the Butzel Award in 2008.
His community work has extended to many organizations, including the Holocaust Memorial Center, Bar-Ilan University, American Technion Society, and the Jewish Community Relations Council. An advocate for Soviet Jewry, he played a vital role in the Detroit Soviet Jewry Committee.
Transcript
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Credit as: Leonard N. Simons Jewish Community Archives. Larry Jackier Oral History Interview, July 29, 2004.