Shifman describes his family as Zionist.  He talks about being a child during the Great Depression. Shifman then goes into his career path and how it led him to becoming a lawyer.  He speaks at length about the Jewish organizations he was part of over the years, like Yiddish speaking groups, Landsmanshaftn and Turover Aid Society.

Shifman than talks about Soviet Jewry and speaks about the family he had overseas that he had helped move to the U.S.  He then talks about the memories involving B’nai B’rith, as well as the influence Rabbi Sperka had on him, and eventually working with the Jewish National Fund.

Shifman talks about his experiences of anti-Semitism, and the idea of “otherness”. He speaks about his move from Detroit to Oak Park and being a part of the Board of Education in Oak Park.  He briefly speaks about his wife’s upbringing and their children together.

Finally, Shifman speaks about the Ravitz Foundation. He explains the history of the man, the foundation, and how the funds in the foundation are distributed and to what types of things.

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