The Speakers

Sassa Akervall was born in Sweden to a Holocaust-survivor mother. Her professional background began in the media. Sassa worked in television as a freelance writer, and is a published author of children’s books. After moving with her husband and two small children to Ann Arbor in 2004, her career changed. Currently, Sassa is running their family company which she started at the kitchen table a decade ago. The company manufactures and produces dental protection, invented by her physician husband.

Phil Barr, MPH met his wife Julie in the Detroit Zionist Movement. They moved first to San Francisco, where Phil became enamored with technology, then spent seven years living on a kibbutz in Israel before settling in Ann Arbor. Their children Maya and David are both married, and have given Phil and Julie three beautiful granddaughters, Evie, Margo, and Sylvia. Phil is a mechanic, tinkerer, programmer, sailor, and avid gardener, and works primarily in Healthcare Consulting. Julie, though retired from public education, remains forever the teacher and voice for social justice

Avishay Hayut was born in Tel Aviv, Israel. After completing his army service, he became a physical therapist and immigrated to New Jersey to further his education. In 1996, he met and married Regina Lambert-Hayut, a cantor who brought him to Ann Arbor for her job at Temple Beth Emeth. They have two college-age sons, Yoav and Alon, who study music. Avishay loves music, playing the guitar, participating in choir, and accompanying Regina at Temple services.