Taking
Excitement and
a few tears filled
the airport as 216
Michigan teens
departed for Israel.
David Brown gives his father, Emery, a goodbye hug while his mother, Carol looks on.
IMIC ichelle and Lou Elkus
weren't nervous as they
watched their daughter,
West Bloomfield High
School student Rebecca, leave for
Detroit's "Teen Mission 2 Israel."
They were envious.
"If you could turn the clock back
about 30 years, I'd be right with
them," said Michelle.
Her feelings were echoed by many
parents at Detroit Metropolitan Airport
7/3
1998
16
last Thursday, shortly before their chil-
dren took off for five weeks in Israel in
a trip co-sponsored by the Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit and
its Michigan/Israel Connection.
"We're excited for them and disap-
pointed that we're not going with
them," said Alan Funk, after he'd said
goodbye to his sons Asher and Jordan,
students at West Bloomfield High
School.
According to Alan Nachman, Teen
Mission chairman, parents this year
Rabbi Daniel Nevins of Adat Shalom Synagogue
with Shelly Katain and Rachael Rubi.
were less tearful than parents of partic-
ipants at the last mission in 1996.
"They've had time to think about it
and digest it," he said.
And with roughly one hour until
boarding time, Nachman — who
would be joining the mission for the
first 10 days — noted the sendoff was
going surprisingly smooth. "Only one
kid forgot his passport," he said.
Once checked in and at the gate,
the teens passed the time before
boarding by browsing in the airport
kiosks, divvying up provisions for the
long flight ahead, checking out fellow
travelers and contemplating what
might be in store for them.
Julie Schiller of West Bloomfield
High School said she was looking for-
ward to meeting her Israeli cousins for
the first time. "I've heard lots of stories,"
she said. "My grandma and my great
uncle got separated after World War II
and she went to see him about two
years ago. We're bringing them all jeans
because we heard all Israelis like jeans."
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