'Clockwise from top left:

The boys from R5 holding their
- - . "Sababa" (cool) sign for the
Jerusalem march sponsored by the
- , Jewish Agency. The
The oup, along
o other JewisZ
Aoency summer participants,
walked dm the Knesset to Mt.
Herzel, w ere_they participated in
a special ceremony.

.. _ (left to right, front row):
Allen Gavartin, Brent Bortman,
Brian Bortman. (Left to right,
second row): Jason Menuck,
Achoush Almog (Israeli student
with them throughout the trip as
part of their mifg-ash program),
Jon Zald. (Back): Jeff Sonne.

Bus R5 shows a little
Detroit spirit as the group
marches through Jerusalem.

Brian Bortman and Jessica Wood
of Bus R1 relax together on the bus,
their second home this summer.

DAN FREEMAN
Special to the Jewish News

t was now several weeks into the
trip, and nothing had gone
wrong in terms of safety. No
threat had been placed on the
group, and security was even enhanced
by the presence of one or two rifles.
However, the sense of security that
was previously felt by all was shattered
in an instant.
The group was on the bus after a
hard morning of hiking. Everyone was
sweaty and greatly anticipating the
prospect of napping or swimming.
One member of the group, Israeli
Eldad Shahar, suddenly ascended to
the microphone. Most dismissed his

Terrorism, a teenager learns, is
an ever-present reality in Israel.

presence, thinking that he would only
be pointing out another factory owned
by his family.
There was a bombing attempt on
the "midrachov," he announced.
The words cut through the air like
a razor.
The midrachov? The group had
been there only a few weeks ago and
would be returning soon.

A car filled with explosives and
nails had been driven up the midra-
chov, the large pedestrian mall on
Ben Yehuda Street in Jerusalem.
When the terrorist tried to blow up
his deadly concoction, he only man-
aged to kill himself. There were no
other casualties and a tragedy was
averted.
No big news. Nothing important

enough to
make an
American
paper half a
world away,
but to a
teenager
who had
stood there
— Dan Freeman,
and would
an 11th grader at
be standing
North Farmington
there again,
High School, is trav-
it was fright- eling on Bus C-2.
ening in the
extreme.
"Am I safe?" The question passed
through everyone's mind. Until a true
peace that appeases everyone is
achieved, no one will truly be.

❑

7/31
1998

Detroit Jewish News

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