UNWAVERING
Support
p
Showing few qualms, Jewish travelers anticipate
their participation on mission to Israel.
rom briefings with Israel's top leadership to
hospitality visits with the Israelis who see
Israel's isolation in their daily lives, next month's
Michigan Unity Mission to Israel will engage in
many morale boosting, people-to-people experi-
ences. Mapping the itinerary for the Jan. 14-19
trip is Tzvika Gerstel, one of Israel's leading trav-
el agents.
Gerstel, coordinator of missions for the United
Jewish Appeal for more than two decades, was in
Detroit recently to counsel the mission's leaders.
He said the number of Michigan applicants
probably would outnumber any other solidarity
mission group in the country.
The Michigan Unity Mission is sponsored by
the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit
and the Jewish News in cooperation with congre-
gations, organizations and Jewish communal
agencies here and outstate.
The El Al charter flight direct from Detroit
will accommodate 200 participants. At a cost of
$999 per person (double occupancy), the trip
includes airfare, hotel, all meals and transporta-
tion in Israel. There will be no solicitation of
funds.
"Detroit missions are known for excellent
planning and high quality," said Gerstel.
Security precautions will be of utmost consid-
eration, he added.
Participants will spend three days in Jerusalem
and one day in the central Galilee, where resi-
dents of Michigan's Partnership 2000 region will
host them. The visitors will get Israel's perspec-
tive of the issues from government and military
officials, but also from people holding different
viewpoints on the peace process.
Mission goers will be encouraged to host
Israeli family members over dinner — part of
the people-to-people connection that will be
emphasized on the trip. As a boost to Israel's
tourism industry, the itinerary'also will include
ample time to shop. ❑
.
HARRY KIRS BAUM
Staff Writer
dr b'
12/15
2000
32
117 nrest in the Middle
East hasn't deterred
Jews from around the
stare from registering
for the Michigan Unity Mission
to Israel, leaving Jan. 14 aboard
an El Ar flight
0 from Detroit
Metropolitan Airport.
The trip is intended to show
Michigan Jewry's support for the
Jewish homeland and Israelis,
especially those living in
Michigan's designated sister
region in the central Galilee.
"I've talked to people who have
recently come back from Israel
and they said the areas we're going
to visit are extremely safe," said
Alan May of Bloomfield Hills.
"There wasn't a hint of violence
and they said I might as well be in
downtown Birmingham."
May, president of Temple Beth
El, is one of nearly 200 people who
have registered for the Jan. 14-19
solidarity mission, sponsored by the
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit and the Jewish News.
"We were also assured by
Federation that if anything unto-
ward appears to have occurred,
they will cancel the trip," said
May, who is going with his wife,
Elizabeth. "Israel certainly
depends on visitation and tourist
trade," he added. Right now "it's
rather empty and they're in need,
and dies as safe as I think it is, a
sign of solidarity is necessary."
Not afraid either is Helen
Naimark of Farmington Hills
who said, "I wouldn't be going if
I was." Traveling to Israel with
her husband, Norman, she said
she's interested in "supporting our
family and friends, to let them
Clockwise from top left. Pearlena Bodzin, Helen Naimark,
Penny Blumenstein and Alan May
know we're still backing them and
that we're not afraid to go."
Pearlena Bodzin of Southfield
said she and her husband, Jason,
decided to sign up as soon as they
got the Michigan Unity Mission
flyer. "We have to support our
people in Israel, and we have to
make a statement that we care
enough to take time out from our
busy daily lives to go to Israel and
be there as a support system," she
said. "I am a little worried, but I
know we're going with the
Federation, which gives me a
sense of security."
Penny Blumenstein, Federation
president, explained why she feels
the trip is so important.
"The people of Israel need to
know that they are not alone, that
the Jewish community of
Michigan is unwavering in our
support," she said. "We hope that
our extended family [there] will
view our presence as a small, but
significant way of demonstrating
our solidarity and affection."
❑
Mission application forms are available from
Trudy Weiss of the Federation:
• Phone: (248) 203-1485
• Mail: P.O. Box 2030, Bloomfield Hills, MI
48303
• Web site: wwvv.thisisfederation.org,; see
Missions and Trips
• Fax: (248) 644-0724
• E-mail trudyweiss@jfind.org
• In person: 6735 Telegraph, Suite 330, in
Bloomfield Township