Showing Solidarity
Summer In
America
Detroiters apply for national unity mission to Israel.
Young Israelis work
at U.S. Jewish camps.
DANIEL FLEISHMAN
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
T
HARRY KIRSBAUM
Staff Writer
his is a no-brainer to Bert
Stein. Israel needs his sup-
port so he's giving it.
"At this stage of Israel's
life, the diaspora has to show support
for Israel, whether we agree with every-
thing they're doing or not," said Stein,
who was born in 1932, and feels much
of his life has been centered on Israel.
"I'm not worth much if there's not an
Israel. If they're struggling, I have to
show that I have to share their struggle."
The West Bloomfield resident was
among the 200 Detroiters who took
part on a Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit-organized unity
mission to Israel in January. Now, he's
among at least 50 people who have
called the Federation for an application
to join the national IsraelNow
Solidarity Mission, which will take
place Sunday, Sept. 9, to Friday, Sept.
14. The cost is $999.
Organized by the United Jewish
Communities, the New York-based
umbrella agency for North American
federations, the mis , ion is planned in
conjunction with tile Jewish
Above left:
Community Council of
Stuart, agreed.
Metropolitan Detroit and with Stuart and
"It's important to show soli-
Marilyn
sponsorship from the Detroit
darity to show Israelis how
Hertzberg
Jewish News.
much we care," said Hertzberg
The Detroit delegation will
of Bloomfield Hills. She's seek-
Above right:
by joined by participants from Jane Sherman ing at least 100 local partici-
New York, New Jersey, Florida,
pants. "It's an opportunity right
before the new year to visit Israel, and it
Texas, Colorado, Massachusetts and
Arizona.
shows our commitment and a sense of
Jane Sherman of Franklin, the mis-
caring about what's going on over there."
sion's national chair, said she is hoping
Solidarity missions are very, very
for about 400-500 people from the
important in this period, said Tzipora
eight states. A meeting with Israeli
Rimon, the Chicago-based Israeli con-
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has been
sul general, whose region includes
requested as well as with the Israel
metro Detroit.
Defense Force and other government
"I know the people of Israel really
officials. A day trip to the Central
appreciate every sign of solidarity," she
Galilee, Detroit's Partnership 2000
said. "It's not that we are now in such
educational, economic and cultural
a disastrous situation of annihilation
exchange community, also is planned.
or existence. But we are passing a very,
Mission-goers will have a lot of time for
very tough period that affects every
part of daily life."
shopping and going to restaurants — two
nights off and a free afternoon, she said.
"It's important for them to get into
The $999 fee includes a roundtrip
Jerusalem and let the Israelis know
flight from Detroit to New York to
they're there," she said. "Four-hundred
Tel Aviv, with business class
people aren't going to boost the econo-
upgrades available. It also includes
my, but it's sure going to boost the
hotel, some means and transporta-
morale of the country"
tion in Israel. To register, call
Marilyn Hertzberg, who chairs the
(248) 642-4260; ext. 141.
S
Detroit delegation with her husband
❑
New York
nat Radberg of Jerusalem doesn't
mind giving up her cell phone
and e-mail for the summer in
exchange for a chance to go to the
United States and work with Jewish
children.
Radberg is one of 25 shlichim, or
emissaries, at Camp Ramah in
Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains —
and one of 1,000 working at 180
Jewish camps throughout the United
States.
This summer, the Israelis face a
daunting challenge:: explaining the 10-
month-old Israeli-Palestinian violence.
"Three years ago, it was different,"
Radberg says. "You had left wing and
right wing. Now everybody is upset
with the situation so everybody's
together."
Wherever they are assigned, the
Israelis are mainly cut off from the
outside world.
Far from large cities, Ramah's
shlichim can't use a staple of Israeli
life — cell phones. They have no
computers, and thus no Internet
access. For current world news, they
must rely on newspapers and ground-
based telephones. The Jewish Agency
for Israel also sends Israeli newspapers.
These Hebrew-language newspapers
play a vital role in the campers' educa-
tion.
On a recent day, Yaniv Toledano,
23, of Kiryat Malachi, a town west of
Jerusalem, sat in a circle with his class
of 15- and 16-year-old boys, flipping
through an Israeli newspaper. Most
articles concerned the violence in the
Mideast.
Toledano says he can add to the
campers' education in a way an
American counselor cannot.
"The difference in mentalities is
huge," he says. "At age 19 and 20, I
dealt with the question of life and
death" while in the army. Instead,
"they go to college."
One of the boys in Toledano's class
says, "It's a cool experience that we have
a chance to be one-on-one with them
in class. We don't usually have a chance
to get an Israeli point of view."
❑
7/27
2001
17