OTHER VIEWS

Special Promotion!

12-17 Month

4 .1 5%

BAR MITZVAH from page 28

pounded my underlying fear of trav-
eling to Israel. Yet, I boarded El Al
with great excitement and anticipa-
tion: We were about to fulfill the
promise that we had made to each
other so long ago. The plane was
more crowded than I had thought it
would be. However, it was mostly
Israelis returning home; very few
Americans seemed to be traveling
with us.
Arriving in Tel Aviv and meeting
the other families and tour director
at the airport, we knew we were in
for the experience of a lifetime. Our
tour consisted of a total of five fami-
lies, 23 people in all — quite a dif-
ference from the Jewish Federation
of Metropolitan Detroit-sponsored
unity mission of 200 people last
January. In fact, rarely throughout
the trip did we see any other
tourists; yet, we were greeted by the
shopkeepers and hotel personnel as
family.

Certificate of Deposit

($500 minimum deposit)

ael/APASTAZIR®

■■■,__
■.,_ BANK

For A Banking Center Near You, Call:

800-642-0039

Allaying Fears

MEMBER
FDIC

www,flagstar.com

02all

LENDER

Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is effective as of 8/2/01. Minimum opening balance requirement is 8500. Penalty may
be imposed for early withdrawal. Quarterly compounding. Fees could reduce earnings on the account. Other rates &
terms are also available. Rate is effective for a limited time only and is valid on like FDIC insured certificates of deposit
offered by Flagstar Bank financial institutions. Rates may change without notice. Please call for quotations.
Restrictions may apply.

Enjoy the Best,

Year Round. Living...

We have what you want!

© _Spacious studio, 1- and 2-bedrooms
1'3 Complimentary Carport
O Heal Included
O Quality Appliances
a Swimming Pool and Clubhouse
a Cable Ready
o Large Closets and In-Horne Storage
a Outstanding Location

29500 Franklin Road, Southfield

(one block west of 12 mile and

8/17
2001

30

one block north of North we,cient)

(248) _357-04.37

As soon as we arrived at our hotel in
Tel Aviv, our children, Ben and -
Michael, ran out to the beach and
had the first of many swims in the
Mediterranean. As we walked the
promenade at night with the hun-
dreds and hundreds of Israelis, I held
my youngest son's hand and said,
"Look around you. Everyone you see
here is Jewish." At that moment, I
realized that my fears and anxieties
and all but disappeared.
As we toured the country and
experienced an archaeological dig,
kayaking down the Jordan River,
boating on the Sea of Galilee and
mud-bathing in the Dead Sea, I
knew that had I not chosen to be in
Israel this summer, I may never have
found the right time to go.
As my son Ben and the other chil-
dren read the Torah on Masada for
their bar and bat mitzvot, I became
emotionally overwhelmed. I experi-
enced a sense of spirituality and
Jewish presence that was both over-
whelming and comforting. In fact,
the entire trip brought our family to
a much greater awareness of our
Jewish roots and understanding of
our religion and heritage.
During the course of our trip, we
traveled from Tel Aviv to Haifa and
further north to a kibbutz near the
Galilee. As a group, we bonded and
shared the Jerusalem Post, continuing
to read about the latest terrorist
attacks and drive-by shootings of
innocent people. Yet, we all felt safe
and never once thought about
returning to the comforts of our

suburban homes. The children
seemed to accept the fact that the
added presence of soldiers and police
and military roadblocks were a nec-
essary and accepted way of life peo-
ple living in Israel.

Inspiring Place

As we continued our journey, we

were led to Jerusalem by our guide
with a sense of belonging and great
anticipation that we had arrived in a
special place, a place that makes one
feel, a place that makes one reflect
and a place that makes one proud.
Visiting the Old City seemed to
take on a different sense from the
last time I was in Israel many years
ago. The Kotel (Western Wall) was
quiet, but the spirit was immense.
The Cardo area was virtually empty
and one never even thought about
stepping into the Arab market. Yet
as a group, we again were met by
shopkeepers and residents of
Jerusalem with open arms and a
longing to share their stories and
experiences of why they choose to
remain in Israel. There is a passion, a
commitment and a sense of spirit
among the people of Israel that I
have never found anywhere else.
I continued to watch my children
experience the sights, sounds and
spirituality of Israel, and marveled at
how they embraced the country and
all that it means to us as Jews: Friday
night services at the Kotel, sunset
over the Old City and the chasidic
men dressed in their finest.
We continued our journey with
visits to Yad Vashem and the mili-
tary cemetery and viewing the Dead
Sea Scrolls. Our last leg- of the trip
took us to Eilat, where the city was
crowded with families enjoying the
sea and coral reefs and staying up all
night to the sounds of music and
dancing.
It's a shame we never see this side
of Israel portrayed on the 6 o'clock
news.
We returned to Tel Aviv and had
one last incredible Middle Eastern
dinner before we boarded our plane
back to the United States on Aug. 9.
Little did I know that as we were
sitting on a plane returning home,
one of the worst suicide bombings
had just taken place in Jerusalem, a
place my family and I had just been
to and shopped in with Israelis not
even a week ago. This time, instead
of thankinc, God we weren't there, I
was thinking I should be there.
Dnn't turn your back on Israel;
not now, not ever. ❑