This Week
Cover Story/Teens And Terrorism
Teens And Terrorism
Evan Schwartz,
15, of West
Bloomfield shows a
mini tool set that
made it through
security on a
domestic flight
after Sept. 11
to Adat Shalom
Nosh Drash
classmates.
Next to him is Ben
Raphelson, 15, of
Bloomfield Hills.
After initial anxiety following Sept. 11, Jewish teens say
they embrace patriotism, faith and family.
RONELLE GRIER
Special to the Jewish News
n
W7-
CI .74
11/16
2001
14
omecoming, football games, High
Holidays shared with family and friends
— typical fall activities for Jewish teens
across the country. This year, however, a
distinctly unfamiliar somberness tinged the crisp
autumn air for many area teenagers.
We all were affected by the terrorist attacks of Sept.
11, and the teenagers in our community are no excep-
don. Though many teens experienced some heightened
fear and anxiety immediately following the attacks,
their overwhelming responses seem to be of increased
faith, patriotism and a stronger sense of family ties.
"Their (the terrorists') plan was to destroy a lot of
us, but what happened was they've united us, made
us more patriotic," said Michael Kroopnick, 15, of
West Bloomfield, a student at the Jewish Academy of
Metropolitan Detroit (JAMD) in West Bloomfield.
"Before this, I always thought of myself as a
Jewish girl who happens to live in America," said
Ilanit Shtull-Leber, 16, a JAMD student who lives in
Ann Arbor. "This made me realize that this is my
home; it reinforced my connection to our country."
Ilya Podolyako, 16, a student at West Bloomfield
High School, put his patriotism into action by
forming a political action group called SALT,
Students Advocating Intelligent Thoughts.
The group, which has met several times, plans to
arrange meetings with elected officials and to provide
information about relevant issues to other students.
Podolyako, who emigrated to the United States
from Russia five years ago, said the terrorist attacks
have given him a more pronounced appreciation for
American democracy.
"It's as close to perfection as it gets," he said.
Many teens seem determined not to let fear over-
take them.
"There's a difference between being careful and
being scared," said Daniel Kuhn, 14, a student at
West Bloomfield High School. He was part of the
weekly "Nosh 'n' Drash" Hebrew high school pro-
gram at Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills.
"Living in fear would mean the terrorists have
won," said Dan Gordon, 16, of Bloomfield Hills,
who attends Birmingham's Groves High School.
"We are all scared and uncertain to a degree, but we
should think about the message we're sending to the
terrorists if we live in fear."
Evan Schwartz, 15, of West Bloomfield has a
greater awareness of personal safety. At "Nosh
Drash," he showed classmates a mini tool set that
made it past airport security.
"They were doing random searches and it was really
weird having everything searched. I was astonished no
one took the tool kit," he said.