War On Terrorism

Showing The Flag

Despite fears and fog, Detroit Mission goers
show solidarity with Israel.

DAVID SACHS
Senior Copy Editor

Jerusalem

fter a delay-riddled journey
of more than 26 hours, a
weary but determined
Detroit delegation finally
hit the highway from Ben-Gurion
Airport near Tel Aviv for Jerusalem.
Two dozen strong — in the face of
terrorism and turmoil worldwide —.
they came to make personal statements
of support for Israel. With their pres-
ence, they also represented the Detroit
Jewish community at the four-day
United Jewish Communities' IsraelNow
Mission, beginning Monday, Dec. 3.
About midway on Monday night's
ride to Jerusalem, Arthur Sugarman of
Southfield, a singer with the West
Bloomfield-based Zamir Chorale,
picked up the tour guide's micro-
phone. To the pleasure of Detroit's
entire "Bus 4," the deep-voiced
Sugarman sang a soulful prayer for the
Holy City — as the lights of houses
and apartments sparkled from the
foothills on either side of the road.
Four hours later, on a day when
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
declared war on terrorism after a
weekend of multiple suicide bomb-
ings, the first evening of the mission
concluded with all participants gath-
ered at the Western Wall plaza.
With young soldiers keeping guard,
the 500 UJC mission-goers waved
Israeli flags and sang Hatikvah, the
national anthem, followed by song-
writer Debbie Friedman's prayerful
plea for healing, Mi She-beirach.
The song Am Yisrael Chai — the
nation of Israel lives — concluded the
rally and mission-goers then visited
the Wall up close.
At the end of the evening, Detroit
delegation chairman Norman Katz of
Birmingham, on perhaps his 20th trip
to Israel, said, "You have to show the
flag. Israelis need to know that we're
with them; we need to know that
we're here, too. It helps us both."
At dinner, the group heard Knesset
Speaker Avraham Burg. Even though the
Israel Defense Forces struck in retaliation
at Palestinian Authority targets in Gaza
and Jenin earlier that day, Burg said gov-

12/7
2001

18

ernmental duties would not deter him
from keeping his speaking engagement.
Burg sees Israel playing a large role in
what he calls a U.S.-led "cold war" against
terrorism, which would follow current
"hot wars" like that in Afghanistan.

Security Concerns

This UJC Mission started out unlike
any other. The Detroit contingent was
sponsored by the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit in cooperation
with the Detroit Jewish News and
Jewish Community Council.
Safety was paramount. In the weeks
since the Sept. 11 attacks within the
United States, Jews planning travel to
Israel have had to worry about terror-
ism on both ends of their journey.
Despite these apprehensions, 28
Detroiters signed up for the mission
that left Sunday. The $999 price
reflected a $500 subsidy from the UJC.
On Saturday night, TV news ran hor-
rific scenes of three terrorist bombings
on Jerusalem's busy Ben-Yehuda Street,
killing at least 20 and injuring 150
mostly young Israelis out on the town.
Joey Selesny, Federation staff mem-
ber leading the mission, fielded phone
calls from some worried participants
Saturday night.
"We tried to give them peace of
mind, that we were still going and the
purpose of why we were going was still
strong," Selesny said.
But in light of the extraordinary cir-
cumstances, those who were worried
about security were given.the option
of a full refund if they chose, on the
eve of the trip, not to go.
"We wanted to make them feel that
they had the opportunity, if they wanted
to, to leave," Selesny said. "We have no
ill feelings toward them at all because we
realize that this is a personal decision."
In all, four of the 28 in Detroit's
delegation did not go, including co-
chairs Dr. John and Judy Marx of
West Bloomfield. UJC officials said
only 5 percent canceled nationwide.
"We had been to Israel four times
previously, and we were packed and
ready to go," the Marxes said in a
faxed message. "Unfortunately, the
events of the 12 hours prior to our
group's departure on Sunday left us

Arthur Sugarman sings a prayer on the Detroit bus as it ascends
the hills to enter Jerusalem.

feeling that this was not the right time
for us to go to Israel.
"We know the group will come back
feeling very moved by what they've
seen and experienced, and we are sorry
not to be a part of that. Hopefully, on
a future trip to Israel and by work here
in the community on behalf of Israel
we can make up for not having gone
on this trip."
Meanwhile, those who showed up at
Detroit Metro Airport for the Mission
on Sunday morning without first lis-
tening to the latest news found out
about a bombing of a transit bus in
Haifa that killed 15 Israelis.
But the resolve of the group to head
for Israel was undiminished.
"When I saw CNN last night, and
with the bombing, even more so I want-
ed to come," said Valeri Sirlin of
Bloomfield Hills. "Now more than ever,

Israel needs our support, not just in good
times but in times of need like this."

Changed Schedule

Although the Detroit delegation arrived
in Jerusalem without incident, it does-
n't mean the trip was without snags.
Weather delays canceled one flight
and pushed back a later one, so
Detroiters missed the El Al flight from
New York carrying the rest of the UJC
mission participants.
The Detroiters had to wait more
than eight hours before taking a mid-
night El Al flight. They arrived in
Israel late Monday afternoon.
As a result, Detroiters missed all their
daytime activities, including saying the
Shehechiyanu blessing when arriving in
Jerusalem at the Scrolls of Fire monu-
ment on a hill overlooking the city.

MISSION on page 22

Paul Gould pours wine after the Shehechiyanu blessing upon the Detroit delegation's
arrival in Israel.

