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A Jewish

MICHAEL B.

Love Story

PEARL SALKIN
Special to The Jewish News

IVIT hen Lynn and Stan
Trompeter drove to
Detroit Metro Airport
in Romulus from their
Farmington Hills home a few years
ago, they checked their suitcases but
insisted on carrying a large gym bag
onto the plane.
They carefully stowed it along with
their garment bags in the overhead
compartment. A few hours later, they
landed in the Bahamas and nervously
exited the plane.
As Stan wiped his sweaty brow,
Lynn clutched the gym bag and hoped
her big smile and friendly manner
would be their green light past the
probing and poking customs inspec-
tors who are constantly on the lookout
for ... a fresh challah?

He saw her at the
gate, and said he
would marry her.

The Trompeters' daughter was get-
ting married on Paradise Island, and
they were in charge of transporting a
large, ceremonial challah from their
favorite kosher bakery in Michigan.
With challah and wedding gown safely
in tow, the couple was ready to begin
a wonderful weekend.
But the love story of their daughter
Stacey and her husband, Michael,
began years earlier at a New York air-
port, the starting point for a Jewish
Federation singles mission to Israel.
In July 1995, Stacey, a speech
pathologist for the Bloomfield Hills
school district, and other singles from
the Detroit area flew to New York.
There they joined delegations from
other American cities before flying on
to Israel.
Michael Chodrow, a Texas A & M
graduate and co-owner of a high-tech

EFF COOPER

company, led a group from Houston.
When he first saw Stacey at the El Al
gate at John F. Kennedy Airport, he told
her he would marry her. Clever pickup
line or love at first sight? Whatever it
was, she wasn't buying it. She was inter-
ested in another guy on the trip.

Hot Pursuit

Stacey and Michael were assigned to
different buses for their travel
throughout Israel, and they chatted
briefly at some stops.
When they returned to the U.S.,
Michael pursued Stacey. He called. He
flew to Detroit to take her out. He
called again. He visited again. It took
four years and thousands of dollars in
long distance charges, but he finally
won her heart.
The rest of the story is as sweet as a
piece of challah ... and they lived hap-
pily ever after in Houston.
Every year, the nation's Jewish fed-
erations organize and sponsor mis-
sions to Israel. Participants go to the
usual touristy places and events, and
they also get to do things and meet
people that the average visitor would
not.
On a typical singles mission, visits
to scenic, religious and historic sites
might be combined with participation
in an archeological dig, a discussion
with government officials, a visit with
new settlers and an assortment of
opportunities to interact with the land
and people of Israel.
Singles missions to Israel are open to
Jewish 25-40-year-olds. Stacey and
Michael fell in love with Israel and
with each other. And so have many
other happy couples who met on a
singles mission to Israel.
But since these trips are not specifi-
cally matchmaking excursions, there is
no guarantee that you will find your
beshert (intended) at the airport gate
or even at Jerusalem's Jaffa Gate.
However, it's certain that everyone
comes home with warm memories and
new friendships.
And that is definitely a mission
accomplished. ❑

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3/15

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