EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK

T

Coming Together As Jews

he Israelis who died during Passover became more
than faceless names as Detroit Jewry gathered
Monday to unite behind the Jewish homeland.
In a moving candle-lighting ceremony, with the
song Jerusalem of Gold playing in the background, they
became our martyred brethren — Jews willing to die to be
Israeli.
On a gray day, soon after a car exploded in
downtown Jerusalem, killing a police officer
and the suicide bomber, the Detroit Jewish
community came together at Adat Shalom
Synagogue in Farmington Hills.
We had come, 400 strong, at the behest of
the Jewish Community Council of
Metropolitan Detroit. We were there to show
ROBERT A. solidarity for Israel and memorialize the vic-
tims of the Passover Massacre, Palestinian
SKLAR
leader Yasser Arafat's hollow "peace" overtures
Editor
notwithstanding. I'd rather he renounce ter-
ror in Arabic.
The event proved timely. The same day, Israeli Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon said to diaspora leaders: "In these times,
we need you more than ever. We need you to
express your public support for Israel."
What had promised to be a hope-filled hol-
iday became one laden with angst — and
with Sharon declaring Israel was "at war."
Clearly, hate-filled Arabs want to destroy
Israel and murder as many Jews as possible in
doing so.
That threat has forced Israelis to live in
constant fear. The young, Israel's future, are
Ann Zousmer
favorite targets.
"Imagine sending children off to school
with protective vests," said JCCouncil President Ann
Zousmer, "and not knowing if a goodbye means forever."

A Special Feeling

West Bloomfield's Marci Shulman felt
goose bumps as 46 yahrtzeit (memorial)
candles were lit Monday at Adat Shalom
for the Israelis slain during Passover. "That
just seemed to touch everybody's heart and
soul," she said.
As I looked around the vast Adat Shalom
sanctuary, I saw folks bowing their heads in
prayer or whisking away tears.
Marci Shulman
For Shulman, the 45-minute unity rally
and prayer vigil spotlighted Israel's plight
and its need for our support, even if we
can't be there.
"It's hard to keep faith in what we thought was a peace
process," she said.
And she's right.
Her analogy of Israel as a fly trapped in a spider web of ter-
ror resonated. "Israel is being eaten up by the spider, by the
enemy," she said.
She's weary of Arabs accusing Jews of "stealing"
Palestinian land and "plotting" the Sept. 11 terrorist
attacks on America.
And she was glad to have the chance to commiserate
with other Jews. "It was good for my soul," she said, echo-
ing the words of Lawrence Jackier, Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit president.

Rejecting the notion that suicide bombers are worthy of
martyrdom, Jackier said: "The fact that Jews love life is not
our weakness, but our greatest strength."
I asked Shulman if she felt pressured by Jackier's impas-
sioned call to respond to Federation's Emergency
Campaign to raise money for Israeli families victimized by
terror. "No," she said. "I felt this was real — that we need
to give whatever we can, at whatever level. It was done
with class and a sense of urgency, and assurance that every
little bit would help."
She hit on the theme many did: This was a time to help,
in any way we could.

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I was struck by how Rabbi Jonathan Berkun of Congregation
Shaarey Zedek in Southfield tied these times of despair and
rage for Jews to the biblical story of Passover.
Quoting the Haggadah, he said: "Not just one enemy has
stood against us to wipe us out. But in every generation, there
have been those who have stood against us to destroy us."
Yet, we've persevered.
To terrorists, Rabbi Berkun said, let us say "a word from our
Haggadah that has taken on new meaning for Israelis and
Jews everywhere: Dayenu.
"Enough," he said. "Enough killing. Enough innocent lives
lost. Enough suffering."
Drawing on the recent ecumenical mission to Africa and
Israel he was a part of with 10 rabbis and black pastors, Rabbi
Berkun added: "It was an honor to stand with my brothers
and sisters in Israel — and we must continue to visit when we
can, and give them our love, support and encouragement,
even as we hang our heads in grief and say dayenu."
Indeed, we must. Meanwhile, call, write or e-mail — com-
municate with Israelis who you know, or who Federation can
hook you up with in the Central Galilee, our partner region.
Giving money provides practical help, but heartfelt concern
provides a buoyant emotional lift.
So does a peaceful public expression of support, like the six
grassroots street demonstrations organized at key locations
Monday by Israel advocacy consultant Don Cohen of West
Bloomfield.
"We need to channel energy outside our community, too,"
Cohen said. "Standing on street corners with signs denounc-
ing terrorism, and with American and Israeli flags, lets people
know Jews are willing to do things out of the ordinary to sup-
port Israel. We hoped to give supporters a polite push so they
also might think of moving from 'business as usual' to step-
ping out in support of the Jewish state.
"The Jewish community has a lot of respect," he added,
"but we need to be visible so others will stand with us."
As Jews, we must believe no matter how dark the Mideast
crisis becomes, Israel will survive. Ariel Sharon's vague
expectations from invading Ramallah bother me, but I liked
his confidence Monday in declaring: "The Jewish people
have seen harder times than the one that we are facing."
When you consider all the hardships and persecutions
"that our people have undergone," Sharon said, "you reach
one conclusion: The Jewish people are indestructible, and
I'm sure that we are indestructible."
Given our history — slavery, expulsions, the Holocaust — I
know we're resilient. I want to believe we're indestructible. I
want to believe the madness soon will end for all the decent
people in the Middle East.
In a moment of reflection Monday, after the gathering at
Adat Shalom, Marci Shulman spoke matter-of-factly about
what compelled her to attend: "I am a Jew. I needed to be
there."

❑

JARC's Judaic Volunteers
enrich the spiritual lives
of men and women with
disabilities in many ways.

• Lead Shabbat prayers

• Celebrate with JARC friends
at an Oneg- bring your
guitar! Sing a song!

• Accompany your JARC
friend(s) to services

• Offer lessons in Hebrew
language or prayer to a
man or woman served
by JARC -

• Share photos from your
trip to Israel, Jewish art
books or music with a
JARC friend

A great family volunteer

opportunity!

Call (248) 538-6610, ext. 349
to find out how you can
share your soul.

30301 Northwestern Highway • Suite 100
Farmington Hills , MI 48334-3233
jarc@jarc.org • www jarc. org

4/5
2002

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