Making An Impact

Hundreds of Detroiters flock to Washington to stand up for Israel at national rally.

the rally. "I had felt depressed about Israel and it felt
good to step up."
He echoed the sentiments of most who felt com-
pelled to go to Washington for the rally.
Washington, D. C.
About 60 JAMD students attended the rally, most
hough word of a national solidarity rally
flying on a Spirit Airlines charter flight with faculty,
in Washington, D.C., spread across the
parents, some Hillel Day School students and others
country only days before the event on
lucky enough to get on the plane.
Monday, April 15, more than 500 people
When Rabbi Lee Buckman, head of JAMD, took the
from metro Detroit's Jewish community were there
microphone and called Spirit by its Hebrew
to stand in support of Israel.
name, Ruach Airlines, it set the tone for the
pporters
Israel
su
Quick action by the Michigan Board of
wrap th emselves day. JAMD students had ruach to spare as
Rabbis, headed by President Rabbi Danny
they led Hebrew songs, passed a small card
in flags at
Nevins of Adat Shalom Synagogue, secured
bearing a Hebrew prayer for safe travel and
the nati onal
more than 200 airplane seats, which were
wondered what it would be like to participate
solidari ty
snapped up within two hours as word spread
in such a huge, public outpouring of love for
by e-mail. A bus with 45 National
Israel. A few mentioned parents who had come to
Conference of Synagogue Youth members left Sunday
Washington in support of Soviet Jewry in 1987, or even
morning for Washington. Other buses left in the wee
to protest the Vietnam War in the 1970s.
hours Monday morning bearing students from Wayne
Many families traveled together. Miriam Goldberg
State University, the University of Michigan and
of West Bloomfield was part of three generations —
Michigan State University; two more buses departed
her mother Ann Baruch of Southfield and her son
from the parking lot of Young Israel of Oak Park.
Josh, 21, traveled by bus. Goldberg flew with her
Dozens of private cars drove through the night as well.
daughter, Ilana, 17, a JAMD student, and her sister-
"It felt so good to be doing something for Israel,"
in-law Linda Baruch of West Bloomfield, and her sons
said Rabbi Aaron Bergman of the Jewish Academy
Adam, 14, and Jeremy, 16, both JAMD students.
of Metropolitan Detroit, which closed its doors
"We wanted it to be a family experience," said
Monday to allow two-thirds of its students to attend

KERI GUTEN COHEN
Story Development Editor

4 / 19
2002

20

Marcia Anstandig of West Bloomfield, who flew
with her children Deborah, 17, a JAMD student,
and Jared, 13, who goes to Hillel Day School.
Seth Korelitz of Huntington Woods brought his
daughter Hannah, 6, a first-grader who did her
homework on the journey home.
Allen and Amy Olender of West Bloomfield came
with Teddie, 12, and Max, 9. "Parenting is about
making memories," Allen Olender said. "The mes-
sages you give your kids when they're young reflect
values you think are important."

Becoming Part Of History

Excitement grew as Detroit buses joined more than a
1,000 others approaching the capital. Signs in windows
identified Jews from synagogues, colleges, and organiza-
tions from around the country. People held Israel
posters proudly in windows and waved to those in other
buses. You could feel the energy through the glass. -
"I was in tears when I saw all the buses — it was
overwhelming and very emotional," said Rina Yaari,
an Israeli who lives in West Bloomfield. Her daughter,
Hila, 17, carried a poster with images of Israeli friends
killed in the bat mitzvah bombing of March 2, 2002.

IMPACT on page 23