expressed sympathy for it. They wanted to know
about the Jewish community, and what people were
saying about Israel,".he said.
Politics was a regular topic. "Everyone is real frus-
trated with what is going on," Sklar said. "I asked if
they are afraid or extra cautious. They say, 'No, this
is our lives.' Most agree with the Israeli response so
far, but think it will take a war to root out all the
terror."
Rivka Garver, 19, a U-M student from
Bloomfield Hills, was impressed when a soldier told
her: 'You don't think that when we point our gun at
the head of someone, we don't think, 'this might be
my mother,' or, 'this might be my father?' "
Garver admitted to having previous doubts about
the Israeli army because "it's hard to hear things in
the media and not take it to heart. But I now know
these soldiers are just like the rest of us."
Jeff Kanagur, 21, of West Bloomfield, who attends
Oakland Community College, noted that his group
was doing the same work as the soldiers assigned to
the base. As he explained the almost four-hour
process of degreasing and repainting a cannon barrel
for the Israeli Merkava 3 tanks, his voice rose in
excitement.
"From everything I've seen from the recent opera-
tions, the Israelis need a break. That's what we came
to do," Kanagur said. "We have to get all the grease
out of the barrel because a build-up can cause a pre-
mature explosion and kill the operator immediately.
"They depend on us here American volunteers
— to help keep them alive," he said.
The Daily Drill
Decked out in khaki army uniforms, the students
rose early each morning to begin work in the 80-
Clockwise from top:
plus-degree heat. Taking their meals with the soldiers
Michigan college students volunteered for two weeks at an
and others in the dining room, the menu featured
lots of vegetables and cheeses and occasionally meat
army base near Tiberias.
at lunch. Before lunch and dinner, they'd gather to
Jeremy Glogower of West Bloomfield, an EMU student, and
trade stories and back rubs. At day's end, the stu-
Nate Berman of Southfield, a Wayne State graduate, work
dents retired to small rooms sleeping five to seven.
on tank parts at the army base.
Evening and Shabbat sessions for the students
The Goldfein sisters of Southfield — Arella, back,
covered information on the army, Israeli society and
a
U-M student, and Sarah, a U-M graduate —
politics; values clarification exercises; advocacy and
fold
their clothes at the army base.
activist training; religious services; and a discussion
with four post-army youth from the Central Galilee,
The trip was imminently affordable. Students paid
I didn't want them to worry, even unnecessarily. I'm
Detroit's Partnership 2000 region.
for their roundtrip airfare to New York City plus a $100
so glad I didn't pass up this trip."
When Jeremy Glogower, a 25-year-old Eastern
donation to the Federation's Israel Emergency Fund.
Sam Daneshvar, head of the Jewish Students
Michigan University student from West Bloomfield,
The rest of the financing came from the Sherman
Organization at Wayne State's medical school, quit
told the group at their closing session, "I feel like
Family Israel Experience Fund, the Blumenstein
his job to participate. "I needed to take the opportu-
I've fulfilled a small part of my destiny [by being in
Family Young Adult Mission Fund and the Irwin
nity to give support and do whatever I can," he said.
Israel at this time]," nobody doubted him. They
and Bertha Green College Life Fund — all endow-
"For a lot of us, we were up in the air about the pol-
knew it was for real.
ment funds of the Millennium Campaign for
itics. Now the only political statement is that Israel
Rachel Lutz, a Wayne State University student
Detroit's Jewish Future, sponsored by Federation
has a right to defend itself."
from Detroit, likened the experience to "a reality
and its finance arm, the United Jewish Foundation.
Then Daneshvar added, "Do you know where I
show with a real weird twist." She urged the group
The money seemed to be well spent.
can find a job?"
to "not just let the campus know about Israel, but
Everyone — from the commander of the base to
Miriam Starkman, executive director of Hillel of
also let the other Jews know what this trip was about
the civilian employees — wanted to be sure their
Metropolitan Detroit, who brought her staff to
and what Israel means to you."
appreciation of the students was known. One of the
Many nodded in agreement when, at the same ses- Israel to assist the students, was pleased by the active soldiers, under orders not to talk to the media, still
participation and dedication of the group.
sion, Michigan State University student Ryan
made sure someone relayed how valuable and solid
Starkman and community leader Jane Sherman of
Shapin of West Bloomfield said, "Up to a half-hour
the visitors' work had been. While volunteer pro-
Franklin, who was pivotal in securing finding, will con-
before the deadline [for registering], my parents
grams such as this one saves Israel $5-7 million
sider a similar program for later in the summer. Only a
were dead set against it and my friends thought I
every year, it is clear the intangibles are priceless.
was crazy. I felt so strongly I wanted to do it, though third of the finds raised for the project were used.
❑
6/7
2002
29