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`Beyond Incredible'

Jewish Academy's first senior class returns exhilarated and inspired from trip to Israel.

DEBRA B. DARVICK

Special to the Jewish News

T

he first senior class of the
Jewish Academy of
Metropolitan Detroit
(JAMD) made a strong
statement in support of Israel and
established a new school tradition at
the same time with its 15-day excur-
sion of study and travel in Israel.
The senior trip was conducted
under the auspices of the Nesiya
Institute and Birthright Israel, organi-
zations that facilitate trips by young
Jews to Israel; and was underwritten
by the Jane F. & D. Larry Sherman
Family Israel Experience Fund, an
Israel-travel fund of the Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit.
Despite a flu attack en route to
Israel that affected several of the 19
students during the trip and a giant
snowstorm on the U.S East Coast that
delayed the group's return by two days

to Detroit — the students disem-
barked at Metro Airport Feb. 18 exhil-
arated and excited, if a bit exhausted,
from all they had seen and done.
"I believe that the decision that
these parents made to send their chil-
dren to Israel set an important prece-
dent for all future class trips," says
Rabbi Lee Buckman, JAMD's head of
school.
"It made it clear that JAMD, as a
school, will not abandon Israel when
life there becomes unpleasant, fright-
ening or even dangerous. I'm proud of
our parents and our 12th grade stu-
dents for making Israel their chevru-
tah, a place that will inspire them and
challenge them."
'Any time you go to Israel, it's
great," says JAMD senior Adam
Gardin, son of Susan and Julius
Gardin of West Bloomfield. "You
stand at the Kotel [Western Temple
Wall] and realize how much you
belong to the Jewish people. But when

you experience something this great
with your friends, it's even better."
When student Pele Browner stood
at the Kotel, he was reluctant to
approach it as a "common tourist
attraction." Instead, Browner, son of
Rachael and Israel Browner of West
Bloomfield, closed his eyes in order to
"look with my heart and my eyes.
"I depicted the Wall by recreating
the Temple in my head.. The sounds
there can relax the most anxious and
bring comfort to the weary. I love the
Kotel. I love the land. And I love
Israel."
Susan Goldis' love of Israel grew
from her participation in the March of
the Living her sophomore year of high
school. Goldis, daughter of Cheryl
and Alex Goldis of Bloomfield Hills,
has been determined to return ever
since.
"One of the reasons I came to

BEYOND INCREDIBLE

From left:

Maggie Lee of Farmington
Hills and Susan Goldis of
Bloomfield Hills have an
eagle's eye view from Mt.
Arbel in northern Israel.

Jill Salama of Farmington
Frayda Kresch of
Southfield and Stefanie .
Blechman, top, of
Bloomfield Hills explore
ruins together in Katzrin in
northern Israel.

Jill Salama of Farmington
Hills and Deborah
Anstandig of West
Bloomfield on the JAMD
senior trip to Israel.

on page 34

2/28
2003

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