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EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK
Coming Home
represents the centerpiece of a young, struggling nation that's
espite turbulent times in the Middle . East, Israel
religiously significant for Jews, Christians and Muslims. The
still beckons for the 573 adults ready to take off
economic downturn triggered by Palestinian terror unfortu-
from Detroit Metro Airport on Sunday for a 10-
nately trumps the rat-a-tat-tat of new construction and rede-
day sojourn to the Jewish homeland. That says a
velopment. Undercurrents of political, religious and social
lot about how determined this group of travelers really is.
strain gnaw at you.
Israeli headlines spotlight the fear of mega-terrorism, the
Troubles aside, Jerusalem remains a city that whisks you
nominal bounce in tourism for Pesach and Easter, the teeter-
from the ruins of the Second Temple at the Kotel to the
ing economy, the pending unilateral pullout from Gaza, the
rugged ethnicity of the Old City to the meeting places in the
debate over who the religious leadership should consider a
Mahane Yehuda outdoor market and the Ben-Yehuda pedes-
Jew, the issue of gay rights and the possible criminal indict-
trian mall.
ment of the prime minister. The route of the security fence
One of the greatest blessings of being a Jew is saying the
separating Israel from the West Bank contin-
Shehecheyanu, the words of gratitude, in Jerusalem. It is there
ues to stir controversy as well.
that your Yiddishkeit, whether meager or immense, will bub-
But nothing has forced cancellation of the
ble up. And it is there, after 11 hours in flight, mission goers
Federation
of
Metropolitan
Detroit-
Jewish
will come to grips with being messengers of good will while
sponsored trip, a joint effort along with the
coming home to. Yerushalayim, the ultimate mitzvah.
Detroit Jewish News and the Michigan Board
of Rabbis.
It's a go.
Ties That Bind
Sure, we'll be cautious
This Shabbat, I think back to what David Horovitz, the pub-
ROBERT A. no matter where we go
, lisher and editor of the Jerusalem Report magazine, said when
SKLAR
and no matter what we
we met in the Southfield offices of the IN a few weeks ago.
Editor
do. Soldiers will join us,
He pointed out that the diaspora Jews moving in more than
raising our sense of
compensate
for the Israeli Jews who are emigrating. He talked
security. But we're going because we
proudly
of
Israel's
perseverance.
want to and because we need to. Israelis
Horovitz
caught
the essence of why Jews in Israel and the
need to see us on the common turf of
settlements haven't fled in disgust amid
the Jewish people. Just by our presence
all the Palestinian-inspired suicide bomb-
we'll provide an emotional lift. We need
Richard Krugel
ings, roadside attacks and near con-
to break bread together, pray together
frontations.
and schmooze together.
"The resilience," he said, "is partly
We also need to spend money there. We're family and we
because
we don't want to give up on the
have to show it.
Jewish
state
two generations after the
There's tension and uncertainty as Federation's Michigan
Holocaust.
We
don't want to be left as a
Miracle Mission 4 nears. But there's also great anticipation.
Jewish
nation
that
is without a place
I liked how co-chair Richard Krugel summed up the reality
where we can control our own destiny."
that is the Middle East. "There is always hope," he said,
Detroit Jewry is standing tall, too.
"although with the current situation in Israel and the present
We're
the 11th largest Jewish community
leadership on both sides, it is only a glimmer."
Peter Alter
in
America,
but we're always among the
He's right: We're morally obligated to support the land of
top
fund-raisers
per capita in annual feder-
our forebears. Support takes many forms: missions, donations,
ation
campaigns.
Our
Israel
missions
rank among the largest
phone calls, e-mail messages, aliyah.
sponsored
by
a
single
community;
our
2004 Miracle Mission
"A strong Israel. is vital to safeguard the Jewish people
looks
to
be
the
largest
this
year.
throughout the world," Krugel said. 'Anti-Semitism is
. Peter Alter, the other co-chair of our mission, says the mes-
expanding in Europe. Israel is our best assurance of safety for
sage we will bring so clearly is that diaspora Jewry, in general,
the Jewish people."
and metro Detroit, in particular, indeed "support our brothers
If we as a people lose Israel, we lose our common thread in
and sisters in Israel."
an ever-assimilating world.
"Although we will be helping in only a small way," he said,
"we hope that it will be considered meaningful; 573 people
traveling on one mission from Detroit is a strong statement to
Jerusalem's Pull
the world."
I'm joining the mission along with my daughter, Elyse, 19.
It sure is.
With other mission-goers, we'll experience Israel history and
The
three previous Miracle Missions were each important
heritage as only being there lets you. We'll see how this sole
and special. But 42 months into the intifida, I can't argue
democracy in a region of Arab states rose from a pioneer spir-
when Alter says, "In many ways, our mission is the greatest
it, waves of aliyah and strong leadership. We'll see the fruits of
Miracle Mission ever because even in these times, we have
our community's legacy of giving to Israel over 56 years.
seen a remarkable response."
The itinerary includes two days in Detroit Jewry's
I echo Alter's sendoff "I'm proud to say it: 'We are a strong
Partnership 2000 region in the Central Galilee, where we'll
Jewish community, the best of communities. May we contin-
work to bolster business and cultural ties — and make new
ue to go from strength to strength.'"
friends.
I wish each mission-goer a nsiyah tovah, a good journey!
Politics dominate Israel's spotlight. But the wail of
May each be blessed with health, experiences that both
Jerusalem, our home base, is sure to rise above the political
energize and elevate, and, most importantly, a shalom sukkat
din. King David proclaimed Jerusalem the eternal capital of
— a shelter of peace.
Israel 3,000 years ago. Today, this city of peace (Ir Shalom)
~ SPo TSB/
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