OTHER VIEWS
Standing Together, Steadfastly
A
s we approach the new year
5765, our tradition calls upon
us to turn. Figuratively and lit-
erally, we are called upon to turn back
to our Jewish essence.
As we pen this message for a new
year, we are just absorbing the horrors
of the homicide bombings in
Beersheva. We ask ourselves, how do
we respond?
Do we allow our enemies to intimi-
date us into not supporting and travel-
ing to Israel? Our answer is a resound-
ing no. If that happens, they win. We
must continue to do what our corn-
munity did this past year.
Looking back on the impact of our
recent Miracle Mission 4, a journey of
discovery and wonder that brought
nearly 600 from our community to
Israel in April, the commandment to
return resonates, for indeed we were
not "tourists" in Israel, we were broth-
ers and sisters, a family returning to
fulfill a mitzvah, following our collec-
tive call to action — to be there. Fully
Lawrence S. Jacker is president of the
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit. Allan Nachman is president of
the United Jewish Foundation of
Metropolitan Detroit.
present.
As we stand with Israel, we dream
and pray for its return to "normalcy. ),
Our hope is not shattered, even as the
war on terrorism in Israel continues.
Standing in steadfast support, our
response is overwhelmingly affirma-
tive. Even now, more than 1,500 in
our community — including parents
with young children — have expressed
interest in participating on a Family
Miracle Mission scheduled for
December 2005.
As it is said so often in Israel,
"davkah," the Hebrew expression
meaning "in spite of everything," life
goes on. And so does the vital work of
our community.
We Are The Lifeline
The basic tenet and guiding principle
of our Jewish Federation is that we are
connected. Bound together, we are
responsible for the well-being of one
another. Those values that we embrace
and carry forward are essential to our
survival as a people. As Jews, our very
identity is wrapped in the principle of
tikkun olam: our obligation to "heal
the world."
What our community can achieve is
nothing short of
efficiently and effec-
remarkable. With the
tively is through
mission to provide
Federation's Annual
help to thousands in
Campaign. This year,
need each year, we are
we can't stress enough
the lifeline for the
the primacy of our
hungry, the homeless,
campaign in keeping
the displaced, the
faith with our mis-
LAWRENCE ALLAN
lonely and the victims
sion, to benefit thou-
S. JACKIER NACHMAN
of terror.
sands of lives through
Community
Together, we are the
the support we pro-
Perspective
voice of those who
vide to our agencies,
cannot ask. Together,
locally and overseas.
we are the strength for those who need And so we must turn to each and
our support. Together, we are the hope every individual in our community.
for those living in hardship, here at
Our hopes and dreams for the
home, in Israel and around the world.
underserved constituents in our corn-
Together, we are Federation.
munity are within reach, but only as
In a year marked by economic
far as each one of us can turn, renew
uncertainty, global instability and vio-
and make the pledge to connect. Each
lence, we have demonstrated our com- gift to our annual campaign has the
munity's exceptional organizational
power to open a door, give hope and
strength, resources and impact. By our deliver care to those in need.
sheer strength in numbers, our com-
Each gift has the power to make a
munity enjoys a standard of excellence
difference. And so we turn to you.
and quality of Jewish life few cities in
Please give from your heart. Together,
the world can match.
we can do a world of good.
We are indeed a leading community.
Our sincerest wishes to you and
But our leadership is not a given. It's
your loved ones for a sweet, peaceful
something we must all work to achieve and fulfilling new year. ❑
together.
The way we work together most
Getting And Giving
r
Ann Arbor
, or me, the focus of the High
Holidays is about reflecting on
what we do in our lives and
with our lives that enriches the world.
As a youngster, I got a lot from my
Jewishness. I got vacations for Jewish
holidays as well as the school-sponsored
holidays that coincided with the
Christian holidays. I was the envy of my
Italian, African-American and Hispanic
neighborhood.
It was the best of both worlds. I grew
up getting both anti-Semitic jeers as
well as 'Way to go" cheers in the sum-
mer of 1967 from the kids in my neigh-
borhood. I may have been hurt by the
anti-Jewish hate thrown at me, as well as
the occasional fist; but the fact that the
Israeli heroes beat millions of Arabs
back and actually took over land gave
J...
9/10
2004
72
Neal Elyakin, a. Washtenaw County
educator, is vice president of the
Michigan Jewish Conference and a
founder of the Michigan Chapter of the
Israel Defense Forces.
me much pleasure and lifted my young
soul.
I got the idea of going to Israel from
my sister. She went Zionist on us soon
after the Six-Day War in 1967 and
stayed (she's still there). I got a lot of
encouragement from my family and got
help from the Jewish Agency for Israel
in organizing my trip. I took it all. It
was a no-brainer. My friends thought I
was crazy to leave Brooklyn; but getting
all this help, all this encouragement, and
all I had to do was show up. How could
I pass this up?
I entered this adventure in Israel as an
escape from the disillusionment of my
youth in Brooklyn. Being Jewish as a
young adult was different than in my
youth. In my childhood, it was inspir-
ing. I remember watching, during Rosh
Hashanah services, as the men pounded
their hearts asking for redemption. I
remember the rabbi, wrapped up in his
kittel (white robe), leading the kohanim
(priests) in the sacred prayers on the
bimah. I remember my father, of blessed
memory, holding me close under his tal-
lit as the verses of the ancient prayers
were repeated in unison
pletely unintended by that
throughout the sanctuary. The
youngster sitting on the dark
power of the ritual awed my
bus heading to the kibbutz
young mind.
with 25 other young
Somewhere between my
Americans. Israel gave me my
youth and emerging adulthood,
first opportunity to give.
the neighborhood and the
Israel was, and is, full of
streets competed with the ritual.
Jews. The community of Jews
The streets won. I spent my
is the community of Israel. A
NEAL
teens going through the
young
man learned that his
ELYAKIN
motions; I lost the awe of
community
could give him
Community
Judaism, spending endless
much;
it
could
nourish his soul
Perspective
Saturdays at shul, murmuring
and give him opportunities to
prayers that no longer held any
give back to the community in
meaning to me. I left the shul,
meaningful ways. The kibbutz
returning for the yearly ritual because it
did not expect anything but whatever
was expected, but it held nothing for
you were able to give it.
me. I got nothing from it. Too many
I gave my time, my energy, my skills
other things got my attention.
(teaching and mentoring) and my heart
to my community in Israel. When I
returned to America with my soon-to-
Israel's Influence
be wife, giving was in my soul. It nour-
Heading off to Israel was an adventure,
ished me and enriched my life. Winston
something too easy to pass up. But the
Churchill said, "You make a living by
youth that left Brooklyn back in 1976
what you get; you make a life by what
never returned. Oh, I returned to the
you give.
United States, eventually; but the expe-
We enjoy the fruits of our labors by
rience in Israel produced a result com-
getting satisfaction from what we do.