Federation Miracle
Missions to Israel
Since its first Mega Mission, which
brought 1,300 people to Israel in April
1993, the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit has led scores of
missions and community exchanges
with Israel, consistently bringing partici-
pants in record numbers.
With an estimated total of 6,000 mis-
sion travelers from Detroit in the last
decade, the Federation has brought more
people to Israel than any other Jewish
community in the United. States. Both
the 1993 mission and the recent family
mission are the largest of their kind ever.
Rabbi Jonathan Berkun of Congregation Shaarey Zedek,
Eric Busch and Dan Iwrey, both 15 of West Bloomfield, and
Rabbi Daniel Nevins of Adat Shalom Synagogue and
Rabbi Paul Yedwab and Cantor Michael Smolash of
other Mission-goers try out some dance moves with a new
Ethiopian Jewish friend at the Federation-sponsored PACT
program in Netanya.
Temple Israel provide the music for Havdalah in Eilat.
Michigan Miracle Mission 1, 1993:
1,300 participants
Michigan Miracle Mission 2,1995:
900 participants
Michigan Miracle Mission 3, 1999:
650 participants
Rabbi .Loss felt there wasn't one special
highlight of the trip, but the whole was a
process of discovery that deepened over
time.
"It was exciting to see Jews who had
never been to Israel experiencing it for
the first time. For many, it was a transfor-
mational experience to discover the won-
der of the country and find there was no
reason to be fearful. Our responsibility is
to is connect them and keep them as
excited about Jewish life in America now
that they've returned."
Rabbi Krakoff was also pleased to find
out that some of his congregants are
already planning their next trip to Israel.
"We encouraged people to say l'hitraot
(see you later) rather than shalom (good-
Michigan Miracle Mission 4, 2004;
585 participants
bye) when they left," said Rabbi Krakoff,
who also sees the dividends of the trip
and the need for effective follow-up.
"We want to empower the people who
have had the experience to get more
involved in the shul and, of course, the
community. Everyone we've asked to
share their experiences or take a new role
with the congregation has said yes. They
want to be involved and deepen their
relationship:'
Check out Stephen
Maiseloff's Mission blog, and
extended coverage and
photos at wwwjnonfine.us.
Michigan Family Miracle Mission,
2005-6:
730 participants
Upcoming Missions
• Teen Mission to Israel,
June 28-July 31, 2006
• ).TAD/UJC Young Adult Mission to
Israel, June 26-July 5, 2006
Temple Israel families at the festive
b'nai mitzvah ceremony at Merkaz
For more information, call
(248) 642-4260 or visit
WWW. thisisfederation.org.
Shimshon at the Jerusalem campus of
the Hebrew Union College.
See B'nai Mitzvah Memories
on page 24.
Adam Blanck 18, a freshman at the University of Michigan from
West Bloomfield, decorates a clay pot with a young boy at the
Federation-sponsored PACT (Parents and Children Together) in Netanya.
Sy Nagel of Southfield is joined for the HaMotzi blessing by family
and new friends at the final dinner event of the second mission group
at the Tel Aviv Hilton.
January 12 2006
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