Metro In Step With The Spirit Sunday's Independence Day walk includes Israeli music festival. T he Detroit Jewish community's reinstituted Israel Independence Day Walk will step off on Sunday, May 6, from Temple Shir Shalom in West Bloomfield. The Israel salute, which takes place on Lag b'Omer, will end with Israeli festivities back at Shir Shalom. There is no charge. Israel marked its 59th anniversary as a state on Yom HaAtzmaut, 6 Iyar 5767, this year April 23-24. "A large gathering will send a message to both the Jewish and general communi- ties that there are a lot of Israel support- ers willing to come out publicly and vis- ibly to show gratitude and thanks for the creation of the State of Israel:' said Mark Segel, walk organizer for the second year. The Southfield insurance agent and financial adviser added, "It is the right way to honor our quest for and subse- quent realization of a national homeland that was promised to us by God and has cost us so dearly over our history of struggle." "This walk isn't a political statement except that we are saying with our feet as well as with our voices — that we love Israel and want to support Israel in every way possible said walk, clowns, face painting, Rabbi Michael Moskowitz of obstacle course, games. A free, Temple Shir Shalom. "With the American Israeli Public Affairs current climate in our world, Committee-sponsored commu- any opportunity we have to nity kosher pizza lunch begins make that known is essential. at 12:30 p.m. To register, call I just learned that the British Mark Segel, (248) 208-2773. National Union of Journalists The walk will start at 1:30 passed a resolution urging p.m. Walkers will proceed Rabbi Mo skowitz a boycott of Israeli products along Walnut Lake Road with — and these are journalists who sup- restroom, water fountain and rest breaks posedly uphold a standard of objectivity. at Keter Torah, Shaarey Zedek B'nai Obviously not." Israel, Temple Kol Ami and the West Last year, the walk drew 350 people. An Bloomfield Library and Police Station. Israel solidarity walk on Aug. 1 during Walkers will turn around at Kol Ami Israel's war with Lebanon attracted 1,200. (about 1.1 miles from Shir Shalom) and This year, the festivities will begin return to Shir Shalom for a 2:30 p.m. fes- with Brig. Gen. Aviv Kohavi speaking at tival with Israeli music, dancing, singing 11 a.m. about the challenges Israel faces and kosher desserts. The Kids Klez Band in the aftermath of the second war with will perform. There is a sidewalk the Lebanon. The Sunday Morning Club entire distance of the walk on the north of the Michigan Friends of the Israel side of Walnut Lake Road. Walkers will Defense Forces will host the talk. need to cross over Walnut Lake to get to At 11:45 a.m., Ann and Leonard Kol Ami. Baruch and Sam Berman will receive "I hope the walk will give strength to plaques from the American Red Magen our Israeli brethren, who will see their David for Israel. diaspora relatives standing up for their At noon, the Hadassah Fun Fair will country:' Segel said. begin with activities for kids — a moon Added Rabbi Moskowitz: "There is such a distortion of the realities that Israel experiences on a daily basis. With the new and accepted anti-Semitism being anti-Israeli sentiment, we need opportunities like this walk to connect ourselves to Israel. "Yes, there are times when I may not agree with a particular decision and action Israel's leadership takes — like- wise, there are times when I don't agree with our government's leaders and the decisions they make. Yet, I still love Israel and stand with our friends, family, broth- ers and sisters there every day. How won- derful to be able to show this sentiment as a community." Li Park and walk to the event at (see map): • Temple Shir Shalom • Keter Torah Synagogue • Shaarey Zedek B'nai Israel Center • Doherty Elementary School • Green Elementary Two-way bus service to Shir Shalom will be provided for those who park at: • Temple Kol Ami • West Bloomfield High School • Orchard Lake Middle School (south of Shir Shalom on Orchard Lake). Partial list of event sponsors: American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Temple Shir Lone Pine Rd Shalom, Temple Israel, Adat Shalom, Israel Chai Committee Temple Beth El, Stand With W+E Us-Michigan, Hillel Day School, B'nai B'rith WBHS S Great Lakes Region, Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, Jewish Community Center Synagogue Reststops of Metropolitan Detroit, Zionist Organization of America, Frankel Jewish Academy, Jewish Family School Parking Service, Greater Detroit Chapter of Hadassah, Jewish Community Relations Council, Young B'nai Israel Walnut Lk Rd Green School 4.0 a) -a a) Maple Israel of Southfield, Shaarey Zedek, Detroit Jewish News, B'nai Moshe, Anti-Defamation League, Temple Kol Ami, Beth Shalom, Shir Tikvah, American Red Magen David, Michigan Friends of the IDF, Temple Emanu-El, Beth Ahm, Birmingham Temple, National Council of Jewish Women, Michigan Region B'nai B'rith Girls, Hiller's Markets, Hillel of Metro Detroit, Sara Tugman Bais Chabad Torah Center, Bar-Ilan University, Jewish National Fund, Flint Jewish Federation, Ira Kaufman Chapel, Fellowship of Israel and Black America, Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy Network, Jewish Parents Institute, Ameinu of Greater Detroit, American Society for Technion, Don and Rae Sharfman, Zekelman Holocaust Memorial Center, Kroger (Crosswinds Mall). 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