Editor's Letter ...a loving way to celebrate a simcha... Our Blessed Soldiers Once more, she reminded us how danger may not paralyze I t was a speech to remember. Israeli life, but does make it precarious. "Imagine walking in It certainly spoke to me. downtown Birmingham and a Katyusha rocket lands in Shaiii Lauren Bienenstock was one of the speakers at the Park. Imagine shopping at Somerset and being afraid of a sui- Detroit Jewish community's Solidarity Rally for Israel on Jan. cide bomber:' she said. 8 at Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield. She talked Neither scenario sounds rational because we tend to take eloquently about the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces our freedom and security for granted here in America. mission she and her husband, Sam, went on last November. As we strove to reinforce justification of Israel's December "We saw firsthand these young, brave response to Hamas' years of indiscriminant rocket attacks on soldiers who are protecting our Jewish southern Israel, we only had to recall why we need Israel and freedoms," said Bienenstock, a human what it represents."Israel's strength and survival depends on energy cell behind the Walled Lake- all of us;' Bienenstock said. "Israel is our strength. Israel is our based Michigan Friends of the IDF. homeland." Referring to the men and women who are Israel's frontline defenders, Essential Insurance Bienenstock said: "They do not know Putting in perspective why we had gathered, Bienenstock our names. They have not seen our added: "As fellow Jews, we owe it to the soldiers, and to Israel, faces. Yet they are in danger every sin- to support them by helping them grow technologically and gle day fighting for us, for themselves educationally, and helping them obtain the weapons they in Israel and for the Jewish communi- need so they can protect themselves against the enemies that ties around the world." surround them." In a powerful message, the Commerce resident distin- Amen. guished between living in America and living in Israel. She Bienenstock succinctly grasped how the soldiers don't just and Sam, an attorney, own a Bingham Farms court reporting and video service. "When we talk about fighting for our coun- defend Israel, but also are part of the Zionist soul. They're citi- zens committed to a just cause, not terrorizing mercenaries try, it does not really hit home she said. "Does anybody in who seek to intimidate, indoctrinate and murder. There's no this room have any immediate family fighting for the United taking the soldiers for granted. Bienenstock States? In Israel, everybody has family that is got it right: "They need us and we need fighting or has fought." them." She asked the 1,500 rally participants to When we rally for Israel during these imagine Israeli boys and girls who have just troubled times, it's not just an expression graduated from high school. "Get a picture in ; - of support for the state, but also for the your mind," she said. "They are the faces of soldiers, who deserve our unconditional any of our children." blessing. Like Bienenstock said, "As Jews, In Israel, military service is mandatory — ▪ our most important insurance is a strong three years for boys and two years for girls. if. Israel — and Israel's insurance is the Israel Israeli kids and their parents understand the Defense Forces." obligation and the risk. It's a way of life little No nation could endure the incredible known in the American Jewish community. restraints that Israel has been forced to expe- Bienenstock continued with stirring rience from Arab aggression for virtually all inflection and terrific imagery about the sol- of its 60 years of statehood. Yet even in war, diers: "They strap on Ml6s. They crawl into against an enemy sworn to its destruction, cramped quarters in tanks. They eat, sleep Israel makes humanitarian gestures toward and live inside these tanks until it is safe for Lauren Bienenstock: "They need us and we need them." Palestinian civilians. Hamas, meanwhile, has them to leave. They strap themselves into been known to raid relief trucks and sell the Cobra helicopters and fighter jets. Some are food, medicine and medical supplies to dis- at checkpoints with their trained dogs, never traught Gazans! knowing the dangers the next person can bring." In closing, Lauren Bienenstock echoed a prevailing feeling I certainly learned a lot about the soldiers' psyche from this neighbor of ours. She's generous as well as articulate. Through in the Shaarey Zedek sanctuary: We, Am Yisrael — the Nation of Israel — fight because we have to, not because we want to. the Friends of the IDF's Impact program, she and her hus- We have had enough. We will defend our tiny country, a sover- band currently provide full four-year college scholarships to eign state, which is our right. three soldiers who have completed military service. I second how she put it: "We cannot worry about what the world says because history has shown us that they have The Gripping Reality always said too little too late." The November mission the Bienenstocks were on included a stopover at the Southern Command Post for the Gaza Strip. Mission-goers heard that four terrorists had been killed a half 0 : Do American Jews really understand the d everyday threat to Israel? mile away trying to plant bombs at the Israel-Gaza border. But tn 4.1 the threat of mortar shell fire lingered. So the visitors were I- p taken to a kibbutz outside the mortar shell range. Z Z Do we appreciate the soldiers who defend o our ancestral homeland? "This is part of everyday life for the soldiers of the IDF," a. 0- Bienenstock said. oahle goat' Marva/ ...a meaningful way to help people with disabilities. Here's how... • Present your guests with a JARC Tribute expressing your unique message • Create centerpieces to donate for use in JARC homes • Recognize your honoree with a special gift to a JARC home ...or your own idea! Are you FABULOUS 40 this year? So is ARC! Let's celebrate together: include JARC in your festivities. , • 0 To discuss how to enhance your special day, call Alissa 248.538.6610 X349 30301 Northwestern • Suite 100 Farmington Hills, MI 48334 www.jarc.org 1460560 January 15 2009 A5