teens add their solidarity to community's annual Walk for Israel.

by Gabriella Ring/photos by Jessica Polk

s U.S. Rep.Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield
Hills, opened the third annual Walk for
Israel at Temple Shir Shalom in West
Bloomfield, hundreds of families gathered to
show their solidarity and support for Israel.
Temple Shir Shalom cantorial soloist Penny Stey-
er sang "Hatikvah" to open the rally. Surrounding
the podium were children and adults clutching life-
sized Israeli flags.
With the Israeli-like weather — blue skies, beam-
ing sun and warm temperatures — nature also hon-
ored this celebration of the Jewish state.
Participants were treated to a complimentary
lunch, provided by kosher restaurant Jerusalem Piz-
za of Southfield, that included pita with falafel and
vegetables, pizza and salad. Additionally, Hiller's
Markets provided Israeli snacks and bottled water.
About 800 walkers began promptly at 1 p.m.
to stroll south along Orchard Lake Road toward
Maple Road. A mass of blue-and-white-clad bodies
filled the pavement as cars on the road honked to
demonstrate their support for Israel, too. The same
happened as the group turned near Maple Road
and strode back in the opposite direction.
Along with the fresh air and 30 minutes of ex-

FJA freshmen

Ayelet Shapiro and

Gideon Levinson

ercise, there was a true sense of the Detroit Jewish
community uniting, as it often does, to show its un-
wavering love for Israel.
Although not many teens came out for the after-
noon, a large group of students from Frankel Jewish
Academy of West Bloomfield walked together. A
common thread that linked the teens was their loud
cries of "We love Israel" and "We need to support
Israel," said Ilana Goss, 15, of West
Bloomfield.
"Israel is a great place," said Dmi-
tri Davydov, 17, of Oak Park.

Frankel Jewish Academy students: sophomore Nathan Gold-

stein, freshmen Rachel Pieczenik and Kayla Weiner, sopho-

more Alex Levine

Gabriella Ring, 15, is a sophomore at

Berkley

High School.

Akiva's festive Yom HaAtzmaut event captures love of Israel.

by Ruthie Lehmann and Eryn Fox

om HaAtzmaut, Israeli Independence
Day, has been celebrated by Jews around
the world since the establishment of the
state in May 1948. Each year in Israel, the day's
festivities include Israeli cuisine, folk dancing,
flag marches, parades and music.
While it would be difficult for any event to cap-
ture the festive spirit that characterizes this joyous
day in Israel, Yeshivat Akiva's celebration was not
far off. With falafel, flag dances and blue and white
decorations, the Southfield school brought the Is-
raeli spirit all the way to Michigan on April 29,
uniting individuals of all ages and from different
backgrounds in the love that Jewish people share
for their homeland.
"As a school that thrives on Zionism, Yom
HaAtzmaut is the pinnacle of our year," said Akiva
senior Miriam Barth. "This event truly exceeded
my expectations."
In Akiva's gymnasium, you could see a first-grad-
er dancing in a circle with her grandmother hold-
ing one hand and an 11th-grader she barely knows
holding the other. The many Israelis who attended
the event added to the Zionistic spirit.

B2 teen2teen May 21 • 2009

An Israeli flag dance was performed by Yeshivat Akiva girls in

grades 7-9 during the school's annual Yom HaAtzmaut event.

As Akiva moreh shaliach (emissary teacher) Rabbi
Lior Halevi said, "This activity shows that when it
comes to mach [spirit], Akiva Hebrew Day School
has much to offer. I felt as though I was in Israel,
surrounded by people who share the same Zionistic
values and love for the land as I do."
The event began with a basketball game to ener-
gize the crowd. At halftime, a flag dance was per-
formed by girls in grades 7-9. Between the third and
fourth quarters, the crowd's knowledge of Israel's

history was tested during a quiz bowl.
After the game, guests proceeded to the cafeteria,
where they ate falafel, pita, hummus and salads.
"The best food was the sugar candy in the sticks
attached to the Israeli flags," said Noam Haddad, an
Akiva third-grader.
Following dinner, everyone was directed to the
gym for dancing and more festivities. Avy Schreiber
of Southfield provided the musical entertainment,
singing a medley of Israeli songs. While the dancing
continued, people of all ages waved Israeli flags in
celebration of this special day.
After three hours of fun, it was time to go home.
As people exited the building, nearly all carried
their Israeli flags into the night. And as the Michi-
gan skies continued to darken, Israel was just begin-
ning the first day of its 61-year-old statehood.

Ruthie Lehmann, 17,

and Eryn Fox, 16, are

juniors at Yeshivat

Akiva in Southfield.

visit JNt2t.com