Baum, who sings in the choir
at Temple Shir Shalom in West
Bloomfield, has been to Israel once,
back in 1978 after graduating from the
University of Michigan. His wife, who
is friends with many people involved
in the Building Community Initiative
and other multicultural groups, has
never been to Israel.
"We live next door to a Chaldean
family:' Baum said. "And when our
two kids were in school, they attended
with their Chaldean neighbors:'
"In teaching my class at OCC,"
Baum added, "I have had a number of
Chaldean students who have shared
their experiences before coming to
the U.S. as well as their impressions
since arriving here. Some of my best
students have been those with lim-
ited experience in the U.S., including
Chaldeans. This group is extremely
motivated to learn about U.S. culture,
including its political system."
Hickey, who studied fashion mer-
chandising, owns Eleganza Boutique;
Jews are an important part of her cli-
entele. She's a member of the Chaldean
Ladies of Charity. She has always want-
ed to visit the Holy Land "because of its
significance to Christianity and history:'
In 1968, she moved to the U.S. with
her family from Telkaif, Iraq. She's a
big fan of multicultural experiences.
"When you have that understand-
ing:' the mother of three said, "you
have respect. And when you have
respect, you have an open mind. An
open mind leads to better communi-
cation, which leads to friendship and
acceptance of others."
She anticipates a spiritual journey.
Anticipation High
Since arriving at the JCRC in 2005,
Cohen has planned or participated in
three other Israel missions that includ-
ed Christians.
"This trip will be in a class by itself'
he said, "because most of the non-Jew-
ish participants will be members of an
ethnic group that has its own special
ties to the Middle East and to Detroit's
Jewish community."
Baum looks forward to witnessing
the responses of his wife and his new
Chaldean and Jewish friends to places
and situations that he experienced
years ago or that he will only now
experience.
"This trip will be an opportunity to
get out of our comfort zone and have
what is a life-changing time — visiting
Israel with new friends that bring a
different background to what will be a
trip of multiple discoveries and experi-
ences:' Baum said.
Hickey thinks the Building
Community Initiative gives Chaldeans
and Jews a better understanding of,
and appreciation for, each other. Over
the past three years, the fragile cul-
tural experiment has prompted busi-
ness, social, communal and charitable
bonds between local Chaldeans and
Jews. The hope is that those bonds
grow, prosper and endure — and not
collapse under the weight of indiffer-
ence after the excitement wears off.
"There are more Chaldeans here in
Metro Detroit than ever before Hickey
said. "For a while, it seemed like the
younger generations in each culture
didn't connect. It's important that we
realize that we have more similarities
than differences. Our family values
and morals, regardless of religion, are
high in both communities. We are, for
the first time, recognizing how better
we can serve community together."
Cohen amplifies on the prospects
for friendship building, a critical
component of the Chaldean/Jewish
Mission to Israel.
"New friendships are made and
existing ones become strengthened
when a group of people spend 16
hours a day together for a week visit-
ing Israel; he said. "And those friend-
ships can only advance efforts to bring
our Jewish and Chaldean communities
closer together." BC
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Mission Signup Continues
Should the Chaldean/Jewish Mission to Israel exceed its initial goal of 45
participants on one bus, a second bus could be added although the price for
participants on that bus could be higher.
Members of the Jewish or Chaldean communities with a genuine inter-
est in taking part on the mission should go online to www.detroitjcrc.org as
soon as possible to review trip details and register. A $250 deposit (refund-
able through Dec. 14) is required upon registration.
The travel package of $3,695 per person (double occupancy) includes five-
star hotels with full Israel-style breakfasts. Dinner at fine restaurants also is
included.
A two-day extension to Eilat, Israel, and Petra, Jordan, is optional.
Jeannie Weiner and Flo Atto, representing the Jewish and Chaldean com-
munities, are trip co-chairs.
For more information about the mission or about registering, contact
Robert Cohen at the JCRC: (248) 642-2640 or cohen@jfmd.org . BC
JN
December 6 • 2012
55