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Standing With Israel
Day school students, parents gather
to support Israelis in violent times.
Gabriella Burman Special to the Jewish News
M
ore than 300 parents and stu-
dents from Hillel Day School
and Frankel Jewish Academy
attended an Oct. 21 StandWithlsrael pro-
gram, showing solidarity with Israel as citi-
zens there face daily terrorist attacks from
Palestinians incited to violence over false
claims that the status quo allowing Muslims
to pray on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem
is changing.
The evening incorporated song, study and
prayers for the State of Israel, and was led by
faculty from both schools. The program was
convened to combat the sense of helpless-
ness many American Jews feel when Israel is
under attack.
At times like these, we pray and thus
earn God's protection by remembering who
we are. And while we are blessed to live at a
time when Israel is strong, we come togeth-
er tonight to ask God for one more bless-
ing!' said Rabbi Jonathan Berger, Hillel Day
School's rabbi, as he introduced the Prayer
for the State of Israel, which asks God to
direct its leaders with wisdom and to grant
"everlasting joy to its inhabitants!"
Steve Freedman, Hillel head of school,
ended the evening with a call to action, urg-
ing participants to take back the narrative
on social media, which has been co-opted
by sensationalism and media bias against
Israel, and to press representatives in
Washington, D.C., to sign the Royce-Engel
letter urging Palestinian Authority President
Mahmoud Abbas to "turn down the heat!'
Freedman said.
"It might seem like with all the violence
we are living in the worst possible world!'
Freedman said. "But we are Jews. We believe
that even when things are terrible, we can
still make the world a better place. We
have a theology of hope, as embodied by
Hatikvah," he said, and the crowd stood to
sing it together. *
Rabbi Boruch Lazewnik leads day school students in song.
Dianne Mouradian,
Karen Diskin and
Gabriella Burman is communications coordinator at
liana Diskin listen
Hillel Day School.
intently to speakers.
Hillel Day School ECC
NOW ENROLLING A NEW CLASS FOR
2-YEAR-OLDS
begirning January 5 2016
.
Tuesday & Thursdays Half-Day Program
for children who are 22-30 months.
9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
For registration and more information contact Robin Pappas, rpappas@hil1e1day.org or 248-539-1489
**
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DAY SCHOOL
EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER
Mind and soul. Better together.