views essay Salute To Our Local Troopers And Truckers Contributing Writers: Ruthan Brodsky, Rochel Burstyn, Suzanne Chessler, Annabel Cohen, Don Cohen, Shari S. Cohen, Shelli Liebman Dorfman, Adam Finkel, Stacy Gittleman, Stacy Goldberg, Judy Greenwald, Ronelle Grier, Esther Allweiss Ingber, Allison Jacobs, Barbara Lewis, Jennifer Lovy, Rabbi Jason Miller, Alan Muskovitz, David Sachs, Karen Schwartz, Robin Schwartz, Steve Stein, Joyce Wiswell Arthur M. Horwitz Publisher / Executive Editor ahorwitz@renmedia.us F. Kevin Browett Chief Operating Officer kbrowett@renmedia.us | Editorial Managing Editor: Jackie Headapohl jheadapohl@renmedia.us Story Development Editor: Keri Guten Cohen kcohen@renmedia.us Arts & Life Editor: Lynne Konstantin lkonstantin@renmedia.us Digital/Social Media Editor: Hannah Levine hlevine@renmedia.us Editorial Assistant: Sy Manello smanello@renmedia.us Senior Columnist: Danny Raskin dannyraskin2132@gmail.com Contributing Editor: Robert Sklar rsklar@renmedia.us | Advertising Sales Sales Director: Keith Farber kfarber@renmedia.us MICHIGAN STATE POLICE F rom the April 24, 2018, Detroit species, namely mankind, who would Free Press, I read a rather sooth- value the first droplets of rain granted ing and encouraging news story by our One and Only Creator, appreci- that caused chills to trickle down my ate it and truly realize that our world back. I read with joy, tears and growing cannot exist without it (Genesis, 2:5). fondness a most remarkable story of a How crucial is it, then, to continually life-saving squad orchestrated by fam- be in a state of profound appreciation, ily and community state troopers who gratefulness and to verbalize it clearly flagged down truckers traveling and loudly? The precious at midnight on I-696 in Oak Park. words with which we begin Those truckers focused their col- every day of the year are the lective full attention, energy and words “Modeh Ani …” I thank efforts to save the life of one hurt- you God Almighty for returning ing individual wishing to jump to me my soul … refreshed and off the I-696 overpass in our very replenished. community. So much goes on in our The 13 truckers, guided by world that is much to our Rabbi Dovid S. state troopers, immediately dismay and reflects the short- Polter formed a “bridge” on both east- comings of our fellow species, and westbound lanes. yet this utter act of kindness What an amazing feat these by our troopers and truck- truckers did! What an incredibly ers shattered the majority of creative, life-rescuing and deeply com- media pieces that continue to blast us, munity-caring joint act to save one life! I frighten us and create a sense of insta- am truly in awe of this “near miracle.” bility, discomfort, tension, dissension Recognizing, appreciating and mak- and, even for some, total despondency. ing known those meritoriously involved Those troopers and truckers work in an act of kindness, in spite of the diligently to serve our country, our hour of day or night, is clearly a Divine men, women, children, families and attribute. God Almighty withheld the communities. To them, I say, “You have first drops of rain ever to have descend- saved one life! You have indeed saved an ed on our earthly soil, days after the entire world.” creation of His magnificent world, for Not only is nothing random, espe- the fitting, caring and understanding cially a heaven-on-earth act such as this one, but everything is meaningful. For those who appreciate the divine wisdom of number equations, the fol- lowing, I hope, will inspire you to yet a greater degree: • Indeed, it was approximately 1 a.m. when this event occurred. • It was ONE life that was spared and saved at the ONE o’clock hour! • Furthermore, 1 a.m. can also be read as “I AM!” • Thirteen truckers! Nothing is ran- dom. “Thirteen” is crucial in its associa- tion to the age of bar mitzvah, when a young man joins the ranks of fully grown adults as does a young girl one year earlier at the age of 12. I, as well as many of our great Oak Park community, feel embraced, watched over and well protected by the great Divine Aura and Presence permeating our lives when we affix a mezuzah (sacred scroll containing holy passages and versus of the Torah) to our individual and family door-posts. It is designed and meant to watch over us, our families, our safety, our peace, | Production By FARAGO & ASSOCIATES Manager: Scott Drzewiecki Designers: Kelly Kosek, Amy Pollard, Michelle Sheridan, Susan Walker | Detroit Jewish News Chairman: Michael H. Steinhardt President/Publisher: Arthur M. Horwitz ahorwitz@renmedia.us Chief Operating Officer: F. Kevin Browett kbrowett@renmedia.us Controller: Craig R. Phipps Account Executives : Wendy Flusty, Annette Kizy Sales Manager Assistants : Karen Marzolf | Business Offices Billing Coordinator: Pamela Turner | Fulfillment Joelle Harder jharder@renmedia.us our health and all that we possess and everything that we are. I am grateful that as the fortunate Oak Park community we are doubly blessed by being surrounded by two larger Mezuzah-like physical and human bases, namely the Oak Park Police station and our local station of state troopers, both well-equipped and skilled professionals who are on the alert round-the-clock. May this care- ful level of safety penetrate our entire world and our sacred land and people of Israel. To our truckers: May you, your pro- fessional comrades and your personal families continue to be blessed with great bounty. May you and us all keep on “trucking,” striving and exerting ourselves in unity to maintain, preserve peace, safety and tranquility and when in need — save ONE’s life! • Rabbi Dovid S. Polter was born, raised and cur- rently resides with his wife and family in Oak Park. 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