30 May 9 • 2019
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A Moment of Unity at U-M
A 

“Moment of Unity” for the 
victims of the Chabad of 
Poway shooting was held 
at noon Monday, April 29, at the 
University of Michigan Diag, with 
opening words from students Leor 
Rosen, chair of Hillel Governing 
Board, and Aviva Nemeth, Hillel 
Religious Life Chair.
 “We knew it would be 
challenging to gather during 
exams, but it felt important for 
our Hillel and Chabad to work 
together to bring a Moment of 
Unity to our campus. Students 
seemed grateful for a moment 
to come together as a communi-
ty, offer support for one another 
and acknowledge the tragedy 
in Poway, Calif.,” said Tilly 
Shames, U-M Hillel executive 
director. 
Rabbi Alter Goldstein from 
Chabad House of Ann Arbor 
spoke about the Chabad com-
munity in Poway, where his 
uncle, Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein, 
is the rabbi. He shared a psalm in 
prayer for his uncle’
s continued 
healing from his wounds during 
the attack. He also mentioned Lori 
Gilbert-Kaye, who was killed in the 
shooting, and the group shared a 
moment of silence. Then Rabbi Jared 
Anstandig from Hillel recited “Psalm 
23,” often shared at funerals, in her 
memory. 
Student Jordyn Singer, co-presi-
dent of the U-M Chabad House of 
Ann Arbor, offered a poem. 
“We feel the pain of anti-Semit-
ic violence particularly and most 
deeply in the Jewish community and 
acknowledge that this attack adds 

to the pain from the shooting at 
the synagogue in Pittsburgh, which 
many are still working to heal from,” 
Hillel’
s Rav Lisa Stella told the crowd. 
“We know, however, that identi-
ty-based violence doesn’
t only affect 
the Jewish community, and there has 
been a lot of violence in the world 
against ours and other religious com-

munities in recent months, and that 
these things are connected. We stand 
with one another against hate of all 
kinds and are grateful to those stand-
ing with us now who are not mem-
bers of the Jewish community who 
came in support and solidarity.”
Student Rachel Levy of Hillel gave 
an introduction to the MiShebeirach 
prayer, mentioning those injured in 
Poway, but also referencing a broader 
need for healing as well. She and stu-
dent Adam Kahana led the singing 
of the prayer. The vigil closed with 
singing Oseh Shalom and with a 
short prayer for peace. ■

— Keri Guten Cohen

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ORR VIZNITSER
CHABAD

Rabbi Alter Goldstein from 

Chabad House of Ann Arbor

Students in Ann Arbor 

gathered on the Diag.