APRIL 1 • 2021 | 17
one another in the face of
hate to prevent acts of vio-
lence, and genocide.”
YOM HAZIKARON &
YOM HAATZMAUT
This year’s Yom HaZikaron
(Memorial Day) ceremony,
8 p.m. Tuesday, April 13,
will focus on stories of the
siblings of fallen soldiers or
victims of terror attacks.
For American Jews, Leket
said Yom HaZikaron pro-
vides them an opportunity to
support and comfort Israelis
on one of the country’s most
solemn days.
“Yom HaZikaron is not
an easy day for Israelis, and
many of us have personally
lost friends or loved ones,”
Leket said. “We invite the rest
of the community to join us
in commemorating this day.”
To celebrate Yom
HaAtzmaut (Independence
Day), JFamily will host an
outdoor hike from 10 a.m.-
noon Sunday, April 18, at
Beverly Park in Beverly Hills.
To assure COVID safety, fam-
ilies wishing to attend need to
register in advance to reserve
one of eight time slots limited
to a maximum of six families
for each guided 15-minute
hike. The community is also
invited to come to the park to
receive a take-home picnic,
complete with a blanket, and
a QR code leading to Israeli
recipes and a playlist of the
latest Israeli tunes.
“Hiking is the classic
outdoor Israeli
activity, and we
could not think
of a better way to
begin to recon-
nect in person
than on the fam-
ily-friendly path
of Beverly Park,” said JFamily
Outreach Coordinator
Shoshana Fain. “This is a
great way for families who are
excited to get together in per-
son again to celebrate Israel’s
independence.”
UNDERSTANDING ISRAEL
After the festivities are over,
Leket hopes conversations
will continue to develop a
better understanding about
the Jewish state.
“They are the most pow-
erful tool we have in terms
of Israeli education,” said
Leket. “The ShinShinim not
only educate Jewish students
here from a peer perspective
about Israel, but also help
teens become more con-
nected to their community
here.”
Before moving to Detroit,
Leket was an Israeli educator
who taught both Jewish and
Arab students. The concepts
of these more modern Jewish
holidays — which commem-
orate fallen members of the
Israel Defense Forces and
then the independence of the
Jewish state — were tough
for his Arab students.
“These Arab students are a
part of our society and want
to study and learn with Jews,”
said Leket. “But they are
never forced to take part in
Yom HaZikaron ceremonies
and may have challenges with
the words of Israel’s national
anthem.
“These are the very real
and complex topics we have
about being Israeli. As emis-
saries from Israel, I hope the
ShinShinim and I can open
discussions and conversa-
tions about the complexities
of Israeli society and culture
with teens and adults here in
Detroit. Israel goes beyond
eating falafel.”
Shoshana
Fain
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