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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