JUNE 10 • 2021 | 23
return to the United States.
#BringDannyHome.
”
Fenster is managing editor
of online magazine Frontier
Myanmar and has worked
to cover life in that country
before and during the coup.
On May 24, the publication
released a statement that
it believes Fenster is being
detained at Insein Prison.
According to reports from
the New York Times, Insein
(pronounced “insane”) is a
134-year-old prison notorious
for harsh conditions and the ill
treatment and torture of cap-
tives. Since the military junta
took over the government in
Myanmar in February, it has
packed the circular-shaped
prison to twice its capacity.
Prisoners sleep on straw mat-
tresses and food is often noth-
ing more than rice contami-
nated with small stones.
According to reports from
the Washington Post, the mili-
tary government of Myanmar
routinely publishes lists of
“wanted” journalists, accusing
them of affecting “state stabil-
ity.
” It has detained more than
70 journalists.
Fenster’s parents, Rose and
Buddy Fenster of Huntington
Woods, have made television
appearances on several media
outlets, including CNN, to
publicly voice their plea for
their son’s release.
In an interview with the
JN, Bryan said he, family and
friends are trying to keep
focused on creative ways to
continue to tell Danny’s story.
Bryan said many of Danny’s
childhood and high school
friends are working tirelessly
to support his family and keep
the spotlight on the journalist’s
plight.
Supporters include Jeffrey
Nolish of Detroit. He and
Danny grew up together
in Huntington Woods and
reconnected when they were
both attending separate col-
leges in Chicago. After gradu-
ation, they returned to Detroit
in 2013 and lived together as
roommates.
Now, Nolish is doing his
part by creating “The Danny
Reader,
” an online anthology
of all of Danny’s writings as a
journalist in Chicago, Detroit,
Telluride and San Diego as
well as his international cover-
age of stories in Thailand and
Burma (Myanmar).
“Danny is a gifted writer,
a talented journalist and a
storyteller who’s always had
an interest in human rights
and social justice,
” said Nolish,
who is policy director for
Detroit Disability Power, a
nonprofit that advocates for
those with disabilities. “I want-
ed to compile some of Danny’s
writing to showcase that
voice and amplify it while we
continue to advocate for his
immediate and unconditional
release.
”
Bryan said Fenster’s wife,
Julianna Fenster, visits the
prison daily, but her requests
for permission to visit her
husband or just to get a status
on his well-being have all
been denied.
“Julianna is also in con-
tact with the U.S. State
Department,
” Bryan said.
“With [Myanmar] being 10
hours ahead, I speak to her
first thing in the morning and
the last thing at night. We
are trying to coordinate our
efforts and create certain rela-
tionships with all these people
who are helping us. We just
don’t want Danny to be forgot-
ten or have his status slip from
the news or from the front of
people’s minds.
”
Birthright Is Back
MSU Hillel needs eight more
people for Aug. 1-11 trip.
BRIAN GOLDSMITH JN INTERN
A
fter a year pause due
to the COVID-19
pandemic, Birthright
Israel is back.
Michigan State Hillel is in
need of participants for its
Birthright Israel trip on Aug.
1-11.
As of press time, only 13
students had signed up to par-
ticipate in the MSU Birthright
Israel trip. MSU Hillel is look-
ing for eight more participants
to fill the empty spots for the
trip.
The MSU Hillel will lead
the Birthright Israel trip for
college students 18-22 years of
age. Twenty-two students will
embark on the 10-day explo-
ration of Israel’s holy land. The
students will be accompanied
by two Hillel staff members,
three Israelis (one will be an
armed security guard) and a
tour guide.
The trip will be held with
a few precautions due to
COVID-19 regulations. All
participants must be fully vac-
cinated and show proof of vac-
cination by uploading a photo
of their vaccination card on the
Israel Outdoors application.
Next, travelers must be tested
for COVID 72 hours before
the flight to Israel. After land-
ing in Israel, travelers will be
tested again. All COVID tests
must yield a negative result to
participate on the Birthright
Israel trip.
In July, restrictions will be
updated further for the trip.
Participants must also pro-
vide their own means of trans-
portation to John F. Kennedy
International Airport and
arrive four hours before their
flight.
According to the World
Health Organization, more
than 10.5 million vaccine doses
have been administered in
Israel and 56.7% of the popu-
lation is fully vaccinated (the
highest vaccination rate in the
world.)
The August Birthright Israel
trip will be advised by MSU
birthright coordinator Mina
Fedderly, a graduate of Bradley
University, who traveled to
Israel with the University of
Minnesota Hillel along with
her brother and cousin.
If you or anyone you know
may be in interested in the
trip, visit Israeloutdoors.com/
msu to sign up or contact Mina
Fedderly at mina@msuhillel.
org.
The Masada is one of the places
Birthright participants will vist.