home to us. Simply put, it has
been way too long since our
community has visited home,
too long since we have been
able to see old friends and make
new ones,” Lester said. “We
know that missions to Israel
create special moments on all
our personal Jewish journeys.
There is something about Israel
that touches your heart and soul
every time you visit, and you
come away invigorated with a
deepened understanding of your
Jewish identity.”
Lester has been on several
Grosfeld Missions himself, par-
ticipating in Grosfeld 1, leading
Grosfeld 3 and serving as an
adviser to Grosfeld 10.
“The fact the Grosfeld Mission
has been incredibly successful for
20 years demonstrates the worth-
while and lasting nature of these
types of important programs,
”
he said.
For adults in the Detroit Jewish
community, Lester hopes Motor
City Mission and a return after a
decade-plus provides, in a word,
connectivity.
“The world we live in is
incredibly complex, and people,
more so than ever, are free to
choose the degree to which they
connect to our Jewish communi-
ty and the State of Israel,
” Lester
said. “
A decade from now, I hope
we can point to this mission as
an important event in connecting
a generation of Detroit Jews to
Israel, to the Israelis they will
meet and to one another.
”
Trip costs are $4,999 per per-
son/double room and $6,259 per
person/single room.
These amounts are for land
costs only, which include luxury
hotel accommodations in Israel,
most meals, festive dinners, mega
events and transportation in
air-conditioned motor coaches
with leading Israeli tour guides
and educators. These prices do
not include airfare.
Federation is providing a
subsidy to a limited number of
participants from the Jewish
community. Subsidized costs are
as follows: $3,999 per person/
double room and $5,259 per per-
son/single room.
Subsidies are intended for
those in need who would be
unable to take part in this mis-
sion without them. If you do not
require the subsidy, you can let
Federation know in the registra-
tion process.
To register and/or learn more
about Motor City Mission, visit
motorcitymission.org.
16 | MARCH 24 • 2022
TOP: Participants in the Michigan Miracle Mission 4 attended a Kabbalat
Shabbat ceremony in Jerusalem, April 3, 2004.
ON THE COVER
continued from page 15
W
orld Sabbath 2022, a
worship celebration
on behalf of a just and
peaceful community, will be pre-
sented at 4 p.m. on Sunday, March
27, over Zoom.
A free program of the
InterFaith Leadership Council
of Metropolitan Detroit, World
Sabbath’s mission is to teach the
region’s diverse residents that
everyone, regardless of their faith
tradition, shares the calling to build
a community of justice, equity,
respect and peace.
“World Sabbath 2022 will offer
an experience that radiates peace
and hope to inspire all people,” said
Rick Joseph, World Sabbath chair-
person. “World Sabbath celebrates
and emphasizes the roles that chil-
dren and young people have in our
religious traditions. We are com-
mitted to uplifting the transforma-
tional power that is inherent in the
religious experience and manifest it
through robust, joyful worship.”
Since its start in 2000, World
Sabbath has traditionally been held
in a local house of worship. This
year it will be a virtual celebration
presented via Zoom and hosted by
the Baha’i Community of Metro
Detroit. Prayers, music and dance
of the Baha’i, Christian, Hindu,
Islam, Jewish and Sikh traditions
will be featured.
Interfaith leader Gail Katz will
be honored with this year’s World
Sabbath Peacemaker
Award. The pro-
gram will include an
interactive interfaith
panel featuring Azar
Alizadeh and Paula
Drewek (Baha’i),
Gail Katz (Judaism),
Raman Singh (Sikh), Imam Arif
Huskic (Islam), Narayanaswamy
Sankagiri (Hindu), and Rev.
Dr. Charles Packer, Rev. John
McKenzie and Dr. Jacqueline
Nelson (Christianity), moderated
by Joseph.
Register online for World
Sabbath 2022 at bit.ly/Sabbath2022
or visit detroitinterfaithcouncil.
com.
The children’s procession at the World Sabbath from a few years ago.
Gail Katz
An Interfaith
Celebration of
Peace and Hope
on March 27