34 | JULY 14 • 2022 

OUR COMMUNITY

Those in 
attendance 
tore their 
cloths in two 
to symbolize 
mourning.

Rabbi Marla 
Hornsten

Susan Gertner, 
NCJW Michigan 
executive director

Rabbi Megan 
Brudney

Edie Rubin and Sharon Leider handed out black 
squares to attendees.

A SYMBOL OF GRIEF
During the event, the rabbis on stage held up a 
piece of black cloth. The crowd was asked to hold 
up the black squares they’d been given when they 
walked in.
“Will each of you join us in this moment of 
grief and tear the square of paper you have been 
given?” Nosanwisch said. “Take a breath in. And 
tear.
“Something has been torn,” she continued. “It’s 
something deeper and more powerful than Roe 
v. Wade. Deeper and more powerful than the 
Supreme Court, than politics, than right or left. 
Something basic and true is being lost, and that is 
where we as Jews must turn to the few truths that 
are eternal.” 

Everyone then tore their black 
squares as a symbol and custom of 
Jewish mourning. 
“Life and death are bound up 
in one another. There is no living 
without choosing. There is no life 
without choice,” Nosanwisch said. 
Susan Gertner, executive director 
of NCJW Michigan, said, “We are 
happy to be with everyone here, 
but we are sad we have to be here. 
It is amazing how many people 

have come out in support, which is 
wonderful. We need this.”
Near the end of the rally, Cantor 
Gottlieb Kalmowitz, led the crowd 
in singing: “Stand up for our moth-
ers; stand up for each other.” 

Photographer Yevgeniya Gazman is the 

founder of YGazm Art. She is an artist, 

photographer, designer, writer and proud 

member of the Metro Detroit Jewish 

community.

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