DECEMBER 22 • 2022 | 15

FROM A DISTANCE
“This support group is 
like a hug for moms,” 
said Ariella Nadel, who 
made aliyah with her 
husband, Mark, in 2021 
while their son Yossi 
was serving in Kfir, a 
combat unit. “We’ve 
been through really 
tough stuff together. 
There have been wars, 
terror attacks … but 
we’re always there for 
each other. We know 
what it’s like to have our 
kids on the front lines.”
According to the Lone Soldier center, there are approximately 
7,000 Lone Soldiers who help defend the Land of Israel and its 
citizens. It’s unknown exactly how many are from Detroit but, 
as Fern pointed out, even from our small group of mostly Oak 
Park/Southfield moms, some of whom have had more than one 
child enlist, there’s quite the army representation of different 
colored berets (which differentiate the units). 
“It’s unbelievable,” Fern said. 
“These kids are literally giving up their freedom and putting 
their lives on the line,” Ariella said. “They learn a lot — respon-
sibility, loyalty to the country and their fellow soldiers and I’m 
so proud and in awe of all of them. Huge kudos to all the par-
ents who let their kids join — it’s a really big deal.”
These young adults are following their dreams while their 
parents, families and friends cheer them on from over 6,000 
miles away. 
“Our kids are quite literally becoming part of the fabric of 
the modern state of Israel,” Michele Faudem said. “They’re 
building Am Yisrael and Medinat Yisrael, and that’s an experi-
ence and connection that makes them feel grounded in a way 
that just doesn’t happen any other way. As their parents, we 
couldn’t be prouder.” 

Jordana Wolfson with her son Ari Weiss

Noah Adler, center, with his siblings and parents: mom Beth, 
Ethan, Micah, Aaron and dad Avi Adler

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