OUR COMMUNITY
SUB DEPARTMENT

I

an Mendel’s journey to Federation’s Motor 
City Mission trip in March is one of a 
yearning for identity, religious connection 
and a 50th birthday present for the ages. 
Ian Mendel was adopted. With it being a 
closed adoption and the records sealed, he 
had no knowledge of his biological, religious 
or cultural identity growing up. His adoptive 
parents were Christian, so he went to Sunday 
school and occasionally church, although 
religion was not an integral part of their lives. 

He always believed in God, but, as an adult, 
he wasn’t sure if he fully aligned with his reli-
gious upbringing. 
“He always felt like something was kind of 
missing,
” said his wife, Amy Mendel, who is 
Jewish. 
Everything began to change when Amy 
and Ian met in October 2009. Much of their 
first conversation was about his beliefs and 
his struggle with his religious identity. 
Upon getting to know Amy, Ian began 

to learn more and more about Judaism. Ian 
started taking Judaism classes and gained a 
love for the religion and, in the end, ended 
up converting to Judaism in a Conservative 
conversion program. 
Ian went on to change his last name to a 
Jewish last name, Mendel, meaning “journey 
of lifelong learning.
”
Amy said, “It connected with him because 
he felt like he was now on this journey of life-
long learning of Judaism and who he really 
is.
” 
Ian and Amy got married (by a rabbi) and 
went on to have twins who are now 7 years 
old. The family lives in Farmington Hills. 
Ian had been taking Intro to Judaism 
classes at Adat Shalom every Monday night, 
also going to different events to enhance his 
knowledge of Judaism along the way. 
Through this journey, Ian Mendel gained a 
strong desire to go to Israel. 
“Hearing and learning so much about 

40 | FEBRUARY 16 • 2023 

Mission of 
 a Lifetime

Ian Mendel, with a one-of-a-kind Jewish journey, 
will be visiting Israel for the first time on 
Motor City Mission.

DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

Ian Mendel

OUR COMMUNITY
MOTOR CITY MISSION COUNTDOWN

