MARCH 9 • 2023 | 29
J
ohn Hardwick of Royal Oak, direc-
tor of marketing operations for the
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit, is traveling to Israel for the first
time on Federation’s Motor City Mission
trip this month.
Hardwick, 55, has worked at Federation
for nearly 16 years. Though he’s not
Jewish and was raised Catholic, Hardwick
has felt a connection to the Jewish
community here in that time.
“
As a non-Jew, I’ve been so welcomed
into the community, and I’ve learned so
much about it since I’ve worked here,”
Hardwick said. “I’ve probably participated
in far more Jewish rites of passage —
I’ve been to so many weddings and bar
mitzvahs and brises, and funerals and
shivahs, that I feel very much a part of
and welcomed into the community. It just
seemed like a natural next step to want to
go to Israel, especially with people in the
community.”
As part of his role at Federation,
Hardwick knew about the Motor City
Mission ever since Federation leadership
began talking about it. Hardwick’s team
built the website, did the marketing for
it and created the look and feel for it.
But Hardwick never actually thought he
would be able to participate until they
asked him if he would like to go and
photograph it. Hardwick has photo-
graphed Federation events for years.
“So, I’m actually going to participate
as a photographer, which is really
good because that’ll give me a chance
to see it in a whole different light,” he
said. “I’ll be hopping from bus to bus
and hopefully capturing a little bit of
everything.”
Hardwick says he’s always wanted to
go somewhere “ancient” where people
still live. Visiting the Holy Land for the
first time will surely fulfill that dream.
“One thing I’ve always been fascinated
about with Israel is it’s been there for
thousands and thousands of years,”
Hardwick said. “I mean, how old is the
city of Jerusalem, 5,000 years old? And
it’s still populated with people who carry
that history and tradition forward with
them in their daily lives, and I’ve never
been anywhere like that. Plus, the fact
that Tel Aviv is so modern, I want to see
the contrast.”
In his 15+ years at Federation,
Hardwick has been around Israelis
regularly. From Shinshinim to staff he’s
worked with, he’s always wanted to see
where they came from.
Travel is like “life on fast forward,”
Hardwick believes, in that you never
come back from a vacation the same
person. It makes your world bigger
and expands your knowledge and
understanding. Hardwick hopes this trip
does the same.
“
And I’ve never been somewhere where
not only is the language different, but the
alphabet is also different, just a whole
different way of life,” Hardwick said. “I’ve
always been interested in interacting with
people who didn’t grow up the same way
I did.”
John Hardwick
Federation staff member John Hardwick will exercise
his connection to the Jewish community with his
first Israel trip.
Days Away from the
Holy Land
DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER
MOTOR CITY MISSION COUNTDOWN
Two organizations at the center of the
Jewish environmental movement, Hazon
and Pearlstone, launched a new identity
for their merging organization: Adamah,
chosen to emphasize the deep connection
between people and planet, adam and
adamah.
The combined resources of the new
Adamah organization will allow it to
strengthen and expand its current educa-
tional, retreat and climate programs. The
launch of the new name also includes a
major announcement in the weeks ahead
from the newly formed Jewish Climate
Leadership Coalition, convened by the
organization.
Adamah’s mission is to cultivate vibrant
Jewish life in deep connection with the
Earth, catalyzing culture change and
systemic change through Jewish environ-
mental education, immersive retreats and
climate action.
Adamah is building Community Impact
Hubs in major Jewish communities across
North America. Detroit is the most impact-
ful and longest established hub, and this
year Adamah plans to launch hubs in both
Southern California and New York City.
Additional hubs will be established in years
to come in partnership with local Jewish
communal leadership.
Adamah will manage an estimated $13
million budget and a staff of over 150, and
directly engage nearly 40,000 program par-
ticipants annually.
The organization has launched a new
website as part of the brand launch. Visit
www.adamah.org to see more.
Hazon Becomes ‘Adamah’