4 | MARCH 23 • 2023
for openers
Refl
ections on a Challenging Week
A Message from Steven Ingber
Federation Chief Executive Of
cer
I
wanted to take a moment
to share some information
on what was a very
eventful week for both our
global and local Detroit
Jewish community.
To begin
with, I just got
back from a
brief trip to
Israel that I
had planned in
order to spend
some time with
our Motor City
Mission. My plans changed,
however, when I was invited
to join an unprecedented
“fly-in session” organized
by JFNA to engage in open
dialogue with Israeli leaders
on concerns relating to the
proposed judicial reforms.
Detroit was among over 30
communities in attendance.
The impetus behind this
effort came from our deep
love and unbreakable bond
with the Jewish state. We
were there to maintain
our strong and historical
support, as well as to
affirm the importance and
concern we hold for Israel’s
democratic institutions.
We held meetings with
Israeli President Isaac
Herzog, key Knesset
members from both the
coalition and opposition and
several business leaders. We
came to listen and learn, as
well as to convey the views of
our communities. In light of
the unprecedented nature of
this crisis, we supported the
efforts of President Herzog
to help forge a compromise
and urged all sides to pursue
an agreement that will be
acceptable to the broad
majority of Israelis.
We left this visit
determined to never
abandon our support of
Israel, but also to work to
ensure that it is the model
democracy envisioned in its
Declaration of Independence.
On a more personal note,
I was moved and grateful for
the opportunity to represent
our community at these
sessions, and proud of the
close and deeply committed
relationship Detroit has
always had with Israel.
I also had a chance to join
the Motor City Mission as
I’d originally planned. More
than 125 people are on the
trip, over half of whom are
visiting Israel for the first
time in their lives. Watching
the life-changing impact
of their experience was yet
another reminder of Israel’s
essential meaning and
importance to us as Jews.
While there, I also kept in
close communication on the
very disturbing incident at
the Bloomfield Hills High
School diversity assembly.
As most of you know, a
controversial speaker named
Huwaida Arraf spoke at
several student assemblies
focused on diversity and
inclusion. Her antisemitic
and anti-Israel remarks
were deeply upsetting to
the many Jewish students
who attended, and the
school’s initial attempts to
address this were vague and
unresponsive to the offensive
and harmful extent of the
incident. (See story, p. 22.)
As soon as word got out, a
group of Jewish community
leaders — including rabbis,
the JCRC/AJC, and the
Jewish Federation — inter-
vened to ensure that the
school district understood
the severity of the situation
and was prepared to take
swift steps to address what
happened, in the immediate
term as well as for the
future. Following this effort,
BHHS Superintendent
Pat Watson released a
statement that acknowledged
the seriousness of the
mistakes that were made
and detailed a number of
corrective actions, including
a commitment to plan and
implement staff training to
actively identify and address
antisemitism. We remain
engaged with the school
and district administration,
as well as our community
partners, to make sure the
school follows through on its
commitments.
This remains a troubling
and painful incident
for many, and we are
still actively involved in
measures to support the
students, parents, and
community members who
have been affected. We ask
the community to remain
patient and supportive of the
process, and we will continue
to keep you informed.
I can’t help but close this
message with a reflection on
the relevance and centrality
of the Jewish Federation.
Whether we are working
to help solve a historic
political challenge in Israel,
fighting against the scourge
of antisemitism in our local
community, or leading
over a hundred community
members on a life-changing
journey, Federation is
uniquely positioned to serve
the Jewish people.
Thank you for the support
and leadership that makes
this possible. It truly matters
after a week like this—as well
as every day—in more ways
than we can count.
Steve Ingber
PURELY COMMENTARY
“WE LEFT
THIS VISIT
DETERMINED
TO NEVER
ABANDON OUR
SUPPORT OF
ISRAEL.”