18 | APRIL 6 • 2023 

worries what politicians might 
do to upend your country … We 
have so much in common with 
one another. 

DAY 5: MY SPIRITUAL 
TRANSFORMATION
We leave Nazareth for Jerusalem. 
Our first stop is Mt. Herzl, 
where we gathered for a mission 
ceremony at the newly opened 
National Museum for Fallen 
Soldiers. Each person who lost 
their life in service to Israel is 
memorialized on a brick and 
remembered every year on their 
yahrzeit. The museum’s design is 
breathtaking and sobering, and 
the visitor is reminded of the 
high price the nation must pay to 
ensure its survival. We joined in 
singing “Hallelujah,” and the voic-
es rose through the tower to God 
above. Spiritual moment No. 3.
Everyone was given free time 
in the hotel that afternoon to 
prepare for Shabbat, before we 
left for a 4 p.m. Kabbalat Shabbat 
by the mission clergy (Rabbi 
Mark Miller from Temple Beth 
El, Rabbi Mike Moskovitz from 
Temple Shir Shalom, Rabbi Paul 
Yedwab and Cantor Neil Michaels 
from Temple Israel, Rabbi Aaron 
Bergman from Adat Shalom and 
Rabbi Simcha Tolwin from Aish). 
We walked along the walls of 
the Old City, to the Davidson 
Center and Hermelin Steps at the 
Southern Wall Excavations. It was 
amazing to realize that two men 
from Detroit had such a profound 
impact on the Old City, and how 
thousands of visitors to Israel 
benefit from their philanthropy 
this very day. 
We sat on those holy steps, 
gazing at the Mount of Olives, 
squinting through the evening 
sun as the clergy led us all in 
song. As I sat there, surrounded 

OUR COMMUNITY
ON THE COVER

ABOVE: Everyone sang 
“Hallelujah” in the National 
Museum for Fallen Soldiers at 
Mt. Herzl. BELOW: Kabbalat 
Shabbat service on the 
Hermelin Steps.

 JOHN HARDWICK/FEDERATION
 JOHN HARDWICK/FEDERATION

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