using a customized
Haggadah written for
the occasion. Each of
the 28 participants
read a section while
sitting at a long
dining room table.
Gov. Whitmer recited
“First They Came”
by German Pastor
Martin Niemöller, the anti-
apathy poem displayed at
Yad Vashem in Jerusalem.
Others read selections from
Harriet Tubman and Martin
Luther King Jr., along with
traditional seder standards
of prayers, texts and songs,
including “Go Down
Moses,” and an enthusiastic
rendition of “Dayenu,” led
by Hazzan Daniel Gross of
Adat Shalom.
I was proud to represent
JCRC/AJC as a board
member, as well as the
Coalition Series, an effort
that I co-organize to
unite Black and/or Jewish
Detroiters through a
shared love of food, art and
music. Our past event in
March brought together
75 participants, including
retired Congresswoman
Brenda Lawrence, for
a “Passover Freedom
Party” where we shared
a kosher Shabbat meal,
explored four introspective
questions about freedom
and co-liberation and
danced the night away to
the groovy sounds of DJ
Bernan Bush. This program
was made possible with
generous support from The
Coalition for Black and
Jewish Unity, The Well and
JCRC/AJC.
The Coalition for Black and Jewish
Unity’s mission is to speak out
against bigotry and promote
solidarity between Black and
Jewish communities in Southeastern
Michigan. For more information,
follow “Coalition for Black and
Jewish Unity” on Facebook.
Jacob Evan Smith is a board
member of the Jewish Community
Relations Council/AJC.
ABOVE: Coalition for
Black and Jewish Unity’s
Mark Jacobs speaking
with the governor.
RIGHT: Lt. Gov. Carlin
Gilchrist reciting the
Kiddush
Grand Opening
Specials!
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