30 | MAY 4 • 2023 

OUR COMMUNITY

A

t a packed governor’s 
mansion last month, 
Gov. Gretchen 
Whitmer hosted a “Freedom 
Seder” for the second 
consecutive year. I had the 
pleasure of 
participating, 
along with Lt. 
Gov. Garlin 
Gilchrist and 
an intimate 
group of Black 
and Jewish 
community 
leaders. 
Throughout the evening, 
we retold the story of the 
Exodus while interweaving 
parallel themes of freedom 
through the lens of the Black 
experience in America. The 
gathering was organized by 
Mark Jacobs, in his role as 
co-director for the Coalition 
for Black and Jewish Unity 
(CBJU), as a local effort to 
speak out against bigotry 
and promote solidarity 
between the Black and Jewish 
communities in southeastern 
Michigan.
The seder participants 
included a range of local 
clergy, State Rep. Noah 
Arbit, and representatives 
from various organizations, 
including the Jewish 
Community Relations 
Council/American Jewish 
Committee (JCRC/AJC), 
Council of Baptist Pastors 
of Detroit and Vicinity, the 
Anti-Defamation League 
(ADL), Urban League of 
Detroit and Southeastern 
Michigan, Ravitz Foundation 
and more. Many of the 
participants have hosted 
programs together for years, 
which created a familial 
atmosphere, like a group of 
friends at a dinner party.
Rabbi Marla Hornsten of 
Temple Israel led the seder 

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE JCRC/AJC

Jacob Evan
Smith
Special to
the Jewish 
News

Solidarity promoted at Gov. Whitmer’s residence.
“Freedom Seder” 

Gov. Whitmer 
greeting Phil 
Neuman

The Coalition for Black and Jewish Unity’s 
annual seder with Gov. Whitmer and 
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist

