JULY 27 • 2023 | 5

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recently in Michigan and 
elsewhere, local, state and 
federal law enforcement offi-
cials have vigorously spoken 
out against such crimes and 
quickly investigated and 
charged alleged perpetrators. 
They have been assisted by 
individual citizens who have 
provided tips to police about 
antisemitic speech and acts. 
Public officials and others 
have spoken up to express 
solidarity with the Jewish 
community.
Today, we have organi-
zations that monitor what 
is happening and help 
protect us, including the 
Anti-Defamation League, 
Jewish Community Relations 
Council/AJC and the Jewish 
Federation of Metropolitan 
Detroit, which maintains a 
robust security apparatus to 
protect the local Jewish com-
munity. The Michigan House 
of Representatives recently 
passed bills to strengthen 
Michigan’s hate crime laws. 
State Rep. Noah Arbit (D), 
West Bloomfield, and two 
non-Jewish colleagues were 
the sponsors. State Senate 
approval is considered likely.
We cannot be passive or 
in denial about those who 
hate Jews and threaten our 
community. Instead, we must 
continue to speak out against 
antisemitism and support 
Jewish, secular and govern-
ment organizations that fight 
it through advocacy, legisla-
tion and law enforcement. 
As history has taught us, 
being Jewish has always car-
ried with it a measure of vul-
nerability, but today Jewish 
Americans are not defense-
less or alone. 

Shari S. Cohen is a Jewish News 

contributing writer.

guest column

Thank You for a Wonderful Year
M

y name is Michal 
Neuman; I am a 
proud Shinshinit in 
Metro Detroit. ShinShin is a 
Hebrew acronym for Shnat 
Sherut (year of 
service). Each 
year, Jewish 
Federation’s Israel 
and Overseas 
Department 
brings 
ShinShinim for 
a year of service 
where we work in Detroit’s 
community running programs 
and making connections.
This week, I am returning to 
Israel after the most incredible 
year of my life. I arrived in 
Detroit last August, and I spent 
my year serving the warm, 
loving and welcoming Jewish 
community of Metro Detroit. 
When I arrived, I thought I 
knew everything. I moved to 
Israel from New York when I 
was 8, and thought I knew all 
about what American Jewish 
communities looked like. 
I quickly realized that in life, 
the more you learn the less you 
know. I never imagined how 
loving, tightknit and vibrant 
this community truly is.
When we landed, we were 
taken to Leo’s Coney Island 
on Telegraph and Maple. We 
were told never to say anything 
we wouldn’t want the whole 
community to know when 
we are at Leo’s. We took that 
advice very seriously and 
quickly realized just how many 
involved community members 
we have. 
I quickly started my job at 
Hillel Day School, teaching kids 
of all ages about Israel. At 18, I 
was given a full-time job, and I 

was trusted to educate the next 
generation about Israel. Every 
moment of work at Hillel was 
a pleasure. I was embraced and 
taken care of by every faculty 
member, and the relationships 
I developed with the students 
were one of a kind. I had the 
honor of being their direct 
portal to Israel. 
I did not take that 
responsibility lightly. It was 
my job to deliver them my 
personal Israel. The real Israel, 
where I live with my family and 
friends. Where I am a normal 
high schooler with hobbies and 
interests. 
I later started working at 
Temple Shir Shalom in West 
Bloomfield. I was welcomed 
into the family and had the 
honor of working with SSTY, 
Shir Shalom Temple Youth. 
These were teenagers my age. 
We shared the same interests, 
loved the same foods, watched 
the same TV shows. I made 
real friends from the program 
and was able to show them how 
different life is for someone 
their age in Israel. I joined them 
on their annual trip and went to 
Cincinnati. This was not only 
an opportunity for me to travel, 
but a perfect chance to connect 
with the high schoolers. The 
trip was one of the highlights of 
my year, and the bridges I have 
built at SSTY will carry on. 
Though I had plenty of 
formal work, the relationships 
I developed on my own with 
community members are life-
long. I was invited to many 
homes for Shabbat meals, for 
Israeli programs, bar and bat 
mitzvahs and much more. I 
felt so loved and taken care of. 
Community members drove 

me around when it snowed 
too hard, taught me how to 
properly drive in the U.S., and 
cooked me delicious Israeli 
meals when I missed home. I 
am so honored to say I am part 
of such a magical community. 
The highlight of my year was 
being hosted by a local family, 
the Feinbergs. They initially 
agreed to host me for six 
months, but we soon realized 
that would not be enough time 
together. 
From the moment I arrived, 
they felt like family, and I have 
been treated like a member 
of the family every moment 
since then. I connected my 
family from home with them. 
A family from Michigan can 
now say they have family in 
Jerusalem. That is the magic of 
this program — connection. 
The Feinbergs will stay family 
for life, and I am so grateful for 
their love, warmth, generosity 
and hospitality this year. 
In a few weeks, I will join 
the IDF. I will be teaching in 
schools and youth villages 
throughout the country, and 
helping new immigrants settle 
in. My experience here has 
given me the personal and 
professional tools to embrace 
that role, and I couldn’t be more 
excited to start. Although I am 
returning to Israel, I am sure 
this goodbye is only temporary. 
I feel that I am leaving home to 
go home. I am twice as lucky 
now. 
Please keep in touch, 
and never hesitate to reach 
out for any Israel thoughts 
or questions. My email is 
Michalneuman6@gmail.com. 
Thank you for the best year 
of my life! 

Michal 
Neuman

