JULY 27 • 2023 | 11
1996 during Operation Desert Storm.
Today he is a member of JWV-MI Post
510, of which I am a patron.
Several months ago, Ethan gave a
riveting and emotional presentation at a
JWV Dept. of Michigan meeting about
a humanitarian trip he took to Ukraine
last November under the guidance
of JRNU. The majority of the trip
revolved around his interaction with the
displacement of the Jewish children from
the Mishpachah Orphanage of Odessa,
Ukraine.
For nearly a year, the kids were moved
to temporary housing in Berlin until
recently, when they were able to return
to Odessa, details of which Ethan shared
in the Dec. 8, 2022, edition of the JN.
As the CEO of the Southfield firm
Globe Midwest Adjusters International,
Ethan is no stranger to being an
eyewitness to devastation leveled on
properties, including the aftermath of
9/11 and Hurricane Katrina.
He ultimately relied on his insurance
adjusting insight to evaluate and report
to those back home what the reality was
on the ground in Ukraine and what was
needed to help.
He was so moved by his visit that upon
his return, Ethan sponsored the Detroit/
Ukraine Jewish Community Unity event
last December at Congregation Shaarey
Zedek to raise awareness, supplies and
funds to be distributed by JRNU. That
included a substantial amount of winter
clothing. Ethan is now helping the
organization with their summer camp
program.
RESPITE FROM WAR
Ukraine summer camps have been
established in several locations, with the
camps providing a supportive Jewish
community. The sites and safety of each
camp are determined and overseen by a
former chief of security at El Al Airlines
in Ukraine.
“The safety and comfort of the
camps create a perfect environment
for parents and children to benefit
from psychological support, learning,
individual development and personal
growth,” says Judi Garrett, COO of JRNU
who is based out of northern Virginia.
“For many families, Jewish summer
camps provide a rare opportunity to
escape the daily pressures and stress of
martial law and enjoy a ‘normal life’ even
if for just a little while.”
Testimonials by parents shared with
me by Judi reflect the overwhelming
gratitude the Ukrainian Jewish
community has for JRNU’s efforts.
These are parents who in one sentence
reflect on a life of bomb shelters while
in another talk about the joy of knowing
their child was able to bake a challah at
camp.
A mother, Galina, wrote of her 8-year-
old daughter Marina: “Our family is
eternally displaced. We were incredibly
pleased with the offer to attend the
summer camp in the Jewish community
of Kyiv. Our child came back to life,
happily runs to camp each morning,”
she said, “and it provides much needed
Yiddishkeit for her.”
For so many Ukrainian children,
the war has reduced their education to
strictly online learning. The summer
camps help restore vital interpersonal
communication that the war has left in
in short supply.
“Thank you for giving maximum
efforts and opportunities in such a
difficult time,” says Victoria, the mother
of 12-year-old son Nathanel. “It is for me
that my child’s interest and enthusiasm
for Jewish life is supported while at the
same time he’s not falling out of the
general picture of life!”
The summer camps for Jewish
Ukrainian youth have been around for
30 years, but in view of the tragedy and
upheaval that is the war with Russia,
support for them has never been more
critical for the children’s well-being.
The staff includes teachers,
counselors, local community members
and, in the spirit of l’dor v’dor, from
generation to generation, camp alumni
return as a way of giving back.
SUMMER TZEDAKAH
As previously stated, every dollar raised
for the camps by JRNU, no matter the
amount, has a direct and immediate
impact. According to JRNU, it costs
about $400 to a send a child to day camp
for two weeks and $1,200 to an overnight
camp for three weeks. With an operating
budget of nearly $1 million and 10 camp
sessions planned for August, your help
is still vitally needed for this year and
beyond.
You can donate at jrnu.org. JRNU is a
501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, and
all donations are deductible to the full
continued on page 12
Ethan Gross hand-
ing out Cokes to
Ukrainian orphans.