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