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.

