AUGUST 3 • 2023 | 11
nuclear weapons for peaceful
purposes.”
“We have no conflict
with the Iranian people,” he
said, “but allowing Iran to
become a nuclear state is
unacceptable,” which once
again sent the crowd to
their feet in a loud show of
support.
On the issue of criticism
of Israel, he made it clear
that it’s perfectly acceptable,
but when it “crosses the line
of negation of Israel’s right
to exist, that’s antisemitism.”
He ended the speech with
the words, “Am Yisrael Chai”
— the people of Israel live.
The crowd responded with
one last raucous applause
and cheers.
As President Herzog left
the podium, members of
Congress waiting patiently
for a chance to get in a
handshake and sometimes
a hug. I stood and
watched it all. The
affection was real,
unmistakable and
truly heartwarming.
The state of the
union between Israel
and the American
Congress, I can
report, is clearly
quite solid at this
time.
As I exited the
Capital, the police
halted everyone as
President Herzog was
driven off in front
of us in a black limousine
draped with Israeli flags,
escorted by a massive
motorcade. I stared at the
scene and wondered what
he was thinking. Was he
happy with the speech? Does
he believe that his words
strengthened the bond
between the two countries?
Was he thinking of his father
and grandfather?
He was on his way back
home to Israel, a place that
has never known true peace
for its entire existence. Was
he feeling good that he had
served his embattled country
well that day or was he sad
by all the constant effort that
he and others must do just
for the sake of the survival
of his beloved country?
Mark Jacobs is AIPAC’s Michigan
Director of African American
Outreach and a member of the
Coalition for Black and Jewish Unity.
Mark Jacobs and
Rep. Shri Thanedar
column
Good Gossip
H
ey, there, Metro
Detroiters. Yenta
Girl here. It’s August
and we have a lot to cover.
We’re celebrating JScreen
Detroit reaching over 300
registrations.
That’s hundreds
of families
receiving
crucial genetic
information.
Have you
signed up for
your highly
subsidized
reproductive and/or cancer
genetic screening kit yet? If
not, get on it at
jfamily.jccdet.org/jscreen.
Community pillar Joel
Tauber turned 88, and he’s
not slowing down on serving
our Jewish community
anytime soon.
A big mazel tov to JFMD’s
Philanthropic Advancement
superstar, Mimi Marcus,
on her engagement to Chad
Ruby, who pulled off a
beautiful proposal at the
picturesque Sleeping Bear
Sand Dunes. We can’t wait to
see the wedding photos.
Yom huledet sameach to an
amazing grandmother, Betty
Blase — 90 years young.
Spotted transforming
Kiryat Yam through
enhanced education with
ORT, philanthropists Andi
and Larry Wolfe dedicated
an education wing in the new
Farber Family Auditorium
Complex.
After treating all of Metro
Detroit for 38 years, Dr.
Scott Lewis, M.D. has laid
down his stethoscope —
thank you for your service.
Fresh off the plane from
Germany, Aish Detroit
welcomes the Miller
family to lead young family
programming — we cannot
wait to see what Noam,
Miriam and their four
young children bring to our
community.
Yasher koach to Jewish
Family Service honorees:
Diana Mukh, Leonid
Balabanov, Elaine Polevoy
and Mark Jacobs — your
devotion to our community
is invaluable.
Lastly, keep an eye out
for the next generation
of global Jewish leaders
and philanthropists as 300
members of JFNA’s National
Young Leadership Cabinet
took on Detroit at the end
of last month. Our Jewish
community shined.
Please fill me in on all your “jewcy”
news at samanthafoon14@gmail.com.
I cannot wait to brighten your day!
Samantha
Foon
Contributing
Writer
Joel Tauber
Larry and
Andi Wolfe
Correction
In “Michigan Storms Ecomotion” (July 20, page 40), Greg
McGuire’s name appeared incorrectly in two instances on
page 41.