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.

