AUGUST 17 • 2023 | 25

people to look at Michigan as a potential 
place to build a life.”
Whitmer’s message to JN readers and 
Michigan’s Jewish community in the face 
of the rise in antisemitism is a commit-
ment to the work of making sure every 
person can live their lives and be safe in 
their communities across Michigan.
“That’s why these historic dollars 
that we’re putting in, especially for our 
Michigan Jewish community, are really 
important,” Whitmer said. “We’ve seen 
such a rise in hate speech across the 
country in the last six to seven years. It’s 
important that we hold people account-
able, that we’ve got clearly defined stan-
dards and laws on the books, and that 
we have the resources to combat that 
rise. We’re making strides on all those 
fronts, but there’s always more work 
to do. And the counsel I get from so 
many leaders in the community is really 
important as I set agendas, as I sign pol-

icy, bills and budget bills as well.”
As a supporter of the Jewish State of 
Israel, the JN asked Whitmer for her 
thoughts on the country’s ongoing, 
controversial judicial reform and what 
that could mean for democracy there. 
Though she’s not often on the nation-
al stage dealing with or talking about 
geopolitical issues, Whitmer says she’s 
watching what’s going on in Israel with a 
great deal of concern. 
“It is an important democracy, for a 
lot of reasons, and I’ve got real concerns 
about what we’re seeing happening,” 
Whitmer said. “And I watch the protest-
ers, and I’m grateful that so many feel so 
strongly that they’re willing to raise their 
voices.”
In 2019, Whitmer’s first overseas trip 
as governor was to Israel. While there, 
Whitmer signed a Memorandum of 
Understanding with Israel-based tech 
NGO Start-Up Nation Central, which 

connects Israel-based companies with 
operations in Michigan.
“It was really spectacular,” Whitmer 
said of the trip. “The convergence of so 
many different faiths and perspectives 
is one of the things that makes Israel so 
important and why we’ve got to watch 
what’s going on with great concern and 
fight to make sure it continues to be a 
democracy.”
Earlier this year, Whitmer hosted 
a “Freedom Seder” at the governor’s 
mansion for the second year in a row. 
The event is organized by the Coalition 
for Black and Jewish Unity and brings 
together leaders from both communi-
ties as a local effort to speak out against 
bigotry and promote solidarity. Having 
hosted twice now, Whitmer says she 
would not yet consider herself a pro at 
seder hosting, though she plans to con-
tinue hosting as long as she’s governor. 
“I’ve come to really appreciate Shabbat 
dinner on Friday nights,” Whitmer 
added. “One of my favorite things is 
when people invite me to partake in a 
Shabbat dinner.”
Bernard is on the same wavelength as 
Whitmer — hoping the retreat serves as 
an avenue to sell young people on what 
Detroit and Michigan have to offer, as a 
dynamic place to live and work and for 
its strong Jewish community. 
From the JFNA and Cabinet point 
of view, Bernard’s hope for people who 
attended the retreat is to take what they 
learned, go back to their communities 
and make a difference in any way they 
can. “We’re all in this together,” Bernard 
said. 

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer 
gives the keynote speech.

Nearly 300 people 
attended the event.

Gary Torgow 
addresses 
attendees.