8 | SEPTEMBER 28 • 2023 J
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an AIPAC policy conference 
amplified his passion for social 
justice and equity, emphasizing 
the importance of maintaining 
civility despite disagreements. 

Mayor Kalman transitioned 
into his professional career 
before entering the public 
sphere. Armed with a diverse 
skillset and a deep sense of 
purpose, he embarked on a 
journey that saw him excel in 
various roles within the private 
sector. 

ON TO PUBLIC SERVICE
He honed his leadership abil-
ities, cultivated a keen under-
standing of business dynamics, 
and built valuable connections 
that would later serve his 
community well. This profes-
sional foundation equipped 
Kalman with the expertise 
needed for public service and 
underscored his commitment 
to bringing a fresh and capable 
perspective to his constituents’ 
challenges.
During his early tenure 
in office, Kalman discerned 
a distinction between his 
Jewish and political identities. 
This separation wasn’t about 
concealing any aspect of 
himself but underscored his 
commitment to an egalitarian 
approach in his role as mayor. 
Mayor Kalman’s perspective 

shifted throughout his time in 
office. As the years passed and 
he navigated the complexities 
of local governance, he began 
to perceive the blurring of 
these boundaries between his 
two identities. 
This shift became even 
more pronounced with the 
rise in hate crimes and inci-
dents of discrimination tar-
geting various communities, 
necessitating a response that 
would call upon both his polit-
ical leadership and his Jewish 
values. 
In the face of compelling 
data from the American 
Jewish Committee and ADL, 
which highlighted a sub-
stantial surge in antisemitic 
incidents, particularly in 
Michigan, Mayor Kalman 
decided to take a bold leap 
of action. Working with the 
Jewish Community Relations 
Council/ AJC, Mayor Kalman 
took a decisive step by leading 
the effort to pass a resolution 
adopting the International 
Holocaust Remembrance 
Alliance (IHRA) definition of 
antisemitism. This non-bind-
ing yet influential resolution 
signifies a profound commit-
ment to countering bigotry 
and intolerance within Keego 
Harbor — a tangible manifes-
tation of tikkun olam. 

Kalman’s recent experience 
with Hadar, a program of 
engaging Jewish study, was 
a deliberate step outside his 
comfort zone — he wanted to 
explore a different approach to 
studying texts at the yeshivah 
to enhance his analytical skills, 
decision-making and policy 
creation. 
With 16 years of local 
government service, this 
experience has led Kalman to 
approach policy more deeply 
and thoughtfully. He also real-
ized that his interpretation of 
Jewish values often aligns with 
democratic values, reinforcing 
his commitment to public 
service. 
Mayor Kalman stands out 
for his proactive approach to 
community- building, under-
standing that a community 
thrives on active engagement. 
He encourages interaction, 
breaks down stereotypes, and 
fosters understanding among 
his diverse residents by initi-
ating numerous community 
events. Mayor Kalman firmly 
believes that genuine change 
requires action — a bold leap 
toward repairing the world. 

Michael Kuper is the advocacy 

associate for JCRC/AJC and worked 

with Mayor Kalman in adopting the 

IHRA resolution in Keego Harbor. 

the workers we saw at 
IKEA, appeared to consist 
of men and women in 
their 20s, recruited from 
several segments of the 
Israeli population. As they 
worked, they conferred 
with each other and with 
us in rapid Hebrew and, 
for some, just as rapid 
English. Appearances did 
not reliably give away which 
language would appear next 
and with what accent. 
When we got settled with 
all of our merchandise at 
the shipping department, 
a second cashier went 
through each item, 
painstakingly checking to 
correct any errors from that 
first hurried check-out. 
The shipping department 
needed the receipt to 
register all the heavy 
items for delivery, and 
then we could leave with 
the light items; but we 
needed the same receipt 
to take anything out of the 
store, and the shipping 
department could not give 
the receipt back until the 
second cashier had verified 
each item. So, we waited, 
sitting beside our piles 
of merchandise, until the 
second cashier signed off. 
Which eventually 
happened. 
 And then we loaded 
our two cars with the light 
purchases and left. In a 
little over six hours, we 
had bought nearly all the 
furnishings and household 
goods for our new apartment 
in Beit Shemesh. 
Along the way, we 
absorbed some lessons about 
Israeli society and about 
IKEA in Israel. 

FIRST ALIYAH . . . THEN IKEA
continued from page 4

Keego Harbor Mayor Rob Kalman and Council Member 
Brian Lampl display the IHRA resolution.

KEEGO HARBOR MAYOR ROB KALMAN REFLECTS ON LEADERSHIP, 
JUDAISM – AND WORKING WITH JCRC/AJC continued from page 6

