OCTOBER 19 • 2023 | 45
J
N

Vigil at University 
of Michigan

Jewish groups held an Israel solidarity 
event on Oct. 9.

JN STAFF
A

long with you, our hearts 
are aching as we watch 
the events unfolding 
in Israel — there are truly no 
words, wrote Abbey Frank, chair 
of the Board of Trustees at the 
University of Michigan Hillel, in 
an email to students and friends 
of the university.
Michigan Hillel, along with 
the Jewish Resource Center and 
Chabad, planned a vigil on Oct. 
9 “for the community to gather 
as one and pray for the safety and 
security of the Israeli people and 
all impacted by this violence.
”
The event began at the Hillel 
building where approximately 600 
people gathered. It continued as a 

solidarity walk down Hill Street to 
State Street and ended at the U-M 
Diag where more than 1,000 peo-
ple gathered to hear students and 
organization leaders share prayers 
and sing together. Following the 
vigil, Hilllel remained open and 
over 100 people stayed to sing and 
be together.
Hillel has been open through-
out the week to offer students the 
chance to stop by “for support, to 
debrief, talk to peers or simply be 
in a safe space with others expe-
riencing similar feelings,
” Frank 
said. 
“We will be providing this addi-
tional support to students as long 
as the war continues.
” 

TOP: Students first 
gathered at the U-M 
Hillel. 

BOTTOM: More 
than 1,000 people 
gathered on the U-M 
Diag 

COURTESY OF U-M HILLEL

Windsor Jewish Community Stands with Israel

JOE SCHNAYER 
SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
T

he Windsor Jewish 
community hosted a 
Prayer and Solidarity 
rally on Tuesday, Oct. 10, in 
response to the war happening 
in Israel at Congregation Beth 
El Synagogue in Windsor, 
Ontario. 
The event was led by 
community clergies, Rabbi 
Sholom Galperin and Hazzan 
Devorah Fick, along with 
Windsor Jewish Federation 
Executive Director, Dan 
Brotman and the Canadian 
Regional Director for the 
Jewish Agency for Israel, Yaron 
Deckel. 
 

Joe Schnayer is head of 
programming and senior services at 
the Windsor Federation.

Hazzan Devorah Fick giving her opening 
remarks.

Rabbi Sholom Galperin having a discussion with Windsor 
MP Irek Kusmierczyk.

A crowd of around 300 people gathered in 
Congregation Beth El Synagogue.

Canadian Regional Director for the Jewish 
Agency for Israel, Yaron Deckel, giving a 
detailed presentation on what was currently 
happening over Zoom.

