16 | OCTOBER 19 • 2023 J
N

continued on page 18

Erela Sabag, a current Detroit 
Shinshiniot (an Israeli teen 
program), delivered 
heartbreaking 
testimony from a 
friend who managed 
to escape from the 
desert music festival 
near the Gaza-Israel 
border, where Hamas 
attacked and left an estimated 
260 dead. 
Liraz Baksis, a former Israeli 
emissary to Jewish 
Detroit, expressed 
in her testimonial 
video that the 
previous 48 hours 
were a nightmare 
and unlike 
anything Israel has 
experienced before. Baksis said 
she has received an incredible 
number of messages from 
people outside of Israel, Detroit 
included, asking how they can 
help. They already are, Baksis 
said.
“By thinking about us, by 

Erela 
Sabag

Liraz 
Baksis

Federation CEO Steve 
Ingber and Lior Zisser-
Yogev, new community 
shlicha

ABOVE: Attendees dance 
to show their love of Israel.

JOHN HARDWICK

JOHN HARDWICK

continued from page 14

OUR COMMUNITY
COVER STORY

