18 | OCTOBER 19 • 2023 J
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praying for us. By gathering 
tonight, miles and miles away 
from Israel and showing your 
support, you are helping. It 
means the world to us,” Baksis 
said.
One of the most 
heartbreaking moments of the 
evening came in the opening 
statements by Lior Zisser-
Yogev, who recently began 
her role as the 
new community 
shlicha to Israel 
after moving to 
Bloomfield Hills 
in August. 
Zisser-Yogev 
revealed that her 
younger brother, 
Elay, a commander of an 
elite IDF unit who has spent 
the last 10 years in military 
service, was among those 
killed on that fateful Saturday 
morning during an operation 
attempting to rescue families 
and civilians held captive.
“Elay was a camper here in 
the Israeli Camper Program 
in 2010. He loved this 
community. He couldn’t have 
been happier for us when we 
moved here two months ago. 
He was planning to come 
visit,” Zisser-Yogev said. “He 
was only 27. He got married 
less than two years ago. He 
and his wife, now his widow, 
were starting to build a home. 
He was supposed to go to 
college next year. He wanted 
to be an engineer. His whole 
life was ahead of him, and 
now he’s gone.” 
Zisser-Yogev expressed the 
hope of getting on a plane 
to Israel in the following 
days to attend her brother’s 
funeral. She also expressed 
appreciation for the support 
and love from the Detroit 
Jewish community and asked 

those in attendance to pray 
for Israel and to support Israel 
in any way they can.
Parents of individuals 
serving in the IDF were 
in attendance, including 
Margery Klausner, whose son 
Daniel is currently serving as 
a paratrooper. Rabbi Michele 
Faudem, mother of IDF 
army reservist Ari Ershler, 
recited the prayer for the 
IDF in Hebrew. The English 
translation was read by 
former Lone Soldier Hunter 
Cooper. 
The prayer for the State of 
Israel was recited by members 
of the Michigan Board of 
Rabbis. “Am Israel Chai” 
was sung by members of the 
Michigan Board of Cantors, 
with the crowd joining in. 
Leaders from the African 
American community, 
including Rev. Kenneth 
Flowers and Pastor Aramis 
Hinds, were in attendance 
showing support for the 
Jewish community and Israel. 
Rabbi Asher Lopatin, 
executive director of 
the Jewish 
Community 
Relations 
Council/
AJC, hopes 
the gathering 
promotes 
the feeling of 
solidarity in 
supporting Israel and hopes 
that feeling serves as a 
comfort for those in Metro 
Detroit and Israel. 
“I want (the people of 
Israel) to know we’re in this 
together, we’re one people 
and one heart,” Lopatin said. 
“I just want them to feel how 
we’re so connected to them, 
and we’re in this for the long 
run with them.” 

OUR COMMUNITY
COVER STORY

continued from page 16

Lior Zisser-
Yogev

Rabbi 
Asher 
Lopatin

Gov. Gretchen 
Whitmer 
addresses 
attendees.

Rabbi Michele Faudem, mother of IDF 
army reservist Ari Ershler, and former 
Lone Soldier Hunter Cooper

People show their 
love for Israel by 
making heart signs 
with their hands

JAMIE FELDMAN
JOHN HARDWICK
JOHN HARDWICK

