OCTOBER 19 • 2023 | 27
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bout 300 community 
members gathered together 
on Sunday, Oct. 8, at Ann 
Arbor’s Beth Israel Congregation to 
express their solidarity with Israel. An 
additional 194 watched the program on 
livestream.
The community gathering in support 
of Israel was a true communal event 
coordinated by leaders from the Jewish 
Federation of Greater Ann Arbor, 
Beth Israel Congregation, Temple 
Beth Emeth and the Ann Arbor 
Reconstructionist Congregation. All 
local Jewish communal organizations 
promoted the program through their 
e-communications channels and from 
the bimah. 
Congresswoman Debbie Dingell 

shared her distress over the senseless 
killing and hostage taking of civilians 
and reiterated Israel’s right to defend 
itself against such attacks. 
Other speakers and presenters 
included World Zionist Organization 
teacher/shaliach Amichay Findling, 
Rabbi Nadav Caine and Rabbi Rob 
Dobrusin of Beth Israel Congregation, 
Cantor Regina Hayut and Rabbi 
Chelsea Fuchs of Temple Beth 
Emeth, Rabbi Aharon Goldstein of 
Chabad House of Ann Arbor, Rav 
Gabrielle Pescador of the Ann Arbor 
Reconstructionist Congregation, 
Federation Executive Director 
Eileen Freed and Ann Arbor Mayor 
Christopher Taylor, who read the 
Prayer for the State of Israel. 

D

aniel Bucksbaum is 
leading a drive to 
collect items needed 
for Detroit IDF soldiers, who 
number more than 100. 
Bucksbaum, who 
lives in Madison 
Heights and works for 
the JCRC, reached out 
to Sam Merecki, an 
acquaintance he met 
whose fiancée is one of 
those IDF soldiers. She 
was working to collect 
supplies, and as an individual 
he wanted to help.
“I was surprised by the 
need for military gear,” he 
said. “But never have so many 
IDF reservists been called up 

at once. It’s unprecedented.”
The 27-year-old said 
that people his age “might 
not have a lot of money to 
donate, but they still want 
to contribute. Perhaps 
they can donate 
needed supplies for our 
soldiers.”
Supplies will be 
picked up each week 
and driven to New 
York, where they will 
be deployed with the 
soldiers who are leaving for 
Israel. 
If you want to 
contribute, email Daniel at 
danielbucksbaum@gmail.com 
for more information. 

Donation Drive for 
Detroit IDF Soldiers

Daniel 
Bucksbaum

JN STAFF

Ann Arbor Jewish 
Community Expresses 
Solidarity with Israel

RACHEL WALL SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS 

Rep. Debbie Dingell 
addresses those 
gathered at Ann 
Arbor’s Beth Israel 
Congregation.

