34 | NOVEMBER 2 • 2023 J
N

E

arly Saturday morning, 
Oct. 7, Hamas terrorists 
invaded Israel from 
Gaza and perpetrated a horrif-
ic attack killing 
more than 1,400 
people, most of 
them civilians, 
injuring more 
than 3,000, and 
taking some 
220 hostag-
es — women, 
children, babies, soldiers, the 
elderly, whole families — to 
Gaza. As of this writing, 
the fate of these captives is 
unknown, and Israel and the 
Jewish world is praying and 
advocating for their release. 
The local response to this 
barbaric assault was rapid and 

heartfelt. Although it was both 
Shabbat and a holiday, com-
munity clergy and Federation 
leadership quickly assembled 
to communicate with commu-
nity members and to provide 
a space to gather — to be in 
community in support of our 
family in Israel at this tragic 
time. 

STANDING TOGETHER 
AS A COMMUNITY
A “Community Gathering in 
Solidarity with Israel” was held 
Sunday, Oct. 8, at Beth Israel 
Congregation with over 300 in 
attendance, and another 200 
watching via livestream. The 
size of the crowd, especially in 
light of the short notice and 
that Sunday was the holiday 

of Simchat Torah, is indicative 
of the strong connections with 
Israel shared by members of 
the community. 
After a Havdalah service, 
Congresswoman Debbie 
Dingell spoke emotionally 
about the weekend’s tragedy. 
“Tonight, we grieve the hun-
dreds of Israeli lives that have 
been lost due to senseless 
and terrifying acts of terror-
ism and violence yesterday,” 
she said. “We must support 
Israel as it defends itself in the 
wake of these horrific attacks. 
Terrorism is never justified, 
and this violence must end.” 
Dingell ended by stating her 
support for the community and 
decried the loss of innocent 
life. “So, tonight, at this difficult 
time, I stand with this commu-
nity. I join you all in praying 
this violence comes to a swift 
end. I pray for all the inno-
cent people in the region who 
are suffering. I pray hostages 
are immediately released and 
reunited with their families, and 
I pray for the safety and security 
of all in this region.
”
The program included songs 
and poems, prayers for peace, 
healing, safe return of the hos-
tages and for peace in Israel 
during wartime. Ann Arbor 
Mayor Christopher Taylor led 
the prayer for the peace in 
the State of Israel in English, 

accompanied by Ann Arbor’s 
World Zionist Organization 
Shaliach Amichay Findling in 
Hebrew. 

FEDERATION’S MAJOR 
GIFTS EVENT
An important start to the 
Jewish Federation’s Annual 
Community Campaign is its 
annual Major Gifts Event. 
This year, it was scheduled to 
take place Wednesday, Oct. 
11, with a program focused 
on our local community. 
However, just days before the 
event, Federation determined 
that the focus of the event 
must change to address the 
current situation.
In the words of Federation 
board member Decky 
Alexander at the start of 
the program, “One of the 
most powerful and potent 
characteristics of a Jewish 
Federation, any of the 146 
that live in cities and towns 
across the U.S., is that they are 
dynamic, built to respond to 
the times and, more specifical-
ly, what might happen, emerg-
ing in their backyards or front 
yards, and in backyards and 
front yards across the oceans 
in Ukraine, Minsk or Israel. 
This is one of those times.”
At the event, over 100 
attendees heard moving 
remarks from Israeli jour-

OUR COMMUNITY

Ann Arbor Jewish community 
responds to Hamas terror attacks.

Coming 
Together

Eileen Freed 
 
Special to the 
Jewish News

Cantor Regina Hayut 
and Noga Morag 
LEFT: Amichay 
Findling and Mayor 
Christopher Taylor.

