24 | NOVEMBER 9 • 2023 J
N

OUR COMMUNITY

S

ince the start of the 
Israel-Hamas war on 
Oct. 7, the community 
has rallied around Metro 
Detroit’s Jewish population, 
including staff and families at 
Hillel Day School.
Now, nearly every Friday 
has marked a special and 
welcoming occasion for parents 
dropping off their students at 
the school. 
On Oct. 13, a frightening day 
for Jews worldwide amidst a 
call for a “global day of jihad” 
from a former Hamas chief, 
Hillel Day School families were 
instead greeted with familiar 
faces of 10 local rabbis and 
cantors.
As parents, many of whom 
were nervous to send their 
children to school that day, 
pulled up to the schoolHillel 
Day School, the group of local 
clergy and Hillel Day School 

staff were there to greet them 
at drop-off.
“They offered support 
to parents, teachers and to 
show that the synagogues 
are standing with Hillel Day 
School,” says head of school Dr. 
Darin Katz.
Katz says many parents, 
despite knowing ahead of 
time that clergy would be 
present, still had tears in their 
eyes to witness the outpour of 
community love.
“I spoke to many parents 
who were so touched by the 
show of support from their 
rabbi or cantor or someone 
that they know,” Katz explains.
Hillel Day School students 
were happy as well to see 
familiar faces at school, but 
the biggest impact was felt 
for parents who were able to 
experience a sense of relief.

INTERFAITH SUPPORT
The following week, Hillel 
Day School was encouraged 
to keep up the momentum. 
Katz emailed various heads of 
schools of local independent 
and Catholic schools in the 
area to explain what the Jewish 
population was facing and why 
the situation was so difficult.
“I explained how scary this 
has been for the American 
Jewish population, and how 
much support our Israeli staff 
and families need when their 
relatives are on the front lines of 
battle in Israel,
” Katz says of his 
email.
The response was stag-gering. 
Numerous schools, primarily 
of Catholic faith, responded 
to Katz saying that they fully 
support and stand with Hillel 
Day School and the Jewish 
population. 
That Friday, on Oct. 20, they 

stood by his side to welcome 
families.
Six heads of schools and 
principals once again greeted 
parents and their children as 
they pulled up to Hillel Day 
School to drop off their kids for 
a day of learning. 
Represented were Academy 
of the Sacred Heart, Mercy 
High School, St. Fabian Catholic 
Church & School and more.
“They showed interfaith 
support for what we as Israelis 
and what we as Jews are going 
through during the war in 
Israel and during this time 
of significantly increased 
antisemitism,
” Katz says.

Religious schools, local clergy and more 
show support for Hillel staff and families.

Standing in Solidarity 
with Hillel Day School

ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Hillel’s Rabbis David Fain, Davey Rosens and Jeremy Yoskowitz, 
Rabbis Robert Gamer of Beth Shalom, Steven Rubenstein of Beth 
Ahm, Natalie Shribman of Kol Ami and Head of School Dr. Darin Katz

Rabbis Harold Loss and Arianna Gordon of Temple Israel, Rabbi Robert 
Gamer of Beth Shalom, Hazzan Daniel Gross of Adat Shalom, Rabbis 
Asher Lopatin of Kehillat Etz Chayim, Aaron Starr of Shaarey Zedek, 
Jennifer Lader of Temple Israel, Shalom Kantor of B’nai Moshe and 
Hillel’s Rabbi David Fain

Head of School Darin Katz and 
State Rep. Samantha Steckloff