20 | NOVEMBER 16 • 2023 

OUR COMMUNITY

the hostages, in Hebrew and 
English, so people can have 
“extra intention in 
their prayers for 
them,” said Rabbi 
Asher Lopatin. 
The congregation 
also displayed an 
Israeli flag and 
is considering 
displaying photos of 
the hostages.
Several congregations created 
other types of visual reminders. 
Temple Shir Shalom in West 
Bloomfield placed 220 white 
folding chairs festooned with 
blue ribbons on their lawn 
facing busy Orchard Lake Road. 
Temple Beth El in Bloomfield 
Township outlined the borders 
of Israel using white tape over 
the pews.
At Congregation Shir Tikvah 
in Troy, a lobby display urges 
congregants to donate supplies 
for soldiers in Israel, said Rabbi 
Alicia Harris. Congregant Joyce 
May of Linden is 
coordinating the 
effort though Ahavat 
HaChayal, an Israeli 
organization that 
supports the army 
and hospitals. 
Purchases are made 
through Amazon 
and delivered to the temple. 
From there they are taken to 
New York and then flown to 
Israel.
“We need to keep the hostages 
in all of our hearts and minds, 
and never let the world forget 
that their lives remain in the 
hands of Hamas terrorists,” 
Ingber said. 
“The display we set up with 
Temple Shir Shalom, and those 
at many local congregations, are 
a powerful part of this effort, 
and we hope others do all they 
can to keep the plight of the 
hostages at the center.” 

Rabbi Alicia 
Harris

continued from page 18

Rabbi 
Asher 
Lopatin

Congregation 
Beth Shalom’s 
display

At Congregation 
Shaarey Zedek

ON THE COVER

