12 | NOVEMBER 16 • 2023 J
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essay

Grosfeld 17 Mission-Goers Regroup to 
Support Local, Global Jewish Communities
S

ept. 11. 
Jan. 6.
Oct. 7. 
No American will forget 
where they were during the 
first two. 
No Jewish 
American will 
forget where 
they were 
during any of 
the three.
For the 20 
leaders and 
participants of Federation’s 
Grosfeld 17 Mission 
(Federation’s invitation-only 
leadership program) that 
was scheduled to depart for 
Poland and Israel Oct. 10, 

like our Jewish brothers and 
sisters around the world, we 
too were filled with the terror 
and sadness on Oct. 7. And as 
the news stories emerged and 
videos of mass celebrations of 
the atrocities were released, 
rage and disgust.
It is difficult to verbalize 
the storm of negative 
emotions that has 
surrounded us all for the 
last several weeks. For the 
Grosfeld 17 group, we were 
also met that fateful Saturday 
with the inescapable reality 
that the trip for which we 
had been studying, planning 
and preparing for nearly a 
year would have to wait. 

Tragic as that day was 
and its aftermath has been, 
the varied professionals of 
Grosfeld 17 were determined 
not to let terror, sorrow, fury 
and disappointment prevail. 
Instead, the group quickly 
assembled for a cocktail (that 
part was surely welcome) 
hour the Wednesday we were 
scheduled to depart. In doing 
so, we found some solace in 
the company of our group. 
As a group, we discovered 
enhanced purpose in service 
to the Jewish community. 
We realized that shared 
tears can have adhesive 
effects for groups. And we 
acknowledged that open 

schedules may be backfilled 
with community events and 
service, not just work. 
From that first get togeth-
er after the Oct. 7 terror-
ist pogrom to today, the 
Grosfeld 17 group has been 
sharing information about 
and attending community 
events; and many of us have 
given of our time, talent and 
treasure to support Jewish 
causes locally and world-
wide. From the incomparable 
Detroit Stands with Israel 
event; to powerful events at 
the Holocaust Center (“never 
again” is regrettably upon 
us); to bravely and forcefully 
standing up to antisemitism 

PURELY COMMENTARY

Student’s Corner

My Israel Experiences 
H

ow many high school students 
can say that they have been to 
Israel three times in one year or 
actually three times in just a few months? 
Through my involvement 
in the Detroit Jewish 
community, along with 
attending Frankel Jewish 
Academy, I have had the 
opportunity to go to Israel 
on three very different 
trips. I have always had a 
love and curiosity for the 
State of Israel, which was strengthened 
when I got to see the land, learn more 
about Israel’s history and connect with 
Israelis.
My first trip to Israel was last March. 
FJA sent the robotraffic team of 10 

students to compete in a worldwide 
competition. Our team placed fourth. 
I will never forget the excitement I felt 
as the airplane touched the ground at 
the Ben-Gurion airport. As we were on 
the bus headed to the hotel, I remember 
watching the beautiful scenery out of 
the bus window. It looked foreign but 
felt like home at the same time. This was 
the moment I had dreamed about since 
I first started learning about Israel at 
age 5 on Sundays at Temple Israel. This 
amazing experience combined my love 
of robotics with my passion for learning 
Hebrew. 
Since my first experience in Israel, 
the only thing I could think about was 
counting down the days until I could go 
back. It wasn’t long before I returned to 

Israel, in May, with my junior class at 
Frankel Jewish Academy. My whole grade 
had been looking forward to this trip 
since freshman year. This second trip was 
a bit longer, and I got to really experience 
more Israeli culture while practicing my 
Hebrew skills. To prepare for this trip, 
many of my teachers had been teaching 
us about language, culture and history. 
Being there with all of my school friends 
helped us bond with our teachers and 
each other. Spending our last Havdalah 
all together in Israel, singing by the 
Kinneret is my favorite memory. 
After just catching up on sleep, I was 
on my third trip to Israel with Camp 
Tamarack. Here I was, eating more 
falafel, going to the shuk and, with my 
camp friends, hiking and exploring the 

Madison 
Charnas

Jordan 
Bolton

