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country. On this trip, I spent 
more time with Israelis, 
making it all the more 
meaningful. I was hosted at 
one of my friend’s homes for 
a Shabbat dinner, meeting 
her family and enjoying 
Israeli home cooking. 
The highlight of this trip 
was when my supervisor 
arranged for me to meet my 
Root One friend who I had 
been talking to for a few 
months, but never thought 
I would have the chance to 
meet.
These amazing 
experiences were all made 
possible for me because of 

Detroit’s connection with 
Israel. Tamarack Camps, 
Jewish Federation and FJA 
have made Israeli culture 
and my Israeli friends part 
of my everyday life. Because 
of the connections I have 
made, I am passionate about 
speaking up for the people 
of Israel, especially during 
times like these. While I 
have not yet planned my 
next trip, I continue to pray 
for peace in the Land of 
Israel. 

Madison Charnas lives in West 

Bloomfield and is a 12th-grade 

student at Frankel Jewish Academy.

at our alma maters; to 
helping fund the important 
work done by Federation to 
support troops and the dis-
placed; to sending necessary 
supplies, handwritten notes 
of support and friendship 
bracelets to IDF soldiers 
and others on or near the 
frontlines, Grosfeld 17 has 
been out in force. 
In the end, instead of 
fueling terror, for Grosfeld 
17, the Oct. 7 attack poured 
fuel on the fire of our desire 
… to support our families 
… to support each other 
… to support our Detroit 
Jewish community … to 
support Jews worldwide … 
and to battle antisemitism 
wherever it is found. 
A rescheduled date for 
the mission has not yet 
been set — times remain 
too uncertain, and it regret-

tably seems that they will 
for months. And it remains 
unclear if this group will 
ultimately decide to make 
a request to be named 
Grosfeld 18 (chai). No mat-
ter the date and no matter 
the name, this group is ded-
icated to making the trip as 
soon as we are able. 
And when we do, without 
being unduly pollyannish, 
there is no doubt that this 
Grosfeld group, our Detroit 
Jewish community, our 
beloved State of Israel and 
the worldwide Jewish com-
munity will individually 
and collectively emerge 
from the present darkness 
brighter than ever before. 
Am Yisrael Chai! 

Jordan Bolton is a lawyer and 

member of the Grosfeld Leadership 

Program.

being Jewish.
How do we do this? Start 
at the top. Presidents and 
boards of directors must 
not tolerate violence or 
support for terrorism on 
campus. We can preserve 
students’ right to free 
expression while adopting 
and enforcing codes of 
conduct that make clear 
that threatening other 
students or endorsing 
violence is out of bounds — 
whether in the classroom, 
at a literary festival or in 
student demonstrations.
In the long term, colleges 
should strive for faculty 
who reflect the breadth 
of American life, rather 
than the predilections of a 
radical fringe disassociated 
from truth and American 
values. While entitled to 
their political opinions, 
professors should be taken 
to task when their advocacy 
denies the truth or, worse, 
endorses murder and 
terrorism. There are limits 
to academic freedom, and 
college leaders should not let 
political correctness render 
them silent.
When it comes to 
accommodating students, 
we too often confuse 
comfort with safety. It’s 
OK for students to feel 
uncomfortable, disturbed 
or offended — that’s part of 
the process of education and 
resilience-building. 
Certainly, Jewish students 
may be exposed to views 
on Israel with which they 
disagree. But when these 
students feel physically 
unsafe because students 
or faculty members are 
advocating terrorism, the 

line has been crossed.
I know that the line isn’t 
always clear, and people of 
good faith sometimes will 
disagree. But when Jewish 
students are forced to shelter 
in a library for safety while 
an angry mob bangs on 
windows and doors chanting 
anti-Israel slogans, the line 
has been crossed. 
When the mantra 
“from the river to the 
sea” — a recognized dog 
whistle calling for Israel’s 
destruction — is projected 
onto the façade of a campus 
library, the line has been 
crossed. 
When Israeli or Jewish 
students are assaulted by 
someone ripping down 
posters of kidnapped 
civilians, the line has been 
crossed.
Since the events of Oct. 
7, we at Touro have worked 
especially hard to ensure that 
all of our students, including 
approximately 500 students 
in Israel, have the academic, 
psychological and practical 
support they need in this 
difficult time. Some of our 
students have been called up 
for Israeli military service, 
and we’re accommodating 
them as best we can.
Jewish students on all 
campuses across America 
need to have basic 
protections. Nobody should 
stay silent when they are 
threatened, harassed and 
assaulted. It is our obligation 
as American Jews, and 
my duty as a university 
president, to stand up for 
what is right. 

Dr. Alan Kadish is the president of 

Touro University in New York City.

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