16 | NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 

Federations of North 
America (JFNA), one of 
two rally sponsors, took 
the mike. He shared a 
statement from the Detroit 
Federation that the bus 
company had experienced 
a “deliberate and malicious 
walk-off of drivers.” He 
added it appeared the 
cause was antisemitism, 
saying even though they 
did not make it to the rally, 
their experience was of 
extra value as Federation, 
ADL, JFNA and other pro-
fessionals were going to 
pursue this issue. 
While a few already 
considered antisemitism 
was involved, the confir-
mation shocked some.
“I’m angry and disap-
pointed, but so scared 
by what this means,” 
said Linda Roth of West 
Bloomfield, who attended 
with her husband, Alex. 
“This is the first time I’ve 
ever done anything like 
this,” she said, referring to 
the rally, “and this is the 
first time I’ve been directly 
touched by antisemitism. 
I grew up in a small city 
in Ohio with 100 Jews 
and never experienced 

anything like this. The 
sting and the pain. I’m 
concerned for my nine 
grandchildren.”
Sherry Wasserman of 
Huntington Woods, part 
of a delegation from 
Congregation B’nai Moshe, 
was disturbed but defiant.
“I’m very sad and 
disappointed to be here 
because I very much 
wanted to be there,” she 
said. “I’m very angry it 
happened, and I hope they 
pursue it strongly. I have 
never encountered this 
kind of antisemitic activity. 
“My generation led a 
charmed life after the 
war (WWII) when people 
understood what had 
happened to the Jews 
and it was not socially 
acceptable to be this 
way. The fact it is socially 
acceptable now terrifies 
me, but our enemies don’t 
get to decide if I support 
Israel, if I go to Israel or 
what I do as a Jew.”
Avi Smith of Southfield, 
whose son is a Lone 
Soldier in the IDF, said, 
“This was not a failure, 
this was a big success. I 
would like to thank the 

continued from page 15

OUR COMMUNITY

Wendy Brodsky 
and Nia Kepes of 
West Bloomfield 
on the tarmac

DON COHEN

JOHN HARDWICK/JFMD

Some of the younger 
generation show 
their spirit and 
support for Israel. 

