26 | NOVEMBER 23 • 2023
J
N
S
ometimes the most
random interactions
can leave the most
long-lasting impressions.
Just ask Michelle and David
Bungum. Religious Catholics,
the Minnesota couple had
traveled on their first 12-day
pilgrimage to Israel in May
2023. On their flight back to
the United States, “chance”
had them sitting next to a
19-year-old young man.
Michelle, a friendly,
outgoing therapist, asked this
teenager who he was and
where he was heading.
Daniel Klausner introduced
himself and explained that
he’s a soldier in the IDF.
Michelle and David were
surprised.
“But you sound
American?”
Daniel explained that he
had grown up in Detroit,
graduated Frankel Jewish
Academy in 2021; deferred
college and medical school,
and enlisted as a Lone Soldier
in August 2022.
“We just couldn’t believe
it; we were so impressed by
this incredible, beautiful
young man who’d followed
his strong ideals to go so far
from home and selflessly
volunteer to serve in the
army … Most kids are just
not that selfless,” Michelle
said.
“Daniel shared that he’s
from a religious family and it
made so much sense. Faith is
so important! Daniel touched
both of us deeply and we
kind of fell in love with him.
We feel like he’s our kid.”
On the plane, Daniel
shared that he hadn’t been
home in more than a year
and had been granted a one-
month vacation to visit his
family. Michelle remembered
how she teared up imagining
Daniel’s undoubtedly special
parents and how excited they
must feel to be reunited with
their son.
It’s a long flight from
Israel to New York and even
with the exhausted soldier
napping for a solid few hours,
they still managed to have a
long conversation. It spanned
all sorts of topics and by
the time the plane landed,
they felt like close friends.
They hugged each other and
exchanged email addresses,
pledging to stay in contact,
which they did. Daniel flew
back to the United States in
July again, this time for his
brother’s wedding in Skokie,
and the Bungums tried to
arrange a flight to visit him
although it ultimately didn’t
work out.
PRAYING FOR DANIEL
Then, of course, on Oct. 7,
along with the rest of the
world, Michelle and David
watched the horrific news
coming out of Israel … and
their first thought was of the
lovely young soldier they’d
met all those months ago on
a plane. They emailed Daniel
but received no response.
Michelle was determined
to find out how Daniel was
faring in the war, but how?
She Googled him and found
a picture of Daniel flanked
by his parents — which also
listed their names, Margery
and Howard Klausner of
Southfield. Once Michelle
had Daniel’s parent’s names,
she Googled them and
eventually found what she
thought was Margery’s work
phone number … Or was it?
“I wasn’t sure, but I
decided to leave a message.
They might think I’m a nut
job, but I didn’t care, I just
desperately wanted to find
out that Daniel was OK,”
explained Michelle.
It was the right number.
Later that day, Margery
listened to a message from
a hesitant-sounding woman
explaining who she was
and how she knew Daniel.
Margery (who had heard
about the Bungums back in
May!) called Michelle back.
Fateful Meeting on
a Plane from Israel
OUR COMMUNITY
Christian tourists end up ‘like family’ to
Lone Soldier from Metro Detroit.
ROCHEL BURSTYN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Howard and Margery
Klausner with their
son Daniel in Israel
during happier times.