14 | NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 

At about 4 p.m. on Nov. 
6, the Jewish Federation 
of Detroit sent an email 
saying at 8 p.m. they’d 
offer a limited number of 
seats on chartered flights 
to Washington, D.C., for a 
national March for Israel 
on Nov. 14. 
 Within days, a diverse 
group of 900 Jews and 
others had filled three 
planes to stand for Israel, 
demand the release of the 
hostages, and call out and 
oppose antisemitism. 
The morning of the 
march, people headed 
early to the airport to 
board their designated 
plane: purple, orange or 
green. The weather was 
chilly but clear, and each 
flight left on time. Even 
with the early departures, 

few slept on the way to 
D.C.; there was too much 
energy and excitement. 
People were ready to be 
there and be heard. 
Evan Bronstein, 15, a 
Frankel Jewish Academy 

student attending with 
his parents, Eric and Lisa 
of Huntington Woods, 
was resolute. “I have 
lots of friends in Israel 
because of Tamarack, and 
I have a strong sense of 

Zionism and support Israel 
because it is my heritage 
and my homeland. We 
need to stand up against 
terrorists,” he said.
“I feel it is an obligation 
to show my unbridled 
support for the State of 
Israel,” said Marc Cohen 
of Birmingham, who has 
traveled to Israel four 
times on Federation 
missions. “I’m very proud 
to be a member of the 
Detroit Jewish community, 

OUR COMMUNITY

Detroiters Find Meaning in the 
Journey, Though Many Didn’t 
Make it to the March

DON COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

JOHN HARDWICK/JFMD

Spirits and energy were 
high during the eight hours 
spent on the purple plane. 

Those who made it off the purple plane for 
a short while held an impromptu rally on the 
tarmac at Dulles International Airport. 

DON COHEN

