NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 | 15

Ayal was fortunate to join 
his parents, Rebecca and Rabbi 
Aaron Starr, at the march. His 
brother Caleb, 16, a junior at 
Frankel Jewish Academy, was 
stuck in a plane on the tarmac 
at Dulles airport.
Unfortunately, one full plane 
of Detroiters never left the 
airport. (See sidebar.) 
“The buses hired to take over 
900 participants from Dulles 
International Airport to the site 
of the march failed to appear, 
delaying the arrival of many in 
our group,
” read a statement 
from the Detroit Federation 
circulated by JFNA. 
“We have learned this was 
caused by a deliberate and 
malicious walk-off of drivers.
”
David Kurzmann, senior 
director of community affairs 
at the Detroit Federation, 
said at a press conference he 
considered the incident to be 
“an act targeting the Jewish 
community” … but he stopped 
short of calling it antisemitic.

“I had originally decided 
to attend the rally in hopes 
of marching for our brothers 
and sisters in Israel with my 
family and especially my FJA 
community,
” Caleb said. “I was 

not able to do that because 
there were no buses for the 
FJA group, so I felt slightly 
disconnected from the Jewish 
community at 
the time as well 
as a sense of 
uselessness. On a 
more positive note, 
comfort, empathy 
and camaraderie 
were provided 
to everyone who was unable 
to attend the march, further 
exemplifying our commitment 
toward each other above all else. 
“Ultimately, I am saddened 
and even angered by the bus 
drivers’ decisions to refuse to 
take us to the rally but was 
reminded yet again of the 
generosity and love the Jewish 
community shows toward Israel 
and one another.
”
Despite the challenges, the 
overwhelming feeling was that 
Detroit succeeded in expressing 
love and support of the 
community for Israel and the 
Jewish people. 

Visit thejewishnews.com to see a gallery 

of more photos. Watch the March for 

Israel at www.marchforisrael.org/watch-

the-march.

OUR COMMUNITY
COVER STORY

continued from page 13

which shows its support 
for Israel in every way, 
shape and form.”
When the three 
planes arrived at Dulles 
International Airport in 
Virginia, everyone was 
excited to board a bus 
for the 45-minute ride to 
the National Mall, hoping 
to arrive early to the rally 
set for 1-3 p.m. But there 
were no buses. 
Eventually all those on 
the green plane made it 
to the rally by 1:30 p.m. 
and about half of the 
orange plane got there 
around 2:30 p.m. Some 
met up with Detroiters 
who had made their 
own arrangements or 
traveled overnight on a 
bus organized by Young 
Israel of Oak Park. 
The 294 passengers 
on the “purple” plane 
were told the buses 
were delayed by the 
Transportation Security 
Administration (TSA), but 
they would be there. 
Annette Berenholz of 
Farmington Hills, her 
partner, Igal Shaham, 
and others were getting 
anxious. Berenholz has a 
lot of family in Israel, and 
she was on a mission.
“I had so many other 
important things to do, 
but there is nothing 
more important than 
being here,” she said. 
“It is very important to 
the people of Israel that 
the Jewish people in the 
diaspora, especially in 
the U.S., are supporting 
them. They need to see 
it because they see so 
many on the other side. 
“We see another 
Holocaust coming and 
we aren’t going to let it 
happen.” 

After a while, the 
purple passengers 
were told there weren’t 
enough buses, so they 
were taking people on 
the other planes first. 
After an hour, it was 
clear was that if we 
didn’t board the buses 
soon, we were going to 
miss the start of the rally. 
More time passed and 
we were told it was our 
turn to board buses but 
they would take us to 
the front of the terminal 
to catch an Uber or Lyft. 
The plane door was 
opened and, after 20 
minutes, the first people 
descended the staircase 
and got on two buses 
that soon were full. 
There were cheers and 
applause on one bus 
when it was announced 
that we were actually 
being taken to the rally. 
But 10 minutes later, 
everyone was told to get 
back on the plane. 

STILL ENERGIZED
Though resigned to their 
fate, those who had 
made it to the tarmac 
were still energized. 
Spontaneously, people 
gathered in groups, held 
signs, sang, chanted 
and took pictures — an 
enthusiastic group of 
Israel supporters here 
rather than on the 
mall. Then a few dozen 
davened Minchah before 
boarding.
When the plane 
was full again, Dennis 
Bernard, immediate 
past president of the 
United Jewish Fund of 
Metropolitan Detroit and 
new chair of the Security 
and Antisemitism 
Committee of the Jewish 

continued on page 16

Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Democrat Minority 
Leader of the House Hakeem Jeffries, Democrat Senate Majority 
Leader Chuck Schumer and Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst united 
at the podium.

CHRIS WILLIAMS/JFNA

Caleb Starr

