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. 

