1942 - 2023

Covering and Connecting 
Jewish Detroit Every Week

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DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 
FOUNDATION
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www.thejewishnews.com

The Detroit Jewish News (USPS 275-520) 

is published every Thursday at 

32255 Northwestern Highway, #205, 

Farmington Hills, Michigan. Periodical 

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additional mailing offices. 

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Detroit Jewish News, 

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MISSION STATEMENT The Detroit Jewish News will be of service to the Jewish community. The Detroit Jewish 
News will inform and educate the Jewish and general community to preserve, protect and sustain the Jewish 
people of greater Detroit and beyond, and the State of Israel.

VISION STATEMENT The Detroit Jewish News will operate to appeal to the broadest segments of the greater 
Detroit Jewish community, reflecting the diverse views and interests of the Jewish community while advancing the 
morale and spirit of the community and advocating Jewish unity, identity and continuity.

DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
32255 Northwestern Hwy. Suite 205,
Farmington Hills, MI 48334
248-354-6060
thejewishnews.com

 
 
Publisher
The Detroit Jewish 
News Foundation

| Board of Directors:
 Chair: Gary Torgow
 Vice President: David Kramer 
 Secretary: Robin Axelrod
 Treasurer: Max Berlin
 Board members: Michael J. Eizelman 
 Larry Jackier, Jeffrey Schlussel, 
 Mark Zausmer
 
 
 Executive Director:
 Marni Raitt 
 Senior Advisor to the Board: 
 Mark Davidoff
 Alene and Graham Landau Archivist Chair: 
 Mike Smith
 Founding President & Publisher Emeritus: 
 Arthur Horwitz
 Founding Publisher 
 Philip Slomovitz, of blessed memory

 

 Editorial 
 Director of Editorial: 
 Jackie Headapohl
jheadapohl@thejewishnews.com
Contributing Editors: 
David Sachs, Keri Guten Cohen
Staff Reporter: 
Danny Schwartz 
dschwartz@thejewishnews.com
Editorial Assistant: 
Sy Manello
smanello@thejewishnews.com 
Digital Manager:
Elizabeth King 
eking@thejewishnews.com 

Contributing Writers:
Nate Bloom, Rochel Burstyn, 
Suzanne Chessler, Shari S. Cohen, 
Louis Finkelman, Samantha Foon, 
Yevgeniya Gazman, Stacy Gittleman, 
Esther Allweiss Ingber, Barbara Lewis, 
Jennifer Lovy, Rabbi Jason Miller, 
Alan Muskovitz, Karen Schwartz, 
Robin Schwartz, Steve Stein, 
Nathaniel Warshay, Julie Smith Yolles, 
Ashley Zlatopolsky 

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| Business Office
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6 | NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 J
N

PURELY COMMENTARY

I

t’s hard to decipher my 
emotions after 24 hours 
of ups and downs in 
D.C.: hopes and excitement 
— wonders and confusion — 
love and unity. 
Honestly, it has 
been hard to 
fight back my 
tears today as 
I process the 
experience. I am 
not sure if they 
represent sad 
tears, or frustrated tears, or 
happy ones, or proud ones.
I was one of the 
approximately 65 people who 
didn’t make it to the rally 
from the “orange” plane. I was 
with Frankel Jewish Academy 
students and staff, Temple 
Israel clergy and family (which 
included a handful of Hillel 
students), some Federation 

and Camp Tamarack staff, and 
a few other local clergy and 
community members. 
I am sad that our future 
Jewish leaders and advocates 
— the students — were not 
prioritized to load a bus, just 
because they were in the back of 
the plane. And at the same time, 
I am in awe at what transpired 
for 14 hours due to these 
amazing humans (including my 
daughter, Sydney).
The ruach, positivity 
and flexibility of every one 
of these young souls were 
apparent. They were ready to 
represent the Jewish people at 
the rally, and although we were 
not there physically … they still 
did. They showed the world 
what it was like to be resilient, 
strong and bonded. They sang 
and danced — and supported 
each other. They conveyed 

what it is to be a proud Jew — 
even when intentional malice 
and spite arise just because of 
our religion. To every parent 
and teacher of these humans I 
was with, your heart should be 
bursting.
After processing a lot today, 
I will let my tears represent the 
latter of my list: proud ones.
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks once 
said, “The only sane response 
to antisemitism is to monitor 
it, fight it, but never let it affect 
our idea of who we are. Pride 
is always a healthier response 
than shame.”
To the Jewish People — and 
all who support Israel — let’s be 
proud. Be proud of who we are. 
Proud to be united. Be proud 
of the 290,000+ people who 
made it to the rally — and all 
who watched and supported. 
No matter if you made it to 

the rally for hours — made it 
in the knick of time — were 
sent back home on your plane 
— watched on livestream —
scrolled through social media 
— or were stranded in D.C. 
for 14+ hours — we were ALL 
affected. We ALL experienced 
antisemitism. When one Jew 
hurts — we all hurt. 
Most importantly, we all 
experienced K’lal Yisrael — the 
unity of the Jewish people. 
I feel proud.
May we all continue to be 
safe. May the hostages come 
home NOW
. May we all be 
grateful for all we have. Am 
Yisrael Chai.
An extra thanks to bus 
1213+. 

Melissa Michaelson is the principal 

at Hillel Day School of Metropolitan 

Detroit. She is a mother of two teens, a 

proud Jew and a Zionist.

essay

K’lal Yisrael

Melissa 
Michaelson

