1942 - 2023
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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