1942 - 2023 Covering and Connecting Jewish Detroit Every Week To make a donation to the DETROIT JEWISH NEWS FOUNDATION go to the website www.thejewishnews.com The Detroit Jewish News (USPS 275-520) is published every Thursday at 32255 Northwestern Highway, #205, Farmington Hills, Michigan. Periodical postage paid at Southfield, Michigan, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: send changes to: Detroit Jewish News, 32255 Northwestern Highway, #205, Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334 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. 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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 Advertising Sales Director of Advertising: Keith Farber kfarber@thejewishnews.com Senior Account Executive: Kathy Harvey-Mitton kmitton@thejewishnews.com | Business Office Director of Operations: Amy Gill agill@thejewishnews.com Operations Manager: Andrea Gusho agusho@thejewishnews.com Operations Assistant: Ashlee Szabo Circulation: Danielle Smith Billing Coordinator: Pamela Turner | Production By Farago & Associates Manager: Scott Drzewiecki Designers: Kaitlyn Iezzi, Kelly Kosek, Michelle Sheridan 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