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