8 | NOVEMBER 30 • 2023 J
N

Tales from the Tarmac

United as a Community
I

woke up at 5 a.m. eager 
for a journey to witness a 
monumental moment in 
Jewish history. Anticipation 
surged within me. Boarding the 
buses at Shaarey 
Zedek, I saw a 
diverse assembly 
of individuals 
— representing 
various shapes, 
sizes and ages 
— a living 
embodiment of 
our shared heritage, filling me 
with pride.
Arriving in D.C., excitement 
filled the air, only to face 
an unexpected pause. A 
30-minute wait stretched to an 
agonizing 2.5 hours, with an 

announcement revealing that 
the buses wouldn’t come — bus 
drivers had walked off the job. 
This wasn’t a mere coincidence; 
these drivers knowingly chose 
not to show up.
Despite the setback, our 
community’s strength prevailed.
The ensuing day held 
challenges best left untold. 
What deserves celebration 
is the unwavering pride for 
our community. Nearly 300 
individuals on that aircraft, 900 
total Detroiters, joined over 
290,000 Jews with a shared a 
mission: to bring the hostages 
home.
The intended rally eluded 
us, but what unfolded was 
equally significant. We united 

as a community, rallying 
for what is right. We forged 
connections, sang songs, raised 
our voices, shared laughter 
and a few tears. At day’s end, 
positivity prevailed. Gratitude 
and appreciation permeated 
our collective spirit. Despite the 
deviation from our expected 
experience, it was meaningful in 
its own unique way.
Antisemitism is real, but 
it will not triumph. Though 
they sabotaged our physical 
journey, they won’t impede 
our commitment to bringing 
them home. Our community’s 
strength, spirit, resilience 
and determination against 
adversity are testaments to our 
unwavering dedication.

In the Torah portion Toldot, 
Isaac and Rebecca endure 
20 childless years until their 
prayers are answered and they 
are blessed with twin boys — 
Esau and Jacob. It has been 
nearly two months that our 
family has been held hostage 
— it feels like 20 years. I am 
hopeful that our prayers will be 
answered, and we will BRING 
THEM HOME. 
I send out a huge thank you 
to the Federation staff and lay 
leaders. I am deeply appreciative 
of this experience. 

Abigail Epstein, 30, of Bloomfield Hills, 

is a devoted spouse to Jonathan and 

a proud mother of two, Penelope and 

Arthur.

PURELY COMMENTARY

Best Rally I Never Attended
O

n Tuesday, Nov. 14, 
I was one of the 900 
Detroiters scheduled 
to fly to Washington, D.C., 
for the March for Israel Rally 
on the National 
Mall. It was the 
best rally I never 
attended. 
Arriving at 
Shaarey Zedek 
at 6:15 a.m., 
my wife, Marla, 
daughter, son, 
brother-in law and I boarded 
one of five motor coaches. We 
were driven to a remote corner 
of Detroit Metro, away from the 
terminals, to board our charter 
flight, the third of three planes 
departing that morning. 
Greetings and salutations 
were given by various 
community leaders, and Jewish 
Federation of Detroit President 

Gary Torgow meandered 
through the plane, up one row 
and down the other, seemingly 
speaking to each one of the 300 
of us aboard. We were to arrive 
at DullesInternational Airport, 
take charter buses to our 
staging area, and walk the half-
mile to the Mall, arriving an 
hour before the 1-3 p.m. rally. 

In flight, we talked, we 
laughed, we took pictures, we 
sang “
Am Yisrael Chai.” 
Landing mid-morning, we 
were told we would need to wait 
for a ramp currently servicing 
another plane before deplaning. 
An hour later, we were told the 
buses needed to be cleared by 
TSA before being permitted to 

the charter flight area. 
Some seated, and some 
moving around, with friends 
new and old, we talked, we 
laughed, we took pictures, we 
sang “
Am Yisrael Chai.” 
The rally had now begun. 
Another hour later, we were 
told not all buses had arrived 
due to an apparently deliberate 
“call off” taken by bus drivers 
who were not about to 
transport us in our effort to 
stand with Israel. 
Some of us managed to board 
two buses near our plane, only 
to be told after some time that 
they were intended for a plane 
arriving from another city. 
Back onto the tarmac. Alternate 
bus, taxi and Uber means were 
being attempted. 
Standing and dancing on the 
tarmac, we unfurled and waved 
the many Israel flags we had 

Abigail 
Epstein

Monte 
Schloss

Proud Jewish Detroiters on 
the tarmac at Dulles airport.

DON COHEN

