1942 - 2023

Covering and Connecting 
Jewish Detroit Every Week

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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 

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additional mailing offices. 

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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, refl
 ecting 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 

 Advertising Sales 
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Senior Account Executive: 
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| Business Office
 Director of Operations: Amy Gill
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 Operations Manager: Andrea Gusho
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6 | NOVEMBER 30 • 2023 J
N

essay

Being Here Is Important
I

’m 18 years old from a 
village called Ahuzzat 
Batak in the Jezreel Valley. 
I’m here for a gap year 
between my high school 
graduation and 
my service in 
the IDF. I am 
volunteering 
in the different 
Jewish 
institutions 
like the Jewish 
Federation, 
Congregation Shaarey Zedek, 
Temple Israel, Temple Beth 
El, Adat Shalom Synagogue 
and JCRC/AJC. I’m here 
to build the connection 
between Israel and the 
Jewish community here.
Being here became more 
significant than I ever 
imagined it to be. When the 
war broke out, I felt guilty 

for not being home. I wanted 
to cry and grieve with my 
family and friends or just get 
a hug from my mom. 
But as time goes by, I 

understand more what 
it means to be here. I 
understand that I have the 
power to do something, to 
impact someone. I’m here 

to bring Israel to Michigan. 
I am here to get support 
for my country, share their 
stories and their pain, and 
show them that we have 
not only a strong Jewish 
community behind us, but 
amazing allies as well, as we 
saw at the rally at D.C.
I lost some close people, 
too. But the only thing I 
can do for them right now 
is to lift my head up high 
and show how strong we are 
even after this unbelievable 
tragedy. 
I know that my family and 
friends are proud of me and 
my work here. I will continue 
to stay strong for them and 
make them proud! 

Erela Sabag is part of the new cohort 

of Shinshinim in Metro Detroit for the 

2023-2024 year.

COURTESY ERELA SABAG

PURELY COMMENTARY

Erela Sabag

Shinshinim at the March for Israel in Washington, D.C.: Itamar Grife, 
Ofri Lellouche, Shahaf Harari, Erela Sabag and Itay Nussbaum. 

