JANUARY 11 • 2024 | 31

environments and on social 
media. 
On Nov. 20, Federation’s 
NEXTGen Detroit held 
a program for close 
to 30 people where I, 
Tomer Moked, director 
of NEXTGen Detroit, 
and David Kurzmann, 
Federation’s senior director 
of community affairs, led 
a group discussion and 
answered the difficult 
questions that currently 
preoccupy young people in 
our community. 

FACES OF OCT. 7 —
TESTIMONY OF A 
NOVA MUSIC FESTIVAL 
SURVIVOR 
On Nov. 27, 150 people came 
to Federation to hear the 
chilling story of Millet Ben 
Haim, a survivor of the Nova 
Music Festival massacre 
who is now on a tour across 
the United States as part of 
the Faces of October Seventh 
project. 

Millet’s story was 
difficult and moving and 
had a tremendous impact 
on all who attended. Her 
bravery and resilience are 
emblematic of Israel and the 
Jewish people at this time. 

SOLIDARITY AND 
SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL AT 
THE PISTONS-WIZARDS 
BASKETBALL GAME 
When Deni Avdija, the only 
Israeli representative in the 
NBA, arrived in Detroit 
for a basketball game on 
Nov. 27, it was clear that 
we should come to cheer 
for him and show support. 
We organized a group of 70 
people from the Jewish and 
Israeli community who came 
to the game dressed in blue 
and white and waving Israeli 
flags. 

CAFÉ DILEMMA: 
FACILITATED 
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT 
THE SITUATION IN 
ISRAEL 
Our Shlichim regularly 
conduct “Cafe Dilemma” 
conversation circles in 
various synagogues across 
the community. On Nov. 
28, 60 people came to B’nai 
Moshe Synagogue to be 
together, learn and talk 
about various issues from the 
current situation in Israel. 
Topics included the ceasefire, 
return of the hostages, the 

day after the war and Israel’s 
political landscape. 

WILL WE SEE YOU AT 
OUR NEXT EVENT? 
We would love to have you 
at a future Israel & Overseas 
event. Stay in the know 
by signing up for updates 
at https://jewishdetroit.org/
get-involved/israel-and-
overseas. 

Lior Zisser-Yogev is Senior Community 

Shlicha (emissary), Jewish Federation 

of Detroit. This story was first 

published on MyJewishDetroit.org.

Israeli families find respite on a visit to Detroit.

ABOVE: Community members came out to hear from and support Millet Ben Haim, a survivor of the Nova Music Festival massacre. 
RIGHT: Our community Shlicha and Shinshinim (Israeli emissaries) lead a solidarity program for Holocaust survivors. FACING PAGE: Meeting 
Deni Avdija, the only Israeli representative in the NBA, at the Pistons-Wizards game. It was an exciting game, and at the end we even met with 
Deni for a brief, yet encouraging, conversation.