OUR COMMUNITY

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ON THE COVER

18 | JANUARY 25 • 2024 J
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too many in our world refuse to 
acknowledge. Despite this, as Lotan 
himself said, the people of Israel 
will prevail, they will continue to 
thrive as a free and just nation. 
 I am proud to say that this is a 
future that our Detroit commu-
nity is helping to ensure. I can 
report, firsthand, that your endless 
thoughts and prayers, your solidar-
ity and your generous support have 
made a tremendous difference. 
The people of Israel know how 
much we care, and that they are 
not alone.
It was a great privilege to repre-
sent our community, and to return 
with a simple but essential mes-
sage: Am Yisrael Chai. We are one 
family and one people. 
I am so proud of our commu-
nity. Now and always, we will 
continue to bear witness, volunteer, 
contribute and express our love for 
Israel. 
A second Federation Solidarity 
Mission with 25 participants is 
returning from Israel this week. 
More to report soon. 

Michael Berger is president of the United 

Jewish Foundation. Contributing Writer 

Nathaniel Warshay contributed to this 

report.

“IT WAS A VERY 
SHORT VISIT; JUST 
48 HOURS ON 
THE GROUND, IN 
WHICH MISSION 
PARTICIPANTS CAME 
TO SHOW US IN 
ISRAEL THAT THEY 
ARE STANDING BY US 
IN SOLIDARITY AND 
SUPPORT DURING 
OUR MOST DIFFICULT 
TIME.” 

— EFFI ZAMIR, DETROIT 

PARTNERSHIP2GETHER REGION

“I LEARNED FROM EVERY PERSON WE MET WITH, BOTH AS 
TO HOW ISRAELIS IN GENERAL ARE FEELING AND WHAT 
EACH OF THESE INDIVIDUALS HAS GONE THROUGH. I 
WITNESSED A DEEP DEDICATION TO COMMUNITY AND 
SUPPORTING OTHERS FROM PEOPLE OF ALL WALKS OF LIFE 
AND REGARDLESS OF POLITICS. I AM SOMEONE WHO HAS 
ALWAYS FELT A VERY STRONG CONNECTION TO ISRAEL, 
BUT I CAME AWAY WITH A GREATER ATTACHMENT AND 
APPRECIATION THAN EVER,” 

— ERIC BRONSTEIN, SOLIDARITY MISSION CO-CHAIR

A Shabbat table for 
the more than 200 
hostages was set up 
outside the Jewish 
Museum in Tel Aviv.

