JANUARY 25 • 2024 | 13
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ust a few weeks ago, 
I had the honor of 
joining a delegation of 
18 Detroit community 
leaders on a two-day 
Federation solidarity 
mission to Israel. 
We went to bear witness to 
the devastation of the Hamas 
assault of Oct. 7, 
to learn about the 
ongoing impact 
this has had on 
the citizens of 
Israel and their 
resolve to ensure 
that this never 
happens again. 
We went to 
see, firsthand, the 
incredible support our commu-
nity has provided in the wake 
of this tragedy. 
Most importantly, though, 
we went to express our unwav-
ering love and commitment to 
our family in Israel. 
What we encountered there 
was heartbreaking, shocking 
and often difficult to process. 
We met with family mem-
bers of those who were killed 
or taken hostage by the terror-
ists. This included the parents 
of Omri Ram, a young man 
who was murdered at the Nova 
music festival. They told us 
about the desperate calls they 
received while Omri and his 
friends hid and evaded the 
Hamas terrorists, until finally 
the calls just stopped. Omri 
loved surfing, and today his 
memory is kept alive in the 
messages inscribed on the 
surfboard that his friends 
presented to his parents at his 
memorial.
We spent time with Dani 
Miran, whose son was kid-
napped on Oct. 7. The depth of 
his sorrow was unfathomable, 
but so, too, was his reserve of 
strength and optimism as he 
advocates for the release of all 
the hostages — and waits and 
prays for his son’s safe return.

Michael 
Berger
Special to the 
Jewish News

Detroit delegation offers unwavering support to our family in Israel.

continued on page 14
 Lotan Pinyan, a resident of 
Kibbutz Be’eri, devastated by 
terrorists Oct. 7, was a guide for 
the mission.