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families who had a loved one 
away on military assignments,” 
Tolwin said. “I won’t forget one 
door I knocked on. A woman 
inside inquired who we were. 
I told her I was a rabbi from 
Detroit and was here to deliver 
a care package for Shabbat. She 
opened the door and broke down 
crying.”
So moved by his participation 
in the mission, Gross created a 
program to help keep the hostage 
crisis in the forefront of peoples’ 
minds and to generate additional 
funds for Aish. He’s had dog tags 
manufactured that can be worn 
around the necks of contributors 
that read “Our hearts are captive 
in Gaza” in Hebrew and “Bring 
Them Home Now 10.7.2023”
. 
Jerry Seinfeld was photographed 
wearing a similar dog tag on his 
recent trip in support of Israel. 
(Dog tags can be purchased for 
$18 at aishdetroit.com) 
“It was an extreme privilege and 
humbling to be an eyewitness to 
what Israel is going through,
” Gross 
said. “The IDF, the civil defense 
forces, the Pantry Packers, the citi-
zens of Israel — they are all what I 
call modern-day Maccabees.
”

PAYING DIVIDENDS
Out-of-pocket expenses for the 
first mission and for the upcoming 
second one in March are about 
$5,000 per volunteer, including air-
fare and accommodations. But it’s 

more than just a travel expense to Rabbi Tolwin. 
“It’s a good investment,
” he says. “Our trip in 
November generated tens of thousands of dollars 
in additional, tangible, much-needed gifts.
“We met with one IDF unit and learned that 
they needed new sights for their rifles. I was able 
to raise funds to cover the expense. I just sent 
a check for $2,500 to another unit that needed 
shirts. And, just days ago, I sent $6,500 worth of 
tactical backpacks to Israel, which was part of 
generous funding of supplies provided by a cou-
ple from Detroit.
”
Indeed, the people Aish brings together to 
participate are as diverse as the needs in Israel. 

“When Aish organizes something, you’re 
automatically going to get a whole variety of 
people,” Tolwin said. “Ours is not a singular 
message that is in an echo chamber. It resonates 
through Detroit, through the U.S. and through-
out the world.” 

ON TO THE MARCH MISSION
The second Israel Solidarity Mission Aish is 
scheduled from March 11-14. Its itinerary will 
mirror similar inspiring programming as the 
November trip but will also remain fluid to 
address new needs as they arise. And like the 
November trip, there will be community mem-

Rabbi Tolwin and 
Aish volunteers 
join relatives and 
IDF comrades 
offering support to a 
wounded soldier in 
Hadassah Hospital in 
Jerusalem.

JEREMY SPARIG PHOTOGRAPHY

Aish mission members volunteer with 
“Pantry Packers,” the food distribution 
arm of Tzedakah Central/Colel Chabad, 
providing supplies for families and 
seniors in need.

A fund- 
raising dogtag 
offered by Aish

