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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