FEBRUARY 22 • 2024 | 23
J
N
M
any American
Jews are interest-
ed in Israeli life,
especially its politics, and
follow its important events
and issues. The Israel and
Overseas Department of Jewish
Federation of Detroit occasion-
ally presented programs about
Israeli issues; but during the
pandemic, there was an interest
in doing more.
About three years ago, the
Overseas Department staff, its
volunteer lay leadership and
Yiftah Leket, then Federation’s
shlichah or Israeli community
ambassador, decided to start a
Zoom series focusing on Israeli
issues with Israeli speakers. “We
wanted to take a deeper dive —
more than what you read in the
daily newspapers,
” explained
Betsy Heuer, volunteer co-chair
of the educational series which
was named “Coffee Press.
” Ron
Sollish and Jeff Schlussel share
duties with her as Coffee Press
co-chairs.
Six months ago, Lior Zisser-
Yogev took Leket’s place as
Detroit’s community shli-
chah working at Federation
and, since then, she helps the
co-chairs choose interesting
topics and speakers. Zisser-
Yogev, who formerly worked
for the Israeli government,
explained that “anyone can read
the news. This is more in-depth
from an Israeli perspective —
focusing on how events affect
Israelis and other Jewish indi-
viduals. We look for someone
who is knowledgeable and
involved in the issue.
”
Topics have included Israeli
elections and its government
structure; religion and the
Israeli government; the “deli-
cate balance” between Ukraine,
Israel and Russia; and gen-
der-based violence and sexual
assault. Speakers have included
an Israeli broadcast journalist, a
Knesset member and a lawyer/
CEO involved in the advance-
ment of women.
The planned topic for March
is the recent United Nations
International Court of Justice
genocide trial against Israel; a
date for that Coffee Press ses-
sion will be announced.
According to Schlussel,
Coffee Press participants com-
prise “a good cross-section of
our community although it
skews a little older. Anyone can
join. Most are Detroiters but not
all. People who participate really
enjoy it.
”
Some have been part of
Federation missions to Israel.
“It’s educational and gets more
people interested in Israel,
”
Zisser-Yogev says.
Coffee Press is usually held
monthly except for the sum-
mertime. Approximately 80
people participate with the
ability to ask questions through
Zoom’s chat function, mod-
erated by the co-chairs. The
Coffee Press series, presented
at 10 a.m. on Sundays, is free
and open to all. Program infor-
mation is posted in advance on
JLive (https://jlive.app) as well
as Federation’s website (myjew-
ishdetroit.org) and its Facebook
page.
Federation’s Coffee Press series provides a ‘deep dive’
into Israeli current events.
Coffee and Current Events
SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Betsy Heuer
Lior Zisser-Yogev
Jeff
Schlussel