20 | APRIL 4 • 2024 Visiting Chevron is always a highlight. We prayed at the gravesites of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Rivkah and Leah, beseeching that they help bring home their captive grandchildren, and help bring healing, comfort and strength to their beleaguered descendants. We handed out pizza vouchers as well as handwritten cards from Hillel Day School and Detroit Cheder children. One soldier held up a card he received from a child a few months ago and told us he takes it along with him everywhere he goes. We enjoyed an incredible ending to our day as we celebrated the bar mitzvah of Netanel Atias from the border town of Shlomi. His family doesn’t speak English, and most of our group doesn’t speak Hebrew, but that didn’t stop us from singing and dancing together and having a wonderful time. We were able to provide Netanel with a new pair of tefillin, gifts and a festive evening. Alin, Netanel’s mother, spoke very emotionally about how much this meant to them — that there was love for their family from a community across the world whom she had never met. Handwritten cards from the students of Farber Hebrew Day School were given to Netanel. HEADED HOME At the train station, headed to the airport, I came across a picture of all the remaining hostages, along with an empty chair — a reminder of the painful reality we are leaving behind as we head home. We are leaving a country that remains at war, with too many widows and orphans, too many injured soldiers and too many people waiting to go home … starting with the 130+ hostages still in the hell of Hamas captivity. In Judaism, we are accustomed to balancing joy and pain. We break a glass at the joyous wedding as a reminder of pain, and we pause from the pain of sitting shivah to celebrate Shabbos and the holidays. One of the messages that resonated with me this week was the words we saw on the T-shirts at the volunteer packing facility we were at on Monday: “Let’s do something.” This past week we did something. We took a pause from our lives and came to Israel. We traveled the length of the land and helped wherever we could. But now I hope to take the “let’s do something” mentality home with me. We do something with added mitzvot, prayers and tzedakah. We do something by speaking up about what we saw and sharing the truth despite overwhelming dishonesty out there. May God grant absolute victory to the IDF and bring salvation, healing and comfort to all who need it. May we be blessed with the redemption and an end to all pain and war, now. OUR COMMUNITY continued from page 19 Temple Kol Ami and B’nai Israel Synagogue joined together for an evening of Havdalah, music, laughter and coffee at Beit Café on March 9. Entertainment was provided by Temple Kol Ami’s Cantorial Soloist Janet Christensen, Frank Ellias, professional trumpeter Kermit Prill and Udi Kapen, who has starred in many local theater productions. Frank Ellias acted as host and also sang songs known to all, along with some original tunes, accompanying himself on guitar. Later, his “identical cousin, ” YouTube sensation, Uncle Y’Cheskel, performed a number of original, humorous songs on Jewish topics, including the international premiere of his song about the neglected holiday of Shemini Atzeret. He finished his set with his stadium anthem “It Ain’t A Bar Mitzvah if They Don’t Serve Kishka. ” Cantorial Soloist Janet Christensen offered several folk songs, including one that asked, “What Kind of Cat are You?” She also sang about the centuries- old debate of who were the five constipated men in the Bible (the first was Cain, who was not Able). Kermit blew the crowd away with a trumpet version of “Over the Rainbow” and shared trumpet insights with the audience. Udi brought well-received country music to the evening. Future Beit Café events are planned and open to the community. The Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit honored Susan and Howard Tapper at Boca Pointe Country Club in Boca Raton, Florida, on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Marty Feldman received the sponsorship award. The annual Michigan- Florida event was attended by over 160 people and featured entertainment from magician and comedian Harry Maurer. The funds raised will support The J’s JCC Day Camps, Special Needs programs and Early Childhood Center. Visit The J’s new website at thejdetroit.org. The J Honors Susan and Howard Tapper at Florida Event Former JCC Executive Director Morton Plotnick poses with Susan and Howard Tapper after they received their award. Music and Laughter at Beit Cafe The audience enjoyed a fun musical evening.