MAY 16 • 2024 | 31
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ow more than ever, we 
as the Jewish communi-
ty need to dig deep and 
exercise the concept of tikun 
olam. As we are seeing in the 
daily news coverage, antisemi-
tism has reached 
a disturbing new 
level, yet we as 
a Jewish people 
continue to stand 
strong. 
 In this month’s 
column, you will 
find many ways to 
repair the world. 
It is our responsibility to make 
the world a better place for this 
generation and those to come.
 Join over 20 community part-
ners in solidarity for Israel’s 76th 
Independence Day to Walk the 
Zoo in White & Blue on Yom 
Ha’atzmaut. On Tuesday, May 
28, from 6-9 p.m., join fellow 
Metro Detroiters in turning the 
Detroit Zoo white and blue with 
a community-wide solidarity 
walk. Come to the Detroit Zoo 
dressed in your favorite white 
and blue and get ready for an 
amazing event. The evening will 
start with an opening ceremony 

and then a walk through the 
zoo. There will be plenty to see 
and do along the way, includ-
ing a food tent with all your 
Israeli favorites (dietary laws 
observed); a community fair 
with Israel-themed crafts, games 
and more; a scavenger hunt with 
prizes for everyone led by our 
community Shinshinim; and, 
of course, access to most of the 
zoo’s indoor and outdoor exhib-
its. Sign your family up at jlive.
app/events/7660. 
Temple Shir Shalom is 
building a list of members who 
can occasionally drive other 
members to services or temple 
programs. If you are willing 
and able to volunteer as an 
occasional driver, complete this 
form: www.shirshalom.org/
form/2023-mitzvah-drivers. 
The JCC Maccabi Games is 
the largest Jewish youth event 
in the world. From July 28-Aug. 
2, our community will welcome 
1,200 Jewish teens from across 
the globe and involve thousands 
of members from our own 
community, including 400 host 
families, 1,000 volunteers and 
200 local athletes. 

Whether you can spare an 
hour or a year, the Maccabi team 
has a place for you. Volunteer 
roles include scorekeeping, 
transportation, greeting athletes 
and fans and serving food. 
On the other hand, the host 
family experience is a unique 
aspect of the JCC Maccabi 
Games and an integral part of 
the participants’ experiences. 
The hospitality offered by local 
Jewish families makes visiting 
athletes feel at home. 
Host families, including fam-
ily members of all ages, have the 
chance to experience the games 
personally by enjoying a special 
relationship with these athletes 
that often lasts years beyond 
the event. Being a host family 
involves providing housing for 
at least two visiting athletes, 
daily breakfast and two dinners, 
morning and evening transpor-
tation, access to laundry facili-
ties and a fun evening on Host 
Family Night.
The Jewish War Veterans 
Department of Michigan is 
looking for volunteers to staff 
the Michigan Freedom Center 
Detroit Metro Airport “Veteran 

Lounges.
” Responsibilities 
include greeting guests; stocking 
beverages and snacks; ensuring 
that the lounge is kept clean and 
neat; receiving and logging (and 
sometimes picking up within 
the airport) in-kind donations; 
accepting deliveries; assisting 
guests with various travel guid-
ance as situations occur; and 
opening and closing duties 
depending on shift times. The 
most important duty of all is to 
smile and express appreciation 
for the sacrifice of guests and 
their family members on behalf 
of our freedom. To learn more, 
contact Dave Duey at (313) 418-
2279.
Jewish Family Service is cur-
rently looking for volunteers for 
the following areas:
Friendly Visiting: Volunteers 
are matched with an older adult 
client of Jewish Family Service 
who is seeking companionship 
and support (this can include 
having a cup of tea or coffee, 
playing a game, and/or having 
conversation to help increase 
socialization and decrease lone-
liness). Volunteers visit with cli-
ents in their homes once a week 
for one hour.
Hospice: In partnership with 
Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy 
Network, volunteers provide 
comfort and companionship to 
chronically and/or terminally 
ill patients once a week for one 
hour.
Legal Referral Service: JFS 
is looking for attorneys to pro-
vide pro bono legal counsel and 
possible representation to JFS 
clients. They ask participating 
attorneys to take on one matter 
a year. JFS is specifically in need 
of family law and probate attor-
neys.
For more information on 
these opportunities, contact 
Emily Croitori at (248) 592-
2317. 

 

If your organization is looking for 

volunteers, email Samantha Foon at 

samanthafoon14@gmail.com for possible 

inclusion in an upcoming column.

Practice Tikkun Olam

Opportunities to volunteer are all around us.

Samantha 
Foon
Contributing 
Writer

