MAY 23 • 2024 | 15

“The festival is also a 
display of Jewish unity and 
support for our brothers 
and sisters in the Holy Land 
of Israel with community 
prayers for the safety of Jews 
in Israel and around the 
world,” says Rabbi Kasriel 
Shemtov, vice president and 
executive director of Chabad 
Lubavitch of Michigan. “We 
are all coming together for 
a special event celebrating 
our shared Jewish identity 
and our commitment to 
building a safe and thriving 
community.”
A home-like structure 
will be built of hundreds 
of cardboard “Mitzvah-
bricks,” each decorated by 
a community member with 
the design of a mitzvah 
they’d like to do for those on 
the frontlines in Israel. The 
structure will represent the 

idea of bringing the hostages 
and soldiers back home 
with the power of all of the 
mitzvot together. 
Itty Shemtov, The Shul’s 
director of education, says 
that with the challenges 
the Jewish community 
has been facing this year, 
the need to come together 
as a large group is more 
important than ever — as is 
responding to the challenges 
with spirituality as our 
collective Jewish response. 
Food will be available for 
purchase. The food court 
provided by Chef Cari 
Kosher Catering will be 
open throughout the event. 
Security will be on hand. 
RSVP for your free 
admission and to save $5 per 
wristband. Activity wristband 
options and pricing at www.
JewishFamilyFestival.com. 

