MAY 30 • 2024 | 27

photos of fallen soldiers 
were displayed, and 
participants could light 
a yahrzeit candle in 
their memory and write 
a letter for bereaved families 
in Israel. 

Gary Torgow, Jewish 
Federation of Detroit 
president, opened the 
vigil with words of 
encouragement and comfort. 
We heard testimonials 
recounting the lives of four 
of the fallen: Nati Alfasi, 
Maya Puder, Ilay Zisser and 
Roi Maldasi, all of whom 
were alumni of our Israel 
Camper Program and have 
close ties to our Detroit 
Jewish community. 
Our five community 
Shinshinim — Itay, Ofri, 
Shahaf, Erela and Itamar 
— led us in a moving 
candle- lighting ceremony in 
memory of the victims. 

The main speaker was 
Maj. Yadin Gellman, a 
veteran of Sayeret Matkal, 
an elite unit in the IDF, 

who shared his staggering 
experience of fighting against 
Hamas terrorists in Kibbutz 
Be’eri on the harrowing day 
of Oct. 7. 

We concluded the vigil 
with a prayer for IDF 
soldiers and the state of 
Israel, and sang Israel’s 
national anthem, “Hatikvah,” 
The Hope, together as one. 

In this vigil, the Jewish 
community came together 
to mourn the great loss and 
unimaginable price the state 
of Israel has paid in the past 
year. It was a heartening 
demonstration of support 
and solidarity that proves the 
Jewish community of Detroit 
remains close and connected 
to the State of Israel and to 
our mishpachah overseas. 

Lior Zisser-Yogev is the Detroit 

community shlichah for Federation.

ABOVE: More than 
500 people attended 
the Yom HaZikaron 
commemoration.
RIGHT: IDF Maj. Yadin 
Gellman shared his 
experience of fighting 
against Hamas terrorists 
in Kibbutz Be’eri on 
Oct. 7.

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