continued from page 16

OUR COMMUNITY
ON THE COVER

18 | JUNE 20 • 2024 
J
N

Kibbutz Nir Oz, once a 
peaceful community, was 
now a haunting landscape 
of ruined homes, burned to 
force residents out of their 
safe rooms. On Oct. 7, one 
quarter of its residents were 
murdered and many were 
kidnapped when terrorists 
stormed the kibbutz.
Our guide insisted that we enter 
each home and witness the aftermath of 
the tragedy firsthand. We stepped through 
broken glass and ducked under fallen beams. 
We lingered in the home of kidnapped Kfir 
and Ariel, the young red-headed brothers 
whose faces have come to personify the evil 
of this war for many in America. We were 
broken when we noticed the charred couch 
with soot-gray, neatly folded baby clothes 
fresh from the wash and the children’s jackets 
hanging on hooks by the front door. The 
vibrant yellow, red and purple flowers just 
outside the eerily glassless windows are a 
poignant reminder of resilience.

Every person we met, everything we saw, 
and every story we heard clearly illuminat-
ed the open and hidden miracles that are 
still occurring every day.
The stories of devastation, loss and 
horror live side by side with stories of 
heroism, strength and resilience among 
the Jews of Israel. Every story left me 
emotionally drained and grieving. I am 
forever changed by this experience, and 

I’m certain my fellow participants 
feel similarly.
As we grappled with our own 
emotions in the face of such 
strength and loss, we found com-
fort in the unity of the Jewish 
people. Everywhere we went — 
Tel Aviv, Haifa, Tiberias, Tzfat, 
Jerusalem and Caesarea, as well as 
the Gaza border — we were thanked 
for our presence, our prayers and our 
support. Instead of feeling hopeless or 
helpless, we felt empowered, connected 
and valued.
This Israel mission not only deep-
ened our connection to Israel, but also 
strengthened our own Detroit Jewish 
community. We returned as witnesses 
to history, as sisters and mothers with a 
renewed sense of faith and purpose. 

Jill Menuck is committed to community and educa-

tion as a dedicated professional of the Yeshiva Beth 

Yehudah advancement team. Jill participated in the 

inaugural Partners Detroit mission and was honored 

to join another impactful mission to Israel.

PARTNERS 
DETROIT 
As the adult education division of 

Yeshiva Beth Yehudah, Partners Detroit continues 

the legacy of excellence in education that began in 

1914. For over a century, the Yeshiva has provided 

the Detroit community’s children with a robust 

Jewish and general education. In line with their 

mission to share Torah learning, promote social 

welfare and care for those in need, Partners Detroit 

offers a variety of engaging opportunities for adults 

of all ages and backgrounds, including world-class 

educators leading dynamic classes designed to 

inspire and connect; sports leagues for young 

professionals; one-on-one learning sessions; festive 

holiday celebrations; and global missions.

To learn more, call 248-JUDAISM 

or visit PartnersDetroit.org.

A moment 
of joy on the 
shores of the 
Mediterranean 
Sea

Jodi 
Weinfeld 
(left), Elana 
Lofman, 
Sheri Aaron-
Miller, 
Marni Raitt 
and Malke 
Torgow in 
Jerusalem

Mission participants at the Ulu Winery

Shaindel and 
Esther Fink