12 | JUNE 20 • 2024
L
ong before Oct. 7, I wanted to go on
the 2024 Yeshivah Beth Yehudah’s
Partners Detroit moms’ mission to
Israel. After that tragic day, I was less
certain. But by February,
I felt it was imperative to
go and do my small part
to show support. As ner-
vous as I was, the thing
I was most afraid about
was telling my 81-year-
old mother — figuring
her anxiety over my safety would keep
me home. The words she said changed
everything: “If I was 30 years younger, I
would be right there with you.” I knew
then that I had to follow my heart and
join Partners Detroit on the Dembs
Mission to Israel.
This was not easy for me. I had no
close friends going, I had never been
away that long from my husband, and
I was taking a leave from work at our
busiest time of year. What I didn’t real-
ize then is that I would make 40 new
amazing friends and all the rest would
fall into place. The theme of our mis-
sion was “faith over fear.” This is my
story of hope, resilience and faith.
The trip was both heart-wrenching
and joyful. On the fourth day, we visit-
ed southern Israel, where the terrorists
attacked on Oct. 7. We toured Kibbutz
Nir Oz, where one out of every four res-
idents was murdered or taken hostage.
We also went to the Nova Music Festival
site, and I could not stop sobbing. In
every picture of the victims, I saw my
daughter’s face and those of her friends.
They are the same age. They would have
been there. All I wanted to do was go
Randi Berris
continued on page 14
A memorial to Oct. 7
victims and hostages at
the Nova Festival site
OUR COMMUNITY
ON THE COVER