DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
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JULY 11 • 2024 | 7
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although undoubtedly Jews in 
those areas will take advantage! 
— this new contract fulfills 
two imperatives for Gesher. 
First, our mission statement 
says that we “serve all Metro 
Detroiters while meeting 
the needs of the Jewish 
community.
” It also fulfills 
the imperative established by 
Rabbi Hillel, who said, “If I am 
not for myself, who will be” 
and “If I am only for myself 
what am I?”
Of course, we don’t have to 
ask “When?” — we’re doing 
this work now. 
Moreover, securing 
contracts to provide services 
to the general public enables 
Gesher to better serve the 
Jewish community through 
more robust services, warm 
hand-offs when a member of 
the community can benefit 
from the public system, 
and greater connections to 
employers and government 
services. 
Lastly, during these 
difficult times for the Jewish 
community, Gesher’s service 
beyond our community 
enables us to serve as a “light 
unto the nations” by focusing 
on our mission to be a bridge 
to hope and opportunity.
For the ability to perform 
this work every day, for our 
new contract and, most 
importantly, for the new jobs, 
financial stability and hope 
for the future gained by those 
who will benefit from our 
work, we say: Shehechiyanu, 
v’kiyamnu, v’higiaynu lazman 
hazeh. 

Paul Blatt is CEO of Gesher Human 

Services.