8 | JULY 18 • 2024 
J
N

I

t’s a perfect Sunday morning 
in Ferndale. With bicycles 
in tow, riders from all over 
Jewish Detroit gather at Ferndale 
High to begin a ride unlike any 
other. Because this is Ride for the 
Living. 

THE ORIGINS: A TRIBUTE 
TO COURAGE AND 
SURVIVAL 
Ride for the Living was inspired 
by Holocaust survivor Robert 
Desmond’s 1,350-mile ride from 
London to Auschwitz. Following 
his ride, Robert came to Krakow 
and visited the Krakow JCC, 
where he learned about the 
reawakened and growing Jewish 
community in the city. 
 It became clear then that his 
ride should not have ended at 
Auschwitz, a place of sorrow and 
loss, but at the JCC, surrounded 
by the local community and 
friends from around the world. 
It’s here in the story where 

Jonathan Ornstein, executive 
director of the Krakow JCC, 
offered to help, creating the first 
Ride for the Living that went 
from Auschwitz to the Krakow 
JCC. Now an annual event in 
Poland, Ride for the Living has 
become a symbol of our strength 
and hope as a Jewish people. 

THE DETROIT CONNECTION 
Every summer, Federation’s 
Israel & Overseas Department 
organizes its own Ride for the 
Living to support the Krakow 
JCC. Like the Poland ride, this 
symbolic journey from Ferndale 
to the Detroit Riverfront and 
back, honors the memory of 
those who perished in the 
Holocaust while celebrating the 
miraculous rebirth of Jewish life 
in Poland today. 
Federation’s 2024 ride, which 
takes place on Aug. 18, brings 
together people of all ages and 
skill levels. Especially during 

these challenging times, it pro-
vides a unique, family-friendly 
way for our community to come 
together to show our unwavering 
solidarity. 
Jonathan Ornstein himself will 
be riding in Detroit this year, 
too. “The Detroit Jewish com-
munity has been a great friend to 
our Krakow Jewish community 
over the years, with JFD sending 
hundreds of people on missions,
” 
Ornstein said.
This strong partnership con-
tinues with this year’s Detroit 
Ride in August. 
“Krakow and Detroit are 
two communities that have 
gone through difficult times yet 
maintained their strong Jewish 
identities and never gave up,
” he 
added. “This connection makes 
our bond even stronger.
” 
With 100% of all registration 
proceeds going to the JCC in 
Krakow, the support raised 
through Detroit’s Ride for the 

Living is especially crucial this 
year due to the humanitarian 
assistance that the organization 
continues to provide to thou-
sands of Ukrainian refugees 
since the Russian attack and dis-
placed Israelis since Oct. 7. 
“I can’t wait to ride with 
Detroit and am so excited for 
all that our communities will do 
together,
” said Ornstein.

REGISTRATION IS 
NOW OPEN 
Federation hopes to make this 
year’s Ride for the Living their 
biggest unity ride yet. Whether 
you’re an avid cyclist or someone 
looking for a meaningful way 
to show your solidarity with 
the Jewish people, this perfect 
Sunday morning ride offers a 
fun and unique opportunity to 
make a difference. 
 For more information and 
to register, visit Jlive.App/
Events/7893. 

OUR COMMUNITY

Jewish Detroiters ride to reaf
 rm our 
Jewish pride, resilience and strength. 

Pedaling 
With Purpose

DETROIT JEWISH FEDERATION

LEFT: Riders on the way 
from Ferndale to Detroit. 
BELOW: Jonathan 
Ornstein, center, 
created the first Ride 
for the Living.

