18 | AUGUST 8 • 2024
stories, because these are the
heroes of the Jewish people,”
Silberberg explained.
Kobi Erez, executive director
of ZOA, Michigan Region,
the co-hosted event was an
opportunity to help connect
area residents more deeply with
Israel and the Jewish people
who live there, as well as to
raise awareness of both the
sacrifices Israelis make and the
need for creating more Jewish
communities in Israel.
Attendees heard from the
families of the fallen soldiers,
about what communities
have been dealing with and
the support they’re getting in
Israel, as well as the challenges
they’re facing, he said.
“We thought it was extremely
important and very timely,”
Erez said. “
A lot of people are
helping in different ways, so
this is another little way for us
to help the families that need
it.”
AN IDEA COMES
TO FRUITION
Silberberg said a March
solidarity mission helped
bolster the funds to support the
trip, and that he met Shamir
after hearing about her on
Facebook.
“I told her I had a gift from
our community. She picked
it up from a hotel and said,
‘Thank you. You must have a
very beautiful community,’” he
shared. “I said, ‘It is a beautiful
community, and, if you’re ever
in the States, come visit us.’”
Her positive response
jumpstarted the idea — a
community first — of bringing
her family to the U.S., said
Silberberg. Soon, arrangements
were underway to bring
Shamir and her two children
and Zwid and her three
children to Michigan.
An Israel native living in
Michigan since 2000, ILanit
Atias of Farmington Hills
helped arrange the trip for the
families. From helping navigate
the language and cultural
barriers to visiting with them
and getting them Starbucks
and bug spray for their day-
to-day life, she said she’s been
honored to be a part of the
plans.
“For me, being here over two
decades now, it is such a merit
to pay it forward,” Atias said.
The community on the
whole wanted to show support
and also to hear about what’s
been going on in Israel, she
said, adding that some 30
guests, including many area
Israelis, took part in a Shabbat
dinner with the guests at the
home of Rabbi Elimelech and
Chaya Sarah Silberberg of Bais
Chabad Torah Center in West
Bloomfield.
And this trip is just the
beginning of the relationship
between the community
and the women, she added,
explaining that it’s powerful to
be able to empathize with the
women in person, to be able to
hug them and show how much
the community cares.
Meanwhile, she said, she’s
been impressed by the women’s
focus on healing others. “These
women are trying to deliver
Neora, with
her husband,
Bchor, of blessed
memory, and
and their three
daughters.
Revital, with her husband, Moti, of
blessed memory, and their son (a
daughter was born after his death).
OUR COMMUNITY
continued from page 16
Around 150 women came to the
Bread of Bravery event to hear
the women share their stories.