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.