AUGUST 8 • 2024 | 19
a message to the world of
unity among the Jews and of
positivity,” she said. “Not only
in the Land of Israel, but also
unity among us here in the
United States and overseas.”
Southfield resident Tamar
Glazer, who came to Metro
Detroit from Israel two years
ago via the World Zionist
Organization to teach at Farber
Hebrew Day School, helped
stock the guests’ kitchen
supplies and brought her
kids, ages 6, 3 and a baby, to
welcome them at the airport.
It was a privilege, she
explained, to get to spend
time with the families and
help their trip go well. “We
brought some donuts to have
an American welcome, and
there was another woman with
flowers,” Glazer said. “We made
a sign with ‘Bruchim Habaim,’
welcome.”
The trip was a chance for
everyone involved to connect
more deeply with the women’s
stories, she added, noting that
she knew of both Shamir and
Swid from the news, and Swid
even more so because Glazer’s
husband grew up nearby.
“It’s meaningful for us to be
involved in something like this,
and to be helpful a little bit, to
see the real face from the story,”
Glazer said.
“It’s such a painful story, but
as much as we can help, we
are happy to do it and feel the
connection.”
At the conclusion of the
trip, the women shared words
of deep appreciation for the
Detroit Jewish community.
“I just wanted to thank each
and every one of you for your
warm hugs, for taking care of
us in a time where it means so
much,” Swid said.
“Thank you for the small
talks, for breakfast, lunch and
dinner, for driving us around,
for your time, for your caring,
for opening your special and
beautiful homes, for hearing
our stories, for keeping Moti
and Bchor alive and passing
what they were to others. For
giving my girls the best time
in their lives, always with joy
and a smile on your face. You’ll
never know how much that
meant to us.”
ABOVE: Jewish women from across Metro Detroit joined to make
Challah alongside Neora and Revital. RIGHT: Posters showing the
faces of Moti, Bchor and Ilay, all murdered on Oct. 7.
Revital shares the story of
her husband, Moti while
holding on to her son, Lavie.