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.