ABOVE CLOCKWISE: Bar Ashkenazi
and Tomer Shalom El. Eden Nahmias
and Maayan Cohen. Mylah Dorsey and
Maor Levy slap each other high-fives.
Eden Nahmias and Maayan Cohen take
a break for the camera.
continued from page 9
OUR COMMUNITY
ON THE COVER
10 | AUGUST 22 • 2024 J
N
entirely modified for the 2024 camp
season. Each Shaliach is still paired
up with a community host family,
and while they may not be living with
them, these families continue to sup-
port their journey and help integrate
them into the Jewish community.
“They’ve been hosting them for
Shabbat meals, taking them on out-
ings and adventures that are real-
ly unique to Detroit,” Frank says.
“They’re helping them experience
Jewish life in Detroit.”
In the Shlichim’s early days, their
host families also helped them
grocery shop and get adjusted to
American life, as many Shlichim are
traveling to the U.S., let alone Metro
Detroit, for the very first time.
“We really wanted them to still
have this connection and feel like
they could go to these families if they
needed anything,” Frank says.
Luckily, finding host families for the
nine Shlichim was easy, even during
Maccabi year. “This community is so
incredible in terms of its willingness
to help and jump in and say yes,”
Frank continues.
Lauren Marcus Johnson, of a host
family from West Bloomfield, echoes
that sentiment. “It was important
to me to support The J, the Jewish
Agency and the Shlichim themselves,”
Johnson explains. “Being able to step
in and provide a piece of home in
these small ways through things like
Shabbat dinner, grocery store runs
and text check-ins feels like I could
make a difference for the Shlichim,
who are doing so much for the camp
community.”
This summer, especially, the young
Shlichim, who have been living
through a war for nearly one year
now, need more support than ever. “It
has been a whole family experience,
with my husband and adult children
and me all benefiting from these new
relationships,” Johnson says.
A TASTE OF ISRAEL
Shlichim working at The J this sum-
mer bring something unique to the
table.
Maor Levy, 21 of Ashkelon, is
a talented graffiti artist who also
doubles as an outdoor cooking and
nature specialist. He teaches camp-
ers how to cook classic camp foods
over open flame, like hot dogs, but
also Israeli specialties such as Israeli
potatoes. He also educates campers
on plants and wildlife native to Israel
and steps the country takes to keep
their environment clean.
Maayan Cohen, 20 of Bat Yam,
and Eden Nahmias, 22, who lives
in a small village next to the Sea
of Galilee, serve as more tradition-
al camp counselors who are each
assigned a “bunk,” or group of young
campers they accompany through-
out the day. The campers’ favorite
activities, they say, are swimming at
The J’s pool or tackling its outdoor
obstacle course.
This year’s Shlichim range in age
from 19-22. Frank says they were
assigned to their roles based on their
interests. Each Shaliach met with the
camp director and assistant direc-
tor to discuss their goals, passions
and where they’d best fit the camp’s
staffing needs. “It’s twofold,” Frank
explains. “We want the cultural
exchange to be meaningful for the
Shlichim as well.”
continued on page 12