AUGUST 22 • 2024 | 9
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FACING PAGE: Tomer Shalom El, Tal Raviv, Eden Nahmias, Bar Cohen, Maayan Cohen, Achinoam 
Man, Eden Yehezkel, Bar Ashkenazi and Maor Levy. ABOVE: On Blue Shirts Israel Day.

Only a select group are chosen, who go on to train at the 

Shlichut Institute before traveling to their respective sta-
tions, like The J.
“We decided to increase the Shlichim program for two 
reasons,” says Mikki Frank, The J’s associate executive 
director of family programs. “We know that our Israeli 
Shlichim bring such depth and understanding of the Israeli 
experience to our campers and to our camp families, but 
it also helps us address ongoing camp staffing issues that 
we’ve had since COVID-19. This is something we’ve been 
really challenged with and are also working hard to over-
come.”
The J’s Shlichim typically arrive in early June about one 

Bar Ashkenazi and JCC Day Camps campers during Fourth of July celebrations.

week before camp begins, then remain in 
Metro Detroit until after camp ends, or 
the end of August. In years past, Shlichim 
were housed by volunteer host families — 
usually a camp family 
— but given that 

housing efforts this year were focused on 
Maccabi athletes, an alternative housing 
solution was necessary.
While Maccabi athletes from other 
countries would stay with their assigned 
host families, a new partnership between 
The J and Jewish Senior Living found the 
perfect housing opportunity for the nine 

Israeli Shlichim at Meer Apartments. The 
senior living facility, located right next to 
The J’s campus, is just a short walk away 
from The J’s 250-acre campgrounds.
“How can we do this in a way that’s 
still meaningful, but maybe a little bit dif-
ferent?” Frank recalls thinking. “It’s nice 
because the cultural exchange between 
the Shlichim and the residents at Meer 
has been really great, but it also gives the 
Shlichim some independence.”
Still, the host family aspect wasn’t 
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