OUR COMMUNITY
ON THE COVER
Comes to Life at The J
Nine young adults from
Israel help campers
and seniors connect
with their heritage.
ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE J
S
hlichim have long been a part of The J
Detroit’s summer camp program, but in the
decade past, the young Israeli emissaries
typically arrived in small groups of just
two-to-four.
This year, however, nine Israeli Shlichim — who
serve in Jewish agencies and communities worldwide
following mandatory military service — are calling
The J Detroit their summer home.
It’s the largest number of Shlichim The J has hosted
thus far, and their expanded roles go beyond serving
local Jewish children who attend the summer camp
program. Now, for the first time, the Shlichim are
being housed at Meer Apartments, where they’re giv-
ing Jewish seniors a unique opportunity to experience
and immerse themselves in Israeli culture.
The J’s Shlichim program is made possible by the
support of the Byron and Dorothy Gerson Innovation
Fund, the Alan Jay & Sue E. Kaufman Family Support
Foundation and Eli Scherr.
A NEW TWIST ON THE SHLICHIM PROGRAM
Shlichim of different backgrounds, talents and inter-
ests are handpicked for their work by the Jewish
Agency for Israel, which sees more than 10,000 Israelis
apply each year.
Israeli Culture
8 | AUGUST 22 • 2024
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