U-M Hillel Memorializes 
Slain Hostages

JN STAFF
O

n Tuesday, Sept. 3, the University of Michigan 
Hillel’s Wolverines for Israel planned a memorial 
for the six slain hostages, murdered by Hamas 
when they were so close to being rescued. About 500 
people attended. 
“I am so proud of our student leaders for bringing 
together the Jewish community on campus last night 
in memory of Ori Danino, Carmel Gat, Hersh Goldberg-
Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi and Eden 
Yerushalmi. May their memories be a blessing,” said U-M 
Hillel CEO Rabbi Davey Rosen. 
“Our students created a space for their peers to 
come together on the Diag, offering solace and support 
during this difficult time. The turnout of nearly 500 
individuals demonstrated the strength and unity of our 
Jewish community. The loss of these young lives is a 
tragic reminder of this terribly difficult moment for the 
Jewish people. And, the determination and resolve of 
our student leaders is inspiring. Now, more than ever, 
a strong and united Jewish community is essential,” he 
added. 
Dr. Elliot Ratzman, a research fellow at U-M’s Raoul 
Wallenberg Institute, launched in the aftermath of the 
Oct. 7 attack on Israeli citizens by Hamas and the 
subsequent conflicts on American college campuses, 
was new to town. 
“It is my first week in Ann Arbor, and it was important to 
see the Jewish community gather in mourning, students 
saying words and prayers for peace, wishing for the end 
to the suffering of civilians in this conflict,” he said. “Our 
grief over the dead and missing Israelis, which we feel 
so deeply, should also spur us to imagine the grief and 
hardship that so many Palestinians are going through. 
We are two peoples united in tears and soil, plagued by 
fanatics and false prophets. I hope the tsuris on our cam-
puses and in our communities can be transformed into 
connection, engagement and mutual understanding.” 

organization was organizing a vigil, we 
said, ‘Why not us?’” 
Rabbi Moishie Glitsenstein of Chabad 
of Royal Oak was there to offer words of 
comfort and blow the shofar to mark the 
beginning of the Jewish month of Elul. 
“We know what it is like to mourn for 
the passing of a close loved one,” Rabbi 
Glitsenstein said. “But at a time of shivah, 
we all come together to mourn, even if we 
did not personally know the person who 
died. When one of us sits shivah, we come 
and want to tell the mourner, this is not 
only your problem or your pain. The pain 
and mourning belong to all of us because 
the people of Israel are all one big family.” 
Rachel Lefkowitz of Southfield attend-
ed the event with her two oldest children 

Deedee (sixth grade) and Jonah (fourth 
grade) who attend Farber Hebrew Day 
School. 
“I think it’s incredibly important to be 
connected like this and come together 
for communal mourning, which we 
are all feeling right now,” Lefkowitz 
said. “Personally, up until now, this has 
been a lonely experience. I wanted the 
opportunity to join with the community 
and I wanted my two oldest kids to feel 
this, too.” 

Attendees display the Israeli flag in front of the graduate library at 
U-M on Sept. 4. 

YEVGENIYA GAZMAN

About 100 people 
came to the impromptu 
vigil organized by 
three young Jewish 
community members.

PHOTOS BY YEVGENIYA GAZMAN

Attendees lit 
candles for the 
slain hostages.

SEPTEMBER 12 • 2024 | 25

