6 | SEPTEMBER 12 • 2024 J
N

1942 - 2024

Covering and Connecting 
Jewish Detroit Every Week

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people of greater Detroit and beyond, and the State of Israel.

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Detroit Jewish community, reflecting the diverse views and interests of the Jewish community while advancing the 
morale and spirit of the community and advocating Jewish unity, identity and continuity.

DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
32255 Northwestern Hwy. Suite 205,
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 Founding Publisher 
 Philip Slomovitz, of blessed memory
 
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 Michelle Sheridan 

I 

was driving in Troy a couple 
of weeks ago and something 
caught my eye that made me 
freeze. I thought I just saw an 
Israeli flag. Was I dreaming? Here 
in the middle of Troy? 
I slammed on my 
brakes and turned 
my car around and 
headed to where I 
thought I saw the flag. 
Sure enough. There 
it was, an Israeli flag, 
waving proudly in the 
wind together with an American 
flag.
I am always on the lookout for 
Jews that live in the area. I thought 
this house was for sure a Jewish 
one, so I parked my car and walked 
to the front door thinking that I 
would meet a new Jew in the area.
I was wrong. 
I knocked and met a very 
friendly man. I asked him if he was 
Jewish and told me that he was not. 

“So why,” I asked, “do you have an 
Israeli flag hanging by your door?”
Albert, my new friend, explained 
to me what the flag was all about. 
He is a Christian and belongs to a 
large church in the area. For many 
months now, every week they pray 

for Israel. 
Albert decided he wanted to do 
more than just pray. He wanted 
to show his support for Israel in a 
larger and more prominent way.
So he decided to hang an Israeli 
flag outside his home to show his 

support for the Jewish people. 
I thanked him profusely for this 
very courageous act. I explained 
to him that Jews in the area only 
hear the negative. They hear about 
all the antisemitism in the country. 
What is going on across college 
campuses. The terrible anti-Jewish 
and anti-Israel rhetoric that is 
being spewed the world over. And 
here you are, just an ordinary 
American that has the courage to 
stand up to all the hate and proudly 
display your love for the Jewish 
people and the Jewish state.
Albert’s courage really made my 
day and perhaps more than that! 
It is so heartening to know that 
there are decent people out there, 
who are just ordinary Americans, 
who see past all the fog and hate 
and support Israel and the Jewish 
people at our toughest hour. 

Rabbi Menachem Caytak is director of the 

Chabad Jewish Center of Troy.

PURELY COMMENTARY

essay
We Have Allies

Rabbi 
Menachem 
Caytak

Rabbi Caytak 
and his new 
friend Albert in 
Troy.

