NOVEMBER 14 • 2024 | 15

as we are positioned and prepared 
to help and intervene as these 
situations arise.”
Eventually, library management 
and Rodgers reconnected. They 
were apologetic. 
“They said they made some mis-
steps, that they’re only human and 
they were trying their best to make 
everyone happy, which I accept,” 
Rodgers said. “I mentioned that for 
the show to go on, I think everyone 
would expect some kind of security 
presence.” 
In the end, it was agreed that the 
show in its original form would be 
rescheduled for Sunday, Dec. 1, at 
2 p.m. 
“I think it’s important to say that 
a lot of people jumped to blame 
the library, and while they certain-
ly made some missteps and didn’t 
handle things totally correctly, they 
were put into a difficult situation,” 
Rodgers said. “I think the fact they 
reached out on their own will to 
hire me for a Jewish and Israeli 
event in the first place shows they 
are supportive of our community. I 
certainly accept that they tried to do 
their best to make everything right 
in the end.” 
Sarah Zitter says library manag-
ers were adamant that they never 
believed they made a mistake by 
offering this program in the first 
place, and it’s understood why the 
Jewish community was hurt by the 
postponement decision. 
“The question we were grappling 
with when making the decision was 
not if we should listen to one com-
munity or the other. We wanted to 
listen to both. The question was how 
do we provide programming that 
can celebrate and make space for the 
large cultural groups we’re serving 
every single day, and how do we 
do it in a way that doesn’t harm the 
relationship between those groups? 
It was not easy,” Zitter said. 

A BITTERSWEET ENDING
Amy Mendel ended up voting early 
before the rescheduling and, indeed, 
voted against the millage. 

“Had they done the right thing 
earlier, I may have voted different-
ly,” Mendel said. “But at the time 
I voted, I could not in good con-
science vote to financially support 
the library through my tax money.” 
(The millage was approved by voters 
Nov. 5.)
Mendel is happy the library did 
the right thing in the end and plans 
to go to the Dec. 1 event, but that 
doesn’t change some of her original 
feelings. 
“I plan on attending because I 
want to support David. I plan on 
attending because I want the library 
to know that our community is still 
here. We’re still thriving. We’re not 
going away. Just like Israel. But that 
doesn’t mean I’m not disappointed 
in my community library for mak-
ing the decision to cancel in the first 
place,” Mendel said. 
“Our culture isn’t going away, 
regardless of the politics with 
Israel,” she added. “We still have 
a Jewish American community in 
Farmington Hills, and we have every 
right to participate in joy in our 
culture.” 
Like Mendel, Rochelle Burr didn’t 
want anything to do with the library 
after the event was postponed. But 
after the situation was mended and 
rescheduled, Burr signed up the 
minute she could. Still, the wound 
remains. 
“Yes, I’ll continue to support the 
library, but I am extremely skeptical 
going forward,” Burr said. “My base 
was to assume the best of the public 
institutions in this community. And 
that’s just not the case anymore. I 
don’t look at them and assume the 
best. I look at them and wonder, do 
you know I’m a Jew? Are you going 
to change the rules because I’m 
here? Can I get through using the 
space I need without you noticing or 
without the rules changing? It’s just 
sad.” 

To attend The Best of Jewish and Israeli 

Music with David Rodgers at the Farmington 

Community Library on Dec. 1, register at www.

farmlib.org.

24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110
Southfield, MI 48034
1-248-945-1111

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