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.
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