DECEMBER 5 • 2024 | 7
J
N

of “The Churkendoose,
” a parable 

of tolerance about a barnyard 
misfit (part chicken, part turkey, 
part duck) scorned by the other 
animals until they learn the lesson of 
tolerance. 
When I entered junior high, I 
heard the words “dirty Jew” for the 
first time. The slur wasn’t directed at 
me, but the sting was considerable. 
Growing up, I had heard stories 
about evil people named Nazis who 
hurt and killed Jews, but that had 
happened in another country and 
another time. I began to grasp that 
the acceptance I’
d enjoyed at Paul 
Best was not universal.
“There was a magic to that 
school,” someone said at one of our 
Best reunions. A couple of grads 
who went on to be teachers say 
they’ve tried to recreate the qualities 
that made Best special; it’s not easy. 
We were fortunate that most of us 
kids came from stable, middle-class 
homes, with parents who valued 
education. Volunteer “Room Moms” 

made school camp, our all-day fair 
and museum visits possible. 
And it was a different time. We 
felt the optimism of the postwar 
years in the new homes springing 
up, in the excitement of the space 
flights we saw on the news. We 
didn’t see students shouting their 
hatred of the State of Israel. 
But a very good principal can 
profoundly affect a school. A certain 
lightness of approach helps. Not 
stern lectures on “oppression;” but 
student artwork on Christmas trees; 
reminders that “Hate is a bad word;” 
and some tongue-in-cheek greetings 
of “Merry Chanukah” can help. 
Because no matter what’s 
happening outside its doors, a good 
school creates a sense of community. 
Which is why more than 50 years 
after graduation, my non-Jewish 
classmate felt the urgency to send off 
the message “I’m with you, guys.
” 

 

Eve Silberman is a a freelance writer living 

in Ann Arbor. 

Our groups prepared many tens 
of thousands of meals that were 
needed, and we completed a lot of 
farm work. Our collective work was 
critical.
In addition, showing up made a 
difference. Israelis saw people who 
put their lives, families and jobs 
on hold, paid for their own travel, 
and spent weeks of their time 
working for Israel. We volunteers 
stood shoulder-to-shoulder with 
Israelis letting them know they are 
not fighting a war and persevering 
alone. 
It was also important for the 
volunteers to see the sacrifices 
made by the Israelis on a daily 
basis. The Israelis are the ones 
ensuring that we have a Jewish 
country, of which we consider 
ourselves to be a part in our hearts 
and souls even though we do not 

live there.
It was important for the Israelis 
and Jewish volunteers to see 
the non-Jewish volunteers, so 
that we know we are not totally 
alone, although we feel the ever-
increasingly hostile world against 
us. It was important for the non-
Jewish volunteers to help the 
Jews and Israel in a concrete way 
because their religion or conscious 
motivated and compelled them to 
do so. 
As the world increasingly isolates 
Israel and Jews in ways that we 
have not seen in our lifetimes 
until now, the Jews in the diaspora 
increasingly need Israel and vice-
versa. The volunteers made a 
difference. 
Am Yisrael Chai! 

Todd Mendel is a local attorney.

continued from page 4

JOIN US!

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17TH

12:00-2:00PM 

LONGACRE HOUSE

24705 FARMINGTON ROAD
FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48336

RSVP by December 12th
by calling (248) 850-1351.

You’re invited to a special lunch and learn
event with Rose Senior Living Farmington
Hills, a brand- new senior living community
in your neighborhood. Learn about Rose
Senior Living and the benefits of joining our
Founders Club!

Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care

28800 West Eleven Mile Road • Farmington Hills, MI

48336 FarmingtonHills.RoseSeniorLiving.com