Category: Briefings & Statements

As Shabbat begins and we prepare to welcome Rosh Hashanah, we are given the opportunity to pause, reflect, and look toward the year ahead. There is no question that we enter 5787 in a complex and challenging moment here at home and around the world, the Jewish community is confronting rising anti-Semitism, heightened security concerns, and deep uncertainty. Israel continues to face extraordinary pressure and conflict.

I am proud that our community continues to rally support for the Jewish people. Rosh Hashanah reminds us that a new year brings opportunities. It calls us to renew our sense of purpose, deepen our commitment to one another, and move forward with hope and resolve. That commitment is at the heart of Jewish Federation and the United Jewish Foundation. Federation stands up for our community, working every day to help keep Jewish Detroit safe, strong and connected.

It brings people together in support of what matters most to our community and the Jewish people. Federation will always stand firmly against anti-Semitism and hate whenever and wherever it appears. We will speak out and advocate for both peace and security. We will work with our partners and take the measures necessary to protect Jewish Detroit’s synagogues, schools, agencies and communal spaces.

We deserve to live openly, proudly and safely as Jews. As I approached the conclusion of my term as president of the United Jewish Foundation, I feel grateful for the privilege of helping steward the resources entrusted to our community. I am proud that over the last several years, we have grown our community’s resources, making more dollars available to help those in need respond to emerging challenges and build a strong Jewish future for all.

The coming years are critical and in great hands as the foundation transitions to new leadership. But our greatest strength is not found on a balance sheet. It is found in the extraordinary generosity and commitment of each of you. We can all make a difference by caring for each other and standing together as one community. I love Jewish Detroit, and I know that we will continue to create incredible opportunities together on behalf of our community.

As the shofar sounds. I want to wish you and your family a meaningful holiday and a sweet New year. Shabbat shalom and Shana Tova.

Michael Berger
President
United Jewish Foundation

Shabbat is an opportunity to pause and reflect on what matters most.

As the organization entrusted with safeguarding Jewish Detroit, Federation will never equivocate when it comes to the security of our community. The safety of our synagogues, schools, camps, and communal spaces is central to our mission. Every member of our community deserves to live openly as a Jew, to worship, gather and participate in public life safely and without fear. We should not be asked to compromise the safety of the Jewish people for anything or anyone: Our safety is non-negotiable.

Federation, as a nonprofit organization, cannot and does not advocate for any candidate or political party. But that does not mean we will be disengaged or silent. We will continue working with leaders across the political spectrum, advocating for the safety, security and well-being of our Jewish community.

That commitment underpins our support for the Jewish American Security Act, bipartisan legislation designed to strengthen protections for Jewish communities, houses of worship and other at-risk nonprofit institutions. At its heart is a principle we should all share: Jewish safety, and the safety of people of every faith, is part of our fundamental commitment to one another as Americans. Help us move this forward by urging your elected officials to support the Jewish American Security Act: https://speak4.app/lp/jt01enhl

This is a complicated and unsettling moment for our community and for Jews everywhere. Antisemitism continues to rise. Security concerns have become an unavoidable part of Jewish life. We may hold different views on today’s political issues, but those differences should never pull us apart or weaken the bonds between us.

Our ability to remain connected, especially in difficult times, is one of the reasons Jewish Detroit has flourished for more than a century, and why the Jewish people have endured for thousands of years. We have always known that our shared responsibility to one another is greater than what divides us.

Over this long weekend, as we gather with friends and family and enjoy the final days of summer, consider it an invitation to step away from the noise and take comfort in the relationships and traditions that sustain us.

May this Shabbat bring peace to our hearts, hope for the days ahead and renewed faith in all we can accomplish together.

Shabbat Shalom.

Brian Hermelin
President
Jewish Federation of Detroit

Michael Berger
President
United Jewish Foundation

Steven Ingber
CEO
Jewish Federation of Detroit

Yesterday, hundreds of anti-Muslim protesters gathered in Dearborn, spewing hateful, Islamophobic rhetoric and displaying Nazi symbols. The Jewish Federation of Detroit condemns both the intimidation and threats targeted at our Muslim neighbors and the display of swastikas and other Nazi symbols that glorify the murder of six million Jews.

We reject those who seek to turn Michigan into a platform for abhorrent messages of intolerance. We affirm that all faith communities must be able to practice their religion safely, free from harassment, intimidation and violence. Hate has no home in Michigan, and we will stand united against it wherever it appears.

Over the past several months, I have had many people ask me some version of the same question: What can I do right now?

In a time that feels so complex and challenging for the Jewish people, here in Detroit, in Israel and around the world, people want to know how they can respond. How can they help? How can they make a difference? How can they turn concern into something meaningful?

Those questions come from a place of deep love and responsibility. And the truth is, there are many important ways to respond. We can advocate for our community. We can stand up against antisemitism. We can support security efforts that help protect our institutions and families. We can speak clearly and publicly in support of Israel and the people of Israel. We can give generously to meet urgent needs and strengthen the organizations that sustain Jewish life.

All of that matters. All of it is needed.

But I also believe that one of the most powerful responses we can offer, perhaps the most powerful, is to live proud, engaged and joyful Jewish lives.

In other words, we must continue to lean into the “joy” and not only the “oy.”

That does not mean ignoring the challenges. It does not mean pretending the headlines are not concerning or that the moment is not serious. It means refusing to let worry define who we are. It means remembering that Jewish life is not only something we defend. It is something we cherish, celebrate and pass on with pride.

We do that when we gather around a Shabbat table. When we celebrate holidays with family and friends. When we send our children to camp, day school, Hebrew school, Hillel, BBYO or other Jewish programs where they can build friendships, identity and confidence. We do it when we attend a Federation event, come together to learn about important issues, volunteer our time, support a neighbor, welcome someone new or simply show up for one another with an open heart. And we do it when we connect with our friends and family in Israel, sustaining the bonds of peoplehood and mutual responsibility that unite us across generations and across the world.

We do it when we choose connection over isolation, gratitude over despair and community over fear.

As summer comes to a close, we have seen so many beautiful examples of this spirit. We saw it at JCC Day Camp and Tamarack Camps, where over a thousand young people experienced the joy of Jewish friendship, tradition and belonging. We saw it through the Serling Israeli Camper Program, as more than 125 young Israelis became part of our Detroit community and strengthened the living bond between us and Israel.

And now, as we look ahead to a new season, there will be countless opportunities to keep showing up. Our day schools will welcome students back. Hillels will open their doors to college students. BBYO will be in full swing. Federation will host our Annual Meeting and many other gatherings that bring people together in celebration, purpose and community. Soon, the High Holidays will invite us into a season of reflection, renewal, tradition and hope. We encourage everyone to find meaning and community at your synagogue and temple as we gather to observe the holiday.

This is how we respond. This is how we make a difference. We live fully. We care deeply. We stand proudly. We remember that Jewish life, especially here in Detroit, remains vibrant, meaningful and filled with promise.

At Federation, we are deeply proud to serve this extraordinary community and grateful for all the ways you continue to strengthen it.

I hope to see you all out in the community soon.

Shabbat approaches at the end of a long and consequential week.

In Michigan, we have experienced political discourse that has turned issues of Jewish safety and Jewish self-determination in Israel into political weapons rooted in vitriol, distortion and falsehoods. As we look toward November and our collective future, we continue to reject this disturbing rhetoric, particularly when it is echoed or tolerated by those in office and those seeking to hold office.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Jewish Federation does not and cannot endorse or oppose candidates for public office, but we will continue to hold our public officials accountable for their words and actions, and for the values they choose to uphold.

We will never be silent in the face of antisemitism, anti-Israel rhetoric, or efforts to delegitimize Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. We will continue to stand with Israel, advocate for the safety and dignity of the Jewish people, and speak out whenever our community is threatened, marginalized, or misunderstood.

As Jewish Americans, we are obligated to engage actively in the political arena, to stand up for our values and the issues we care about. Let each of us commit to remaining involved and invested in shaping the future, not only at the ballot box but in our synagogues and schools, at our agencies and organizations, and in every space where Jewish life is nurtured and celebrated.

Tonight, as we welcome Shabbat, we are reminded of who we are: a people rooted in faith, resilience, responsibility, and hope. Our unity, and our shared commitment to securing a vibrant Jewish future, will surely outlast this moment of uncertainty.

May this Shabbat bring comfort to those who are worried, courage to those who are weary, and renewed purpose to all of us as we continue the sacred work of protecting and sustaining Jewish life.

Shabbat Shalom.

Brian Hermelin
President
Jewish Federation of Detroit

Michael Berger
President
United Jewish Foundation

Steven Ingber
CEO
Jewish Federation of Detroit

Yesterday, voters cast their ballots in primary races across the state. Today, we look to the winners of those elections to demonstrate how they would lead in the offices they seek.

As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, the Jewish Federation of Detroit cannot and does not endorse or oppose candidates—but we believe deeply in the power of democratic participation and encourage each member of our community to take seriously their responsibility to learn about the candidates and their positions and to vote in November.  

As an organization, we will continue to engage across the political spectrum to advocate for issues essential to our future including standing against antisemitism, violence and bigotry, ensuring the safety and security of the Jewish community and houses of worship and championing Israel as a  Jewish and democratic state.

The Jewish Federation of Detroit applauds the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, the FBI, and state and local law enforcement for the investigation leading to the indictment and arrest of eight defendants alleged to have conspired to threaten and intimidate Jewish leaders, businesses, and community institutions, as well as law enforcement in our community.

The indictment details a deliberate campaign of intimidation and terror: attacks on private homes, threats to “get” the “kids” of victims, witness intimidation, and the targeting of Jewish institutions, including our own. Many of the alleged threats directly reference the Hamas-led terror attack on October 7, 2023.

We are grateful to law enforcement for pursuing this investigation with the seriousness it demands, and we look forward to seeing justice served, sending a clear message that hate, intimidation, and antisemitic violence have no place in our community or in our country.

Iran’s latest wave of missile attacks has once again disrupted daily life in our Partnership Region in the Central Galilee and across Israel. Families are hearing the now-familiar sound of sirens, rushing to bomb shelters, navigating school closures and facing countless other disruptions and uncertainties.

We are following developments closely and holding in our hearts our friends and family in the region, along with all those throughout Israel who continue to endure these attacks.

At moments like these, we are reminded that our community’s support makes a real difference. Through the generosity of our donors, critical safety infrastructure and firefighting equipment have been provided to our Partnership Region to help protect lives and strengthen local resilience.

We stand with the people of Israel as they face the ongoing threat posed by the Iranian regime and its proxies. May they find strength, safety and hope in the days ahead.

Who would have thought that in 2026, we’d be asking ourselves the question: Is it safe to be Jewish in today’s world?

But here we are.

Antisemitism has touched every one of us. You may have been impacted directly—or you know someone who has. A member of Temple Israel. A graduating student at the University of Michigan. Or someone connected with any of the numerous incidents that have shaken our community in recent months. For many people, it’s created a level of concern that they have never felt.

So, there are two important messages I want to share.

First: your safety is our highest priority. For years, the Federation has invested heavily in protecting Jewish life—because no one else will ever care about your security as much as we do. When antisemitism targets our community, Federation will be there—standing with you and standing up for our rights and freedoms.

And as concerns grow, so does our investment. We’re adding a million dollars to our community security partner, JCSI—including state-of-the-art technology and infrastructure.

We’re also advocating in the halls of government for greater security funding. No other group is forced to fund their own security force, and we shouldn’t have to shoulder this burden alone.

Secondly: there is no more important response to antisemitism than for us to continue living proud Jewish lives. We will be vigilant. We will be prepared. But we will never—ever—be intimidated. We will gather and worship, learn and celebrate joyfully—and openly.

Our community has been a vibrant home for Jewish families for more than a century—sustained by our deep connection to one another. That is the secret to our resilience. And it is the reason that those who seek to intimidate us will never succeed.

So as Shabbat arrives tonight, let it be a sacred time to breathe, to reconnect with our Jewish spirit, and to remind ourselves: we are united, we are proud, and we are strong.

Shabbat Shalom. 

Brian Hermelin
President
Jewish Federation of Detroit

Michael Berger
President
United Jewish Foundation

Steven Ingber
CEO
Jewish Federation of Detroit

The Jewish Federation of Detroit condemns the actions of a University of Michigan faculty member who broke protocol to use the Spring Commencement—a celebratory event intended to honor students’ achievements—as a platform to deliver a political statement against Israel.  

These remarks were deeply insensitive and hurtful to Jewish students and their loved ones, including graduates who have faced years of harassment, intimidation and acts of hate on campus simply for being Jewish or expressing connection to Israel. At a moment when tensions are already high, the remarks only served to contribute to an environment in which Jewish students feel targeted and unsafe. 

We are grateful to University of Michigan President Domenico Grasso for speaking out clearly and unequivocally. We look forward to concrete steps from the University to ensure that incidents like this cannot happen again, and that Jewish students at the University of Michigan are free to pursue their education without political bias or coercion.