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
