The fact that Detroit asked me to participate in this unique mission is a testament to the strong reputation of our community. The largest Federations were invited to participate. Both Eric Fingerhut, the JFNA CEO and Mark Wilf, the JFNA National Chair of the Board of Trustees, planned the mission. There were representatives from New York, New Jersey, Florida, Boston, Cleveland, Chicago, Chattanooga and Los Angeles.
The group was a combination of professionals and lay people, with JFNA’s in house security specialist, Yehuda.
As we were the first post-Covid American mission to Israel, we were required to have pre-departure and arrival Covid tests, in addition to a serological test, which checks for antibodies, upon arrival.
On Day 1, we were escorted by an impressive scholar in residence, Jonathan Schachter, who was Netanyahu’s senior policy advisor. We visited an Iron Dome installation near Ashkelon, where we were guided by the head of the Public Diplomacy office of the IDF Spokespersons Unit. We also met with soldiers, including the son of the Minister of Defense, Benny Gantz.
The visit also included the opening of the newly opened Ashkelon Resilience Center, established by the Israel Trauma Coalition, and met with their guardian angel, Executive Director Tali Levanon. ITC is a collaborative network of over 40 organizations offering trauma care and preparedness and what they accomplish under extreme duress is nothing short of miraculous.
From there, we visited a JAFI absorption center for new immigrants, together with JAFI’s CEO Amira Ahroniviz, a psychologist, and Danielle Newman. They spoke of the trauma of living under rocket attacks. We met some recently arrived Ethiopian Olim, one of whom waited 27 years to come to Israel, a psychologist left her own family to go care for the Olim. At home, she worried about her Olim family, and when at work, she worried about her biological family.
We visited the severely damaged home of Sigal Arieli, Baltimore-Ashkelon JAFI Partnership director- a colleague of Naomi and Yoav (JFMD’s Israel representatives) whose home suffered a direct missile hit.
She was still in a bit of shock, but miraculously, thanks to the safe rooms, no one in her family was injured. She expects to move out for one year during renovations and repairs.
When we returned to Tel Aviv, we had a festive dinner with some Israeli Federation representatives, including Detroit’s Naomi Miller. The guest speakers included the IDF Foreign Media Spokesman as well as an impressive Israeli Air Force pilot at the rank of major. He, coincidentally, was in the same flight squadron as, and was instructed by, our very own Shaliach, Yiftah Leket.
The next morning, bright and early, we were joined for breakfast by the JAFI chairman, Isaac “Bougie” Herzog (who shortly after was elected Israel’s new incoming President). He discussed his vision of shared societies, stressed the importance of working together, and was shocked at the Arab – Jewish anger and tensions in the mixed cities. On a positive note, he spoke of 200 Jewish and Arab educators that worked together during the 11 days of the conflict.
Day 2’s scholar was former Blue and White Member of Knesset, Michal Cotler-Wunsh. She was born in Israel and raised in Montreal. Her father is the prominent international and human rights lawyer Irwin Cotler, who was counsel to Nelson Mandela and served as the Canadian Minister of Justice. She shared many brilliant insights with us, but what stood out is the shocking inaccuracy of accusing Israel of being an apartheid state, a grave insult to those who actually did suffer under true apartheid. She also stated that Hamas is guilty of war crimes on two fronts: one, for firing on Israeli civilians and two, for using their own civilians as human shields.
We then departed to the mixed city of Lod to tour the Ramat Eshkol neighborhood. There we met with Avital Blonder of Jindas, an organization that works to instigate social change in vulnerable neighborhoods. We met residents, including Fattin Alzinaty, a leading advocate of Arab-Jewish collaboration, who runs a community center in Lod. They focused on the recent attacks, car burnings, Molotov cocktails and tensions in the city. Dr. Sigal Shelach, Director of JDC Israel, joined us, emphasizing their work in this field and the expectation that it will take time to heal.
We travelled to Jerusalem to meet some of the country’s leading politicians, each giving us at least 20 minutes of their time, plus additional time for Q & A. We met with Bibi Netanyahu, whose main message dealt with the horrific Iran agreement. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gabi Ashkenazi, emphasized Israel’s preparedness for Operation Guardian of the Walls. We met with Naftali Bennett who, since we were in Israel, has replaced Bibi as the Prime Minister. He believes that Jews need to be unified and avoid inner tensions, which he compared to ancient Israel, as the reason for the division of the tribes and the ultimate destruction of all but two of them. He also was keen to understand how we feel as Jews in the U.S. We also met with Benny Gantz, the Minister of Defense, who spoke of Israel’s preparedness during the operation. He was more concerned that the 4,000 plus rockets that Hamas aimed towards Israel is only 8% of what Hizballah has stored on Israel’s northern border. In addition, we met with Omer Yankelevich, Diaspora Affairs Minister, and Israel’s first woman Haredi Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, Chair of the Religious Zionist Party, and Merav Michaeli, head of the Labor Party.
After the whirlwind two days of the mission, I visited our partnership region: our home away from home. Yoav, our Federation rep in the north, was wonderful in arranging my weekend there. The outgoing Partnership Steering Committee Chair, Ruthi Zamir, graciously hosted a get together of all my friends from the Partnership, who were thrilled to have the opportunity to meet each other after so long. They are hoping that I am only the first of many Michigan visitors. My heart was warmed by this loving, intelligent, engaged and curious group. Their main message – they miss us and come as soon as possible!
I delivered at least 100 letters to Israeli soldiers from Hillel and Farber Day School students, a project of our community Shinshinim. I have photos and videos of the soldiers receiving the letters and expressing their gratitude.
The overwhelming sentiment of the entire trip, from the Israeli on the street to the political leadership, was one of gratitude. We constantly were thanked for dropping everything to travel, show Federation’s flag and the unbreakable bond of our people.
When I am asked how the Israelis are doing now, after the latest operation, I see people who are strong, determined, perhaps a bit shaken, but enjoying life. As Covid restrictions are lifted, they are out, in coffee shops, restaurants and visiting friends and relatives. Their spirits are bolstered by the knowledge that we are with them through thick and thin. We are family. “Kol yisrael arevim zeh le zeh” (All of Israel Are Responsible for One Another).
I personally am grateful for and enriched by this amazing experience, and so proud to be a part of our incredible Detroit Federation community.