Category: Briefings & Statements

By Steven Ingber, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Detroit
This story ran in the Detroit Free Press, March 22, 2026

March 12, 2026, is a day our community will always remember.  

At Michigan’s largest Jewish congregation, a vehicle rammed into the building while dozens of staff members and clergy were at work and 140 children were in preschool. Fire and smoke followed, and gunfire erupted as security moved to stop the threat. A member of the security team was injured; more than one hundred first responders were treated for smoke inhalation; and — by grace, training and courage — none of the children, teachers or clergy were physically harmed.  

This quickly became a worldwide headline. But it was far more than that for me. This was my temple — the place where my family prays, where we celebrate milestones and where our children are learning what it means to be good people in the world today.  

In my work as CEO of the Jewish Federation of Detroit, I also see the broader picture—how incidents like this ripple across every synagogue, school, agency and campus. Federation is the cornerstone of our community’s communal efforts, and we spend our days helping Jewish Detroit stay safe and supported. 

The night before the attack, I heard from members of our community who had just been at Temple Israel for a Jewish Federation Women’s Philanthropy event — more than seven hundred women connecting, celebrating and strengthening the future together. Earlier that day, I had been in meetings with FBI personnel in Washington DC to discuss the need for Jewish security measures in our community — work that has become a painful routine for Jewish communal leaders across America.  

For that is our reality: Jewish life today is lived with two truths at once. One is the joy and pride of building community — raising children, caring for neighbors, creating meaning through tradition, philanthropy, learning and prayer. The other is the terrible burden of knowing that at any moment, simply gathering as Jews can make us targets.  

When the assault came the next day, it was shocking and horrifying — but it was not surprising. Jewish communities across North America have learned a sobering lesson: antisemitism does not announce itself politely. It shows up in familiar tropes and slander, in toxic chatter online, in graffiti and vandalism, in threats that force synagogues to think like fortresses. And far too often, it shows up the way it did at Temple Israel — violent, brazen and designed to terrorize.  

But if this attack revealed the worst of what hate can do, what followed revealed something very different.  

It began with the brave Temple Israel security team, whose preparedness and decisive action prevented what might have been an immense tragedy. It continued with a strong, coordinated law enforcement response — multiple agencies moving with urgency and professionalism. It continued with teachers and clergy who shepherded children through smoke and fear with steadiness and poise, engaging them with songs as they hurried away from danger.  

And when the preschoolers and staff needed immediate refuge, they found it across the street at Shenandoah Country Club, a local hub for our friends in the Chaldean community. There they were met with warmth — food, comfort and a safe place to breathe — while families raced to reunite.  

Soon after, our partner agency Jewish Family Service sprang into action to offer care and support, as did The J-Detroit, which become an important staging ground for first responders. And thousands of people — friends, partners, clergy, civic leaders and neighbors of every background — reached out in one way or another to say: You are not alone.  

This was an event that knocked us down. But it did not knock us out.  

On Friday evening, just one day after the attack, I joined hundreds of my fellow Jewish Detroiters in  a  Shenandoah  Club ballroom to welcome Shabbat in a service that was at once joyful and deeply moving. We sang. We cried. We hugged. We steadied one another. And we declared, simply by showing up: Jewish life will continue.  

On Saturday night, I attended the bar mitzvah of one of our Temple Israel rabbis’ grandchildren. It had been moved from the damaged building to a new location, where it became a celebration filled with “ruach” — our enduring Jewish spirit, and a force that hate can never extinguish.  

And then on Sunday, I was honored to speak at the University of Michigan Hillel Centennial Celebration — a powerful reminder that Jewish community is built one generation at a time. Students stood alongside alumni from decades past to celebrate 100 years of Hillel as a home away from home and a place of belonging, friendship and Jewish pride.  

That is the paradox of our Jewish history compressed into a single weekend: a near-tragedy and a celebration; grief and gratitude woven together into a sacred commitment to keep standing up for one another — and for our Jewish heritage.  

And yet resilience is not the same as acceptance.  

Let me be clear: We do not accept the hatred directed at Jews. We do not accept the slights and slander,  the recycled lies in new packaging, the harassment that proliferates online, or the graffiti and property damage meant to mark us as outsiders. And we do not accept the heinous evil that assaulted Temple Israel.  

Nor do we accept what happened in Toronto this month, where multiple synagogues have been struck by gunfire. Or the attacks on a synagogue in Liège, Belgium; at a Chanukah gathering at Bondi Beach in Australia; at a peaceful march in Boulder, Colorado; or at the Jewish Museum in Washington D.C. These incidents are connected by a single, poisonous idea: that Jews can be threatened into silence, invisibility or fear.  

They cannot.  

In fact, our pride and commitment only grow stronger in the face of these attacks. We respond to antisemitism not by shrinking, but by strengthening Jewish life: by opening our doors again, by teaching our children, by caring for one another and by insisting that a synagogue is a sanctuary —not a target.  

At the Jewish Federation of Detroit, we will continue to invest in robust protection and preparedness — training, coordination and partnerships that help keep Jewish Detroit safe. But I am not willing to accept a future where Jewish parents have to calculate risk before they send their children to preschool, or before they walk into prayer. Our leaders must condemn antisemitism —  and match those words with action — so that Jews, like all Americans, can gather and worship in safety.   

That is the antidote to antisemitism: not only thoughts and prayers, not only condemnation — but the determined civic act of a society that chooses decency over hate.   

Antisemitism is not invincible. It can be confronted and defeated. We have seen what happens when moral courage rises to meet it.   

That is our charge now: to act with confidence, to stand with purpose and to prove—once again—that hate does not get the final word. 

No community should have to plan for the unthinkable—and yet that is exactly what we have been made to do.

For years, we have seen the shadow of antisemitism rising around us—in the headlines, online, in public spaces and in the lived reality of many of us every day. But when violence struck Temple Israel last week, that threat became immediate and profound. We remain deeply grateful that, in the end, no children, teachers, or clergy were seriously injured. Yet many of us are still shaken—because an attack on a sacred space is an attack on our sense of safety and belonging.

That is why we want to share a security update — and, equally important, a message of reassurance.

Security has been a core priority of the Jewish Federation for many years. Especially as antisemitism surged in the aftermath of October 7, we have worked with urgency to strengthen the protection of Jewish life across our community through extensive planning, training, professional staffing, deep coordination with law enforcement and sustained investment.

With that in mind, we are pleased to share that the Jewish Federation is immediately advancing those efforts with an additional $1 million security allocation for Jewish institutions.

These funds will provide grants to expand security personnel and resources at temples and synagogues, schools, camps and other Jewish communal institutions. This is just one of many substantive security enhancements we will be adding across the community. (Jewish organizations may contact us HERE for more information.)

Building on strong protections already in place
This new investment will strengthen and expand the robust security measures already protecting our community. At the center of that work is Jewish Community Security, Inc. (JCSI), an experienced and highly respected professional security team that helps safeguard institutions across Jewish Detroit every day.
JCSI also provides training, security assessments, threat response and information sharing across Metro Detroit. Seamless and in‑depth coordination with local, state and federal law enforcement adds another vital layer of protection. It is important to note that not every aspect of our security program is visible to community members, and that is intentional. Discreet, layered security is a best-practice strategy that helps safeguard our buildings and campuses.

The “antisemitism tax” is real — and unacceptable
We are not only working behind the scenes—we are also advocating forcefully in the halls of Congress, pressing lawmakers to ensure that Jewish communities in this country can gather, worship and live in peace. A delegation of Jewish leaders from Federation and Temple Israel was in Washington earlier this week to advocate for increasing Nonprofit Security Grants from $300 million to $1 billion annually to help protect houses of worship.
That advocacy is essential, because Jewish communities across North America are now forced to shoulder an extraordinary burden—more than $1 billion per year simply to keep our people safe. That is money not being used to enrich Jewish life, educate our children, or uplift those in need. No other community has to bear that cost just to live their faith openly. A Shabbat message—and a promise
Jewish Detroit has proven itself extraordinarily resilient and strong. We have shown, again and again, that hate will not define us. We will not retreat from Jewish life. We will continue to raise Jewish children with pride, gather in our schools and camps, fill our synagogues with prayer and song and mark our simchas in the company of those we love. As we always have, we will continue to build a Jewish life that is visible and vibrant.

As this Shabbat approaches, we greet it with the weight of what happened still heavy on our hearts—but also with deep faith in our heritage and traditions, and in the strength of our precious community. We continue to stand with Temple Israel as it heals and works to restore its strength, beauty and presence in our community.

May this Shabbat remind us that even in difficult times, the light of Jewish life in Detroit continues to shine—with warmth, joy, and enduring hope.

Shabbat Shalom.

Brian Hermelin
President, Jewish Federation of Detroit

Michael Berger
President United Jewish Foundation

Steven Ingber

CEO, Jewish Federation of Detroit

Click here to watch the video.

Yesterday’s assault on Temple Israel and specifically, its preschool, has left us all shaken to the core. This was a terrifying act of violence in a sacred place that should always be a sanctuary for Jewish learning, prayer, and connection. We are profoundly saddened, but deeply grateful that none of the students or Temple Israel teachers were physically harmed.

Their safety was a testament to the courage and swift action of our first responders and safety personnel. We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the security team at Temple Israel, whose preparedness and decisive actions undoubtedly saved lives and averted what might have been an immense tragedy. And we are thankful to the Shenendoah Country Club and our friends in the Chaldean community for providing a welcoming shelter in the aftermath.

A special word of gratitude is owed to the Temple Israel staff, who supported their community through unimaginable circumstances. Their steadfast dedication and compassion will no doubt continue to inspire and lift us all in the days and weeks to come.

This act of hate will not define us. Our community will remain a safe and welcoming place, thanks to our robust security program—JCSI—and strong partnerships with local and national law enforcement. Those efforts were evident yesterday, and we will continue to protect our institutions with the utmost vigilance. But most importantly, we will fight hatred and antisemitism by living proud Jewish lives.

We will continue to worship together in our sanctuaries, send our children to our schools and camps, and celebrate the rich traditions and heritage that have sustained us for generations. We will embrace the fullness of our Jewish identities with confidence and purpose. That alone is the most powerful response to hate in all its forms.

In moments like this, we’re reminded of how deeply connected we are. We understand what community means: a sacred commitment to show up for each other. We reach out, we check on one another, and we stand together. That sacred bond—our responsibility to each other—is our strength, and we thank you all for your part in it.

As we welcome Shabbat tonight, let us hold our loved ones especially close as we cherish our Jewish traditions and give thanks. Let us also keep our brothers and sisters in Israel in our hearts as we hope for a more peaceful future.

Shabbat Shalom.

Brian Hermelin, President
Jewish Federation of Detroit

Michael Berger, President
United Jewish Foundation

Today, our community was shaken by a horrifying act of violence at Temple Israel—a place that should always be a sanctuary for Jewish learning, prayer, and connection.

It was a day we had prepared for but prayed would never come. And yet, amid the fear and shock, we are profoundly grateful that the children and congregants were spared physical harm. We are also deeply thankful to the first responders and safety professionals who rushed toward danger, and especially to the Temple Israel security team, whose swift and decisive actions reflected extraordinary courage and the highest level of professionalism. Their bravery and preparedness undoubtedly saved lives. We also want to recognize the entire Temple Israel staff for the steadiness, care and compassion they showed under unimaginable pressure.

Our thoughts are with the Temple Israel Director of Security, who was injured during the incident, and with the 30 officers recovering from smoke inhalation at the scene. We pray for their full and speedy recovery.

We are also deeply grateful for the continued partnership and vigilance of local and national law enforcement and Jewish Community Security, Inc., who work each day—often behind the scenes—to help keep Jewish life in Detroit safe and secure. And we want to thank the many community members, partners, and friends who have reached out today with care and concern. Your compassion means more than words can express on a day like this.

Much more will come to light as the investigation continues. But already, one truth is painfully clear: this was an act of hate—another stark reminder of how deeply antisemitism persists in our society, and of the burden the Jewish community is too often forced to bear. Like all people, we deserve to live, gather and worship openly and without fear.

We will not be intimidated by hate. We will respond as we always have: with courage and resolve, with vigilance, and above all with an unwavering commitment to living proud, vibrant Jewish lives.

Tomorrow, our synagogues and temples, our schools, and our community institutions will open their doors once again for prayer, learning and connection. Our lives will remain full and purposeful, and our Jewish spirit will remain strong.

After three days of conflict, we are watching developments in the Middle East with both hope and concern. We hold hope that this moment could help bring about a new Middle East—one without the constant threat posed by the Iranian regime and its proxies—and concern for the dangers of retaliation facing our Israeli family and the U.S. servicemen and women carrying out operations in the region.

The Iranian regime remains bent on retaliation—seeking to inflict as much damage as possible on its neighbors and especially on the State of Israel. That retaliation has already taken a heartbreaking toll: eleven Israeli and four American lives have been lost. Over 250 missiles have been fired toward Israel, injuring hundreds and causing massive destruction to homes and critical infrastructure.

Our community has been there for the people of Israel through unimaginable struggle—through the horrors of October 7 and the long aftermath that continues to test their resilience. And we are there again now—because “family” is not a metaphor for us; it is a responsibility. In moments like these, Jewish Detroit responds the way we always have. We stand united, and we act.

To meet the most urgent needs on the ground, the Jewish Federation of Detroit has released $250,000 to the Jewish Agency for Israel’s Fund for Victims of Terror. This Fund is designed for precisely these moments— delivering urgent emergency assistance within 24–48 hours to those directly impacted, and sustaining families as they recover in the weeks and months ahead.

Our dollars will bring relief where it is needed most: to the injured and traumatized, to bereaved families, and to those whose homes—and sense of safety—have been shattered. Today, the Fund for Victims of Terror is operating on a wider scale than ever before. Our partners on the ground are also offering evacuation options, psychological support and ongoing care to thousands of Israelis.

Locally, Jewish Community Security, Inc. (JCSI) remains fully engaged and vigilant, coordinating closely with law enforcement and security partners, and reinforcing heightened vigilance and existing security protocols across our institutions.

Tonight, we find ourselves on the eve of Purim—a holiday that calls out across centuries with a message that feels painfully current. Purim is the story of the Jewish people facing an evil decree in ancient Persia and refusing to disappear. It is the story of a community discovering—when it mattered most—that it was stronger together than it ever could be alone.

There is another essential Purim teaching, too: we are commanded to give, to care for those in need and to turn empathy into action. That is not only a tradition; it is our identity. It is what Jewish Detroit has always done. It is who we are at our best. We are only able to be there for the people of Israel, and for those in need in our own community, thanks to the generosity of our Annual Campaign donors. We deeply appreciate your commitment to the Jewish people.

May this Purim bring safety to Israel, comfort to those who mourn and courage to all who protect life. And may our community—here in Detroit and across the world—continue to be a source of strength, generosity and hope.

Chag Purim Sameach. Am Yisrael Chai.

We pray for the success of the joint United States–Israel mission in Iran and for the safety of the courageous service members of the United States Armed Forces and the Israel Defense Forces involved. We are monitoring events closely and remain committed to supporting our colleagues and family in Israel. We hope this moment marks a turning point toward ending terror and advancing peace for Israel and the broader region. 

A Message from Steven Ingber, Federation CEO

Earlier this week, the body of Sgt. Ran Gvili was returned to Israel. He was the last of the hostages to come home — 168 living and 85 who were tragically murdered. May all their memories be for a blessing.

A page has been turned in the history of the October 7 massacre, but the story doesn’t end here. The work ahead is immense: to rebuild shattered communities, and to heal wounds that run deep through the people of Israel, and Jews throughout the world.

Still, this is a moment to pause and reflect, with gratitude, that we can at last take down our hostage banners, remove our dog tags, throw away our lawn signs and breathe a collective sigh of relief. For the first time in more than a decade, there are no Israeli hostages being held in Gaza.

We give thanks to the brave men and women of the IDF who fought with courage to defend our homeland. And we honor the resilience and spirit of the Israeli people, who have carried the flame of klal Yisrael through 843 days of unimaginable difficulty.

Finally, we can be profoundly grateful for the passion and commitment of our Detroit Jewish community.

I am extremely proud of our part in a historic movement united by a single goal: to bring them home. Your voices, joined with millions of others in communities worldwide, have surely made a difference.

Tomorrow is another day, and there will no doubt still be challenges ahead. But today, on behalf of the Jewish Federation, I want to simply say thank you.

Your love and concern, your generosity, and your unwavering support over these last two and half years have meant so much to so many.

May we continue to stand tall, show up for one another, and to remind the Jewish people everywhere that we are never alone.

Am Yisrael Chai.

This summer’s passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) brings several tax changes that may impact year-end planning. As you consider your charitable giving for the remainder of 2025, keep in mind that the tax landscape will shift in 2026 and beyond, creating potential advantages to acting this year.

Below are a few key provisions of the OBBBA and related considerations for year-end giving.

Key OBBBA Provisions

• Tax rates made permanent: OBBBA makes permanent the current tax brackets of 10% to 37%, the higher standard deduction, and the elimination of personal and dependent exemptions. Seniors aged 65+ may qualify for a new deduction beginning in 2025.
• State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction increased: For 2025, the SALT deduction cap temporarily rises to $40,000 for married couples with incomes below $500,000, potentially enabling more taxpayers to itemize.
• New limits on charitable deductions (starting 2026):
  • Only the portion of charitable gifts above 0.5% of AGI will be deductible for those who itemize.
  • Itemized deductions—including charitable gifts—will be capped at 35% for those in the top 37% bracket.
  • If you are planning a significant gift in 2026 or later, consider accelerating it into 2025.
• New charitable deduction for non-itemizers (starting 2026): Standard-deduction filers will be able to claim up to $2,000 (married filing jointly) for cash gifts to public charities (not including Donor Advised Funds (DAFs).

Year-End Giving Strategies to Consider

• Donate appreciated assets: Gifting long-term appreciated stock or other assets can provide a full-value deduction and avoid capital gains tax. This remains one of the most tax-efficient charitable giving strategies.
• Establish or add to a DAF: Useful for bunching contributions before the new limits take effect in 2026. Appreciated assets can be especially advantageous. If you don’t have a DAF, consider opening one—it’s easy to set up.
• “Bunch” charitable gifts: If your 2025 deductions won’t exceed the standard deduction, consider grouping multiple years of giving into 2025 to maximize tax benefits—particularly before the new 2026 limitations.
• Use Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs): Individuals aged 70½ or older can give up to $108,000 per person directly from IRAs to charity tax-free. QCDs can also count toward required minimum distributions. A one-time IRA rollover of up to $53,000 to fund a charitable gift annuity is now permitted.
• Annual gifting to family: The annual gift tax exclusion for 2025 is $19,000 per recipient.

Your Jewish Federation professionals would be happy to discuss charitable giving opportunities with you and your advisors. Please note that the Jewish Federation does not provide tax advice.

You can contact us at 248-203-1519 or brown@jewishdetroit.org for further information.

As always, thank you for your generous support of the Jewish Federation. Your commitment continues to make a difference for our Jewish community—in Detroit, in Israel and around the world.

We are horrified, outraged, and heartbroken by the terrorist assault at a Chanukah celebration in Sydney, Australia, in which at least eleven Jewish attendees were brutally murdered. Our hearts ache for the victims, their families and the entire Jewish community in Australia, who are mourning the precious lives lost in this vicious antisemitic assault. That this attack occurred on a Jewish holiday—at a moment meant for joy, light and togetherness—underscores a devastating truth: too often, hatred seeks us out precisely when we gather to be Jewish, openly and proudly.

And yet—even in our shock and grief—we remain steadfast in our commitment to living vibrant Jewish lives.

Tonight is the first night of Chanukah, a celebration of the enduring brightness and strength of the Jewish people. Chanukah teaches us that light does not wait for darkness to pass—it pushes back against it. It reminds us that Jewish survival has always been fueled by courage, conviction and the decision to show up.

That is why tonight matters.

We call on our community to celebrate Chanukah by coming together at one of our local community gatherings or joining us at the annual Menorah in the D in Campus Martius—not only to celebrate Chanukah, but to make a public statement of Jewish pride, unity and resolve. Our presence matters. Our visibility matters. Each person who celebrates Chanukah tonight becomes a living declaration that we will not be intimidated, silenced or pushed to the margins.

As always, there will be abundant security provided by Jewish Community Security Inc., one of the most robust community security programs in the nation, in partnership with the Detroit Police Department. But nothing will dampen our enthusiasm or deter our determination to come together with friends and family, to celebrate who we are, and to affirm our place in the world.

Like the Maccabees thousands of years ago, we will stand up for our precious heritage and our way of life. We will not hide. We will not retreat. We will respond—as Jews always have—with courage, unity and light.

May the memories of those lost be a blessing. May healing come swiftly to the wounded. And may the lights we kindle tonight carry a powerful message to our community and to the world: the Jewish people endure, and the light of Chanukah will continue to shine.

Brian Hermelin
President
Jewish Federation of Detroit

Michael Berger
President
United Jewish Foundation

Steven Ingber
CEO
Jewish Federation of Detroit