by Naomi Miller, Director of Missions
After a challenging 2 years of Covid for tourism in Israel, members of the Detroit Federation have finally returned, full speed ahead. Spring 2022 has seen a strong Detroit presence in Israel with 3 missions arriving all within 6 weeks. The Michigan – Central Galilee Partnership2Ggether Steering committee, chaired by Randi Sakwa and Ron Sollish, led the way with a 15-person delegation, finally meeting, in person, with their Israeli counterparts. Their program opened with a fascinating day focusing on shared society, experiencing the challenges and achievements of Israel’s Jewish and Arab citizens in the northern city of Akko. The rest of the week was spent rediscovering the impressive human capital and impactful programming in the Partnership region.
Following the Steering Committee visit, the Federation proudly hosted 2 boutique missions in May, both with 20 participants. The first, deferred from the spring of 2020, was the Nora and Guy Barron Interfaith Mission, which consisted of a cohort of 9 interfaith couples. For many of these couples, it was their first visit to Israel. The chairs, Dan and Dana Labes, helped steer a week of touring, engaging with speakers, experiencing the Partnership region and having interactive encounters with numerous JFMD partners and recipients. Dana recently shared her experience with the JFMD Board, “I am excited to return home invigorated by this trip, with a renewed and elevated connection to this community, and profound sense of the impact of each of our involvement. It could be easy for someone like me to feel like an outsider here, but thanks to the gift of this trip, and the leadership of the Barrons and so many others, I am returning home reaffirmed in my knowledge that this Federation and community are here for me too.”
In March 2020, the Grosfeld 15 Leadership mission to Israel was cut short due to the beginning of Covid. Grosfeld 16 returned almost immediately as Israel opened its gates to tourism, spending 9 days exploring Israel’s multi-faceted history, narrative and society. Chaired by Grosfeld graduates, Dr. Danny Singer and Regina Colton, and mentored by Lee Hurwitz, the 20 participants experienced Israel as the Start Up Nation, the security challenges, socio –economic issues as well as Detroit’s impact in Israel and overseas. Their site visits included meeting with inspiring Ukrainian young adults at a JAFI absorption center who recently arrived in Israel, playing wheel chair basketball at a JDC supported program for adults with disabilities and interacting with young adults who are absorbing into main stream Israeli society after making the most difficult decision to leave their ultra-orthodox life.
As we enter the summer, we are looking forward to receiving over 100 Detroit and Israeli teens on the Sue & Alan Kaufman & Family Teen Mission followed by several missions in the Fall. Closing out the revival of missions to Israel, March 2023 will see the return of the large community experience to Israel with the long-awaited Motor City Mission.