Tag: i&o

Bracha Katz, Israel and Overseas Administrative Assistant

The Ride for the Living Detroit 2023 was a meaningful experience that touched the hearts of everyone involved. It served as a reminder that our collective actions, no matter how small, can create a ripple effect of positive change in our communities.

On June 9, cyclists of all ages gathered in Detroit, Michigan, for a day filled with meaning, cycling, and celebration.

The Ride for the Living Detroit is not just any bike ride; it is a powerful statement of solidarity, a tribute to the indomitable spirit of Holocaust survivors, and a reminder of the importance of preserving history. Inspired by the iconic Ride for the Living in Krakow, Poland, this local event has grown to become an annual celebration of hope and remembrance, fostering a connection between communities near and far. We raised over $5,600 that will go directly to the JCC of Krakow. This money will help support the many Ukrainian refugees and local community being served by the JCC of Krakow.

150 riders in three different experience levels cycled a 30 mile route. The route took the cyclists from Ferndale to the heart of Detroit and back, passing by landmarks that hold significant historical and cultural importance.

But the celebration didn’t end with the ride itself. After crossing the finish line, participants, volunteers, and their families gathered at Ferndale Project to celebrate completing the ride and create community.

As we reflect on this unforgettable day, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the participants, volunteers, and organizers who made the event a resounding success. Your commitment to the Ride for the Living, inspire us all.

We look forward to welcoming you all back next year as we pedal with purpose, celebrate life, and reaffirm our shared commitment to the JCC of Krakow.

Special thank you to our amazing and dedicated chairs: Mark Cahn, Mark Kowalsky, Ron Sollish, Eva Solomon and Lowell Weiss

By Jennifer Levine, Senior Director, Israel & Overseas Department 

In 1995, out of the blue, JFMD received a knock on its door from an attorney who informed them that Abraham Gertzman (z”l) had made a $7 million bequest to “be used exclusively for charitable purposes in Israel.” And with that, the Gertzman Fund was born. Today, that fund produces about $350,000 a year that Federation’s Israel & Overseas Allocations Committee grants to various NGOs in Israel. Thanks to Mr. Gertzman’s generosity, thousands of lives have been touched over the past 28 years through a variety of non profit organizations in Israel. One such program is The Etty Hillesum Israeli Youth Theatre – The Voice of Youth – (Kol Ha’Noar).  

Etty Hillesum (z”l), was born on January 15, 1914 in the town of Middleberg in the Netherlands. She began keeping a diary which described the persecutions of the Jewish people in Amsterdam during the German occupation. The diary, which was published 40 years after her murder in Auschwitz, reflects her ideas about the need for human compassion, art, and aesthetics in order to overcome the many obstacles that life presents. Even in the darkest hours of the Holocaust, Etty did everything in her power to alleviate the suffering of those around her through dialogue, compassion, and an unexplained belief in the good that resides in the human heart.  

The Etty Hillesum Israeli Youth Theater Program (Kol Ha’Noar) is an organization that helps youth at risk – Arabs (Muslims & Christians), Jews, and asylum seekers, three days a week, in Jaffa in one of Tel Aviv’s toughest and most underprivileged neighborhoods and in the mixed city of Ramla.  

Despite their difficult backgrounds, these diverse young people have found a sense of home, passion and a tool for life in the theater. They also receive a hot meal at every session (something not guaranteed in many of their own homes) – which they all cook together.  

Kol Ha’Noar is the only non-profit in Israel using theatrical tools to work with teens. The program consists of 3 years of courses for about 90 youth at risk. Kol Ha’Noar is an alternative to street life, delinquency and neglect. Social values are embodied in their uncompromised daily syllabus, allowing adolescents at risk to collaborate with new peers and find passion, interest and commitment during afternoon hours. With self-made shows, the youth perform in Jaffa, around Israel in leading festivals (Jaffafest, Acre and Haifa) and even abroad (Avignon Festival). They are obliged to volunteer and initiate community-based activities (with children at-risk or seniors). They graduate with the abilities and will to join the army, civil service or pursue higher education. Their professional framework combines and encourages values such as tolerance, reciprocity, cooperation, respectful discourse, learning and reducing cultural gaps through reading relevant texts thus reducing prejudice, hatred and alienation among the youth. 

Last November, the Israel & Overseas Allocations Committee visited the program and were treated to a live performance of a scene from their current play – a modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet with an Arab girl and a Jewish boy in the lead roles. The group also had the opportunity to hear from the participants on what the program means to them and how it has positively impacted their lives. The committee was very impressed with the young adults and with the leaders of the organization.  

The Abraham Gertzman fund is currently supporting Kol Ha’Noar with a grant of $30,137 to purchase furniture and equipment for their new permanent home.  

Olivia Berlin and Allison Gutman

Early this month, we welcomed 24 members of the National Young Leadership Cabinet to Tamarack Camps to educate them about the I&O department. The National Young Leadership Cabinet is Jewish Federations’ premier young leadership development program that inspires the next generation of global Jewish leaders towards philanthropy, communal engagement, and activism. Cabinet has formed nearly six decades of Jewish leaders and philanthropists and has more than 4,500 current members and alums who foster flourishing Jewish communities across North America and around the globe.

Our goals for the special meeting included showing how shlichim bring Israel to our Detroit Jewish community, showing how shlichim grow as Israelis and Jews by engaging with the local community, and showing off our amazing programming and the uniqueness of our partnership region.

Our wonderful ShinShiniot spoke about their Detroit shlichut experience, how impactful the partnership program can be, how important and impactful host families can be, and what it is like to collaborate with many different sites in the community.

The short visit packed a lot in, but it was very successful. The cabinet members enjoyed their time on the Farber Farm and asked many meaningful questions. They were most impressed with the depth of the program and the multilayers of bring Israelis to Detroit and integrating them into so many parts of our local community.

We hope that we inspired them to bring more Israel and overseas programming to their local federations!

Shai Chayoth, Israeli Camper Program Coordinator

My name is Shai Chayoth and I am the Israeli Camper Program Coordinator, working out of our Israel office. In the past few months, I prepared around 70 Israeli campers for camp and helped their families understand what to expect. While I had heard so much about Tamarack Camps and the Jewish Federation’s Israel Camper Program from my coworkers and was able to answer all the basic questions about the experience, I found it challenging to talk about a place that I had never experienced before.  

When I was 16, I went to camp in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and I had a very transformational experience. My camp experience helped me to realize that I wanted to work with a Jewish community in order to build the relationship between Israel and Jewish communities around the world. I studied international relations in university, traveled the world as an El Al flight attendant, and worked in the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs. I have to say that with all my experiences working with communities, nothing has come closer to the unique partnership between Detroit and the Central Galilee.

When I arrived with the second session campers, I was greeted by host families and the spirit of the community. The energy in the room was contagious, and it continued throughout my visit. I am so grateful that I was hosted by Nancy Glen, who went above and beyond to make sure I felt at home. I also want to thank Rich and Lisa Broder, who treated me to dinner and a wonderful tour of the Downtown Synagogue.

I visited Congregation Shaarey Zedek, the Jewish Community Center, JCRC/ AJC, and the Jewish Federation of Detroit. I was impressed with the programs and professionals working there and enjoyed learning about how the Jewish community takes care of each other.  I tried a few Detroit staples including Steve’s Deli and Dairy Deluxe – and I can tell you that I’ll definitely be back!  

The most important and impactful visit for me was my two-day visit to Tamarack Camps. I wanted to experience the energy and environment for myself, and I was amazed. It was only the first full day of camp, and I was able to see our Israeli campers making friends with their American cabinmates. I was able to watch the campers try new activities and hang out together on the beach. I want to thank my coworkers, Allison Gutman and Dona Stillman, for making sure I was involved and experienced all that camp and Detroit had to offer during my short time there. Being at camp was like being a part of a big warm and incredible family – a Mishpacha.  I wanted to thank Lee, Robin, Carly, and Becca for hosting me at camp and including me in the Israeli dinner.

The spirit of camp was so inspiring that I can’t wait to start all over again with next year’s batch of campers.  And I can’t wait to come back to Detroit next year, and I hope that I can stay for longer! 

June 2023 

By Jerry Chapman – P2G Co-Chair 

In the second week of June, ten JFMD Partnership2Gether Committee members and staff left for Israel to meet with our Israeli committee members. Nearly 30 years of Partnership2Gether has created hundreds if not thousands of connections and relationships. This visit to Israel was no different.

The strength of these connections continues to bring our two communities together. However, this visit started off a bit different than our previous trips to Israel.  This time, we decided to spend a weekend “Shabbaton” together for an opportunity to really get to know each other on a deeper, more personal level.   The plan worked; our bonds are stronger than ever. However, for me, there was one night that I was able to spend an evening with a few hundred thousand Israelis in the middle of Tel Aviv protesting the current actions/policies of the Israeli Government.

This experience was very different than what I expected. I left dinner in a rush and walked to the focal point of the demonstration to view this gathering for myself. I had heard about the demonstrations from the US news and my Israeli friends, so I wanted to see it first-hand. Once I made it to the middle of the protest, the feeling of unity and solidarity by the protesters was incredibly palatable. After 23 previous demonstrations, the 24th protest was very well organized. Everyone knew what to expect in terms of the speeches, content, and timing.  It was easy to see a sense of empowerment and purpose watching the demonstrators actively standing up for a cause they believe in. I could perceive that the protestors feel like they are part of something bigger than themselves and that they are making a difference.

 Although the sheer magnitude of the protest made me feel a bit uncomfortable, at no point did I feel unsafe.  I simply watched thousands of Israelis let the “opposition” know how they felt, walking out on the streets, chanting together, not just hoping someone else would create change.  One thing for sure, it does not matter how you feel about the different sides of the issues, there is a huge segment of Israeli people looking for change. It is amazing to see the protests continue to grow even after 6 months. Change is in the air. 

Each year a group of 75 teens, Jews and Arabs, come to the Youth Theatre up to five afternoons a week where they receive a hot meal and learn writing, directing, acting, voice development, costume and mask design, lighting and sound. The classes are taught by some of the best theater teachers in Israel. These studies enable at-risk youth, some in the process of dropping out of education frameworks, to be on stage, to be heard, to be seen and to integrate through theater tools and skills.

Some of the Youth Theatre students have acting roles in movies; this year they received numerous calls from film and series talent hunters, inviting the students to audition. Auditions were scheduled, contracts were signed, and the youth received salaries for their roles. The social coordinator accompanied them, advocating their rights as well as motivating them. Since then, 13 program participants have been cast to take roles in films and TV series. This vocational channel that was opened is exactly what completes the association’s agenda. Theater studies and participation in the ensemble is a tool to teach at risk youth how to exit the cycle of poverty and violence while developing employment skills as contributing members of society.

A Personal story: The story of A.

About four years ago A’s mother was murdered by his father, and since then has been serving a life sentence. A. lives with his older brother’s family including his wife and children, but he is forced to take care of himself. Two years ago, he entered the Youth Theater’s ensemble and since then he claims his life was transformed for the best. At the ensemble, A. receives daily hot meals, acting lessons with the best teachers, and there is always someone to listen to his needs and difficulties. He discovered his talent in the ensemble where he gains praise for his roles. He won first place in a dialogue competition at the “Autumn Theater Festival,” and first place in the “Jaffa Talent Competition,” and has already appeared in two movies. The future is looking bright for him.

“I began my experience at the ensemble as an insecure child with nothing to do in the afternoon, without friends and even without any talent. I studied in the ensemble for almost two years, and I feel like my life has changed completely since I joined. I now feel confident, I have friends and I discovered an acting talent, and I am part of a group with endless support from my team. Thanks to the encouragement, support, and time that was invested in my personal development and the caring that I received, as well as standing in front of the camera and being applauded by people I don’t know. It feels heavenly and just makes me happier and more eager for my next challenge.” -A

It’s not true what they say, that it’s hard to sum up three years of Shlichut –  It’s actually impossible.   

I have written numerous pieces for the Israel & Overseas newsletter and for the Jewish News — and I have never had such a hard time as writing this piece. This is literally the fourth time I am writing it, and my stomach is doing somersaults.  

This writer’s block is a hint for how we feel as we look back on these three years.  You want all of it so much — to know more people, do more programs, see more places, create more experiences. In reality, it’s impossible to achieve, and you are left eager for more.    

As Paz, the girls and I start wrapping up our belongings, and our precious memories, it’s more and more clear that our experience is one in a lifetime.  The impact on us has been so strong, it almost feels as if we have started our Shlichut right now; we just had three years of the most incredible training, years of growth as a family, as Jews, as Israelis, and as professionals.   

We were blessed to be chosen and to choose Detroit as our home for the past three years.  The warmth of this place (yes, even in winter!)  is something we will cherish for the rest of our lives.  

But it’s not a walk in the park, and as simple as it sounds, being yourself and being a Shaliach is sometimes very challenging.   

You land in a different country, culture, and community – and from the very first moment you are shaking hands with hundreds of people, you are expected to be friends with everybody, be everywhere, create amazing programs, find your way in the local politics, develop your professional identity, represent a nation and more. You are trying to be yourself, to have a voice, to create change, to make an impact. But also to blend in, be loved, and be welcomed. Sometimes those don’t all go well together.   

At the end of the day, the work of the Shaliach is pretty lonely.  It’s a little bit like being a Rabbi  without a congregation.  Truly I have seen myself as a servant of the entire community, which was very special for me.  

With all that challenge, being a shaliach is hard to explain in words, and I am pretty sure it’s addictive!    

Here are three gifts that make this journey especially worthwhile:  

Home – “Home is where you park it,” said the writing on our outdoor mat that we used for our camping trip in the Western US. Good thing we had all the swag in the world (including caps with our names on them!) that showed our home is Michigan to get people’s attention as we wandered the wild west. It takes time to feel at home. When your car runs out of gas on the way to daycare and you need to run 15 minutes back home in deep snow wearing running shoes and sweatpants — that is when you don’t feel at home. You feel at home when you proudly tell a new Israeli in Michigan all that you have learned about firewood and how to set it up. But when a huge branch fell on our house, making a hole in the roof – we found ourselves still “at home” as you opened your doors to shelter us and to always make sure there was a place for us at your Shabbat dinners, holidays,  playdates, or just for a one-on-one coffee.  We are proud to call Michigan our home.   It doesn’t have huge mountains or the highest waterfalls, but that is what makes it so special.  My new home is about the small things that life is made of – human relationships and connections.  

Family – “Michpacha!” as we shout in camp. You know when you feel like one big family? When you drive for a vacation in Chicago, with a box of silverware that a Jewish mom sent with you to bring to her kid that lives there, and on the same night, you bump into one of your closest friends from Detroit at a random restaurant in downtown Chicago! That is when you start feeling like one big family.   

In these three years we have learned to see and feel what it is to really have an extended family.   Being part of a community that feels like family is something we don’t often feel in Israel.   

Meaning – This community is one of the most vibrant communities in the world! (trust me on this one). People work, volunteer, give, teach, connect, go to Israel and more. The river is flowing so strongly in Metro Detroit  that sometimes it’s actually hard to ride it. But once you get the hang of it — it’s magical!  I remember those holiday weekends, like Purim, where I was hopping between celebrations all across the “Metro”, and driving home with a sense of community and connection like never before.  Where else would I go to so many places and feel I have a meaningful place?   

Besides, there are some damn good professionals in this town, and working alongside them has taught me many things.  

Sometimes people ask me what I am most proud of with my Shlichut.  It’s hard to say, as this role has a very holistic character. It’s almost like asking what I like most about who I am.  But from an educator’s perspective, I am proud to be part of the change in the discourse around Israel. We have been working hard to widen the tent, bring people together, create spaces to listen and share and explore diversity and narratives.  Not only to talk about nuanced conversations but to really have them.  And at the end of the day, acknowledging the idea that introspection, looking within ourselves, is the most powerful tool to repair the world.     

One of my mentors in the field of education taught me that “An educator doesn’t get to cut the ribbon.” Over the years I have learned to love this path. A path that is not about me. It’s about the path itself and about how small changes create big impacts in people’s lives. With that, I would like to wish my successor, Lior Zisser-Yogev, and her family to have the journey of a lifetime, at least as much as we did, to continue some parts of the path, and to change and create new ones as well.   

This community is special, and it’s our home now.   

You will always have a place in my heart, and you always have a place at our home.   

We would love to invite you to our farewell party for a last hug.  Here is the link for information and registration.

Yours,

Yiftah

By Naomi Miller

In early November, Israel opened its borders to vaccinated tourists to come back and visit this wonderful country. Here is a link , updated as of mid November, to assist you with what you need to know when preparing to travel to Israel. https://www.touristisrael.com/when-will-travel-to-israel-resume/31963/

And, we’re going back to Israel as a community for the first time in over a decade and  we want you to join us. Save the Dates! March 12 – March 20, 2023, and get ready for the journey of a lifetime! Explore the history, beauty, tastes, sounds, magic and wonder of the Homeland together. 2023 is Israel’s historic 75th Anniversary, too.

There’s much more to come as details of this remarkable adults-only mission are finalized. Let us know you’re interested and we’ll keep you up to date and let you know when registration goes live: https://jewishdetroit.org/mc-mission-interest/

By Yiftach Leket, Community Shaliach

I am sitting next to Tomer Moked, NEXTGen Detroit’s Director, on a beautiful evening flight from Washington D.C. back home to Detroit. We had just spent the last two days meeting with the other Senior Shlichim who are placed all over the country. The topic of the seminar is no surprise – “How to create a three-dimensional Israel education” or in other words, how do we create more complex Israel education and discussion, while still holding certain core values? Three-dimensional education means we are exposing new layers, or new dimensions, around each and every topic we educate on. For example, in the past we used the Dead Sea almost solely as an incredible geological phenomenon, and as a tourist attraction. Three-dimensional education would say we should also talk about environmental and economic issues that float over the surface of the Dead Sea’s waters.

The need for a new paradigm surrounding Israel education is clear, and has become more evident following the last round of violence in May. I recently found myself explaining how I personally do not have any fundamental questions about the role of Israel in my Jewish identity after May’s events. This is not to say that I do not have criticism. Boy I do and if you know me, you know I am critical of Israel in many ways. But at the same time, these events have not shaken my basic relationship with Israel.

Over the two intense days at the seminar, we wrestled with different questions about the meaning and practice of three dimensional Israel Education. One fundamental question that rose to the surface is at the core of educational philosophy. The question is, how do you educate with a purpose (i.e., “I want kids to love Israel,”) and at the same time, not find yourself indoctrinating children, by showing them there is only one right path to do it? And further, who are the opposing sides in this question? One side emphasizes the need for a more diverse education. This idea is to advocate strongly through many organizations, as they are leaning on experience and research, showing that younger generations today do not want to be told what to think, and they will push back against any type of education that imposes historical values rather than their own. From this point of view, the answer to the question is the idea of exposing children to as many possibilities, stories and narratives as possible, and letting them choose the direction it leads them in. That way, they become the owners of their relationship with Israel.

Some Shlichim criticized this idea by saying education has to come with an agenda. We need to begin by defining what the parameters of the conversation are, and what our agenda is, and only then can we make room for diversity. That way we can achieve a complex conversation – but one that has the specific end goal of a positive relationship to Israel.

Of course, there is no easy answer to this question. This is the art of education, and I will even say the risk you take when practicing it. For me, the answer does not lie within the content of each approach. It is much more significant to understand the message we send with the way we frame Israel Education. Starting from the point of defining the parameters of the conversation expresses that we are afraid. When we are afraid, we send a message to those we are education, that we do not trust our students to be able to cope with reality. And when that comes across in our educating, they will in turn not trust themselves and start losing the ability to feel confident in their Jewish identity, and the role of Israel within that identity. Eventually, they will find it hard to deal with narratives other than their own.

This doesn’t mean an educator can’t say to his/her students: “You know what? I love Israel.” And I think that at the end of the day, with all the problems and criticism I have, Israel is still worth loving, and worth to being called my home. I will fight to change it for the better and keep my heart hopeful for growth and change. And most importantly – I am constantly on a journey of self-exploration with you – my students. As much as I am asking you to listen and to be open, I will follow this with my own effort to be humble and question things that I see as truths. It’s that simple, and that hard.

The art of education is a difficult task, especially in a world where meaning is mostly a matter of efficiency (and in many ways it’s hard for many to understand what’s efficient about their relationship with Israel). Nevertheless, it is crucial that we, as a community, continue to explore and debate new ways to create a better education for Israel, which will hopefully be a three-dimensional one.

Do you have thoughts on this topic? Questions, comments, concerns regarding my observations? I would love to hear from you: leket@jfmd.org.

By Naomi Miller

Tell us a few things about Einat

I grew up in a small communal village called Givat Ella, located in the Jezreel Valley, one of the three municipalities in Michigan’s Central-Galilee Partnership Region
(along with Migdal HaEmek and Nof Hagalil).

The first time I left my home community was when I enlisted in the IDF, where I served as a training officer in the Engineering Corps.

Following my military service, as most Israelis do, I took time off to do a long trip to South America, the U.S. and the Far East.

When I came back to Israel, I moved to Jerusalem where I spent the next six years of my life. I studied for a B.A. in Middle Eastern Studies and Communications and an M.A. in Mediation and Conflict Resolution. And I worked at the spokesperson’s office for the Ministry of Finance.

But as much as I enjoyed studying, living and working in Jerusalem, I always wanted to go back to the Jezreel Valley where I grew up. And I got the opportunity to do just that when, in 2012, the Jezreel Valley municipality was looking for a spokesperson, and I was able to get that job! That is also when I married my husband, Guy, who also grew up in the Jezreel Valley. We then moved to Kibbutz Kfar Ha’horesh where we built our home (less than 10 minutes away from where I grew up).

In 2015, I felt the need to make a professional change in my life. I wanted to look for a place which makes a real social impact.

I joined an NGO called “Different Lessons,” which promotes equal opportunities amongst school age kids in Israel’s geographical and social periphery by enabling them to meet with adult mentors who work in a variety of different professions. To be inspired, to aim high and to dream big. I was the NGO’s Regional Director for the Northern region.

A few months ago, I got the incredible opportunity to replace the amazing Noa Noff, who took time off for her maternity leave, as the Director of the Michigan-Central Galilee Partnership region. I now feel that I have gone full circle by returning to work with, and for, the community in which I grew up. But most importantly, I am the mother of two wonderful girls, Yaela, 8 years old, and Ofri, 5 years old.

What might someone be surprised to know about you?

I volunteer as a mediator in the community and for petty claims in the regional court system.

How would your kids describe you?

Imma loves to take us to explore nature, which is right in our backyard on the kibbutz. And, of course, she is the best mom in the world! (They’re not teenagers yet!)

What was your first impression when you heard about Michigan P2G?

I was amazed to understand the extent of the activities, programs and number of volunteers, and diverse ages involved in the Partnership, both in Israel and Michigan – and to experience the connection in Israel between the three diverse municipalities. To see the Jezreel Valley, a predominantly agricultural group of communities like Moshavim and Kibbutzim, along with some established community villages, connected with the two cities of Migdal Haemek and Nof Hagalil, is something very essential and exactly what I had in mind when I wanted to work in the area of social impact.

What is your wish list for Israel in the next five years?

I wish for more investment in the impressive human capital to create more dialogue and interaction between the diverse communities, whether it be Jews and Arabs, religious and secular and the different ethnic groups in the country.

Tell us something about the impressions of the people who you have met during the first few months of your position?

The staff in our Partnership office really impressed me with their commitment and passion, and it became contagious very quickly. Also, the entire team at the Detroit Federation’s Israel & Overseas department have all been incredibly supportive in getting me up to speed.

And then there are the Partnership Chairs, Avi Aviran and Rachel Schori, and of course all of the lay leaders on both sides of the ocean who epitomize the true spirit of volunteerism.
We recently filmed a promotional video for the Detroit Federation’s community-wide Motor City Mission (March 12 to March 21, 2023. Make sure to sign up!) in our Partnership region. During the couple of days of filming, I had the chance to meet with many of the people who are involved in this Partnership who help make it so special and strong. From the mayors of our three municipalities, to the teens who participate in our programs. I also can’t wait for the next couple of months when I will get to meet my Michigan counterparts in person!

If you weren’t working with the P2G, what would your life look like now?

I would probably be promoting a social initiative here in the north with issues of shared society, social challenges, women’s empowerment and education.

What do you like to do when you are not working?

I love going camping with my family, especially down south in the desert or up north with its rivers and streams. Also, I recently got into running, and I’m now training to participate in a 5K regional run to raise awareness and money for breast cancer patients.