In celebration of Israel’s 73rd Independence Day, an estimated 100 people gathered via Zoom for Choose Your Israel Adventure: An Erev Yom Haatzmaut Celebration, presented by the Jewish Community Center of Greater Ann Arbor’s Israel Center @ the J and the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor in partnership with Beth Israel Congregation, Temple Beth Emeth, Hebrew Day School of Ann Arbor, and the Ann Arbor Orthodox Minyan. The event highlighted Israeli culture by hosting Israelis living in Ann Arbor and Southeast Michigan as workshop presenters.
The day before the event, participants were invited to pick up Israeli inspired snack packs and supplies for the workshops. The packs included popular Israeli treats of Elite brand milk chocolate bars and Bissli brand snack bags, along with olives and pita crackers, and of course, hummus. Supplies included colored pencils for making hamsas and ingredients for making bourekas, the savory Israeli street snack of hand sized filled pastry.
The community joined together briefly to transition from Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day, as well as to learn about the impact the Ann Arbor Jewish community and Israel have on each other. Cantor Regina Hayut of Temple Beth Emeth led the community in singing “Hatikvah,” Israel’s national anthem. She was then joined by her husband, Avishay, to perform Shir LaShalom as he accompanied the duo on guitar. Participants then chose their own adventure to celebrate from among four different experiential workshops.
Amanda Fisher, local caterer and owner of Shuk, a new Israeli inspired pop up take away restaurant, led Boureka Making. One first time boureka maker noted, “I am so glad I learned to make bourekas. I will be making them again in the future.” Another noted, “I usually use phyllo to make bourekas, but the puff pastry was so easy! I’m not messing with the layering again!”
Yael Ross, an educator with Hebrew Day School of Ann Arbor, led Design a Hamsa, which used materials on hand to make this symbol of protection commonly found in middle eastern homes. Metropolitan Detroit shaliach (Israeli emissary), Yiftah Leket, led Street Hebrew. According to one participant, “the literal translations from the Hebrew coffee shop conversation video were hilarious.” Sydney Fine, local University of Michigan graduate student and Jewish Young Professionals program team member, led the Israeli–inspired Campfire Sing-a-long. One participant put it simply, “Sydney was incredible!”
Clara Silver, Director of Operations and director of the Israel Center @ the J, partnered with the Federation’s Jessica Weil to spearhead the planning. Silver said, “Israeli culture is best experienced hands-on through active connection to each other. Professional colleagues from many agencies were inspiring, creative thought partners. Together we created an online event where we really connected with each other despite the screens, and we really experienced something of Israel.”
The event was free to participants due to a grant from the Israel Engagement Fund: A JCC Association Program Accelerator, made possible by the generosity of several committed donors, as well as support from Reinhart Realtors. The Israel Center @ the J is funded by a generous grant from the D. Dan and Betty Kahn Foundation, which is also underwriting the upcoming online program The Israel Experience: Don’t Leave Home to Visit, which takes place May 9 – 16, 2021. Those interested in this participatory “trip” can find more information by visiting jccannarbor.org/event/israelexperience.