The author is an attorney and community activist in Metro Detroit. He is a longtime member of Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township, which was attacked on Thursday. On Friday night, he attended a service across the street from the synagogue at Shenandoah Country Club, which is for the Chaldean community. He sent this message to his family afterward.
By Mark Jacobs
Temple Israel Friday night service
I went to the Temple Israel Shabbat service tonight. One of the best decisions of my life was being there tonight. Words cannot describe what I witnessed and how it felt. You think you kind of understand what happened Thursday, but tonight opened everyone’s eyes to the horror of those moments and just how miraculous it is that the temple staff and children all made it out alive. So many heroes, particularly the security team and the teachers.
The services were held at Shenandoah Country Club across the street. There were hundreds of people there, including a massive police presence and security team. The Oakland County sheriff was there along with many dignitaries, including a U.S. senator, a congresswoman, and many others. Scores of news crews were stationed outside. Across the street, you could barely see Temple Israel since there were so many blockades and crime scene tape around it, so it was hard to get a peek. It was dark and quiet, and surreal to see it like that on a Shabbat.
There were lots of tears and prolonged hugs before the service, which was very solemn and heartbreaking. Often, the rabbis had to stop, wipe away tears, and collect themselves.
The crowd gave several thunderous and heartfelt standing ovations, first to the Chaldean community for their kindness, and then to all of the members of the security team and the police.
The sanctuary suffered considerable damage. We may be out of it for a very long time. All of the prayer books are destroyed, as well as many other items, and even the ark—which was moved from the old Detroit temple—is apparently in very poor condition and will take some time to restore.
We heard about the terrifying moments when staff members and clergy were waiting across the street for more kids to be escorted to them, and it was taking so long and no one had any information. One rabbi confessed that a nightmare thought occurred to him—that perhaps the kids had perished and that there would be funerals for preschoolers in the coming days. We could only imagine the feeling when they were finally reunited with their families.
But the overall message was that the temple consists of people, not a building, and that we’re all here. We survived. And while we’re not OK now, we’re going to be OK one day.
I urge you to find the time to watch the video below -- all of it, right to the end.
So proud to be part of the temple family. God bless all of them.
