ORT Michigan, in partnership with World ORT, hosted 12 Israeli teenagers and three chaperones for a two-week respite trip in Detroit last month. The delegation, part of World ORT’s “Journey to Renewal” initiative, gave young people living with the trauma of Oct. 7 and ongoing conflict an opportunity to step away from their daily reality and begin to heal.
The students, ages 14 to 18, arrived carrying the weight of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder after enduring evacuations, loss and the constant stress of war. What they found in Detroit was more than a change of scenery; it was a lifeline.
The group was embraced by host families who opened their homes and their hearts. Their schedule balanced fun with reflection: ziplining at TreeRunner, a Detroit Tigers game, the Motown Museum, the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, shopping at Somerset and Great Lakes Crossing, and touring downtown Detroit with local guide Linda Yellin. A highlight was a three-day stay at Tamarack Camps, where students bonded through team-building exercises, waterfront activities and a camp cookout.
Detroit families described hosting as transformative. Jeff Friedman, who welcomed two boys, said: “It’s been such a pleasure having Amit and Liav with us and seeing the impact we’ve had on each other. To give them an opportunity to enjoy a little of what Michigan offers in the summer and get away from what they’re dealing with in Israel is really special.”
Robbie Sherman echoed: “Hosting these girls has totally changed my life and increased my passion to continue providing ORT students with incredible opportunities.”
Parents in Israel also expressed gratitude. Ann and Lior Rettig, whose son Amit was hosted by Julie and Ronald Hirsch, wrote: “It was an extraordinary experience of warmth, acceptance and generosity that will remain with him for a long time.”
After two particularly challenging years, they said, “the children were given a much-needed break—a rare opportunity to step away from daily reality. Our deepest thanks go to the wonderful host families, the organizers and the entire Detroit community for the incredible support and love you showered upon the children.”
Moshe Leiba, chief pedagogy officer of World ORT Kadima Mada, said that “the Detroit community exceeded my expectations. The love and support given to the kids created a sense of unity. They now understand what it means to belong to the greater Jewish nation. We are one.”
The Detroit trip builds on delegations to Los Angeles, Mexico City and New York. ORT plans to expand the trips, with the next delegation scheduled for Phoenix in late 2025.
