On solid ground Federal jurist answers call to 'stand up and be counted'

By Tom Kirvan Legal News Within days after a ceasefire took effect, U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman was part of a group of 14 Metro Detroiters who recently visited Israel in a show of solidarity for those impacted by the continued turbulence in the Jewish homeland. The September 7-11 trip, organized by the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, included several stops bordering the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, where from early July to late August more than 2,200 people were killed in the latest round of fighting between the Israelis and Palestinians. "For me, it is always a profound experience to visit Israel, especially in the wake of conflict where so many lives were lost and so many were injured and left homeless," said Judge Friedman, who has made nearly 10 trips to the Middle East since 1965. "This trip was a bit different, since it was organized within a week of our departure and served as an opportunity for us to show how much we care for Israel." It was just two years ago that the Detroit jurist headed to Tel Aviv as part of a local delegation involved in the "Volunteers for Israel" program, which provides manpower for routine but essential needs of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). A year earlier, Judge Friedman undertook a similar assignment for the IDF, "performing jobs and accomplishing tasks that would otherwise have to be done by soldiers or Israeli citizens." This year's mission trip was co-chaired by longtime Jewish Federation leaders Robert Orley and Dr. Jeffrey Forman, according to Friedman. Orley, co-founder of Real Estate Investment Group and a partner in a private equity firm, said the trip was an opportunity for supporters to "stand up and be counted" in a time of need. Forman, a radiation oncologist and professor at Wayne State University, said the experience was an eye-opener. "You can't read enough in blogs and newspapers to synthesize the amount of knowledge and insight we gained in just those four days spent in Israel," Forman said in a story published in the November issue of My Jewish Detroit, an online publication of the Jewish Federation. "Another major part of what makes a mission memorable is the collective experience of the participants. We could not have asked for a more outstanding group of veteran travelers. We all had been to Israel before and, even though many of us visited numerous times, we all experienced things that were new to us and extremely compelling." As an example, Judge Friedman said group members stopped at a restaurant on the Gaza border that "hadn't seen a customer in 52 days" because of the rocket and artillery shelling. "It was one of many examples of how the fighting takes such an enormous toll on everyday life in the region," Friedman said. "The physical casualties are of primary concern, of course, but there also is the economic disruption that is widespread and almost impossible to calculate." The group, according to Friedman, also visited a school in the region where students and teachers are trained to seek shelter within seconds after air raid sirens are sounded. "They said they have 15 seconds to get in the bomb shelters once they hear the sirens," Friedman said. "It's hard to imagine living on the edge like that, but they have grown accustomed to it. "And when a house or building gets hit, it is the policy there to begin the reconstruction within a day or two as a signal of their determination to forge ahead," he said. "Their resilience is amazing and inspired all of us." A member of the federal bench since 1988, Friedman served as chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan from 2004-09. A Detroit native, he graduated from the former Detroit College of Law and served as an assistant prosecutor in Wayne County before spending 12 years in private practice. He was a 48th District Court judge prior to his appointment to the federal bench. Throughout his career, Friedman has been mindful of the importance of his military service, where he was a member of the U.S. Army JAG Corps. "It has given me a deep appreciation for the role of the military in ensuring civilian safety, especially as it pertains to Israel and the Middle East," Friedman said. "When you see firsthand the devastating effects of war, you really appreciate the sacrifices of those in armed service and the risks they take to protect us." During the trip, the group visited the holy city of Jerusalem, while also meeting with former Israel Ambassador to the U.S., Michael Oren, Israel Finance Director Yair Lapid, and author Daniel Gordis. The group also had the opportunity to visit with the soldiers and officers of Israel's elite Oketz Canine Unit. On October 21 at the federal courthouse in Detroit, Judge Friedman hosted a luncheon get-together for those who visited Israel in September, also offering them an opportunity to tour the downtown facility and to observe court proceedings. "It was a great chance to reconnect after our trip and to give everyone a taste of what goes on in our federal courts," Friedman said. "For all of us, it was an opportunity to 'lunch and learn.'" Published: Fri, Nov 21, 2014