EDIT 3/15/26 at 9:00am

The Parent Connection is truly overwhelmed by the incredible outpouring of generosity and support from our community. In just 24 hours, more than $200,000 was raised to support our Temple Israel family. Your kindness, care, and willingness to show up for one another has meant so much during this difficult time. Because we have already reached our goal, the GoFundMe has now been closed. For anyone who would still like to contribute, donations can be made directly through the Temple Israel website at: https://www.temple-israel.org/form/onemomentonecommunity

These funds will go toward strengthening and expanding our security systems, supporting additional staffing, and providing the resources our community needs to move forward together with strength and care. Thank you for standing with our Temple Israel family. Your support reminds us how powerful and compassionate our community truly is.

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ORIGINAL POST:

On Thursday, March 12, the Jewish community in West Bloomfield, Michigan experienced a moment that none of us will ever forget.

At a little after 12:00 PM, a terrorist drove a truck into Temple Israel in an attempt to carry out a devastating attack. Inside the building at the time were more than 100 preschool children, along with over 50 staff members, educators, maintenance workers, and security personnel.

In the face of unimaginable danger, the security team and staff acted with incredible courage and professionalism. Because of their heroism, and what many are calling a miracle, every single child and adult in the building survived. By the end of the day, all of the preschoolers were safely reunited with their families.

While we are deeply grateful that no lives were lost, the emotional impact of this event on our children, teachers, staff, security members and families is profound. A place that represents safety, learning, and community became the scene of fear and uncertainty in a matter of moments.

This fundraiser is being put together by The Parent Connection from Temple Israel ECC. It is a small way to say thank you to those who stepped up when it mattered most. Donations collected will be used to provide meals, care packages, and thoughtful gifts to the security, staff, educators, and officers who worked tirelessly to protect these children during an unimaginable moment. While nothing could fully repay their bravery, we hope to show them that their courage and compassion did not go unnoticed. Any additional funds will be used to purchase toys and books for our ECC classrooms that were ruined.

Our community is deeply grateful for the people who dedicate their lives to protecting our kids. Every contribution- big or small- helps us express appreciation to the heroes who stood guard over our children. Thank you for helping us honor them.

Temple Israel ECC's Parent Connection: Taylor Weintraub, Julie Jacobs and Lindsay Kalt