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Glimpses lost jewish communities myanmar2/20/2023 Zerwekh included prayers for Danny in regular Shabbat services until his release, and also heard from local Orthodox congregations that were praying for Fenster. “There are a lot of folks who feel close to Rose and Buddy and who have kids the same age as Bryan and Danny,” Rabbi Matthew Zerwekh said about the temple’s advocacy efforts. Member bulletins contained calls to action on his behalf, and temple board members spoke from the bimah wearing “Free Fenster” shirts. Temple Emanu-El in Oak Park, Michigan, the Reform congregation the Fenster parents attend and where Bryan Fenster sent his children to day camps, mobilized for Fenster’s release as well. Welcome Home signs for Danny Fenster at Detroit Fleat, a food-truck restaurant and bar in Ferndale, Michigan. Nevertheless, in his view, he had a clear mandate to get involved: Every time he visited his district, including when he marched in Huntington Woods’ annual Fourth of July parade, Fenster was the top issue on his constituents’ minds.īesides which, Levin said, whenever he sat down to meet with a Detroit-area Jewish organization - from the local federation to the Detroit chapters of the Anti-Defamation League and the Jewish Community Resource Center - “it was inconceivable that I would have a meeting where the first issue wasn’t, ‘What’s up with Danny?’” Levin had had some experience working with government critics in hiding in Haiti as part of his pre-congressional work with Human Rights Watch, but he’d never before worked on any cases of U.S. “The concern and involvement of the Jewish community was literally the beginning of my involvement.” “The first I heard of it was from members of the Jewish community, the day it happened,” Levin told JTA. He became the foremost legislative figure advocating for Fenster’s release in Washington. One of the attendees at that rally was Levin. Photographs and news reports from the event, showing determined, largely Jewish neighbors presenting Danny’s name and face, ran in media outlets around the world. In early June, less than two weeks into Danny’s imprisonment, the family held a rally for him at the Huntington Woods Recreation Center, a town square flanked by an elementary school, a public pool, the local library and a large field where children’s summer day camps congregate. The Fensters spearheaded the “Free Fenster” campaign, which started with lawn signs and shirts and became a global movement. If only the world had some of the heart and compassion that you all have there would be less pain in it.” “Your support kept me and my family from hitting rock bottom. “From the bottom of my heart I want to thank all of you who friended me and reached out during my days of despair,” Buddy wrote on his Facebook page after his son’s return, a message later reposted to the #FreeDannyFenster Facebook group. But they’ve been generous in their appreciation for the community that advocated for Danny’s release. Through a spokesperson, the newly reunited Fenster family declined an interview with JTA. “There’s a really emotional, Jewish story here about the way the Jewish community rallied behind this,” Democratic Congressman Andy Levin, whose Michigan district includes Huntington Woods, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Soon after, the Fensters returned to Huntington Woods, where Danny got cleaned up with a trip to a local hair salon. 15, Fenster was released, and reunited with his family - parents Buddy and Rose and older brother Bryan - outside JFK Airport in New York the next day. The charges against Fenster, which international observers unanimously agreed were unlawful and political in nature, stemmed from his work at English-language Myanmar news outlets he had been arrested while preparing to board a flight at Yangon International Airport to see his family for a surprise visit home.
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