ABIGAIL SCHAUB
PHOTOGRAPHER
GRACE MAIN
COPY EDITOR
3/30/2026
On Mar. 12, Temple Israel, a Jewish Synagogue in West Bloomfield, Michigan, was attacked when a car ran into the building and an active shooting took place. Temple Israel is one of the largest Reform Jewish Synagogues in the United States with around 12,000 members. Attached to the synagogue there is a preschool as well.
Thankfully, despite how disturbing the incident was, there was only one injury, the Director of Security; and all the preschool students were evacuated.
“Everyone is safe. All 106 students, our teachers, our staff, and our heroic security team are accounted for. Our Director of Security is recovering, and he is in all of our hearts,” said Temple Israel in the statement on their website.
Alma does not have a very large Jewish Community, something that Nicholas Benjamin, Alma’s Director of Campus Safety and Student Conduct and member of the Jewish Community is aware of; especially in the difference between Alma and where he grew up, around a lot of Jewish people.
“I do appreciate the services that campus has for students and staff, but I always think it’s a little harder when we’re in a community that’s not as prominent for Jewish individuals,” said Benjamin.
Michigan elected officials condemned antisemitism in many of their responses to the attack.
“I think that a lot of students fortunately don’t always have to think about antisemitism, which is a privilege. But, not every student has the privilege of not thinking about it. It’s something that’s on the forefront of my mind every day. There’s still violence perpetrated against Jewish people almost on a daily basis,” said Benjamin.
Benjamin sees and experiences antisemitism regularly, which is why it needs to be discussed and fought all the time, and not just when an attack like this happens.
“My fear is that when I think moments like this happen, that people get really centered around Jewish rights and issues, but they’re only advocating in the moment and then not so much after the fact,” said Benjamin.
Tim Rath, Director of College Communications at Alma and member of the Jewish Community, puts this attack more in the lens of political violence. The perpetrator of this attack is identified as a naturalized U.S. citizen from Lebanon, whose family members in Lebanon were killed days prior in an Israeli airstrike.
“When you think about it, that person was motivated initially by what happened in the Middle East. I don’t think that you can divorce the cause of anything from what happened,” said Rath.
The U.S. has been involved in the ongoing conflict on the Gaza Strip, in which the ceasefire is regularly broken. The war has caused stark political divisions across the world.
“Antisemitism is certainly real and wrong. But I think it’s obvious that in order to truly affect change, and prevent events like this from happening, our leaders need to do more than simply call it out. They need to stand up against the immoral conflict in the Middle East. It’s truly disturbing to the national government doing just the opposite,” said Rath.
“I think events like this are the result of political polarization in this country. It’s part of a cycle of confirmation bias, echo chambers, and violence that we have seen increased over the years. Our political polarization has led and continues to lead people to violence and to hateful rhetoric about the “other side.” This “othering” of real people separates us from our shared humanity and discourages thoughtful discourse and curiosity,” said Kay Keller (’27), Interfaith Coordinator.
As varied Metro Detroit faith communities gathered and continue to gather around Temple Israel and the Jewish community at this time, while Alma does not have a Hillel, there are still many resources for Jewish students.
“I hope that there will be a Hillel in the future, but I would also want to make sure that that club could be thriving for students. I do think that in lieu of that, our religious leaders here on campus have been some of the best at working with all kinds of denominations, all religions, all spiritualities,” said Benjamin.
Alma College’s Interfaith Organization is also prominent on campus, always looking for suggestions on what to discuss and learn about. Events can be found on Instagram through @almacollegeinterfaith.
“We are absolutely heartbroken to hear that yet another faith community has faced this violence. No religious community should have to fear for their lives in places of worship. As for Alma’s campus, interfaith remains committed to our goal of empowerment and education,” said Keller.
The Almanian: News 
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