No innocent lives were lost in the March 12 attack at Temple Israel; synagogue security hailed as heroes.
Detroit’s Jewish community woke up on Friday, March 13, overwhelmed with gratitude that no innocent people lost their lives in what could have been a terror attack of cataclysmic proportions.
Smoke billows from Temple Israel.
PHOTOS Courtesy of WDIV.com
The community was rocked by the violent attack at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield on Thursday, March 12, which unfolded shortly after noon, when a man rammed his gray, Ford F-150 pickup truck through Door 5 on the southeast corner of the Temple Israel building, hitting a security guard on his way in.
First responders outside Temple Israel on March 12
Courtesy of WDIV.com
His truck got jammed between the walls of the hallway, and he began firing through the windshield of the vehicle. The attacker, who was unable to extract himself from the vehicle, and the first security officer exchanged gunfire through the rear window of his vehicle. A second security officer engaged him in a gun fight from the front of the vehicle. During the gunfire, the engine compartment of the vehicle caught fire.
An aerial view of Temple Israel during the terror attack
Courtesy of WDIV.com
West Bloomfield police officers found the attacker dead inside his truck with a self-inflicted bullet wound to the head when they arrived on the scene after receiving the 911 call from the temple. The suspect was identified as Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, 41, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Dearborn Heights with no criminal history or registered weapons.
The attack caused the building to become engulfed in flames, and aerial footage showed thick smoke billowing out of several places on the roof. A large quantity of commercial grade fireworks and several jugs filled with a flammable liquid believed to be gasoline, some of which was consumed in the fire, were found in the bed of Ghazali’s truck.
Surveillance footage shows Ghazali made two purchases totaling $2,250 at Phantom Fireworks in Livonia two days earlier. However, the FBI has not determined a motive for the attack.
Thanks to the heroism and preparedness of the Temple Israel security team and other law enforcement personnel, there were no fatalities or serious injuries among the more than 100 children under the age of 5 who were attending preschool or any staff members. The synagogue’s director of security was hospitalized after being hit by the truck and is expected to make a full recovery. In addition, 63 first responders were taken to the hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation, according to Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard.
Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge (SAC) at the Detroit FBI office, said there are no new known threats to the community at this time.
More than 605 law enforcement officers from 42 local, state, county and federal law enforcement agencies responded to the emergency, including the West Bloomfield Police Department, Michigan State Police, Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI, who is now heading the investigation after pronouncing it “a targeted attack of violence against the Jewish community.”
All Jewish buildings went into immediate lockdown during the attack, including the Federation, other synagogues, The J and senior residences. The lockdown was lifted later in the day.
Several elected officials, Temple Israel clergy members, community leaders and FBI personnel attended a press conference on Thursday evening, March 12.
“I’d like to say I’m surprised but I’m not,” said Federation CEO Steve Ingber, adding that the various law enforcement agencies, Temple Israel security staff and ECC teachers handled the attack like “rock stars.” He urged the Michigan Jewish community not to be intimidated by this and other acts of antisemitism.
“We’ll continue to be loud and proud of being Jewish,” he said, announcing that Shenandoah Country Club would host Shabbat services while Temple Israel remains closed, due to extensive damage. “No matter how hard they try, they will not stop us.”
More than 1,000 people, Jewish and not, attended those Shabbat services at Shenandoah. According to someone who attended, the crowd cheered when told the Temple’s Torah scrolls had survived the fire.
Prepared for the Worst
Earlier this year, Temple Israel clergy and staff participated in an FBI-led training on active shooter prevention and preparedness, which proved invaluable during Thursday’s attack.
Rabbi Jen Lader
“I’m overwhelmed with gratitude that we’re walking away with the best-case scenario, that everything we’ve put in place worked,” said Rabbi Jen Lader of Temple Israel.
Jason Plotkin
Executive Director Jason Plotkin was in his office at Temple Israel when he heard a loud sound coming from somewhere in the building. Sensing something was wrong, he closed his window and hid under his desk according to the protocols from the recent FBI training session. He stayed in place until the smoke became so thick he was forced to evacuate.
“I wasn’t sure what the noise was, but my instincts took over and I followed the instructions from the training,” he said.
Rabbi Jen Kaluzny
Brett Mountain
Rabbi Jen Kaluzny learned about the attack on her way to the synagogue when she received a text asking if she was OK. She arrived to see parents coming through the woods between Temple Israel and the adjacent subdivision to retrieve their children. She comforted the frightened parents and helped them locate their children, who had been taken across the street to Shenandoah Country Club, which serves the Chaldean community and became the home base for the reunification process later in the day.
The Chaldean community — Iraqi Christians — has a large presence in Detroit, and its community centers are close to the West Bloomfield Jewish community.
“We’re all family. We’ll do anything for you whenever you need it,” David Gad-Harf recalled the country club’s owner, a longtime acquaintance, saying to him after agreeing to shelter the children, according to a JTA story.
“They made fresh food and took care of our families and our teachers and our kids,” said Rabbi Kaluzny. “They are incredible neighbors, just above and beyond.”
The security team, Rabbi Lader said, is not Jewish but is considered full members of the Temple Israel community. She said the team members know the names of every child at the synagogue — 104 of whom were attending preschool in the building at the time of the attack.
“They are the most amazing team, the most incredible human beings, who put themselves in the line of fire to protect us,” Rabbi Lader told JTA.
In addition, nearby neighbors and businesses were quick to lend support. The Soul Café on Drake Road in West Bloomfield sent over food when they heard about the attack. Residents of the adjacent subdivision literally opened their doors to dozens of parents and children who were walking back from Shenandoah once the lockdown was lifted.
Parents Express Relief
Alana Mitz
For Alana Mitz of West Bloomfield, the hours between hearing about the attack and reuniting with her 3-year-old son, Ari, felt like days. She learned about the incident from a mothers’ text group.
“It was probably the worst moment of my life,” she said. “No parent should have to experience this; it was horrific.”
With so much conflicting information being texted and posted online, it took about half an hour until Mitz knew what had transpired.
“What went through my mind was, ‘I can’t wait to hug my baby and have him in my arms.’ As parents, we don’t expect it to happen to us, and it’s horrible,” she said. “But at least everybody got to go home and hug a loved one. That was the best outcome we could hope for.”
Yudi Shevin
Yudi Shevin experienced shock and disbelief when another parent called him with the news. When he arrived at Shenandoah to pick up his 3-year-old daughter, Sivan, he was relieved that the children seemed calm and happy.
“That’s a testament to the teachers,” said Shevin, who lives in West Bloomfield. “The faculty stepped up and did what was necessary to keep the kids safe. So did the police and the Chaldean community. The support was coming from every direction.”
An Ongoing Threat
Gary Torgow
“The heinous attack on Temple Israel is a frightening and painful reminder that antisemitism continues to be a real and present threat to our Jewish communities,” said Gary Torgow, chair of the Board of Trustees of the Jewish Federations of North America and a longtime leader in Detroit’s Jewish community.
“Combating violence against any community requires investments and partnership between governments and community-based institutions. We must support and encourage more funding for law enforcement, and we must confront extremism relentlessly, through education and with a commitment by leadership at every level to the values of respect and human dignity. “We are incredibly grateful to Oakland County Sherriff Bouchard, U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon, FBI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Runyan, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, and an amazing representation from law enforcement all over Southeast Michigan. Also, tremendous gratitude to our brothers and sisters in the Chaldean community for their great assistance,” said Torgow.
The Orthodox Union issued a statement: “This incident is a stark and frightening reminder that Jewish institutions across the United States continue to face serious and persistent threats, and the escalating hateful rhetoric in the public discourse puts a target on the backs of all Jews.”
The statement encouraged elected officials and people of good conscience to stand up and demand action, including sufficient funding for security at Jewish institutions. Currently, funding to help houses of worship fortify their security is being held up in Congress.
On behalf of the FBI, Runyan encouraged places of worship and schools to remain vigilant and to work with their local, state and federal law enforcement partners to get active shooter training, such as the FBI’s Active Shooter Attack Prevention & Preparedness program.
Elected Officials Respond
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin and West Bloomfield Township Supervisor Jonathan Warshay spoke to members of the media on Friday morning, March 13, at the JCC in West Bloomfield.
Sen. Elissa Slotkin
“I want Michigan’s Jewish community to know we are with you,” Whitmer said. “Yesterday’s attack was antisemitism. It was hate, plain and simple. We will fight this ancient and rampant evil. We must lower the rhetoric in the state and in this country.”
Whitmer urged people to stand together and to call out antisemitism when we see it, a message reinforced by Slotkin.
“Whether antisemitism is coming from the left or the right, you have a responsibility to call it out. Because when you don’t, it gives permission for people to climb that ladder of escalation that goes from saying hateful things online to saying them in person to graffiti and, ultimately, to violence,” Slotkin said.
Slotkin called antisemitism an epidemic, citing statistics showing that Jews suffer 10 times the number of hate crimes than any other group. Jewish institutions across the country spend more than $1 billion each year to protect our houses of worship, schools and organizations.
“Antisemitism is the oldest ‘ism” in the world. It’s become normalized, and we’ve never been less secure,” she added.
Warshay, a Temple Israel member, commended all the first responders and partner agencies for their courage and professionalism.
“No community should ever feel unsafe gathering in a house of worship or sending their children to school. I want to thank everyone at the Shenandoah Country Club and all the officials, colleagues and members of the public who have reached out in solidarity,” said Warshay, who received calls from supervisors of Oxford and Grand Blanc Townships, where mass shootings occurred in 2021 and 2025.
State Sen. Rosemary Bayer
State Rep. Samantha Steckloff
State Sen. Jeremy Moss
Michigan U.S. Sen. Gary Peters said in addition to acts of violence, he is concerned about an increase in cyberattacks since more than a third of federal cybersecurity professionals were fired by the current administration.
“We all believe when we’re in a place of worship, we’re safe, but that’s not the world we live in anymore, and there’s no [federal] plan in place,” he said.
Michigan State Sen. Rosemary Bayer says she cannot stop thinking about the kids and their parents.
“We talk about whether anyone was hurt, but we’re all hurt,” she said.
Michigan State Rep. Samantha Steckloff, whose family belongs to Temple Israel, was “heartbroken” when she learned about the attack.
“I hope every one of us finds this untenable,” said State Sen. Jeremy Moss. “No one should have to live like this, and we all have to stand together.”
See Something, Say Something
Anyone with information about the attack should use the FBI digital media tip line at www.FBI.gov/westbloomfieldattack or call 1-800-CALLFBI.
“We ask that you continue to provide any helpful information, no matter how small you think it is,” said Runyan “Additionally, if you know someone — whether a family member, friend or co-worker — who is exhibiting concerning behavior or making threats toward themselves or others, please contact your local police department or the FBI. We need the community’s help to keep everyone safe,”.
For those who need help processing this traumatic event, the FBI has established a Family Assistance Center at the J – Detroit, with on-site victim specialists to provide support for individuals affected by the tragedy.
See next week’s issue for continued coverage of the attack on Temple Israel.
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