JNOpinion

Editorials are posted and archived on JN Online:
www.d.etroitjewishnews.corn

Dry Bones

Not If, But How

nstead of reporting a story, the Detroit Jewish
News became the story Sunday night as flames
shot 20 to 30 feet into the night sky in a stub-
born fire that gutted much of its offices.
We lost a building, but not our resolve to serve
Detroit Jewry and continue to be its publication of
record. We'll continue to publish on Fridays, just
as we've done, unbroken, for 60 years. And we'll
continue to tap the vigor and diversity of this com-
munity as we pursue our mission to "strengthen
Jewish unity and continuity."
No matter where our secular lives take us in the
rhythm of the week, no matter what experiences
we encounter, no matter our affiliation or particu-
lar branch of Judaism, there's a constant
in our lives every week that calls to our
Jewishness and stirs our collective
neshamah, our soul — and that's the
Jewish News.
It's our job not only to prick your conscience
and whet your appetite through fulfilling, engaging
and compelling coverage, but also to open a liter-
ary window through which you can seize the spiri-
tual vitality that fuels our 4,000-year-old faith.

1

Temple Israel Rabbi Paul Yedwab, vice
president of the Michigan Board of
Rabbis, told the Jewish News: "You're part
of the cohesiveness of the Detroit Jewish
community and part of what ties us
together as a community."
And that's exactly what we've hoped
would happen.
A bedrock for us here at the Jewish News
— from founding publisher Philip
Slomovitz in 1942 to current publisher
Arthur M. Horwitz, who came to Detroit
in 1986 — is to emotionally connect to
you, our readers. We do that through cov-
erage that mirrors your heritage,
lifestyle, interests and needs. We
do it through content and corn-
mentary that informs, teaches,
entertains, inspires and provokes. And we
do it by watching over the Jewish state,
our beloved Israel, the epicenter of all that
Judaism stands for and represents.
As Southfield firefighters, with support
from nearby departments, fought the
wind-whipped flames deep into the night,
staff members, drawn by radio reports or
phone calls, gathered in the parking lot.
We commiserated together, we talked
about all the good times, and there were
tears for this home away from home for
us.
The concern was never if we would pub-
lish this week, but how we would do it —
how we would gather the week's news and advertis-
ing. By the next morning, we had a plan to work
off-site and get it done.

EDITORIAL

Thanks For Caring

We're deeply appreciative of the outpouring of
support from the community, especially the folks
who were drawn by news reports to the fire to
offer comfort and help. Friends and acquaintances
have offered everything from floor space to lunches
to equipment to helping hands, as well as heartfelt
expressions of encouragement. Other newspapers
were quick to offer any publishing help they could.
After hearing about the devastation on the radio,

DIFF&RING1

OPINIONS,

CONFLICTING

irricruD6s AND

COMADICrOgli

16wpoit\ITS

SW

s-o °Mr
i co
LOU

CAUL

THAT?!

We returned quickly to what we do best — serv-
ing you by producing a quality Jewish newspaper
that the entire Jewish community can continue to
be proud of. ❑

It's Just What We Do

world.
got to my office on Sunday night,
That backpack is always at my side. I
just in time to see firefighters extin-
want
to be ready for a story when it comes
guish the last few flames of the
along.
building I had considered my second
That one adrenaline-pumping, body-
home for almost five years.
rushing story, a story that everyone wants
I joined other shocked staff members,
to read and one that needs to be written,
standing helplessly in the parking lot, sad-
something challenging with no restraints or
dened at the sight of the charred walls and
rules.
HARRY
fallen ceilings of the Detroit Jewish News.
It's basically your brain, a pen and what's
We report the news. We aren't the news.
KI RS BAUM
written
in your notebook that turns the
I couldn't sleep that night, not so much
Sta ff Writer
story
into
a "keeper."
because of my emotions, but because of
I've
been
blessed with three keepers in my
something else.
short career; you can read them all on our JN Web
This was a great story.
site, www.detroitjewishnew.com . The first two,
The next morning, the Jewish News staff put
"On the Road with Joe" and "Mission of
emotions aside and went to work.
Emotion," are keepers from a personal standpoint.
Let's face it, journalists don't work for the salary.
Following U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn.,
It's the story. Pure and simple.
for
24 hours as he ran for the second highest office
I carry a backpack loaded with camera equip-
in the country last year placed me in the eye of a
ment and film, reporter's notebooks, pens and a
political hurricane.
laptop computer. I can report, write and e-mail a
Covering a solidarity mission to Israel last fall,
story to my editors from any phone line in the

I

2/1
2002

30

and finding myself in the central Galilee on the
morning of Sept. 11, unable to reach my editors,
and writing "on the fly," took me to my limits and
reinforced to me why I became a journalist.
But the one story I'm most proud of is the
David Hermelin issue on Dec. 1, 2000, a tribute
to the Bingham Farms philanthropist and former
U.S. ambassador to Norway, whose-life was cut
short by cancer.
The entire JN staff, from advertising sales to cre-
ative services, right down to the receptionist, knew
the importance of getting this story done, and
done right. It's a wonderful, memorable issue, and
everyone got to feel that adrenaline pumping.
So it is no wonder that this week's issue is a
keeper, too.
There's nothing monumental about it. I'm not
trying to hold the Jewish News staff to the same
heroic standards of firefighters who lose their lives
saving others, or our fighting men and women
overseas.
I'm just saying that when you read this week's paper,

