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Jews Must Speak Out
On Media Anti-Semitism
I found the Oct. 3 Jewish News espe-
cially informative — from the articles
on "Helping Hands" (page 1) to
"Urban Terror" (page 50).
I am gratified that the Jewish
News is willing to include the article
describing the horror of the Al
Shabab Islamist attackers in Kenya. It
is so important not to hide from this
threat, because we have to know the
enemy in order to confront it.
We also have to name the threat,
not skirt around it. It reminds me of
the controversy in the Harry Potter
book series with "He Who Must
Not Be Named" and Voldemort. Not
naming the threat gives it even more
power by virtue of the confusion it
creates!
Another growing threat is anti-
Semitism in the media. It's there; you
just have to be informed enough to
recognize it. Most disturbing is the
imagery of the blood libel, making its
way into mainstream media.
I saw a detective program by
Carnival Films (makers of Downton
Abbey) called Whitechapel, series
1, episode 3. It's distributed
through BBC America/Discovery
Entertainment.
The villain was a Jewish patholo-
gist, Dr. David Cohen. He had the
features of "the Devil," and one of
the dialogue lines was "he reminded
me of the Devil." He was a cannibal-
murderer.
I had no question in my mind that
I was seeing a blood libel and pro-
tested to the makers, who responded
with denial of any "subtext:' I suggest
seeing the episode on Youtube, but
first research the imagery of anti-
Semitism and blood libel so you see it
with informed eyes.
This ancient scourge is making
itself mainstream. Can we face it? If
not, we have no chance to stop it.

Ruth Katsnelson
West Bloomfield

Population Poll Shows
Need For Jewish Continuity
I am very upset and disappointed by
the news that I have long assumed true,
which was recently confirmed. The
story, titled "Poll Shows Major Shift in
Identity of U.S. Jews" in the Oct. 1 New
York Times was quite disturbing.
The numbers speak for themselves.
The intermarriage rate has reached a

Esau

JARC'S 33RD FALL FUNDRAISER

EThleit7P2N , R d roytm

JN's Annual
CMunLd 0:VW

Contest

GROOVIN' • IT'S A BEAUTIFUL MORNING
GOOD LOVIN'• I'VE BEEN LONELY TOO LONG

nill

THURSDAY
NOVEMBER 14, 20 -1

C

alling all budding artists;
it's time for the Detroit
Jewish News' Chanukah
Cover Art Contest.
To enter, submit one original piece
of artwork, along with the entry
form on page 51 by Nov. 1, to Jackie
Headapohl, the Detroit Jewish News,
29200 Northwestern Highway, Suite
110, Southfield, MI 48034.
Winners will be chosen in three
age groups: up to age 6, ages 7-9 and
ages 10-12.
When choosing your materials,
make them bright and bold, using
markers, crayons, paint or cut paper.
No pencils, light blue crayons, glitter
or computer-generated artwork. All
artwork must be handmade.
The grand prize is $100 and the
winner's artwork on the Nov. 21,
2013, cover of the Jewish News.
First-place winners in each
category will receive $18. Public
online voting will take place at

7:30PM

FOX THEATRE

BUY
TICKETS
ONLINE

www.thejewishnews.com from Nov.
7-14. First-place winners in online
voting will receive $18 each as well.
Finalists in all categories will be
featured inside the 2013 Chanukah
issue, Nov. 21, and will be exhibited
on our website.
Submissions can be picked up at
the Jewish News Nov. 7-Dec. 1. ❑

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high of 58 percent for all Jews and 71
percent for non-Orthodox Jews. This
is a huge change from before 1970
when only 17 percent of Jews married
outside the faith.
Two-thirds of Jews do not belong
to a synagogue, one-fourth do not
believe in God and one-third had a
Christmas tree last year.
The percentage of "Jews of no reli-
gion" among those born after 1980
is 32 percent. Of the "Jews of no
religion" who have children at home,
two-thirds are not raising their chil-
dren Jewish in any way.
I know friends that went to the
Michigan football game on Yom
Kippur or played tennis or golf. I
asked a number of people if they fast-
ed on Yom Kippur. The answer was
very few. I am aghast at how many
Jews eat chametz during Passover.
Our ancestors made so many sacri-
fices. Can't we do the same as a mat-
ter of respect?
I am a Reform Jew. I am not show-
er Shabbos, nor do I keep kosher. I

love being a Jew and have passed that
feeling along to my children and my
grandchildren. I feel very fortunate
that both my children married Jews.
Last year, when my then-3-year-
old grandson started singing "Bim
Barn" and "Shabbat Shalom," which
he learned at his Jewish preschool,
it brought tears to my eyes. I heard
"Jewish continuity."
We all have to do more. If you do
the math, this is detrimental for all
Jews. Please, let's get a handle on this
before it's too late!
Be proud! Be Jewish!

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248.538.6611

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YOUNG
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Ages 21-. 40

roovi n
ou nge

Howard M. Rosen
West Bloomfield

Finally, Real Hope
For A Better Detroit
Regarding "Get Out The Wrecking
Ball" and "Is It Doable?" (Oct. 10,
page 24), the reported fact that there
will be available significant funding
to tear down abandoned buildings
may well be the most significant and,
therefore, effective next step to a

Letters on page 6

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October 17 • 2013

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