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Sign Comes Down

On US 23 near Cook Road in Grand
Blanc, just a few miles south of where
US 23 comes into I-75, there was a
billboard that read “America First: Not
Israel.”
The display captured the attention
of Michigan residents and supporters
of the Jewish state, according to Ed
Kohl of StandWithUs-Michigan.
“It led to a growing social media
campaign condemning Adams
Outdoor Advertising, owner of the
advertising space, for accepting the
ad that is regarded as anti-Semitic by
many in the Jewish community,” Kohl
said.
The sign was sponsored by Deir
Yassin Remembered, an organization
known for its anti-Israel propaganda.
“This billboard brings us back to
one of the darkest moments in history,
when Jews were targeted, maligned
and accused of disloyalty. It is the new
face of that old disease: anti-Semi-
tism,” said Peggy Shapiro, Midwest
coordinator for the educational group
StandWithUs.
“Make no mistake. The dual loyalty
canard is classic anti-Semitism with a
‘Zionophobic’ twist,” she added. “What
it exhorts is that Israel and only Israel
be singled out, and that the Jews and

where there’s a will,

There’s a way forward.

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A Shared Future

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Howard
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Saeed A. Khan

FIND YOUR NEXT JOB AT WWW.JVSDET.ORG

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24

February 23 • 2017

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only the Jews be denied their right to
self-determination. Cloaked in patrio-
tism, it is a message of hate and misin-
formation.”
Shapiro became aware of the bill-
board on Tuesday, Feb. 14. “While
those who vilify Israel have their right
to expression, so do those who sup-
port a safe Israel and peace in the
Middle East,” she said.
She posted a photo of the billboard
and the name of the advertising agen-
cy on Facebook, which was shared
online by many supporters. She then
sent out an e-blast to members ask-
ing them to contact the agency about
their displeasure.
“By the close of business on
Tuesday, Adams Outdoor Advertising
responded by taking the sign down,”
Shaprio said. “The manager was very
apologetic and said he certainly didn’t
want to offend anyone or post any-
thing anti-Semitic. He said they took
it down as soon as they began to hear
from the community. The company
was as cooperative as possible.” •

The Jewish Community Relations Council/AJC has joined
with the Michigan Muslim Community Council to present
“A Shared Future: American Xenophobia, Anti-Semitism
and Islamophobia,” a special dialogue between Wayne State
University Professors Howard Lupovitch and Saeed Khan.
They will speak March 1 at Adat Shalom Synagogue in
Farmington Hills and March 22 at Wayne State University in
Detroit. Both programs begin at 7 p.m.
Launched in 2014, A Shared Future is an interfaith dia-
logue series that unites members of the Jewish and Muslim
communities to learn together and build relationships.
During each program, Lupovitch and Khan will explore
how anti-Semitism and Islamophobia employ different
language and stereotypes, yet are twin expressions of the
same racially motivated ignorance, uncertainties and fear.
They will provide a deeper comprehension of both forms of
prejudice and discuss how a firm grasp of each enhances an
understanding of both. Each program will be followed by a
dessert reception. There is no charge to attend.
Lupovitch is associate professor of history and the direc-
tor of the Cohn-Haddow Center for Judaic Studies at WSU.
Khan is in the history department and is a lecturer in WSU’s
Department of Near East & Asian Studies, where he teaches
Islamic and Middle East history.
Advance registration is required for each program. To reg-
ister, visit asharedfuture.eventbrite.com. For details, contact
Corey Young, young@jfmd.org. A Shared Future is sponsored
by the Ravitz Foundation. •

