6 March 28 • 2019
jn

N

early 20 years ago, I was work-
ing at Wilshire Boulevard 
Temple in Los Angeles when a 
madman walked into 
our local JCC and start-
ed shooting people. 
This occurred in the 
wake of Columbine, so 
people were on edge. 
Our Jewish summer 
camps, located just 
outside the city, boast 
a huge silver meno-
rah sitting on a bluff overlooking the 
Pacific Coast Highway. It is clearly 
visible to anyone driving along the 
beautiful coast. 
There was a serious conversation 
about covering the menorah or even 
removing it because its visibility might 

make us a target. And although we had 
a sacred duty to protect our commu-
nity, my position then was that if we 
removed our public symbols, we had 
already lost.
White supremacy is not a new prob-
lem. Long before the tragedy in New 
Zealand, long before the outrage in 
Charlottesville, LA JCC shooter Buford 
O. Furrow Jr. was an avowed white 
supremacist. He explained that he “was 
concerned about the decline of the 
white race and wanted to send a mes-
sage to America by killing Jews.”
It should be no surprise that wherev-
er hatred emerges, Jews are among the 
first targets. Anti-Semitism has a long 
and insidious history, and one of the 
clear lessons of our own past is that we 
are better off when we have strong con-

nections with our neighbors. It doesn’
t 
always work (see 
 Nazi Germany), but 
the overall pattern is that the people we 
live amongst have a lot to do with our 
degree of security.
So, when I learned of the terrible 
attack in Squirrel Hill, it was both 
reassuring and uplifting that the very 
first phone call I received was from 
my friend Imam Almasmari of the 
Muslim Unity Center. We have built a 
powerful relationship over the past five 
years, along with spiritual leaders from 
institutions like Kirk in the Hills, Christ 
Church Cranbrook and St. Hugo’
s. We 
learn from each other, we share meals 
and occasions together … and, sadly, 
we are there for each other in our dark-
est hours.
The massacre in New Zealand was 

not an accident. Like Buford Furrow, 
the perpetrator designed his attack with 
the specific intention of driving people 
apart and sparking more violence. But 
we know better. 
Standing together at the Muslim 
Unity Center for a vigil just two days 
later was more than an act of conso-
lation and more than an expression of 
grief. It was a direct response to those 
who would do any of us harm. We can-
not give in, and we must not hide. May 
each of us, under God’
s watchful eye, 
continue to do the one thing that white 
supremacists and their ilk abhor the 
most … celebrate life in our houses of 
worship. ■

Rabbi Mark Miller is the spiritual leader of Temple 
Beth El in Bloomfield Township.

guest column
Standing Together Against Hate

The Jewish News aspires to communicate news and opinion that’
s useful, engaging, enjoyable and unique. It strives to refl
 ect the full range of diverse viewpoints while also advocating 

positions that strengthen Jewish unity and continuity. We desire to create and maintain a challenging, caring, enjoyable work environment that encourages creativity and innovation. We 

acknowledge our role as a responsible, responsive member of the community. Being competitive, we must always strive to be the most respected, outstanding Jewish community publication 

in the nation. Our rewards are informed, educated readers, very satisfi
 ed advertisers, contented employees and profi
 table growth.

To make a donation to the 
DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 
FOUNDATION
go to the website
www.djnfoundation.org

The Detroit Jewish News (USPS 275-520) is 

published every Thursday at 29200 Northwestern 

Highway, #110, Southfield, Michigan. Periodical 

postage paid at Southfield, Michigan, and 

additional mailing offices. Postmaster: send 

changes to: Detroit Jewish News, 

29200 Northwestern Hwy., #110, 

Southfield, MI 48034.

OUR JN

MISSION

1942 - 2019

Covering and Connecting 
Jewish Detroit Every Week
jn

Arthur M. Horwitz
Executive Editor/Publisher
ahorwitz@renmedia.us

F. Kevin Browett
Chief Operating Officer
kbrowett@renmedia.us

| Editorial
Managing Editor: Jackie Headapohl
jheadapohl@renmedia.us
Story Development Editor: 
Keri Guten Cohen
kcohen@renmedia.us
Digital Editor: Allison Jacobs
ajacobs@renmedia.us
Social Media Coordinator: 
Chelsie Dzbanski
cdzbanski@renmedia.us
Director of Sponsored Content: 
Cassie Kunze
ckunze@renmedia.us
Editorial Assistant: Sy Manello
smanello@renmedia.us
Senior Columnist: Danny Raskin
dannyraskin2132@gmail.com

Contributing Editor: Robert Sklar
rsklar@renmedia.us

Contributing Arts Editor: Gail Zimmerman
gzimmerman@renmedia.us

Contributing Writers:
Ruthan Brodsky, Rochel Burstyn, Suzanne 
Chessler, Annabel Cohen, Don Cohen, 
Shari S. Cohen, Julie Edgar, Shelli Liebman 
Dorfman, Adam Finkel, Stacy Gittleman, 
Stacy Goldberg, Judy Greenwald, Ronelle 
Grier, Lauren Hoffman, Esther Allweiss 
Ingber, Allison Jacobs, Barbara Lewis, 
Jennifer Lovy, Rabbi Jason Miller, Alan 
Muskovitz, Daniel Rosenbaum, David 
Sachs, Karen Schwartz, Robin Schwartz, 
Steve Stein, Joyce Wiswell

| Advertising Sales
Vice President of Sales: Keith Farber
kfarber@renmedia.us
Account Executives: 
 Martin Chumiecki, Annette Kizy
Sales Support: 
 Courtney Shea, Ashlee Szabo

 

| Business Offices
Billing Coordinator: Pamela Turner

| Production By 
 FARAGO & ASSOCIATES
Manager: Scott Drzewiecki 
Designers: Jessica Joannides, 
Kelly Kosek, Michelle Sheridan, 
Susan Walker

| Detroit Jewish News
Partner: 
Arthur M. Horwitz
ahorwitz@renmedia.us

Partner: 
F. Kevin Browett
kbrowett@renmedia.us

Partner: 
Michael H. Steinhardt

Operations Manager: 
Andrea Gusho
agusho@renmedia.us

| Departments
General Offi
 ces: 248-354-6060 
Advertising: 248-351-5107 
Advertising Fax: 248-304-0049
Circulation: subscriptions@renmedia.us
Classifi
 ed Ads: 248-351-5116
Advertising Deadline: Friday, 12 p.m. 
Editorial Fax: 248-304-8885

Deadline: All public and social 
announcements must be typewritten 
and received by noon Tuesday, 
nine days prior to desired date of 
publication.

Subscriptions:
1 year. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $85
2 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$153
3 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$204
1 year out-of-state . . . . . . . . . . .$125
2 years out-of-state . . . . . . . . . .$225
Per year foreign 
 . . . . . . . . . . . . .$300

Detroit Jewish News
29200 Northwestern Highway, 
Suite 110
Southfi
 eld, MI 48034

©copyright 2019 Detroit Jewish News

views

Rabbi Mark 
Miller

Guns in Shul?
S

everal people commented digitally 
about the JN’
s March 14 cover story 
“In God’
s House?” about people 
being armed at shul.
 Michael Davidson: People with con-
cealed carry permits should be packing 
heat at shul. God forbid there’
s a terrorist 
attack there; many lives could be saved.

 Marvin Adell: If you have the right 
to protect yourself you should have the 
right to carry a weapon. Amen.
 Jonathan Schwartz: Detroit Jewish 
News, kudos for tackling this controver-
sial issue.
 Alex Kovnat: Th
 e most important 
reason to allow at least those ladies and 
gentlemen who are not themselves men-
tal cases to carry concealed handguns to 
shul, is as follows:
 Sure, you could put up signs all over 

churches and synagogues proclaiming: 
“Please respect our sensibilities and leave 
your guns at home. Please don’
t argue 
with us about this. Th
 is is a house of 
God, not your home.
”
 Sounds great. Th
 e problem is, do you 
really expect the likes of the Sandy Hook 
or Pittsburgh shul shooters to respect the 
above?
 Th
 e only people who will respect such 
signs are people who pose no threat 
anyway. If you allow sane, law-abiding 

ladies and gentlemen to carry handguns, 
and this is publicly known, there is hope 
— not certainty, but hope — that anti-
Semitic or other potential troublemakers 
will have more respect for the shul (or 
church or school) and not initiate gun 
violence in the fi
 rst place. ■

The JN welcome comments online at 
thejewishnews.com or on its Facebook page. 
Letters to the editor can be sent to 
letters@renmedia.us.

online comments

