10 June 6 • 2019
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so small that they fell within the
study’
s overall 3 percent margin of
error. Detroit lacked an abundance
of well-paying jobs and a vibrant
urban core.
That’
s what Gilbert spawned.
Today, Gilbert’
s Detroit com-
panies have 17,000 employees.
Thousands of other jobs have been
created in and around the city’
s
core. And while there are still an
overabundance of surface parking
lots, Gilbert and others have been
creating the work/live/play density
that resonates with young, col-
lege-educated professionals.
The byproducts of Gilbert’
s
efforts include the success of
Federation’
s NEXTGen engage-
ment initiative, a revitalized Isaac
Agree Downtown Synagogue and
an annual Detroit Homecoming
that has been particularly success-
ful in connecting former Jewish
Detroiters to each other and oppor-
tunities for investments in the city.
While Gilbert’
s companies have
deep leadership benches, his auda-
cious vision — articulated in 2010
— remains the guiding light that
ties all
the pieces together. We pray
for his full recovery. ■
views
a rise in anti-Semitic, racist and nation-
alistic attacks on minorities. Those
groups who are the targets of these
attacks need to work together once again
to defend their common interest. Rep.
Lawrence is to be applauded for forging
the Black Jewish caucus in Congress.
Just as we moved past the period of
neo-Nazi attacks in past decades, it is
actions like those of Rep. Lawrence
that will enable us to move past the
current wave of anti-minority hate.
Toby Citrin
Ann Arbor
Time for Civility in Politics
I appreciated Mike Jacobs’
guest col-
umn (“Batten Down the Hatches,
”
page 8) in the May 16 issue of the JN.
He made a persuasive case for toning
down the political rhetoric among us
Jews, especially with respect to the
2020 election. He argues none of us is
always right and that even when we
strongly disagree, we should take time
to consider that the other side’
s argu-
ments might contain a tiny bit of truth.
I say Amen to that and I would like
to see all people ponder and adopt
Mr. Jacob’
s ideas — not just Jews. His
thoughts are too important to have
them limited only to us!
Peter Wolf
Lake Orion
Thoughts from a Survivor
I, Wolf Gruca, a 99-year-old Holocaust
survivor, would like to say a few words
about the events that happened at the
Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh
and Chabad of Poway in California.
The killing of Jews is not surprising
news. We Jews living in the world have
seen a lot of killing through the gener-
ations. I went through the Holocaust.
My eyes are still wet from crying day
and night from losing my whole family
because they were Jews.
Now 73 years after the Holocaust, we
have the killing of Jews in American
synagogues because somebody didn’
t
like them. I would like to tell the killers
and their friends that the Jews have
been here longer than they have, and
we will continue to be here after they
are gone.
My heart is bleeding and my eyes
crying for the people who were killed
in the houses of worship because they
were Jews.
Wolf Gruca
Southfield
efit. Israelis are not sympathetic to
the Haredi positions, and Netanyahu
making it crystal clear he was siding
with them. Going to elections again is
also going to give Israelis a new sense
of Netanyahu fatigue, and it may also
create a measure of resentment over a
perception that Israel is broken in an
unprecedented way. I also expect some
of the cracks in Likud to become fis-
sures as Netanyahu’
s aura of invincibil-
ity has been pierced. But between now
and September, enjoy another four
surprise months of Israeli campaign
season. ■
Dr. Michael J. Koplow is Israel
Policy Forum’
s Policy Director, based in
Washington, D.
C.