12 | JANUARY 30 • 2020
United Against Anti-Semitism
Jews in the D
A
nti-Semitism has existed through-
out much of the world for centu-
ries, but a recent flare-up of attacks
on American Jews has heightened public
awareness of the problem.
As verbal assaults and minor vandalism
have become more common and escalat-
ed to beatings and murders of American
Jews during the past several years, concern
among the Jewish community has ratch-
eted up.
In response, the Jewish Community
Relations Council/AJC, ADL of Michigan
and the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit presented a “Jewish Community
Forum on Anti-Semitism” Jan. 23 at Adat
Shalom Synagogue. Approximately 1,000
individuals, mostly members of the Jewish
community but also local and state gov-
ernment officials, law enforcement repre-
sentatives and other concerned citizens,
came together for information, guidance
and reassurance.
Local rabbis, heads of Jewish agencies,
a historian and an FBI representative pro-
vided background and updates on recent
anti-Semitic events, as well as community
responses to “the new wave of hate.”
Professor Howard Lupovitch of Wayne
State University’
s Cohn-Haddow Center
for Judaic Studies discussed anti-Semitism
in the context of “a rise in intolerance and
rage during the last three years or so,”
spurred by social media, “which profits
from fear and outrage” and the “manipu-
lation of some politicians.” He decried the
lack of outrage on attacks on Chasidic Jews
in New York. “
An attack on any Jew is an
attack on every Jew,” he said.
Other speakers also stressed the need
for unity. Rabbi Yisrael Pinson of Chabad
in the D said, “We need to be proud of our
Jewish identity, Jewish practice and Torah
values.”
Rabbi Azaryah Cohen of Frankel Jewish
Academy stressed the need to educate
non-Jews about Judaism. “There isn’
t one
right reaction except coming together,”
he said. “
Anti-Semitic remarks are usually
made out of ignorance.”
Ruth Bergman, Holocaust Memorial
Center education director, talked about
the importance of teaching people to take
action when there is injustice.
“It’
s not OK to let it go,” said Carolyn
Normandin, regional director of ADL
Michigan. “No Jew is safe until everyone is
safe. Stand up.”
Several speakers thanked representatives
of other religious faiths who have been
supportive after anti-Semitic incidents in
recent years. “We have to go outside the
bubble and develop relationships,” said
Rabbi Asher Lopatin of JCRC/AJC. “We
need to connect with other communities
to create lasting relationships.”
An overview of security efforts to
protect the Jewish community was an
important aspect of the program. David
Kurzmann of Federation said that the
organization’
s annual security budget in
If you experience or witness
acts of anti-Semitism or
a hate crime, here are
resources you may turn to:
• ADL-Michigan, (248)
353-7553, michigan@adl.org
• JCRC/AJC, (248) 642-
5393, info@jcrcajc.org
• Federation’
s Community-
Wide Security Department,
security@jfmd.org
•Your local law enforce-
ment agency
• FBI Detroit, (313) 965-
2323, or go to fbi.gov and
click on “Submit a Tip”
Community leaders
offer guidance at
Adat Shalom forum.
SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
ABOVE: A crowd of around 1,000 people attended
a forum held at Adat Shalom Synagogue.
PHOTOS BY JOHN HARDWICK/JEWISH FEDERATION OF METROPOLITAN DETROIT
continued on page 14