6 | MARCH 19 • 2020 

editor’
s note

Our Pledge to You During COVID-19

Views

Response to AIPAC 
Editorial 

I found the editorial “Does 
Pluralism Have A Future At 
AIPAC?” (March 12, page 
36) disturbing. I am going to 
rephrase the question. I think 
the real question is whether 
anti-Semitism and racism 
should be welcome at AIPAC 
conferences? And the answer 
is no.
The author speaks of Bernie 
Sanders as if he was the victim. 
He wasn’
t. Let me remind the 
readers what Bernie Sanders 
said. He called AIPAC’
s leaders 
“racists and bigots.
” During 
the Democratic debate itself, 
he called Prime Minister 
Netanyahu a racist. What he 
neglected to do is give examples 
of how exactly AIPAC’
s leaders 
are bigots and how Netanyahu 
is a racist. Netanyahu was elect-
ed by Israelis. Therefore, by 
extension Sanders is calling all 
Israelis racists. 
Sanders refused to go to an 
AIPAC conference, as did most 
of the Democratic candidates, 
which itself is chilling. However, 
this is the same Sanders who 
attended CAIR conferences, 
has been publicly on stage with 
overt anti-Israel politicians such 
as Ilhan Omar, and who has 
praised Cuba and Venezuela.
What was even more disturb-
ing is during the South Carolina 
debate, all the Democratic 
candidates spewed their anti-Is-
rael venom, as if Israel is the 
problem in the region. Not one 
candidate said anything sup-
portive of the only U.S. ally in 
the Middle East. I don’
t recall 
anyone mentioning the true 
dangerous villains in the world. 
Where is the outrage about 
Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, North 
Korea, Yemen, China, etc.? 
To me, it’
s very concerning 
how the Jewish Democratic 

T

he Detroit area, like much 
of the rest of the world 
at present, is figuring out 
what it means to survive a pan-
demic. And so are we. 
Since news of the first reported 
COVID-19 cases in Michigan last 
week, our tiny staff at the Jewish 
News, particularly 
our stellar reporter 
Corrie Colf, has 
worked diligently to 
bring you the latest 
information on 
what the spread of 
this virus means for 
our community. 
So far, that has included updates 
on the local schools, synagogues, 
senior residences, community 
events, entertainment venues, 
travel and all other aspects of 
Metro Detroit Jewish life that have 
canceled or otherwise drastically 
upended their normal operations 
in the name of containing the 
spread of the illness and keeping 
all of you safe.
I am sure many of you, our 
readers, are on edge about this. 

We can see this from the empty 
grocery store shelves across the 
region and the scarcity of available 
sanitizing equipment. I want you 
to know that we remain com-
mitted to your health, safety and 
security, and we take our roles 
as trusted stewards of this infor-
mation very seriously. These are 
uncertain times, and misinforma-
tion can spread just as widely and 
dangerously as a virus. 
So the JN has postponed much 
of our pre-planned coverage in 
order to focus on helping the 
community through quarantine 
and the other challenges that lie 
ahead. We have removed our 
events calendar this week in light 
of the reality that almost all of the 
usual local Jewish events are no 
longer going forward. 
We are also available as a 
resource for any community lead-
er trying to get the word out about 
your own contingency plans. Just 
reach out to me or any of our 
editors for more. For the latest on 
what we know, please continue to 
consult TheJewishNews.com. 

Our guiding light has been 
“prudence, not panic.
” Please take 
necessary precautions to safeguard 
yourselves and your loved ones, 
but please also be good communi-
ty stewards and avoid unnecessary 
stockpiling of essential supplies. 
Follow the available public health 
guidelines — including washing 
your hands frequently, cleaning 
your surfaces with disinfectant 
regularly, not touching your face 
and minimizing physical contact 
with others — and make sure 
those closest to you are getting 
their information from the best 
sources. There are a lot of individ-
uals who would try to take advan-
tage of a public crisis like this. 
Remember that self-care is 
a Jewish value, as is looking 
after the most vulnerable in our 
community, which in this case 
includes seniors and the immu-
no-compromised. We will contin-
ue to uphold and support these 
Jewish values in the JN in the 
weeks ahead. We will get through 
this together.
Zayt gezunt — be well. 

Andrew Lapin
Contributing 
Writer

letters

continued on page 8

Each month, the JN will let you 
know the stories that were read 
most often online. If you missed 
any, you can go to the jewishnews.
com and search for them by title. 
Here’
s what was most popular in 
February.

TOP 10 ON THE WEB
1. MSU Student Spray-paints 
Swastika 
2. U of M Student Active in Hillel Dies 
at 19 

3. MSU Student Educates Perpetrator 
Who Stole Mezuzah Op-Ed 
4. Gay and Jewish Jokes (from 2018)
5. Hues of Jews – Metro Detroit’
s 
Jews of Color 
6. Lacey and Samantha Foon Collect 
Over 11,000 Items for I Support The 
Girls 
7. Jewish Moms of Metro Detroit 
Facebook Group 
8. Southfield Man Suing American 
Airlines for Discrimination is Arraigned 
on Embezzlement Charges 
9. Epidemiologist Dr. Jeffrey Band 
Says ‘
Now is Not the Time to Panic’
 
Regarding Coronavirus 
10. Southfield Orthodox Family Sues 
American Airlines for Discrimination

TOPS ON FACEBOOK
1. The Well & JN’s 36 Under 36: Max 
Glick 
2. Friendship Circle: Cookie Koblin 
3. Friendship Circle’
s Weinberg Village 
4. The Well & JN’
s 36 Under 36: 
Hannah Kessler: 
5. JN’s Arthur Horwitz to be Inducted 
into Michigan Journalism Hall of 
Fame 

TOP INSTAGRAM POSTS
1. Michigan native Jason Polan 
2. Hues of Jews
3. Dr. James Allen Jones Shares Six-
Decade Journey to Judaism
4. Ryan Krauthamer – American Ninja 
Warrior Jr.

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