Views editor’ s note Introducing the Anti-Semitism Project T his week we observed Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. An odd time to mark this solemn anniversary. But in other ways, it’ s eerily fitting. We’ ve seen news stories in recent weeks about how Holocaust survivors around the world are responding to the COVID-19 outbreak: for many, it has meant the resurfacing of old traumas, as direct orders to stay inside or risk death are reminiscent of similar orders that kept them hid- den from those who wished to destroy them. It’ s strange, how Americans in 2020 share anxieties and restrictions with Jews from Nazi Europe. At the Jewish News, we had been planning an ambitious, multi-part editorial project on anti-Semitism to address the ways this evil has survived and mutated into the modern day: longform features, com- munity forums and arts cover- age to help parse the ways our community, and other mar- ginalized groups, understand (and do not understand) hate and bigotry in 2020. We originally planned to launch this project last month, but the virus reached Michigan that very week, and there were suddenly more imme- diate concerns for the Metro Detroit Jewish community. But as is often the case, a new tragedy has begat ancient prejudices. This month the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish human rights organiza- tion researching hate groups, released a report showing how the virus has resurfaced famil- iar forms of anti-Semitism, including allegations that the Jews either originated this deadly plague or at the least deserve to catch it. So we felt it was appropriate to relaunch our anti-Semitism project now, as a reminder that these problems are still with us. We are calling it, simply, The Anti-Semitism Project. The relevancy of this work has not faded; it has only grown stronger. And the JN’ s unique ability to tell this story, while balancing our other pressing duties to the Jewish community during the pandemic, is, in my mind, exactly why we continue sol- dering on as a publication. We begin with an in-depth cover story by reporter Maya Goldman with photography by Alex Sherman, on a new lawsuit concerning a longtime group of synagogue protest- ers in Ann Arbor. This case has a lot to tell us about the line between constitutionally protected free speech and outright racial targeting, and the line between criticism of Israel and outright anti-Sem- itism — both central themes to understanding anti-Jewish bigotry in 2020. We hope to continue this momentum throughout the remainder of the calendar year, regardless of whatever else might be in store for JN. Our goal is one or two sub- stantive stories per month centered around this theme, with social media pushes to accompany them. We have a podcast in the works, assum- ing I can catch my breath enough from the torrent of daily news to finish it. And if/ when we can go outside again, we also hope to host the occa- sional live event. I think this project will pro- vide us with valuable opportu- nities for dialogue and under- standing, across not only the Jewish community, but other groups as well. If you wish to help support our project’ s edi- torial mission financially or in other ways, please contact our publisher, Arthur Horwitz: ahorwitz@renmedia.us. And thank you as always for your continued support of JN, as we continue the work that must happen for us to reach a world free of hate. We couldn’ t do any of this without you. Andrew Lapin 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. 6 | APRIL 23 • 2020 1942 - 2020 Covering and Connecting Jewish Detroit Every Week jn Arthur M. Horwitz Publisher ahorwitz@renmedia.us F. Kevin Browett Chief Operating Officer kbrowett@renmedia.us | Editorial Editor: Andrew Lapin alapin@thejewishnews.com Associate Editor: Jackie Headapohl jheadapohl@renmedia.us Social Media and Digital Producer: Nathan Vicar nvicar@renmedia.us Multimedia Reporter: Corrie Colf ccolf@renmedia.us Editorial Assistant: Sy Manello smanello@renmedia.us Senior Columnist: Danny Raskin dannyraskin2132@gmail.com Contributing Editor: Robert Sklar rsklar@renmedia.us Contributing Editor: David Sachs Contributing Writers: Jenna Anderson, Nate Bloom, Rochel Burstyn, Suzanne Chessler, Shari S. Cohen, Stacy Gittleman, Maya Goldman, Esther Allweiss Ingber, Jen Lovy, Robin Schwartz, Mike Smith | Advertising Sales Vice President of Sales and Business Development: Carol Kruemmer ckruemmer@renmedia.us Senior Account Executive: Keith Farber kfarber@renmedia.us Account Executives: Catherine Grace, Annette Kizy, Kathy Harvey-Mitton | Business Office Operations Manager: Andrea Gusho agusho@renmedia.us Operations Assistant / Event Coordinator: Ashlee Szabo Circulation: Danielle Smith Billing Coordinator: Pamela Turner | Production By Farago & Associates Manager: Scott Drzewiecki Designers: Jessica Joannides, Kelly Kosek, Kaitlyn Schoen, Michelle Sheridan | Detroit Jewish News Partner: Arthur M. Horwitz ahorwitz@renmedia.us Partner: F. Kevin Browett kbrowett@renmedia.us Partner: Michael H. Steinhardt How to reach us see page 8