6 | MAY 21 • 2020
I
wrote this week’
s cover story,
and it’
s a long one, so I won’
t
take too much of your time
here. But I do want to explain
why we put a for-
mer neo-Nazi on
the cover of the
Jewish News.
I first heard
of Jeff Schoep
earlier this year,
as he was begin-
ning his anti-hate
outreach. I was intrigued by his
former prominence within the
neo-Nazi movement and also by
the fact that he lives in Detroit.
The timing of Schoep’
s exit also
coincided with the JN’
s Anti-
Semitism Project, our effort to
tell stories about how hate and
bigotry against Jews has evolved
and mutated in the modern day.
From my perspective, this
was an easy call. What better
way to have a conversation
about anti-Semitism in our
community than by sitting
down with a local figure who,
until very recently, was one
of the country’
s foremost
perpetrators of it?
I understand my deci-
sion to profile Schoep
won’
t sit well with
everyone. But I think
it’
s important for us, as
Jews, to grapple with this
essential question of what leads
to hate. The only way we can
understand bigotry is to learn
how and why people are led
down this path, and what might
have the potential to lead them
away from these toxic beliefs.
Schoep received plenty of
publicity while he ran the
National Socialist Movement
and gets his fair share of skep-
ticism now that he says he’
s
left all of that behind. I was
skeptical, too. But in our hours
of interviews, many emails and
social-distanced interactions at
his photo shoot, I’
ve found him
to be thoughtful and introspec-
tive, willing to acknowledge the
hurt that he’
s caused, wishing
to make amends with Jews spe-
cifically and struggling to find
a path forward after a lifetime
of abhorrent behavior. He’
s not
hiding, and I give him credit
for confronting his past in our
pages — although I think he
still has much work to do, and
I’
ve told him so.
I’
m not trying to provide
cover for Schoep and his past
deeds. It should be obvious I
despise everything he stood
for in his adult life up until this
moment. But he wants to do
better now. And truth be told,
I’
m less interested in the ques-
tion of whether he’
s “for real”
than in the question of how
Jews should respond to figures
like him who want to reform.
The story discusses
Charlottesville for a reason.
We are now living in a time
of resurgent white national-
ism and anti-Semitism and,
therefore, we must grapple
with people like Schoep —
both the “before” and the
“after”— one way or another. It’
s
better, I think, to do so on our
terms. And since Schoep can no
longer appear in public owing
to the COVID-19 pandemic,
this is how we have that conver-
sation.
I’
d like to invite the commu-
nity to talk about this more
in-depth. I will be hosting a
Facebook Live video at 1 p.m
on Tuesday, May 26, where I
will address reader response to
the article. Please contact me in
advance with any (respectful)
questions, critiques or thoughts
you have, and I will be sure to
address them. I look forward to
talking through this with you.
Views
S
ome people express that
summer camp is a priv-
ilege for kids. For those
who have seen camps’
incredi-
ble impact, sum-
mer camp is an
important oppor-
tunity for chil-
dren that helps
shape our com-
munity’
s future.
Jewish identity,
authenticity,
leadership, lifelong friendships,
problem-solving skills, respect
for the outdoors, disconnection
from technology and indepen-
dence represent just some of
what kids gain.
Hundreds of thousands of
dollars are raised by our com-
munities each year to make
camp financially accessible.
Inspiring young leaders give up
internships and opportunities
for higher paying summer jobs
to accept a coveted counselor
position. Professionals and
volunteers work tirelessly year-
round to create two magical
months. After living through
unimaginable times over the
past eight weeks, comes the
news that our beloved camps
have made necessary decisions
to close for the summer. Camps
are adhering to the first rule
they teach: Safety first.
Parents’
initial instinct is to
protect their children from
hurt. Watching our children
experience yet another COVID-
related loss is so tough. For
those for whom camp is so
important, losing a precious
camp summer is akin to a grief
process. The initial emotions are
very raw. Parents and kids are
feeling disbelief, sadness, anger,
questioning, denial and under-
standing, to name a few.
At this moment, what our
kids need from their parents
is to be attentive, present and
available. Listen. Validate. Show
empathy. Hug and hold your
guest column
If Summer Camp Closes:
Embracing the moment and opening the door for new opportunities for families.
Dr. Daniel
Klein
continued on page 8
Andrew Lapin
editor’
s note
Why We Profi
led an Ex-Nazi