6 | MAY 20 • 2021 PURELY COMMENTARY 1942 - 2021 Covering and Connecting Jewish Detroit Every Week 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 32255 Northwestern Highway, #205, Farmington Hills, Michigan. Periodical postage paid at Southfield, Michigan, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: send changes to: Detroit Jewish News, 32255 Northwestern Highway, #205, Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334 MISSION STATEMENT The Detroit Jewish News will be of service to the Jewish community. The Detroit Jewish News will inform and educate the Jewish and general community to preserve, protect and sustain the Jewish people of greater Detroit and beyond, and the State of Israel. VISION STATEMENT The Detroit Jewish News will operate to appeal to the broadest segments of the greater Detroit Jewish community, refl ecting the diverse views and interests of the Jewish community while advancing the morale and spirit of the community and advocating Jewish unity, identity and continuity. DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 32255 Northwestern Hwy. Suite 205, Farmington Hills, MI 48334 248-354-6060 thejewishnews.com Publisher The Detroit Jewish News Foundation | Board of Directors: Chair: Gary Torgow Vice President: David Kramer Secretary: Robin Axelrod Treasurer: Max Berlin Board members: Larry Jackier, Jeffrey Schlussel, Mark Zausmer Senior Advisor to the Board: Mark Davidoff Alene and Graham Landau Archivist Chair: Mike Smith Founding President & Publisher Emeritus: Arthur Horwitz Founding Publisher Philip Slomovitz, of blessed memory | Editorial DIrector of Editorial: Jackie Headapohl jheadapohl@thejewishnews.com Associate Editor: David Sachs dsachs@thejewishnews.com Social Media and Digital Producer: Nathan Vicar nvicar@thejewishnews.com Staff Reporter: Danny Schwartz dschwartz@thejewishnews.com Editorial Assistant: Sy Manello smanello@thejewishnews.com Senior Columnist: Danny Raskin dannyraskin2132@gmail.com Contributing Writers: Nate Bloom, Rochel Burstyn, Suzanne Chessler, Annabel Cohen, Shari S. Cohen, Shelli Leibman Dorfman, Louis Finkelman, Stacy Gittleman, Esther Allweiss Ingber, Barbara Lewis, Jennifer Lovy, Rabbi Jason Miller, Alan Muskovitz, Robin Schwartz, Mike Smith, Steve Stein, Ashley Zlatopolsky | Advertising Sales Director of Advertising: Keith Farber kfarber@thejewishnews.com Senior Account Executive: Kathy Harvey-Mitton kmitton@thejewishnews.com | Business Office Director of Operations: Amy Gill agill@thejewishnews.com Operations Manager: Andrea Gusho agusho@thejewishnews.com Operations Assistant: Ashlee Szabo Circulation: Danielle Smith Billing Coordinator: Pamela Turner | Production By Farago & Associates Manager: Scott Drzewiecki Designers: Kelly Kosek, Kaitlyn Schoen, Michelle Sheridan guest column Regards to Michigan D etroit, Michigan, was the first place I traveled to outside of Chicago when I arrived in the Midwest as Consul General. During my five-year posting, it has been an honor to serve as the highest-ranking representative of the state of Israel in the region. The Detroit community has been so cordial and engaging it has proven time and time again that Midwest hospitality is like no other — simply superb. During my tenure, one of my main priorities has been to bring the Midwest to Israel and, in turn, Israel to the Midwest. By that, I am mainly referring to bringing the highest levels of elected officials from the Midwest to visit Israel, in an official capacity whenever possible. I am very proud of the fact that no less than six Midwestern governors visited Israel in the last five years. As we know, there is no better way to understand and appreciate the state of Israel than to be there. Out of those five, only one state sent two different governors to Israel — the great state of Michigan. Both Gov. Rick Snyder and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer led business delegations to Israel; both came back with strong positive impressions of Israel’s capabilities and possible opportunities. Many potential follow-up items to strengthen the ties between Israel and Michigan were explored. Detroit Mayor Mike Dugan also led a mission to Israel, focusing on trade and economic exchanges. BUILDING MICHIGAN- ISRAELI TIES The focus of Gov. Whitmer’s trip in 2019 was on water technologies. We were honored to have her as the keynote speaker at the Bi-Annual WaTech Conference that year. In November 2019, during that visit, her first official international visit, Gov. Whitmer signed Aviv Ezra continued on page 8 Consul General Aviv Ezra and David Kurzmann of the JCRC speak to a woman at an event.