6 | MAY 20 • 2021 

PURELY COMMENTARY

1942 - 2021

Covering and Connecting 
Jewish Detroit Every Week

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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.

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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,
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thejewishnews.com

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The Detroit Jewish 
News Foundation

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 Secretary: Robin Axelrod
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 Board members: Larry Jackier, 
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 Alene and Graham Landau Archivist Chair: 
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Arthur Horwitz
Founding Publisher 
 Philip Slomovitz, of blessed memory

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Cohen, Shelli Leibman Dorfman, Louis 
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Lovy, Rabbi Jason Miller, Alan Muskovitz, 
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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.

