Looking Back

From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History

accessible at www.djnfoundation.org

54 | JULY 1 • 2021 

We Love Our Macs!
O

kay, I confess. Yes, it’s true. I am 
one of “them.” I am a devout 
Apple computer user, and I have 
been so since 1996. Perhaps, I have been 
brainwashed to believe, but I love my Mac 
computer and am happily using it to write 
this column. 
Apple Inc. (formerly, Apple Computer 
Inc.) was founded on April 1, 1976, by Steve 
Jobs and Steve Wozniak. To 
say that their venture was 
a success would be a great 
understatement. Apple is now 
a global producer of comput-
ers, smart phones, software, 
servers, media content and 
God knows what else. Since it 
was created 45 years ago, the 
company has been responsible for many 
pathbreaking technological advancements 
(along with a huge net worth and very 
healthy stock share prices). 
I decided to see what I could find about 
Apple in the William Davidson Digital 
Archive of Jewish Detroit History. A search 
indicated that there are many Apple prod-
uct users in Detroit’s Jewish community; 
“
Apple Computers” were cited on 71 pages. 
“Mac Computers” were cited on another 
79 pages, but almost all of those advertise-
ments were for computer repairs or classes. 
Of course, just searching for “
Apple” will 
raise thousands of entries, from apple trees 
to apple pie recipes to apples in Israel. 
However, the Archive does hold a wide 
range of interesting stories about uses of 
Apple products among Metro Detroit Jews. 
An early story, in the Nov. 16, 1983, issue 
of the JN reported that United Hebrew 
Schools students were studying Hebrew on 
computers, and that most of the students 
“had been trained to use the Apple comput-
er at their public school.” An advertisement 
in the Dec. 15, 1989, JN encouraged readers 
to “Give an Apple Computer for Chanukah 
and help your children learn and grow” or 
“Help your business prosper and grow.”
One can find several feature articles relat-

ed to Apple. In the April 4, 1993 issue, 
“Standing Room Only” is an ode to 
Sidney Fine, legendary professor of his-
tory at the University of Michigan. For 
his four decades of exemplary teach-
ing, Fine received the “Golden Apple 
Award,” sponsored by B’nai B’rith 
Hillel, and — you guessed it — Apple.

COMPUTER WARS
In “Computer Wars,” 
(June 18, 1999) 
longtime JN writer 
Suzanne Chessler 
reviewed the TNT 
Channel movie, 
Pirates of Silicon Valley, 
a drama about the 
founding of Apple Inc. 
starring Jewish actor 
Joey Slotnick as Steve 
Wozniak. “Sound Advice: 
An Apple A Day” by Neal 
Check is a technology 
report, but it also has a 
brief history of Apple (April 25, 2013).
Former Young Israel of Oak Park Rabbi 
Reuven Spolter wrote a most interesting 
essay in the Oct. 27, 2011, JN “Red Thread” 
section — “iChoice: Steve Jobs and Us” — 
that explores the balance between raising 
children and a work life. The catalyst for his 
inquiry was a report of writers’ extensive 
interviews with Jobs. Spolter reported a sad 
reason from Jobs for a biography: “I wanted 
my kids to know me. I wasn’t always there 
for them.” Yes, a very sad answer from a 
person who changed the modern world.
Finally, I should note that Apple 
computers was a clue in five crosswords in 
the JN.
Well, I now know I’m not alone. Are you 
also one of the chosen (or brainwashed) — 
an Apple user? 

Want to learn more? Go to the DJN Foundation 
archives, available for free at www.djnfoundation.
org.

Mike Smith
Alene and 
Graham Landau 
Archivist Chair

Hillel, and — you guessed it — Apple.

Pirates of Silicon Valley, 

founding of Apple Inc. 

Wozniak. “Sound Advice: 
An Apple A Day” by Neal 

report, but it also has a 
brief history of Apple (April 25, 2013).

